Quark Expeditions Announces Arctic 2010 Expedition Leaders

Five experienced Expedition Leaders are returning to the Arctic in 2010, announced Vermont-based polar adventure specialist Quark Expeditions. "Expedition Leaders are the X factor," said Patrick Shaw, president. "The best ELs add something extra to an expedition through their personalities and passion for the regions through which they lead travelers."

To celebrate the announcement, travelers who book one of four select Arctic voyages will receive a free extended stay in Oslo, Norway or Reykjavik, Iceland. These packages have a retail value of $1100 and $663 per person respectively.


Quark's Expedition Leaders have various backgrounds. Some are scientists, some historians, many are wildlife specialists and some are skilled yachtsmen and kayakers. All have worked their way up through the ranks to the position. The experience they gained as Zodiac drivers, naturalists, and lecturers is essential for their role as Expedition Leader.

New Zealander Graham Charles is an internationally renowned kayaker with an irreverent sense of humor and unquenchable enthusiasm. Graham will be leading expeditions to Spitsbergen, Eastern Greenland, Iceland and the Canadian Arctic from July 8 to August 20, 2010.

Dr. Kirsten le Mar uses her training and experience as a field biologist as Expedition Leader aboard the icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov. Kirsten will lead three End of an Era expeditions from Anadyr, Russia to Resolute, Canada in 2010.

Canadian Brandon Harvey studies orcas when he is not leading an Arctic voyage. Between June and September 2010, he will lead expeditions to Spitsbergen, Greenland and Iceland aboard the 46-passenger Akademik Shokalskiy.

David "Dutch" Willmott has always been drawn to adventure travel in wild places. He has sailed and raced yachts all over the world. He will be leading expeditions to Spitsbergen, Svalbard in June 2010.

David "Woody" Wood started working on expedition vessels as a bartender, so his people skills are well honed. He is an experienced Zodiac driver and can handle firearms -- essential in the Arctic. He will be leading expeditions to Spitsbergen, Svalbard from July to August 2010.

Jan Bryde will lead Quark's Arctic trip to the North Pole, July 9 to 23, 2010. 50 Years of Victory, the world's largest nuclear-powered icebreaker is Jan's home away from home.

Extend Your Stay

The Oslo extended stay offer is available on three departures: Introduction to Spitsbergen, June 21 to 28; Spitsbergen Explorer June 27 to July 7 or July 14 to 24, 2010. Guests who book any of the listed expeditions will receive a package that includes 1 night in Longyearbyen and 2 nights in Oslo.

The Reykjavik extended stay offer is available on Iceland, Greenland and the Canadian Arctic, August 3 to 20, 2010. Guests who book this voyage will receive a package that includes 4 nights in Reykjavik, Iceland.

To receive more information about the Arctic offer and Quark's Expedition Leaders go online or call toll free 888-892-0171.

African-American Matthew Henson The First Human to Reach the North Pole

As we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, icy cold Arctic blasts will drop temperatures across the nation this long weekend. More than weather reports connect African-Americans to the Arctic, although many may be unaware of the exploits of explorer Matthew Henson.

Maryland native, Matthew Henson was born in 1866 to freeborn African-American sharecroppers. Orphaned at 11, by 13, he was a cabin boy. The captain of the vessel schooled Henson in reading, writing, geography and history, as they sailed to Asia, North Africa and the Black Sea. Eventually Henson settled in Washington, DC, working as a clerk to a furrier.

Arctic explorer Robert E. Peary met Henson at his place of employment, when Peary sold some of the furs he brought from Greenland. Peary invited Henson to join his expedition to Central America. When the men returned two years later, Peary had come to rely on Henson's skills as a navigator and carpenter. For 22-years the pair charted remote coastlines and glaciers in Greenland and in the Canadian Arctic.

He and Peary set the farthest north record twice, as they attempted to be the first men to reach the North Pole. Then in 1906, Henson, with Peary and four Inuit, made a final attempt to reach 90N. Henson arrived before the others, thus becoming the first human being to stand at the top of the world, April 6, 1909.

The triumph destroyed their friendship. Controversy clouded their success. Neither had collected sufficient data to support their individual claims irrevocably. Unfortunately, the bitterly contested title of first man to reach the North Pole overshadowed their unquestioned successes: In 1895, Henson with Peary charted the entire Greenland Ice Sheet, and discovered the island's most northerly point.

