Silver Sea News

Silversea Takes Delivery of New Cruise Ship Silver Ray

Royal Caribbean Group’s Silversea has taken delivery of Silver Ray, the second ship in its Nova Class, from shipbuilder Meyer Werft in Germany.The 54,700 GT Silver Ray has capacity for 728 passengers. It joins sister ship, Silver Nova, as one of the most energy efficient ultra-luxury and expedition cruise ships ever built Other notable features of Silversea’s Nova Class include an asymmetrical design and 4,000m2 of exterior glass.“Silver Ray, the second ship in our cutting-edge Nova Class…

Bert Hernandez Named President of Royal Caribbean's Silversea

Royal Caribbean Group announced to has tapped Bert Hernandez to succeed Barbara Muckermann as president of its Silversea brand.Most recently serving as senior vice president, international, Hernandez has been with the Royal Caribbean Group for the past 20 years. He previously served as president of China operations for Royal Caribbean International and was chief operating officer for the group’s former luxury cruise line, Azamara.Muckermann is departing Royal Caribbean Group after 14 years with Silversea to pursue other opportunities…

Royal Caribbean Upbeat on 2024 Profit

Royal Caribbean Group projected 2024 profit above Wall Street expectations after robust demand for cruise vacations and steeper ticket prices helped it beat fourth-quarter earnings estimates on Thursday.With travelers opting for cruises instead of more expensive land-based vacation options, operators are experiencing record levels of bookings compared to pre-pandemic levels, giving them enough room to mark up ticket prices."2023 was an exceptional year, propelled by unmatched demand for our brands from new and loyal guests…

Aiming for Zero Waste Discharge to Sea

Advanced water treatment systems are just the start of the cruise industry’s circular waste processing ambitions.Advanced wastewater treatment systems (AWTS) were revolutionary in their day. Indeed, they still are today, but with 77% of the CLIA fleet (202 ships) already using them, and another 40 specified for vessels on order, even more ambitious waste management is coming.Martin Shutler, Principal Engineer, Product Development, at Wärtsilä Water and Waste, notes that in recent…

Meyer Werft Delivers Silver Nova to Silversea Cruises

German shipbuilder Meyer Werft announced it has delivered the new environmentally advanced cruise ship Silver Nova to Royal Caribbean's luxury cruise line Silversea Cruises."We are very pleased to once again deliver a ship that will set new standards on the way to climate-neutral cruising. With the propulsion system, a combination of LNG, fuel cell system and batteries, the ship has the best possible measures to reduce emissions," said Jan Meyer, managing director of Meyer Werft.A…

Meyer Werft Floats Out New Ship for Silversea Cruises

German shipbuilder Meyer Werft has floated out its latest newbuild for Royal Caribbean's luxury cruise line Silversea Cruises.After water had filled the drydock at Meyer Werft's shipyard in in Papenburg, tugboats maneuvered the vessel Silver Nova from one of the world’s largest enclosed construction halls into the adjacent harbor, where the fitting out phase will continue. Meyer Werft’s craftspeople cleaned the ship’s hull, attached its funnel, and installed its liquefied natural…

Meyer Werft Lays Keel for Second Silversea Fuel Cell Cruise Ship

Silversea Cruises has celebrated the keel laying of the cruise ship Silver Ray at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.The 155-foot, 728-guest Silver Ray is the second ship in Silversea’s Nova class and is expected to enter service in summer 2024, following sister ship Silver Nova which is expected to enter service in summer 2023.The Nova-class ships will be fitted with dual-fuel LNG engines, energy storage and a 4MW fuel cell system. The system is the result of a research project involving Freudenberg e-Power Systems…

Silversea Cruises Names Barbara Muckermann President & CEO

Barbara Muckermann, currently chief commercial officer at Silversea Cruises, will become the company’s next president and CEO, and will join parent company Royal Caribbean Group’s executive committee, effective January 1.Muckermann will succeed Roberto Martinoli, who will assume the role of senior advisor to Royal Caribbean Group president and CEO Jason Liberty.She becomes the second woman to lead one of Royal Caribbean Group’s three wholly-owned brands, and joins Celebrity Cruises president and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, and Royal Caribbean International president and CEO Michael Bayley.

