Antarctic Express: Sail South, Fly North
10 Day Itinerary (from Ushuaia, Argentina)
- Spot iconic Antarctic wildlife, such as penguins, seals and whales
- Fly over the Drake Passage and experience the fastest, most direct way to Antarctica
- Enjoy presentations on wildlife, history, glaciology & geology by our onboard polar experts
- Cruise in a Zodiac to get water-level views of icebergs, wildlife and more
- Expedition Cruises
About World Explorer
Distinct and comfortable, refined and roomy—these attributes and more describe World Explorer. Not only is it among our fastest ships, but it is also one of our finest, with six tiers of deluxe accommodation.
The personal space is exceptional. Every suite has either a private walk-out or French balcony for direct ocean views. World Explorer also delivers plenty of public areas to unwind in after a day outdoors, including the glass-domed Observation Lounge for quiet contemplation and full skyline views, the Explorer Lounge for a drink and a chat, and the library for more intimate relaxing and reading. Presentations and discussions are facilitated in a dedicated lecture theatre.
Health and wellness facilities feature an outdoor track, a small gym and a sauna, plus a spa with change rooms, showers and lockers. For the active adventurers, add-ons include kayaking, camping and stand-up paddleboarding.

Features of the Vessel
2 Rolls Royce Engines
World Explorer features two state-of-the-art Rolls Royce hybrid-electric engines, significantly reducing its environmental impact on the Polar Regions.
MAGS
Micro Auto Gasification System (MAGS) is the industry-leading system that converts waste into energy at the site that it’s generated. MAGs eliminates the environmental impact of waste transportation, offering an innovative sustainability feature that exceed all industry standards.
Outdoor Track
The Outdoor Track on Deck 8 offers a great way to stay active while aboard World Explorer; get your steps in while also enjoying the stunning landscapes and wildlife viewing opportunities the Polar Regions have to offer.
Wraparound Deck
Deck 8 offers a wraparound deck to take in panaromic views of the Polar Regions; various areas also feature heated seating, allowing for optimal comfort while out on deck.
Features & Amenities
Ready Room
The Mudroom on Deck 3 enables you to comfortably prepare for, and disembark from, Zodiac excursions and shore landings and is conveniently located adjacent to zodiac embarkation points.
Polar Boutique
If you forgot any essentials or need a little souvenir from your voyage, the Polar Boutique on Deck 4 is our onboard gift shop. Opening hours will vary based on the daily expedition activities. Gifts and souvenirs are great to bring home as mementos of your polar expedition. In addition to small souvenirs, our Polar Boutique offers a selection of expedition gear, including base layer clothing, waterproof pants, gloves and more.
Lecture Theatre
Our theater-style auditorium on Deck 4 can easily accommodate everyone on board, so it serves as our main hall where presentations and videos are provided for your education and enjoyment.
Explorer Lounge
On Deck 4, the Explorer Lounge is used for special functions and events, and where you can grab a cup of complimentary coffee or tea. The Observation Lounge on Deck 7 is a comfortable spot to relax and enjoy panoramic polar views.
Restaurant
There is one dining room located on Deck 4. If there is one constant at sea, it is that you’ll enjoy delicious meals on a daily basis.
Bridge
Observation Lounge
The glass-domed Observation Lounge on Deck 7 is a comfortable spot to relax and enjoy panoramic polar views.
Spa
The spa is located on Deck 7 and offers massages, facials, and hand and foot treatments.
Sauna
Indulge in Health & Wellness amenities like the Sauna located on Deck 7 which also has a corresponding change room and shower.
Pool
Deck 7 features a large heated outdoor pool, surrounded by deck space, and flanked by two hot tubs.
Fitness Center
Located on Deck 7, fitness center hours are posted at the door, with facilities available on a first come, first served basis.
Library
Located in the Observation Lounge on Deck 7, the library includes a selection of field guides, picture books and reference books.
A commitment to conservation and community.
Quark Expeditions partners with scientists, conservation groups and local communities to further the efforts of wildlife conservation and sustainable community tourism.
Over the next three years, Quark Expeditions and our guests will invest over $2.5M USD through our conservation and community partnerships and projects.
We connect our guests to the natural world through hands-on experiences and education.
Advancing Polar Research
Every year, we provide researchers access to remote areas, advancing data on polar wildlife and ecosystems, while enriching guest education onboard. Last year alone, we invested $440,000 in in-kind berths.
Supporting Polar Conservation
Through onboard auctions and direct contributions, we help fund conservation organizations like Blue Marine Foundation, Penguin Watch, South Georgia Heritage Trust and more. In 2024, our team and guests donated $215,000 towards polar research and conservation.
