Quark is notable for innovation, with some magnificent firsts over its long history including the first-ever tourist transit of the Northeast Passage, the first non-scientific visits to emperor penguin rookeries, the first circumnavigation of Antarctica for commercial passengers, the first circumnavigation of the Arctic Ocean, the maiden voyage on nuclear icebreaker 50 Years of Victory to the North Pole, and the first-ever CarbonNeutral voyages to Antarctica aboard Ocean Diamond.

Quark also offer the opportunity to fly to Antarctica and avoid the notoriously lumpy Drake Passage crossing, joining the ship at King George Island - worth considering if you're not a great sailor, though flights in this part of the world are vulnerable to weather-related delays.

They are well connected and respected, and as a result are able to put together some of the most competent teams of lecturers and guides in the business. Past guests have included Jonathan Shackleton (Ernest Shackleton's cousin) and Falcon Scott (Robert Falcon Scott's grandson).

Quark operate a mixture of their own ships and also those that they charter, with an extensive portfolio of expeditions to Antarctica, Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, Arctic Canada, Russia and the North Pole. This means that they can offer varying levels of comfort appropriate to your tastes, accompanied by a seasoned expedition team with a range of expertise, including marine biology, history, geology and more.