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Travelmarvel, the premium brand/subsidiary of APT Travel Group, and Quark Expeditions have entered into a partnership for a newbuild 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 (icebreaking) hull for Antarctic operations.
The agreement combines Travelmarvel's experience in premium cruising with Quark Expeditions' 30+ years of polar expeditions.
Under a 10-year charter arrangement, Travelmarvel will operate the vessel in the Mediterranean, while Quark will use it for Antarctic cruises 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 vessel for its Antarctic program.
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.
Paul Melinis (APT's Managing Director UK & Europe) 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.
Sam Seward (Quark's President) 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.
David Cox (APT's CEO) 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.
