Travelmarvel, the premium arm of APT Travel Group, and Quark Expeditions have entered into a partnership to develop a new purpose-built vessel scheduled to enter service in 2029. The ship, which has not yet been named and is currently under development, will feature 99 suites and a PC6 ice-class hull for Antarctic operations.
The agreement combines Travelmarvel’s experience in premium cruising with Quark Expeditions’ more than 30 years of specialising in polar expedition travel. Under a 10-year charter arrangement, Travelmarvel will operate the vessel in the Mediterranean, while Quark Expeditions will use it for Antarctic expedition voyages during the Southern Hemisphere summer, beginning with the 2029-2030 season.
The vessel represents a major investment for APT Travel Group and will be the first ocean-going ship specifically designed and built for the Travelmarvel brand. For Quark Expeditions, the partnership will add another platform for Antarctic exploration, with the vessel being developed to support active experiences both onboard and ashore.
Quark Expeditions will work with Travelmarvel throughout the ship’s development, contributing its operational knowledge and polar expertise to the design and preparation of the vessel for expedition cruising in Antarctica.
APT Travel Group Managing Director UK and Europe Paul Melinis said the project represented an important stage in Travelmarvel’s expansion across the UK and Ireland market. He said the vessel would provide a new premium small-ship option for Mediterranean cruising and give travel advisers an additional product for their customers.
Quark Expeditions President Sam Seward said the two companies brought complementary expertise to the project. He explained that Quark’s involvement during development would focus on ensuring the ship was equipped for expedition operations, including the capabilities required to transfer guests efficiently from the vessel to Antarctic destinations.
APT Travel Group CEO David Cox said the partnership would allow the ship to operate throughout the year by combining Travelmarvel’s approach to ocean cruising in the Mediterranean with Quark Expeditions’ polar expertise. He described the project as an opportunity to offer two distinct cruising experiences aboard the same vessel.
Further information, including the ship’s name, detailed specifications and its inaugural Mediterranean and Antarctic itineraries, is expected to be released closer to the vessel’s launch.
The announcement follows Travelmarvel’s return to Egypt after a decade. The company’s Nile vessel, Travelmarvel Sirius, accommodates 124 passengers in 62 cabins and completed its maiden sailing between Luxor and Aswan in September 2026.