Silver Moon

The 2020-built/2021-inaugurated MS Silver Moon cruise ship is same-designed as the sisterships Silver Muse (2017) and Silver Dawn (2021). When the shipbuilding order for Silver Moon was placed, Silversea had a fleet of 9 vessels, with a planned expansion up to 12 units. The last newbuild in this series (still unnamed boat) is planned for delivery in 2023.

The vessel (IMO number 9838618) is currently Bahamas-flagged (MMSI 311000719) and registered in Nassau.

History - construction and ownership

Silversea Cruises is a Monaco-based privately-owned cruise company and top-luxury travel brand. It was established in 1994 as joint venture of V-Ships Monaco (fka Vlasov Group) and Lefebvre Family of Rome Italy. In 2018, RCCL-Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd acquired 2/3rd of the company. Silversea now has a fleet of smaller-sized boutique cruise vessels with passenger capacity between 100-700. The company's business model is to operate yacht-like vessels in the industry's ultra-luxury-all-suite ship category. Silversea's all-inclusive fares include beverages (also selected wines), gratuities (none are allowed), travel insurance, port charges, one or more shore excursions (per voyage).

The 600-passenger ship Silver Moon is an all-suite, top-luxury cruise ship. The shipbuilding contract with Fincantieri was signed on September 11, 2017. The new vessels will be constructed at the Sestri Ponente shipyard (Genoa Italy). Among the ship's certificates is "Green Star 3 Design" assigned to vessels specifically designed and equipped with technologies that prevent pollution. Other IMO-issued certificates relate to the vessel's lower noise levels (comfort-noise) - "COMF NOISE A" (for passengers) and "COMF NOISE B" (for the crew).

Decks and Cabins

Silver Moon staterooms (288 total) are all categorized as "suites", and 96% are with step-out balconies. The ship also has the Silversea fleet's biggest number of connecting cabins. Suite sizes range between 390-1970 ft2 (36-183 m2). Silver Suites (increased to a total of 34) are located on the ship's 3 top decks. The new category 2-Bedroom Silver Suite is sized 1120 ft2 (104 m2) including the terrace (130 ft2 / 12 m2).

The boat has 11 decks, of which 8 are passenger-accessible and 7 with cabins.

Each cabin has a private step-out balcony, walk-in closet, electronic safe box, chest of drawers, marble bathroom (bathtub, separate bathtub/shower, sink/WC area, plush robes and slippers (by Etro), towels, luxury bath products /choice of European top-brand products, Bvlgari by default).

All cabins are completely wireless, with iPod docking stations, hairdryers, alarm clocks, binoculars, umbrellas. Additional amenities in categories Owner, Silver, and Grand suites include 2 hours worldwide complimentary satellite phone use, in-cabin dining (afternoon canapes), private dinner at officers' table. Junior attendants and butlers are assigned to each suite.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Silver Moon offers 8 different dining options, including 3 al-fresco / outdoor. The menu selections are not just creative, but gourmet food art. The Hot Rocks grill menu and La Terrazza dinner robust menu is really stepping in future gourmet cuisine at sea. As for the gratuities - all included in cruise fares, and nothing additional is expected.

Follows the complete list of Silver Moon restaurants and food bars.

