About the ship
Passengers
50Crew
25Built
1992Flag
Faroe IslandCruising Speed
10 knDraft
4 mLength
49 mBeam
11 mIMO Number
8913904Guides
5Inflatable boats
5With a maximum capacity of just 50 passengers, M/S Quest offers a truly unique scale for expedition cruising in Svalbard. She was built in Denmark in 1992 to serve as a ferry along the west coast of Greenland. In 2004-2005, it was completely refurbished into a comfortable expedition ship, and in 2018, the passenger areas underwent further renovation.
Photos by Sebastian Lehrke, Jett Britnell
ADMIRE THE ARCTIC FROM THE LOUNGE & OBSERVATION DECKS
In the dining room, you enjoy delicious meals between landings, while the panorama lounge offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. This lounge serves as the venue for entertaining talks about the area's flora, fauna, and history. It also features a bar and a small library. The ship boasts spacious observation decks for you to enjoy the stunning vistas. The bridge welcomes you around the clock, and there is always something to see or search for. You are welcomed by an international crew, and the atmosphere on board is relaxed and very friendly.
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David & Maureen Macleod
The expedition was absolutely fabulous, with a very efficient and friendly crew, and delicious food. The Zodiac outings and landings were awe-inspiring with five exceptional, highly professional and enthusiastic guides, giving excellent and captivating explanations on the Arctic fauna and flora, as well as on their environment and on different explorers.
Photos by Sebastian Lehrke
UNIQUE SIZE & ITINERARIES
With a maximum capacity of just 50 passengers, M/S Quest offers a truly unique scale for expedition cruising in Svalbard – small enough for everyone to dine and attend lectures together, yet large enough to divide into smaller groups during excursions and landings. On board M/S Quest, there are five Zodiac boats and five knowledgeable guides. Every Svalbard cruise is one of a kind, with the exact route always shaped by weather, ice conditions and wildlife encounters.
Photos by Sebastian Lehrke
SMALL SHIP – GREAT MOMENTS
Travelling on a small expedition vessel means a relaxed atmosphere, a stronger focus on the destination, and more time ashore compared to a larger ship. On the 50-passenger ship M/S Quest, it’s quick and effortless to board the Zodiacs, and you’ll have the space to truly take in the silence, the scenery, and the wildlife – without the crowds. With her small size, M/S Quest can also reach remote places and fjords that larger ships simply can’t access.
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© Björn JohanssonOwner's cabin -
© Björn JohanssonSuperior cabin -
© Björn JohanssonDouble cabin -
© Björn JohanssonDouble cabin -
© Björn JohanssonTwin cabin Plus -
© Björn JohanssonTwin cabin -
© Björn JohanssonTriple cabin -
© Björn JohanssonSingle cabin
COMFORTABLE EN-SUITE CABINS WITH SEA VIEWS
M/S Quest can accommodate 50 passengers, with all 24 cabins being outside cabins equipped with private facilities. The triple cabins feature upper and lower berths, while all other cabins have either two lower berths or a double bed. Each cabin includes a desk with a chair and a cupboard for storage. The superior cabins are spacious, featuring armchairs and a TV. The owner’s cabin offers a double bed, two large picture windows, a separate seating area, and a TV.
We always offer the possibility to share a cabin on board M/S Quest as many of our guests are travelling on their own. The cabins are divided into women's and men's cabins.
