Travel with awareness

Sustainability is at the heart of everything PolarQuest does. We travel in small groups and strive to have minimal impact on the environment. Our ships take 12 or 53 passengers and if you ask us, a small expedition ship is the best way to explore the wildlife and nature. 

WE INVEST IN PROJECTS

As operators of expedition cruises, we cannot avoid emitting greenhouse gases during a voyage. Until renewable fuels are available in our line of business, we have chosen to invest in projects with positive effects on nature, to be transparent with our emissions and to do our best to reduce our emissions continuously. PolarQuest has, in cooperation with South Pole, measured all our emissions from flights, over-land transports, expedition cruises, meals and hotel nights as well as our office’s climate impact. 

BECOME AMBASSADORS FOR OUR REGIONS!

When travelling with PolarQuest, we hope that you get a new understanding of the eco system and the challenges the wildlife are facing as our planet is getting warmer. Once back home, we hope that our travellers become worthy ambassadors of the polar regions and spread the word of these vulnerable areas. A deeper awareness hopefully leads to a broader interest for nature conservation and inspires to lifestyle changes. 

CLEAN UP

It is upsetting to see the polluted coastlines, but unfortunately it is becoming a more and more common sight. Even worse, it is a growing problem for the wildlife, who risks getting caught in fishing nets or eat plastics. Micro plastics is greater threat to our eco system than we ever could have imagined. PolarQuest and our travellers have always collected garbage during our trips. Through the years we have collected tons, and our goal is to become better and better.

AECO 

PolarQuest is one of the eight companies that founded the Association of Arctic Expeditions Cruise Operators (AECO) in 2003, to regulate tourism in Svalbard and promote sustainable, environmentally friendly and safe tourism in the area. The organization strives to conduct expeditions with the utmost respect for nature and wildlife. One part in this is carefully developed guidelines that all members are to follow during cruises and landings. Today, AECO is a respected representative for the cruise industry and a leading star for operators who wish to conduct responsible tourism in the Arctic. 

CLEAN SEAS

In 2017, AECO and its members were invited by the UNEP to partake in the project “Clean Seas – turn the tide on plastic”. As part of the work to combat marine plastic pollution, AECO’s members will drastically cut back on single-use plastics on Arctic expedition cruise vessels.

For more information: www.cleanseas.org