About Polar Latitudes

  • Registered in Vermont, USA 
  • Operated in Antarctica since 2012
  • One of the most experienced management teams in the business, with over 100 years between them
  • Number of ships: 1
  • Length of partnership with Swoop: Since 2012
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What our customers think about Polar Latitudes

10/10 - Being on the Seaventure with Polar Latitudes was absolutely incredible. The Exploration Team was incredibly knowledgeable and worked very hard to give us an immersive exploration of Antarctica. Well done. Read the full review

Travelled: February 2024

Laurie Anne Douglas - USA

10/10 - It was all I expected and more. The Polar Latitudes team was exceptional and the small ship was great. Their enthusiasm was infectious and they made the trip even better. Read the full review

Travelled: February 2024

Nicole MacDonald - Canada

Very pleased with the Polar Latitudes experience. Great ship, crew, hotel staff, and expedition leaders. Read the full review

Travelled: February 2024

Andrew Lawson Pickard - Canada

Polar Latitudes is one of the smaller companies which meant that service they provided was very bespoke to each voyage. The guides interacted constantly with the guests onboard, and you get to know all of them well over the course of the trip. Everyone I talked to, from the staff at the front desk, to the doctor, to the crew loading and unloading the zodiacs was very helpful and seemed genuinely happy to answer questions. Read the full review

Travelled: January 2024

Lauren Pecarich - USA

Swoop understood what we were looking for and directed us to the perfect expedition team. We absolutely loved the team at Polar Latitudes. Read the full review

Travelled: January 2024

Morris Guy - Canada

Book through Swoop and Polar Latitudes. They are awesome. Read the full review

Travelled: January 2024

Gina Vickrey - USA

FANTASTIC!! This team was a well-oiled machine with amazing leadership. We were fortunate to have both the CEO and VP of Marketing for Polar Latitudes on board. They blended with the other staff and passengers without fanfare. Read the full review

Travelled: January 2024

Annette Stanley - USA

It was my first time ever to see humpback whales in the wild. The support and knowledge gained from Polar Latitudes research staff were excellent. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2023

Amirsham Bin A Aziz - Malaysia

I have plenty of tips but in short, I would say, go with Polar Latitudes and Swoop. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2023

Gordon Alan Joseph - Malaysia

10/10 - Polar Latitudes was amazing! Great crew and expedition team! They really made it special. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2023

Heather Jane Chadwick - USA

Great company that focuses on smaller groups for better customer satisfaction. We felt more like a family than a group of tourists. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2023

Patrick Michel - Switzerland

I could not imagine a better company to have gone on this journey with. From the ship itself, to the crew, the expedition leaders and the lectures, it was literally perfect. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2023

Erin Wall - Canada

Use Polar Latitudes, they are the best. They were like one big family with us. Read the full review

Travelled: November 2023

Alison Pullinger - UK

The Seaventure was perfect, the cabin was great. Lots of storage, extremely clean. Only improvement would be better pillows. The food was fantastic. As were the staff. Read the full review

Travelled: February 2023

Marian Fowler - UK

10/10 - Safety at sea was paramount, the crew was extremely professional, knowledgeable, informative. All passengers shared a common interest in climate change, viewing the changes seen and described by the many specialists. Overall, this was an absolutely outstanding experience Read the full review

Travelled: January 2023

Richard Arthur Saber - USA

Cabin, food and everything else absolutely first class and we would definitely choose to travel on Seaventure again Read the full review

Travelled: January 2023

Nick Sargent - UK

Great experience. The small ship experience was perfect for us, and the capability and performance of the crew and expedition team was exceptional. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2022

Michael Cox - USA

10/10 - There were two teams involved in making the Antarctica voyage a success - the ship operations team and the expedition team. They worked together to make every step of the trip click seamlessly from start to end. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2022

Erwin Perl - USA

The Seaventure crew was outstanding. Very friendly, informative, flexible and proactive. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2022

