Quark Expeditions has opened bookings for its Arctic 2028 and Antarctic 2028/2029 seasons, the earliest season launch in the polar operator’s 35-year history, with more than 70 departures and a clutch of new products including a guided photography programme and its first pre- and post-voyage extensions, the company said on June 23.
The early launch gives agents an unusually long selling runway for high-value expedition product, with public bookings opening on June 23 after past guests received early access from June 16, and an early booking bonus running while inventory lasts.
The new guided photography programme runs across both seasons, capping each excursion at 16 participants under a dedicated lead photo guide, with priority Zodiac positioning, slower-paced field time, and daily workshops and image reviews.
Quark’s first expedition extensions are available before and after select voyages, taking in Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Iguazu Falls, wellness experiences in Finland and Iceland’s volcanic landscapes, packaging the gateway regions that travellers pass through en route to the poles.
The Antarctic 2028/2029 season covers the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, Patagonia and the rarely visited emperor penguin colony at Snow Hill Island, reachable by helicopter from the vessel Ultramarine and subject to ice conditions. The Antarctic Marine Mammals voyage aboard World Voyager returns with researcher Ari Friedlaender, offering guests citizen science and whale identification.
For Arctic 2028, a new Canadian Arctic voyage explores the Northwest Passage with visits to Arctic Bay and Lancaster Sound, while the season spans five regions: Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, the Canadian Arctic and Atlantic Canada. The Tundra to Table culinary programme returns for four voyages aboard Ultramarine, co-developed with the Greenlandic chef collective Igapall.
Quark said it would provide 470 cruise nights to research partners across both seasons, with confirmed partners including Seabird Watch, SmartICE, Penguin Watch and Saving Marion Island’s Seabirds.
“This season gives travelers even more opportunities to engage with these destinations through exploration, learning, wildlife encounters, and cultural experiences, while staying true to the spirit of adventure that has defined Quark Expeditions for more than 35 years,” said Quark Expeditions President Sam Seward.
Why it matters for the trade
An early launch is a commercial signal as much as a logistical one. By putting 2028 and 2028/2029 inventory on sale this far out, Quark gives agents room to sell expedition cruise as a considered, high-ticket purchase rather than a late-season scramble, and the early booking bonus gives them a reason to push clients to commit now. The product mix also rewards consultative selling: photography instruction, curated land extensions and citizen science are the kind of differentiators that justify expedition pricing and resist direct-booking erosion. For agents building polar portfolios, the extensions are the standout, turning a single voyage into a multi-stop itinerary with add-on margin across Patagonia, Iceland and Finland.