The M / V Antarctic Dream was built in the Harleem shipyards in Holland. It was originally commissioned in October 1957 by the Chilean navy, with the specific purpose of servicing the country's scientific bases in Antarctica She was christened "Piloto Pardo", a name that dates back to the earliest times of Chilean explorations of the Antarctic.

In 1916, the Irish explorer Ernest Shackleton sought the help of a Chilean harbor tug in Punta Arenas to rescue the 22 crewmembers from his ship, the Endurance, who were stranded on Elephant Island after the failure of their expedition be the first to cross the Antarctic Continent. Three previous attempts to reach the men with larger ships had failed. The hero of that daring rescue was Luis Pardo Villalon Alberto, captain of the tug Yelcho.

It was Pardo's intimate knowledge of working the ice that assured that his vessel could reach Elephant Island and return with all the crew safe and sound. Piloto Pardo became a national legend.

After being decommissioned from the Navy, the vessel was acquired by Antarctic Shipping SA, which began its total refitting in 2003, to combine its natural conditions of a bonafide Antarctic ice strengthened hull with the comforts of a modern luxury cruise ship.

The Antarctic Dream boat has 40 double cabins with exterior view, distributed in four decks with names alluding to geographical milestones and people related to Antarctic history.

All are equipped with private bathroom, closed circuit TV, individual central heating, telephone and wardrobe.