Proud Members of Industry Associations
We actively contribute to industry membership associations that govern tourism in the polar regions by proudly serving on 30 committees and working groups for IAATO, AECO, CLIA, and Travel Nunavut.
We deliver authentic experiences for our guests that benefit our local partners and the communities we visit.
Partnering with Local Organizations
We partner with local organizations to create experiences that connect guests with communities and their traditions. Our Tundra to Table dining experience has been featured in National Geographic, Smithsonian, Afar and others, informing an audience of over 10-million people about Igapall and Greenlandic cuisine.
Supporting Community Programs
We work with Arctic communities to support their goals for economic development and sustainable tourism—strengthened by local guide placement, we have put more than $200,000 USD towards community programming in 2024.
Investing in Communities
Through onboard auctions and program proceeds, we help fund initiatives such as cultural infrastructure, community-led food banks, and culturally and linguistically relevant programs. Last year, the Quark Expeditions team and our guests donated $80,000 to community and education.
Land Acknowledgement
Quark Expeditions acknowledges and affirms the Articles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and recognizes Indigenous peoples’ inherent rights and historical territories.
Our office is located in the Toronto region, the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. We acknowledge that this land is covered by Treaty 13, signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties, signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.
The areas we visit – the Arctic, subarctic, and coastal regions of southern South America – are the traditional homelands of many Indigenous Peoples. These include the Inuit within Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit of Kalaallit Nunaat, and the Yagán and the Selk’nam of current-day Patagonia. These places have complex colonial histories, about which we have much to learn.
We offer our gratitude and respect to Indigenous Peoples for their enduring wisdom and stewardship of these lands and waters. We honor the ancestors who cared for these territories as well as the present-day guardians who continue to safeguard the ecosystems, historical sites, and sacred places that we have the honor of visiting.
Reconciliation is an ongoing process for us all. We are committed to partnering with and learning from Indigenous communities to ensure our presence is respectful and contributes positively to their lands and cultures. Connection to land, histories, languages, and cultures is essential to identity. We honor this connection as we work to build a We invite you to learn more about the people who have inhabited the land you are on or are visiting.
Distinct and comfortable, refined and roomy—these attributes and more describe World Explorer. Not only is it among our fastest ships, but it is also one of our finest, with six tiers of deluxe accommodation.
The personal space is exceptional. Every suite has either a private walk-out or French balcony for direct ocean views. World Explorer also delivers plenty of public areas to unwind in after a day outdoors, including the glass-domed Observation Lounge for quiet contemplation and full skyline views, the Explorer Lounge for a drink and a chat, and the library for more intimate relaxing and reading. Presentations and discussions are facilitated in a dedicated lecture theatre.
Health and wellness facilities feature an outdoor track, a small gym and a sauna, plus a spa with change rooms, showers and lockers. For the active adventurers, add-ons include kayaking, camping and stand-up paddleboarding.

Features of the Vessel
2 Rolls Royce Engines
World Explorer features two state-of-the-art Rolls Royce hybrid-electric engines, significantly reducing its environmental impact on the Polar Regions.
MAGS
Micro Auto Gasification System (MAGS) is the industry-leading system that converts waste into energy at the site that it’s generated. MAGs eliminates the environmental impact of waste transportation, offering an innovative sustainability feature that exceed all industry standards.
Outdoor Track
The Outdoor Track on Deck 8 offers a great way to stay active while aboard World Explorer; get your steps in while also enjoying the stunning landscapes and wildlife viewing opportunities the Polar Regions have to offer.
Wraparound Deck
Deck 8 offers a wraparound deck to take in panaromic views of the Polar Regions; various areas also feature heated seating, allowing for optimal comfort while out on deck.
Features & Amenities
Ready Room
The Mudroom on Deck 3 enables you to comfortably prepare for, and disembark from, Zodiac excursions and shore landings and is conveniently located adjacent to zodiac embarkation points.
Polar Boutique
If you forgot any essentials or need a little souvenir from your voyage, the Polar Boutique on Deck 4 is our onboard gift shop. Opening hours will vary based on the daily expedition activities. Gifts and souvenirs are great to bring home as mementos of your polar expedition. In addition to small souvenirs, our Polar Boutique offers a selection of expedition gear, including base layer clothing, waterproof pants, gloves and more.
Lecture Theatre
Our theater-style auditorium on Deck 4 can easily accommodate everyone on board, so it serves as our main hall where presentations and videos are provided for your education and enjoyment.
Explorer Lounge
On Deck 4, the Explorer Lounge is used for special functions and events, and where you can grab a cup of complimentary coffee or tea. The Observation Lounge on Deck 7 is a comfortable spot to relax and enjoy panoramic polar views.
