Starting in November 2021 Silversea Cruises will debut Puerto Williams (Navarino Island, Chilean Antarctica), as the brand's new homeport for the Antarctica cruises scheduled for the Silver Explorer ship.
The addition of Puerto Williams will see passengers travel seamlessly between Port Valparaiso (Santiago) and Antarctica, with private flights enhancing comfort.
Located on Isla Navarino in the Beagle Channel at South America's southern tip, Puerto Williams is sparsely populated, surrounded by snow-capped peaks. The port is accessible only to smaller vessels.
As part of Silversea's all-inclusive Antarctica package, passengers will depart from a private terminal in Santiago on an exclusive lunchtime flight reserved for Silversea guests to Puerto Williams. Additional baggage allowance and extra legroom will enhance the journey. Escorted by a Silversea representative during the personalized in-flight experience, travelers will enjoy gourmet experiences inspired by Silversea’s immersive new culinary program SALT. Upon arrival in Puerto Williams, vacationers will not have to clear customs and instead will enjoy a quick transfer directly to the cruise pier to embark Silver Explorer.
Following the expedition cruise to Antarctica, passengers will again board a private aircraft for the return flight to Santiago. Antarctica package benefits include round-trip transoceanic flights in economy class/reduced business class airfares to Santiago; a welcome dinner reception and 1-night, pre-cruise hotel stay in Santiago; transfers and luggage handling between the airport, hotel, and ship; a post-cruise overnight hotel stay for guests who do not have a return international flight on the disembarkation day.
Silversea’s Antarctica collection features a series of 10- or 12-day explorations of the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, as well as shorter sailings of 5, 6, or 9 days as part of the Antarctica Bridge fly-cruise program. Longer trips encompass the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, South Shetland Islands, The Falklands and Elephant Island. A pair of ‘deep Antarctica’ itineraries will spend twenty days tracing a path beyond the Antarctic Circle. Two unique sailings will offer the opportunity to witness the solar eclipse on December 4 from Antarctica.