• Atlantide (steakhouse, bar grill restaurant, reservations-only; features designer seafood dishes and gourmet fish specialities)
• 7 Restaurant (open-seating dining room with top-quality gourmet cuisine; features mostly Mediterranean themed meals, and always available standard menu with daily specials; all three meals are waiter-served and a la carte)
• La Grande Dame (called Le Champagne on the other Silversea ships). La Dame is a new, 24-seat upscale French cuisine speciality restaurant that offers signature dishes by Relais Chateaux. This is the only shipboard restaurant where dining is offered at an additional fee (all others are price-inclusive). La Dame is dinner-only and reservations are required.
• Kabuki (Japanese cuisine speciality restaurant, reservations required) with teppanyaki iron griddles (used for the evening meals). Sushi and sashimi are offered during the day.
• Indochine (Asian cuisine speciality restaurant)
• Silver Note (jazz club with live performances) also serves tapas-style dishes.
• La Terrazza (Terrace Cafe; complimentary buffet restaurant) offers both indoor seating and an alfresco terrace with interactive food stations (olive oil cellar, a mozzarella bar, seafood bar, salumeria, Italian-style deli). Wine is complimentary, but premium wines (from Connoisseur's Wine List) cost extra. There is an Afternoon Tea service. La Terrazza transforms each evening (between 7-9:30 pm) into an Italian speciality restaurant (reservations-only) with a la carte priced menu. During the day, La Terrazza is also open for buffet-style breakfast and lunch.
• Hot Rocks (alfresco poolside restaurant) is an outdoor Steakhouse and Seafood restaurant for gourmet al-fresco dining under the stars; This open-air grill venue implements Silversea's new interactive dining concept "Black Rock Grill Experience". In the evenings, it allows passengers to cook their food (fresh seafood and prime steaks) on heated volcanic-rock plates at their own table. During the day, Hot Rocks serves as a rotisserie and gourmet salad and burger bar.
• Regina Margherita (outdoor/poolside pizzeria) is also complimentary and open from morning to late evening. The restaurant offers pizzas baked in a custom-made, wood-fired oven.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Traditional shipboard entertainment includes bingo, team trivia, golf competitions, occasional movies, evening Broadway-style show productions and live jazz performances in The Theater lounge.

Onboard amenities include movies on demand and interactive TV service. Passengers can check messages, review accounts, or choose from a large number of newly released movies. Smart TVs are the world's latest technology - hybrid UHDTV with infotainment system (integrated Internet and interactive features). Cabin TV programming includes the channels CNN International, Fox News, ESPN, BBC World. Eight are the complimentary laundry rooms. Also available are laundry, dry cleaning, pressing - all through the complimentary butler service for each of the cabins.

Follows the complete list of Silver Moon lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Boutique shops (offer duty-free shopping: luxury jewellery and watches, brand perfumes, fashion, designer handbags, photo/video accessories, Silversea logo merchandise, special occasion gifts, convenience goods)
• The Main Bar (lounge with ample comfortable seating; offers live music performances, large dance floor, complimentary cocktails)
• The Theatre (Main Show Lounge for live music and show productions; the daily enrichment program offers trivia games, dance classes, language lessons, lectures, media presentations)
• Conference Room (hosts group meetings and conferences) is adjacent to the Card Room and the Internet Cafe.
• Swimming Pool is with saltwater and heated during cool-weather cruises. The sunbathing area has teak chaise loungers, 3 whirlpools (Jacuzzis), tennis tables.
• Connoisseur's Corner (formerly known as Humidor - ship's cigar club (smoking lounge) furnished with leather armchairs and selling brand cognacs, vintage wines, fine cigars)
• Panorama Lounge (served by its own bar; offers live music and dancing, Continental Breakfast and Afternoon Tea)
• Observation Lounge (with 270-degree panoramic views and a radar screen; serves early breakfast with coffee)
• Children's Room (kids-play facility with supervised, age-appropriate activities; has an Outdoor Area)
• The Library (with audio listening stations and on-demand movies)
• Zagara Beauty Spa has treatment rooms, Beauty Salon, 2 saunas, 2 steam rooms, Thermal Suite.
• Beauty Salon (provides a full range of services: hairstyling, manicures, pedicures)
• Fitness Centre (offers a treadmill, stationary bike, weight machine, elliptical trainer). There is a separate Aerobics studio for classes.
• Power Walking/Jogging Track, Golf Cage, paddle tennis, golf putting green.
• 24-hour Room Service and WiFi Internet are complimentary.

Itineraries

Silver Moon itinerary program is based on summer Mediterranean cruises (in southern Europe) with departures from homeports Rome, Venice, Barcelona, Piraeus-Athens. During winter, the ship cruises in the Caribbean, leaving from homeport Fort Lauderdale (Florida USA). There are also possibilities for seasonal Asian and Australian deployments. The liner will also offer Around The World voyages.