In recognition of his outstanding 22-year career as an Arctic explorer, Henson was posthumously awarded the National Geographic Society's Hubbard Medal in 2000.

Reaching the North Pole in 2010

Quark Expeditions operates a nuclear-powered icebreaker from Murmansk, Russia to the North Pole. There is one departure in 2010, July 9 to 23. The vessel carries a maximum of 128 travelers in cabins with facilities, with outside views. The cost per person, in twin occupancy, is $22,690, plus airfare from Helsinki to Murmansk at $1,650 per person. Travelers can book online at www.quarkexpeditions.com/arctic/north-pole or they can call 1-888-892-0171.

Fly the Drake Passage, Cruise Antarctica

Photos: Ben Cooper

Quark Expeditions takes the shake out of the Drake!

Travelers to Antarctica can skip the Drake Passage when traveling to Antarctica with Quark Expeditions. This time saving addition to the polar specialist’s extensive selection of Antarctic cruises reduces the Drake Passage crossing from over 2 days to less than 2 hours!

A flight from Punta Arenas, Chile, to Antarctica is the key. The BAE 146 jet aircraft carries 62 passengers and is built to land on short runways, essential in Antarctica. The Antarctic fly and cruise program saves travelers approximately 100 hours of sailing time when compared to traditional expeditions!

A quick crossing does not mean reduced time in Antarctica. Travelers spend the same amount of time exploring the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands as they would on traditional Antarctic expeditions – 5 days – they just get there more quickly! They board the expedition vessel, Ocean Nova, directly in Antarctica, off the Chilean Research Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva, on King George Island.

Ocean Nova, with an ice-strengthened hull, was built for navigating the ice dotted waters of coastal Greenland. All cabins have exterior views and bathrooms en suite. A glass-enclosed observation lounge converts to a modern presentation room. The vessel has navigated Antarctic waters with unparalleled success, including the challenging Weddell Sea.

Quark Expeditions offers this 8-day, Antarctica Fly and Cruise program operated by Antarctica XXI, beginning December 13, 2010. There are seven departures available. Per person prices, inclusive of the roundtrip Antarctic flight, are $8,990 for triple occupancy and USD$9,990 for twin occupancy. Travelers can book online (www.quarkexpeditions.com/antarctic/antarctica-flights) or call 1-866-961-2960 to speak to a polar travel consultant.

Kapitan Khlebnikov's End of an Era

Icebreaker Travelers Generate Bittersweet Success for Quark Expeditions

In October 2009, Quark Expeditions announced that the polar adventure company's flagship, Kapitan Khlebnikov, will retire in March 2012. Four months later, Quark announced that the 13-itinerary End of an Era program is an unqualified success. One of the voyages to remote locales in Antarctica has sold out, and others in the Arctic and Antarctica are well on their way.

Despite the fact that the ship's retirement is two years away, travelers who hesitate to reserve a cabin may find they have missed the boat – or in this case – the icebreaker. There are cabins left on Quark's first End of an Era sailing, Northwest Passage: West to East (July 18 to August 5, 2010). On that voyage, special guest Andrew Lambert, author of The Gates of Hell: Sir John Franklin's Tragic Quest for the Northwest Passage, will return to Khlebnikov to deliver presentations about Franklin, and why a pursuit of scientific discovery had disastrous results. Also, the Laughton Professor of Naval History, will be present when the documentary, Franklin's Lost Expedition, in which he and Khlebnikov appear, is shown.

"We are very pleased that Professor Lambert accepted our invitation. His reinterpretation of the Franklin story has changed completely the way the world understands the event," said Quark's president, Patrick Shaw.

Shaw continued, "The success of our End of an Era program is bittersweet. We are disappointed that the icebreaker will no longer be a part of our fleet, yet, we are delighted at the response of polar travelers, who have embraced the program so enthusiastically."

A free information kit about the Northwest Passage voyage can be downloaded from the Quark Expeditions website. Per person prices start at $16,490. The 19-day expedition embarks in Anadyr, Russia and disembarks in Resolute, Canada.