Lee Westervelt - USA

10/10 - It's a trip of a lifetime...nothing compares - it is so powerful and having a small ship made a huge difference. The guides were the best and super knowledgeable and helpful. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2022

Tanya De Mello - Canada

The MS Seaventure was immaculate in cleanliness, inside and out. Behind the scenes staff took care of every detail. The cabin was comfortable in all aspects and had a windows with welcoming views. The food was always outstanding and pleasantly presented. The dining room and staff were a welcoming sight [and chairs were chained to the floor for the Drake crossing]. With an experienced Captain and crew, it was A1 service top to bottom, I definitely would choose this ship again. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2021

Karen Getzel - USA

Awesome, incredible, amazing, wonderful, perfect. Swoop gave great responses to my questions, emails, telephone calls, I would do it all again and will. Polar Latitudes was the best expedition team and the ship was absolutely amazing. We had the grandson of the British Explorer, Scott, giving personal stories on his family!

Travelled: March 2019

Catherine Macwillie - USA

Our Swoop Polar Specialist listened to what we wanted, chatted over alternatives, and recommended Polar Latitudes. It was absolutely the right trip for us and as we booked early we had a cabin upgrade with a door onto the promenade deck! Swoop kept us informed at all times, always happy to deal with queries, the whole thing was pretty much seamless. You may have realised we are now Swoop fans.

Travelled: March 2019

David Irwin - UK

We had the best time with Polar Latitudes in Antarctica! We were most impressed by the Polar Latitudes team. Everyone was so knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating. Communication with Swoop pre-expedition was great. The staff answered all of our questions promptly and even gave us recommendations for some activities around town and in Tierra del Fuego. All in all, we would highly recommend!

Travelled: January 2019

Fifi Rawlins - USA

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It was wonderful; the ship's crew could not do enough for anyone, and the food was excellent.

Travelled: March 2018

Mick - UK

Overall the trip met our high expectations and we loved every minute. We would gladly take another trip with this provider and this crew as both overdelivered.

Travelled: January 2016

Samarra - Sydney

Review:

What makes Polar Latitudes special?

  • In an extreme and challenging environment like Antarctica, destination experience counts for everything. Polar Latitudes has experience in spades, with one of the most knowledgeable teams in Antarctica, and a management team who have been in the business for over 30 years
  • They care. Polar Latitudes have built their company on enduring, old-fashioned customer-centric values and by doing the right thing, which fosters incredible loyalty among their staff, agents and guests alike
  • They’re a class act, always pitching to overdeliver, and provide a high-quality experience at a very fair price. They’ve thought of everything, and include a generous raft of inclusions, which makes some other ships look decidedly stingy
  • For over a decade, Polar Latitudes have been true pioneers in polar travel – they were the first Antarctic operator to introduce citizen science on every voyage and invest in formal polar guide certification for their expedition team
  • Polar Latitudes manage to achieve that tricky balancing act of delivering both comfort and a sense of adventure while ensuring Antarctica is always the star of the show 
  • After receiving hundreds of glowing customer reviews over the years from Swoop customers who have travelled with Polar Latitudes, we’ve got full confidence in their great ability to deliver a truly one-of-a-kind experience
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Alex says

The strength of the Swoop-Polar Latitudes partnership pivots around the depth of confidence we have in placing our guests in their trust, our closely aligned customer-centric values, and PL’s proven ability over many seasons to consistently over deliver on expectation. They operate at the top of their game.

Alex Mudd Head of Swoop Antarctica

Fun facts

  • One of our Polar Specialists was married in Antarctica by their Polar Latitudes Expedition Leader in December 2019
  • We were the first agent onboard Polar Latitudes' new ship, Seaventure, ahead of her inaugural 2021-2022 season
  • Polar Latitudes' President ditches his desk once a season to drive zodiac boats as part of his expedition team and interact with guests to make sure he stays fully connected to the delivery end of his business

  • Through activities like their onboard auctions, Polar Latitudes prioritise donating to organisations that support Antarctica, and have been known to give away as much as $60,000 in a year
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“What really sets Swoop apart from other agents is their depth knowledge – I really don't think there's another agent out there who knows this business better – and in a world of increasing choice, having a seasoned agent on your side to guide you to the right decision has never been more crucial."

