Aurora puts you in a kayak. Quark puts you in a helicopter.
Two polar lines of similar size, priced about $1,000 apart on the same 11-day route. Aurora, the Australian small-ship line, sells ten ways off the ship and caps expeditions at 130 guests. Quark, the polar specialist, sells the view from above. Your answer to one question settles most of it.
Book Aurora if you want to do things in Antarctica — paddle, camp on the ice, dive under it. Every ship caps expeditions at 130 guests, the bar and Starlink are in the fare, and children from 6 can sail.
Book Quark if you want to see it from above or skip the sea crossing. Ultramarine is the only ship of the six with helicopters, and Quark sells more ways to fly the Drake. Its classic 11-day fare is a little lower too.
Both lines are serious polar operators, and either is a good choice for a first trip. Choose by the activity, not the brand.
In the water, or over the ice?
Both lines land you by Zodiac — the difference is what else you do on the best day of the trip.
The paddle
Ten optional activities: sea kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, ski and snowboard touring, camping, snowshoeing, paddling, stand-up paddleboarding, alpine climbing, and a three-day Shackleton’s Crossing on South Georgia. Antarctica Active builds four of them into the fare.
The rotor
Two twin-engine Airbus H145s fly from Ultramarine’s two helidecks, with flightseeing and landings built into Antarctica by Helicopter. Quark also runs a sea kayaking program, a one-off paddling excursion and camping on select departures.
Aurora is an Australian-owned line, founded in 1991 by Greg and Margaret Mortimer, with three near-identical X-BOW ships. Its whole pitch is the activity list — a long one, built for guests who want to be busy ashore, not just watching from the deck.
Scuba is the rarest item on it. Aurora says only a handful of divers go per voyage, with up to two dives a day.
Aurora’s best day is wet. Quark’s best day is airborne.
Quark’s helicopters are on one ship only, and they don’t fly in Svalbard. Its contract never refunds helicopter time that goes unused — weather included.
Neither line prints activity prices on the pages we read, so the true cost is a quote, not a number on the website. Ask for both before you choose a ship.
Three matched pairs, every extra visible
Aurora’s fares are already discounted, while Quark’s are shown before its promo codes — keep that in mind on every row.
Aurora against Quark, voyage by voyage
The list runs in pairs: the classic 11-day Antarctic voyage, an 11-day Svalbard voyage, and each line’s activity-led Antarctic trip. Tick what you’ll add.
Fares are each line’s lowest published “from” price per person, twin share. Aurora’s are sale prices as published on November 1, 2026, and Aurora runs frequent sales. Quark’s are before promo codes, as published on November 1, 2026. Rows at $0 have no published price; we’ll quote them.
Start with the first pair. From Ushuaia, Quark’s Antarctic Explorer is $1,041 cheaper on paper, and both include a gateway hotel night and a polar jacket or parka.
Then look at what each pours. Aurora’s bar includes premium spirits from the 2026/27 season, while Quark’s covers select drinks in bar hours, not the whole day.
Ask us for both quotes on the same day, so the sale and the promo are measured together.
Per night, pair by pair
Fares divided by nights aboard: our arithmetic on each line’s published figures, not a number either line prints.
Three of the pairs are like for like, and Quark is cheaper on two of them: the classic Antarctic voyage and Svalbard. Aurora is cheaper on Fly the Drake.
The activity pair is not like for like. Antarctica Active packs paddling and camping into 14 days, while Antarctica by Helicopter packs in flights — about $1,300 a night against $1,950.
The second tab shows how deep Aurora’s sale runs. Spirit of Antarctica drops from $18,395 to $15,636; Svalbard Odyssey from $20,395 to $15,296.
A sale fare is a snapshot, not a standing price. Book when the number you’re shown works for you, rather than waiting for a deeper one.
Aurora and Quark, on one table
Every cell is from the line’s own terms, ship pages and inclusions lists, not from agency listings.
