Tag: cruise

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 […]

Getting your luggage packed is an exciting part of getting ready for any trip. Getting packed for an Antarctic trip brings its own special considerations, however. How cold will it really be? How many layers will I need? One pair of gloves or two? At Swoop, we spent a lot of time helping travellers get […]

If there is another place in the world whose mere mention conjures up such intrigue and inspiration as Antarctica, I am yet to find out about it. For me, Antarctica is a story rendered up by torch light on a dark winter’s evening, a glimpse into another planet uninhabited by human beings and the living […]

Cabins with balconies might not sound like an obvious choice if you’re heading to an icy destination like Antarctica, but they’re becoming an increasingly popular option for polar expedition cruising. In this article we’ll discuss how having a balcony cabin can let you enjoy your very own private piece of Antarctica.  Do all expedition ships […]

In the past few years, it’s been possible to spot a new type of ship cruising through the Antarctic ice. They look like no other ship in the polar fleet, or even any other ship you might have seen. Their bows curve down into the water like a bird dipping its beak for a drink. […]

Here at Swoop, we often get asked about the pros and cons of buying kit vs hiring kit for an Antarctic adventure. As a passionate polar traveller and a packing obsessive, let me provide some clarity! An expedition cruise trip to Antarctica may require some cold weather gear you don’t already own, though it’s often […]

Heralded as the ‘Galapagos of the Southern Ocean’, the stunning island of South Georgia is packed with both history and wildlife. For anyone who has ever watched a David Attenborough series on heaving king penguin colonies or battling elephant seals, it is likely to have been filmed on this remote island. My first trip to […]

Expect the unexpected. Go with the flow. These are the types of things you’ll hear over and over again when it comes to Antarctic voyages. In the coldest, windiest and driest continent on Earth, it hardly comes as a surprise to learn that itineraries do not always go to plan. I can’t seem to tell […]