Linda
United States Of America
Customer
Rating
10
Customer Rating On return from their adventure we ask customers: “On a scale of 0-10, with 10 being the highest, how likely is it that you would recommend Swoop to a friend or colleague?”
Linda's Trip Date:
15th Feb - 26th Feb 2017
Linda's Ship:
MV UshuaiaOverall, how was your trip?
The trip was even better than expected... The highlight was crossing the polar circle and seeing ice bergs the size of skyscrapers--who knew ice could be so incredible!? The landscape was amazing--like walking around in a painting. And the wildlife was unreal! It was everywhere and so untouched. The people were fascinating--loved the diversity in age, country and interest. I learned a lot from them! Someday, I'll tell my grandchildren that I went to a place that was so untouched by man--that it was nature at its best. Biggest surprise was that our ship didn't have a stabilizer! Haha.
In one sentence, what did you think of Antarctica? Did it live up to your expectations?
It was breathtaking-- almost like being in an entirely different world. And yes!!
Would you visit again?
Yes
How was the service that Swoop provided?
Very satisfied! The team was incredible with my cancellation last year and, this year, provided so much information and expertise. Very knowledgeable, professional and personable. I felt very prepared for my voyage. Alex was fantastic as the main point of contact. Note--my answer below is "extremely likely" but the scale shows up oddly on mobile devices so I'm not sure if the number I selected correlates.
How likely is it that you would recommend Swoop to a friend?
10 out of 10
How were your experiences on the zodiac excursions and shore landings?
Best moments for landings were waking up glaciers (and sliding down), doing the polar plunge, hanging out with penguins and seeing the incredible ice bergs. Honestly, it was better than I expected-- I loved the bright blue ice and how close we got to nature. It was also super cool to visit the Ukrainian station.
How would you describe {vessel.title} if talking to somebody potentially interested in going to Antarctica, and what tips would you pass on?
I loved that the Ushuaia was small/ intimate. The staff was great and it had a good vibe to it--definitely the right ship for us. I would recommend this ship to those who want to do an "expedition"--not someone looking for a ton of comfort or amenities, but truly want to experience Antarctica. One thing that should be disclosed prior--the ship doesn't have any stabilizers! So be prepared for a rocky voyage...
If Swoop arranged some of your travel before/after your voyage. How did we do?
The dodcuments provided were very helpful and the staff was great! Everything worked as planned / needed
Do you have any tips or advice for other people planning a trip to Antarctica?
Take it in! And take advantage of every moment--the people you meet are some of the most fascinating you will have the pleasure of meeting, the scenery is incredible (take a lot of extra batteries and SD cards as you'll need far more than you expect), and even the down time on the ship is a welcome change from daily life full of social media, work, etc. I've had the pleasure of traveling all over the world and nothing compares to the experience that I had in Antarctica.
Anything else? Tell us anything you’d like to share that we forgot to ask! It’s ok to leave this empty too :-)
If you couldn't tell by this review, I was so pleased with the entire experience! Well worth the time and money. Thank you!