| Item | Aurora | Quark |
|---|---|---|
| Ships | 3 X-BOW sisters: Greg Mortimer (2019), Sylvia Earle (2022), Douglas Mawson (2025). Greg Mortimer sails for Lindblad about six months a year from 2027 | 3: Ultramarine, Ocean Explorer, World Voyager (on charter from Atlas from November 2026) |
| Guests | Up to 130 on expeditions on all three (Greg Mortimer lists 148 in total); up to 154 on Douglas Mawson’s small-ship cruises | 138 to 199; no ship over 200 |
| Ice class | Ice Class 1A, Polar Code 6, all three (Aurora’s fleet page) | Ultramarine 1A+ and PC6; Ocean Explorer 1A and PC6; World Voyager 1B |
| Helicopters | None listed | Two H145s on Ultramarine; not flown in Svalbard |
| Activities | Ten optional add-ons; four included on Antarctica Active | Kayaking program, paddling excursion, camping on select departures, helicopter options |
| Guide ratio, as labeled | “Expedition Team-to-Expeditioner ratio 1:7” | “1:6 expedition team member-to-guest ratio” |
| Drinks and Wi-Fi | Beer, wine, cocktails, liqueurs; premium spirits from 2026/27; Starlink Wi-Fi | Select beer, wine and cocktails in bar hours; basic Wi-Fi on one device |
| Gear | 3-in-1 polar jacket; Muck boots to use | Parka to keep; boots loaned; waterproof pants required |
| Gateway night | One pre-voyage hotel night on every Antarctic voyage | One Ushuaia night on Antarctic Explorer; a $1,295 package from Buenos Aires |
| Gratuities | Included only in Junior and Captain’s Suites ($20 a day) | Not included; at your discretion |
| Solo policy | Balcony Solo cabins on all three ships; single staterooms on Douglas Mawson; about 50% more on the voyage we priced | Solo cabins on Ultramarine and Ocean Explorer; Request-Share with no single supplement; private-solo supplement not published |
| Deposit and final payment | 25% within seven working days; balance 120 days out | 25% at booking; balance 150 days before Day 1 |
| Cancellation | 121+ days: deposit kept, returned as a 24-month credit. 120–90 days: 100% kept, half back as credit. Under 90: no credit | Free for 15 days after confirmation (bookings over 180 days out); then 25%, 75% from 119 days, 100% from 89 |
| Insurance | Required: USD $250,000 medical and evacuation | Required: USD $50,000 medical; evacuation costs are yours |
| Minimum age | 6; ages 6 to 15 pay the adult fare | Above 8 |
The fleets are closer than they look. Aurora’s three ships and Quark’s Ocean Explorer are all SunStone Infinity-class X-BOW ships, built to the same basic design.
The guide ratios are close as well — 1:7 against 1:6, each labeled the line’s own way, so treat them as a tie, not a ranking.
The rows that split them are helicopters, activities, the bar and the payment clock, where Quark’s balance lands about a month earlier.
Circle the three rows you care about most, then read only those before you ask for a quote.
When each line sails, region by region
Dark cells are the core of the season; pale cells hold one or two departures.
Aurora and Quark, month by month
Two rows per region, one for each line. Tap any month for the voyage behind it.
Antarctica is nearly identical, November to March, with Aurora also listing a late-October start in 2027. The Arctic differs at the start. Quark is in Svalbard from April on its 2027 listings; Aurora arrives in June and stays through August.
Aurora also sails where Quark doesn’t: the Ross Sea and East Antarctica from the Australasian side, small-ship cruises in Europe, Costa Rica and Panama, and one Indonesia voyage. Quark’s year is the two poles and nothing else.
For spring sea ice in Svalbard, look at Quark; for a late-summer Svalbard trip in August, look at Aurora. Our Arctic, polar bear, Antarctica and landing sites guides explain what each month changes.
Twelve rows, three of them dead heats
Each ring is a fit score for an American couple on a first or second polar trip.
Quark’s Ultramarine carries two Airbus H145s. Aurora lists none on any ship.
Aurora lists ten add-ons, scuba and a three-day Shackleton’s Crossing among them. Quark offers kayaking, paddling, camping and helicopter options.
Neither line prints them on the pages we read. Aurora says fees apply; Quark quotes on request. Dead heat.
Aurora caps expeditions at 130 guests on every ship. Quark’s ships carry 138 to 199.
Aurora: 1:7 Expedition Team to Expeditioners. Quark: 1:6 expedition team member to guest. Different labels, near-identical numbers. Dead heat.
Both sell an 8-day Fly the Drake. Quark adds two one-way versions and Crossing the Circle by air.
Aurora pours beer, wine, cocktails and, from 2026/27, premium spirits, with Starlink Wi-Fi. Quark serves select drinks in bar hours and basic Wi-Fi on one device.
Quark is lower on the 11-day Antarctic and Svalbard voyages; Aurora is lower on Fly the Drake. Aurora’s figures are already sale fares.
Both take 25% down. Aurora’s balance is due at 120 days and an early cancellation returns the deposit as credit. Quark’s balance is due at 150 days, with a 15-day free window on bookings made more than 180 days out.
Aurora requires $250,000 of medical and evacuation cover; Quark requires $50,000 of medical and leaves evacuation to you. You’d buy a similar policy for either. Dead heat.
Aurora’s minimum age is 6, and ages 6 to 15 pay the adult fare. Quark welcomes minors above 8.
Aurora: about 50% more on Spirit of Antarctica, plus single staterooms on Douglas Mawson. Quark runs Request-Share but publishes no private-solo supplement. Unknown, not a loss.
Out of 10, our judgement on each line’s published facts, checked November 1, 2026. A question mark means the figure isn’t published, so the row counts as unknown, not as a loss for that line.
Aurora leads on more rows, but Quark’s three include the one row nobody else can match: helicopters. If that’s your reason to go, the tally doesn’t matter.
Weigh the rows that touch your trip — the count is a summary, not a verdict.
The fine print, card by card
Tap a card for the detail; Aurora’s figure comes first and Quark’s second on every card.
