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When choosing an Antarctic expedition cruise, people often concentrate on the ship and its amenities alongside the itinerary, but there is one element that’s all too often overlooked but that we believe, can transform a simple voyage into something truly extraordinary – the guiding team.  Expedition Guides bring an amazing wealth of polar experience to […]

At Swoop, we firmly believe that tourism can have a positive impact on both people and the planet, and that protecting the destinations we travel to should be at the heart of everything we do. As well as being a registered B Corp, we’re proud to be associate members of the International Association of Antarctic […]

Antarctica is known for its raw and wild landscape, and has long been associated with adventure and exploration. While this might paint a picture in travellers’ minds that Antarctic cruises are pretty basic or simple affairs, nowadays it’s quite the opposite.  Now, cruises to Antarctica offer a comfortable and refined experience, with many vessels providing […]

Two and a half years ago, the world marvelled at the news of the discovery of the wreck of the Endurance, the ship that was centre stage for the explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton’s greatest Antarctic triumph and tragedy. Organised and funded by the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust, the Endurance22 expedition found the ship more than […]

Sit someone down and ask them to make a list of Antarctic explorers, and most people would probably start to falter after the big three of Ernest Shackleton, Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott. Americans might throw in Admiral Robert Byrd, the first man to fly to the South Pole, while Australians will surely add […]

If you were looking down from space, it would appear that every winter the Antarctic continent more than doubles in size. That’s because the ocean around it freezes over creating a vast curtain of sea ice. It’s one of the planet’s most extraordinary seasonal cycles and it plays an important but little understood role in […]

Antarctica is a truly fascinating destination, but many people picking an expedition cruise choose to extend their time at sea by adding in the Subantarctic island of South Georgia, famed for its immense colonies of king penguins. These trips also have the advantage of spending time at the Falkland Islands, another great haven for wildlife […]

Antarctica and its Subantarctic islands are home to some of the world’s greatest wildlife watching experiences. The chance to see penguins in their natural habitat is a huge draw, but there’s another sight that is just as iconic when it comes to images of polar wildlife: a seal hauled up on an ice floe. Watching […]

Formed by an active volcano, the desolate landscapes of Deception Island in Antarctica is one of the most intriguing destinations in the Seventh Continent. Its barren environment is filled with ash-covered glaciers, volcanic beaches and slopes, and an enormous natural harbour guarded by narrow cliffs, as well as a rich human history.  One of the […]

Thousands of travellers visit Antarctica every year, sailing on the 70 or so vessels that make up the polar fleet. These come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from tiny yachts and expedition cruise ships that carry a hundred or so passengers, all the way up to larger ships that aren’t allowed to land […]

Antarctica is often closer than you think. From the fish in your supermarket to the supplements in your health food store, traces of its most important animal are everywhere, hidden in plain sight. Krill, the tiny crustacean at the centre of the Antarctic food web eaten by everything from gentoo penguins to whales, is being […]

It’s one of the greatest Antarctic stories ever told: Sir Ernest Shackleton’s doomed attempt to cross Antarctica that was thwarted when his ship Endurance was crushed in the ice, followed by the long and desperate struggle to get his men safely home.  For over a century, the wreck of Endurance lay hidden from the outside […]

Antarctica is a real photographer’s paradise. Its raw beauty, wild landscapes and incredible wildlife offer a perfect canvas for amateurs and professional photographers to take their creativity to the next level. The pictures from Antarctica you’ll capture on an expedition cruise are likely to be some of the most dramatic you’ll ever take: everywhere you […]

It was in the last few days of our Antarctic Peninsula cruise that our Expedition Leader Ashley brought something special to our attention. We were in the lecture lounge listening to her present her round up of the day’s activities and what tomorrow’s plan would bring when a map flashed up on the screen. By […]

My first time in a zodiac in Antarctica felt a little daunting. I stood on a platform at the back of our sturdy ship and looked at the rubber boat bobbing up and down on the waves. A crew member held out their hand to steady me in a sailor’s grip and help me step […]

Ask anyone to name the animal they’re most excited to see in Antarctica and penguins are almost always going to be top of their list. Whilst their charisma is undeniable it often threatens to overshadow the region’s other great wildlife experiences. Antarctica is in fact one of the world’s greatest destinations for whale watching.  There […]

Exploring the vast and varied landscapes of Antarctica is an increasingly popular bucket-list adventure, especially as more people are turning their attention to remote destinations for their travels. Now, travellers from all over the planet are taking the plunge to learn how they can make their dreams of visiting the White Continent a reality. Antarctic […]

Your first wildlife encounter on an Antarctic trip is often your most poignant. It was for me. I headed south with my head full of thoughts of penguins and whales, not suspecting that the wildlife show would begin almost the moment my ship pulled away from the quay. As soon as we entered the Drake […]

It’s delightfully easy to think of Antarctica as a completely pristine environment, untouched by humanity. Maybe it’s the vast blankets of snow that encourages you to think that yours are the first footsteps ever to leave a trace there. It’s an innocent enough fantasy when you’re on an expedition cruise, indulging your sense of personal […]

When it comes to planning a cruise to Antarctica, one of the questions that comes up most frequently is what’s the best size of ship to sail on? There’s no perfect answer of course, but if you want to maximise your time exploring off the ship, then we generally recommend ships that carry fewer than […]