WATCH: Silver Ray hits the water for the first time

Edited by Travel Weekly

Silversea celebrated the float out of its second Nova-class ship, Silver Ray, at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, on 25 February.

Now nearing completion — approximately 15 months since Meyer Werft first cut steel for the ship — Silver Ray is scheduled to debut in the Mediterranean in June as the sixth addition to Silversea’s fleet in just three years.

After Meyer Werft’s craftspeople cleaned Silver Ray’s hull, approximately 100,000 cubic meters of water flooded the dock over four hours and two tugboats repositioned the 728-guest ship from the vast construction hall into the neighbouring harbour basin, where the docking out phase will continue.

The team subsequently installed her funnel and radar mast. In observance of shipbuilding traditions, Captain Alessandro Zanello, Master of Silver Ray, welded a newly minted, commemorative coin to a wall on the pool deck — a symbol of good luck.

“With the float out of Silver Ray, excitement is building for the launch of the second ship in our pioneering Nova-class,” said Barbara Muckermann, president of Silversea.

“We received such incredibly strong feedback on Silver Nova from guests, travel advisors, and members of the press following her launch in August 2023. Sustaining the wave of innovation that is driving our success, the launch of Silver Ray will strengthen Royal Caribbean Group’s unwavering commitment to delivering a lifetime of vacations for guests, with its industry-leading global brands.”

Thorsten Kroes, project manager at Meyer Werft added: “Reaching the major milestone of the float out, we now approach the completion of Silver Ray. The Meyer team is now working on getting this beautiful ship ready for her upcoming sea trials.”

On board, guests enjoy a range of enhancements, including all-new venues and unprecedented suite options, new Otium wellness experiences and amenities, and enrichments to the S.A.L.T. culinary program, with the introduction of the S.A.L.T. Chef’s Table. Both ships incorporate innovative design features that connect travellers with the outside at every turn, including roughly 4,000 square metres of exterior glass, for deeper immersion into the destination.

Silver Ray will soon undertake a conveyance of approximately 32 kilometres (20 miles) down the Ems River to the North Sea ahead of her sea trials — a unique journey, due to the narrowness of the waterway. She is scheduled to enter service in June 2024, spending her inaugural season in the Mediterranean, before crossing the Atlantic in December.

Featured Image: Silver Ray float out – Youtube/@Silversea

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