About Quark Expeditions

Quark Expeditions was the first polar adventure company to transit the Northeast Passage with commercial passengers; the first to take travelers to the "far side" of Antarctica and the first to circumnavigate the Antarctic continent with guests, twice. In 2006 and 2007, Quark was named a recipient of National Geographic Traveler's "50 Tours of a Lifetime" for "Emperor Penguin Safari" and the "Far Side" respectively. In 2006, Outside magazine named Quark's "Emperor Penguin Safari" as one of the New Trips of a Lifetime.

Quark's Khlebnikov free of ice in Weddell Sea

Status Details
Vessel: I/B Kapitan Khlebnikov
Time: 1534 UTC / 1034 EST
Location: 61 degrees 4.9' S, 58 degrees 13.5'W
(Drake Passage)

Quark Expeditions reports the icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov has successfully navigated the pack ice of the Weddell Sea and is now in open water, on the way to Ushuaia, Argentina.

The scheduled return to port (November 16, 2009) was delayed due to weather conditions including heavy pack ice, which restricted the vessel's ability to maneuver effectively. During the delay, all 101 passengers, 23 staff and 60 crew on board remained safe and comfortable.

A highlight of this particular voyage included a special departure to visit the emperor penguin colony near Snow Hill Island. Shane Evoy, Quark's Expedition Leader onboard, reported on November 17, 2009, that "although the delay may cause complications for return travel, all passengers are enjoying the extra time we have spent at the Snow Hill Island Emperor Penguin rookery and seeing the icebreaker in action".

The vessel is now expected in the port Ushuaia at 10:00 am the morning of November 22nd. The ship will then take on fresh stores and pick up the passengers awaiting their scheduled journey. Passengers will embark later that same day. The expedition has been adjusted to take into account the delayed departure.

"On behalf of Quark Expeditions I would like to thank all passengers participating in these voyages for their good humor and spirit of adventure in accepting these unexpected changes. Like true adventurers, they have risen to the occasion in embracing both the thrills and challenges that travel to the wondrous Polar Regions entails," says Patrick Shaw, President of Quark Expeditions

Quark Expeditions continues to work with travel agents and companies to ensure that the delayed passengers can efficiently continue their travel home.

For additional details, please visit http://www.quarkexpeditions.com/media-information/media-releases/kapitan-khlebnikov.

Legendary Icebreaker to Retire

Quark's flagship, Kapitan Khlebnikov, will end her career as an expedition vessel in March 2012, returning to escort duties in the Russian Arctic.

This is truly the End of an Era, and will be marked by a series of remarkable itineraries and special guests that celebrate the career of this extraordinary ship.

This is your last chance to sail aboard, and visit remote regions that will become inaccessible to future travelers.

Visit http://www.facebook.com/l/909f8;www.quarkexpeditions.com/end-of-an-era for more details.

To learn more about the special guests who have accepted our invitation to mark the End of an Era, order a free biographical package at http://www.facebook.com/l/909f8;www.quarkexpeditions.com/era-guests.

Follow Prisca Campbell's new Antarctica Blog: Emperors and Kings - The Royal Tour

One month from today, I’m going to be completely distracted, as it will be the day before I leave for Ushuaia, Argentina, to join the Emperors and Kings expedition to the Weddell Sea, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.

I’ll be sailing with three special guests – Robert Bateman, Birgit Freybe Bateman and Doug Allan. The members of the Expedition Team are equally stellar – starting with the Expedition Leader, Shane Evoy. He is a fellow Canadian who has led numerous expeditions to Antarctica. Fun loving, experienced and always up for adventure, I am thrilled to travel with him at last.

I’ve started blogging early, because I’ve begun the final research stage that I always do before I travel. I’ll be sharing the nuggets, nonsense and new adventures, beginning today.

Emperors and Kings - The Royal Tour

Quark Offers Free Air and Iguazu Falls Tour

Book an Antarctic Expedition and Fly Free to Ushuaia

For a limited time, when you book Classic Antarctica aboard Clipper Adventurer on either the January 24, 2010 or February 11, 2010 departure, you fly to Ushuaia for free.

AND

You will receive a bonus tour of Argentina's natural wonder - Iguazu Falls, at no additional cost.

To book call 1.866.961.2961 or +1.203.883.2888

and ask for the Free Air and Iguazu Falls Offer.

