As Lisbon began its St. Anthony’s Day celebrations, marking the anniversary of the saint’s death, the cruise world celebrated the birth of a new luxury cruise ship, Silversea Cruise‘ Silver Ray, with its christening in the heart of the Portuguese city.
The 544-passenger ship is the 12th ship in the Silversea fleet and is the identical twin of the Silversea Silver Novalaunched last year with a novel design that sets it apart from other Silversea ships.
Like its sister, the Silver Ray is covered in more than 4,000 square meters of glass to provide views to the outside, and the top floor is designed to emphasize the sea and sky. A space-to-passenger ratio of 75 registered tons per passenger and a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1.3 add to the ship’s luxury with spacious suites and public venues. , lack of crowds and attentive service.
For news, reviews and cruise tips, subscribe to TPG’s cruise newsletter.
Silver Ray also delivers on Nova’s commitment to great dining experiences on board and ashore with a variety of fine-dining restaurants as well as Silversea’s signature SALT (Sea And Land Taste) program, led by Adam Sachs, former general manager. editor of Saveur Magazine, formed. Guests looking to immerse themselves in the local food and wine scene of their travel destination can participate in hands-on cooking classes at the SALT Lab, enjoying regionally inspired meals and craft cocktails. work at SALT Kitchen and SALT Bar, and venture on shore excursions that introduce participants not only to local flavors but also to the people who produce them.
Silversea also adopted the mantra “otium”, an ancient Roman concept of leisure. You’ll find this decadent approach to indulgence and self-care throughout the ship. The Spa Otium Not only does it offer rejuvenating spa treatments and a complimentary sauna, steam room and spa pool, but it also has a selection of chocolates and spa-inspired cocktails to enjoy after your massage. – or whenever you need a pick-up. Otium branded in-room offerings include aromatherapy showers and baths, premium snacks and movie night treats, and in-room dining menus including lobster and caviar . And of course, each suite is serviced by a butler who can deliver magic.
Daily newsletter
Gift your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers to get breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive offers from TPG experts
Whether it’s showcasing the world through sweeping views from most public areas on board or exploring in-depth through shore excursions and culinary experiences, Silver Ray is all about connection. connected to both land and sea. So it’s fitting that the ship was named by Dr. Maria Josefina Olascoaga, a professor of ocean sciences at the University of Miami. She will co-lead Royal Caribbean Group’s OceanScope program, which equips the company’s ships with equipment and laboratories that collect data on ocean health for the university.
“I hope this ship will inspire guests to connect meaningfully with the ocean,” she said before pressing the lever to smash a bottle of Champagne against the ship’s hull to christen it.
Also on hand to christen his first ship was Silversea’s new president, Bert Hernandez, who has had a long career with Royal Caribbean Group and its former luxury brand Azamara. “It is fitting that we launch such an innovative ship in an important year,” he told guests, referring to Silversea’s 30th anniversary.
Jason Liberty, CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, also spoke about the importance of innovation and customer satisfaction for the entire company, including the Silversea brand. He mentioned that when Royal Caribbean purchased Silversea, their goal was to grow the brand, and that since 2018, Silversea has taken delivery of six ships (five new and one purchased from another cruise line).
The Silver Ray will depart on Saturday on its maiden voyage from Lisbon to Barcelona, calling at Cadiz, Malaga, Valencia and Palma de Mallorca in Spain. The ship will spend the summer and fall crisscrossing the Mediterranean before heading to South America in December, capping off its first year of service with an epic 71-day cruise around South America.
For its second season, Silver Ray will once again spend its spring, summer and fall in the Mediterranean but will spend the 2025-2026 winter in the Caribbean and Central America.
Planning a trip? Start with these stories:
