DEPARTURES TRAVEL SHIP TALK 16 Antarctica, Here We Come The new Silver Endeavour has set sail, offering passengers a rarefied adventure with peerless comfort and finesse on a journey to the Great White Continent. THE ECSTASY IS palpable as you glide through a labyrinth of flattopped pillars of ice illuminated from within by vivid shades of cerulean blue. Born of glaciers and sculpted by nature, these vertiginous monoliths languidly sidle past like ethereal galleons. Weddell seals lying on rafts of ice are awakened from their slumber and slither back into the inky sea. The surface of the ice-strewn ocean suddenly erupts as the flukes of humpbacks rise in a fan-dance pageant. Such spinetingling moments are the essence of these esoteric voyages – which in the cruising world have no equal. Sequestered at the bottom of the planet is the elusive Sixth Continent. Once the sole preserve of intrepid adventurers pushing human endurance to the limit, this far-flung dominion is the ultimate bucketlist cruise ambition. In the wake of wandering albatrosses soaring on the wind, expedition ships visit unsullied islands that resemble a string of glistening pearls along the northwestern coastlines of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. Travellers cruising A hike across ethereal Antarctic landscapes with Silversea in Antarctica don’t just observe this enthralling spectacle from the promenade deck; they climb aboard fleets of jaunty Zodiacs to participate in rapturous encounters with nature at its most candid. Many islands are colonised by Adélie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins whose vast rookeries stretch to infinity. On the beach of Cuverville Island, fleeting interlopers clad in bright-red thermal parkas keep their distance from these dapper black and white birds. It’s impossible to ignore their grace; for in spite of such a comic, officious waddle on land, in their natural habitat, their agility is outstanding. An epic landscape of glaciers and wind-carved snowy peaks is a Navigating a labyrinth of icebergs on a Zodiac excursion KRIS MARKOVSKA
THOMAS MIDULLA captivating feature of Neko Harbour, while Petermann Island – a rocky outcrop with a permanent covering of ice rising 150 metres above the sea – is also a scene-stealer. Clad in tissues of mist, Deception Island has sheer escarpments which are cleaved by a fissure called Neptune’s Bellows, where the ocean pours into a flooded caldera. Volcanic steam seeps out of the wet, black sand in trailing wisps, giving the place a spiritual quality. An undoubted highlight of any visit to this pristine landmass is the majestic Lemaire Channel. Hemmed in by steep glacial cliffs, the 11km passage is not only extremely scenic, but the sea is usually mirror-flat, creating Instagram-perfection. Being somewhere so vast yet so fragile is audacious. Here, nature rules supreme and impacts every aspect of life on the Great White Continent. Even ace mariners err on the side of caution, while masterfully crafted itineraries are at the mercy of capricious austral weather conditions. Strong, relentless katabatic winds can cause intense sea-ice production with little warning and, in consequence, kayaking expeditions have to be abandoned. In this isolated corner of the globe, guest safety is never compromised. In recent years, expedition ships have upped the ante in lavishness, and now there’s a veritable flotilla of superbly appointed vessels finely tuned to polar exploration. But the latest paragon from the undisputed maestros of this niche-cruise conceit is the inimitable Silver Endeavour. This, the most expensive expedition ship ever built, has an impressive crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1 and boasts More Icy Adventures Being somewhere so vast yet so fragile is audacious. Here, nature rules supreme and impacts every aspect of life the highest space-to-guest ratio of any luxury ship crafted exclusively for off-grid exploration. Silversea Cruises acquired the vessel from bankrupt Crystal Cruises – a notable victim of the pandemic. The world’s largest iceclass expedition yacht had previously only sailed on eight voyages to Antarctica between November 2021 and February 2022. The 200-guest ship will undergo a revamp before heading to the Arctic in May. Accommodation ranges from: Classic Veranda Suites to an Owner’s Suite and a Grand Suite. In keeping with Silversea’s indulgent ethos, all guests have attentive butlers for insuite service. Dining options include: The Restaurant; Il Terrazzino; La Dame; and the more casual Grill. The Explorer Lounge is well suited to onboard lectures and naturalhistory films. There’s a Connoisseur’s Lounge, an Arts Café and an Observation Lounge with wraparound windows. Other facilities include a library; boutique; solarium with swimming pool and jacuzzi; as well as the Otium Spa where you can crank up the heat in the sauna and soothe A flock of gentoo penguins gathers along the shore tired muscles as pinnacled icebergs float past the window. For expeditions, 22 Zodiacs are accessed via two well-appointed Mud Rooms. Accompanying all excursions is a team of expedition specialists. There’s also a marina with 14 twoperson ocean kayaks to explore the seascape. Underwater technology enables the detection of sea life with images from a Remotely Operated Vehicle live-streamed onto LED screens throughout the ship. The Antarctica Bridge is Silversea’s popular alternative to a two-day crossing of the unpredictable Drake Passage. This expedient is at the frontier of aviation parameters, nowhere more so than the gravel airstrip and spartan facilities at King George Island. After a charter flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas, passengers embark on a dedicated Antarctic Airways aircraft with European-style business-class seating. Two hours later they arrive at King George Island. Shortly after landing, they embark the steadfast ship for a spellbinding cruise of this ineffable archipelago that lasts five to nine days. silversea.com The golden age of cruising for intrepid travellers continues apace as the less accessible becomes more desirable. In tandem with this trend, a clique of incomparable new ships underscores that exhilarating dreamscapes and luxurious trappings are not mutually exclusive. One of the most anticipated newcomers to debut this August is Seabourn Pursuit, which begins a series of cruises exploring the mighty Amazon before setting a course towards Antarctica. Sophisticated decor conceived by Adam D Tihany prevails aboard this ship, which boasts top-notch gastronomy, including menus created by Michelin-starred chef Thomas Keller. The 264 venturers revel in explorations aboard 24 zodiacs, kayaks and two six-passenger submarines. (seabourn.com). Also in pole position with its stealth-wealth superstructure, the 228-guest Scenic Eclipse II comes with a helicopter as well as a submarine. Following the christening by former Nasa astronaut Dr Kathy Sullivan in June, the discovery yacht sets a course for the High Arctic before heading south to Antarctica, where guests can follow in the footsteps of the world’s greatest pioneers (scenic.co.uk) 17 DEPARTURES
