Silversea expands Nova Class with Silver Ray

Silversea expands Nova Class with Silver Ray
Edited by Travel Weekly


    Silversea has taken delivery of Silver Ray, the second ship in its innovative Nova Class.  Boarding Silver Ray in Eemshaven on May 14 was Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean group’s president and CEO, celebrated the ship’s official handover with Bert Hernandez, president of Silversea; Bernard Meyer, chairman of the Meyer Group, and Bernd Eikens, the Meyer Group CEO; executives from the Meyer Werft shipyard and Royal Caribbean Group; and Captain Alessandro Zanello.

    Attendees participated in storied maritime traditions, including flag-changing and signing ceremonies, commemorative speeches, and a celebratory toast.

    Silversea’s Nova Class marks a new take on luxury at sea, with an asymmetrical design and 4,000m2 of exterior glass.

    Silver Ray joins her sister ship, Silver Nova, as one of the most energy efficient ultra-luxury and expedition cruise ships ever built, marking an important milestone on Royal Caribbean Group’s journey to reduce emissions and carbon intensity.

    Due to embark on her maiden voyage from Lisbon on June 15, Silver Ray will spend her inaugural season in the Mediterranean before crossing the Atlantic to the Americas in December 2024.

    “We are thrilled to take delivery of Silver Ray, the newest ultra-luxury and expedition jewel in Royal Caribbean Group’s game-changing fleet,” said Liberty. “Delivering the best vacation experiences responsibly is at the heart of everything we do. We are fortunate to have the best people working together to dream and create unforgettable experiences for our guests, including the Meyer Werft shipyard team, whose partnership has enabled us to continue pushing boundaries.’’

    “Silver Ray, the second ship in our cutting-edge Nova Class, alongside sister ship Silver Nova, beautifully encompasses Royal Caribbean Group’s vision for the future of innovative ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel,” said Bert Hernandez, president, Silversea. “In addition to being one of the most energy efficient ships ever built, Silver Ray’s game-changing, outward-facing ship design enables greater access and connection for our guests to the incredible destinations we visit. As far as firsts go, I feel honored that my first delivery as president of Silversea is to welcome Silver Ray to our fleet alongside Jason, my Royal Caribbean Group colleagues, and the wonderful Meyer Werft team. I can’t wait for our guests to experience everything this remarkable ship has to offer.”

    “The delivery of Silver Ray, two days earlier than scheduled, marks an important milestone for us,” said Bernd Eikens, CEO of the Meyer Group. “The entire Meyer Werft team has worked hard with our partners to bring this ship to life and today, we have delivered another great ship to Silversea.”

    The Nova Class ships’ innovative design immerses guests into destinations from virtually all venues and suites, with far-reaching views at every turn. Their reimagined pool decks, which overlook the water on the starboard side, and all-new outdoor venues—the Dusk Bar and the Marquee—capture their unique openness to the destination. Among the most spacious cruise ships ever built, Silver Nova and Silver Ray have a space-to-guest ratio of 75 GRT-per-guest and offer one of the most personalized levels of service at sea, with a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1.3, including butler service for all suites.

    Further enriching the onboard experience is the largest selection of bars, restaurants, and lounges in ultra-luxury cruising; Otium, the cruise line’s Roman-inspired wellness program; and the innovative culinary program, Sea and Land Taste (S.A.L.T.).

    Following a conveyance of approximately 40km down the River Ems from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg at the end of April, Silver Ray completed her technical and nautical sea trials in the North Sea on May 8 — under the watch of Captain Alessandro Zanello, the shipyard’s captain, and expert local pilots.

    Latest News

    • Aviation

    Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash

    It’s not just low-cost Australian carriers that are facing hardship. SpiceJet, India’s version of Bonza, recently announced a 72 per cent reduction in its net loss versus last year. But, despite this improvement, the airline has posted losses for six straight years. But it has secured board approval to raise up to INR 30 billion […]

    • Attractions

    SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024

    AYANA Resort Bali’s newly-opened cultural and events centre, SAKA Museum has been recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2024. Part of AYANA Bali’s resort destination, the museum integrates Bali’s rich history with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the centrepiece for the island’s spiritual and cultural heritage. TIME magazine’s inclusion of SAKA Museum in […]

    • Cruise

    Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales

    Ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, Silverseas, has announced Barbara Biffi as its new senior vice president of global sales. Biffi joined the company in 2007, holding numerous positions and gaining a deep understanding of the brand, the preferences of its guests and its strategic goals, the company said. An Italian national with a wealth […]

    • Technology
    • Travel Agents

    Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy

    Cytric Easy, the travel management tool embedded in Microsoft Teams, is to be integrated into FCM Travel portfolio. Amadeus and FCM Travel have extended their Cytric distribution agreement to include Cytric Easy. With this new agreement, global travel management company FCM Travel, becomes a reseller of the innovative travel management collaboration solution embedded into Microsoft […]