Christmas in Antarctica on the Silver Cloud Dec 21-Jan5

[WesW]

Ida and I are at the Atlanta airport waiting to board our flight to Miami and then to Santiago Chile 

 

 

We leave today for our Holiday Antarctica trip on the Silver Cloud.  

 

Am posting before our flight to Miami, to provide some context briefly describing the near six week process to get ready to travel to Antarctica/Chile in this Covid era.  This is especially  for Silversea cruise critics that are going this Antarctica season or planning to go in the future. Most of the information below I gleaned from the Silversea Facebook page but there are SS cruise critics not on Facebook.  Hope this information is helpful.   Really can't wait to share our experience in Antarctica and on board the Silver Cloud (will cruise again with the Expedition Host Brian Dailey, Captain Mino Pontillo, Ornithologist Bernardo Alps, Photographic studio manager Alan, and the Silver Cloud night auditor Ryan)

 

Antarctica is the wonderful prize, but to get there we have had to jump through a myriad of Covid hoops to be able to board our flights (Atlanta to Miami, Miami to Santiago).  Chile requires  visitors to have an approved Chilean mobility pass  prior to travel (this process takes between 30-45 days).  The Chilean mevacuno (my vaccine) site is cumbersome and difficult to use.  My application was approved within a few weeks. Ida's was pending for nearly four weeks, within in two weeks of embark, asked Conrad Combrink (SVP Destinations for Silversea) to assist; he had one of his 43 team members get involved.  Within a week to go Ida's mobility pass was approved--believe his team member went to Chile to make this  happen, as the day her pass was approved, sent Marc an email to thank him profusely; received an automatic reply that he was in Chile.

 

Within 72 hours of travel we need to take a PCR covid test (took test Friday, negative results came yesterday).  Then we had to go back to the mevacuno site and fill out a Chile Affidavit downloading our negative test result and provide proof of at least $32,000 of travel insurance.

 

American Airlines uses the Verifly app, which we both filled out (passport, vaccination status, negative PCR test result, scan code from Chilean affidavit) which hopefully will make check in and boarding go smoothly.

 

Once we land in Santiago, we take another PCR test given by the Chilean authorities, then as a Silver Cloud group we are bused to the Silversea Pre hotel, Mandarin Oriental and have to isolate in our hotel room until our negative test results come back (reports have the isolation time between 4-8 hours).

 

We will have breakfast here at the MO in the morning then take a bus for our Charter flight (Latam) to Puerto Williams.  We have luggage restrictions of one checked bag not to exceed 50Lb, one carry on bag, and a small bag/purse.

 

Will post again from Chile.

Edited December 20, 2021 by WesW

[les37b]

Wes, Santa is at the North Pole!  😁

 

Looking forward to tag along and hope you have a fantastic voyage. Glad you are getting away. Fearing the worst for my 3Jan sailing.

 

Enjoy. 

 

[Silver Spectre]

Have a great time Wes.

[Brownie54]

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

We are booked a similar Silversea trip in 1/2024 on the Cloud, so we can’t wait to read your reports!

[jpalbny]

Have a great trip Wes and Ida! Looking forward to your updates, as possible of course. Wishing you smooth sailing in these most unusual times.

[forgap]

Bon voyage!

[highplanesdrifters]

Wishing you Fair Winds and only negative test results. 

[TLCOhio]

1 hour ago, jpalbny said:

Have a great trip Wes and Ida! Looking forward to your updates, as possible of course. Wishing you smooth sailing in these most unusual times.

 

Super appreciate these great details and look forward to many follow-up for what should be an amazing adventure.  We had hoped to do Antarctica in early 2022, but things did not come together.  Given the current crazy Covid developments, best of luck for all of these tests and processes to go smoothly and safely.  Keep up the great sharing!!

