Silver Wind dry dock plans

[cruiseej]

Barbara,

 

For those of us booked on Silver Wind Antarctica cruises this December (and beyond), can you tell us if the Wind refurbishment is still on schedule to move forward this summer, and when the dry dock is scheduled to begin? Will all the previously-announced improvements to the Wind still be included in this dry dock, or will anything be cut back? Thank you!

[cruiseej]

One more Antarctica question: Silversea announced last month that it was moving Silver Explorer's home base this winter from Ushuaia to nearby Puerto Williams, Chile because the COVID situation is worse in Argentina. Are you considering moving Silver Wind to Puerto Williams as well, or is that not logistically feasible? (Is the small airport runway there even large enough for the charter flights?)

Edited May 12, 2021 by cruiseej
Typo

[cruiseej]

And one more… 😉

 

What are Silversea's capacity plans for cruises this winter? Our December 22 Silver Wind cruise shows it is in waitlist status; is the Wind going to be sailing at full capacity, or has the passenger count been reduced to create more social distancing? 

[Barbara Muckermann]

Hi cruiseej!
Thank you very much for your questions. I'm so glad to hear you're booked on Silver Wind this December! We're very excited about the ship's refurbishment and having her join our expedition fleet. I can confirm that the refurbishment is on schedule and we will release details in due course. Rest assured, she will be completed in time for the start of this year's Antarctica season.
 

Regarding Puerto Williams, we have no plans to change Silver Wind's departure port for Antarctica voyages for now (but we are monitoring the situation in South America very closely)- At the moment only Silver Explorer is expected to depart from Puerto Williams, excluding Antarctica Bridge sailings. We have arranged for private flights with extra legroom and an additional baggage allowance for Silversea guests to arrive in Puerto Williams, where we will embark Silver Explorer. You can find more information in this recent press announcement: https://www.silversea.com/about-silversea/press-releases/2021/april/silversea-cruises-puerto-wiliams-as-new-as-new-departure-port-for-selected-antarctica-expeditions.html 

Lastly, we don't know yet whether Silver Wind will sail at full or reduced capacity as the situation is constantly evolving, but rest assured all of our science-backed protocols are designed to safeguard the health and safety of our guests and crew.

Barbara