Luxurious Sea Spirit Cruises the Antarctic Peninsula for the First Time

A New Era Begins for Quark Expeditions

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Nov 10, 2010, 10:36 ET

WATERBURY, Vt., Nov. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 1991, Quark Expeditions has specialized in polar cruises to the Arctic and Antarctica. Today, the company, which operates the largest fleet of polar adventure ships in the Southern Ocean, announced the addition of Sea Spirit. The ship, formerly known as Spirit of Oceanus, will make its maiden Antarctic voyage in December 2010.

Sea Spirit

Sea Spirit is a departure for Quark. She is the company's first luxury ship with twin or king size beds for sleeping. All 57 cabins have sitting areas, facilities en suite and exterior views; 15 cabins have private balconies accessed by sliding doors. The public amenities include an elegant reception desk, exercise room and a hot tub next to a bistro. Quark president Hans Lagerweij stressed, "Sea Spirit takes our quality to a new standard, without sacrificing our exceptional reputation for polar adventure."

The Inaugural Antarctic Voyage

The inaugural itinerary – Explorers' Quest – is a 20-day voyage from Ushuaia, Argentina to the Antarctic Peninsula, then on to remote South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. Disembarkation is in Ushuaia, January 10, 2011. The expedition includes a night in a hotel in Ushuaia, prior to embarking the ship.

All meals, accommodation and activities are included in the price. Travelers will be taken ashore in inflatable rubber boats. They will visit penguin rookeries and research stations as well as enjoy "tea" at a private "camp" or farm in the Falklands. The per person price in US dollars for a Main Deck cabin is $14,590.

In addition to the Explorer's Quest itinerary, Sea Spirit will sail Quark's Antarctic Adventure, 11 or 12-day cruises along the western coast of the Peninsula. Per person prices in US dollars for a Main Deck cabin range from $6,890 to $7,390.

The Owner's Suite

Sea Spirit's most luxurious cabin is the Owner's Suite, which has a spacious separate living room with a game and meeting area. Large sliding glass doors lead to a private sun deck at the bow of the ship. Amenities include a walk-in closet, high definition plasma TV/VCR combination, and a BOSE stereo system. The en suite facilities have a jetted bathtub, and the separate bedroom has a king size bed. There is a sofabed in the livingroom. The per person price in US dollars for Sea Spirit's inaugural Antarctic voyage is $21,990.

Join the Inaugural Cruise to Antarctica and Save between $2,800 and $5,400

The historic inaugural sailing is available at a Buy One, Get One at 50 off. Depending on the choice of cabin category, travelers can save anywhere between USD$2,800 and $5,400. Berths are available on a first come, first served basis. Travelers can call Quark Expeditions directly to book: toll free 1.888.892.0171 or +1.203.803.2666. They should ask for the Sea Spirit BOGO offer.

About Quark Expeditions

Since 1991, Quark Expeditions has specialized in expedition cruising to the Arctic and Antarctica, in ships with ice-strengthened hulls or in icebreakers. The first voyage operated by Quark was The Transpolar Bridge Cruise in 1991. The ship was the nuclear powered icebreaker Sovetskiy Soyuz. She sailed across the top of the world via Franz Josef Land, the North Pole, the New Siberian Islands, the Wrangel Island area and the Chukotka Peninsula, disembarking in Provideniya, Russia. 2011 is Quark Expeditions 20th anniversary as a polar adventure specialist.

SOURCE Quark Expeditions