Travelmarvel and Quark Expeditions Partner on New Purpose-Built Ship

Travelmarvel, part of APT Travel Group, and Quark Expeditions have announced a partnership for a new purpose-built small ship scheduled to enter service in 2029.

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Under a 10-year charter agreement, Travelmarvel will deploy the vessel in the Mediterranean, while Quark Expeditions will operate the ship during the Antarctic season beginning in 2029/30.

Currently under development and not yet named, the vessel will feature just 99 suites, offering the access of a small ship while supporting exploration in some of the world’s most remote regions. Its PC6 ice-class hull will enable Antarctic operations. Features designed for expedition travel, including spacious mudrooms and efficient embarkation and disembarkation areas, will help guests transition quickly and comfortably between the ship and the destination.

The agreement brings together Travelmarvel’s expertise in premium cruising and Quark Expeditions’ more than three decades of specialisation in polar exploration. Quark Expeditions will work closely with Travelmarvel throughout the ship’s development, contributing to its operational and polar expertise to help prepare the vessel for Antarctic expedition travel.

The premium small ship represents one of the most significant investments in the company’s history and its first ocean vessel designed and built specifically for the brand. Its intimate scale will provide access to smaller ports and destinations beyond the reach of larger cruise ships during its Mediterranean programme.

For Quark Expeditions, the ship will expand the ways guests can explore Antarctica aboard a vessel designed to support active, immersive experiences on and beyond the ship. The partnership reflects Quark’s continued investment in a modern, purpose-built fleet and its focus on helping guests spend more time off the ship and closer to their destination.

“This is an important step in Travelmarvel’s UK & Ireland growth and reflects our ambition to offer our guests premium small-ship experiences in some of the Mediterranean’s most compelling destinations. With just 99 suites, the new ship will combine a more intimate and relaxed style of cruising with access to ports that larger vessels cannot reach. It will also give our travel agent partners an exciting and genuinely distinctive new product to offer their customers,” said Paul Melinis, Managing Director UK and Europe, APT Travel Group.

“This partnership brings together complementary expertise and a shared commitment to thoughtful small-ship exploration,” said Sam Seward, President of Quark Expeditions. “By collaborating with APT Travel Group during the development process, we have an opportunity to help prepare a ship that is truly built for exploration, with the capabilities and operational features needed to help guests get off the ship efficiently and experience more of Antarctica.”

Further details about the vessel, including its name, complete specifications and inaugural Mediterranean and Antarctic itineraries, will be announced closer to launch.

For more information about Travelmarvel, visit Travelmarvel.com.

For more information about Quark Expeditions, visit QuarkExpeditions.com.