Ocean Explorer

Ocean Explorer is modern, elegant and purpose-built for polar exploration. The 138-passenger vessel has been designed with the latest in expedition ship technology. One of the ship’s key features is the ULSTEIN X-BOW®, a marine engineering innovation that ensures a comfortable and smooth sailing experience thanks to the inverted bow. Located at the bow is the two-story, light-filled library, which introduces a welcome airiness to the expedition ship. Spacious cabins feature a modern, bespoke Scandinavian design and almost all have verandas. Guests can relax and find comfort in the spacious gym, sauna with large windows, and two outdoor Jacuzzis. Ocean Explorer features ample outdoor viewing areas and multi-height outer decks, which are ideal for long-view photography and wildlife viewing. The vessel is equipped with a fleet of 15 Zodiacs that enable guests to get off the ship quickly and safely for off-ship adventures. In addition to the well-appointed and spacious public areas, Ocean Explorer has an industry-leading mix of sustainability systems, including fuel-efficient Rolls Royce engines.

Outside · 166 sq. ft.

Designed for one. These cabins are located on Deck 3 and approximately 166 sq. ft. in size, with one double bed and a porthole view. There is also a desk and chair, TV, state of the art ‘infotainment’ system and private bathroom with shower, vanity and heated floor.

Cabin categories: OEX-SGL Studio Single

Supplier information; cabin layout, amenities, and inclusions should be confirmed for your sailing.

Suite · 298 sq. ft.

Located on Deck 6 and approximately 298 sq. ft. in size. These 2-room suites have one double bed that can be configured into two singles in the inner bedroom and an outer sitting room furnished with a sofa-bed, and activity table for two. From the bedroom there a floor to ceiling glass view that opens to a double sized walkout balcony. There are also 2 TV’s, state of the art ‘infotainment’ system and private bathroom with bathtub, vanity and heated floor.

Cabin categories: OEX-JST Junior Suite

Supplier information; cabin layout, amenities, and inclusions should be confirmed for your sailing.

Suite · 443 sq. ft.

This palatial, airy apartment offers stunning views from its large private veranda on the highest cabin level. The luxurious suite features a large master bedroom, living room and dining area and two large master bathrooms, among other amenities. 

Cabin categories: OEX-OWN Owners Suite

Supplier information; cabin layout, amenities, and inclusions should be confirmed for your sailing.

Suite · 269 sq. ft.

This unique 2-room suite is located on Deck 7 and is approximately 269 sq. ft. in size. It has one double bed that can be configured into two singles in the inner bedroom.and the outer sitting area is furnished with a sofa-bed. Walk-out from either room to a double sized balcony . There are also 2 TV’s, state of the art ‘infotainment’ system and private bathroom with shower, vanity and heated floor. And an additional powder room in the outside sitting area. 

Cabin categories: OEX-EXP Penthouse Suite

Supplier information; cabin layout, amenities, and inclusions should be confirmed for your sailing.

Suite · 298 sq. ft.

Located on Deck 6 and approximately 298 sq. ft. in size.  These 2-room suites, specifically designed for three guests,  are configured with two singles in the inner bedroom and a third bed in the outer room beside the bedroom.  Also, the other portion of the outer room is furnished with a sofa.  From the bedroom there a floor to ceiling glass view that opens to a double sized walkout balcony.  There are also 2 TV’s, state of the art ‘infotainment’ system and private bathroom with bathtub (with shower head) , vanity and heated floor.

Cabin categories: OEX-TPL Triple Suite

Supplier information; cabin layout, amenities, and inclusions should be confirmed for your sailing.

Suite · 205 sq. ft.

Located throughout the ship and approximately 205 sq. ft. in size, these cabins have one double bed that can be configured into two singles, and seperate sitting area furnished with a sofa-bed.  There is a floor to ceiling glass view that opens to a walkout balcony.  There is also a desk and chair, TV, state of the art ‘infotainment’ system and private bathroom with shower, vanity and heated floor.

Cabin categories: OEX-VST Veranda Suite

Supplier information; cabin layout, amenities, and inclusions should be confirmed for your sailing.

Balcony · 182 sq. ft.

Located on Deck 4 and approximately 182 sq. ft. in size, these cabins have one double bed that can be configured into two singles. There is a floor to ceiling glass view that opens to a walkout balcony. There is also a desk and chair, TV, state of the art ‘infotainment’ system and private bathroom with shower, vanity and heated floor.

Cabin categories: OEX-FWD Deluxe Veranda Forward

Supplier information; cabin layout, amenities, and inclusions should be confirmed for your sailing.

Balcony · 162 sq. ft.

Designed for one. This unique cabin is located on Deck 7 and approximately 162 sq. ft. It has one twin bed with a floor to ceiling glass view that opens to a generous walkout balcony. There is also TV, state of the art ‘infotainment’ system and private bathroom with shower, vanity and heated floor.

Cabin categories: OEX-SVS Studio Veranda Single

Supplier information; cabin layout, amenities, and inclusions should be confirmed for your sailing.

Balcony · 208 sq. ft.

Located throughout the ship and approximately 208 sq. ft. in size, these cabins have one double bed that can be configured into two singles. There is a floor to ceiling glass view that opens to a walkout balcony. There are also a desk and chair, TV, state of the art ‘infotainment’ system and private bathroom with shower, vanity and heated floor. Note: Cabins include a separate sitting area except 609, 610, 611, 612, 614 and 615.

Cabin categories: OEX-VER Veranda Stateroom

Supplier information; cabin layout, amenities, and inclusions should be confirmed for your sailing.

Features of the Vessel

Two Story Library

Light-filled interior library—at the bow of the ship— allows guests to sit and relax indoors while taking in the surrounding polar landscapes from their choice of two levels.

