Category: Planning & Tips

I’ve been lucky enough to travel as a professional photographer to some of the most far flung destinations on our planet. From Patagonia and the Galapagos Islands to the Canadian Arctic and Greenland, the list goes on – and yet it’s Antarctica that captures my heart most. Antarctica draws you in like nowhere else. It […]

It’s always an exciting moment when a new vessel joins the polar fleet. Autumn 2022 brought another arrival in the shape of the Sylvia Earle. Named for the celebrated marine biologist, its striking X-Bow hull cuts a neat dash through the waves. The Sylvia Earle carries an average of just 132 passengers, promising an intimate […]

The Seaventure ship is a big favourite of both Swoop Antarctica staff and passengers. Originally designed for around 180 passengers, a complete refit for polar cruising reduced the number of berths to a maximum of 139 as well as upgrading the vessel to a 1-A ice class rating – the highest possible maritime rating. When […]

A trip to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia is the trip of a lifetime for many, taking in some of the most sublime nature anywhere in the world, from icebergs sculpted by a surrealist hand to the cacophony of hundreds of thousands of penguins in a single colony. These cruises also take in a […]

One of my favourite places in Grytviken in South Georgia is somewhere overlooked. Tucked into an anteroom the Norwegian Church is the old whaling station’s forgotten library. After browsing the shelves, you can flick through 1950s registration books to discover which whalers were the most avid readers. It’s a gently moving experience: while nature rightly […]

At the end of 2022 I was able to tick off one of my big bucket list destinations when I travelled south to join an expedition cruise sailing to South Georgia and Antarctica. While I packed up my warm clothes and checked my spare memory cards and batteries for my camera I was bubbling over […]

Whether you’re counting down the days until you set out on your Antarctic adventure or just daydreaming of icebergs and penguins from the comfort of your armchair, there is a host of podcasts out there to get you in an Antarctica state of mind. We’ve sorted through the best Antarctica podcasts worth listening to. Just […]

Cabins with balconies might not sound like an obvious choice if you’re heading to an icy destination like Antarctica, but they’re becoming an increasingly popular option for polar expedition cruising. In this article we’ll discuss how having a balcony cabin can let you enjoy your very own private piece of Antarctica.  Do all expedition ships […]