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen, July 2010, to the top of Europe. Scenic visuals with key tips. Live/blog at 243,181 views.

www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923

[kimanjo]

We were on the Cloud Nov 14th sailing, and from start to finish, we totaled 7 tests... Both PCR and Rapids.  Don't regret a single minute of it!  Trip of a lifetime. 

[Lois R]

Wes, hope you both have a wonderful cruise🙂

[cruiseej]

Wes, thanks for this information and that which I'm sure you'll provide in the future. Best wishes to you and Ida for your trip! As you know, we were supposed to be flying today to board the Wind for our Antarctica and South Georgia Island cruise, so more than ever, we'll be living vicariously through your reports as we wait until we (hopefully) sail on the Cloud this week next year. 😉

 

Best wishes for a great trip, good health, happy holidays and a smooth-as-glass Drake Lake!

 

P.S. I'm surprised you had to fly to MIA to take the American flight to Santiago. Were you too late booking this trip to get on the Delta nonstop from Atlanta? (On our canceled trip, SS had us booked going down on American via Miami and returning on Delta via Atlanta.) 

Edited December 20, 2021 by cruiseej

[Catlover54]

" . . . . Ida's was pending for nearly four weeks, within in two weeks of embark, asked Conrad Combrink (SVP Destinations for Silversea) to assist; he had one of his 43 team members get involved.  Within a week to go Ida's mobility pass was approved--believe his team member went to Chile to make this  happen, as the day her pass was approved, sent Marc an email to thank him profusely; received an automatic reply that he was in Chile. . . ."

 

I am glad things worked out for you, wish you a wonderful cruise, and look forward to your reports. 

 

However, I have to wonder how mere mortals who are not super- frequent SS cruisers with easy access to SVP Conrad Combrin directing a 43 member team would fare if their passes were held up so close to embarkation.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[taxatty]

Hi Wes, sorry we're missing having a drink with you at the Mandarin, but our PCR tests took a long time to clear and we've just escaped our room. Barbara and I look forward to meeting you and Ida on the Cloud.

 

We also had help as well with the Chilean mobility pass website, but in our case, a call to a very helpful SS customer service person was all it took. Les

Edited December 20, 2021 by taxatty

[bethtex]

your trip will be wonderful!!

did the Cloud to Antarctica in Dec 2019.  Was supposed to be a "once in a lifetime trip", but now all we can think about is how we can go again.

Can't wait to relive our trip through your experiences.

[taxatty]

Somewhere in between the "Drake Lake" and the "Drake Shake" so far on this cruise, but not too bad.😊

[Mary1776]

We're on the Silver Explorer 8-30 March. Looking forward to comparing North Pole ice flows. We understand the lecturers are excellent and skilled at the helm of a Zodiac. Itinerary also chosen to explore the 3 small islands west of Capetown.

 

I went to the Roll Call - it appears one has not been created for this itinerary. Any other CCers out there?!

[taxatty]

Actually, it looks like the Cloud is now just about to clear the tip of South America and enter the Drake Passage.

[WesW]

This morning we enjoyed a visually spectacular Zodiac landing and visit to Mikkelsen Harbour in the Antarctica peninsula.

 

Per Passion for Fresh Ideas for the Planet “Today, Mikkelsen Harbour offers a safe refuge for Weddell Seals, a Gentoo Penguin colony (and a few visiting Chinstraps), Kelp Geese and Brown Skuas. The penguins create deep ruts, known as ‘penguin highways’ through the snow as they waddle from their nests to the water. They always follow the same path, creating a dirty channel in the ice.  As a visitor it is important to stay off the highways and give the penguins the right of way.”

 

We enjoyed our zodiac trip to the Harbour traversing chunks of Ice.

 

We had a moderate hike up the hill from our landing site made easier by the Silversea Silver Cloud Expedition staff carving a trail for us to follow.  We had 360 views of the Glaciers, penquins, seals and Silver Cloud docked about a 3/4 of a mile away from our landing site.

