Explorer Triple
Please call$17,016 pp
- Capacity
- 3 guests
- Size
- 285 sq. ft.
- Location
- Deck 3
- Beds
- 3 single beds; two convert to a double
Bestmates Travel — Group Expedition
Antarctica Expedition 2028
January 7–18, 2028 · 12 Days · Quark Ultramarine
"12 days at the end of the earth"
Join the GroupDeparture
Jan 7, 2028
Return
Jan 18, 2028
Duration
12 Days
Group Size
Limited
Confirmed Sailing
Quark Expeditions, Ultramarine
Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent is a 12-day expedition cruise from Buenos Aires, with included charter flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia. Quark's public availability for the January 7-18, 2028 Ultramarine sailing currently shows space in several cabin categories.
Ship
Ultramarine
Dates
January 7-18, 2028
Departure ID
33480
Route
Buenos Aires round trip
Useful Links
Live Public Pricing Snapshot
Rough per-person fares, USD
Prices below are Quark public per-person fares for the January 7-18, 2028 Ultramarine sailing. Cabin capacity is shown so solo, double, and triple-share pricing is easier to read.
Explorer Suite
Available$19,821 pp
- Capacity
- 2 guests
- Size
- 285 sq. ft.
- Location
- Deck 3
- Beds
- 1 double or 2 single beds
Balcony Suite
Available$21,606 pp
- Capacity
- 2 guests
- Size
- 226 sq. ft. + 52 sq. ft. balcony
- Location
- Decks 4 and 6
- Beds
- 1 double or 2 single beds
Solo Panorama
Sold out publicly$29,766 pp
- Capacity
- 1 guest
- Size
- 132 sq. ft.
- Location
- Deck 6
- Beds
- 1 twin bed
Deluxe Balcony Suite
4 cabins left$25,346 pp
- Capacity
- 2 guests
- Size
- 299 sq. ft. + 70 sq. ft. balcony
- Location
- Decks 4 and 6
- Beds
- 1 double or 2 single beds
Terrace Suite
1 cabin left$26,281 pp
- Capacity
- 2 guests
- Size
- 350 sq. ft. + 100 sq. ft. balcony
- Location
- Deck 6
- Beds
- 1 double or 2 single beds
Penthouse Suite
Available$28,066 pp
- Capacity
- 2 guests
- Size
- 369 sq. ft. + 67 sq. ft. balcony
- Location
- Deck 7
- Beds
- 1 double or 2 single beds
Owner's Suite
1 cabin left$34,526 pp
- Capacity
- 2 guests
- Size
- 446 sq. ft. + 46 sq. ft. balcony
- Location
- Deck 6
- Beds
- Private bedroom, double or 2 singles
Ultra Suite
1 cabin left$38,266 pp
- Capacity
- 2 guests
- Size
- 563 sq. ft. + 46 sq. ft. balcony
- Location
- Deck 6
- Beds
- Private bedroom, double or 2 singles
Pricing and inventory can change until Quark confirms a quote. Bestmates/Fora bookings are expected to be eligible for a Virtuoso shipboard credit, currently about $250 per person, subject to final Quark confirmation. Cabin photos and capacity data are sourced from Quark's Ultramarine ship page.
The Expedition
The last great wilderness on earth
Antarctica is not a destination. It is an experience that rewires you. Rand is joining Quark Expeditions' Antarctic Explorer aboard Ultramarine in January 2028, and this is your invitation to come with him.
This trip is offered in partnership with Rick.Travel, bringing together two communities for the adventure of a lifetime. From Zodiac landings on the ice to watching humpback whales breach near the bow, this is the trip people spend a lifetime dreaming about.
🐧
Wildlife Encounters
Get close — very close — to penguin colonies, leopard seals, and humpback whales in their natural habitat. No zoo glass, no crowds. Just you and them.
🛥️
Zodiac Landings
Step ashore on the Antarctic continent via inflatable Zodiac craft. Walk among penguin rookeries, hike to glacier viewpoints, and kayak through ice floes.
🌊
The Drake Passage
Cross the world's most legendary stretch of ocean — the Drake Passage — between South America and Antarctica. A rite of passage for any true expedition traveler.
