Rosemary
Australia
Customer
Rating
9
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?”
Rosemary's Trip Date:
17th Jan - 1st Feb 2025
What was your most memorable moment?
Unfortunately the ship was under repair, and my voyage was cancelled
Which of the following best describes your adventure?
Underwhelming
On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely is it that you would recommend Swoop to a friend or colleague?
9 out of 10
On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate your trip: Antarctic Explorer in Style?
1 out of 10
Were Swoop right to recommend Quark Expeditions?
Yes
Tell us about Zodiac excursions
They were all wonderful. I felt very safe. At one point a whale swam under the zodiac, which was a little nervewracking as it might have flipped the zodiac, but was still fabulous.
Tell us about the expedition team
Bryan the leader was the best person on the team. My favourite lecture was about the geology/climate of Antarctica.
Tell us about the Ultramarine
The cabin was great, as I got a double cabin, but did not have to share, with a large window. The heated bathroom was a great plus. The food was excellent, although after 10 days became a little same-y. I would choose this ship again, but from a cost point of view would only be able to afford a single cabin.
Something Else?
I am very grateful to my agent in Bristol for finding a ship that fitted in with the rest of my holiday plans and flights. The dates did not entirely match, so I had to cancel a few things I had booked in Ushuaia pre-cruise, but that was nothing compared to if I had not been able to go on an Antarctic cruise at all, after that long flight from Sydney.
Do you have any tips or advice for other people planning a trip to Antarctica?
If you do not have the necessary clothing, it is very easy to rent everything in Ushuaia, but pre-book it.
Has your experience changed your perspective in any way?
I was already concerned about climate change, now even more so.
Do you have any recommendations for Swoop, or feedback about the team?
My agent, Sarah Orson, is to be commended for her assistance.
How prepared and excited for Antarctica did you feel?
Very excited until I got the phone call 3 days beforehand that the ship was cancelled. Then it was extremely stressful, and even once I knew I had a place on the Ultramarine, I had to do all the paperwork still, on my phone, using shonky wifi from a hotel in Buenos Ares. Then I had not had any of the pre-trip information from Quark, as it was only 3 days from sailing, and I had no access to the Quark Travel Portal, with no booking number or password, so could not even look up what time the ship was sailing. I had no embarkation instructions at all, just went to the pier and hoped they would let me on, as my name was not even on the list. It all worked out ok though.
Would you consider another trip to Antarctica with Swoop?
Yes
Would you be interested in travelling to Patagonia with Swoop?
No
Would you be interested in travelling to The Arctic with Swoop?
Yes
