Silversea Cruises has christened Silver Moon as the newest ship in its ultra-luxury fleet, marking a significant step in the cruise line's return to global service. The official christening ceremony for Silver Moon in Piraeus was attended by guests including Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group; Roberto Martinoli, President and CEO of Silversea Cruises; Jason Liberty, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Royal Caribbean Group; Captain Chavdar Georgiev; Luigi Matarazzo, Managing Director of Fincantieri's Merchant Ship Division; and the Honorable Harry Theoharis, Minister of Tourism of Greece, among others. Becoming the first ultra-luxury cruise ship to set sail since the pandemic, Silver Moon embarked on its inaugural season from Athens on June 18, offering a series of 10-day voyages around the Greek islands.
Following maritime traditions, Reverend Father Ioannis Patsis blessed the ship, before the ship's godmother, Gaia Gaja – of the renowned Italian winery Gaja – broke a bottle of champagne on the ship's bow. Guests watched the event on screens throughout the ship, and members of the extended Silversea family streamed the event online, as Silver Moon officially became the ninth ship in the ultra-luxury cruise line's fleet.
“Witnessing the official naming of Silver Moon—the first Silversea christening as part of the Royal Caribbean Group—was a moment of immense pride,” says Richard D. Fain. “I congratulate the Silversea team, Captain Georgiev and the Silver Moon crew, the Fincantieri team, and everyone involved in the ship’s launch for their tireless efforts in making this long-awaited milestone a reality.”
“This is an extraordinary milestone in the history of our cruise line,” says Roberto Martinoli. “Today we have christened the ninth ship in our fleet, marking an evolution in 21st-century luxury travel. The Silver Moon represents the strength and resilience of our industry. I extend my gratitude to the Royal Caribbean Group, Fincantieri, Captain Georgiev and the ship's crew, as well as our teams on land, for making this occasion possible.”
“It was an honor to cut the ribbon and officially name Silver Moon as the ship’s godmother,” says Gaia Gaja. “Launching Silversea’s new SALT program, Silver Moon embodies the core values that my family’s winery shares with this cruise line. I look forward to traveling aboard this beautiful ship and immersing myself in the renowned culinary cultures of the Greek Islands.”.
With a gross tonnage of 40,700 and a maximum capacity of 596 passengers, the Silver Moon is the second ship in the Muse class. Built by Fincantieri at its Ancona shipyard, the Silver Moon is an evolution of its sister ship, the Silver Muse. The ship features redesigned public spaces, butler service in all suite categories, a near 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio, and the intimacy characteristic of Silversea's smaller ships.
The launch of Silver Moon also marks the debut of Silversea’s revolutionary new culinary program, Sea and Land Taste, or SALT℠. Three new onboard venues form a culinary discovery hub for guests: Silver Moon’s SALT Kitchen, SALT Lab, and SALT Bar, where passengers are invited to delve into the cuisine and culture of each region with regionally inspired dishes, beverages, and demonstrations. Special SALT shore excursions allow travelers to experience each destination’s food and drink cultures firsthand.
Silversea is leading the global restart of ultra-luxury cruises. The first of two ships in the Silversea fleet to return to service, the Silver Moon, joins the new Silver Origin, which is now sailing new itineraries in the Galapagos Islands. The Silver Muse will become the first ultra-luxury ship to sail to Alaska when it departs for the region's glaciers from Seattle on July 29. Starting July 30, the Silver Shadow will circumnavigate Iceland from Reykjavik. More Silversea ships are expected to set sail in the near future.
The Silver Moon is one of six Silversea ships—the others being Silver Muse, Silver Origin, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper, and Silver Explorer—that have recently received the Certification for Infection Prevention for the Maritime Industry (CIP-M) from DNV, the world's leading classification society. These certifications underscore Silversea's commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of guests, crew, and the communities it visits as part of the company's safe return to service.
