Shari

They are coolers but we have found that you can prop the cabinet door (not the refrigerator door) open a little and the cooler works much better. It needs some air flow to work properly and the closed cabinet does not cut it. It keeps our drinks cold for us. If you do need a proper refrigerator for medical storage then use the form and request one. Follow up with your room steward when you get there and they can expedite for you if it is not already in place.

This is so cool, I know since you sailed so much on basic itineraries, that cruises like this and the Galapagos are rare treats. I am really looking forward to this blog. 

Don't give Jason Liberty any ideas (or excuses).  

Will Silverseas be weighing guests during the cruise and potentially rationing buffet access to insure safe takeoff on flight home? 

While I was in the Galapagos a few months ago the region was first encountering an avian flu that was causing havoc for wildlife.  That same avian flu has made its way to the Antarctic.  While it's doesn't appear to impact humans directly it will have an indirect impact.  Like the Galapagos there will areas that are closed in the Antarctic area to prevent humans from contributing to spreading the disease between islands.  
I am anticipating we will have more zodiac tours offered in places.  In the Galapagos the zodiac tours where a favorite excursion offering great wildlife photography opportunities.  While it is disappointing, it is what it is and I'm hoping the zodiac tours in Antarctica will provide similar photo ops and wildlife viewing that we had in the Galapagos.

Why is this hidden here in this section?! I am moving it to "Live Blogs". People are blogging Royal and X over there, so might as well add Silversea to the list!
And this is an amazing, bucket list itinerary!

Following with great interest and anticipation.  We sail on Serenade on JAN 05 ... our ships will not cross paths.  However, we will enjoy every experience you describe and every picture you send.  Your posts are always inspiring.
Our cruise is not an expedition one (just a cruising one).  Please get a couple of autographs from Penguins as you spend time on "The Ice".
😉
Curt from Canada

This is amazing, thank you for taking us along, I'm VERY intrigued by this one! Such an amazing experience. 

As I sit here in my hotel room waiting, staring out at the picturesque Andes mountains, I have found the inbound aircraft bringing guests from the Silver Wind back to Santiago in the FlightAware app.
Just as we will do in 18 days, they first had a refueling stop in Punta Arenas.


They are back in the air now on the way to Santiago where they will spend a night before flying home.

It seems they are about halfway here.

 
Come on pilots, push those throttles forward... IT'S CRUISE DAY!!!

Antarctica has long been a continent that has intrigued me and what better way to get there than on a cruise?  So it is that I find myself about to board the Silver Wind for 18 nights. 
Departing from Puerto Williams in the South of Chile, Silversea has gathered us in Santiago, Chile as our commercial airport of arrival and departure.  From here Silversea has chartered private aircraft to fly us to Puerto Williams to board the ship.  This is considered an "Expedition" Silversea cruise so a little different than their "Classic" offering.  
Encompassing both Christmas and New Years, the itinerary:

 

I am officially spoiled now.  Our experience in an Owner's Suite on Navigator of the Seas was fantastic.  The only issue was the main dining and the kitchen (more on that later).  This was my first experience in a suite that included the suite lounge and concierge.  My friend and I took full advantage.  We are both Diamond so we used our drink vouchers outside of the Suite Lounge Happy Hours.  We utilized the Suite Concierge a couple of time and he was fantastic. He was able to find out if the spa had any port day specials in advance of that port day so I had my first massage on this cruise and would recommend it to anyone.  The spa even gave us an extra $10 off of the special rate.  The Suite was so awesome and spacious (too bad this was only a 7 night cruise).  Since we were 2 friends I took the sofa that made into a bed and it was very comfortable (for only 1 person as I would not recommend for 2 people due to the raised area in the middle).  Now for the only down side to the cruise.  The host staff (specifically those at the computers) was awful.  We had My Time Dining and the first night they tried to sit us at a completely awful table (2 women together and I know this to be true because there were 2 women at that table when we left).   The next table was barely better but was not so out in the open that we accepted it.  The prime rib was so tough it was inedible (others around us complained too).  Our waiter noticed that we were not happy so he quietly informed his boss (the person in charge of that area, Jude).  Jude came over and asked us what was wrong.  We told him, he said to let the people up front that we were to be seated in his area the rest of the cruise and he took care of us.  The next morning we ordered Main Dining room service and it was a disaster.  My friend ordered an omelet with ham, cheese, and mushrooms with toast and the 2 sides being sauteed mushrooms and cheesy grits.  She got delivered a Smoked SALMON and mozzarella omelet with warm bread (no toasting) and no sides.  The server came up 2 more times and the order was never totally correct (the cheesy grits he brought were shredded cheddar cheese and no grits).  That evening in the main dining Jude asked us about our day and we told him what happened at breakfast. He went and got the head of room service, that person took our order for the next morning and personally brought it up.  We had no more room service issues and we did order dinner one night (with the help of Jude again).  Jude even sent us a dozen chocolate covered strawberries for our issues.  We took care of Jude at the end of the cruise, he truly was awesome and made up for the first night dining and morning breakfast.  All in all I would definitely sail in a suite again and hope I get another chance.  Thank you to everyone who answered my questions when I won the Royal Up.

I’m still confused at what you mean!  Are you saying they discriminate against 2 women dining together? 

Only thing that dissuaded me from being a suite snob is my wallet 😞 

He was the first concierge we ever had when we decided family cruising was going to be our thing. He sure didn't do anything to dissuade us from becoming suite snobs.

