BREAKING THE ICE
The coolest thing in cruising this year is an Antarctic voyage aboard Silversea’s rebuilt Silver Cloud. The former ocean-going ship is being ice-strengthened and decked out with a new observation lounge and expansive, redesigned suites for its maiden season as a luxury expedition ship in November. It will carry 200 passengers in polar regions (260 elsewhere) with 19 expedition experts leading excursions ashore in 18 new Zodiacs. Silver Cloud’s 19-day Ushuaia round-trip itinerary, departing 21 December, visits the Falklands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula, and promises a sensational combination of cruising sophistication and remote, icebound adventure. silversea.com