The Cormorant at 55 South overlooks the Beagle Channel in Puerto Williams, Chile, with the jagged Dientes de Navarino mountain range behind it. Silversea’s first hotel brings its Antarctic guests into a landscape of trees, mountains and water before they travel further south.
Silversea said early guests are now receiving a preview of the property, ahead of its official grand opening on November 5, 2026. The hotel is included in all 29 departures in the line’s Antarctica Fly Cruise programme this season, giving the journey a Patagonian stay alongside the expedition at sea.
Silver Endeavour and Silver Wind have already made the season’s first departures. Together with Silver Cloud, they will operate 40 voyages through March 2027, ranging from six to 21 nights. Travellers can fly across the Drake Passage in both directions, fly one way and sail the other, or choose a voyage that makes both crossings by sea.
A Patagonian stay before the ice
The hotel’s 150 rooms share the same size and layout, with a choice between Beagle Channel and forest views. Each has a king bed that can be converted into two beds. The name brings together the cormorants found in Tierra del Fuego and Puerto Williams’ position near 55 degrees south.
Silversea’s interior designs use warm wood tones, earthy elements and handcrafted pieces by Chilean artisans. High ceilings and open spaces are paired with large windows, keeping the surrounding landscape in view. Woods from regional Andean forests add another local connection.
The Fireplace Lounge centres on a copper-hooded hearth, with sofas and smaller seating nooks arranged around it. Windows look onto the Patagonian landscape, and guests can settle here between outings and travel arrangements with wines, cocktails and light bites.
Expedition clothing can also be fitted before embarkation. Silversea’s hotel account describes guests receiving parkas, waterproof trousers and boots here, with the opportunity to change sizes on land before joining the ship.
Patagonian food and guided days outdoors
Latitude 55, the main restaurant, will serve family-style evening meals drawing on Chilean dishes, regional ingredients and Patagonian food traditions. Its name refers to the same southern latitude as the hotel, and the shared format gives dinner a sociable focus before guests head into Antarctica.
Bar Sur will offer Chilean wines and cocktails made with local ingredients. Silversea’s plans also include teas and small bites during the day, guided Chilean pisco tastings and a hands-on cocktail masterclass. The emphasis stays regional, from the ingredients in the glass to the craftspeople whose work appears in the rooms.
Silversea’s Expedition Experts will be on permanent rotation at the hotel, including specialists who also guide its Antarctic voyages. Guests can kayak on the Beagle Channel, take guided hikes on Navarino Island with naturalists and birding specialists, or join horseback excursions led by a Patagonian baqueano, a local wilderness guide.
The hotel gives guests time to explore this part of Chile before boarding. For travellers interested in nature, the opportunity to spend time with expedition specialists begins among Navarino Island’s landscapes and wildlife, then continues at sea.
Three ways to reach Antarctica
The fly-cruise programme has moved its flight base from Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams, bringing it together with the departure port used for Silversea’s longer sea-crossing voyages. The Cormorant is central to that change, providing accommodation and space to prepare close to the onward departure.
The two-way fly-cruise arrangement starts with a hotel stay in Santiago, followed by a direct charter to Puerto Williams and an overnight at The Cormorant. Guests then fly to King George Island to join their expedition ship. After returning from Antarctica, they stay at The Cormorant again before flying back to Santiago.
Silversea’s branded Santiago–Puerto Williams charters include a three-course meal and the line’s onboard service. The company describes its charter as the only direct flight between the two cities. Its fly-cruise programme includes shore excursions, transfers and charter flights; the season announcement also confirms expedition experiences and Zodiac outings on every sailing.
Fourteen departures aboard Silver Endeavour fly across the Drake Passage in both directions, exploring the Antarctic Sound, Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. Another 15 sailings aboard Silver Endeavour, Silver Wind and Silver Cloud combine a flight with a sea crossing, travelling south by ship on some departures and north on others.
Antarctic weather can alter flight timings between Puerto Williams and King George Island. The hotel provides somewhere guests can remain during those delays. Flying removes the sea crossing from the itinerary, while departure timing still depends on conditions.
Longer voyages to South Georgia and the Falklands
Eleven voyages cross the Drake Passage by sea in both directions, departing from Puerto Williams. These include routes extending beyond the Antarctic Peninsula to South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, as well as a sailing planned to venture south of the Antarctic Circle.
Silver Wind’s 18-night roundtrip, departing November 7, 2026, calls at West Point Island, Saunders Island and Port Stanley in the Falklands before continuing to South Georgia. It then cruises past Elephant Island and reaches the Antarctic Peninsula, giving travellers a broader itinerary across the region.
Silver Cloud’s first 15-night departure on November 9 begins a series of four voyages combining South Georgia, Elephant Island and the Peninsula. Its 12-night roundtrip departing December 9 includes a planned day south of the Antarctic Circle.
Silver Wind’s December 22 departure spends 15 nights visiting the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia, offering an expedition over the holiday period.
Silver Endeavour’s March 4, 2027 departure is the season’s longest, at 21 nights, and its only voyage ending in Buenos Aires. From Puerto Williams, it visits the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia, then Carcass Island, West Point Island and Port Stanley in the Falklands, followed by Puerto Madryn in Argentina.
Planning a stay and sailing
The Cormorant’s operating season runs from October to March, matching the Antarctic expedition period. Choosing between a two-way fly-cruise, a flight-and-sailing combination and a full sea-crossing voyage determines both the approach to Antarctica and the destinations available along the route.
Departures from January 1, 2027 also bring Silversea’s new Residence and Villa benefits. On expedition voyages, Villa benefits include flexible Zodiac departure times and priority entry to a kayaking session, details worth checking when selecting a suite.
The hotel directs travellers to book a Silversea Antarctica cruise to arrange a stay at The Cormorant at 55 South, with tailored enquiries available through its website.
