Antarctica21 or Quark Expeditions: which is better for flying to Antarctica?

No score and no verdict of ours: what Antarctica21 and Quark Expeditions each publish on their own websites, read 9 November 2026, topic by topic, each line linked to the page it came from.

Antarctica21 or Quark Expeditions: which is better for flying to Antarctica?

Neither is better for everyone: Antarctica21 says it pioneered the Antarctica fly-cruise in 2003 and takes up to 88 guests on its air-cruises, while Quark Expeditions sells Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake on ships of 138 to 199 guests and shows no dated Antarctic price on the pages read.

What is each line?

Antarctica21 runs air-cruises that fly guests over the Drake Passage to Antarctica, plus sea voyages to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), South Georgia and Patagonia; it says it pioneered the Antarctica fly-cruise in 2003. Source

Quark Expeditions sells expedition voyages under its own name and says it only goes to the polar regions. Source

Which ships does each line sail?

Antarctica21 sails Magellan Explorer (launched in 2019) and Magellan Discoverer, which is being built at the ASENAV shipyard in Valdivia, Chile, for service from the 2026-27 season. Ocean Nova has left its fleet. Source

Quark Expeditions sails Ultramarine, for whose owner, Vinson Expeditions LLC, it says it is the exclusive agent. It also lists Ocean Explorer and World Voyager without saying who owns them; World Voyager is also in Atlas Ocean Voyages' fleet. Source

How many guests are on board?

Antarctica21 takes up to 88 guests on air-cruises and 96 on sea voyages on each ship, Magellan Explorer and Magellan Discoverer. Source

Quark Expeditions says its ships accommodate anywhere from 138 to 199 guests. Source

Where does each line sail?

Antarctica21 sells the Classic Antarctica Air-Cruise and Antarctica Express to the Antarctic Peninsula, the Polar Circle Air-Cruise to the Antarctic Circle, Falklands and South Georgia voyages plus a Patagonia & Chilean Fjords sea voyage from Puerto Montt to Ushuaia. Source

Quark Expeditions sells named voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula, across the Antarctic Circle, to South Georgia and the Falklands, Greenland and the Northwest Passage. Source

What ice class are the ships?

Antarctica21's Magellan Explorer is ice class LR PC6 and Magellan Discoverer is ice class PC6. Source

Quark Expeditions does not publish this on the pages read.

Who leads the landings?

Antarctica21 says each expedition is led by at least 12 polar guides, including expedition leaders, lecturers in natural and human history, a polar historian and glaciologists. Source

Quark Expeditions gives a 6:1 guest to guide ratio and says it guarantees one staff member to every 9.5 guests; its team includes paddle guides, photography guides, geologists, ornithologists and marine biologists. Source

How much time ashore?

Antarctica21 says only 100 tourists may be ashore at a time and its ships carry fewer than 100 guests, so all guests can land at once; a second excursion of the day follows in the late afternoon. Source

Quark Expeditions does not publish this on the pages read.

What can you do off the ship?

Antarctica21 includes Zodiac cruises and guided landings; sea kayaking is an optional extra for a maximum of 20 guests per expedition in two groups of 10; hiking and snowshoeing are extras with a minimum age of 15. Source

Quark Expeditions offers sea kayaking, a night camping on the snow, heli-landings, stand-up paddleboarding, mountain biking in South Greenland and guided photography; some activities are included as standard and others are booked in advance at extra cost. Source

What does a voyage cost?

Antarctica21 prices the Magellan Discoverer Inaugural Air-Cruise, 10 days from Punta Arenas in December 2026, from $16,995 USD per person in a double cabin. Source

Quark Expeditions prices Greenland to Newfoundland, 14 days on Ultramarine from Reykjavík, from $13,551 USD per person, departures September 2027 to September 2028. Source

What does the fare include?

Antarctica21's air-cruise fares include group transfers, a welcome dinner, hotel nights in Punta Arenas, the Antarctic flight and cruise, guided landings and Zodiac excursions, meals with wine, beer and soft drinks, loan of waterproof boots and the IAATO passenger fee; sea kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing and international flights are extra. Source

Quark Expeditions' Greenland fares include a parka to keep, loaned waterproof boots, all meals and soft drinks, select beer, wine and cocktails during bar hours and dinner, Wi-Fi for one device and port charges; international flights, insurance, waterproof pants and the voluntary gratuity are extra. Source

What do solo travellers pay?

Antarctica21 charges no supplement in its dedicated Single Cabins, 85% in a limited number of Porthole and Veranda cabins on Magellan Explorer and Deluxe Veranda cabins on Magellan Discoverer; 100% in other categories. On Magellan Explorer solo travellers can share a Porthole or Veranda cabin with a guest of the same gender. Source

Quark Expeditions offers solo, couple or group cabins across its fleet. Source

How much is the deposit?

Quark Expeditions asks a deposit of 25% of the total booking when you book 151 days or more before Day 1; the full amount is due no later than 150 days before Day 1. Source

Antarctica21 does not publish this on the pages read.

What happens if you cancel?

Quark Expeditions offers free cancellation within 15 days of the booking confirmation when you book more than 180 days ahead; after that it charges 25% of the total booking up to 120 days before Day 1, 75% from 119 to 90 days and 100% from 89 days. Source

Antarctica21 does not publish this on the pages read.

Is your money protected?

Quark Expeditions says it is a member of the United States Tour Operators Association and fully covered by its Consumer Protection Plan, posting $1 million with the USTOA to reimburse advance payments if it goes bankrupt or ceases business. Source

Antarctica21 does not publish this on the pages read.

What insurance do you need?

Antarctica21 requires medical insurance that includes aero-medical evacuation from Antarctica; it names no minimum amount. Source

Quark Expeditions makes comprehensive medical insurance a condition of joining its expeditions and strongly recommends trip cancellation cover; it offers a Travel Protection Plan to US residents. Source

Can children come?

Antarctica21 takes children from age 8 on air-cruises and from age 12 on sea voyages, if at least 1.20 m tall and 30 kg with a responsible adult who signs a waiver; children under 12 get 5% off the rate per person. Source

Quark Expeditions does not publish this on the pages read.

When is each not the fit?

The limits below are published by each line on their own websites.

• Antarctica21: not the fit if you travel with children under 12 on a sea voyage: it welcomes children aged 12 and above on sea voyages. Source
• Quark Expeditions: not the fit if you may cancel late: from 89 days before Day 1 it keeps 100% of the booking. Source

How do their reviews compare?

Their figures per platform, read 9 November 2026, each from a listing under the line's own name; a whole-company profile is marked. Figures are never added together.

• Antarctica21: Google: 4.6 out of 5 from 75 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.0 out of 5 from 17 reviews, newest 5 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.
• Quark Expeditions: Google: 4.8 out of 5 from 604 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.9 out of 5 from 578 reviews, newest 8 November 2026. Read 9 November 2026.

The lines at a glance

One card each, as on every Uncompromised Travel expedition page: what each sells, why to choose each, what to ask for and the limits each publishes.

Which other lines sell the same voyages?

The lines that sell voyages to the same regions are compared on What are the best alternatives to Quark Expeditions in 2026?

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 9 November 2026 · updated 9 November 2026