Adventurous travelers heading to Svalbard, Greenland or Iceland who want lots of Zodiac and outdoor time.
Think twice if: On Svalbard (Europe) trips the helicopters are not used, so the ship's main selling point does not apply.
See her Europe sailings ↓ · Where is she now? → · Quark Expeditions's page for this ship →
What she's like
Quiet and personal. Small enough for little harbours big ships can't use. About 69 tons of ship per guest. As a rule of thumb, 40 or more feels roomy and under 30 feels busy.
Unknown from line's site.
Our judgment, from $ (budget) to $$$$$ (ultra-luxury).
Since the Antarctic 2024/25 season: complimentary Wi-Fi and alcohol on all voyages ('Raise a Glass and Stay Connected').
The line doesn't say.
The line doesn't say.
Where she sails in Europe
Svalbard/Arctic, Greenland
Two helicopters. Svalbard itineraries listed in 2026 (e.g., 13 May 2026 departure on agency listing).
We don't have her sailing-by-sailing schedule yet. See the line's site for dates.
What it costs beyond the fare
| Tips for the crew | Not found on line's pages read. |
|---|---|
| Drinks package | Included: 'Beer, standard wines and spirits, as well as cocktails, will be available to guests at no charge during bar service hours and dinner.' |
| Wifi | Included: one device at a time, basic browsing and voice apps; premium packages sold. |
| Money on board | not published (US dollar payments accepted for bookings). |
How tipping and money work on a European cruise → · Build a full trip budget →
Her restaurants · 0 included, 0 extra
| Where to eat | Cost |
|---|---|
| Balena Restaurant | Not stated |
| Bistro 487 | Not stated |
Which cabin to book, and which to avoid
| Cabin type | Size | Decks |
|---|---|---|
| Solo Panorama | 132 sq ft | 6 |
| Explorer Triple | 285 sq ft | 3 |
| Explorer Suite | 285 sq ft | 3 |
| Balcony Suite | 226 (+52 balcony) sq ft | 4, 6 |
| Deluxe Balcony Suite | 299 (+70 balcony) sq ft | 4, 6 |
| Terrace Suite | 350 (+100 balcony) sq ft | 6 |
| Penthouse Suite | 369 (+67 balcony) sq ft | 7 |
| Owner's Suite | 446 (+46 balcony) sq ft | 6 |
| Ultra Suite | 563 (+46 balcony) sq ft | 6 |
Good to know before you pick
- Deck 6 forward cabins sit above the Deck 5 Balena Restaurant
- Deck 7 Penthouse Suites are next to the Panorama Lounge & Bar (forward)
- Deck 6 aft cabins sit below Deck 7 Bistro 487 and the gym
- Accessibility-modified cabins marked on Deck 3 (319 and 322)
- Interconnecting suites marked on Deck 4 (423-430)
If you use a wheelchair or walk with difficulty
Elevators: One lift pair ('E') aft of midship, decks 2-7 Our accessibility guide →
Find your way around
Our own deck plans, drawn from the line's official plan: tap a deck to see it from above, with what's at the front, middle and back of the ship. Use “Find on board” to light up every deck with a pool, a bar or a restaurant. Not to scale.
- Deck 8 , Helipad (aft); Helipad (forward)
- Deck 7 , Studio; Bistro 487; Gym; Tundra Spa; Sauna; Library; Panorama Lounge & Bar
- Deck 6 , Cabins; Bridge
- Deck 5 , Ambassadors Theater; Balena Restaurant
- Deck 4 , Cabins
- Deck 3 , Reception; Polar Boutique; Clinic; Cabins
- Deck 2 , Zodiac Boarding (stern and sides); Ready Rooms A and B
What to book, and when
The line doesn't publish its booking windows where we could find them.
The ship in numbers
- Cruise line
- Quark Expeditions
- Kind of ship
- Expedition
- Built
- 2021
- Guests
- 199
- Crew
- 140
- Gross tons
- 13,827
- Length
- 128 m (420 ft)
- Flag
- Marshall Islands
- Class
- One-off (Brodosplit, 2021)
- Ship number
- IMO 9861017
- In Europe 2026–27
- Svalbard/Arctic, Greenland
Highlights
- Two twin-engine Airbus H145 helicopters, but they do NOT fly on Svalbard/Spitsbergen voyages
- Ice class 1A+, PC6; 20 Zodiacs in a water-level hangar
- Wraparound outdoor viewing deck on Deck 5
- Tundra Spa and sauna with views
Sources & what we could not confirm · 5 sources · checked 2026-11
- Quark Expeditions official ship page: Ultramarine
- Quark Expeditions (Wikipedia, secondary)
- VesselFinder registry entry
- Quark press release: free Wi-Fi and bar service (Dec 2023)
- Quark expedition terms and conditions
- Quark ship page has a 'Deck Plans & Cabins' section but deck names could not be read as text; decks left null.
- Quark page does not state dining charges; cost left null.
- Quark Expeditions: Gratuities
- Quark Expeditions: Dress code
- Quark Expeditions: Kids
- Quark Expeditions: Booking/cancellation
- Quark Expeditions: Accessibility
- Quark Expeditions: Whether 2023 press release still reflects 2026-27 policy
- Deck plan: Cabin sizes from the Ultramarine Ship Book PDF (uploaded 2020); column-to-category order matched by cabin counts and the book's text
- Deck plan: Blue-shaded rooms forward on Decks 3 and 4 have no legend match