Silversea Antarctica cruises: how to choose the right itinerary

Antarctica is one of the few places on earth that is today as it has always been. It's up to you how you choose how to experience it. Silversea offers three main itinerary types, a fly-cruise option that skips the Drake Passage entirely, a classic Peninsula cruise that sails across the Drake both ways and an extended voyage that adds South Georgia and the Falklands. Each delivers a different experience, different wildlife encounters and a different investment of time and money.

I've been lucky enough to do both ends of the spectrum. I've travelled on Silver Endeavour's fly-cruise in 2022 and recently returned from the longer journey on Silver Cloud. My advice is clear, if you can afford the time and investment, the fuller 18-night itinerary is absolutely the way to go. But shorter options still deliver a magical Antarctic experience, and the choice depends on what matters most to you.

Antarctica fly-cruise: skip the Drake Passage

Rather than 2 days in each direction sailing across the Drake Passage, you take a 3-hour flight directly into the military airfield on King George Island in the Peninsula where your ship is waiting. You then spend 6 days sailing the Peninsula.

The upside is avoiding what can be a bumpy Drake Passage for 2 days in each direction. However, this option requires an extra night's hotel in each direction in Punta Arenas or Puerto Williams. This allows the operators to mitigate possible weather risks with the flights to King George Island. It is possible that you may experience some delay, but the extra hotel stay should ensure that in the event of a delay you still experience the full 6 days in the Peninsula.

Taking account of all international flights and hotel stays, you would be away from home for a total of 13 nights with 6 nights spent onboard.

Who this suits: Travellers concerned about seasickness, those with limited time, or anyone who views the Drake crossing as an obstacle rather than an experience. If you have only a week available or if rough seas are a serious worry, this is the practical choice.

Antarctica Peninsula cruise: the classic Drake Passage crossing

This is the most popular way to experience Antarctica. Typically you spend 2 days in each direction sailing across the Drake Passage and then 6 days in the Peninsula.

Your time and experience in the Peninsula for those 6 days will broadly be the same as with the fly-cruise. The upside is that you get the full experience of the Drake Passage, and that can be the Drake Shake or the Drake Lake.

Taking account of all international flights and hotel stays in Santiago or Buenos Aires, you would be away from home for a total of 16 nights with 10 nights spent onboard.

Who this suits: Travellers who want the full Antarctic journey, including the crossing that has defined polar exploration for centuries. Many guests find the Drake Passage experience rewarding, not something to avoid. For guidance on what to expect, read the Mundy Adventures' Drake Passage first-time guide.

Peninsula, South Georgia and Falklands: the full Antarctic experience

This is the longest option. Typically you will spend 4 nights in the Peninsula, 1 in Elephant Island, 3 in South Georgia, 2 in the Falklands and 8 sea days for a total of 18 nights onboard.

The upside is a much greater diversity of experience, including the Shackleton history, whilst given the distance you will have 8 sea days including the Drake Passage. Taking account of all international flights and hotel stays in Santiago or Buenos Aires, you would be away from home for a total of 22 nights with 18 nights spent onboard.

Who this suits: Anyone who can afford the time and wants the most comprehensive Antarctic journey. If you can do this, do this. The range of diverse experiences and being able to follow in the footsteps of Shackleton creates a magical journey.

Why the extended itinerary is recommended

No question in my mind, if you can afford the time and investment, the fuller 18-night itinerary taking in South Georgia and the Falklands is absolutely the way to go. Here is why.

Diversity

Your time in the Peninsula will be spectacular whichever journey you take. Ice, penguins, mountains, whales, with 2 landings or zodiac cruises each day. Whether it's 4 or 6 days in the Peninsula you will get the full Antarctica experience.

Whilst you will enjoy the penguins in the Peninsula, the wildlife in South Georgia is stunning. From seeing and hearing the orchestral sounds of 250,000 King Penguins at Salisbury Plain to standing amongst thousands of penguins, fur seals and elephant seals on the beach, this is one of the most diverse and plentiful wildlife locations on earth. It resembles being in your very own David Attenborough documentary.

Scenery

It is very hard to describe the beauty of South Georgia. Wherever you look, you are surrounded by magnificent mountain peaks. When the sun comes out into a blue sky, I have never seen a more beautiful landscape. On the longer journey, just when you think you have seen it all, along comes another surprise, another magical but different experience.

Shackleton

Reading Shackleton's own account of his famous failed Expedition in his book South is something I recommend you do. On the longer journey you experience giant icebergs in the Weddell Sea where his ship Endurance was consumed by the ice. You experience the very spit of rock on Elephant Island where he subsequently landed in 3 lifeboats and left his men for 4.5 months as he bravely set sail to find help.

You will make the 800 mile and 2-day journey between Elephant Island and South Georgia, where yes we did experience big seas, but on an ultra-luxury 514ft long ship rather than Shackleton's 14-day journey on the 22ft James Caird. In South Georgia you will land as he did and be able to walk in his footsteps into the Whaling Station at Stromness. You will be able to raise a toast with a glass of Irish whisky at his grave on the outskirts of Grytviken.

Admittedly I am a big fan of everything Shackleton achieved and his example of leadership, but walking in his footsteps was one of the most interesting and emotional parts of the Antarctica trip.

For more on this incredible history, read our guide to South Georgia Antarctica cruises.

The Falklands

Another historic place given the 1982 conflict. I was so surprised by the Falklands. Even though he was there for a day, I took away a real sense of community and how well they look after everybody including health and education investment.

Hiking up Mount Tumbledown, scene of the Scots Guards battle, was moving given the loss of life on both sides during the conflict. I walked along Thatcher Drive to the pub where we finished the day with a pint of Iron Lady. Perfect.

Read more about what to expect on Falklands and Antarctica cruises.

The tradeoffs of the longer itinerary

Yes, there are things about the longer 18-night itinerary that are more challenging. It's longer and therefore more expensive. There are twice the number of sea days. Over the longer journey your sea legs have longer to settle down. You do need to endure 18 days of excellent dining, that can be a good or bad thing depending on how disciplined you are.

The shorter itineraries will still give you a magical experience in the Peninsula. They are less expensive, although given the cost of international flights, not by as much as you may think. If you are still working then fewer days away may well be a defining factor, in which case the shorter itineraries may be perfect for you.