Brian Murphy
United Kingdom
Customer
Rating
10
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?”
Brian Murphy's Trip:
Fly & Cruise The Antarctic CircleBrian Murphy's Trip Date:
9th Feb - 19th Feb 2019
Brian Murphy's Ship:
Akademik Sergey VavilovOverall, how was your trip?
The highlight was probably seeing humpback whales breaching the water. The landscapes and wildlife were fantastic and we were able to get very close to whales, penguins, seals and sea birds. There were many interesting people on board and the academic staff from the ship's operator were really knowledgeable. The food on board was good and plentiful. I would probably have liked to do some more challenging hikes but I appreciate that is difficult with some of the passengers on board. I wouldn't go back because it's just so far to travel and always had it in my mind that it was a once in a lifetime trip. I would consider and Arctic trip.
In one sentence, what did you think of Antarctica? Did it live up to your expectations?
A great experience that lived up to expectations seeing some fantastic views and wildlife in the most remote part of the world.
Would you visit again?
No
How was the service that Swoop provided?
Swoop were very helpful and knowledgeable in organising the trip. I was very pleased with the voyage we went on and couldn't fault the service.
How likely is it that you would recommend Swoop to a friend?
10 out of 10
You chose a/an Fly & Cruise The Antarctic Circle experience. How was that experience?
Great experience. It was good that we didn't have to sail back which would have been a long journey. I liked arriving by boat but flying back.
If Swoop arranged some of your travel before/after your voyage. How did we do?
Very well. We enjoyed some time in Buenos Aires on the way home. We could probably have done with an extra day but it was a nice finish to our holiday and well worth seeing.
How were your experiences on the zodiac excursions and shore landings?
The Zodiac landings were good fun. I enjoyed the hiking and polar plunge! I would have liked to do some longer more challenging hikes. The wildlife was fantastic and the expedition staff were excellent.
Do you have any tips or advice for other people planning a trip to Antarctica?
I would recommend getting a prescription for some strong sea sickness tablets as they worked very well for me. It's also good to do some reading on polar exploration before you go to get a sense of the continent.
Has your experience changed your perspective in any way?
I think it has changed my perspective on the environment and global warming. The glacier expert on board painted a bleak picture of the future of sea levels and how the climate is changing. It has made me think more about what I can do to help.
Is there anything you would recommend we change to make trips like yours more environmentally sustainable?
It's difficult to make a trip like this environmentally friendly given the number of flights I took and the amount of diesel that is burned on the boat.