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Only 50 passengers
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Unique size in Svalbard
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5 Zodiacs & 5 guides
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Beautiful panorama lounge
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Spacious outer decks, free from crowds
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Relaxed atmosphere
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M/S Quest in May -
© Olivier Kopp Wålberg -
© Johnny Van Vliet -
© Johnny Van Vliet -
© Sebastian Lehrke -
© Sebastian Lehrke -
© Sebastian Lehrke -
© Sebastian Lehrke -
© Sebastian Lehrke -
© Sebastian Lehrke -
© Jett BritnellThe ship has a fantastic panoramic lounge. -
© Björn Johansson -
© Björn Johansson -
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© Johnny Van Vliet -
Enjoy delicious meals with the polar landscape outside. -
© Björn JohanssonThe ship's dining room can accommodate all expedition travellers. -
© Björn Johansson -
© Björn Johansson -
© Björn Johansson -
© Susanne Korsvoll -
© Olivier Kopp Wålberg -
© Björn Johansson
Owner's cabin -
© Björn JohanssonOwner's cabin -
© Björn JohanssonSuperior cabin -
© Björn JohanssonSuperior cabin -
© Björn Johansson
Doubel cabin with double bed -
© Björn Johansson
Double cabin with double bed -
© Björn Johansson
Double cabin plus -
© Björn Johansson
Twin cabin -
© Björn Johansson
Triple cabin -
© Björn JohanssonTriple cabin -
© Björn Johansson
Single cabin -
© Björn JohanssonBath room -
© Björn Johansson
Trips with M/S Quest
Said about the trips
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Bengt Sjögren, Sweden - June 2026
Everything was very well organised, with highly knowledgeable guides who were always on the lookout for wildlife. Every day, we enjoyed interesting talks and stories about Svalbard, its wildlife and much more. Our guest lecturer on board, Florian Schulz, also showed us some incredible footage from various projects he has worked on. The service on board was outstanding!
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Elio Pozzoli, Italy - July 2026
A cruise that goes beyond a simple pleasure trip and pays close attention to the naturalistic aspect. A truly immersive adventure to discover the otherwise untouched world of Svalbard.
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Joanna Day, Australia - July 2025
We were really happy with the whole experience. There was good information from the start. All the guides were friendly. It felt like they went out of their way to ensure we had a great experience. Everyone on the cruise was friendly, it was a great atmosphere.
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Michel Cantet, France - July 2026
EXCELLENT PROGRAM, outstanding guides, excellent chief, the crew is very kind ans helpful.
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Carol Lupton McKeever, USA - July 2026
"WOW" pretty much explains our trip – it was amazing! The small ship was perfect for us, and the daily excursions took no more than half an hour to load and unload, so there was no wasted time. The group combinations varied each day, giving us the opportunity to spend time with the different guides. The trip was very well organised, both prior to our arrival and throughout the voyage. Daily activities were communicated to guests in a timely manner and adapted as conditions changed. The guides were very experienced and knowledgeable, and we also really enjoyed how the different guides joined and mingled with guests at mealtimes. The crew were amazing and always helpful, while the meals were delicious and varied from day to day. They were also very accommodating when it came to a food allergy. The ship was well maintained and our rooms were tidied every day. We particularly enjoyed the almost daily shore excursions for hiking and exploring, with three different levels of intensity to choose from. And the wildlife and birdlife... another wow!
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Vithal Palsule, India - July 2025
The whole experience was like a family atmosphere. Daily Zodiac cruise and landing were extremely enjoyable.
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Mike Keighley, UK - May 2025
Well organisedf, good raport with guests, splendid ship with good food and delightful staff.
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Gunilla Lilja, Sweden - May 2025
Good info before the trip, learnt new things about nature. Good information and help during the trip. Just the right size group, everyone talked to everyone. Helpful staff on the boat, good food.
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Anitha Idéhn Wallenberg, Sweden - May 2025
This is my fifth trip with PolarQuest, and all the trips I have done have been top 10! Will certainly go again!
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Magnus Karlsson, Sweden - May 2025
Simply put - I have already decided to come back. I am impressed with the level of knowledge and commitment of the guides. My impression is that you do your utmost to ensure that everyone gets to experience as much as possible. This without compromising on safety and respect for wildlife. The ability and knowledge to improvise was also great. Especially important early in the season. The service on board was great. Always a cheerful welcome and a little humour. The food was excellent and good. Easy to be spoilt.
