Aboard Silver Cloud with Silversea
Cruise Overview
At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia.
It is the capital and tourism base for Tierra del Fuego, the island at the southernmost tip of Argentina.Although its stark physical beauty is striking, Tierra del Fuego's historical allure is based more on its mythical past than on rugged reality.
The island was inhabited for 6,000 years by Yámana, Haush, Selk'nam, and Alakaluf Indians.
But in 1902 Argentina, eager to populate Patagonia to bolster its territorial claims, moved to initiate an Ushuaian penal colony, establishing the permanent settlement of its most southern territories and, by implication, everything in between.When the prison closed in 1947, Ushuaia had a population of about 3,000, made up mainly of former inmates and prison staff.
Today the Indians of Darwin's "missing link" theory are long gone—wiped out by diseases brought by settlers and by indifference to their plight—and the 60,000 residents of Ushuaia are hitching their star to tourism.The city rightly (if perhaps too loudly) promotes itself as the southernmost city in the world (Puerto Williams, a few miles south on the Chilean side of the Beagle Channel, is a small town).
You can make your way to the tourism office to get your clichéd, but oh-so-necessary, "Southernmost City in the World" passport stamp.
Ushuaia feels like a frontier boomtown, at heart still a rugged, weather-beaten fishing village, but exhibiting the frayed edges of a city that quadrupled in size in the '70s and '80s and just keeps growing.
Unpaved portions of Ruta 3, the last stretch of the Pan-American Highway, which connects Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, are finally being paved.
The summer months (December through March) draw more than 120,000 visitors, and dozens of cruise ships.
The city is trying to extend those visits with events like March's Marathon at the End of the World and by increasing the gamut of winter activities buoyed by the excellent snow conditions.A terrific trail winds through the town up to the Martial Glacier, where a ski lift can help cut down a steep kilometer of your journey.
The chaotic and contradictory urban landscape includes a handful of luxury hotels amid the concrete of public housing projects.
Scores of "sled houses" (wooden shacks) sit precariously on upright piers, ready for speedy displacement to a different site.
But there are also many small, picturesque homes with tiny, carefully tended gardens.
Many of the newer homes are built in a Swiss-chalet style, reinforcing the idea that this is a town into which tourism has breathed new life.
At the same time, the weather-worn pastel colors that dominate the town's landscape remind you that Ushuaia was once just a tiny fishing village, snuggled at the end of the Earth.As you stand on the banks of the Canal Beagle (Beagle Channel) near Ushuaia, the spirit of the farthest corner of the world takes hold.
What stands out is the light: at sundown the landscape is cast in a subdued, sensual tone; everything feels closer, softer, and more human in dimension despite the vastness of the setting.
The snowcapped mountains reflect the setting sun back onto a stream rolling into the channel, as nearby peaks echo their image—on a windless day—in the still waters.Above the city rise the last mountains of the Andean Cordillera, and just south and west of Ushuaia they finally vanish into the often-stormy sea.
Snow whitens the peaks well into summer.
Nature is the principal attraction here, with trekking, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife spotting, and sailing among the most rewarding activities, especially in the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego (Tierra del Fuego National Park).
Strewn through the coast of Chile, these beautiful fjords are world renowned for being one of the most awe-inspiring places on earth.
Snow-capped volcanoes nestle majestically alongside rolling valleys of ice and frosty glaciers.
Rugged beauty, breathtaking scenery not to mention diverse and profuse wildlife abounds – expect to watch whales from the deck, see playful Magellan Penguins and perhaps even spot the rare Andean Condor.
Affectionately named “The End of the World” by the Spaniards who discovered the region in eighteenth century in a quest to Christianise South America, these extraordinary waterways not only encompass a medley of jagged mountains and iceberg strewn bays, but feature a kaleidoscopic spectrum of unexpected colour that offers photographic opportunities like no other destination.
Montanas Fjords & Bernal Glacier are located in the Region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, inside the Alacalufes Chilean National Reserve. Created in 1969, the reserve is filled in every corner by the sea and crowned by snowdrifts - a beautiful place where the impressive scenery of Patagonia can be observed.
The five fjords stretch 66 km from north to south and they are flanked by two mountain ranges, the Cordillera Sarmiento – a subrange of the Andes - to the west and the Cordillera Riesco to the east.
Until very recently Sarmiento was a forgotten land, it has quickly become renowned because of the incredible features the reserve offers.
Bernal Glacier is a glacier that is in its last glaciology phase, which means that its tongue of ice does not reach the sea.
It is the capital and tourism base for Tierra del Fuego, the island at the southernmost tip of Argentina.Although its stark physical beauty is striking, Tierra del Fuego's historical allure is based more on its mythical past than on rugged reality.
The island was inhabited for 6,000 years by Yámana, Haush, Selk'nam, and Alakaluf Indians.
But in 1902 Argentina, eager to populate Patagonia to bolster its territorial claims, moved to initiate an Ushuaian penal colony, establishing the permanent settlement of its most southern territories and, by implication, everything in between.When the prison closed in 1947, Ushuaia had a population of about 3,000, made up mainly of former inmates and prison staff.
Today the Indians of Darwin's "missing link" theory are long gone—wiped out by diseases brought by settlers and by indifference to their plight—and the 60,000 residents of Ushuaia are hitching their star to tourism.The city rightly (if perhaps too loudly) promotes itself as the southernmost city in the world (Puerto Williams, a few miles south on the Chilean side of the Beagle Channel, is a small town).
