A First For Last Continent Expeditions
Silversea first pioneered luxury expeditions to the polar regions over 15 years ago, and we’ve continuously pushed boundaries to invite you and your clients deeper into Antarctica in uncompromised comfort ever since. Today marks the groundbreaking for a first-of-its-kind Silversea hotel — in the southernmost city on Earth, Puerto Williams, Chile — scheduled for completion in 2025. Surrounded by pristine forest and the snow-capped Patagonian mountains, this 150-suite hotel will blend beautifully with its surroundings, using locally sourced materials and following traditions of the local community. This new luxury outpost will enable you and your clients to experience an even more seamless journey to Antarctica, immersing them in signature Silversea care and comfort before they even step on board for their voyage.
ANNOUNCEMENT HIGHLIGHTS
• Silversea is developing the southernmost hotel on Earth in Puerto Williams, Chile.
• Puerto Williams is the gateway to Antarctica.
• Silversea is the only cruise line to home port from Puerto Williams.
• The 150-room hotel allows us to elevate the experience for you and your clients, ensuring you can enjoy Silversea’s signature personalized experience throughout their journey.
• This is the most convenient, comfortable and seamless way to explore Antarctica.
• We joined with Chilean partners including DAP Airlines:
» They are experts in the region.
» Silversea has worked with them for many years to provide the most convenient air transportation to Antarctica.
» Silversea has an exclusive agreement for the Santiago-Puerto Williams route.
» This takes our relationship to the next level and will set our product apart from other polar expeditions.
• Antarctica Bridge fly-cruise program is the fastest and most direct route to Antarctica, bypassing the Drake Passage.
» Combined with the comfort of our hotel, guests begin their Silversea experience earlier in their journey.
» This will amplify the guest experience.
• Silversea are the pioneers of luxury expedition cruises.
» This expands the most diverse polar offering in experiential luxury travel.
» Strengthens our leadership in the expedition segment.
• First venture of its kind for Royal Caribbean Group.
» Project is possible with the resources and support of the company.
» Diversifies the vacation offerings for the company.
• Completion of hotel is scheduled for the 2025/2026 season.
HOTEL
• Overlooks the Beagle Channel with views of the water and surrounding pristine forest and snow-capped mountains.
• Amenities include an expansive restaurant ideal for group gatherings, a bar and lounge area, fitness room and gift shop that will offer handcrafted woven baskets and other crafts by local artisans. Details will be announced later.
• Design elements will draw inspiration from local natural materials such as wood and stone, and the culture and heritage of the local community.
• Silversea is committed to fostering long-term partnerships with the communities of Puerto Williams and will work closely with local stakeholders to create opportunities for economic growth with minimal impact to the environment.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Does this announcement mean that Silversea and Royal Caribbean Group have plans to expand their portfolio by developing hotels around the world?
A: We are continuously evaluating opportunities that will enable us to deliver a lifetime of vacations to our guests. This was an opportunity to truly elevate the experience of our guests travelling to the remote region of Antarctica, giving them a seamless and comfortable journey with uncompromised luxury – truly a one-of-akind for the region.
Guest experience questions:
Q. When will the Antarctic expeditions that will include the hotel in the cruise be available?
A: The lodge is scheduled to open during the 2025/2026 Antarctica season. We look forward to revealing more information in due course.
Q. Will all Silversea guests sailing on an Antarctica voyage stay at the lodge?
A: We will initially utilize the hotel for our Fly-Cruise program. We will continue to evaluate ways to enrich the experience for all our guests journeying to Antarctica.
Q. What exactly is the door-to-door journey with the Lakutaia hotel? Will guests stay there pre- and post-cruise?
A: Guests will depart Santiago and fly via charter air to Puerto Williams, the city where Lakutaia is located. Antarctica-Bridge guests will enjoy the hotel and Puerto Williams as they wait for the air window to open. From there, they will fly to King George Island in Antarctica, where they will board the ship.
Q.What is the cost of staying at the Lakutaia hotel? Is it included as standard in the offering?
A: The stay at Lakutaia hotel is included in the cost of the voyage.
Q. Which experiences will be available from the lodge?
A: Silversea will offer a full program of pre- and post-cruise experiences at Lakutaia that allow guests to experience the natural beauty of the region, including hiking, birding, fly fishing, etc.
Q. What are some of the benefits of departing to Antarctica from Puerto Williams, over Punta Arenas and Ushuaia?
A:
• Ushuaia is overcrowded and had limited resources.
• Silversea is the only company currently operating out of Puerto Williams, allowing us flexibility and access to all services, which can be challenging in Ushuaia.
• Punta Arenas does not offer a standard of hotels that Silversea guests have come to expect of our brand. They are 2-3 stars at best.
• Punta Arenas hotels will not give us enough capacity for all our guest to stay at the same property, meaning we need to split our guest between three or four properties of different standards, and limited services.
• Puerto Williams’ location mitigates the risk of delays in the guest journey. It is the southernmost city in South America and the closest city to Antarctica (see map).
• The distance is critical because whether you are flying or sailing to Antarctica, the winds and fog across the Drake Passage make conditions challenging.
• The shorter the distance – as only Puerto Williams affords – the more precise the flight window and shorter the flight time.
Q. How much time will the new hotel save in transit for guests?
A:
• The new hotel reduces the trip length by approximately half a day overall, when considering all the flight components from Santiago through to King George.
