Leading experiential luxury and expedition cruise line Silversea has just wrapped up its ambitious 2024/2025 Antarctica season, during which three of its ships—Silver Endeavour, Silver Cloud, and Silver Wind—completed 34 voyages to the icy southern continent. Stretching from October 29, 2024, to March 31, 2025, the season transported guests to the heart of the White Continent, delivering extraordinary experiences amid the pristine wilderness of the world’s southernmost region.
“Visiting Antarctica is among the most enriching experiences and our 34-voyage 2024/2025 season delivered an unparalleled range of moments to our guests, with calls in new destinations, once-in-a-lifetime wildlife sightings, and other unforgettable activities delivered by our industry-leading Expedition Team,” said Bert Hernandez, president, Silversea. “We are now eagerly preparing to launch our new 150-room hotel in Puerto Williams, Chile, which, set to be the southernmost hotel on Earth, will enhance our industry-leading polar offering by creating a uniquely seamless Antarctica Fly Cruise experience for our guests, delivered in Silversea’s uncompromised comfort.”
This past season, Silversea catered to a wide spectrum of travelers with voyages ranging from quick six-day Antarctica Fly Cruises aboard Silver Endeavour to extended 21-day adventures across the Southern Ocean.
Standout moments of the season included:
- On March 1, Silver Endeavour navigated through Crystal Sound and crossed the Polar Circle to visit Detaille Island, where guests explored the historic Base W, took Zodiac excursions and paddled through icy waters by kayak. The vessel later traveled north via the Inside Passage, visiting the Fish Islands and making a continental landing at Prospect Point while passing through the Penola and Gerlache Straits.
- Silver Wind made three stops at Intercurrence Island—the largest of the striking Christiana Islands and a newly charted destination for Silversea. Guests were treated to scenes of massive grounded icebergs, encounters with humpback whale pods and a range of other wildlife sightings, along with Zodiac outings and kayaking adventures. These visits were made possible by Silversea’s 2023 Antarctica scouting mission, during which the team traveled roughly 2,700 nautical miles to locate 22 previously unexplored landing sites.
- During the season, 28 polar plunge experiences took place, with nearly 2,300 brave guests from three separate vessels participating in the icy dip.
- Wildlife encounters were abundant, including near-daily baleen whale sightings and an extremely rare encounter with beaked whales in Wilhelmina Bay. Guests aboard each of Silversea’s trio of ships reported multiple sightings of Orca pods, while those aboard Silver Wind witnessed a gathering of over 50 fin whales near Elephant Island and spotted multiple blue whales en route to South Georgia on March 20.
Silversea’s Expedition Team, consisting of as many as 28 specialists per voyage—including historians, geologists, botanists and naturalists—provided expert guidance, delivering some of the most personalized expedition experiences available in Antarctica.
With the season now concluded, Silversea is turning its focus toward a landmark development in polar travel. The company is preparing to open a new 150-room hotel in Puerto Williams, Chile—the southernmost city in the world—just in time for the 2025/2026 Antarctica season.
The World’s Southernmost Hotel
Having introduced the concept of luxury expedition cruising in 2008, Silversea is continuing its legacy of innovation by developing a new hotel in Puerto Williams, Chile—the world’s southernmost city. This 150-room property is set to provide an unmatched gateway for travelers heading to Antarctica, offering a smooth and elevated transition to the White Continent. Slated to open for the 2025/2026 Antarctica season, the hotel promises to deliver Silversea’s signature personalized service and refined hospitality from land to sea.
Nestled along the Beagle Channel and surrounded by untouched Patagonian wilderness, the hotel promises expansive views of the water, along with snow-covered mountains and lush forests. Its design will reflect traditional regional art, architecture and materials, blending into the natural landscape while offering the premium service and comfort synonymous with the Silversea brand.
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