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Anders Öhrn, Sweden - May 2025
It is a unique experience and the whole arrangement was very professional from crew to guides.
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Patric Johansson, Sweden - May 2025
Knowledgeable guides with great social skills. Well thought out programme and flexible management mainly due to current weather.
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Anders Widesjö, Sweden - May 2025
High quality. Skilled and talented guides who contributed a lot to the great atmosphere on board. Service and treatment from the boat's staff, kitchen, cabin service, ship's crew were of the highest standard. The food served was varied and very good.
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Robin Bew, United Kingdom - May 2026
Small ship experience allows for good access to wildlife and the shore, while the guides, ship accomodation and food were excellent.
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Karen Mauch, USA - May 2026
Terrific staff at every level, the guides were superb and knowledgeable and incredibly friendly. It was an expedition that I’m sure is unmatched in the Arctic. Bravo!
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Soraya Etemad, Sweden - Maj 2026
We are very happy with the trip. Everything was well organised, the service was excellent, and the experience truly lived up to our expectations. We would warmly recommend it to a friend.
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Peter Cederwall, Sweden - May 2026
Everything was as good as it could possibly have been. The guides were incredibly enthusiastic, knowledgeable and friendly. The ship was excellent in every way, and the food and service were truly outstanding. The programme of excursions, the barbecue followed by dancing, and the lectures were all fantastic. We were also lucky enough to see plenty of wildlife, including four polar bears, whales and many walruses. Everything was extremely professional. We had high expectations for the trip, and yet they were still exceeded by far.
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Marie-Louise Nordrup, Sweden - May 2026
Very well organised! Knowledgeable, friendly and entertaining guides, with informative talks and excursions. A lovely crew, everything on board was clean and well looked after, and delicious food. A fantastic experience that I would happily do all over again.
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Michel Prost, France - May 2026
Every things were well organized. The team was very professionaL
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Nicole Sierens, Belgium - May 2026
The trip gets 10 out of 10 because of the quality of the guides. All were very knowledgeable, attentive with a good sense of humour. The food was delicious. There is a lot of choice and the quality of the food was very good. The Filipino staff were very good at their job. When going on land, there was a suitable activity for eveyone, no-one had to be left out.
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Christina Sjödal, Sweden - May 2026
The trip gets 10 out of 10 thanks to the professional team of guides, who were both friendly and extremely knowledgeable. M/S Quest, her captain and crew were excellent. Everything was simply fantastic!
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Marianne Carlberg, Sweden - May 2026
Everything about this trip was fantastic! The scenery, the wildlife, the staff, the guides, the accommodation and the cabins. The whole experience is something I will carry with me forever!
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Chatrine Fritzell, Sweden - May 2026
The trip to Svalbard far exceeded my expectations, and I have already warmly recommended PolarQuest to my friends. Before the trip, I received exceptionally thorough and relevant information, including a packing list (nothing was missing!), webinars and more. During the trip, I particularly appreciated our professional and service-minded guides, the varied and interesting excursion programme, the high level of safety during landings, and our daily gatherings after the excursions, with recaps and information. The ship was very well maintained, the cabins were fresh and comfortable, and the food was delicious and varied. After the trip, all guests received a slideshow from our voyage. Brilliant!
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Ivor Cary Armistead, Austrailia - May 2025
It was a wonderful experience - the location, the weather, the staff and crew all combined to make the cruise very special.
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Kevin Blackband, United Kingdom - May 2025
Another, well organised trip with PolarQuest. Excellent friendly guides, great staff on board and fantastic food!
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Liz Ivarsson, Sweden - May 2025
We had an absolutely fantastic trip with top guides and expedition leader! We got to see as much wildlife and nature we wanted and we learnt a lot from the guides. In addition, we got a lot of history. Super good combination! We were also really lucky with the weather! The organisation of the trip was very good with good food and service on the boat. We have absolutely nothing to complain about!