Royal Caribbean Will Be Industry's First to Use SpaceX’s Starlink High-speed Internet

Royal Caribbean Group this week revealed it will be the industry's first cruise ship operator to implement SpaceX’s Starlink for onboard broadband internet service for guests and crew fleetwide.The cruise giant said on Tuesday it will immediately begin installing Starlink high-speed, low-latency connectivity on all Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises ships, along with all new vessels for each of its brands going forward. Initial installations…

Royal Caribbean's Loss Narrows

Cruise operator Royal Caribbean Group (RCL.N) on Thursday reported a smaller-than-expected quarterly loss as bookings rebounded and travelers splurged on cabanas, spa treatments and watches while onboard.The world's second-largest cruise line operator is the latest company to report good results as travelers, free of restrictions related to COVID-19, spend heavily on rental cars, airline tickets and hotels."Despite concerns about the U.S. and global economy, high inflation and amid geopolitical uncertainty…

Royal Caribbean Joins Rivals Canceling Sailings to Russia

Cruise operators Royal Caribbean Group and Viking Cruises canceled sailings to Russia on Wednesday, joining their rivals and many Western brands in suspending operations in the country after its invasion of Ukraine.Celebrity Cruises, owned by Royal Caribbean, said it was removing Russian port city St. Petersburg from upcoming itineraries, adding that it would visit other Scandinavian ports in its place.Silversea Cruises also said it would re-route summer voyages scheduled to stop in Russia and Ukraine, while Royal Caribbean International said it had canceled its visits to St.

Silversea Cruises' New Ultra-luxury Ship Christened in Greece

Silver Moon, Silversea Cruises' newest ship in its "ultra-luxury" fleet, was christened Thursday in Athens, Greece. The naming ceremony was held in the port of Piraeus.At 40,700 gross tons and with a maximum capacity of 596 guests, Silver Moon is the cruise line’s second Muse-class ship.Constructed by Fincantieri at its Ancona shipyard, Silver Moon is an evolution of her sister ship Silver Muse, Silversea Cruises said."The ship benefits from re-imagined public spaces, butler service in all suite categories…

Royal Caribbean Sells Its Azamara Brand

Cruise giant Royal Caribbean Group said it has completed the sale of its Azamara brand to private equity firm Sycamore Partners for $201 million in cash. The sale, which was announced earlier this year, includes Azamara’s three-ship fleet and associated intellectual property.Miami-based Royal Caribbean said the the deal allows it to focus on expanding its core brands Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises as it continues to grapple with the effects of the COVID-19 cruise pause.“This creates huge opportunities for all parties,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group. “In fact, as we are inking this deal today, Azamara already has added a fourth ship to their fleet.

Royal Caribbean to Sell Azamara Brand for $201 Million

Cruise operator Royal Caribbean Group said on Tuesday it reached a deal to sell its Azamara brand to private-equity firm Sycamore Partners for $201 million in cash, as it grapples with biting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.Sycamore Partners will acquire the entire Azamara brand, including its three-ship fleet—Azamara Quest, Azamara Journey and Azamara Pursuit—and associated intellectual property. In conjunction with the transaction, Azamara Chief Operating Officer Carol Cabezas has been appointed President of the brand.Royal Caribbean said it will incur a one-time, non-cash impairment charge of approximately $170 million, but claimed…

Silver Dawn Floated Out at Fincantieri's Ancona Shipyard

Shipbuilding giant Fincantieri said Thursday that it has launched Silversea Cruises’ new ship Silver Dawn at its yard in Ancona, Italy. The cruise ship will now enter the outfitting phase ahead of scheduled delivery in November 2021.Silver Dawn will become the 10th ship in the ultra-luxury cruise line’s fleet. Silversea Cruises, part of the Royal Caribbean Group, took delivery of the Silver Origin and Silver Moon in 2020. The third ship in the Muse-class series, and part of a long-term plan to grow and enhance the cruise line’s fleet…