Following the Coronavirus crisis, in summer 2021 Silversea scheduled for Silver Moon an Eastern Mediterranean inaugural cruise season from Greece (starting July 8, 2021/Maiden Voyage). The 10-day Greek Islands itineraries (all roundtrips from Piraeus-Athens) had scheduled visits to ports in Greece (Santorini, Syros, Paros, Patmos, Mykonos, Rhodes, Crete / Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Souda Crete, Cyprus / Limassol), Israel (Ashdod and Haifa).

The ship's rescheduled Inaugural Cruise (July 8 through Sept 25, 2021) was a 7-day repositioning voyage from Piraeus to Venice. For November 1st was scheduled the 16-day Suez Canal relocation voyage from Athens to Dubai.

When the Silversea-Fincantieri shipbuilding order for Silver Moon was signed (September 2017), the Italian company had a total of 78 cruise vessels built in the period 1990-2017 (of which 55 launched between 2002-2017) plus other 31 being designed or under construction.

The vessel's keel-laying ceremony was held on February 14 (Valentine's Day) 2019, at the shipyard in Ancona Italy. The newbuild is the tenth liner in the Silversea fleet. The ship's launch (float out from drydock) was on August 29, 2019. The ceremony was attended by Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio (Silversea's Chairman) and Giovanni Stecconi (Fincantieri-Ancona Shipyard's Director). The ceremony's Godmother was Roberta Bonisiol (Fincantieri employee).

In early-February 2020 was announced the ship's Godmother - Gaia Gaja (Barbaresco Italy-born, one of the owners of GAJA Winery). GAJA Winery is a 5th-generation family business and a large producer of fine wines (Piemonte wines from northwestern Italy's Piedmont region) since 1859. The christening ceremony was scheduled for August 5, 2020, to be held in Trieste Italy.

In the period August 8-20, 2020, the cruise ship successfully carried out the Adriatic Sea trials and was officially delivered on October 30. The Galapagos-based fleetmate Silver Origin joined the fleet on June 3.

Silversea's "flight and cruise" package deals (by the company's "Silver Sky" fly-cruise program) are inclusive of the cruise fare, discount roundtrip airfare (Economy Class) and airport-pier-airport transfers. Silversea's "hotel and cruise" package "Silver Shore Simply Hotel" offers overnight 5-star luxury hotel stays with optional transfers or upgrades. The upgraded cruise-hotel package ("Silver Shore Grande Hotel") offers 1-3-nights landmark hotel stays (or at a boutique leisure property) and is inclusive of private transfers (airport-hotel and hotel-pier).

On June 18, 2021, Silversea contracted Starboard Cruise Services (1958-founded, Doral Florida-based company specializing in cruise ship shopping services) for Silver Moon's retail shopping program. For the Silversea Moon ship's 3x boutiques, Starboard Cruise Services developed a Luxury Division program with premium-brand jewelry and watches, fashion clothing and accessories, handbags and shoes, cosmetics and fragrances, travel essentials.

Silver Moon was officially christened in Port Piraeus (Athens Greece) on July 28, 2021. The naming ceremony was attended by Richard Fain (shipowner's/Royal Caribbean Group-RCG's CEO), Roberto Martinoli (Silversea's President and CEO), Jason Liberty (RCG's Executive VP), Luigi Matarazzo (Fincantieri Merchant Ships Division's General Manager), Harry Theoharis (Greece's Tourism Minister). The vessel's Master was Captain Chavdar Georgiev (Bulgarian).

Grand Voyage 2022 EUROPE

In late-December 2020, Silversea announced a B2B (back-to-back cruise) connecting Silver Moon ship's "Mediterranean Grand Voyage 2022" and "Northern Europe Grand Voyage 2022". The B2B ("European Grand Voyage") departs from Piraeus-Athens Greece on March 30, 2022, and ends in Stockholm Sweden on June 28.

"Grand Voyage 2022 Mediterranean" itinerary visits 32 ports in 12 countries. "Grand Voyage 2022 Northern Europe" itinerary visits 40 ports in 13 countries. The combined (90-day) itinerary has a total of 72 ports/destinations (in 22 countries), features 7 exclusive events, 8 port overnights and 3 unique (SALT-inspired) dining experiences. S.A.L.T. (Sea And Land Taste) is Silversea fleet's new culinary program inaugurated with Silver Moon in 2021.