John McKeon PL Founder & President

Polar Latitudes' ship

Seaventure

Seaventure , Antarctic ship in Antarctica

The Seaventure features the highest ice class awarded to passenger vessels, a sauna, a fitness center, a custom-built citizen science lab, a heated saltwater pool and much more.

Discover More
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Swoop says

Swoop has had 12 staff members travel with Polar Latitudes over the years, giving us a more detailed understanding of their operational competency and uniqueness than any other agent.

Why our customers love Swoop

Expert impartial advice at no extra cost

Expert Impartial Advice SVG

Choosing the right voyage is complicated, Swoop makes it easy. We offer no-nonsense advice on 1500 voyages across 30 ships to find you the right trip, cabin, price - and we don’t charge a fee.

The Antarctic Experts. No Compromises

Depth Of Knowledge SVG

Our team has visited Antarctica over 150 times and has 100 collective years of polar experience, so from which trip is right for you to what shoes to bring - there’s no question we can’t answer.

The only B Corp certified Antarctic specialist

Ends Of The Earth SVG

We want to protect Antarctica for future generations - which is why we became a certified B Corp and set up our own conservation fund. So your adventures can be a force for good.

A full concierge service, unlike booking direct

With You SVG

We leave nothing to chance in delivering your perfect trip and have over 6500 happy travellers to show for it. With a dedicated Antarctic co-ordinator & support throughout - you’re in safe hands.

Meet the Polar Latitudes team

The outstanding calibre of Polar Latitudes' onboard expedition staff remains one of their superpowers, and rightly so. PL have an outstanding stable of loyal expedition team members. 

  • The team’s average is 13 years of polar experience – that's double the industry average
  • Their expedition staff to guest ratio of 1:7 is low and ensures everyone has access to plenty of 1-2-1 interaction
  • Every member of the PL team is certified by the Polar Tourism Guides Association (PTGA)

Introducing a few key members who you may meet on your voyage:

Introducing Polar Latitudes

Hayley Shephard

  • Director of Expedition Operations
  • Hayley has spent well over a decade adventuring in Antarctica
  • Silver medalist in the 2017 World Guide Awards
  • Once attempted the planet's first solo sea kayak journey around South Georgia Island to help raise awareness for albatrosses, a feat that spawned a documentary and book
  • Originally from the Kāpiti Coast in New Zealand, Hayley now calls Vancouver Island home 
  • Likes to take extended sea kayaking adventures around Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii in her spare time
Introducing Polar Latitudes

Hannah Lawson

    • Expedition Leader
  • Hannah has worked aboard expedition ships in remote regions since 1999
  • She has also worked as a wildlife artist and mural painter, and has completed a Master's degree in Natural History Illustration
  • Hannah divides her time between being an artist working from a studio in England, and a wildlife guide, zodiac driver and expedition leader.
  • She visits the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia annually, then heads north to cruise the shoreline of Norway and the Arctic 
Introducing Polar Latitudes

Annette Bombosch

  • Citizen Science Coordinator
  • Annette obtained a Master's degree in Marine Conservation in New Zealand
  • Conducted her PhD at the German Polar Research Institute and participated in several multi-week expeditions to the Southern Ocean
  • Annette has worked on various expedition cruises to Svalbard, Greenland, the North Pole, the Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica
  • Visiting South Georgia is one of the very special moments in life, given its history of whaling and polar exploration
Introducing Polar Latitudes
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What our customers think about PL's guides of Introducing Polar Latitudes

Hannah Lawson, expedition leader is exceptional. There were so many stellar moments and plenty of human interaction. This team was skilled, incredibly helpful, and fun! Read the full review

Travelled: January 2024

Annette Stanley - USA

The expedition team were all very knowledgeable and friendly, but also SO passionate about everything they did with you. It was infectious! Read the full review

