Silversea Cruises has announced the name of its first ship, the Silver Nova, developed as part of its innovative newbuild project known as the Evolution Project, and has commenced construction of the ship at Meyer Werft in Papenburg. Executives from Silversea and Meyer Werft marked the moment with a traditional steel-cutting ceremony on November 18. The revolutionary vessel, due for delivery in the summer of 2023, will be the first locally emission-free luxury hybrid cruise ship in port, positioning Silversea at the forefront of sustainable cruising in the coming years.
The Silver Nova and future Nova-class ships are the latest examples of Silversea's ongoing efforts to offer travelers an ultra-luxurious experience while protecting the cherished destinations it visits and their communities. The Silver Nova to achieve zero-emission local operations in port through the use of fuel cells and batteries and will use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as its primary fuel.
“Our Nova-class ships represent a significant investment in unprecedented technological solutions. They support our mission to preserve the planet without compromising comfort or luxury,” said Roberto Martinoli, President and CEO of Silversea Cruises. “The Silver Nova is a testament to Silversea and Royal Caribbean Group’s long-term commitment to sustainability.”
“Sustainability is the future of luxury travel, and the name Silver Nova is a symbol of Silversea’s incredible luxury innovation,” added Barbara Muckermann, Chief Commercial Officer. “Silversea is already a leader in environmentally conscious travel, and now, with Silver Nova, we are taking another step forward to meet the expectations of today’s and tomorrow’s luxury travelers.”
The Silver Nova is being built in Papenburg by Meyer Werft, one of the world's largest and most modern shipyards. “We are delighted to begin construction of this innovative ship and continue our long-standing partnership with Royal Caribbean Group. This day is very special for us, as it is the first time a Silversea ship has been built at our shipyard,” said Bernard Meyer, Managing Director of Meyer Werft.
The sustainable features of the Silver Nova and all future Nova-class ships include an automated micro-gasification system, which reduces the volume of waste onboard, resulting in lower incineration emissions. Furthermore, this class of vessel is expected to achieve an Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) rating approximately 25% better than applicable International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements. Shore power will allow the ship to shut down its main generators in selected ports and connect to shore power, thereby reducing local onboard emissions to zero. Overall, the ship's innovative hydrodynamic design and optimized technology help to minimize the vessel's environmental impact.
The Silver Nova will be one of the most spacious cruise ships ever built, offering passengers an ultra-luxurious experience. This includes a space-to-guest ratio of 75 GRT per passenger, the highest in the Silversea fleet, and one of the most personalized service experiences at sea with a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1.3, as well as the company's signature butler service for all suites. The ship will have a capacity of 728 passengers and a gross tonnage of 54,700 tons.
The Silver Nova is scheduled for delivery in summer 2023. Members of Silversea's loyalty program, the Venetian Society, and travel agencies will have access to the pre-sale starting December 16, 2021. General sales will open on January 6, 2022.
