Silversea Cruises has officially christened its tenth ship, the Silver Dawn, in Lisbon. Executives from Royal Caribbean Group, Silversea Cruises, and Fincantieri, along with local dignitaries and distinguished guests, celebrated with a formal ceremony and gala dinner. The Silver Dawn becomes the cruise line's third new ship to debut in nine months. The launch of Silver Dawn also marks the debut of Otium, its new wellness program, as well as the next iteration of Silversea's SALT culinary program.
Following a performance by Royal Caribbean Group's bagpipe band, the artists took to the stage, entertaining the audience with a performance. The singers recited the national anthems of the United States, Italy, and Portugal, before a religious leader blessed the ship and dignitaries delivered their speeches. The Silver Dawn's newly appointed godmother, Nilou Motamed—an influential food and travel editor, tastemaker, and television personality—then cut the ribbon to pop a bottle of champagne against the ship's hull, signaling the end of the ceremony.
“The celebration of the Silver Dawn’s naming in Lisbon was a moment of great pride for all involved,” said Jason Liberty, Chairman and CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group.
“Silver Dawn is the third Silversea ship to be christened in the last nine months,” said Roberto Martinoli, President and CEO of Silversea Cruises. “In addition to SALT, our immersive culinary program, Silver Dawn enriches guest voyages with Otium, our new wellness program, inspired by the ancient Roman lifestyle.”.
Nilou Motamed, the ship's godmother, was born in Iran and raised in Paris and New York. She believes that "food is a language of its own in which everyone can find comfort, compassion, and community." Her passion for culinary adventures and far-flung cuisines has found a perfect complement in Silversea's SALT program.
The most noticeable difference between the Silver Dawn and its sister ships, the Silver Muse and the Silver Moon, is the new Otium wellness program, launched as a unique innovation. It is the only wellness program at sea to incorporate champagne, chocolate, and other gourmet snacks; signature cocktails; bespoke in-suite experiences; a Roman-inspired spa; and a ship-wide wellness journey. The Otium wellness program is based on the principles of indulgence, pleasure, and pampering.
The Silver Dawn sets sail on its maiden voyage on April 1, sailing from Lisbon to Barcelona. It is scheduled to cruise the Mediterranean until November, when it will cross the Atlantic Ocean, via the Canary Islands, to open the Caribbean and Central America to guests.
