United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Last chance to travel to North Pole on Russian icebreaker
Polar adventure travel operator Quark Expeditions has announced that the ship 50 Years of Victory is to retire as an expedition vessel after the 2015 Arctic season.
The Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker has been carrying passengers to the North Pole since 2009, but from April 2016 it will be deployed full time as a working vessel keeping shipping lanes open.
"It is with great reluctance that we announce the retirement of Victory as a passenger expedition vessel in 2015," said Quark president Hans Lagerweij.
"Victory has become part of the Quark Expeditions’ family."
Quark will offer three final voyages to the North Pole on Victory departing in June 2015.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel
Report: Cruise guest died after ship lashed in heavy storm