It’s about to get simpler for vacationers who’ve “Go to Antarctica” on their bucket lists to attain that purpose.
Extremely-luxury cruise line Silversea Cruise already presents what it calls “Antarctica Bridge” voyages. Resulting from what it phrases “sturdy demand,” nevertheless, Silversea has introduced it should add Antarctica Bridge voyages for the 2023/2024 season.
The fly-cruise itineraries present a quick, direct path to Antarctica as passengers are in a position to save time by flying in enterprise class over the Drake Passage, the physique of water that lies between Chile and Antarctica’s South Shetland Islands.
“Our pioneering Antarctica Bridge possibility is tremendously fashionable with time-conscious vacationers preferring to expertise the White Continent with out crossing the Drake Passage,” Roberto Martinoli, Silversea’s president and CEO, said in a statement.
Why The Fly-Cruise Itinerary Is Interesting
It takes roughly 48 hours to sail throughout the Drake Passage, which is known as after English explorer Francis Drake. The water there might be tough with tall waves as a result of the ocean’s currents at that latitude aren’t impeded by landmasses.
The addition of extra Antarctica Bridge voyages means vacationers who desire a “quick monitor” to Antarctica can select from two new 5-day expedition voyages aboard Silversea’s Silver Cloud. These voyages will depart on February 2 and seven, 2024. There additionally can be a 6-day expedition, departing February 12, 2024.
Right here’s what the itinerary will entail.
“After touchdown at Chile’s Eduardo Frei Montalva air base on King George Island, Silver Cloud’s friends will spend the identical period of time exploring Antarctica as on the cruise line’s standard itineraries,” Silversea explains. “They’ll journey deep into locations corresponding to Antarctic Sound, the Antarctic Peninsula, and the South Shetland Islands earlier than returning to King George Island.”
Then again, Silversea has additionally taken steps to enhance the voyage for vacationers who wish to guide passage on sailings that do cross the Drake Passage.
“From the 2022/2023 season ahead, friends crusing aboard the road’s three ice-class expedition ships — Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, and Silver Explorer — will take pleasure in extra handy flight instances, personalised service throughout a non-public constitution flight, and faster transfers to the ship, on unique itineraries departing from the brand new gateway of Puerto Williams,” Silversea notes. “The shut cooperation of the Chilean authorities and native stakeholders enabled the enhancement.”
What The Itinerary Entails
Silversea’s Antarctica Bridge voyages embody a one-night pre-cruise lodge keep and one post-cruise lodge evening keep in Santiago, Chile, in-country flights to Punta Arenas, Chile, one pre-cruise lodge keep and one post-cruise lodge keep in Punta Arenas, and a non-public, enterprise class round-trip flight between Punta Arenas and King George Island.
And since Silversea presents ultra-luxury cruises, it comes as no shock that facilities embody a number of eating places and in-suite eating service, together with caviar, in addition to butler service and onboard gratuities.
As soon as in Antarctica, Silversea’s expedition crew will “information Zodiac excursions, kayaking adventures, and explorations ashore, in addition to present lectures on the area’s fascinating geology, wildlife, and historical past to counterpoint the journey for friends,” Silversea explains. “Along with witnessing unbelievable ice formations and otherworldly landscapes, friends will go to massive penguin rookeries, and might even see a number of species of seals, whales, and different birds.”
You possibly can study extra about visiting Antarctica on a Silversea cruise here.
For extra about Antarctica, remember to additionally learn