Tag: ship review

Exploring the vast and varied landscapes of Antarctica is an increasingly popular bucket-list adventure, especially as more people are turning their attention to remote destinations for their travels. Now, travellers from all over the planet are taking the plunge to learn how they can make their dreams of visiting the White Continent a reality. Antarctic […]

When it comes to planning a cruise to Antarctica, one of the questions that comes up most frequently is what’s the best size of ship to sail on? There’s no perfect answer of course, but if you want to maximise your time exploring off the ship, then we generally recommend ships that carry fewer than […]

I’ve worked in the Antarctic cruise industry for 16 years, and travelled south on a wide variety of ships. In my earliest days I sailed on some of the last generation of ex-research expedition vessels, where bunks and shared bathrooms were the order of the day. Since then I’ve seen new generations of ships launched, […]

When Antarctica cruising was in its infancy, travellers had little choice of ship or comfort level, with most squeezing into simple cabins on converted research vessels or old Russian icebreakers. Those days are long behind us and the polar fleet caters to a wide variety of travel styles. On my most recent trip south, I […]

The expedition cruise ship Hondius has proved a popular addition to the polar fleet since it was launched in 2019. Carrying up to 170 passengers, its Basecamp Adventure offers kayaking, camping, snowshoeing and even mountaineering. This is added to the regular landings and zodiac cruises, giving guests a host of different ways to discover Antarctica […]

Since its launch in 2021, the expedition cruise ship Ultramarine has rapidly become a popular choice for Swoop Antarctica passengers. Its modern design, 1A+ ice class rating (putting it just shy of being an actual icebreaker) , 199 berths and broad suite of adventure activities have all helped establish its place in the polar fleet. […]

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 […]