Silversea receives sixth luxury liner

12/17/2009 10:19:00 AM

Today was the handover presentation at Ancona shipyard of Silver Spirit, the new cruise ship ordered from Fincantieri by Silversea Cruises, world leader in the luxury cruise segment.

Present at the ceremony was the Chairman of Silversea Cruises Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, and from Fincantieri the company Chairman, Corrado Antonini, and the Chief Executive Officer Giuseppe Bono.

At 36,000 gross tonnes and 195 metres long, the Silver Spirit is the largest and most beautiful vessel in the fleet. There are 8 decks and the ship has a cruising speed of 20.3 knots. Assisted by an international crew of 378, over 540 passengers can be accommodated on board in 270 suites, 95% of which boast a sea view. The ship’s interior decor and furnishings have been studied in detail and materials chosen with great care in order to satisfy the tastes of demanding European guests. Internationally acclaimed Italian architect, Giacomo Mortola, is responsible for her design and has found the perfect balance between modern functional requirements and Art Decò grandeur.

Commenting on the event Chief Executive Officer of Fincantieri, Giuseppe Bono said "This is our first ship for prestige brand Silversea and the first vessel of this type that Fincantieri has built, thus making our debut in the super-luxury segment. It is also a first for Ancona shipyard which has succeeded in this type of production as it can draw on a wealth of highly qualified human resources."

The Chairman of Silversea Cruises, Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio added "The Silver Spirit is a further achievement for the company which now has a total of six vessels and has confirmed its position as leader in the luxury sector. The hallmarks of the Silver Spirit are innovation, her distinctive, elegant Art Decò style and greater space available for passengers. Despite the economic slowdown in 2008, we have continued to invest in the product and in human resources; in July we reached a record number of bookings and for the end of December we expect to achieve approximately 70% of the revenue plan for 2010. The company’s best result since it was founded.”

Passengers onboard the Silver Spirit will find the same standards of luxury as the other ships in the fleet; an intimate atmosphere, sophisticated elegance and ultra luxurious five-star service.

The ship’s spacious and elegant suites all have a private view of the ocean, while guests may choose from six restaurants onboard the ship, one of which specialises in Eastern food, “Seishin” meaning “spirit” in Japanese. “Stars Supper Club”, another of the restaurants is inspired by the Art Decò era where the exclusive, sophisticated atmosphere of British clubs of the 1930s has been re-created. Silver Spirit will also boast a 770 square-metre brand new wellness centre, “The Spa”.

Silversea is well-known for its “all inclusive” philosophy which comprises haute cuisine with fine wines, exclusive evening shows, fitness and above all the ‘Silversea Experience’.

On 19 December Silver Spirit is due to enter the port of Monaco and on 23 December will set out on her inaugural cruise from Barcelona to Lisbon. On 21 January 2010 she will be christened at Fort Lauderdale and embark on her “Grand Inaugural Voyage”, a 91-day journey into South America visiting over 45 ports in over 20 nations including Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala and Costa Rica. Journey highlights include a visit to Rio de Janeiro in time for Carnival, a journey around the end of the earth at Cape Horn, an in-depth exploration of the Mexican Riviera and a crossing of the Panama Canal.

About Fincantieri

Fincantieri (www.fincantieri.com) is one of the world’s leading shipbuilding concerns. World leader in the construction of cruise ships and reference operator in the large ferry sector, the company, which is headquartered in Trieste, employs – directly and indirectly - approximately 30,000 also has an important naval orderbook and is present in the mega yacht sector. Its design centres are located in Trieste, the largest in Europe, and Genoa.

About Silversea Cruises

Silversea Cruises is a leading company in luxury cruises. It launched its first ship, the Silver Cloud, in 1994, followed a year later by the Silver Wind. The Silver Shadow and the Silver Whisper followed in 2000 and 2001 respectively. June 2008 saw the inauguration of the elegant Prince Albert II, a ship serving the expedition sector. The ship was named after Prince Albert II of Monaco, in recognition of his passion for exploration and protecting the environment. The vessel was conceived specifically for sailing in the waters of some of the world’s remotest destinations, including the Antarctic and the Arctic. Silversea offers 190 itineraries, 7 continents and approximately 80 nations with over destinations.

In the U.S., Silversea has been voted "World's Best" by the readers of Condé Nast Traveler (nine times) and Travel + Leisure (seven times), and rated Number-One luxury cruise line by high-net-worth consumers in the 2008 Luxury Brand Status Index (LBSI). International awards include "Best Innovation in Products and Services" from the Italian Innovazione Marketing Oggi Awards (2009); "World's Leading Small Ships Cruise Line" from World Travel Awards (2009); "Five Star Diamond Award" from the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences (2009); "Number One" small-ship line in the Readers' Choice" survey conducted by Britain's Condé Nast Traveller magazine (2007); "Best Luxury Cruise Line" by Spain's Cruceros & Destinos magazine (2008); "Best Luxury Cruise Line" by Australia's Luxury Travel & Style Magazine (2009); and "Best Luxury Cruise Operator" according to Asia's Travel Weekly (2008). d the Arctic. Silversea offers 190 itineraries, 7 continents and approximately 80 nations with over destinations.

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