✈️ November 5th (Wednesday)
The Long Haul to Latitude: Santiago to the Edge of the World
Nine plus hours on a plane, and finally, we made it to Santiago. It was a smooth landing—literally. We didn’t waste a second, skipping baggage claim entirely and sailing right through customs with just our carry-ons. The minute we stepped outside, there was Fernando, holding a sign with our name. He was ready to whisk us away.
By 9:15 AM, we were checked into the beautiful Ritz-Carlton, and the Silversea team had everything pre-organized: room keys, flight info, bus number, and luggage tags. Talk about expedition efficiency!
Since we know Santiago well, we decided to stretch our legs with a long walk before heading back. Our room wasn’t ready, so we did the next best thing: we went up to the top floor and relaxed by the glass-enclosed pool, taking in the spectacular city panorama. That view was the perfect antidote to jet lag.
After settling in, we went out for what felt like a truly early dinner at 6 PM (Argentine/Chilean time is definitely shifted!). We found a cozy spot, Pinpilinpausha, that had this fantastic, calming wall of live plants as a centerpiece. It was a unique, comfortable setting, perfect for winding down before jet lag officially caught up to us. We were in bed and out like lights soon after.
🥞 November 6th (Thursday)
A Feast and a Flight of Fancy
We both desperately needed that rest, and thankfully, we got it. We woke up feeling refreshed and joined our fellow travelers for breakfast. I swear, the Ritz-Carlton breakfast buffet was a destination in itself. Massive, with fresh juices, every meat and cheese imaginable, and custom-made eggs and pancakes—seriously, it’s not the time to be watching your diet!
At 9 AM, we gathered our group for Bus 3 and headed for the FBO. Seeing those three sleek charter planes lined up for our group of 200 was exciting. I’m a bit competitive, and I wanted that perfect shot of the plane without a crowd, but Jeff, as always, had the better plan. He let me walk out and then said, “Now.” He snapped the perfect picture of me at the top of the stairs—he truly has an eye for staging. He always knows the best moment.
Our 3.5-hour flight was incredibly comfortable. The crew was generous with drinks (yes, I brought my own Pepsi, as always!) and served a lovely lunch of Chilean salad, Charquican (a flavorful beef stew), and a delicious Calafate Mousse for dessert. The views outside were mesmerizing—we were soaring above soft, puffy clouds, occasionally catching glimpses of the majestic Andes and bodies of water that shifted from deep blue to emerald green. Mother Nature was putting on a show.
🥶 The Antarctic Delay: Parkas, Biosecurity, and Weather Woes
We landed in Punta Arenas and were immediately handed an envelope with our bus number and hotel room keys—more logistics magic. At the Hotel Cabo de Hornos, our room was waiting, complete with the essential gear: a Silversea parka, pants, and boots. After trying them on (my jacket was too small, boots too big), it was off to the exchange area.
Next up: Biosecurity. This is where we had to vacuum-seal all our gear—hats, gloves, camera straps—to ensure we weren’t bringing any outside foreign objects to the fragile ecosystem of Antarctica. It’s a serious operation, and rightly so.
We took a much-needed walk before joining the group for dinner. The atmosphere was buzzing! We swapped stories with people from all over the world, but the main topic was the 8 PM text. Our flight to King George Island.
The phones started dinging at 8:00 sharp. Gasps and curses followed. The verdict: No flights tomorrow, November 7th.Weather delay. We’re grounded in Punta Arenas until at least midday November 8th. After an initial “Crap, crap, crap” moment, the conversation quickly turned to compensation. We went straight to the hospitality desk to request a ship credit. We’ll have to wait and see on that. For now, it’s an extra night, an extra glass of Carmenere, and an acceptance that Antarctica is the boss of this itinerary.