Silversea has taken delivery of Silver Ray, the second ship in its Nova Class. Boarding Silver Ray in Eemshaven on May 14, 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. It has an asymmetrical design and 43,055 square feet of exterior glass. Silver Ray joins sister ship, Silver Nova, as one of the most energy-efficient ultra-luxury ships, marking an important milestone on Royal Caribbean Group’s journey to reduce emissions and carbon intensity. Due to embark on its maiden voyage from Lisbon on June 15, Silver Ray will spend its inaugural season in the Mediterranean before crossing the Atlantic to the Americas in December 2024.
The Nova Class ships’ innovative design immerses guests into destinations from virtually all venues and suites, with far-reaching views. Their renovated 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 personalized levels of service, with a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1.3, including butler service for all suites. Further enriching the onboard experience is the 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 25 miles down the River Ems from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg at the end of April, Silver Ray completed its 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.
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