Nov 29 – Dec 10, 2027 Silversea Silver Wind All suites, all inclusive
Thousands of penguins, loud and busy and not bothered by you at all. Whales close enough to hear them breathe. Icebergs as big as city blocks. Seven days of it, in early December, when the penguins are nesting. Matt is with you the whole way.
Until departure
Suites are held for the group, not sold online
Answer a few quick questions. Then Matt will call you for a short chat. He will go over the suites, the flights and what a landing is really like. You pay nothing, and nothing is held until you say so.
A day on the ice
It is early December. The penguins are nesting, and the sun barely sets. No two days are the same, but most go like this.
Morning
After breakfast, you climb into a Zodiac, a small rubber boat. You weave past icebergs that glow bright blue. Seals sleep on the floating ice. Then the driver cuts the engine, and you hear the ice crack.
Late morning
You step onto the snow with thousands of penguins. They are loud, busy and not afraid of you. You are asked to stay about 15 feet back. The penguins did not get the memo. They walk right up to you.
Afternoon
Go kayaking if you like. It is included. Or stand on deck with binoculars and watch humpback whales come up for air. On a lucky day, you may spot the tall black fin of an orca.
Evening
Sip champagne on your balcony. Pick one of four restaurants for dinner. Then meet the group for a drink. This far south, the sun barely sets. The ice glows pink until almost midnight.
Every day here depends on the ice and the weather. The captain picks the spot each morning. That is why the cruise line names the area, not the exact beach.
Who books this trip
01
For most people, Antarctica is the last big trip on the list. It is also the one they talk about for years. Early December, when the penguins are nesting, is a great time to go.
02
The Silver Wind is built to sail in ice. It is small enough to reach narrow bays. It feels like a boutique hotel, not a research boat.
03
Every room is a suite with a balcony and a butler. There are four restaurants and room service all day and night. You even get a warm parka to keep.
04
You travel with a small group who picked this trip for the same reason. There are group calls before you go about gear and cameras. And there are friendly faces at the bar each night.
Most guests are 35 to 70, with about as many men as women.
How you get there
Most trips to Antarctica spend two days crossing the Drake Passage before you see a penguin. On this trip, you fly over it on two private flights. Those two days go to the ice instead.
01
Nov 29
Spend a night at a luxury hotel with breakfast. You start the trip rested, not straight off an overnight flight.
02
3 hr 45 min by air
Fly the length of Chile on a private Silversea plane. Then stay a night at The Cormorant at 55 South. Matt calls it the southernmost hotel on earth.
03
1 hr 30 min by air
A second private flight takes you over the Drake Passage. There is no dock, so a Zodiac boat carries you to the ship. Your trip starts that same afternoon.
04
Dec 8 to 9
You do cross the Drake, but only once. It takes two days at sea on the way home. By then, you have already had seven days in the ice.
What it costs, and what it covers
That is rare, and it is a big reason the price looks the way it does. If you compare it with a cheaper trip, check whether that trip's flights are extra.
Your flight to Santiago is not included, and that is on purpose. You can use your miles, fly from your home airport and pick your own seat. Matt can book it for you if you like.
Private balcony, butler service
$18,999
from, per person
Higher deck, same layout
$20,999
from, per person
Separate living area
$29,999
from, per person
The largest on board
$31,999
from, per person
Prices are per person, based on two sharing, and are starting prices. A 20% deposit holds your suite. The rest is due June 21, 2027.
Traveling alone? Matt pairs solo travelers, so no one pays extra for a room alone. Ask on the call. It depends on who else has booked.
Your host
Matt Dawson has planned bucket list trips for 6 years. He has one big rule. He will not sell a place he has not been to himself. He has been to Antarctica, and he has wanted to take a group back for a long time.
He is on this trip with you for all 12 days. He will not just meet you at the airstrip or send someone else. Before you go, there are group calls about gear, photos and what to expect.
Before you ask
Almost for sure, and more than you can picture. Early December is nesting season, so the colonies are full. You will likely see whales too. Orcas and leopard seals are a lucky bonus. No one can promise wildlife, but this is about as good as the odds get.
Yes, but only once, on the way home. You fly over it going south and start exploring the same day. Then you sail back across it at the end, after seven days in the ice. You still get the crossing and the story, just not first. A trip with no Drake crossing at all is a fly-in, fly-out trip, which is a different kind of trip.
Usually between 28°F and 40°F. It is summer there in December. As Matt says, if you can handle a winter day in New York or Chicago, you can handle this. The warm outer layers are provided.
Not really. You need to step into a rubber boat with a crew member holding your arm. You also need to stand on snow for about an hour. Every landing is optional. You can always stay on board.
Yes. The ship has Starlink, which is fast. You can send photos home the same day. Whether you want to is up to you.
Yes, more than most trips that say so. Both private flights are included. So are your suite, your butler, all meals and drinks, every Zodiac trip and landing, your parka, and all tips and fees. The only things not included are your flight to Santiago and travel insurance.
Traveling alone? Matt pairs solo travelers, so no one pays extra for a room alone. Ask on the call. It depends on who else has booked.
A 20% deposit holds your suite. The rest is due June 21, 2027. It costs nothing to talk with Matt, and nothing is held until you say so.
The price is the same either way. With Matt, you get someone who has checked the flights and the details for you. You get group calls before you go. And you get one person to call if something goes wrong. He has also been to Antarctica himself.
Nov 29 – Dec 10, 2027 From $18,999 per person
It is quiet, wild and like nowhere else on earth. Send Matt your questions. He will tell you honestly if this trip is right for you. It costs nothing to talk.