Please note: This offer is available for new bookings only; is non-tranferable and cannot be applied to tour dates other than those mentioned. Free air transportation is from your nearest international gateway. You must book your expedition by September 15, 2009. The expedition, free air transportation and tour of Iguazu Falls are subject to availability.

QUARK EXPEDITIONS

47 Water Street, Norwalk, CT, USA, 06854
1.866.961.2961 or 1.203.883.2888

BLOG YOUR WAY TO ANTARCTICA

Travel on a $20,000 Expedition for Free!

Quark Expeditions is searching for an Official Blogger to join a voyage to Antarctica. Do you have a passion for the polar regions? A commitment to the environment? An insatiable urge to photograph penguins?

Post your entry and tell the world why you should be our blogger. Be creative! On September 30, 2009, the entrant with the most number of votes will be selected as the winner.

The Official Quark Blogger will travel with a guest to Antarctica in February 2010 and blog about their experience, chronicling the action, the emotion, and the drama as their polar adventure unfolds.


www.blogyourwaytoantarctica.com

Cruise Weekly Comment: Changes Afloat

Like so many travel industry segments, the so-called global financial crisis has caused many operators to reevaluate their strategic planning. Even so, several were committed to new vessels and itineraries devised in the glory days leading up to the collapse.

Certainly one of the most ambitious and adventurous itineraries would have to be Cruise West’s Voyages of the Great Explorers, a 335-day circumnavigation of the world. Departing Singapore on March 6, 2010, the 120-guest, all-suite Spirit of Oceanus will sail westward, following the sun, to return to Singapore on February 3, 2011.

This remarkable journey includes visits to 242 ports in 59 countries and 85 UNESCO World Heritage sites while crossing 14 seas and oceans, transiting three canals, as well as a voyage tied to The Famed Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Scotland’s colorful military musical spectacular. This is really a fine weave voyage, over twice as long and visiting nearly five times as many ports as a comparable Cunard, ‘big ship’ itinerary.

Another vessel that re-emerged after an expensive refit was Silverseas’ Prince Albert II. The luxury small ship cruise line jumped the adventure bandwagon by picking up the ex-Society Expeditions MS World Adventurer in 2007 and following her relaunch last year, immediately placed her on a leisurely schedule in French Polynesia. Fortunately that was quickly corrected and she is now embarking on proper polar voyages.

GAP Adventures were obliged to find a new ship after the high profile loss of Explorer in Antarctica in November 2007. The new 105m Expedition re-entered service last month and follows a popular recent trend among operators of converting arctic ferries into adventure vessels along the lines of Quark’s Ocean Nova, which was reborn from the Danish-flagged Greenlander, Sarpik Ittuk, in 2007.

Quark Expeditions, by the way, is in the process of rejigging their itineraries in response to the new challenges and an announcement is due any day on the revised plans. Stay tuned.

The giant, century old, Norwegian Hurtigruten cruise line (formerly Norwegian Coastal Voyages) is currently negotiating choppy waters. The decision to embark on a major fleet upgrade was a bit of unfortunate timing and the company is one of many caught in the global mess. There is a major push to get travellers aboard the newest expedition vessel, MS Fram. Built in 2007, she is one of the bigger expedition vessels with 318 berths and a GRT of 12,000.

In a more classic vein, the 1976-built Royal Dutch Navy vessel, Hr. Ms. Tydeman will be transformed to the 112-passenger MV Plancius and begin polar voyages next year in Antarctica with Oceanwide Expeditions.

As you’ve seen written many times already, now is certainly a great time to go adventure cruising with many companies offering enticing specials and deals. Go see your travel agent today.

Three Polar Travel Myths Debunked

Consumers considering the polar regions as travel destinations often have three misconceptions about the Arctic and Antarctica:

1. Neither region is a sun destination.

2. They are cold places to visit.

3. Polar voyages are more expensive than other cruises.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

The polar regions are the ultimate sun destinations. Travel occurs in the summer months - June to September for the Arctic and October to March for the Antarctic. During the summer daylight is continuous above the polar circle. Consumers who choose itineraries that sail near or above a polar circle will be able to bask in the sun 18 to 24 hours a day.

