In its 10th season of deep travel in Antarctica, Silversea Cruises is investing heavily in the training and development of its Expedition Team. Ahead of the Antarctica season, 12 members of the team spent four days at pre-season training in the Chilean Andes.
The camp included four days and three nights of camping with skills-based learning and leadership development. In addition to a challenging high ropes course, snow and ice awareness workshops, route-finding and orienteering sessions, a wilderness medicine refresher, and an emergency evacuation scenario, several team-building activities were peppered throughout the programme.
With a base camp located near Chile’s breathtaking El Morado Natural Monument, the activity-rich programme was a highly challenging, high altitude, skills-driven, experiential learning and leadership building tour-de-force. After camping in the rough, practicing emergency medical scenarios, and brushing up on ice and snow skills, the team members parted ways ready to greet the wilds of Antarctica and welcome Silversea Expeditions’ guests onboard. Of the 12 Expedition Specialists who participated in the training, eight embarked Silver Explorer ahead of the Antarctica season.
“A way of enriching the cruising experience for our expedition guests in the region, the pre-Antarctica training camp was a huge success,” said Kit van Wagner, Silversea’s Director of Expedition Training and Staff Development. “This training represents Silversea’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of expedition cruising. Silversea’s industry-leading expedition team offers onboard lectures and workshops, and leads excursions in each destination. Through these types of training events, their knowledge is improved and our guests’ experiences are enhanced.”
Sample Itineraries
Silversea’s Expeditions Team’s skills will be put into practice on a number of immersive voyages in Antarctica, including the following sample itineraries:
1925 – Buenos Aires to Ushuaia: Silver Cloud will begin the Antarctic season in 2019, departing Buenos Aires for Ushuaia on 24th November 2019. This 16-day voyage will take guests deeper into the authentic beauty of Antarctica on a one-of-a-kind itinerary, which will see the most luxurious expedition ship afloat call at Puerto Madryn, New Island, West Point Island, Stanley, Elephant Island, Antarctic Sound, Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Islands, and Drake Passage. During this in-depth tour of Antarctica, guests will witness penguins and other remarkable wildlife, journey to see where Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men were stranded for four months, and cruise around vast icebergs by Zodiac craft, among other standout experiences. Fares begin from €13,320 per person sharing, including a 10% Early Booking Bonus.
1927 – Ushuaia to Ushuaia: Departing 20th December 2019, Silver Cloud will unlock a number of Antarctica’s highlights for guests on this 15-day roundtrip voyage from Ushuaia, offering a festive holiday season and a memorable New Year celebration in an icy wonderland. After a day at sea, guests will reach West Point Island, from which they will journey to Saunders Island, Stanley, Elephant Island, Antarctic Sound, the Antarctic Peninsula, the South Shetland Islands, and Drake Passage. Incorporating enriching experiences in the Antarctic Peninsula, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, this remarkable itinerary promises an unforgettable expedition. Fares begin from €14,940 per person sharing, including a 10% Early Booking Bonus.
7004 – Ushuaia to Ushuaia: Aboard the Silver Explorer, guests will traverse the Drake Passage to explore the Antarctic Peninsula on this classic 12-day roundtrip itinerary. Departing 21st February 2020, the voyage will take guests to Antarctic Sound via Drake Passage, before calling at the Antarctic Peninsula, and the South Shetland Islands, before returning to Ushuaia via the Drake Passage. Four overnights at the Antarctic Peninsula will enable guests to take to the water on Zodiac crafts, as they journey to witness penguin rookeries, seals, whales, and rare birds; tabular icebergs; and sites of historical interest. Fares begin from €12,060 per person sharing.
View Silversea’s range of voyages to Antarctica at: www.silversea.com/destinations/antarctica-cruise.html
