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WONDERS OF THE WHITE CONTINENT
This ice-covered wonderland is one of the last, great frontiers
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New technology means more fuel-efficient expedition vessels and more comfortable journeys
Antarctica unveiled,a new era of exploration
Antarctica is more sought after than ever before; the combination of a post-COVID travel boom and increased ease of access to this remote region are prompting more visitors to prioritise a once-in-a-lifetime austral summer adventure. New technology is available, which means more stable, fuel-efficient expedition vessels and a more comfortable journey through the traditional two-day Drake Passage. A newer charter flight option – Antarctica Bridge – transports guests from Punta Arenas, Chile, to King George Island in the South Shetlands, further whisking them by Zodiac to an awaiting ship. This allows visitors to be immersed in 24-hour sunlight, dramatic icebergs and snow-capped peaks for six days instead of the typical 10 or more that were historically required to visit the region.
Expedition and bridge teams offer more flexibility and variety with regards to the itinerary and destinations
Collaboration with the IAATO helps preserve these pristine landscapes
From November through March, three small ice-class ships from the luxury cruise line Silversea ply these crystalline waters – including the Silver Endeavour that uses dynamic, anchor-free positioning that allows the expedition and bridge teams to offer even more flexibility and variety with regards to the itinerary and destinations. The luxury cruise line is an active member of the International Association for Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) – an organisation formed in 1991 to promote environmentally friendly tourism and preservation – and has helped with the development of rigorous guidelines surrounding landing sites throughout this pristine landscape. Silversea has several staff members that actively sit on various IAATO committees, including Bob Simpson, Associate Vice President Expedition Product Development, who currently sits on the Air/Sea Committee and is the former chair of the IAATO Executive Committee.
Embracing Antarctica through collaborative spirit
“The Antarctic Treaty has identified more than 400 approved areas for tourism activities on and around Antarctica, but Silversea and the rest of the expedition industry only land where there are strict site-specific guidelines in place. Of those, we have chosen to land at 54 sites,” says Conrad Combrink, SVP Expeditions, Destination and Itinerary Management at Silversea, of the expedition industry’s larger, environmentally sensitive ethos.
“In 2023, we commissioned a scouting trip to Antarctica, the first ever such trip undertaken by any cruise operator. The objective was to learn more about Antarctica, and how we can offer more to our guests in this exceptional destination. The team travelled more than 3,000 nautical miles, surveyed over 50 areas and created site specific guidelines for a total of 22 new sites that we can now share with our guests. Starting in 2024, we will share these with other companies as well because we believe in the spirit of collaboration.”
Immense unchanged beauty to immerse oneself in
And as one would suspect, the remoteness of the area means that the destination has changed very little from the time when polar explorers Ernest Shackleton and Roald Amundsen navigated through glorious-yet-challenging territory in the early 20th century. The breathtakingly beautiful scenery remains unchanged today: “The sky, the colours, the enveloping quiet are all magnificent,” says Combrink of the singular expedition experience. He encourages guests to put down the cameras and phones and to be absorbed by the vastness of it all. “Instead of trying to capture everything for friends back home, just be surrounded by blue skies and ice floes. This really is the perfect place to be in the moment.”
No one is more well versed in these magical, fleeting moments than Marieke Egan, Senior Expedition Leader on the Silver Endeavour who is constantly humbled by Mother Nature in this isolated part of the planet. By being so present, she has overseen magical Weddell Sea explorations “with big tabular icebergs coming off the Ronnie Iceshelf or the Larsen Iceshelf that you wouldn’t see on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula,” she says of the sensory experience.
A life-changing adventure like no place else on earth
Antarctica offers incredible experiences and scenery – specifically icebergs and wildlife. “From the moment the voyage starts in Puerto Williams, going down the Drake Passage you have a number of seabirds – albatross, fulmars, petrels – escorting the ship, effortlessly gliding in its wake, making for wonderful photography,” shares Silver Endeavour Captain Ulf-Peter Hansen-Lindstroem of his experiences sailing on board this PC6 class Expedition ship. “The cooler temperatures when crossing the Antarctic Convergence, around halfway, is where you may start seeing icebergs.”
And the land and water are like no place else on earth. Captain Hansen-Lindstroem describes a stand-out moment for him when “crossing the Lemaire channel, with majestic mountains rising on both sides of this 11km long and 600m wide channel.” He goes on to explain its nickname, “the Kodak Gap – so named for good reason. The spectacular scenery, whilst navigating past huge icebergs, is an awe-inspiring experience.” From exploring the Danger Islands that are home to millions of Adelie penguins to Zodiac excursions that provide humpback whale encounters, no two days will ever be the same.
“You feel so insignificant here, in the best possible way,” says Combrink of an Antarctica immersion. With its profusion of birds – terns, petrels and albatross among them – and assorted marine mammals, this is the place to kayak up close, take a bracing polar plunge, scale snowy peaks and partake in a life-changing adventure. “It is a place like nowhere else,” says Egan of the region. “It’s hard to capture in words, and photos don’t do it justice. You must see it, feel it, sense it and experience it,” she says of a truly immersive Antarctica voyage.
Crossing the Lemaire channel, with majestic mountains rising on both sides of this 11km long and 600m wide channel … The spectacular scenery, whilst navigating past huge icebergs, is an awe-inspiring experience.
Embark on the ultimate Antarctic adventure
To learn more about Silversea’s voyages to the Antarctica click below