Travelers to the polar regions are encouraged to pack swimsuits, for polar plunges. Although the temperature hovers above freezing, in some locales geothermal activity creates hot springs in which to laze. Admittedly, the weather can turn suddenly, but if consumers pack the gear recommended by the outfitter, they will be very comfortable no matter what the weather.

Polar expeditions range in price, and when comparisons are made with other cruise destinations, often they are favorable. This is because polar expeditions are virtually all-inclusive. Unlike more traditional cruises that charge fees for shore landings, the best polar expedition companies include shore landings in the cost of the voyage. Consumers are advised to comparison shop, as the lowest price is not necessarily the best value!

First time travelers to the Arctic would do well to consider Spitsbergen, Svalbard as a destination. Those considering Antarctica for the first time would do well to consider a Peninsula voyage.

About Quark Expeditions

Since 1991, Quark Expeditions has established a tradition of firsts in polar expedition travel. The company was the first to transit the Northeast Passage with commercial passengers; the first to take travelers to the "far side" of Antarctica and the first to circumnavigate the Antarctic continent with guests, twice. Quark is also recognized for its diverse passenger fleet; the largest in Antarctica - including the only polar-class icebreaker operating as an expedition ship there. The fleet enables Quark to operate the widest variety of polar itineraries of any other adventure company in the world, and the greatest number of departures to Antarctica. In October 2006 and 2007, Quark was named a recipient of National Geographic Traveler's "50 Tours of a Lifetime" for their "Emperor Penguin Safari" and the "Far Side" respectively. In the March 2006 edition, Outside magazine named the "Emperor Penguin Safari" as one of the New Trips of a Lifetime.

Billy Connolly: Journey to the Edge of the World

To have Billy Connolly as a personal tour guide through some of the world's most dramatic landscapes---from the Atlantic to the Pacific via the fabled Northwest Passage - is to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

With his idiosyncratic humour, Billy searches for the beauty of ordinariness and bumps into all manner of weird and wonderful people along the way, from the fiddle-playing scarecrow-maker to the septuagenarian pioneer who still lives as her ancestors did. He learns how not to be intimate with bears and how to pan for gold. He herds cattle, has a profound experience in a sweat lodge and attempts the finer complexities of the Inuit language. He jams with fellow musicians, kisses a cod and waxes lyrical about icebergs.

"Everybody thinks icebergs are white and like ice cream all the way through, but they’re not white at all, they’re blue, the most spectacular turquoise aquamarine blue, like Paul Newman’s eyes. Each one is like a huge piece of sensational jewellery, gliding along. They are alien in their surroundings - a bit like seeing a polar bear in the middle of Sauchiehall Street - but they have such presence and power; a drama all their own. I’d like to tow one up the Clyde or the Thames or the Tyne or the Mersey and let all the kids see it. In a decent world we should all be allowed to slide down one. They’re just made for sliding down especially on the inside, where there’s bound to be a big pool at the bottom of a wonderful slide you can land in with a Splosh!"

At this pivotal moment in history when this once isolated wilderness is about to be invaded by hordes of modern-day speculators, the inimitable Billy retraces the footsteps of romantics and nutters, the broken-hearted, those looking for love or just hoping to get rich. He leads us through this land's incredible past and shares his optimism about the future.

Journey to the Edge of the World is more than just an informative and entertaining travel guide---it is time spent exclusively in the company of our most engaging national treasure.

ISBN 0755318854(978-075-531885-8)
RRP $49.99
Released April 2009

Billy Connolly travelled with Quark Expeditions aboard Akademik Ioffe

Cruise ship carrying 105 runs aground in Antarctica. All safe, ship appears undamaged.

MORE than 100 people on a cruise ship that ran aground off Antarctica have been transferred to another ship.

Ship operator Quark Expeditions said the 106 people from the Bahamian-flagged Ocean Nova were now sailing on another ship operated by the Clipper Adventurer company.

Seven Australians were among the 65 passengers, 30 crew and 11 expedition staff on the Ocean Nova, which ran aground on Tuesday.

The Clipper Adventurer will return to Ushuaia, Argentina's southernmost city and the original jumping-off point for the 15-day voyage exploring the polar circle.

The Ocean Nova ran aground amid high winds and was unable to break free during the rising evening tide as officials had hoped.

Quark Expeditions said continuing high winds thwarted the attempt to dislodge the ship on Wednesday.