 

We even came across a Weddel Sea “Chilling “

 

Ida enjoyed making a snow angel and wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas 

 

Please enjoy a view photos and vids of this mornings truly memorable Zodiac landing in Antarctica!

Edited December 25, 2021 by WesW

[WesW]

Our first zodiac landing was at an active volcano, Deception Island.  

 

Ida and I visited the Norwegian headquarters building used for whaling operations in the last century.

 

We saw the storage tanks used for Oil and the decaying building used for quarters(housing)

We also saw remains of the cemetery and the building used for an aircraft hanger. one of the expedition s team showed us his device that showed active seismic motion 

 

 

Looking for penguin colonies we were only able to see about a half dozen chinstrap penguins 

We felt the heat/warmth emanating from the volcanic beaches. many tourists bath in the warmth of this volcanic sand 

 

 

Please enjoy a few photos — at Deception Island, Antarctica.

[TLCOhio]

Wonderfully appreciate these excellent visuals, details and experiences from your visiting Antarctica.  Sounds like things are goingn well.    How rocky was the two-days getting from South America to Antarctica?  How full is your ship?   Keep it coming with this great sharing!!

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

[Galka]

Great report,  thanks.

We are planning same trip from the 29th of January.

Was Drake Passage really so quiet?

In November should have been few covid cases on board and even an emergency disembarking. Any information on it? Some special precautions on board?

How does it work with kayaks reservation?

Lot of questions, sorry. We are traveling first time with Silversea and I don’t quit understand, how they are operating.

Many thanks.

Best Regards

Galina

[taxatty]

Drake Passage was about a 5 on a 10 scale according to Danny, the Expedition leader (what a great sonorous voice he has!). The most uncomfortable rocking and rolling was mostly overnight with things sliding around a little on shelves and tables, but nothing terrible.

 

Just had "mid-cruise" morning antigen test in lieu of morning Zodiac trip to Portal Point on the Antarctic Peninsula that we were told was cancelled due to too much sea ice blocking the landing point. Portal Point was described to us as a scenic stop without much wildlife expected to be present, and since it was snowing/raining this morning and was quite hazy, there probably wouldn't have been much to see anyway.

 

Masks are required everywhere on the ship unless you're in your cabin or actively eating or drinking, and while on Zodiacs.

 

Kayaks require attendance at a safety briefing, then each kayaking location is announced in advance and you sign up for each one separately and then check to see if you've been selected.

 

No one on board has mentioned the prior COVID Cloud issues, but the entire crew is obviously aware of it.

Edited December 26, 2021 by taxatty

[WesW]

Last night the Silversea Silversea Silver Cloud Restaurant and Food and Beverage team hit a Grand Slam as they delivered an outstanding Christmas Dinner 

 

 

As we made our way into the Restaurant the beverage team set up a Kir Royal station. We paired the best prepared Roast Turkey 🦃 dinner we have had with a delicious Ridge Zinfandel 

 

 

Shown in photos are the exceptionally tasty dishes we enjoyed along with the Special Christmas menu served in all dining venues on board.

 

 

And to top a magical dining experience our butler had a special Italian Christmas bread (Panettone)plated and waiting for us in our suite

 

Later today will post the first Silver Cloud behind the scenes crew member profile—the crew who normally don’t get told thank you but are key to guests having a wonderful cruise. We will meet Nurul Yakin the Laundry Master

Edited December 26, 2021 by WesW

[flydc]

This is fantastic. 
we are scheduled on the Silver Explorer in mid January

 

did they tell you what happens if someone tests positive on a rapid test? I’m concerned that we will get locked down in a small cabin for the entire cruise since there isn’t a way to evacuate you from Antarctica! 
 

Appreciate any info! I read about regular policy but clearly that can’t apply to Antarctica. This Omicron stuff and quick spread is a bit scary! 
 

mahalo for your help!

[WesW]

Flydc, per reception, if a guest test positive they are isolated in suites set asides for positive tests.  Guests are then able to leave once they do not test negative.