John
New Zealand
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?”
John's Trip Date:
11th Mar - 1st Apr 2026
What was your most memorable moment?
The pair of humpback whales adjacent to the ship in amongst the zodiacs!
Which of the following best describes your adventure?
Life changing
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: Discover South Georgia, Antarctica and Falklands?
10 out of 10
Were Swoop right to recommend Aurora Expeditions?
Yes
Tell us about Zodiac excursions
Were great, the guides were informative and super approachable. totally felt safe at all times. did well to land in a couple of the spots!
Tell us about the expedition team
The guides were exceptional - informative, super approachable and entertaining. Meli even made geology interesting! we liked that they ate with us, and that engendered more personal conversations, referencing their other experiences. they were building relationships & creating community.
Tell us about the Douglas Mawson
Fantastic ship. loved the stabilizers :). the public areas were great, spacious & light. tea & coffee 24/7 good stateroom 604 was great, nice space, loved the balcony, good storage, nice ensuite. little tiny things to look at - appreciating it's new & there are settling in issues: - the tv/content interface in cabin was really clunky and not great selection. just copy the airline one. - the tv remote infrared signal is very sensitive - had to be in the right position. - the sound from the briefings came to the staterooms fine, but the 2 videos played did not. only got picture & no sound. - hot water is too hot & you might think about some kind of barrier in the shower to protect the passenger from very hot fixture - normally not a problem but when you're bouncing around you can burn your butt!
Tell us about the Kayaking
Guides were fantastic - knowledgeable, good communicators, fun and very engaged equipment was basically new and faultless they made us feel really safe & led us into some great places the different perspectives & experiences added a lot to the overall view of the trip. we did have trouble hearing the leader of the day when on water. you might look at BT mics & waterproof speakers. leader is at the front & speaking forward, its hard to all kayaks to hear. we did have 1-2 kayakers with no experience. it's fine if you're putting yourself in harms way, but being in doubles you're endangering someone else. I'm not sure how you keep people from over playing their skills/experience, but needs to be looked at.
Something Else?
In Ushuaia if passengers are able to go into town & will be returning to ship, you need to give more explicit instructions about re-entry through passenger control. we stood outside in a queue for 30 mins in cold wind & rain, only to later realize we didn't need to be in the queue. there is no signage, nor any port officials to direct traffic. food - selection and quality was excellent. hotel staff - across the board were exceptional
Has your experience changed your perspective in any way?
We're more focused on protection of the artic/Antarctic. the krill information was enlightening!! won't be buying any of those products for sure. we'll advocate for stronger fishing limits too. seeing it in person has added depth to the connection with the place & wildlife - seeing in person vs watching a documentary.
Do you have any recommendations for Swoop, or feedback about the team?
See swoop notes above - very prepared, very enthusiastic! to quote kayaking Liz - "it didn't' suck!"
How prepared and excited for Antarctica did you feel?
Very prepared, and very excited!
Would you consider another trip to Antarctica with Swoop?
No
Would you be interested in travelling to Patagonia with Swoop?
No
Would you be interested in travelling to the Arctic with our sister company, Swoop Arctic?
No
Would you be interested in travelling to Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Kenya, The Galapagos, Peru or Iceland 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
