Timothy John
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?”
Timothy John's Trip Date:
22nd Jan - 29th Jan 2026
What was your most memorable moment?
Very difficult to pick anything out, it was all memorable. Every aspect stands out, from the onboard food and amazing "hotel" staff, cabin comfort, the sheer quality of the onboard experts, and of course the incredible destination. Antarctica21 as the provider were absolutely first rate in all aspects.
Which of the following best describes your adventure?
Great holiday
On a scale of 0 to 10, how likely is it that you would recommend Swoop to a friend or colleague?
10 out of 10
On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate your trip: Original Fly & Cruise Expedition Cruise?
10 out of 10
Were Swoop right to recommend Antarctica 21?
Yes
Tell us about Zodiac excursions
We had 2 outings a day, felt safe and controlled, most memorable probably the final return to the ship in deteriorating weather and high winds which was very well managed by the team. The outings were the highlight of each day.
Tell us about the expedition team
Can't choose between them, they were all superb. There was a great lecture on a long drive to provision depots for South Pole flights by Sergei which was beautifully understated, but everything was great.
Tell us about the Ocean Nova
Lovely ship, being retired from Antarctica I think, but quite a wrench to leave it. My cabin (305) was spacious and comfortable, the food was never short of astonishing, and absolutely I'd choose this ship again.
Do you have any tips or advice for other people planning a trip to Antarctica?
Allow plenty of time after the trip before any expensive flights - we had a flight delay of three days returning, and there was a huge amount of rebooking happening for people who hadn't left time. I had left a buffer myself of two days before returning to Santiago and another before the return flight to the UK, but it was squeaky bum time even then. In the end I didn't need to rebook anything. Also the usual which we were told often: be prepared to be flexible, make sure you have adequate waterproofs and layers as you'll need them.
Has your experience changed your perspective in any way?
Antarctica gets into you in a way that's very difficult to describe. I wouldn't call it life changing exactly, but coming back out of it is a peculiar transition. You do realise that you are not in charge, the environment dictates what you can do and when, and it's quite a chastening transition when you're used to being able to just hop on a flight when you need to.
Do you have any recommendations for Swoop, or feedback about the team?
No, very good service throughout. I can appreciate there's a considerable range of travel experience within the clients, but the process of ensuring everything was in place was generally reassuring. I would - and have - recommended Swoop to others (as well as Antarctica21).
How prepared and excited for Antarctica did you feel?
It was an exciting trip, and I felt well prepared. I don't think anyone drops £20k on a trip without making sure they're excited and well prepared...
Would you consider another trip to Antarctica with Swoop?
Yes
Would you be interested in travelling to Patagonia with Swoop?
No
Would you be interested in travelling to The Arctic with Swoop?
Yes
Would you be interested in travelling to Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Kenya or The Galapagos, with one of our trusted partners?
No
Would you like to receive our email newsletter about our other destinations?
No
When are you thinking of taking your next trip?
I don`t know