Travelled: January 2024

Joanne March - USA

Very knowledgeable team. Professional crew great at their jobs. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2023

Jennifer Tse - Canada

The team just made every experience unforgettable. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2023

Sunita Mei Lin Rajakumar - Malaysia

All the team are highly trained with great experience and execution. All members are so polite and well mannered. Always a smiley face and helpful. We all know they are tired too but always put up a very professional front. A big kudos to the team under the leadership of the Captain and Hannah. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2023

Lam Choong Chin - Malaysia

Loved every one of them. Hannah was a great leader. Danny's lectures were the best. Leoni's energy and citizen science was amazing. Danny-Boy and Alice made the kayaking unbelievable. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2023

Bill Yates - USA

The expedition team was fantastic. Hannah, our EL, worked tirelessly to maximize each experience, even if it meant early mornings. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2023

Christen Glogowski - USA

10/10 - Amazing views, wonderful Polar Latitudes expedition crew, loved the Citizen Science program. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2023

Julie Carlin-Sasaki - UK

All the team members were great. Danny led the excursions well, loved Hannah's ornithology knowledge and the exuberance of Tracy, the guy can make talking rock interesting. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2023

Kok Keng Hung - Malaysia

They were awesome! So knowledgeable and friendly and helpful and I had so much fun. I learned a lot too! Highly recommend. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2023

Anna Victoria Sasaki - Malaysia

Danny was a great expedition leader and his team were so accommodating, friendly, and knowledgeable. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2023

Rozini Binti Mohd Amin - Malaysia

10/10 - Polar Latitudes was amazing! Great crew and expedition team! They really made it special. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2023

Heather Jane Chadwick - USA

Use Polar Latitudes, they are the best. They were like one big family with us. Read the full review

Travelled: November 2023

Alison Pullinger - UK

Polar Latitudes professionalism could not be faulted. The expedition team were so professional yet always super friendly and always ready to help you, inform you and keep you safe. Read the full review

Travelled: November 2023

Penelope Simcox - New Zealand

Expedition team is really great - knowledgeable and experienced, and provided great seminars and chats. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2022

Alison Kubinski - USA

The expedition team was so knowledgeable, friendly and all was delivered with good humour. On sea days, we had opportunities to attend many lectures or watch them in our cabins if the seas were rough. The lectures were extremely informative and interesting. Read the full review

Travelled: November 2022

Helena Polackova - UK

The Expedition Team was the most experienced and knowledgeable group I have ever come across. They were very approachable and very excited to share their lives and befriend the guests. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2021

Karen Getzel - USA

I was amazed by their expertise and ability to explain it to a "non-science" guy like me. I liked being able to ask questions without feeling foolish. Read the full review

Travelled: December 2021

Tim Leitner - USA

Review:

Swoop offers the following Polar Latitudes trips

Special Offers:Swoop has access to the widest range of offers and can help you find the right trip, cabin, & price.

Multi-activity Antarctic Peninsula

With complimentary kayaking, camping and snowshoeing included, this trip will appeal to active travellers keen to experience the White Continent while taking in the best of the Antarctic Peninsula. A comfortable ship, high calibre guiding and great value for money…

  • 13 Days
  • $10,545
Antarctic Peninsula Classic

Travelling on board this extremely comfortable ship, explore the highlights of the peninsula with a top class expedition team. Spacious cabins, delicious cuisine and optional adventure activities all help create this ideal marriage of comfort and…

  • 12-13 Days
  • $10,145
Traversing the Antarctic Circle

For an unparalleled Polar Circle experience spending 8 full days in Antarctica, choose this trip. Head south when penguin and whale activity is at its peak, accompanied by a highly experienced team. This elegant 139-passenger ship combines true comfort and…

  • 15 Days
  • $15,555
South Georgia, Antarctica and Falklands Explorer

Looking for an Antarctic adventure without compromising on comfort and service? This stylish 139-passenger ship, with its cavernous suites, fine dining and compelling itinerary, offers a polished Southern Ocean adventure at a fair…

  • 21 Days
  • $19,795