One Travel Blogger Will Win a $54,000 Cruise to the North Pole

WATERBURY, Vt., Dec. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Experienced and aspiring travel bloggers can write to win a USD$54,000 expedition to the North Pole from Quark Expeditions. The prize is a trip for two aboard the world's most sophisticated and powerful nuclear-powered icebreaker to the top of the world. Airfare from the winner's nearest international gateway, as well a charter flight from Helsinki, Finland, to Murmansk, Russia is also included. The competition opens at noon, eastern time, December 1, 2010 and runs to noon, February 15, 2010. Travel Bloggers must enter online at www.BlogyourWaytotheNorthPole.com

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101109/NE97856 )

How to Make the Top Five

The winner will be chosen from the top five entrants as decided by popular vote. Travel Bloggers must post a photo of themselves on the competition website, plus an essay of between 200 and 400 words that communicates why the blogger is qualified to be Quark's Official Blogger to the North Pole. The entry must also include a short story about a trip or travel experience unique to the entrant, demonstrating their skill as a travel blogger.

The Selection Committee will be comprised of a member of Quark's Expedition Team, Chris Epting, a professional Travel Blogger, Hans Lagerweij, Quark's President, and a member of the Marketing Team. Their job will be to identify who among the top five will best represent the polar adventure company during its 20th anniversary expedition cruise to the North Pole.

How to Vote for 5 Favorite Travel Bloggers

Every registered voter has five votes – one vote for each of their five favorite Travel Bloggers in competition for the prize. Each voter can change individual votes should a new blogger enter who is more appealing than the bloggers originally selected. The competition will be heated as entrants will have the opportunity to edit their posts to try to attract votes.

The 20th anniversary North Pole Expedition

Since 1991, Quark Expeditions has specialized in expedition cruising to the Arctic and Antarctica, in ships with ice-strengthened hulls or in icebreakers. The first voyage operated by Quark was The Transpolar Bridge Cruise in 1991. The ship was the nuclear powered icebreaker Sovetskiy Soyuz. She sailed across the top of the world via Franz Josef Land, the North Pole, the New Siberian Islands, the Wrangel Island area and the Chukotka Peninsula, disembarking in Provideniya, Russia.

The 2011 20th anniversary expedition from June 23 to July 7 begins in Helsinki, Finland, where guests spend the night in a centrally located hotel. On June 24, they are flown from Helsinki to Murmansk, Russia, the homeport of the Russian nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet to board 50 Years of Victory. The expedition vessel, generates 75,000 horsepower and crush through Arctic Ocean ice 10 feet thick.

Reaching the North Pole can take between 4 and 8 days, depending on weather and ice conditions. When the top of the world is reached, guests will enjoy a champagne toast and a barbecue on the ice. On the southbound journey, shore landings will be made in Franz Josef Land. The uninhabited Russian islands are located 10 degrees from the North Pole. They are the natural habitat of polar bear and walrus, Arctic icons.

Santa Claus is on Vacation in June and July

Quark President, Hans Lagerwiej reported that the most often asked question about Quark's North Pole cruise is, "Will we see Santa Claus?" His reply, "Santa is on vacation when we sail to the North Pole, so we don't disturb his important work."

50 Years of Victory

All cabins have exterior views and facilities en suite. The voyage accommodates a maximum of 128 guests. An Mi-8 helicopter – capable of carrying up to 20 people – is used to transfer guests ashore, when the ice is too thick for the ship's fleet of Zodiacs. One dining room accommodates all guests at a single seating. Per person prices for a twin cabin start at USD$22,690. A video-guide is available at http://www.quarkexpeditions.com/arctic-expeditions/north-pole-20th-anniversary-expedition/overview

SOURCE Quark Expeditions