Silversea’s Silver Moon completes sea trials

Silver Moon, Silversea’s next vessel, has successfully completed its sea trials ahead of the ships delivery in October.

The ship is the second vessel to join Silversea’s fleet following the delivery of Silver Origin in June.

Silver Moon has now sailed from the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona to Trieste, with a reduced crew of 320.

Captain Alessandro Zanello, was at the helm for the launch of Silver Moon’s sister ship, Silver Muse, in 2017, said: “As my third with Silversea, I must say that Silver Moon’s sea trials felt a little surreal after everything that happened in the months prior.”

“I was originally scheduled to travel to the shipyard in Ancona in April. I was with family in Canada at the time. Unfortunately there were no flights from Canada to Ancona, so I was unable to reach the ship until July. The sea trials themselves felt special, indeed, and were held in unique circumstances. Enhanced health and safety protocols were in place, including temperature screenings, physical distancing, and the wearing of face coverings both on the ship and in the shipyard. Meal hours were extended and we ate with fewer people in the restaurant. During the sea trials themselves, we had far fewer people on board than for those of Silver Muse. Safety was the primary concern.

“Nevertheless, we managed to carry out all tests successfully. I must admit, sea trials can often be stressful, with too many people on the bridge; it was quite pleasant to have a more tranquil environment. Perhaps we will be forced to review our processes going forwards – this could be a positive thing. At the end of the sea trials, we shared a celebratory glass of prosecco with the team from Fincantieri. The ship is coming on nicely and she really is looking spectacular. This is a momentous occasion for all of us; we have worked very hard to reach this point. One of the most special moments for me was going into the dock to see the ship’s hull, before and after the painting. A small tradition of mine: I like to take a photo in front of the bulbous bow, when a fresh coat of paint glistens on the hull.” 

Guido Capurro, Silver Moon’s chief engineer, added: “While all essential technicians from Silversea and Fincantieri were able to attend the sea trials, some external engineers were unable to fly and so could not be present. Approximately half the number of people were on board compared to regular sea trials. Nevertheless, we were able to carry out all tests successfully. These were my first sea trials with Silversea and it is always spectacular to see the ship at its peak performance, and to see how the automation and safety devices react to the sudden change in demand.

“Everything went really well and the ship’s responses exceeded expectations. I was thrilled to see the ship’s propellers out of the water once again, as they were polished during the dry-docking period in Trieste. The better they are polished, the better the ship’s performance. The hull was painted with a special antifouling with a very low roughness, which is an important task in optimising the performance of the ship.” 

Paolo Percivale, the ship’s hotel director, said:  “Just 10 days after we joined the shipyard at the beginning of March, the lockdown was implemented and everything came to a halt. We lived through the lockdown in Ancona. Guido and I, along with several other members of the team, were working from apartments in the city until the end of April, which was very difficult. After a spell back home once the lockdown ended, I returned to the shipyard on 1^st July. It’s great to finally see Silver Moon nearing completion and to experience the various enhancements we have made from Silver Muse. In the Dolce Vita Lounge, for example, a beautiful bar has been installed as the space’s focal point, while La Dame Restaurant has been enriched with hand-crafted Lalique crystal panels. All public areas and suites are looking remarkable – I just can’t wait to welcome our guests on board, enjoying these new atmospheric venues. I am especially excited to see the reactions of our guests to our inspiring new S.A.L.T. programme, and our new S.A.L.T. venues, which is sure to be more than positive. She is a beautiful vessel, indeed.”

“Silver Moon successfully passed her sea trials and we are now nearing the ship’s delivery,” says Giovanni Stecconi, Director of Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard. “We look forward to celebrating that momentous occasion together with Silversea, a cruise line whose growth we have contributed to with pride and determination, thanks to ambitious projects such as the ‘Muse’ class, of which Silver Moon is a part.”

“Silver Moon will be an innovative addition to our expanding fleet of ultra-luxury ships,” says Roberto Martinoli, Silversea’s President and CEO. “Building on the success of our beloved flagship Silver Muse, Silver Moon will push boundaries in travel to unlock meaningful experiences for our guests around the world. Our pioneering new S.A.L.T. programme is just one way in which travellers will delve deep into destinations, and I look forward to personally welcoming our guests aboard Silver Moon in the near future. I extend my gratitude to the entire team at Fincantieri, who have demonstrated their skill and know-how; Captain Zanello and his officers, who have worked tirelessly; Silversea’s committed shoreside team for their enduring professionalism; and our colleagues at the Royal Caribbean Group, who continue to strengthen our cruise line with their invaluable support. The fact that our beautiful Silver Moon nears completion, despite such challenging circumstances, is a testament to the exceptional resilience and expertise of all involved in her build. For this I am very proud.”