As 2025 starts, Quark Expeditions shared with its guests a recap of its 2024 achievements and operations.

According to an email sent by the company, 2024 was an “incredible year of exploring the polar regions,” which saw Quark offering 29 departures in the Arctic and 62 sailings in Antarctica.

The company’s fleet spent 257 nights at sea in the Arctic, in addition to 452 nights at sea in Antarctica and South Georgia.

Quark also said it encountered a record-breaking number of wildlife sightings during its itineraries in remote regions.

In the Arctic, the company’s ships registered sightings of eight whale species over 320 days, as well as puffin sightings on more than 90 days and polar bear sightings on 62 days.

In Antarctica, passengers were able to see penguins on almost 300 days, with registered encounters of Gentoo, Adélie, Chinstrap and Magellanic penguins.

Quark Expeditions’ 2024 was also highlighted by new itineraries and voyages, including new sailings to Patagonia, Greenland and the Canadian Arctic.

Set to be offered again in 2025 and 2026, the new cruise to Patagonia sails onboard the Ultramarine and is described as a “comprehensive journey into Chile’s spectacular network of fjords and channels” that sails to three national parks.

Another new itinerary that is returning in 2025, “Canada’s Remote Arctic: Northwest Passage to Ellesmere and Axel Heiberg Islands,” sails onboard the Ultramarine.

According to the company, the itinerary follows the natural guides of sea and ice to showcase the region’s cultural, historic and geographic treasures, aiming to approach the farthest stretches of the region.

Quark also debuted a new ship in 2024, with the Ocean Explorer replacing the Ocean Adventurer for the company’s operations in Antarctica and the Arctic.

Built in 2020 for SunStone Ships, the 140-guest vessel sailed for Vantage Travel before being chartered to the company last year.