Aurora’s terms were updated in September 2026; Quark’s apply to bookings made on or after June 24, 2026. Both say your own booking confirmation governs.
Medical paperwork differs too. Aurora sends a self-assessment 90 days out, due back at 45 days; Quark’s medical forms are due 90 days before Day 1.
The insurance gap is smaller than it looks on paper. A policy that meets Aurora’s $250,000 rule also clears Quark’s $50,000 medical floor.
Buy that policy for either line. Compare plans in our expedition insurance guide before final payment.
Aurora, Quark, or a third line
We earn a commission when we book either line. These picks follow the facts above.
You want to paddle, camp or dive
Ten add-ons, scuba among them, and Antarctica Active with paddling, camping, snowshoeing and snorkeling in the fare.
You want to fly over the ice
Ultramarine’s helicopters, on voyages like Antarctica by Helicopter and South Greenland by Helicopter. Aurora has none.
You’re traveling with a 6- to 8-year-old
Aurora’s minimum age is 6. Quark welcomes minors above 8. Children pay the adult fare on Aurora.
The Drake worries you, or the fare matters most
More ways to fly the Drake, and the lower published fare on the 11-day Ushuaia voyage and in Svalbard.
You want activities in the fare for less
Oceanwide’s Basecamp voyages include kayaking, camping and mountaineering in the berth price — 13 days from $12,500 twin porthole.
A first trip to the Peninsula
Eleven days from Ushuaia, a polar jacket or parka, a gateway hotel night and a PC6-rated hull on both. You won’t pick wrong.
Aurora or Quark: the common questions
Is Aurora or Quark better for kayaking and camping?
Aurora lists more. Its optional activities page names ten add-ons, from sea kayaking and camping to scuba diving and a three-day Shackleton's Crossing, and its 14-day Antarctica Active puts paddling, camping, snowshoeing and snorkeling in the fare. Quark offers a sea kayaking program, a one-off paddling excursion and overnight camping on select departures. Neither line prints activity prices on the pages we read, so ask us for them.
Does Aurora have helicopters like Quark?
No. Aurora's three ships list no helicopters. Quark's Ultramarine carries two twin-engine Airbus H145 helicopters on two helidecks, and voyages such as Antarctica by Helicopter build flights into the fare. Quark doesn't fly them in Svalbard, and its contract never refunds unused helicopter time.
Which costs less for the same Antarctic itinerary?
On the classic 11-day voyage from Ushuaia, Quark's Antarctic Explorer starts from $14,595 and Aurora's Spirit of Antarctica from $15,636, as published. Aurora's figure is already a sale fare, while Quark's is before promo codes. On Fly the Drake the order flips: Aurora from $18,611, Quark from $19,695, both for 8 days. Compare quotes taken on the same day.
How do Aurora's and Quark's insurance rules differ?
Both require cover. Aurora's terms require at least USD $250,000 of medical and evacuation cover, with policy details due before final payment. Quark's FAQ requires at least USD $50,000 of medical cover, and its contract says evacuation and repatriation costs are yours. The CDC puts a remote evacuation above $250,000, so the policy you'd buy is similar either way.
Which line is better for solo travelers?
Aurora publishes its numbers. On Spirit of Antarctica the lowest solo fare was $23,454 against $15,636 twin share, about 50% more, and Douglas Mawson adds dedicated single staterooms. Quark has solo cabins on Ultramarine and Ocean Explorer and a Request-Share program that matches you with a same-gender guest with no single supplement, but it doesn't publish a private-solo supplement on the pages we read.
What ice class are Aurora's and Quark's ships?
Aurora's fleet page describes all three ships as Ice Class 1A, Polar Code 6 vessels. Quark lists Ultramarine at 1A+ and PC6, Ocean Explorer at 1A and PC6, and World Voyager at 1B. Both lines sail capable polar-summer ships, not icebreakers.
Kayak or helicopter? We’ll price both for your dates.
Tell us the region, the month and what you want to do off the ship. We’ll get the activity prices neither line prints, apply the live Aurora sale and Quark promo on the same day, and set both totals side by side.
- Activity and helicopter prices for your departure
- Same-day quotes from both lines
- One insurance policy that meets both rules
No fee, no obligation. You pay the cruise line’s own fare. A real advisor replies, usually within one business day.
Ask about Aurora or Quark
Answers come from this comparison and our two line guides.
Answers come from our guides and are general information. Confirm details with us before you book.
Where every figure came from
Ships, fares, inclusions and terms are each line’s own published figures, reused from our fact-checked Aurora and Quark guides on the date shown. Aurora’s fares are sale prices and Quark’s are before promo codes, so the two aren’t discounted the same way. Scores, tally, per-night figures and picks are our arithmetic and judgement. We earn a commission when we book either line; your booking confirmation governs.
Carry on comparing
The voyage, the gateway night, and the cover that matters out there.
Expedition trips have more moving parts than a Caribbean week: a charter flight, a night in a gateway city, gear lists and an evacuation clause the line sets for you. We book them together and check that the dates and the fine print agree.