Features of the Vessel

40-day Operational Range
Ultramarine is designed to go beyond the familiar in polar exploration, to discover new places, and to immerse you in the best the region has to offer and relies on its best-in-class 40-day operational range to do so.

Four Embarkation Points
Embarkation points on the starboard, port, and stern of the ship mean we can load and embark Zodiacs faster, safer and easier than ever before.

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.

Twin Engine Helicopters (Excluding Svalbard and Spitsbergen Voyages)
Two twin-engine helicopters operated from two helidecks allow more passengers to simultaneously experience new destinations accessible only by air, and to enjoy more unique aerial perspectives of the polar regions than on any other ship.

Please note that Ultramarine’s twin engine helicopters do not operate on our Svalbard and Spitsbergen voyages.

Water-level Zodiac Hangar
An internal Zodiac hangar quickly and safely deploys Ultramarine’s twenty Zodiacs, allowing for more spontaneous off-ship adventures and more intimate wildlife engagement. This unique design allows guests to get off the ship in half the time of other vessels.​

Wraparound Deck
The wraparound deck located on Deck 5 of Ultramarine offers generous outdoor viewing opportunities to take in the polar landscapes and seize the moment when wildlife encounters occur.

Features and Amenities

Ready Rooms
Designed for efficiency—with wider hallways, plenty of seating, and conveniently located bathrooms—our two ready rooms allow guests to quickly change in and out of their expedition gear.

Polar Boutique
Forgot something at home? Don’t worry. Our Polar Boutique is stocked with the industry’s top cold-weather expedition gear. ​

Ambassador Theater
A state-of-the-art, high-resolution LED screen wall in the main theater ensures high-definition viewing of presentations from your Expedition Team from any angle. ​

Balena Restaurant
Featuring table tops that accommodate 2 to 10, guests can enjoy a quiet dinner with a loved one or join a larger table of new friends. Guests will also enjoy views from every seat in addition to direct access to the wraparound deck.

Bridge
During your voyage you may be given access to the Bridge, where you can observe how the Captain and officers sail and navigate the ship.

Bistro 487
Guests can enjoy a meal in the Bistro which offers an indoor/outdoor dining experience. Perfect for enjoying the polar landscapes.

Tundra Spa
Offering a variety of treatments exclusively crafted for our guests, the spa and adjacent steam room allow passengers; to fully relax and unwind before their next off-ship adventure.

Tundra Sauna
Perfectly juxtaposed luxury: guests can rest and relax in the comfort and warmth of the sauna while enjoying the spectacular views outside.​

Fitness Center
In the fully-equipped fitness center, featuring a separate yoga space with views to the outside.

Panorama Lounge and Bar
Enclosed in glass and featuring unobstructed views, the Panorama Lounge and Bar allows guests to relax indoors while staying connected to the awe-inspiring landscapes drifting by. ​It serves as a cozy gathering point where guests can sip a glass of wine, engage in great conversation, indulge in a board game, or socialize at the bar—and, later in the evening, bust a move on the dance floor.

We Use Helicopters for More Than Just Flightseeing

Ultramarine features two twin-engine Airbus H145 helicopters that are designed to take travelers deeper into the Polar Regions than any other helicopter in its class. Our helicopters mean we can move people to explore further once they arrive in the Polar Regions, to set foot where few humans have ever walked—something our competition can’t offer.

Highlights of Quark Expeditions’ Industry-leading Helicopter Program

Unbeatable Polar Helicopter Experiences
Quark Expeditions’ two twin-engine Airbus H145 helicopters are able to take guests further over the polar landscape than any other helicopter in its category, and deliver the largest portfolio of off-ship adventure options in the industry.

Most Experienced Team
The Quark Expeditions team has the most experience getting guests off the ship—as much as possible—during polar voyages. Our guests also benefit from flying with helicopter pilots who have impressive track records, as well as worldly experience to share during flights.

Adventure Meets Luxury
Guests will enjoy superior comfort (with 6 window seats) in a sleek, best-in-class helicopter equipped with interior padding for a quieter flight, individual seats, and large scratch-proof windows that are perfect for photography.

Industry-leading Polar Safety
The H145 helicopter features advanced autopilot technology and cutting-edge safety features that make it the safest aircraft in its category.

Advanced Sustainability
The H145 helicopters—which are the most fuel-efficient in their class—are celebrated for their small external footprint and reduced noise pollution.

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.