Luxury Hotel of the Month: The Island Sky

For our luxury hotel of the month for May, we have chosen the classically elegant Island Sky. This Italian-built cruise ship offers adventurous itineraries in and around Antarctica, with touches of sophistication throughout in the décor and the service.

Visiting the ‘White Continent’ of Antarctica is a luxury travel experience high on many travellers’ lifetime wish list. Undoubtedly with such cruises, the smaller the ship the better; with larger vessels (over 500 passengers) being unable to stop and offer the intrepid land excursions that make the experience of exploring the far south so unique. The Island Sky, most recently refurbished in 2017, is a small, all-suite vessel, and the sister ship to the world-renowned Hebridean Sky. Offering varied itineraries that combine the ultimate polar adventure with the high-class luxury of the ship’s facilities, this ship is one of our favourites.

 

 

How to Get There

Cruises aboard The Island Sky depart from Ushuaia in the far south of Argentina. To get to Ushuaia from the UK, the journey begins with a 13-hour flight to Buenos Aires, the capital city, where it is often necessary or at least recommended to spend a night. From here, you will take a 3-and-a-half-hour flight south to Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego where a pre-cruise night is included at the delightful Arakur Hotel overlooking the Beagle Channel. The next day, you will embark the ship at the Port of Ushuaia and set off on your Antarctic adventure.

 

 

Rooms

The Island Sky is an all-suite vessel and all rooms share the following standard features: exterior views, a spacious sitting area, marble bathrooms with luxury amenities, a TV with a DVD player, and a mini bar. All room categories from Promenade suite and above also include complimentary champagne and chocolates upon arrival, a complimentary mini bar and tinted sliding glass doors, allowing the outside in, flooding the room with natural light and giving guests a more intimate experience of the wondrous icy landscapes of Antarctica.

 

 

Food & Drink

Offering world-class international cuisine in the on-board restaurant, guests aboard The Island Sky will be able to fuel their expeditions with a wide variety of elegant dishes. Breakfast is served as a buffet, with special extras cooked to order. Lunch and dinner are served a la carte, and the menu changes each day to ensure that even on voyages of up to 3-weeks, guests do not grow tired of the same options. Afternoon tea is served each day for a touch of post-expedition relaxation and tea and coffee is available throughout the day at dedicated station in the ship’s stylish lounge.

 

 

Outstanding Feature

Despite being a small ship, guests aboard The Island Sky enjoys the facilities of a much bigger vessel. Guests can enjoy relaxing in the sophisticated lounge-bar after a day of exploring on the ice or read up on the unique fauna in the cosy and well-stocked library. Daily lectures also offer the opportunity to learn more about the extreme polar environment at the end of the day’s activities. Finally, the ship’s stunning panoramic viewing platform will appeal to those looking to capture sweeping vistas of the wild landscapes.

 

 

Best For

Guests who want an adventure without sacrificing the quality of their luxury accommodation. The Island Sky offers exploration and relaxation in perfect balance for those wanting to make the most of the once-in-a-lifetime experience of visiting Antarctica.

 

 

Must Do Activity

For those looking to experience the ultimate adventure, guests upon The Island Sky can opt for a program that includes kayaking or even camping out a night on the ice. Seeing the ice up-close is an extra special touch and gives you an even better chance of enjoying proximity with some of Antarctica’s unique wildlife. The Island Sky also operates an open bridge so that guests may watch the Captain and crew navigate through icy polar waters – a must-see for all intrepid explorers!

 

 

Are you planning a luxury trip to Antarctica? Simply contact us for more information and let us create a tailor-made holiday for you. Read more about The Island Sky here and if you’re looking for more inspiration, why not visit our Antarctica page to learn more about what this extreme region has to offer?