• The flight to Antarctica is 30 minutes shorter (1 hour and 15 minutes total), which is significant as it increases the operational chances for flights as the weather windows needed to perform the operation is smaller (from 5 hours to 4).
• It also reduces the likelihood of delays from Chile to Antarctica because the flight window is shorter and more precise.
• We will have an aircraft fleet from DAP dedicated to Silversea’s Puerto Williams operations, which means more flexibility.
• In addition to time considerations, a key differentiator is the elevated experience the lodge will afford Silversea guests. Given the remoteness of the region, anyone traveling to Antarctica only has the option of small hotels that do not operate at a traditional luxury standard.
• This new hotel will be the only facility for Antarctic travel in the region (whether cruise or otherwise) that provides an elevated level of accommodation and service.
Q. Which exact route will guests fly to and from Antarctica?
A:
• Guests will depart Santiago and fly via charter flight to Puerto Williams. Flight time is approximately 3 ½ hours. Enhanced catering will be provided, featuring proper crockery, cutlery and wine glasses. Crew will be trained to Silversea standards. Specially curated Chilean cuisine available. Enhanced seat pitch (35 inches vs 28 inches, standard in Chile).
• Guests will enjoy the hotel and Puerto Williams as they wait for the air window to open.
• From there, they will fly to King George Island in Antarctica, where they will embark the ship.
• On the way back, flights do have a technical stop in Punta Arenas to refuel. Stop is 20 minutes for refueling – guests do not leave the plane. Total travel time 4 hours.
• A regular Antarctica voyage of 10 nights will spend four nights in the Drake Passage – two nights southbound and two nights returning north, with six nights exploring the Antarctic Peninsula.
• Fly-cruise offers six nights exploring the Antarctic Peninsula, with no time crossing large open water.
Q. Will Silversea ships depart out of Puerto Williams? If so, how will the hotel feature in the journey?
A:
• All our non-fly voyages depart from Puerto Williams. We are the only company homeporting in Puerto Williams.
• As of today, we have only announced the hotel will be utilized by fly-cruise guests. For now, guest on the regular voyages will not have an overnight in Puerto Williams.
Q. Does Silversea offer a six-night Antarctica cruise?
A:
• Yes, the fly-cruise program is a six-night sailing – that is the beauty and appeal of fly-cruise. It allows guests who are limited on time to experience Antarctica in a shorter time.
• Although the cruise is 6 nights the total trip is 8 nights with a pre- and post-stay at the hotel.
• Our regular Antarctica voyages are 10 nights on the ship, plus a pre-stay.
• Following a 1-hour and 15-minute flight, guests arrive in Antarctica, versus a two-day cruise to get there. However, the time in Antarctica is the same whether you are on a regular cruise or fly-cruise – guests still have 6 full nights in Antarctica.
• We are seeing a younger demographic taking these six-night voyages, comprising many professionals with limited time.
Hotel Related Questions:
Q. For any questions regarding the hotel, its operation and more details on amenities and how it will affect guests booked on current voyages, etc?
A: We will be sharing more details in due course. Please stay tuned.
Q. What kind of food will be served at the hotel?
A: The hotel will feature an authentic culinary experience grounded in local ingredients and cuisine.
Q. Will there be a maximum number of nights guests can stay at the hotel before or after their expedition if they would like to visit the area surrounding Puerto Williams?
A: There are no restrictions: Guests are welcome to stay at Lakutaia as long as occupancy allows.
Q. Can you describe what the lodge experience will be like?
A:
• Type of accommodations: 150 total guest rooms that feature either a forest or sea view.
• What are some of the services thar the lodge will provide? More information will be revealed at a later stage.
• Will the lodge have WIFI connectivity? Yes.
• Are there going to be washing machines inside the lodge? Yes.
• Will there be a resident nurse or doctor at the lodge? No.
Q. Why have Silversea and Royal Caribbean Group built the Lakutaia hotel? How does the lodge improve the journey?
A: The hotel will serve as the launching point for Silversea’s Antarctic operations and will elevate the guests’ experience. The 150-room hotel will be the only facility for Antarctic travel able to provide an elevated level of accommodation and service.
Q. Will Silversea manage and operate the hotel?
A: Management arrangements are yet to be determined.
Q. Will the hotel be open year-round?
A: It will be open from October to March annually.
Q. Will the lodge be open to other travelers that are not on a Silversea expedition?
A: Yes, as long as occupancy permits.
Q. What does ‘Lakutaia’ mean?
A: Lakutaia refers to the cormorant, an aquatic bird known for their deep diving abilities to catch fish and bearing a small patch of orange skin on its face.
Q. How many jobs for locals is this new project expected to create?
A: Our intention in developing this hotel is to create a meaningful, long-term partnership with the region. Job numbers will evolve over the course of the project.
Q. Which local/governmental authorities were/will be consulted during the lodge’s planning and construction phase?
A: Silversea and our partners have worked with many local and governmental authorities in accordance with all national laws and regulations, many of whom will be joining us at the Groundbreaking Ceremony.
Q. What is the total cost of the project?
A: We don’t disclose costs of our projects, but our intention in building Lakutaia is to create a meaningful, long-term partnership with the region.
Q. Which architectural firms/interior designers will contribute to the project?
A: The Chilean firm OM Arquitectos designed Lakutaia Lodge.