Lisa
United States Of America
Customer
Rating
8
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?”
Lisa's Trip Date:
17th Feb - 1st Mar 2026
What was your most memorable moment?
The whole experience was memorable, but if I had to choose one, it would be holding the 7th continent flag when we stepped onto the Antarctic continent.
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?
8 out of 10
On a scale of 0 to 10, how would you rate your trip: Untamed Weddell Sea Adventure?
10 out of 10
Were Swoop right to recommend Aurora Expeditions?
Yes
Tell us about Zodiac excursions
All good.
Tell us about the expedition team
Excellent. All the lectures were interesting, informative and demonstrated the passion of the team member in their area of interest. The team leader Mark was exceptional in every way.
Tell us about the Sylvia Earle
The Sylvia Earle had a beautiful sauna and jacuzzi. Our room was excellent in terms of location midship with a balcony, however unfortunately, there was a flood in our room the first or second night, which took 3-4 days to dry out and repair the pipes. The maintenance staff were punctual and conscientious in attending to it, but it decreased from the overall satisfaction of our experience. Also, the last 3-4 days, the water dispenser on our floor broke down (pipe broke), which caused minor inconvenience. The food variety was excellent. The wines were not to my liking, as I thought there are such delicious affordable local Chilean and Argentinian wines (Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbecs) that could be served instead of the European or lighter wines that were offered. The cocktails were not good either, just made of cheap cordial (rather than lime juice and agave syrup for example)
Tell us about the Snorkelling
It was a unique experience to snorkel in a dry suit, however, the snorkelling activity is overpriced. Most of the time , there was nothing to see except rocks and possibly seagrass. On one day, we saw a penguin or two swim by, on another day, a whale passed by, and on a 3rd day we did have some seals swimming around us. However, 4-5 times, the snorkelling was cancelled due to poor visibility, a leopard seal hunting and waves. On a couple of days, we had to choose between hiking and snorkelling. In conclusion, I would say the snorkelling is worth half of the cost of what is charged.
Something Else?
Some of us had massages, and everyone including me, felt that the massage therapist did not have the healing demeanour expected for therapeutic services. Not warm, friendly or nurturing, although the actual massage was technically good. The doctor on board also did not have a particularly nurturing manner , although the prescribed treatment was sufficient.
Do you have any tips or advice for other people planning a trip to Antarctica?
Yes. Ensure that the tour operator is a member of IAATO. A sail -fly trip would be best for people who wish to sail the Drake only one time and if you fly at the end, you won't miss out on days due to bad weather that delays flights. Travel on an X bow ship if you are prone to seasickness.
Has your experience changed your perspective in any way?
Only that I realize the fragility of the Antarctic ecosystem more than I did before.
Do you have any recommendations for Swoop, or feedback about the team?
Nothing not already mentioned in other comments.
How prepared and excited for Antarctica did you feel?
Quite.
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