Leading Edge Sustainability

With the latest sustainability technology in polar expedition, the ship features fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines and the ground-breaking MAGS gasification system that converts waste into energy, eliminating the environmental impact of waste transportation.

Ulstein X-Bow

In addition to forming the double-story library, the innovative X-Bow design ensures calm, energy-efficient sailing in rough waters.

High Observation Outdoor Decks

Observation areas on Decks 7 and 8 allow for higher, longer-view landscape photography while contending with less sea spray.

Quiet and Comfortable

Spacious and luxurious cabins ensure your quiet ambience with no sound disturbance from adjoining cabins—and almost all cabins feature a balcony for outdoor viewing.

Stunning Interior Design

Each interior element was carefully hand-picked by designers for you to enjoy, from the dramatic two-story forward lounge, the floor-to-ceiling glass refuge in the library, to the grand fixtures and luxe furnishings throughout the ship.

Features & Amenities

Main Dining Room

Contemporary meets cozy in this modern dining room with its stylish lighting and contemporary art. Located on Deck 5, the Main Dining Room seats 144 guests, and features expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that open onto the spectacular polar wilderness.

Private Dining Room

Tasteful and intimate. This stylish, private dining room on deck 5 provides a relaxed dining experience—with views of the polar landscape—for up to 36 guests.

The Latitude Bar

A popular social hub on Deck 5, the beautifully-lit Latitude Bar—with its lush sofas and faux marble-topped end tables—is large enough to seat 46 and is ideal for enjoying a quiet drink on your own or hanging out with friends.

Library

Located on Deck 6 at the top of the gorgeous atrium staircase, this beautiful Library with floor-to-ceiling glass, accommodates up to 47 people

Dry Sauna

After a day of exciting off-ship adventure, guests can relax on the sauna’s traditional wood benches while gazing at the polar wilderness just outside the large sauna windows. Accommodates 15 people on Deck 7.

Fitness Center

Stay fit with the latest work-out equipment in the Fitness Center on Deck 7.

Jacuzzis

Two outdoor Jacuzzis on deck 7, at the ship’s stern, mean you can relax alfresco while soaking up the breath-taking polar views.

Observation Lounge

This stylish lounge at the top of the ship guarantees incredible views. Guests also frequent this spacious lookout on Deck 8 to enjoy cocktails and conversation with fellow travelers. Seats 63.

Cruise-line information, not a ship-specific guarantee. Confirm venues and inclusions for your ship and sailing.

A commitment to conservation and community.

Quark Expeditions partners with scientists, conservation groups and local communities to further the efforts of wildlife conservation and sustainable community tourism. 
Over the next three years, Quark Expeditions and our guests will invest over $2.5M USD through our conservation and community partnerships and projects. 

We connect our guests to the natural world through hands-on experiences and education. 

Advancing Polar Research
Every year, we provide researchers access to remote areas, advancing data on polar wildlife and ecosystems, while enriching guest education onboard. Last year alone, we invested $440,000 in in-kind berths.  

Supporting Polar Conservation
Through onboard auctions and direct contributions, we help fund conservation organizations like Blue Marine Foundation, Penguin Watch, South Georgia Heritage Trust and more. In 2024, our team and guests donated $215,000 towards polar research and conservation.  

Proud Members of Industry Associations
We actively contribute to industry membership associations that govern tourism in the polar regions by proudly serving on 30 committees and working groups for IAATO, AECO, CLIA, and Travel Nunavut.  

We deliver authentic experiences for our guests that benefit our local partners and the communities we visit. 

Partnering with Local Organizations
We partner with local organizations to create experiences that connect guests with communities and their traditions. Our Tundra to Table dining experience has been featured in National Geographic, Smithsonian, Afar and others, informing an audience of over 10-million people about Igapall and Greenlandic cuisine. 

Supporting Community Programs
We work with Arctic communities to support their goals for economic development and sustainable tourism—strengthened by local guide placement, we have put more than $200,000 USD towards community programming in 2024.

Investing in Communities
Through onboard auctions and program proceeds, we help fund initiatives such as cultural infrastructure, community-led food banks, and culturally and linguistically relevant programs. Last year, the Quark Expeditions team and our guests donated $80,000 to community and education.  

Land Acknowledgement

Quark Expeditions acknowledges and affirms the Articles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and recognizes Indigenous peoples’ inherent rights and historical territories. 

Our office is located in the Toronto region, the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. We acknowledge that this land is covered by Treaty 13, signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties, signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands. 

The areas we visit – the Arctic, subarctic, and coastal regions of southern South America – are the traditional homelands of many Indigenous Peoples. These include the Inuit within Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit of Kalaallit Nunaat, and the Yagán and the Selk’nam of current-day Patagonia. These places have complex colonial histories, about which we have much to learn. 

We offer our gratitude and respect to Indigenous Peoples for their enduring wisdom and stewardship of these lands and waters. We honor the ancestors who cared for these territories as well as the present-day guardians who continue to safeguard the ecosystems, historical sites, and sacred places that we have the honor of visiting. 

Reconciliation is an ongoing process for us all. We are committed to partnering with and learning from Indigenous communities to ensure our presence is respectful and contributes positively to their lands and cultures. Connection to land, histories, languages, and cultures is essential to identity. We honor this connection as we work to build a We invite you to learn more about the people who have inhabited the land you are on or are visiting. 

Atrium lounge aboard Ocean Explorer.

Fitness center aboard Ocean Explorer.

Hot tub at sunset aboard Ocean Explorer.

Open-air lounge seating aboard Ocean Explorer.

Dining room aboard Ocean Explorer.

Bar and lounge aboard Ocean Explorer.