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Helena Persson, Sweden - May 2025
We had long dreamed of travelling to Svalbard and this expedition came to fulfil all our expectations! We got to experience magically beautiful winter landscapes, go ashore on ice floes in the middle of the pack ice, wonderful zodiac tours, polar dives and see wildlife both near and far. The five knowledgeable and dedicated guides really went out of their way to make sure we had a great experience. Praise also to the very friendly and helpful crew. Thank you for an unforgettable expedition!
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Åsa Wallin, Sweden - May 2025
Very well organised trip, excellent guides, knowledgeable. Good that the guides had different areas of expertise so they complemented each other well. Good lectures. Fantastic food cooked and served by skilled and friendly staff. All crew and guides nice and service orientated. Interesting to hear all knowledge and stories from the guides. They were also good at spoting wildlife from afar!!! In other words, a fantastic experience throughout the week that I will carry with me for the rest of my life! The barbeque was a surprising fun element and got everyone to let loose and dance!
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Annika Strömberg, Sweden - May 2025
Good organisation, knowledgeable and committed guides, good food and service, and of course the destination itself and the experiences we had with wonderful views and interesting wildlife encounters.
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Anders Lundgren, Sweden - May 2025
Everything was so good. The staff, the guides, the boat, the food, the environment, the briefing etc. Can't think of anything negative. Of course it costs a lot, but you get so much for your money. Will definitely go with PolarQuest again and then with one of the 12-passenger ships.
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Mats Lundberg, Sweden - May 2025
Small nice ship with nice crew, good food. The organisation was very good and the guides very knowledgeable and eager for us to have experiences, the expedition leader incredibly nice and sharp, this enhanced everything with all the stories about both wildlife, nature and Svalbard's history.
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Amnon Tzechovoy, Israel - May 2025
The cruise was wonderful and exceeded my expectations.
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Susan Merron, United Kingdom - June 2026
It was a brilliant trip. The Field Team were excellent – so enthusiastic, knowledgeable and full of energy. The crew were so nice, efficient and full of fun. The flexibility of the daily decisions, depending on the weather, made it a very special experience. Our fellow passengers were so interesting and friendly. Just a wonderful holiday. Thank you all.
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June Pak Wai Ho, China - June 2026
The guides were professional and knowledgeable, and the crew was friendly and welcoming. The overall vibe was amazing, and the entire journey felt safe. The staff-to-guest ratio is excellent. The entire experience was exceptional.
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Claes Kjellström, Sweden - June 2026
Excellent information when booking, followed by very clear and comprehensive information before departure. The webinar and the opportunity to ask questions were also much appreciated, as was the prompt and helpful response to any questions before the trip. On board, the guide team was fantastic and the crew were friendly and accommodating. We always received clear information about what we would be doing and when. The trip also ended on a high note, with a fantastic slideshow capturing everything we had experienced.
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Eva Salberg Blom, Sweden - June 2026
Everything worked perfectly. The expedition leader and guides were excellent. The daily programme was adapted to the weather conditions and the participants. The flexibility of the itinerary meant that we were able to circumnavigate Svalbard, which we greatly appreciated. The food and service were superb, and the crew were helpful and friendly. We were 39 guests from nine different countries on our trip, and the atmosphere was wonderful – there was time to get to know everyone. We also appreciated being grouped so that the 16 Swedish speaking guests could travel together in the Zodiacs with a Swedish-speaking guide. Safety was always a top priority, both on board and during excursions.
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Margaret Jane Hook, USA - June 2026
We wanted a small group expedition experience to the Arctic with a well staffed, well equipped modern ship, guides with extensive knowledge and personality. This trip and its team had its all in surplus. The hotel staff and captain & his team worked along with the guides to provide one of the best trips we have ever had, plus we saw so many animals, and with safety for us and the wildlife. The expedition team leader integrated the environment and history, guide presentations were exceptional in every moment.
