EXPEDITION

QUARK EXPEDITIONS

Established 30 years ago, Quark Expeditions is a key player in this sector, ratcheting up a number of tourism firsts to the polar regions.

The US-based line unveiled its first purpose-built polar vessel Ultramarine last November, taking 199 guests and equipped with two twin-engine helicopters, wrap-around deck and a water-level Zodiac hangar enabling guests to embark the ship’s 20-strong fleet of inflatable Zodiacs in half the average time. Ultramarine is set to debut new adventure and wilderness activities ranging from heli-hiking and alpine kayaking to mountain biking. Quark also promises a first in polar adventure travel this summer with a sea, land and air exploration of Greenland as part of a one-week cruise from Reykjavik that includes an overnight back-country camping experience. Other voyage highlights of its Arctic summer season include a photography expedition to Spitsbergen and a Jewels of the Russian Arctic itinerary.

020 3514 2712; quarkexpeditions.com

SILVERSEA cruises

Having debuted its newest expedition ship in the Galapagos Islands last summer and converted classic ocean ship to an ice-class expedition vessel capable of handling extreme conditions, Silversea powers into 2022 with a four-strong expeditionary fleet. In March, for a 91-day odyssey, visiting 71 destinations in 22 countries including Istanbul, Sorrento, Bordeaux and St Petersburg before finishing in Stockholm. starts this year in Antarctica, having commenced its winter schedule of voyages from the new port of Puerto Williams in Chile last November. It then sails to the Indian Ocean for a new expedition voyage from Zanzibar to Mahé, exploring some of the most beautiful islands of the Seychelles, before spending the summer in Australia’s rugged Kimberley region.