Kushal

United Arab Emirates

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?”

Kushal's Trip Date:

30th Jan - 16th Feb 2018

Kushal's Ship:

Sea Spirit

Overall, how was your trip?

The reason I have chosen NO in the previous question is because I feel very content on having seen Antarctica thoroughly and learning and seeing so much about the place. I do not think I missed anything in the trip, and so if I visit again I might just end up doing the same thing. This was one of my best trips ever in terms of being satisfied. Highlights were aplenty (in order): ~ Spending time in Ushuaia the southern most city in the world ~ Living a comfortable life in the ship with good passengers for company, and the best possible expedition team ~ Witnessing Orcas, Dolphins straight from the portside cabin window ~ Crossing the Polar Circle ~ Polar plunging (twice!) ~ Encounters with humpback whales swimming so close to the zodiac ~ Sitting ashore and absorbing the calm and vastness of the peninsula on a bright sunny day ~ Good variety of food and beverage

In one sentence, what did you think of Antarctica? Did it live up to your expectations?

It was an incredible and awe-inspiring place. The place met my expectations and the encounters there exceeded my expectations.

Would you visit again?

No

How was the service that Swoop provided?

I had contacted Swoop 2 years back and then the bookings were full. I was determined to book the voyage with Swoop as your website was extremely informative and helped me to take the right decisions in terms of time, ship etc. I was extremely satisfied with the voyage I took. Yes, Sarah helped me to finalize Sea Spirit over other ships. It was very helpful to receive first hand information from someone who knows the region very well. Swoop's service prior to the voyage was good as well- the frequent mailers, tips helped a lot.

How likely is it that you would recommend Swoop to a friend?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

10 out of 10

You chose a/an Polar Circle Adventure experience. How was that experience?

The Polar circle experience was a perfect choice to meet my expectations. It was a unique journey as we went as south as tourists can go. The landscape changed every day as we went south. I liked the fact that this voyage was different from the usual route that other ships take. We touched upon many spots which are un-heard of. While visiting Antarctica itself is an exclusive experience this journey was even more exclusive. I do not have any suggestions for the operator- they did a good job. My only regret was to not be able to camp. Camping was on top of my agenda but the weather conditions did not permit. I would recommend this journey to anybody who wants to see the real landscape of Antarctica, and get to experience a place beyond imagination.

If Swoop arranged some of your travel before/after your voyage. How did we do?

No. I managed my travel at Buenos Aires. At Ushuaia- the hotel we were put up in was top notch. Yes I received all the travel documents in time and they were comprehensive.

How were your experiences on the zodiac excursions and shore landings?

The excursions were planned in detail and executed well. Since there was a large Chinese group, the ship operator's expedition team managed the timings for the landings such that there was no language barrier for any of us. The attention to security was assuring. The highlight was having humpback whales feeding themselves within 5 meters of the zodiac! The zodiac drivers were very professional and ensured that we got a good position to see them without disturbing them. We got to see all the 3 species of penguins, all species of seals and humpback whales. The expedition staff were very insightful and patient with us. They ensured we get good clicks, and would even take detours in case they spotted some interesting wildlife.

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

I would certainly recommend everybody to visit your site to understand about Antarctica travel and get all the possible information at one spot. It's a good platform to begin research on Antarctica for tourists. Having a good informative website made me want to work with your team for my trip. And I am sure it would make others too.

Anything else? Tell us anything you’d like to share that we forgot to ask! It’s ok to leave this empty too :-)

My only feedback to your team would be on the clothing guide that you have on your site. It mentions that one should wear 4 layers. This is a little misleading because the layers would depend on the month of travel. During our trip the temperatures were high and we managed with 3 or less layers. I carried a lot of extra clothing which was of not much use to me. You have month-wise details on the landscape and wildlife expected in that month. I found it to be very accurate. Maybe you can add some details on the clothing expected to be worn in those months.

15 people found this review helpful

See All Reviews