VESSEL REVIEW | Silver Nova – Silversea Cruises welcomes LNG-fuelled newbuild to fleet

The Royal Caribbean Group's Monaco-based cruise brand Silversea Cruises has expanded its fleet with the recent delivery of the 728-guest ship Silver Nova from German shipyard Meyer Werft.

This ship, the first in the new Nova-class for Silversea, is the largest and most spacious of the Silversea fleet, thanks to what the owner calls a "horizontal" design. This change in layout means additional space for accommodating a greater number of amenities.

Employing an asymmetrical design, Silver Nova confines accommodations to the front of the ship and entertainment spaces to the back of the vessel. There are also venues that run the length of the ship, allowing expansive vistas and long, continuous stretches of space.

Measuring 243 by 30 metres and with a gross tonnage of 54,700, the 12th vessel to join the Silversea Cruises fleet features numerous restaurants, bars, lounges, a pool area covering 130 square metres and encompassing the largest pool on any Silversea Cruises ship, a cafe, a spa, a fitness centre, a casino, boutique shops, a library, and 364 all-balcony guest cabins across 13 categories. The ship will be crewed by 556 personnel.

Among the guest cabin options are suites that each cover 123 square metres and have floor-to-ceiling windows providing 270-degree views from the ship's premium aft-corner position. Each suite in this category also features a 40-square-metre balcony with its own whirlpool.

The hybrid propulsion system consists of LNG-fuelled main engines and a shore power connection that will shoulder hotel loads in port without having to use the onboard generators. Noise and vibrations emanating from the engine room are significantly reduced, allowing greater flexibility in the placement of suites and public spaces across five decks. The vessel itself boasts a hydrodynamic design to further lessen its impact on the environment.

Silver Nova, as well as all future Nova-class ships, also has a micro auto gasification system that reduces onboard waste volume, resulting in lower incineration emissions. Meyer Werft also expects the Nova-class ships will achieve an EEDI rating of approximately 25 per cent better than applicable IMO requirements.

Silver Nova's inaugural season commenced in August and includes itineraries in the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and South America. In 2024, the ship will also serve itineraries that include stops in Alaska, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

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