Darwin
United States Of America
Customer
Rating
5
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?”
Darwin's Trip Date:
4th Dec - 16th Dec 2022
What was your most memorable moment?
Seeing type D orcas.
Which of the following best describes your adventure?
Great holiday
On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely is it that you would recommend Swoop to a friend or colleague?
5 out of 10
On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate your trip: Antarctic Basecamp Adventure?
9 out of 10
Were Swoop right to recommend Oceanwide Expeditions?
Yes
Tell us about Zodiac excursions
I greatly enjoyed the zodiac excursions. I felt completely safe and thought that the guides did an outstanding job to provide information regarding Antarctica and its wildlife/
Tell us about the expedition team
The expedition team was phenomenal. They were genuinely interested in making the trip the best it could be. I would have a hard time saying that any one was a standout because they all were in different ways. Likewise, I enjoyed all of the lectures.
Tell us about the Ortelius
The Ortelius was a great ship because it had a great crew. The food and hotel services were top-notch. I would choose the ship again.
Do you have any tips or advice for other people planning a trip to Antarctica?
Bring some over the counter cold relief medicine. Almost everyone caught a slight head cold for a day or two. If at all possible, avoid going through Buenos Aires as you have to switch airports and I almost missed my flight after Aerolinos Argentinas changed my itinerary and it was impossible to contact them about the problem.
Has your experience changed your perspective in any way?
Yes, in that I am now interested in possibly taking a trip to the Arctic someday.
Do you have any recommendations for Swoop, or feedback about the team?
I would consider not assigning a customer experience rep who was going to be on vacation for the period leading up to the trip. Not that it was a problem, just seemed to not make good sense. I am marking 'No' to the questions below about taking additional trips with Swoop as I am not sure what that means. To me, I didn't take this trip with Swoop; rather, I considered Swoop as a travel agent. I am not sure it Swoop has a more direct role in the other trips listed below.
Was there anything else Swoop could have done for you to help you prepare for your trip?
Absolutely. I needed to know the details about the 'mountaineering' opportunities and exactly what gear was needed. The term 'mountaineering' covers a broad spectrum of activities and as I explained earlier, I would have brought different boots if I had known what to expect. Specifically, I would have brought crampon-capable mountain climbing boots. I didn't because I have a different understanding of the term 'technical' boots; I consider 'technical' gear to be that used for ice and rock climbing.
Would you consider another trip to Antarctica with Swoop?
No
Would you be interested in travelling to Patagonia with Swoop?
No
Would you be interested in travelling to The Arctic with Swoop?
No
