![kayaking_Antarctica__AE Expeditions](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/portrait_quarter/101496-kayaking-antarctica-ae-expeditions.jpg)
Duration
11 Nights
Journey Type
Cruise only (Please call for flight options)
Ports
4 Ports
3 August
Setting sail from Helsinki
Finland's lovely capital Helsinki is a maritime city, with the sea on three sides and almost 100 kilometres of shoreline, as well as around 300 islands. Its contemporary architecture and focus on modern design sit surprisingly well alongside its four hundred year history.
![Helsinki cathedral at sunset](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_half/14007-helsinki-cathedral-sunset.jpg)
4 August
Svalbard and Jan Mayen: Longyearbyen
![Flowers and colourful houses in Longyearbyen](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/11666-longyearbyen-flowers-and-houses.jpg)
Longyearbyen is the largest settlement in Svalbard, remotely located in the high Norwegian Arctic, and originally built as a mining town. The locals continue to make the best of this hostile environment, and brightly painted wooden buildings line the main street. The surrounding area is breathtakingly beautiful.
5-13 August
Svalbard and Jan Mayen: Spitsbergen
![Polar bear on Spitsbergen, Svalbard archipelago](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/67370-polar-bear-spitsbergen.jpg)
Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago, a land of snowy peaks, frozen tundra and glassy seas. You’ll likely have no fixed itinerary here, due to the unpredictable nature of an Arctic expedition; be prepared to drop everything and rush up to the top deck for the chance of a polar bear sighting!
14 August
Arriving in Helsinki
![Aerial view of Helsinki, Finland](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_half/2136-aerial-view-of-helsinki.jpg)
Ocean Explorer
![Quark's Ocean Explorer exterior](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/lanscape_half/97970-ship-exterior.jpg)
![Quark's Ocean Explorer Solar Bar](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/97971-quarks-ocean-explorer.jpg)
![Quark's Ocean Explorer Forward Lounge](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/mundy.assets.d3r.com/images/landscape_mosaicsmall/97972-forward-lounge.jpg)
Ocean Explorer is Quark's latest addition to the fleet, boasting a bright, elegant interior and an innovative X-Bow design for ultimate guest comfort.
What we love
Ocean Explorer joins the Quark fleet in 2024 and is a purpose-built expedition vessel designed for polar waters. Built in 2021, it showcases innovative expedition technology including a striking X-Bow design which improves efficiency and guest comfort when sailing in extreme envirnments. On board, guests will enjoy spacious cabins, almost all with private verandah, multi-height outdoor decks which are perfect for wildlife viewing, and a fleet of 15 Zodiacs for immersive exploration.
capacity | 138 Guests |
---|---|
crew | 105 Staff |
style | Bright, spacious and elegant interiors plus expansive observation decks and an expert Quark expedition team offer enriching exploration to the Polar regions. |
inclusions |
|
year built | 2021 |
length | 342 feet |
cruising speed | 16.5 knots |