🧊
Icebergs & Glaciers
Antarctica holds 70% of the world's fresh water as ice. Sail through fjords, past sculpted icebergs the size of city blocks, and walk on glaciers that have existed for millennia.
🔭
Expert Naturalist Guides
Every expedition includes naturalists, marine biologists, and glaciologists on board. They bring Antarctica to life with lectures, field notes, and on-the-ground expertise.
✨
Pristine & Untouched
No development. No infrastructure. No other tourists on your beach. Antarctica is the last truly wild place on earth — and strict limits on visitor numbers keep it that way.
Itinerary Overview
12 Days, End to End
✈️
Jan 7 Depart
Fly to Ushuaia, Argentina
The southernmost city in the world. Overnight before boarding.
⚓
Jan 8 Day 2
Set Sail — Drake Passage
Board the expedition vessel in Ushuaia and begin crossing the Drake Passage southward.
🌊
Jan 9–10 Days 3–4
Crossing the Drake
Two days at sea. Wildlife briefings, naturalist lectures, and your first sightings of albatross and petrels.
🐧
Jan 11–16 Days 5–10
Antarctica — Expedition Days
Daily Zodiac landings, wildlife encounters, glacier hikes, kayaking, and exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula. Every day is different.
🌅
Jan 17 Day 11
Return Drake Crossing
Northbound through the Drake. Farewell dinner, recap lectures, final views of the ice.
🏠
Jan 18 Day 12
Arrive Ushuaia — Return Home
Disembark in Ushuaia and connect to your return flights. Changed forever.
What to Expect
The expedition experience
This sailing is on Quark Expeditions' Ultramarine, a purpose-built polar expedition ship with helicopters, Zodiac operations, and an expedition team on board. Rand is joining this expedition himself, alongside the Rick.Travel community. He'll handle the advisor logistics and make sure the group has what it needs.
- ✓ One pre-expedition Buenos Aires hotel night with breakfast
- ✓ Charter flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia
- ✓ Group transfers between hotel, airport, and ship
- ✓ All onboard meals, snacks, soft drinks, juices, select beer, wine, and cocktails
- ✓ Zodiac cruising, shore landings, and expedition team programming
- ✓ One included heli-flightseeing excursion, weather and logistics permitting
- ✓ Quark parka to keep and waterproof expedition boots on loan
- ✓ Basic Wi-Fi, port charges, service taxes, and onboard luggage handling
90° South
The Bottom
of the World
Antarctica sits at 90° South — as far from everywhere as it's possible to be. No permanent human population. No time zones. Just ice, wildlife, and the most profound silence you will ever experience.
5.5M mi²
Continent size
<100K
Annual visitors
8
Species of penguin
~1.4 mi
Ice thickness
Antarctica 2028
Ready to go to the end of the earth?
Rand is going on this Quark Expeditions sailing, and this is your invitation to join him. In partnership with Rick.Travel, we're bringing together two communities for the adventure of a lifetime. Express your interest and we'll confirm the latest cabin quote, availability, and Virtuoso shipboard credit.
Join the GroupEmail randy@bestmates.travel · No commitment required
Questions
What people are asking
What is the current pricing? +
Quark public pricing for this sailing currently starts around $19,821 per person for Explorer Suite availability, with higher categories available up to Ultra Suite. Inventory changes quickly, so Bestmates will confirm the exact quote with Quark before booking.
What kind of ship will we be on? +
The sailing is on Quark Expeditions' Ultramarine, a modern polar expedition ship with Zodiac operations, helicopters, multiple restaurants, wellness spaces, and cabins ranging from Explorer Suite to Ultra Suite.
Is Antarctica physically demanding? +
Not especially — Zodiac landings are accessible to most people in reasonable health. There are optional kayaking and snowshoeing activities for those who want more adventure. Most shore excursions involve walking on uneven terrain, so some mobility is needed.
What's the best time of year to go? +
January is peak austral summer — 20+ hours of daylight, penguin chick season, whale feeding season, and the most accessible ice conditions. It's the prime month for wildlife and weather.
Do I need travel insurance? +
Absolutely required. Antarctic expeditions need comprehensive travel insurance including emergency medical evacuation coverage. We'll provide specific guidance and recommended policies when we send trip details.