Restaurant
There is one dining room located on Deck 4. If there is one constant at sea, it is that you’ll enjoy delicious meals on a daily basis.
Bridge
Observation Lounge
The glass-domed Observation Lounge on Deck 7 is a comfortable spot to relax and enjoy panoramic polar views.
Spa
The spa is located on Deck 7 and offers massages, facials, and hand and foot treatments.
Sauna
Indulge in Health & Wellness amenities like the Sauna located on Deck 7 which also has a corresponding change room and shower.
Pool
Deck 7 features a large heated outdoor pool, surrounded by deck space, and flanked by two hot tubs.
Fitness Center
Located on Deck 7, fitness center hours are posted at the door, with facilities available on a first come, first served basis.
Library
Located in the Observation Lounge on Deck 7, the library includes a selection of field guides, picture books and reference books.
A commitment to conservation and community.
Quark Expeditions partners with scientists, conservation groups and local communities to further the efforts of wildlife conservation and sustainable community tourism.
Over the next three years, Quark Expeditions and our guests will invest over $2.5M USD through our conservation and community partnerships and projects.
We connect our guests to the natural world through hands-on experiences and education.
Advancing Polar Research
Every year, we provide researchers access to remote areas, advancing data on polar wildlife and ecosystems, while enriching guest education onboard. Last year alone, we invested $440,000 in in-kind berths.
Supporting Polar Conservation
Through onboard auctions and direct contributions, we help fund conservation organizations like Blue Marine Foundation, Penguin Watch, South Georgia Heritage Trust and more. In 2024, our team and guests donated $215,000 towards polar research and conservation.
Proud Members of Industry Associations
We actively contribute to industry membership associations that govern tourism in the polar regions by proudly serving on 30 committees and working groups for IAATO, AECO, CLIA, and Travel Nunavut.
We deliver authentic experiences for our guests that benefit our local partners and the communities we visit.
Partnering with Local Organizations
We partner with local organizations to create experiences that connect guests with communities and their traditions. Our Tundra to Table dining experience has been featured in National Geographic, Smithsonian, Afar and others, informing an audience of over 10-million people about Igapall and Greenlandic cuisine.
Supporting Community Programs
We work with Arctic communities to support their goals for economic development and sustainable tourism—strengthened by local guide placement, we have put more than $200,000 USD towards community programming in 2024.
Investing in Communities
Through onboard auctions and program proceeds, we help fund initiatives such as cultural infrastructure, community-led food banks, and culturally and linguistically relevant programs. Last year, the Quark Expeditions team and our guests donated $80,000 to community and education.
Land Acknowledgement
Quark Expeditions acknowledges and affirms the Articles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and recognizes Indigenous peoples’ inherent rights and historical territories.
Our office is located in the Toronto region, the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. We acknowledge that this land is covered by Treaty 13, signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties, signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.
The areas we visit – the Arctic, subarctic, and coastal regions of southern South America – are the traditional homelands of many Indigenous Peoples. These include the Inuit within Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit of Kalaallit Nunaat, and the Yagán and the Selk’nam of current-day Patagonia. These places have complex colonial histories, about which we have much to learn.
We offer our gratitude and respect to Indigenous Peoples for their enduring wisdom and stewardship of these lands and waters. We honor the ancestors who cared for these territories as well as the present-day guardians who continue to safeguard the ecosystems, historical sites, and sacred places that we have the honor of visiting.
Reconciliation is an ongoing process for us all. We are committed to partnering with and learning from Indigenous communities to ensure our presence is respectful and contributes positively to their lands and cultures. Connection to land, histories, languages, and cultures is essential to identity. We honor this connection as we work to build a We invite you to learn more about the people who have inhabited the land you are on or are visiting.
About Quark Expeditions

For over 30 years, Quark Expeditions has translated our polar obsession into unforgettable customer experiences. With the most passionate and experienced team in the industry and a spirit of innovation, we take customers deeper into the polar regions, get them off-ship more often, and give them more goosebump moments. As a proud member of the Travelopia group of companies, we are dedicated to delivering extraordinary experiences that enrich lives through the transformative power of travel.
About Quark Expeditions

For over 30 years, Quark Expeditions has translated our polar obsession into unforgettable customer experiences. With the most passionate and experienced team in the industry and a spirit of innovation, we take customers deeper into the polar regions, get them off-ship more often, and give them more goosebump moments. As a proud member of the Travelopia group of companies, we are dedicated to delivering extraordinary experiences that enrich lives through the transformative power of travel.