Ultramarine

Balena is Ultramarine’s main dining room, serving three rotating meals daily with menus that punch above expedition ship norms. Globally inspired, ingredient-forward cooking designed for guests who’ve just come back from a helicopter landing on a polar ridge and have genuinely earned a proper dinner.

Ultramarine’s Panorama Lounge spans the forward section with floor-to-ceiling windows and raised seating built for wildlife observation underway. It’s the social and intellectual hub of the ship — expedition briefings, post-landing recaps, and the impromptu congregations that happen when a whale surfaces off the bow or the ice gets interesting.

Quark Expeditions’ expedition team aboard Ultramarine is one of the most experienced in the polar industry, drawing on Quark’s 30+ year operational history in both poles. The team includes certified polar guides, ornithologists, glaciologists, marine biologists, and climate specialists who lead all shore excursions and deliver the onboard enrichment program. Quark’s institutional knowledge of Antarctic conditions, landing site timing, and wildlife behavior gives Ultramarine’s program an operational edge that newer operators in the market haven’t yet built.

Ultramarine carries 20 quick-launch Zodiacs — the largest deployment fleet of any expedition ship currently operating — enabling virtually all 199 guests to reach shore in a single, fast boarding wave rather than the multiple waves that extend landing time on most ships. This translates directly into more time ashore per person per day and a significantly faster operational tempo. On days with multiple landing sites, the Zodiac fleet advantage compounds: less time in transit, more time exploring. The Zodiac fleet also supports concurrent helicopter operations without creating bottlenecks in the excursion schedule.

Ultramarine’s dual helicopter program is the ship’s signature differentiator and the primary reason many travelers choose it over other expedition ships. Two helicopters operate from dedicated helipads, providing access to landing sites inaccessible by Zodiac — remote mountain plateaus, inner glacier approaches, and elevated coastal positions with entirely different perspectives on the Antarctic landscape. Helicopter excursions also enable aerial penguin colony surveys from above, a view that most Antarctic travelers never experience. The helicopter program is included in the base fare on most itineraries and is coordinated by the expedition team based on daily weather and conditions.

Ultramarine’s 20-Zodiac fleet — the largest deployment capacity of any expedition ship — enables fast, high-frequency shore landings with minimal wait time between waves. Combined with the helicopter program, the result is an expedition day that moves at a pace and covers ground that no Zodiac-only or single-helicopter ship can match.

The Owner’s Suite is one of Ultramarine’s two flagship 3-room suites, featuring a private bedroom with walk-in closet, a separate living room with L-shaped sofa, a formal dining area, and a bathroom with full tub and premium finishes. The balcony at this category is private and generously sized. Guests in the Owner’s Suite receive priority helicopter and Zodiac boarding, included spa package, upgraded pre/post hotel accommodations where applicable, and arrival transfer inclusions. The 3-room layout makes the Owner’s Suite genuinely residential in feel — a private apartment at the edge of the world.

The Ultra Suite is the largest and most premium accommodation on Ultramarine — a 3-room suite at 563 sq ft with a private bedroom and walk-in closet, a separate living room, dining area, full bathtub, and a private balcony. Like the Owner’s Suite, the Ultra comes with an included spa package, pre/post upgraded hotel accommodations, and arrival transfers. What distinguishes the Ultra Suite is the overall finishes and the particular positioning on the ship, which gives the balcony distinctive views. There is nothing larger or more comprehensively appointed on Ultramarine.

The Penthouse Suite on Ultramarine is located on Deck 7 between the Panorama Lounge and the spa, occupying one of the ship’s most desirable positions. The expanded interior has a fully defined sitting area with couches and bucket chairs, a separate bathtub and shower in the bathroom, and a private balcony. At this category the suite begins to feel like a genuine lounge-style space rather than a bedroom with extra furniture. Priority helicopter and Zodiac boarding, and the full expedition program, are unchanged from the entry categories below.

The Explorer Suite is Ultramarine’s most numerous double-occupancy category — 30 cabins, no balcony, but large ocean-view windows that bring the polar environment into the room without the cold air. At 285 sq ft the suite is genuinely spacious, with a queen bed, separate seating area, and a premium bathroom with heated floors and rain-head shower. This is the cabin most first-time Quark travelers book: it delivers everything you need from Ultramarine without paying the balcony premium, and the dual helicopter and 20-Zodiac expedition program is identical at every category.

The Deluxe Balcony Suite steps up from the Balcony Suite with a larger interior (299 sq ft), a more generous balcony (70 sq ft), and the addition of a separate bathtub alongside the rain-head shower. At this category the bathroom becomes a genuine feature of the cabin rather than just a functional space — heated floors, separate tub, and premium finishes throughout. The larger balcony at 70 sq ft is also the first category where outdoor seating feels genuinely comfortable for two people spending time rather than just stepping out briefly.

The Terrace Suite is one of only two of its category on Ultramarine, making it among the ship’s most exclusive accommodations. The defining feature is the terrace itself — significantly larger than any balcony on the ship, providing a private outdoor space that feels more like a deck than a balcony. The interior matches the suite ambition: a full seating area, premium bathroom with separate tub and shower, and the elevated finishes that distinguish the top suite categories. If outdoor living is your priority and you want the most private outdoor space Ultramarine offers short of the flagship suites, the Terrace Suite is the category.

The Balcony Suite is the first category on Ultramarine to offer a private step-out balcony — and at 46 cabins, it’s the most common choice for guests who want direct outdoor access from their room. The balcony is furnished with low tables and padded loungers, and the interior at 226 sq ft has a queen bed, sitting area, and a bathroom with heated floors and rain-head shower. Worth knowing: on some Balcony Suites on Deck 4, the balcony is partially enclosed rather than fully open — your ABC Trips broker can identify which specific cabins have the best configuration for your itinerary.

The Solo Panorama is the only way to book Ultramarine without paying a single supplement — a dedicated solo cabin with a single bed, floor-to-ceiling windows, writing desk, and a private bathroom with heated floors. At 132 sq ft it’s compact but not cramped, and the floor-to-ceiling windows make it feel considerably larger than the numbers suggest. For solo travelers who want to be on Ultramarine without the financial penalty of booking a double room solo, this is the cabin. Full helicopter and Zodiac expedition access applies identically to every other category on the ship.

The Explorer Triple is Ultramarine’s shared cabin option — three fixed single berths configured for either same-gender solo travelers sharing the cabin or for groups of three. Located aft on Deck 3, it’s the most economical way to access Ultramarine’s full expedition program, including the dual helicopters, 20 Zodiacs, and Quark’s 30+ year polar expertise. No balcony, but the expedition access is identical to every other category on the ship.