For those looking to bypass the Drake Passage, or simply save time by heading straight to Antarctica, so called fly-cruise trips can shave many days off longer itineraries and help clients avoid rough ocean conditions. Simply put, fly-cruise trips replace transit sea days with quick charter flights to their destination and back again.
Clients can do the same thing in the Arctic, as well, as I recently experienced with Quark Expeditions.
Here’s what a fly-cruise trip is like, based on my experience with the brand’s “Arctic Express Canada: The Heart of the Northwest Passage” route.
The Convenience of a Fly-Cruise Trip
This Quark Expeditions itinerary included six nights onboard Quark’s Ultramarine, a remarkable vessel, plus one pre-cruise and one post-cruise night in a hotel in Calgary, taking place before and after flying to and from Resolute, where we embarked and disembarked the ship.
Upon arrival in Calgary, we checked into the convenient Delta Hotels Calgary Airport In-Terminal and picked up our complimentary parkas in preparation for the colder climate farther north. The next morning, we were treated to a free breakfast buffet at the hotel, then returned to the airport to board our direct (but not nonstop) charter flight, which was operated by Summit Air. All Quark passengers were split between two planes, in economy seating, with staggered departure times.
After two hours in flight, we landed briefly to refuel in Yellowknife (remaining onboard during the process, which took about 45 minutes) before flying another two and a half hours to Resolute in Nunavut, Canada.
The rugged nature of the Canadian Arctic first struck me as a cross between the planets Hoth and Tatooine from the “Star Wars” film franchise — predominantly snowy and icy, but also barren and desert-like. The humble airport terminal stood sentry as a permanent establishment, but surrounding structures were seemingly abandoned and decaying.
After collecting our checked bags, we boarded a tattered school bus (its interior was curiously plastered with all varieties of bumper stickers) that took us to the bay where Ultramarine was anchored. Zodiacs awaited on the rocky beach.
The crew gladly took care of shuttling our larger luggage to the vessel while we stepped into the inflatable boats with our carry-ons for a swift five-minute ride to the mothership’s boarding platform. It was our first taste of the lengthier zodiac cruises and exciting landings to come.
Once we got settled into our cabins, the typical comforts of a cruise kicked in, and we started exploring the northern territory (including by helicopter, right off the ship, I might add).
Of course, the greatest convenience was flying straight into the heart of the Arctic, versus traversing the famed Northwest Passage from, the shores of Greenland on a much longer, -three weeks-plus voyage. Only this way did we see all the highlights, including Beechey Island (though an incoming weather system kept us onboard to witness it from a distance) in such a short period of time.
After our adventurous six-day cruise concluded, we naturally had to retrace our steps back to Calgary. The climate did impact us here again, though, when a low and heavy fog covered Resolute on the morning of our scheduled departure, delaying our charter flights. Thankfully, we were able to remain onboard Ultramarine for a couple of hours before making it onshore for a lunch stop at the town’s only “hotel,” where communication of our holding status was lacking. It was only by manually tracking the flights online that I knew when the charters were eventually on their way to pick us up from the airport.
Travel advisors, these are the variables that clients should be aware of when flying into a destination, versus sailing there. Something I learned? Sometimes, convenience requires flexibility, as well.
After a reverse sequence of flights separated by a refueling stop, we made it to the same hotel for our post-cruise stay in the late evening. The next day, it was back to commercial flights for our return home.
Altogether, I would call my first fly-cruise experience a success, and I would definitely recommend it to clients who need a shorter itinerary. In our case, we didn’t have the Drake Passage to avoid, but the express timing did allow me to easily stack this trip with another immediately before it. Alternatively, if time is no issue, it’s nice to slowly sail to and from a destination, the extended itinerary providing more moments for reflection, rest, relaxation and, of course, adventure.
A Fly-Cruise Experience in Antarctica
Quark Expeditions’ eight-day “Antarctic Express: Fly the Drake” itinerary offers a similarly shortened trip. The fly-cruise itinerary has numerous departures through January 2026.
