Sea Adventurer Review

4.5 / 5.0
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Quark Expeditions--Arctic

Review for the Arctic Cruise on Sea Adventurer
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hakuskin
6-10 Cruises • Age 80s

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Sail Date: Sep 2017

My wife and I chose to travel with Quark Expeditions because we had a pleasant experience on a trip to Antarctica approximately 16 years ago. The company describes itself as the leader in Polar travel. Our trip in Sept. 2017 went up the eastern coast of Baffin Island, crossed to Greenland and came south along the western coast. Our ship was the Ocean Atlantic. This ship was a substitute for the Sea Adventurer because that ship was not ready due to delays in refitting work. The Ocean Atlantic was advertised by Quark as a comfortable ship that had been refitted in 2017. It may have been refitted, but it was a long way from comfortable. The public areas of the ship had very few comfortable seats, the library was a joke, and the food was mediocre. There were no individual temperature controls in the cabins, and the air circulated throughout the ship was cold. The hot water in the bathroom sink was brown. In our first cabin, the loudspeaker did not work. We heard the same complaints from every passenger we spoke to.

In addition to the discomfort of the ship, the cruise itself was badly managed. We arrived at three locations in Baffin Island around 5 p.m., at least a half day later than we should have arrived in order to have adequate time for hikes and photography. We received no plausible explanation for why we were so late. The crossing to Greenland took almost a half day longer than described in Quark's itinerary. Again, no plausible explanation was provided.

Although Quark was forced to provide a substitute ship, we believe they are responsible for providing an experience commensurate with the cost of the trip and their advertising about the quality of the trip. We have written a lengthy letter to them complaining about the many shortcomings of this very expensive trip. About two weeks have elapsed with no response. Based on our experience, my wife and I would recommend that, if you are planning a trip with Quark, change your plans.

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