You can make your way to the tourism office to get your clichéd, but oh-so-necessary, "Southernmost City in the World" passport stamp.
Ushuaia feels like a frontier boomtown, at heart still a rugged, weather-beaten fishing village, but exhibiting the frayed edges of a city that quadrupled in size in the '70s and '80s and just keeps growing.
Unpaved portions of Ruta 3, the last stretch of the Pan-American Highway, which connects Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, are finally being paved.
The summer months (December through March) draw more than 120,000 visitors, and dozens of cruise ships.
The city is trying to extend those visits with events like March's Marathon at the End of the World and by increasing the gamut of winter activities buoyed by the excellent snow conditions.A terrific trail winds through the town up to the Martial Glacier, where a ski lift can help cut down a steep kilometer of your journey.
The chaotic and contradictory urban landscape includes a handful of luxury hotels amid the concrete of public housing projects.
Scores of "sled houses" (wooden shacks) sit precariously on upright piers, ready for speedy displacement to a different site.
But there are also many small, picturesque homes with tiny, carefully tended gardens.
Many of the newer homes are built in a Swiss-chalet style, reinforcing the idea that this is a town into which tourism has breathed new life.
At the same time, the weather-worn pastel colors that dominate the town's landscape remind you that Ushuaia was once just a tiny fishing village, snuggled at the end of the Earth.As you stand on the banks of the Canal Beagle (Beagle Channel) near Ushuaia, the spirit of the farthest corner of the world takes hold.
What stands out is the light: at sundown the landscape is cast in a subdued, sensual tone; everything feels closer, softer, and more human in dimension despite the vastness of the setting.
The snowcapped mountains reflect the setting sun back onto a stream rolling into the channel, as nearby peaks echo their image—on a windless day—in the still waters.Above the city rise the last mountains of the Andean Cordillera, and just south and west of Ushuaia they finally vanish into the often-stormy sea.
Snow whitens the peaks well into summer.
Nature is the principal attraction here, with trekking, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife spotting, and sailing among the most rewarding activities, especially in the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego (Tierra del Fuego National Park).
Strewn through the coast of Chile, these beautiful fjords are world renowned for being one of the most awe-inspiring places on earth.
Snow-capped volcanoes nestle majestically alongside rolling valleys of ice and frosty glaciers.
Rugged beauty, breathtaking scenery not to mention diverse and profuse wildlife abounds – expect to watch whales from the deck, see playful Magellan Penguins and perhaps even spot the rare Andean Condor.
Affectionately named “The End of the World” by the Spaniards who discovered the region in eighteenth century in a quest to Christianise South America, these extraordinary waterways not only encompass a medley of jagged mountains and iceberg strewn bays, but feature a kaleidoscopic spectrum of unexpected colour that offers photographic opportunities like no other destination.
Montanas Fjords & Bernal Glacier are located in the Region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, inside the Alacalufes Chilean National Reserve. Created in 1969, the reserve is filled in every corner by the sea and crowned by snowdrifts - a beautiful place where the impressive scenery of Patagonia can be observed.
The five fjords stretch 66 km from north to south and they are flanked by two mountain ranges, the Cordillera Sarmiento – a subrange of the Andes - to the west and the Cordillera Riesco to the east.
Until very recently Sarmiento was a forgotten land, it has quickly become renowned because of the incredible features the reserve offers.
Bernal Glacier is a glacier that is in its last glaciology phase, which means that its tongue of ice does not reach the sea.
Cruise Itinerary
Aboard Silver Cloud
Launch Year: 1994 Length: 155 Width: 21 Currency: USD Capacity: 254 Crew Count: 212 Deck Count: 7 Cabin Count: 126
With 20-brand new Zodiacs, four superlative restaurants in Antarctica and a pole-to-pole expedition itinerary, Silver Cloud breaks the ice between expedition and luxury.
Silver Cloud is the first hybrid ship in our fleet and brings the remote and remarkable to you in ultra-luxurious comfort. Her large suites, destination itineraries and unparalleled service make her truly special. Four dining options will tantalise your taste buds, and as 80% of her suites include a veranda, watching a breaching whale from the comfort of your balcony never been so personal. A limited number of guests in polar waters (240 vs. 254), mean that Silver Cloud has one of the highest crew to guest and space to guest ratios in expedition cruising. With her 20 zodiacs, 10 kayaks, possibilities are almost limitless with ship-wide simultaneous explorations.
4 dining options, 20 Zodiacs and 10 kayaks equal almost limitless possibilities aboard Silver Cloud. Explore her large suites and spacious public areas by viewing her deck plan here.
Silver Cloud Facilities
Silver Cloud Includes
Cabin Details
Silversea’s suites offer one of the highest space-per-guest ratios of any luxury cruise accommodations. All Silversea suites have ocean views, and most include a private teak veranda so that you can breathe in the fresh sea air simply by stepping outside your door. And regardless of the ship or suite category, all guests will be pampered with the personalised services of an attentive butler.
For a truly personal experience, customise your suite with an abundance of thoughtful options and luxurious amenities from Bulgari toiletries and personalised stationery to a bar with your favourite wines and liquors. Settle in with a complimentary movie or choose instead to simply watch the ocean swim by. You can even have dinner in-suite served course by course by your butler. Then, when it’s time to retire, curl up beneath Egyptian cotton linens and a fluffy duvet, with your choice of nine different pillow types. The ultimate in luxury cruise accommodations, Silversea’s suites are your home away from home.
