Described as “possibly the greatest living travel writer,” Pico Iyer traveled in January 2020 aboard Silversea’s Silver Cloud on a 10-night itinerary to Antarctica, a place he visited for the first time. In this exclusive interview with Silversea Cruises, the celebrated writer shares his personal perspective on the unforgettable journey to the White Continent.
“I have been traveling, almost constantly, for 45 years since my teens, and I can recall very few places, if any, as serene as Antarctica. Antarctica puts you in your place, reminds you how vast the elements are compared to humans. I have never felt so small and so awestruck as when I was surrounded by miles and miles of snow-capped mountains and emerald icebergs and penguin colonies and shimmering sapphire-jade water.”.
“One of the wonders of the trip is seeing how you can walk through colonies of 20,000 penguins, going about their business as if there were no humans there, busy on their way to the ocean, flapping their wings and guiding their chicks, and standing next to us as if we were part of their community,” Iyer commented in the interview.
He added: “Silversea sets a completely new standard, with impeccable service and the fact of sailing on a very small ship. And above all, an Expedition staff who will do everything possible to ensure your experience is as enriching as possible, with lectures available from historians and scientists with such specialized knowledge to impart that any layperson could follow along.”
In December 2019, Silversea Cruises opened sales for the “Antarctic Bridge”, the first ultra-luxury flight cruise service to Antarctica, which will provide the most demanding travelers with the fastest and most direct route to the White Continent.
