Welcome back, Karen and Neela! You recently sailed to Antarctica aboard Silver Endeavour - can you tell us about the Antarctica Bridge fly-cruise programme that Silversea offers?
If you have time restrictions and don’t fancy the dreaded Drakes Passage then Silversea’s Antarctica Bridge fly-cruise programme is ideal. You need to be prepared for lots of flights, however - we took 7 in total!
You also need to be prepared for early and late starts as flight times are weather-dependent. For example, we flew to King George Island at 3 am which meant we were ready to embark on Silver Endeavour earlier than expected. Silversea’s ground arrangements are second to none! The crew look after you every step of the way - we didn’t have to lift a finger.
How would you recommend preparing for your cruise?
If you have the opportunity, we’d recommend spending two nights in Santiago before embarkation. Doing so will give you the time to relax and catch up on sleep so you’re refreshed and ready to enjoy Antarctica.
Plus, Santiago is a really cool city with lots of fun things to do and plenty of wine-tasting opportunities!
Do you have any advice for people who may be embarking on the same voyage as you?
Of course! Firstly, we’d highly recommend pre-booking speciality restaurants. When it comes to packing, make sure you have lots of thin layers and not bulky jumpers, take two pairs of gloves (one ski and one normal), take ski goggles to protect against the wind and snow, pack a hat and maybe a snood too, take sliders for the mud room and, most importantly, leave plenty of space in your suitcase for big, bulky coats. Oh, and don’t forget sun cream and eye drops.
During shore excursions, be patient and flexible and listen to instructions from the expedition team. Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, after all. Lastly, size up in the boots provided.
What should one wear onboard Silver Endeavour?
Although Silversea is an ultra-luxury cruise line, the dress code onboard Silver Endeavour is rather informal when sailing Antarctica. During the day, casual wear is most appropriate - we’d recommend wearing lots of thin layers. In the evening, the best way to describe the dress code is ‘country club casual.’ We noticed that our fellow passengers dressed up for dinner at La Dame, but it was the smarter end of the casual scale.
How do the Zodiac landings work?
There are two excursions per day on Silver Endeavour - one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Typically, one will be a Zodiac cruise and the other a Zodiac landing. The onboard expedition team decide on the port and destination landing the day before, as every excursion is weather permitting. We were very lucky that we were able to land and take part in all the excursions as planned, but it’s not always the case on a cruise to Antarctica. The expedition team onboard Silver Endeavour were, by far, leading experts in their field - they are very passionate individuals.
How close do you get to wildlife?
5 metres is the restriction - you will have more than one standoff with a penguin!
What time of year would you recommend cruising to Antarctica?
The season begins in November and ends in March. It is coldest during November and December, and you will experience the most snow and ice at this time. As an example, we stood on ice that, in a week, would have melted.
The crew onboard told us we were incredibly lucky to be able to land as it’s very unusual during December. At this time of year, the weather can be tricky and there is a greater risk of bad conditions. By late December/early January, you have a much better chance of taking part in all landings as there isn't as much snow or ice.
It’s important to stress how much the activities depend on the weather. It cannot, of course, be controlled, but the onboard expedition team do their very best to ensure everyone has a great experience nonetheless. Because of this, It’s incredibly important to attend briefings each day.
Any last words?
Silver Endeavour is the king of all kings when it comes to cruising Antarctica. It’s an icebreaker ship and the icebergs it broke through were unreal!
