It comes after the luxury line reached an agreement with Chilean authorities for Silver Cloud and Silver Wind to sail from Punta Arenas while Silver Explorer will continue to depart from Puerto Williams in November 2021.

Silver Cloud and Silver Wind passengers will fly into Santiago for an overnight stay before flying into Punta Arenas the next day for embarkation.

Silversea’s Antarctica programme includes a series of mostly ten-day sailings to the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands, as well as shorter cruises of five, six and nine days.

Roberto Martinoli, Silversea’s president and chief executive, commended the Chilean government for its "unwavering" dedication to restarting Antarctic cruising in a "safe and enriching manner".

Conrad Combrink, Silversea’s senior vice president of expeditions, turnaround operations and destination management, said the line is able to lead the return to cruising in the continent due to its "unique destination expertise". 

"With four ships already sailing in other regions of the world, we have demonstrated our commitment to delivering unforgettable travel experiences for our guests in the safest possible manner," he added.