Blog Your Way to Antarctica: The Competition is Fierce

NORWALK, CONNECTICUT, Jun 29 (MARKET WIRE) --
Editors Note: There is a photo included with this Press Release.

In less than a week, more than 170 competitors have inspired 5,000
readers to cast votes that could send one entrant and companion on a
USD$20,000 cruise to Antarctica, from February 20 to March 3, 2010.

There were five front runners as of June 29, 2009. Devorah Bennu, the
current leader, has been blogging to the Science community for a number
of years. Luis Monteiro is a radio host from Portugal. Aaron Weyenberg is
a website designer from Canada. Timothy Smith is relying on his network
of New York City astronomers to garner support. American Ty Jones uses
his wry wit to attract votes. But the race is far from won, as the
competition does not close until September 30, 2009.

In an unusual move designed to keep the competition fierce, voters are
allowed to change their vote throughout the competition. Only one vote is
permitted at a time, but once the voter is registered, he or she may
change that vote for any reason.

Quark Expeditions VP of Marketing, Francesco Contini said, "There are a
lot of talented competitors, most of whom are just ordinary people with a
passion for Antarctica. Any one of them could become the Quark Blogger,
if the public gets behind them."

This is an excerpt from Bennu's entry: "From the day I was born, I have
prepared for adventures. After being made ward of the courts as a
teenager, I worked my way through school doing anything from shoveling
horse poop and breeding parrots to researching cancer and HIV/AIDS,
ultimately earning my PhD in Zoology. While attending university, I
studied whale poop (smelly!) and learned how hormones help birds cope
with extreme environments, like the Arctic."

To read the full post, enter the competition or vote for the Official
Quark Blogger visit www.blogyourwaytoantarctica.com.

About Quark Expeditions

Since 1991, Quark Expeditions has established a tradition of firsts in
polar expedition travel. The company was the first to transit the
Northeast Passage with commercial passengers; the first to take travelers
to the "far side" of Antarctica and the first to circumnavigate the
Antarctic continent with guests, twice. Quark is also recognized for its
diverse passenger fleet; the largest in Antarctica - including the only
polar-class icebreaker operating as an expedition ship there. The fleet
enables Quark to operate the widest variety of polar itineraries of any
other adventure company in the world, and the greatest number of
departures to Antarctica. In October 2006 and 2007, Quark was named a
recipient of National Geographic Traveler's "50 Tours of a Lifetime" for
their "Emperor Penguin Safari" and the "Far Side" respectively. In the
March 2006 edition, Outside magazine named the "Emperor Penguin Safari"
as one of the New Trips of a Lifetime.

To view the photo associated with this release, please visit the
following link: http://www.marketwire.com/library/20090629-quark0629.jpg

Contacts:
Quark Expeditions
Prisca Campbell
Marketing Manager
416 504 8979 x 233
pcampbell@quarkexpeditions.com
www.quarkexpeditions.com

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