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Roy White, United Kingdom - June 2026
Amazing scenery, Amazing animals, fantastic crew,and last but not least fantastic expedition crew. Nothing too much trouble.
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Christoph Koster, Switzerland - June 2026
This was an unforgetable experience. Having day light 24h. A landscape with snow topped mountains, fjords and glaciers. Wildlife, which can be seen only in the arctic.
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Peter Stark, Australia - June 2025
Where to start?! The whole experience was beyond our expectations and the outstanding Expedition Leader and Guides worked with the ships crew to provide an experience and environment we ll never forget!
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Rajesh Joshi, India - June 2025
Why would I recommend this trip to others? First and foremost - safety, hygiene and cleanliness..second, the fantastic team of the experienced guides. Third, flexibility to reach maximum possible places to enjoy nature and wildlife. Fourth, excellent variety of quality of cuisine. Fifth, informative interaction with onboard experts like photographers, geologists, nature and wildlife experts.
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Vanessa Courts, United Kingdom - June 2025
The care and effort put in by the staff to make the trip a memorable one was so apparent. The passion they generated from their mission was contagious. It’s an experience I’ll never forget. Been home almost a week and I’m still smiling.
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Per-Arne Boström, Sweden - June 2025
The best I have ever done, very nice staff, guides who are incredibly knowledgeable. As I said, if you have the opportunity, book this trip!
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Eva Runestam, Sweden - June 2025
I have wanted to do this trip for a long time and I must say that it was just as good as I could have imagined. The guides were amazing. Their commitment and the way they shared their knowledge and experience is really something I will carry with me. The whole team with the expedition leader and the four guides were a lovely bunch who complemented each other well in terms of knowledge. They had a great sense of humour combined with a safety mindset that made you feel safe at all times. In addition, I would like to mention the wonderful staff who provided the good food, cleaning and all other services on board. Always happy and service-oriented with a twinkle in the eye. Top marks! I also think that the ship M/S Quest is just right in terms of the number of passengers.
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Gunilla Lindgren, Sweden - June 2025
Very happy with the whole arrangement. Very knowledgeable and nice guides who answered all questions you had. Nice that they had their different areas of knowledge. The ship was good and nice and accommodating staff. Nice food with good variety. Plus we got to see the wildlife we wanted and ice / glaciers etc. Very fun also that we came all the way up to the pack ice.
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Andrea Tulnik-Hellinger, Germany - June 2019
Es war wunderbar, so toll und umfassend die Betreuung bei PolarQuest war, so ging es auch weiter auf dem Schiff durch die gesamte Mannschaft, vom Kapitän angefangen, und durch die Guides von PolarQuest, die uns die ganze Reise hindurch begleiteten und mit interessanten und informativen Vorträgen zwischendurch noch unsere Reiseeindrücke abrundeten. Es ist eine fantastische Region, wir waren ganz fasziniert und gefangen von all diesen Eindrücken, von den tollen Landschaften und der Tier- und Pflanzenvielfalt. Und zwischen all den Erlebnissen wurden wir mit köstlichem Essen versorgt, sodass wir uns rundum wohl fühlten. Wir alle drei können allen Arktis-Interessierten den Anbieter PolarQuest empfehlen, und die M/S Quest war so wie so ein Traum.
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Rolf-Dieter Lafrenz, Germany - June 2019
Wir haben schon viel von der Welt gesehen. Aber diese Reise ist etwas Außergewöhnliches. Die Arktic bietet eine beeindruckende Natur. Eisbären, Walrösser, gigantische Gletscher. Die MS Quest ist klein genug, um in den Fjörden zu ankern. Dann geht es weiter mit den Zodiaks. Unsere Führer waren fachkundig und sympathisch, jeder eine eigene Persönlichkeit. Und wenn wir an Bord zurückkehrten, genossen wir interessante Hintergrundvorträge. Diese Reise muss man gemacht haben, solange es die Arktic in dieser Form noch gibt.