South Georgia Luxury Cruises

The arrival of more luxurious ships to Antarctica has transformed the humble cabin from being primarily just a place to sleep into a comfortable space in which to relax, and watch icebergs and wildlife sliding past. These ‘Suites’ have adopted many of the trappings of boutique hotels, with towelling dressing gowns, fine linen, a coffee machine, mini bar and LCD screen.

All ships offer a range of cabin categories with prices rising accordingly with increasing square footage/ metres, and typically the higher the location on the ship. Dual aspect windows or balconies don’t always carry the hefty supplement you might imagine and for the relatively modest additional investment can be well worth considering, particularly on these longer trips.

When it comes to the food side of the voyage, the style is as much a part of the experience as the quality and choice. The more luxurious ships offer a radically different proposition to the refectory-style tables where eating is largely functional at a preset time, being much more akin to a top-class restaurant. Dining is an integral part of the overall experience.

Firstly, there’s a choice of table sizes - for 2, 4 or +6 people - allowing you to be as private or inclusive with new acquaintances as you want to be. Lunch tends to be a less formal meal - quite often with a buffet as well as a daily menu, while Dinner is a full blown affair. Given the array of mouthwatering food, the real challenge is burning enough calories between meals!

The kitchens on all ships are very well versed in all types of food requirements, whether vegetarian, gluten free, lactose intolerant, kosher or any individual food allergies.

A decent wine list is the other key differentiator of a luxury ship. All of Swoop’s preferred luxury ships offer an extensive list and the sommelier can help advise.

It may seem unfamiliar to talk about the calibre of staff onboard your ship as a ‘luxury’, however, anyone who’s benefitted from an outstanding guide(s) in the past will already recognise their inestimable value.

The influence of the expedition staff on board ship - their deep knowledge, erudition, insights and general bonhomie - can’t be underestimated. These luxury ships recognise this and the importance of the educational side and court the best guides.

The size of the expedition staff is also an important factor, as the larger the team the (a) wider the pool of expertise, and (b) the more one-on-one time you’ll be able to get. When looking at the voyage’s sticker price, bear in mind that good staff cost money and that this isn’t an area in which to cut corners.