Southern summer — Antarctica
Ushuaia, with Drake Passage crossings
The classic peninsula voyages, plus longer sailings taking in South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.
← Cloud & Wind — Polar Class
Silversea · Expedition · Converted to ice class in 2017
Silver Cloud
A classic Silversea ship, rebuilt for ice.
Silver Cloud launched in 1994 as the ship that started Silversea, and was strengthened and converted into an ice-class expedition vessel in 2017. She carries around 240 guests in polar regions — all in suites, all butlered — with a full expedition team and a fleet of Zodiacs.
Quick facts
The essentials — checked before we advise.
Fleet details change. These are correct at time of writing; we'll confirm the exact deployment for your dates when we speak.
Class
Expedition — polar ice class; sister in spirit to Silver Wind
Entered service
1994; converted to an ice-class expedition ship in 2017
Size
Approximately 16,800 GT · 8 passenger decks
Capacity
Around 254 guests, reduced to roughly 200 in polar regions for landing ratios
Crew
Approximately 212, plus a dedicated expedition team
Expedition kit
A large Zodiac fleet, mud room and dedicated landing operations
Included
Butler service in every suite, dining, beverages, gratuities, Wi-Fi and shore excursions, subject to fare choice
Best for
Antarctica and the Arctic without giving up Silversea comfort at the end of the day
Deck plans
Every deck, suite category and venue on Silver Cloud — the official deck plan (PDF).
Onboard
Standout features, at a glance.
A high-level look. We'll go deeper on any of these — including the shows worth pre-booking — when we speak.
Ice-class hull
Strengthened for polar work, so she reaches genuine high-latitude destinations rather than skirting them.
Full expedition team
Naturalists, historians, glaciologists and photographers travel with the ship — lectures on board, guidance ashore.
Zodiac operations
A large Zodiac fleet and a purpose-built mud room mean landings and cruises run promptly, in small groups.
Dining that belies the size
The Restaurant, La Terrazza, La Dame and The Grill — proper Silversea cooking after a day on the ice.
All-suite, all butlered
Every guest has a suite with butler service. Most categories have a veranda, and parkas are provided on polar voyages.
Around 200 guests in polar regions
Below the 500-guest landing threshold, so everyone goes ashore — no rotating waits on board.
Cabins & where to book
Not all balconies are equal.
On an expedition ship the calculation changes. Verandas are lovely in the Arctic summer but used less in Antarctic weather, and mid-ship low decks ride best across the Drake Passage. We advise on motion, proximity to the mud room and whether a larger suite is really worth it on this ship.
We'll steer you clear of the obstructed views, the cabins under the pool deck and the noisy connecting doors — and towards the ones that quietly go for the same money.
Best value
Vista Suite, mid-ship
No veranda, but the steadiest ride and a considerable saving on a voyage where you are mostly out on deck or ashore.
Arctic choice
Veranda Suite
In the Arctic summer and along the Norwegian and Greenland coasts, private outdoor space earns its money.
Quiet choice
Lower deck, away from the mud room
Landing operations are busy at either end of the day. A suite clear of that traffic makes for calmer mornings.
The splurge
Silver, Royal, Grand or Owner's Suite
Separate living space and a generous veranda for long polar days. Layouts differ, so we compare actual suites.
Where she sails
Popular itineraries for Silver Cloud.
A general picture of her deployment. Exact dates, ports and pricing shift — we'll confirm live availability for your window.
Northern summer — Arctic
Longyearbyen, Reykjavík or Kangerlussuaq
Svalbard, Greenland and Iceland, where the ice class and Zodiac operation open coastlines few ships reach.
Shoulder seasons — repositioning
South America, West Africa and the Atlantic islands
Expedition-led voyages between the poles, with landings in places that rarely appear on a mainstream itinerary.
Why book Silver Cloud with Valora
A Silversea specialist in your corner.
- Silversea Experience Certified — specialist knowledge of the ocean and expedition fleets.
- Honest advice on Antarctica versus the Arctic, and which departure window suits you.
- Guidance on whether a veranda is worth paying for on a polar sailing.
- One named point of contact before, during and after you sail. Never a call centre.
Ready when you are
Sail Silver Cloud the right way.
Twenty unhurried minutes with a named Silversea specialist. Honest advice on suite, season and itinerary — no obligation, no hard sell.