But several hours after the passengers were rescued, the late evening tide lifted the Ocean Nova away from the rocky shore.

An inspection by divers showed no damage or leaking, and the operator said the ship would host a separate 20-day expedition of the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands beginning on February 22.

The company, based in the US state of Connecticut, said the ship had been on a two-week cruise costing up to $US18,290 ($A28,618).

Rare Polar Voyage to World's Largest Nature Preserve

For travelers looking to get far off the beaten track this summer, a rare Arctic expedition may fit the bill. “All voyages to our planet's polar regions are special, but the Arctic Islands expedition visits places that few other people will ever see,” says Pat Shaw, President of Quark Expeditions.

“This voyage is offered only once or twice a decade.” The 2008 Arctic Islands voyage runs from July 21 to August 6. The expedition will include shore landings in: • Franz Josef Land, a former Soviet "national security zone," off-limits to foreigners until recently

• Svalbard archipelago, the world's northernmost inhabited land (land that humans share with polar bears) • Northeast Greenland National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere reserve larger than the state of Texas Over the course of the voyage, we will visit known habitat of polar bears, whales, seals, Arctic foxes, walrus and reindeer. The trip includes an overnight stop in Helsinki, Finland, a beautiful and intimate city known as "the Belle of the Baltics."

Rates for this 17-day expedition start at US$19,500 per person for a standard twin cabin. About the Ship: This expedition is offered on Kapitan Khlebnikov, a helicopter-equipped, polar-class icebreaker. Khlebnikov carries only 108 guests.

The ship's two helicopters are used for ice reconnaissance, aerial sightseeing and shore excursions. Between landings, guests can socialize in the ship's lounge and bar, heated indoor swimming pool, exercise room and sauna. About the Operator: Connecticut-based Quark Expeditions is the world leader in polar adventure travel. Quark operated the first-ever passenger voyage to the North Pole, and the first full circumnavigation of Antarctica. Cabins can be booked through Quark Expeditions by calling 1-800-356-5699 or +1-203-852-5580.

Read more about the Arctic Islands itinerary at http://www.quarkexpeditions.com/arctic/

Announcing the Maiden Voyage to the North Pole of the World’s Newest, Largest and Most Sophisticated Icebreaker, 50 Years of Victory

Quark Expeditions, world leader in polar adventure travel, has chartered the nuclear-powered icebreaker 50 Years of Victory for expeditions to the North Pole in 2008.

Twenty years in the making, Victory, the largest Arktika-class vessel ever built, has a spoon-shaped bow, and an all-new automated digital control system. A stainless steel ice belt 18 feet wide enables crushing through ice up to 9.2 feet thick. Two nuclear reactors produce 75,000 horsepower for a top speed of 21.4 knots in open water. Victory is equipped with a helicopter for aerial sightseeing and shore transfers.

Commissioned in 2007 as a working vessel, Victory has been newly outfitted as an expedition ship with ample public space: Aft Saloon, Forward Lounge, a bar and polar library. The Aft Saloon converts from a day-time presentation room to a place to socialize in the evening. A shop, gym, indoor pool, two saunas and massage services provide other diversions. There are 64 cabins in five categories, all with facilities en suite and a window that opens to an ocean view.

Only 128 people will be able to claim that they stood on top of the world during Victory’s maiden voyage to the North Pole. Compare that to the number of people who can say they were there when the Red Sox won the World Series or Italy won the World Cup! This rare opportunity for travelers can never be repeated. The maiden voyage runs from June 23 to July 8, 2008. The 16-day voyage starts at US$22,900 per person for a Standard Twin cabin.

In addition to a champagne celebration on the ice at 90 degrees N, the expedition will include shore landings in Franz Josef Land. The archipelago is the most northerly land mass in Eurasia. The islands are a known habitat of polar bear, walrus and vast colonies of seabirds.

Quark Expeditions will operate two other expeditions to the North Pole aboard Victory in 2008: July 6 – 21 and July 19 – August 4. The July 19 – August 14 departure is 17 days in duration to accommodate a viewing of a total solar eclipse. Cabins for all three voyages can be booked through Quark Expeditions by calling 1-800-356-5699 or +1-203-656-0499. More information about the vessel can be found at www.quarkexpeditions.com