That is exactly what I meant.  It happens way too often.  Most women will not speak up.  I am not one of them and neither is my friend.  There were plenty of tables available and we were moved very quickly.  In fact where we were moved to we could see open table that were already set by the windows and they only seated couples (men/women couples) when they did seat someone there.
 

I am officially spoiled now.  Our experience in an Owner's Suite on Navigator of the Seas was fantastic.  The only issue was the main dining and the kitchen (more on that later).  This was my first experience in a suite that included the suite lounge and concierge.  My friend and I took full advantage.  We are both Diamond so we used our drink vouchers outside of the Suite Lounge Happy Hours.  We utilized the Suite Concierge a couple of time and he was fantastic. He was able to find out if the spa had any port day specials in advance of that port day so I had my first massage on this cruise and would recommend it to anyone.  The spa even gave us an extra $10 off of the special rate.  The Suite was so awesome and spacious (too bad this was only a 7 night cruise).  Since we were 2 friends I took the sofa that made into a bed and it was very comfortable (for only 1 person as I would not recommend for 2 people due to the raised area in the middle).  Now for the only down side to the cruise.  The host staff (specifically those at the computers) was awful.  We had My Time Dining and the first night they tried to sit us at a completely awful table (2 women together and I know this to be true because there were 2 women at that table when we left).   The next table was barely better but was not so out in the open that we accepted it.  The prime rib was so tough it was inedible (others around us complained too).  Our waiter noticed that we were not happy so he quietly informed his boss (the person in charge of that area, Jude).  Jude came over and asked us what was wrong.  We told him, he said to let the people up front that we were to be seated in his area the rest of the cruise and he took care of us.  The next morning we ordered Main Dining room service and it was a disaster.  My friend ordered an omelet with ham, cheese, and mushrooms with toast and the 2 sides being sauteed mushrooms and cheesy grits.  She got delivered a Smoked SALMON and mozzarella omelet with warm bread (no toasting) and no sides.  The server came up 2 more times and the order was never totally correct (the cheesy grits he brought were shredded cheddar cheese and no grits).  That evening in the main dining Jude asked us about our day and we told him what happened at breakfast. He went and got the head of room service, that person took our order for the next morning and personally brought it up.  We had no more room service issues and we did order dinner one night (with the help of Jude again).  Jude even sent us a dozen chocolate covered strawberries for our issues.  We took care of Jude at the end of the cruise, he truly was awesome and made up for the first night dining and morning breakfast.  All in all I would definitely sail in a suite again and hope I get another chance.  Thank you to everyone who answered my questions when I won the Royal Up.

I am officially spoiled now.  Our experience in an Owner's Suite on Navigator of the Seas was fantastic.  The only issue was the main dining and the kitchen (more on that later).  This was my first experience in a suite that included the suite lounge and concierge.  My friend and I took full advantage.  We are both Diamond so we used our drink vouchers outside of the Suite Lounge Happy Hours.  We utilized the Suite Concierge a couple of time and he was fantastic. He was able to find out if the spa had any port day specials in advance of that port day so I had my first massage on this cruise and would recommend it to anyone.  The spa even gave us an extra $10 off of the special rate.  The Suite was so awesome and spacious (too bad this was only a 7 night cruise).  Since we were 2 friends I took the sofa that made into a bed and it was very comfortable (for only 1 person as I would not recommend for 2 people due to the raised area in the middle).  Now for the only down side to the cruise.  The host staff (specifically those at the computers) was awful.  We had My Time Dining and the first night they tried to sit us at a completely awful table (2 women together and I know this to be true because there were 2 women at that table when we left).   The next table was barely better but was not so out in the open that we accepted it.  The prime rib was so tough it was inedible (others around us complained too).  Our waiter noticed that we were not happy so he quietly informed his boss (the person in charge of that area, Jude).  Jude came over and asked us what was wrong.  We told him, he said to let the people up front that we were to be seated in his area the rest of the cruise and he took care of us.  The next morning we ordered Main Dining room service and it was a disaster.  My friend ordered an omelet with ham, cheese, and mushrooms with toast and the 2 sides being sauteed mushrooms and cheesy grits.  She got delivered a Smoked SALMON and mozzarella omelet with warm bread (no toasting) and no sides.  The server came up 2 more times and the order was never totally correct (the cheesy grits he brought were shredded cheddar cheese and no grits).  That evening in the main dining Jude asked us about our day and we told him what happened at breakfast. He went and got the head of room service, that person took our order for the next morning and personally brought it up.  We had no more room service issues and we did order dinner one night (with the help of Jude again).  Jude even sent us a dozen chocolate covered strawberries for our issues.  We took care of Jude at the end of the cruise, he truly was awesome and made up for the first night dining and morning breakfast.  All in all I would definitely sail in a suite again and hope I get another chance.  Thank you to everyone who answered my questions when I won the Royal Up.

That is exactly what I meant.  It happens way too often.  Most women will not speak up.  I am not one of them and neither is my friend.  There were plenty of tables available and we were moved very quickly.  In fact where we were moved to we could see open table that were already set by the windows and they only seated couples (men/women couples) when they did seat someone there.
 

No doubt.  It trips right off the tongue !

I'm surprised no one has mentioned yet that the code for Icon Class #3 starts with a T. Thalassophile of the Seas? 🤔

New words to phile away for future use...

Had to open the dictionary for that one.  Lo and behold,  my photo was next to the definition

Hi, my name is Robert and I am a thalassophile. 😎

(chorus of people) "Hi Peggi"