Silversea plans world's southernmost hotel for Antarctica guests

The 150-room hotel will go up in Puerto Williams, the world's southernmost settlement, where Silversea bases some Antarctica expedition vessels and operates its luxury charter air connection with Santiago, the capital and gateway to international flights.

The line's Antarctica Bridge fly-cruise program will be shifting there from Punta Arenas in the 2025/26 season.

Puerto Williams, set in a stunning Patagonia location, is a small, rustic town where the dock was expanded to accommodate 'larger' ships the likes of Silver Endeavour, and Silversea is the only line to turn around there.

A more seamless experience

Having a hotel will remove friction, provide a more seamless experience and a differentiator from other Antarctica operators, Silversea President Bert Hernandez told Seatrade Cruise News.

Overlooking the Beagle Channel and surrounded by pristine forest, the hotel will feature views of the water and snow-capped peaks. Amenities will include an expansive restaurant ideal for group gatherings, a bar and lounge, fitness center and gift shop with handicrafts and art by local artisans.

The design is intended to blend into the surroundings, drawing inspiration from traditional art, architecture and materials.

'It's going to be a fantastic-looking property and will provide the level of service you expect from Silversea,' Hernandez said. 'We'll be able to house everyone in a central location. The community spirit of Silversea guests is very important. They do want to be together and start this adventure together.'

The hotel's common areas will provide for lectures and trip briefings. And the accommodations will give everyone a consistent experience.

For the 2025/26 Antarctica season

The hotel is scheduled for completion by late 2025, ready for the start of the 2025/26 Antarctica season.

Silversea travelers fly via charter air directly to Puerto Williams from Santiago and either embark their ship for a roundtrip cruise or, if they're on the Antarctica Bridge fly-cruise program, they'll continue via charter air to King George Island just off the Antarctic Peninsula to join their vessel. They then fly back from King George to Puerto Williams, a change from Punta Arenas now.

Silversea offers roundtrips by ship, the air bridge both ways or a hybrid choice (cruise one way, fly one way).

Replaces Punta Arenas

With the Puerto Williams hotel, Silversea will discontinue its flights between King George and Punta Arenas and the hotel stays there.

Air bridge partner DAP is investing in planes that don't need to go via Punta Arenas to refuel, Hernandez said, and is stepping up flights to serve Puerto Williams.

DAP is in the consortium of Chilean investors partnering with Silversea for the hotel.

Simplified and improved process

Replacing Punta Arenas will not only simplify and improve the process for travelers, it will facilitate the supply chain. All provisioning will be done in Puerto Williams, and Hernandez noted this may help the small community get access to products and supplies that are currently tough to source.

Long-term partnership

Hernandez underscored Silversea is committed to fostering a long-term partnership in Puerto Williams. The hope is that all hotel employees, eventually, will be locals.

There will be opportunities for the community to develop services such as creating pre- and post-cruise tours in the surrounding beautiful area.

Initially the hotel will be open for the November to March Antarctica cruise season only, 'but we expect and hope that it can be open longer over time, if there's demand,' Hernandez said, though that's not needed to make financial sense.

Flexibility to do cool things

'It provides a lot of flexibility to do some cool things and we'll see how it evolves,' he said.

Hernandez added: ''The government is so supportive. We couldn't have done this without them. It's really inspiring to see the community rally around this.'

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review