The program's new 3 recipes are developed by celebrity chefs and represent traditional fare from Faroe Islands (Denmark), Sicily Island (Italy) and Malaga Spain. In FAROE ISLANDS (DENMARK) is offered the traditional roast duck with prunes - a recipe by Teitur Christensen, chef at Futastova and Aarstova restaurants in Torshavn (Streymoy Island). In SICILY ISLAND (ITALY) is offered Buccellati (figs- and nuts-filled cookies by chef Fabrizia Lanza) during the calls in Giardini Naxos (April 18) and Palermo (April 19). IN MALAGA (SPAIN), during the ship's call on May 3, are offered Malaga-style sardines prepared by chef Alexandra Raij - the owner of 3 Spanish restaurants in NYC New York.

Silver Moon's "European Grand Voyage 2022" also includes a bus travel tour to Benanti Winery (from Giardini-Naxos, Sicily) for exploring the vineyards, a traditional Sicilian lunch and wine sampling (the winery's finest vintages).

Silversea's other planned for 2022 World Cruise was Silver Dawn ship's "Grand Voyage 2022 South America" (75-day itinerary) leaving roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades, Florida USA) and visiting 45 ports in 22 countries.

Inaugural cruise itineraries 2021

In early-December 2020, Silversea canceled more scheduled for Silver Moon departures in 2021 (through April 1 /new Inaugural Cruise date) which affected the new ship's South America and Caribbean programs. In early-March were canceled 6 more departures (through May 31) and the boat's inauguration was rescheduled for July 8.

(NEW MAIDEN VOYAGE 2021/first departure) 10-day Greek Islands from Athens (USD 7800/EUR 6580/GBP 5620) per person with double occupancy.

(Inaugural Suez Canal repositioning cruise) 16-day from Piraeus-Athens to Dubai (USD 7110 pp)

(Inaugural Asia cruise) 11-day from Singapore to Hong Kong (USD 4860 pp)

Next tables show some of the cancelled voyages by destination.

(OLD MAIDEN VOYAGE 2021/CANCELLED) 16-day South America from Fort Lauderdale to Callao-Lima (USD 8010 pp)

(around South America) 22-day from Callao-Lima to Buenos Aires (USD 10980 pp)

(around South America) 10-day from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro (USD 5760 pp)

(around South America) 21-day from Rio de Janeiro to Fort Lauderdale (USD 8640 pp)

(Inaugural Caribbean cruise/CANCELLED) 9-day from Bridgetown Barbados to Fort Lauderdale (USD 3960 pp)

(Transatlantic repositioning cruise/CANCELLED) 27-day from Fort Lauderdale to Piraeus-Athens (USD 10300 pp)

Godspeed!

Inaugural cruise itineraries 2020 (CANCELLED)

Next are listed Silver Moon's cancelled maiden voyages as homeports, dates and call ports, with port times and lowest prices per person (double-occupancy cabin rates). Due to the Coronavirus crisis, boat's delivery was delayed and a total of 10 itineraries were cancelled.

The first table shows the originally planned maiden voyage (11-day Adriatic and Mediterranean). Prices started from USD 10600 pp.

The next 5 tables show the 5 other canceled maiden voyages in the Western Mediterranean.

7-day Civitavecchia to Barcelona (USD 5850 pp)

10-day Barcelona to Lisbon (USD 6800 pp)

9-day Lisbon to Barcelona (USD 6480 pp)

11-day Barcelona to Piraeus-Athens (USD 8190 pp)

9-day Piraeus to Venice (USD 7740 pp)

(rescheduled and CANCELLED MAIDEN VOYAGE) 10-day "Inaugural Cruise" roundtrip from Venice (USD 8460 pp)

24-day Inaugural Transatlantic crossing from Europe to Florida USA (USD 11200 pp)

15-day Inaugural Caribbean and South America voyage from Florida USA (USD 7020 pp)

15-day Caribbean roundtrip from Florida (USD 7380 pp, New Year 2020 Cruise)