Quark Expeditions outlines plans to bolster trade support

Quark Expeditions is trying to strengthen its ties with the UK trade by investing further in training tools and marketing material, while continuing to regularly invite agents on board ships.

 

Sam Seward, who was installed as the line’s president in December, said the polar specialist has a “big education programme” in the UK but he was looking forward to speaking to agents and finding out how to improve.

 

“I think I have a good understanding of what the trade needs, and I’m looking forward to spending a lot of time listening to agents and understanding what else we can do,” he told a Travel Weekly webcast.

 

Highlighting that the line is trade-only in the UK, he encouraged agents to speak to Quark Expeditions’ team for help with training.

 

He added: “There’s also an abundant level of opportunity to get agents on our ships. We want agents on our ships; we want them in our cabins. We have got Ultramarine in Aberdeen just before she starts her Arctic season with about 50 or 60 agents on board – we’re hosting them for a couple of days – but we also have so many cabins we carve out for agents on our voyages to make sure agents can speak with authority on what we offer.

 

“Throughout January to March we have been giving cabins away as incentives. There’s a further set of cabins being given away over the next few months as well. Agents have to make their own way there, but the cruise is there for them.”

 

 

He said UK agents have a strong desire to educate themselves, but the line is trying to introduce further support.

 

“In the UK, we’re trade-only because it’s the legacy of the business,” he said. “The growth is there and the appetite of our partners to educate themselves is there.

 

“We’ve been trying to invest in the tools and also [our] team, so we’re working hard to build a really engaged audience.

 

“We’ll be going through the trade and giving them more assets and more opportunities – richer media assets and more brand-led stuff.”

 

He said the line wants to help “everybody”, adding: “There is a real curiosity about the expedition cruising space, so we’re trying to scale up our budgets and the support in the UK in particular.”

 

Partly in recognition of a later market, the line is offering some cabins at 50% off this summer.

 

This would mean 10 or 12-day sailings would be available for less than £4,000 or £5,000, Seward said.

 

Quark Expeditions has also launched an Arctic Sweepstakes competition exclusively for agents which offers the chance to win a spot on the Svalbard Explorer: Best of High Arctic Norway expedition sailing between May 29 and June 8, 2026.

 

There are six spaces available and winning agents will receive their own cabin and can bring along a guest.

 

To enter, agents need to register before making new Arctic bookings between April 7 and June 3.

 

Bookings for 2025 will earn three entries into the prize draw, while 2026 reservations will equal one entry.