As Silversea’s newly appointed President takes the helm, we reveal all the latest news for the leading luxury cruise line.
It’s been a busy time for Silversea since the line’s newly appointed President, Bert Hernandez, took the helm in April.
Silver Dawn’s 2027 world cruise was announced last week, parent company Royal Caribbean Group has just released its new three-brand loyalty program, and Silversea’s 12th ship, Silver Ray, will make her maiden voyage from Lisbon to Barcelona on 15 June.
All class on board Silver Ray
“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,” says President, Bert Hernandez.
The ship was officially handed over to the cruise line last month and Hernandez says as far as firsts go, this one is right up there.
“I feel honoured that my first delivery as President of Silversea is to welcome Silver Ray to our fleet alongside Jason Liberty (Royal Caribbean Group’s President and CEO), 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.”
Silver Ray is identical to Silver Nova in all major respects. Both accommodate up to 728 guests; are built to a new asymmetrical design that allows for more light and space throughout; and boast two new al fresco venues – the Dusk Bar overlooking the stern of the ships and The Marquee restaurant that offers casual dining from The Grill and Spaccanapoli.
Like Silver Nova, Silver Ray will showcase more than 1,700 artworks. She will also feature the Otium Spa suites and spa concept that was introduced on Silver Dawn in 2022, as well as eight restaurants, including Silversea’s signature specialty venues La Dame and Kaiseki, and 10 sumptuous bars and lounges.
Silversea’s S.A.L.T. program
S.A.L.T. stands for Sea and Land Taste and is a program designed for guests on select Silversea ships to experience more about the gastronomy of the destinations where the ships are cruising.
The program is available on Silver Moon, Silver Dawn and the Nova Class ships and encompasses culinary-focused shore excursions, international dishes served in the S.A.L.T. Kitchen, regional cooking classes held in the S.A.L.T. Lab, and creative cocktails with a local flavour served in the S.A.L.T. Bar.
On Silver Nova and Silver Ray, the S.A.L.T. Lab turns into the S.A.L.T. Chef’s Table in the evening.
S.A.L.T. Global Director, Adam Sachs says, “The new Lab on Silver Nova is so light and open, it would have been criminal not to use it throughout the day and evening.
“The grander space and new prominent position with its sweeping views lends itself to a special dining experience that’s unlike any at sea. Like the view outside those big windows, the flavours are always changing.
“Our chefs and everyone involved in the program really live to travel and find amazing tastes and ingredients along the way and the Chef’s Table format gives us a venue to share these discoveries with an intimate group of like-minded diners.”
Silversea Cruises upcoming journeys
Silver Ray will sail in the Mediterranean until November when she repositions to Miami for a series of voyages in South America and a 71-day Grand Voyage round-trip from Fort Lauderdale. In April 2025 she returns to Europe for the summer.
Silver Nova departs from Singapore on an 18-day voyage to Cairns on 31 October 2024 and will sail a series of cruises between Australia and New Zealand until February 2025. She then heads to Asia, sailing an eight-day itinerary from Fremantle to Singapore departing 16 February 2025.
Silver Nova will return to local waters in September 2025 for another season – Silversea fans should note that some voyages in her second season are already waitlisted.
Silversea Cruises historic world cruise
Silver Dawn’s 2027 Three Oceans World Cruise was announced last month, and demand for the 149-day voyage is anticipated to be exceptionally strong. At 213 metres long and accommodating 596 guests and 411 crew, she is one of the smallest (and, having set sail in 2022) one of the newest ships to embark on a world cruise.
As Silver Dawn sails the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans on her journey from Los Angeles to Copenhagen, guests will have overnight stays in 11 destinations, visit 50 UNESCO World Heritage sites and be able to make the most of the Otium spa experiences and S.A.L.T. program onboard and onshore.
Silversea will open an exclusive pre-sale for The Three Oceans World Cruise 2027 to all Venetian Society members on 20 June 2024, while general sales will open on 27 June 2024.
Three brand loyalty program
Royal Caribbean Group has introduced a new three-brand loyalty program across its three wholly-owned brands – Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea, meaning that loyalty members will attain equivalent tier status on any one of these three brands.
How does it work? Status match enables guests to select from a broader and more diverse range of cruise experiences and destinations. There are four status tiers within each brand’s loyalty programs and now members will be able to status match for upcoming travel on a sister brand.
For example, a Venetian Society member with 250 VS Days and an upcoming sailing on Celebrity Cruises can enrol in Captain’s Club, which would give them Elite status once their loyalty accounts are connected.
Silversea is also reintroducing its $6,000 Reasons to Sail with Silversea promotion. It provides savings of $6,000 per suite on Door-to-Door All-Inclusive fares — or $3,000 savings per suite on Port-to-Port All-Inclusive fares — with a 15 per cent reduced deposit.
It’s applicable to new bookings made from 3 June to 31 July 2024, on a wide variety of global voyages until August 2026.
For more information, visit Silversea.
