You'll never guess which luxury company is planning the world's southernmost hotel
There's about to be a new southernmost hotel in the world — operated by a company you might not expect.
Silversea Cruises on Wednesday revealed it would build a 150-room luxury property just south of Puerto Williams, Chile — the southernmost settlement in the world.
The Miami-based luxury cruise line, which has not been in the hotel business until now, plans to use the property to house its luxury-loving customers at the start and end of cruises to Antarctica.
"It's going to allow for a much more comfortable, on-brand experience," Silversea president Bert Hernandez told TPG during an exclusive interview in advance of the announcement.
Silversea sells all-inclusive trips to Antarctica that include precruise and postcruise stays at hotels near the southern tip of South America. But, until now, it has used hotels operated by other companies for the hotel stays.
The new Silversea hotel will allow the brand to offer a more seamless, upscale experience during its Antarctica trips, Hernandez suggested.
"There's not a lot of great accommodations in the area, so that really kind of creates a big gap in the experience," he said.
The new hotel will be built in partnership with a consortium of Chilean investors, according to Silversea. It'll overlook the Beagle Channel, a scenic waterway at the southern tip of South America that is the traditional jumping-off point for Antarctica cruises. The channel is part of the Patagonia region, known for its stunning mountains, glacial fjords and temperate rain forests.
Related: Best Antarctica cruise ships: 11 stylish expedition vessels exploring the White Continent
Silversea said the hotel would be surrounded by pristine forest and feature views of the Beagle Channel and snowcapped Patagonia mountain ranges.
Construction of the hotel begins this week with completion scheduled for the end of 2025.
Silversea is the only cruise line that operates Antarctica trips out of Puerto Williams. Most cruise companies with Antarctica trips operate the sailings out of Ushuaia, Argentina.
The latter is a bigger tourism hub than Puerto Williams but slightly farther away from Antarctica. Like Puerto Williams, Ushuaia is along the Beagle Channel, which leads into the famously rough Drake Passage — the ocean passage between South America and Antarctica.
Unlike many Antarctica cruise operators, Silversea offers both traditional cruise-across-the-Drake trips to Antarctica and rarer "fly-cruise" trips to the continent.
Related: How to get to Antarctica: The pros and cons of flying vs. cruising
"Fly-cruise" trips begin with a flight from the southern tip of South America across the Drake Passage to a Chilean base in Antarctica that has a gravel runway. On such trips, a Silversea vessel awaits passengers at the Chilean base.
The flights across the Drake Passage that are part of the fly-cruise trips currently operate out of Punta Arenas, Chile, which isn't as close to Antarctica as Puerto Williams. They'll switch to taking off from Puerto Williams when Silversea's new hotel opens.
Silversea voyages to Antarctica that include crossings of the Drake Passage already use Puerto Williams as their hub.
Silversea said the new hotel would include an expansive restaurant designed for group gatherings, a bar and lounge, a fitness center and a gift shop showcasing handicrafts and art by local artisans. It was designed to blend seamlessly into the surrounding environment and draw inspiration from local traditional art, architecture and materials, the company said.
As part of the announcement, Silversea said it is committed to fostering a partnership with the communities of Puerto Williams. It said it will work with stakeholders to create opportunities for economic growth while preserving the unique cultural heritage and minimizing environmental impact in the area.
Hernandez told TPG that Silversea will use a modular construction process for the hotel, with rooms built off-site. He called this process both more sustainable than on-site construction and more practical given the remote location. He noted that Silversea had a lot of experience with modular construction of rooms, as it is how rooms are built for cruise ships.
Hernandez suggested that Silversea passengers would be able to extend their stays at the hotel to spend more time exploring the Patagonia region in addition to traveling to Antarctica. It could serve as a "home base" for such exploration, he said.
"The region itself has a lot to offer if you wanted to stay a couple of nights before or after," he noted. "So, I think that's how we're thinking about it."
Related: I just spent the night in an igloo in Antarctica — here's how you can, too
Hernandez added that the property would only be open during the Antarctica cruise season, which runs from November to March. It was designed primarily for the use of Silversea customers, but it might someday take in non-Silversea customers, too.
"The models that we used to develop this project did not assume outside people, but that's very possible as we get our sea legs and understand how this all works," he said.
Silversea is one of the biggest operators of trips to Antarctica. Three of the line's small expedition ships — Silver Endeavour, Silver Wind and Silver Cloud — operate a diverse range of six- to 20-day voyages to the continent.
All three of the vessels are luxury ships with crew-to-guest ratios of nearly 1:1 — an unusually high ratio.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- Top ways cruisers waste money
- The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.