Experience this...

Patagonia sets the tone  

Before Antarctica comes Puerto Williams, a place that already feels close to the edge of the map. Set on Navarino Island, The Cormorant at 55 South gives the journey a more atmospheric beginning, with Silversea’s sense of service carried ashore before you board Silver Wind. From 2026, guests on selected Antarctica Fly Cruise journeys begin their expedition here, making the hotel part of the experience rather than a pause between flights.

Inside, the hotel feels quietly assured rather than showy. Rooms are drawn towards the landscape, with forest or water views giving you a real sense of where you are, while the shared spaces are made for settling in before the expedition begins. Bar Sur is the place for a slow drink as the light changes over the channel, and the overall mood is warm, contemporary, and unmistakably southern Chilean.

A flying start into the White Continent

Rather than spending the opening stretch of your journey at sea, you’ll reach the edge of Antarctica by air as you fly into King George Island before stepping aboard Silver Wind. This arrival creates a dramatic yet thrilling contrast to where you began, where the anticipation built in Patagonia gives way quickly to the first sight of ice, open water, and the scale of the far south.

From here, the voyage moves into the Antarctic Sound, where the landscape becomes increasingly elemental. A typical day might bring Zodiac exploration, time with Silversea’s expedition team, and the possibility of seeing Gentoo penguin colonies or whales, although the exact shape of each outing is led by weather, sea conditions, and wildlife activity. That flexibility is part of the appeal. Antarctica is not a destination that performs on command, and the best adventures here happen when you allow the expert team on board to choose the right moments to go deeper.

Time to experience the Antarctic Peninsula

Reaching north towards South America, this is the part of the continent most travellers imagine first, yet it still feels entirely removed from the world you’re familiar with. Here, the landscape has a monumental quality, with cathedral-sized icebergs, blue-toned glaciers, and steep ice-clad shores giving each outing a different perspective.

This is also where time in the region really matters. With four consecutive days scheduled around the Peninsula, there is room to appreciate its contrasts, from the stillness of protected bays to the drama of glaciers edging down from places such as Hope Bay. Wildlife brings further depth to the experience, but the lasting impression is often the sheer physical presence of the continent itself. It feels vast, ancient, and quietly humbling without needing to be over-explained.

The South Shetlands and the long way home

After the Peninsula, the journey north exposes you to a wilder, more volcanic edge of the White Continent, where snow-covered peaks, dark beaches, tidewater glaciers, and wildlife-rich shores give the landscape a sharper contrast. Penguins, seals, and seabirds bring movement to a place that can otherwise feel almost still, making this a compelling last encounter with Antarctica before Silver Wind begins her return.

The Drake Passage then carries you back towards South America, crossing the waters between Antarctica and Cape Horn. It gives the voyage a natural pause after the expedition days, with the chance to watch for albatrosses, dolphins, and whales as the ship moves towards Puerto Williams. Set on Navarino Island, with the Dientes de Navarino mountains behind it and the Beagle Channel separating it from Ushuaia, it’s a fitting closer to what is sure to be a trip of a lifetime. 

Silver Wind, designed for the ice

Your home for this epic adventure is Silver Wind which brings a composed, deeply comfortable counterpoint to the wildness outside. Enhanced with a strengthened ice-class hull, she feels well matched to this kind of voyage: elegant enough for long, unhurried evenings on board, but properly equipped for the demands of polar travel.

Silversea’s suites are a key part of the appeal too. The Owner’s Suite feels closest to a private apartment at sea, while the Grand Suite is designed for both entertaining and quiet time on the veranda. The Royal Suite provides generous living space, and the Silver Suite offers a more refined option with larger verandas. All come with Silversea’s signature ease, including butler service, stocked in-suite bar, Wi-Fi, multiple restaurants, wines and spirits, and destination expertise.

Suggested itinerary

This suggested itinerary is built around a rare way to experience Antarctica: flying into the White Continent, sailing through its most compelling regions, and returning by sea to the southern edge of Chile. Every element can be shaped with your Travel Counsellor, from business class upgrades to suite selection and pre-or-post-cruise time in Santiago.

Days 1–2: Santiago and Puerto Williams, Chile - Begin the journey south, with hotel stays and charter flights arranged around the itinerary. The Cormorant at 55 South in Puerto Williams adds a distinctive land-based introduction before Antarctica.

Day 3: King George Island, Antarctica - Fly by charter to King George Island and board Silver Wind, beginning the expedition close to the Antarctic region rather than with a long sea approach.

Day 4: Antarctic Sound - Enter one of the gateway regions of the Antarctic Peninsula, with expedition activities planned according to local conditions.

Days 5–8: Antarctic Peninsula - Four scheduled days in the Peninsula region, with Zodiac outings, landings where possible, wildlife watching, and expert interpretation from Silversea’s expedition team.

Day 9: South Shetland Islands - Continue to the South Shetlands, another important Antarctic region with one excursion listed in the itinerary.

Day 10: Drake Passage - Sail the Drake Passage towards Chile, using the sea day to reset after several active expedition days.

Days 11–12: Puerto Williams, Chile - Arrive into Puerto Williams before taking onward charter flights to Santiago.