First off, I have never been a “cruise person” so when we booked this trip I was hesitant whether it would be our vibe or not but we really wanted to see polar bears so we figured what the heck. I was pleasantly shocked at how intimate the Ultramarine felt. 185 people sounds like a lot but Quark has really nailed down this experience to make it feel tailored and personal. The activities such as zodiac cruises, hikes and other landing activities were broken up into small groups and I always ended up meeting really cool new people in my different groups.

The second thing was the staff and expedition leaders. These people are in a league of their own. The hotel staff made you feel like you were at a high end hotel and the service was wonderful. Our room attendant, Benjie, never missed a beat and our room was always perfect thanks to him. The restaurant staff was excellent, and the expedition leaders were incredible. All of them were so knowledgeable on Arctic wildlife, culture, environments and so much more. It was a pleasure becoming friends with some of them, as they often joined us for meals so we really felt like we knew them by the end of the trip.

The ship itself also surprised me, as to how modern it was (it’s only 2 years old). The massages I had at the spa were a perfect way to end a day, and the sauna overlooking the scenery was sublime. The gym was also well appointed and better than many hotel gyms we have frequented which was a nice bonus. Our balcony cabin felt spacious enough and cozy and the view never got old with the 24 hours of daylight we had. The highlight for me was the Panorama Lounge with impressive panoramic views of the glaciers and whales. This is where we hung out with new friends, sipped on bubbly in the evenings, even joined in games of Uno with our younger shipmates. It was the perfect place to unwind, and enjoy the vastness of the Arctic. I expected cool wildlife, but the amount we saw was stunning (coming from a safari enthusiast who felt like they’d seen it all until now). 8 polar bears, hundreds of walrus, birds galore, seals and whales at what seemed like every turn, all with the most magnificent backdrop, was absolutely beyond what we had imagined.

Lastly was the size of the scenery. What were large animals seemed so tiny amongst the massive glaciers and mountains. It really makes you stop and appreciate how big the world is, and how small we are in it.

If you can make it up to this part of the world, DO IT. Quark is the leader in polar excursions and they really proved it to us why that is. We have made some lifelong friends through this journey, and we can’t wait to do it again with my daughter!