Jetsettersblog

Quark Expeditions’ new 2009 Arctic catalogue features two styles of travel and nine itineraries that take adventurers to the most remote places in the North. Highlights of the season include an expedition to the North Pole aboard the world’s largest, newest and most powerful nuclear icebreaker 50 Years of Victory, a visit to the Tanquary Fjord accompanied by a film crew from the British Broadcasting Corporation and a journey following in wake of His Majesty’s Ships Fury and Hecla.

 Specializing exclusively in polar expeditions, Quark in 2008 expanded its line of Arctic trips to include Adventure Ship voyages on ice-strengthened vessels that complement its traditional menu of Ice Breaker adventures. In 2009, Quark’s icebreakers will sail to the North Pole, transit the Northwest Passage, explore Tanquary Fjord, push north of 80 Degrees and travel through the Fury and Hecla Strait.

These 14- to 19-day trips take place on the helicopter-equipped 50 Years of Victory or the Kapitan Khlebnikov. Adventure Ship expeditions offer kayaking on a variety of departures — “Spitsbergen Explorer,” “Spitsbergen, Eastern Greenland, Iceland,” “High Arctic Explorer” and “Heart of the Northwest Passage.” These 11- to 15-day trips take place on the Akademik Sergey Vavilov, Adakemik Shokalskiy or Akademik Ioffe.

Quark has chartered the world’s largest and most sophisticated nuclear-powered icebreaker 50 Years of Victory. In its first year of service as a passenger vessel, Victory broke all crossing records.

 In 2009, the company will feature three trips to the North Pole. Guests will start their journey in Helsinki, Finland, and be transported to Murmansk, Russia to board 50 Years of Victory. Depending on ice conditions, Victory will take between four and six days to crush through the pack ice to reach the North Pole. During the voyage, guests will take a helicopter for an aerial view of Victory breaking the ice. Once passengers reach the North Pole, they descend to the ice for the traditional Top of the World BBQ. Throughout the trip, guests are alerted to polar bear sightings day or night.

 On the homeward journey, a helicopter transfers guests to the remote islands of Franz Josef Land for hiking, birding and beachcombing. The 16- or 15-day North Pole Expeditions will take place on June 14, June 27 and July 9. Prices range from $22,690 to $33,390 per person.

For more information, call 800-356-5699 or visit www.quarkexpeditions.com