Overall, the trip was good. Excellent guides, service on board, etc. The landings we were able to do were excellent, and we totally lucked out with beautiful weather and a calm Drake Passage on the way back.

Antarctica opens your eyes to how huge and wild the world really is.

Yes

Swoop was very helpful with booking, etc., with one exception. I don't feel it was made clear just how dramatically the itinerary could potentially change. Another passenger got sick and we had to leave South Georgia after only one day and spent many more days at sea than expected. For us, the entire point of choosing the voyage we did (and paying the huge premium for a longer itinerary) was to see South Georgia. If it had been made clear to me that a medical evacuation of someone on board when we were out that far would mean potentially missing out on the entire experience because of the paucity of evac options I think I would have made a different decision. I expected to have landings cancelled, etc., due to weather but not such a major disappointment--especially since everyone purchases med evac insurance. That was a lack of education on Swoop's part, since no matter how much research we would have done on our own would have included that guidance. It also reflects badly on Swoop that no acknowledgement of the incident was made. The ship's operator informed us that the statement was sent to every travel agent on the day of the evacuation. I realize there's nothing you could really do, but I didn't appreciate having nothing said about it.

I've already expressed my disappointment that we only got one day in South Georgia. I honestly would have a hard time recommending this itinerary given our experience. If you're able to do it, I'm sure it's incredible. But for a trip so costly to be ruined because someone with serious health issues was welcomed aboard only to need an evacuation, it's not a risk I'd be willing to recommend. I realize a lot of screening rests on the shoulders of self-reporting of health, but what a disaster and a huge disappointment. The staff worked incredibly hard on communication, filling the days at sea, and in handling the evacuation itself. I have nothing but good things to say about the staff and expedition team. The ship itself was perfect, as well.

N/A

Expedition staff exceeded expectations. The expedition leader, Katja, did an outstanding job managing plans, expectations, and safety. On a few zodiac cruises we were with a member of the ship crew instead, who are excellent drivers, but it wasn't quite the same as getting a guide driving to tell us what we were experiencing.

If you have a health problem, think long and hard about how coming aboard could impact the trip for everyone else on board. And for everyone--realize that you may pay tens of thousands of dollars for a trip and miss out on a major destination.