Heather
United States Of America
Customer
Rating
8
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?”
Heather's Trip Date:
2nd Jan - 23rd Jan 2025
What was your most memorable moment?
Every single part of Antarctica!
Which of the following best describes your adventure?
Life changing
On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely is it that you would recommend Swoop to a friend or colleague?
8 out of 10
On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate your trip: Luxury Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica?
9 out of 10
Were Swoop right to recommend Silversea Expeditions?
Yes
Tell us about Zodiac excursions
Incredible! I always felt safe. The drivers were incredible!
Tell us about the expedition team
Incredible! They were all so so excellent! We particularly loved John, Alana, Ryan, Faye, and Justin. CK was wonderful as well!
Tell us about the Silver Endeavour
Absolutely incredible! We did have a problem with our cabin though. We were in 511 and it smelled like sewer. We repeatedly reported it to our Butler and cleaner and nothing was remedied. They tried, but they couldn’t get to the issue. So I went to reception and took it to a higher level with HR. They immediately moved us to an upgraded cabin into room 619. So the rest of the trip was great. Also, I wish Swoop had advised me better on which room to book , as being in that cold weather for so many days I really needed a bathtub and our cabin did not have one. Otherwise, everything was perfect.
Something Else?
The Swoop travel agent should book spa days for sea days, not on excursion days. I had to change all of my appointments with the spa because they were at times that didn’t make sense. Make sure you tell your advisors to book the guest’s spa appointment on sea days.
Do you have any tips or advice for other people planning a trip to Antarctica?
Book your spa appointments on sea days, not on excursion days. Book all of your restaurant reservations in advance and don’t leave any days without a reservation. You can easily cancel, and towards the end of our trip all the dinner spots, (other than the open reservation restaurant) , were booked Ask for a cabin with a bathtub if you feel the cold and your muscles get tight. For Antarctica, I recommend bringing polarized ski goggles not just polarized sunglasses. We were so glad we brought ski goggles! We wore them almost every single day. Do bring a couple of nice outfits even though there are tight weight restrictions for luggage. We were told we didn’t need them, but really most people did dress up a bit for most dinners we wish we had had a few nicer looking clothes.
Has your experience changed your perspective in any way?
Yes but it’s impossible to put into words! I always knew Antarctica was going to be an epic trip, but it’s surpassed my best expectations, truly! There is such a sense of peace and harmony and Dominion with nature down in that part of the world. I’ll never forget the beauty! I’ll never forget the love I felt for the planet and for the animals and even for everyone on the cruise ship. We bonded! And the staff became like family. It was like summer camp in that everyone was crying when we had to say goodbye. It couldn’t have been a better experience!
Do you have any recommendations for Swoop, or feedback about the team?
As I said previously have your team book the guest’s spa days on sea-days, not excursion days. Make sure they know that some cabins have bathtubs when they’re going to these cold parts of the world and recommend the cabins with bathtubs if the guest can afford it. Make sure they book restaurant reservations for all of the nights knowing they can easily cancel 24 hours in advance but this way they’ll never miss out. Emphasize the weight restriction on luggage and remind them they do need a couplde of nicer outfits for dinners, not just outdoorsy excursion wear. We wish we had known that people dressed up for the captain’s welcoming event and the farewell night. It seemed like most people knew, but we didn’t as we were never informed by Swoop. This was our first cruise.
How prepared and excited for Antarctica did you feel?
Totally!
Would you consider another trip to Antarctica with Swoop?
Yes
Would you be interested in travelling to Patagonia with Swoop?
Yes
Would you be interested in travelling to The Arctic with Swoop?
Yes
