How to Visit Antarctica Without Crossing the Drake Passage: Silversea’s Fly Cruise Explained

The Drake Passage, the stretch of water between South America and Antarctica, has two nicknames: the Drake Shake when it’s rough and the Drake Lake when it’s calm. Which one you get is the luck of the draw, and the crossing takes about two days. Silversea’s Antarctica Fly Cruise takes the gamble out of it: fly over the passage in about two hours each way and join a 6-night Antarctica expedition, plus stays at The Cormorant at 55 South in Puerto Williams, Chile.

Here’s how it works, and why you should consider the fly cruise to maximize your time on the seventh continent.

What Is the Drake Passage & Why Do Travelers Want to Skip It?

The Drake Passage is the stretch of water between South America and Antarctica, and it’s the route most ship-based expeditions take to reach the southernmost continent. Named for English privateer and explorer Sir Francis Drake, it spans more than 500 miles of open water. It is also known for some of the fiercest winds and largest waves on Earth, which is how the "Drake Shake" got its name.

For many travelers, skipping it comes down to time and unpredictability. A ship crossing takes about two days, and whether the water is calm or rough is anyone’s guess. Flying over it means more of your trip goes to exploring Antarctica rather than getting there.

The passage matters well beyond travel, too. It sits where the Atlantic and Pacific meet, and it’s part of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which links the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans and plays a major role in regulating global climate patterns.

How Silversea’s Antarctica Fly Cruise Works

Silversea’s Antarctica Fly Cruise swaps the Drake Passage crossing for a flight, so your expedition begins and ends on King George Island in Antarctica. The roundtrip program flies you over the Drake Passage in both directions and includes:

• A hotel night in Santiago, Chile
• Two nights at The Cormorant at 55 South in Puerto Williams, Chile (one before and one after the expedition)
• A 6-night expedition
• Comfortable Silversea charter flights between Santiago, Puerto Williams and King George Island

Here’s what each part looks like.

Charter Flights Included

Every sailing includes Silversea-branded charter flights. A direct charter flies from Santiago to Puerto Williams in about 3.5 hours, with comfortable seating, a three-course meal and Silversea’s signature service. Charter flights also take you from Puerto Williams to King George Island and, after the expedition, back to Puerto Williams and on to Santiago.

A Stay at The Cormorant at 55 South

Every roundtrip Fly Cruise sailing includes a night at The Cormorant at 55 South before your expedition and another after it. The 150-room hotel in Puerto Williams is designed as the gateway to the seventh continent.

Flying Over the Drake Passage

Instead of about two days on the water, you fly about two hours over the Drake Passage. Because the program flies in both directions, a roundtrip fly cruise has no ship-based crossing on the way to Antarctica or the way home. Drake Shake or Drake Lake, there is no ship crossing to worry about on this itinerary. Flight times do depend on weather, and Silversea notes that plans can change, so build in a little flexibility.

Your 6-Night Expedition

Your expedition begins and ends at King George Island and explores the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. Some sailings also visit the Antarctic Sound. Days are built around Zodiac outings and shore excursions led by Expedition Experts.

For current itinerary details, call our friendly Cruise Experts.

Inside The Cormorant at 55 South

Your Antarctic journey starts at The Cormorant at 55 South, the world’s southernmost hotel.

The Cormorant at 55 South, set in Puerto Williams, Chile, is where Silversea’s Antarctica Fly Cruise begins. Silversea calls the 150-room hotel the Southernmost Hotel on Earth℠, and its details draw on Tierra del Fuego's culture. It’s designed to ease you into the journey before you ever fly south.

Rooms

Warm timber and handcrafted Chilean touches make the last night before Antarctica a restful one.

Each of the 150 rooms overlooks either forest or water, and the king bed can be converted into two beds depending on your travel party.

Dining & Bars

Latitude 55 serves Patagonian flavors family style, with plenty of stories swapped before takeoff.

Latitude 55 is the hotel’s main restaurant, with family-style dining built around Patagonian flavors. Bar Sur is the hotel’s social hub, serving teas and small bites by day and wines, spirits and pisco tastings in the evening. The Fireplace Lounge offers sweeping views of the Patagonian landscape and a cozy spot to settle in by the fire.

Activities in Puerto Williams

Silversea’s Expedition Experts, the same specialists who guide its Antarctic voyages, are on hand at the hotel to lead activities, so the sense of exploration starts before the flight south.

Activities include:

• Kayaking on the Beagle Channel
• Guided hikes on Navarino Island led by naturalists & birding specialists
• Horseback excursions led by a Patagonian baqueano, a local wilderness guide
• Birdwatching for species like the yellow-billed pintail, the ringed kingfisher & the cormorant

We recommend kayaking as a first taste of the waterways and wildlife ahead.

What You’ll Do in Antarctica on the Fly Expedition

Once you’ve flown over the Drake Passage, the Antarctic days focus on getting you ashore and onto the water as often as possible. Expedition Experts lead each outing, from Zodiac rides along the coast to landings among the wildlife and scenery.

Zodiac Outings & Expedition Experiences

Days are active but flexible, and Expedition Experts shape each outing around what the weather, ice and wildlife allow. For a full look at gear, activities and everything else included in a Silversea expedition, see our guide: What’s Included in a Silversea Expedition?

A Sample Itinerary

Silversea’s published fly expedition itineraries show how the days tend to unfold. Here’s a sample:

The three Antarctic Peninsula days are the heart of the trip, with three shore excursions planned for each. This sample lists 11 shore excursions in all and no days at sea. Itineraries vary by sailing. Some visit Antarctic Sound in place of the South Shetland Islands on day 2.

