Cara

United States Of America

Customer
Rating

9

Cara's Trip Date:

23rd Dec - 6th Jan 2025

What was your most memorable moment?

It's difficult to pick one. Our first day on land, the fog was so thick that we could barely see the ship in the water. As we hiked up the hill to penguin colonies, we turned around and saw what looked like an outline of a mountain through the fog, but figured it was just thin clouds. We turned around just a few moments later to see a massive, glacier-laden mountain towering over the water, making our boat look miniscule. It was a moment of surprise and awe that kick-started this amazing trip. Each whale sighting had me on my toes, in awe of the humpbacks especially.

Which of the following best describes your adventure?

Life changing

On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate your trip: Antarctic Basecamp Adventure?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

10 out of 10

On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely is it that you would recommend Swoop to a friend or colleague?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

9 out of 10

Tell us about the Plancius

The Plancius was better than I expected. I prepared myself for a more humble ship, but I was happy to see that it had everything I needed for the journey. They are very honest about the 3-star hotel accommodations; it is not luxury, but again, it's what you need and a little more for an expedition trip. Our cabin was small, but it was space enough (Twin Window). It was about the same size as a Caribbean cruise ship, truly. The bathroom was spacious. Our usual luggage fit nicely underneath the beds. Not a ton of storage so my less-tidy self was messier than I would've liked. Housekeeping was very quick in changing sheets and making beds. The food aboard the Plancius was wonderful. Our chef did an incredible job and again, the service staff was amazing and flexible, especially when we were feeling sick along the Drake. There was a great variety of cuisines and accommodations for vegetarian and gluten-free diets. The hotel manager and assistant manager were also wonderful. Again, very personable and accommodating. I would 100% choose to journey aboard the Plancius again.

Tell us about the expedition team

The very best expedition team I could have asked for. Adam Burke, the lead guide, was incredible. We loved waking up to his wake-up call announcements. He was always professional, but very real in his briefings (flexibility with locations and activity plans, sea roughness, weather, etc.). At the end of the trip, he shared his own experience having over-wintered in Antarctica twice. We had no idea how much more incredible of a person he was! I have nothing but positive thoughts and feelings toward each one of the expedition team members. They made me feel safe, confident, educated, and contributed to the great experience that I had.

Do you have any tips or advice for other people planning a trip to Antarctica?

Utilize the Swoop support and transportation scheduling. It is okay to only have a few sets of each layer; they will last the entire trip. Say yes to everything offered.

Has your experience changed your perspective in any way?

Absolutely. I feel more invested in the wildlife than I did before and I'm more curious about the more scientific and geological aspects of the southern ocean and continent. It's also made me realize how much more enjoyable a trip focused on nature is and how it brings so much peace.

Would you consider another trip to Antarctica with Swoop?

Yes

Would you be interested in travelling to The Arctic with Swoop?

Yes

Would you be interested in travelling to Patagonia with Swoop?

Yes

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