Fincantieri Delivers New Cruise Ship Silver Moon

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri said it has handed over the second of three new “Muse” series ultra-luxury cruise ships it is constructing for Royal Caribbean's Silversea Cruises.Silver Moon, built at Fincantieri's Ancona yard and delivered on Friday, is a sister ship of Silver Muse, that went out to sea in 2017 from the Sestri Ponente (Ge) shipyard, and of Silver Dawn, to be delivered in 2021 in Ancona. At 40,700 gross tons, the newbuild has capacity for 596 passengers in 298 all-suite cabins.Among the vessel’s notations…

Royal Caribbean Takes Full Ownership of Silversea Cruises

Royal Caribbean Group has acquired the remaining shares of Silversea Cruises, a specialist in the ultra-luxury and expedition cruising, after previously buying a two-thirds share of the cruise line in July 2018.The remaining one-third stake held by Heritage Cruise Holding Ltd. was paid for in the form of 5.2 million shares of Royal Caribbean Group common stock, which represents about 2.5% of the total common stock."Silversea has been a great fit for our company from the very first day," said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.

World First: Cruise Ship Piloted Remotely During Sea Trials

Royal Caribbean's Silversea Cruises says it is preparing to take delivery of its newest ship, Silver Origin, following a unique set of COVID-19-related challenges overcome by the shipbuilder and innovative sea trials that included world-first remote operations.The new 100-passenger ultra-luxury cruise ship was built by Dutch shipyard De Hoop, which completed construction despite setbacks brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.Silver Origin was still under construction on March 15…

Royal Caribbean Pledges 28 Ships as Collateral in $3.3 bln Bond Offer

Royal Caribbean Cruises on Wednesday launched a $3.3 billion bond offering, pledging 28 of its ships as collateral and forecast heavy losses for the first quarter as the COVID-19 pandemic brings the sector to a virtual standstill.Royal Caribbean, which was forced to suspend its cruises globally and cut about 26% of its U.S. workforce, said the health crisis has dented its first-quarter net income by about $453 million.The cruise operator’s shares, which have sunk over 72% this year…

Vietnam Turns Away Cruise Ship Over Coronavirus Fears

Health authorities in the southern Vietnamese city of Ho Chi Minh want to stop a Bahamas-flagged cruise ship with Italians on board from docking at the economic hub on Friday over coronavirus concerns, state media reported.The Health Department on Thursday advised the People's Committee of the city not to allow passengers on the cruise liner, Silver Spirit, to disembark, the Tuoi Tre newspaper said.The department said the move is aimed at "limiting the intrusion of disease into the city"…

RCCL Taps SGS for Maintenance and Repair

Subsea Global Solutions (SGS) has entered into an agreement with Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCCL). Under the agreement SGS will provide underwater hull maintenance and repair services for their fleet of 58 ships trading under six different brands (Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity, Azamara, TUI, Silversea, and Pullmantur). The  new agreement is a continuation of the long term relationship between the two companies.

Silver Moon Launched at Fincantieri

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has launched Silver Moon, the second of three Muse-class ships to be built for Silversea Cruises.The new ultra-luxury cruise ship was launched on August 29 at Fincantieri’s Ancona yard and is set to enter the ship owner’s fleet in 2020.The ceremony was attended, among others, by Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Chairman of Silversea, while Fincantieri was represented by Giovanni Stecconi, Ancona Shipyard Director.The godmother of the ceremony was Miss Roberta Bonisiol, an employee of the shipbuilding group.“Silver Moon” will be a sister ship of “Silver Muse”, which took the sea in 2017, and of “Silver Dawn” due to delivery in 2021.

Expedition Cruise Market Powers Ahead

While nothing lasts forever, the cruise industry – and particularly the ‘expedition’ cruise sector – remain on a historic run with no indication of a near-term slowdown.The leisure travel sector, of which expedition cruising is a part, offers numerous possibilities for delivering new “experiences” unlike industrial shipping businesses (or even conventional ferry and passenger transport), which can only grow as fast as the demand in a particular sector.Though there is no precise definition of “expedition”…