Note: This is a sample based on Silversea’s published fly expedition itineraries. Ports, excursions and the order of days vary by sailing.

When to Go: Antarctica’s Season by Month

Silversea’s Antarctic season runs from October through March, and what you see changes noticeably as the months go by. No single stretch suits everyone, so it comes down to what you most want to see.

Is the Antarctica Fly Cruise Right for You?

The Antarctica Fly Cruise suits travelers who want to spend their time exploring Antarctica rather than crossing the water to reach it. It’s a strong match for:

• Travelers with limited time, since the flight replaces a roughly two-day crossing in each direction.
• Travelers who’d rather not leave the Drake Passage to chance, because the flight sidesteps the rough seas entirely.
• Travelers who like a gentler start, with a stay in Puerto Williams where kayaking, hiking and horseback outings are on offer before the expedition begins.

If You Want to Sail the Drake Passage

Some travelers see the crossing as part of the adventure, and Silversea offers sailings for them to earn those sea legs. Several Antarctica itineraries cross the Drake Passage by ship in both directions, and one-way fly cruises pair a flight in one direction with a ship crossing in the other. If the Drake Shake is on your wish list, a Cruise Expert can help you compare your options.

Choosing Your Suite

Once you’ve decided the fly cruise is right for you, your suite is one of the next decisions. Suite categories and availability vary by ship, so our guide to Silversea Suites Explained: What Each Category Includes is a useful place to start.

Plan Your Antarctica Fly Cruise With a Cruise Expert

Antarctica doesn’t have to start with two days on open water. Silversea’s Antarctica Fly Cruise flies you over the Drake Passage in both directions, so you can spend a 6-night expedition exploring Antarctica, with stays at The Cormorant at 55 South along the way. Our Cruise Experts can help you choose the right sailing, season and suite.

Booking with The Cruise Web means:

• No booking fees
• Access to exclusive onboard credit & amenities
• One-on-one guidance on any question you have
• A personal Cruise Expert available 24/7 before, during & after your trip

Call 1-800-377-9383 or visit CruiseWeb.com to start planning your Antarctica Fly Cruise today.

Note: The contents of this article are accurate as of the publication date. Silversea itineraries, inclusions and prices are subject to change at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can you visit Antarctica without crossing the Drake Passage?

Yes. Silversea’s Antarctica Fly Cruise flies guests over the Drake Passage in both directions, so a roundtrip fly cruise has no ship-based crossing. The expedition begins and ends on King George Island in Antarctica and lasts 6 nights.

How long does it take to cross the Drake Passage by ship?

On Silversea voyages, crossing the Drake Passage by ship takes about two days. Conditions vary: the passage is nicknamed the Drake Shake when the water is rough and the Drake Lake when it is calm.

How long is the flight over the Drake Passage?

The flight over the Drake Passage from Puerto Williams to King George Island takes about two hours, compared with about two days by ship.

What is Silversea’s Antarctica Fly Cruise?

Silversea’s Antarctica Fly Cruise replaces the Drake Passage crossing with a flight. Guests fly over the Drake Passage and spend a 6-night expedition exploring Antarctica. The program includes charter flights, a hotel night in Santiago and two nights at The Cormorant at 55 South in Puerto Williams, Chile.

What is The Cormorant at 55 South?

The Cormorant at 55 South is a 150-room hotel in Puerto Williams, Chile that serves as the gateway to Silversea’s Antarctica Fly Cruise. Silversea calls it the Southernmost Hotel on Earth℠. Rooms overlook forest or water; the restaurant Latitude 55 serves family-style dining built around Patagonian flavors and Bar Sur serves teas and small bites by day and wines, spirits and pisco tastings in the evening.

How many nights is the Antarctica Fly Cruise?

The expedition is 6 nights, roundtrip from King George Island. The program also includes a hotel night in Santiago before you fly south, plus one night before and one night after the expedition at The Cormorant at 55 South in Puerto Williams, Chile.

Are flights included on the Antarctica Fly Cruise?

Yes. Silversea charter flights between Santiago, Puerto Williams and King George Island are included on every Antarctica Fly Cruise sailing. International flights to and from Santiago are not included, but Silversea offers an optional flight package.

When is Antarctica’s cruise season?

Silversea’s Antarctic season runs from October through March. October to November brings nest-building penguins and snow-covered landscapes, December to January is the peak of the austral summer with up to about 20 hours of daylight, and February to March brings growing chicks and peak whale sightings.

What wildlife can you see in Antarctica?

Depending on the month, you can see penguins, seals, whales and migratory birds. Penguins build nests early in the season, chicks begin to hatch from December to January and whale sightings peak from February to March.

Can you cross the Drake Passage by ship with Silversea?

Yes. Several Silversea Antarctica itineraries cross the Drake Passage by ship in both directions, and one-way fly cruises pair a flight in one direction with a ship crossing in the other.

Why book Silversea with The Cruise Web?

The Cruise Web’s Cruise Experts can help you choose the right Antarctica Fly Cruise sailing, season and suite, and they know how the program fits together from the flights to the hotel stay. Booking comes with no booking fees, access to exclusive onboard credit and amenities and a personal Cruise Expert available 24/7 before, during and after your trip. Travelers rate The Cruise Web 4.9 out of 5 across hundreds of Google reviews, and the agency holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.