Silversea officially named the 728-guest Silver Nova at a ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Jan. 4, honouring maritime traditions to welcome the “Ship of Light” to its fleet.
“Emotions ran high” as bagpipes — a customary tradition of Royal Caribbean Group — resounded triumphantly through Silver Nova’s theatre to mark the commencement of the ceremony, according to a press release.
A performance of the U.S. national anthem by Rachel York followed, as well as an exclusive screening of a commemorative video to honour Silversea’s 30th anniversary, which the brand celebrates in 2024.
Barbara Muckermann, president of Silversea, and Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, addressed members of the brand’s extended family and announced the ship’s Godmother: celebrated chef, restaurateur, and television personality Nina Compton.
Rounding out the ceremony, Compton – accompanied by Captain Cosimo Pontillo – named Silver Nova and triggered a magnum-sized bottle of champagne to smash on the ship’s hull, before Liberty led guests in a toast to mark the momentous occasion.
“After years of research, development, and collaboration, we are all incredibly proud to officially welcome Silver Nova into Royal Caribbean Group’s fleet. Silver Nova is a game changer, a new vision for the ultra-luxury travel experience,” said Liberty in a statement. “We will continue to push boundaries and innovate the vacation experience in 2024 with our three global brands that, together, turn the vacation of a lifetime into a lifetime of vacations for our guests around the world.”
The naming unfolds in the same year as Silversea’s 30th anniversary.
Muckermann noted that Silver Nova “will immerse guests into the world’s most enriching destinations, championing human connection and cultural discovery.”
“For this reason, Chef Nina Compton is the perfect fit for the ship’s Godmother – her values perfectly align with those at the heart of our S.A.L.T. culinary program, and I have no doubt she will inspire our guests to engage meaningfully with the planet and its people,” she stated.
A new take on luxury
Silver Nova promises an “entirely new take on luxury at sea.”
The design prizes openness over symmetry and incorporates an wide use of approximately 4,000m2 of glass, immersing guests into the destination from virtually all venues and suites, with far-reaching views at every turn.
A reimagined pool deck, which overlooks the water on her starboard side, and all-new outdoor venues — the Dusk Bar and the Marquee — exemplify a unique openness to the destination.
Silver Nova has a space-to-guest ratio of 75 GRT-per-guest — the highest in Silversea’s fleet – with a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1.3, including butler service for all suites.
She hosts up to 728 guests in 13 different suite categories — “the largest variety of suites in Silversea’s history,” the company says.
Silver Nova departed on her maiden voyage from Venice on Aug. 14, 2023.
Following the naming ceremony in Fort Lauderdale, she now undertakes her first Grand Voyage, the Grand Voyage South America 2024, during which she will circumnavigate the continent, calling in 38 destinations in 18 countries over 71 days.
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