Silversea has opened The Cormorant at 55 South, a 150-room hotel in Puerto Williams, Chile, that will serve as the starting and return point for passengers on the cruise line’s Antarctica Fly Cruise programme. The opening ceremony took place on November 5, 2026, the company said.
Passengers on the programme travel to Puerto Williams on Silversea-branded charter flights and stay at the hotel before continuing to Antarctica. They also return to the property after their expedition. Silversea president Bert Hernandez said the hotel was designed to make the journey easier and more comfortable for guests.
The company says the hotel is intended to make Puerto Williams a gateway for its Antarctic trips. Its announcement also outlined plans for 29 Antarctica Fly Cruise voyages with hotel stays through March 2027, as part of 40 voyages scheduled across three ships. Those figures are company forecasts.
Local food and outdoor excursions
The hotel’s 150 rooms were built using modular construction in Mendoza, Argentina, then transported across the Andes and Patagonia to Puerto Williams. The property includes three large-scale works by Chilean artists and several food and drink venues.
Latitude 55 restaurant serves dishes based on Chilean flavours and regional ingredients. Bar Sur offers tea and small bites during the day, while Fireplace is a lounge with windows overlooking the Patagonian landscape.
Guests can book kayaking in the Beagle Channel, hikes along the Seno Lauta shoreline and horseback rides. The company says wildlife in the area includes cormorants, dolphin gulls and upland geese. Details of the opening and the hotel’s role in the programme were published by Silversea.
Clayton Ward