Fincantieri's Ancona delivers Silver Moon

The 40,700gt vessel has capacity for 596 passengers in 298 all-suite rooms.

New S.A.L.T. culinary program

Among its new features are three spaces dedicated to the S.A.L.T. culinary program and handcrafted Lalique crystal panels in the enlarged La Dame Restaurant.

An intimate delivery celebration included Silversea President and CEO Roberto Martinoli, Ancona Director Giovanni Stecconi and Fincantieri's Luigi Matarazzo, GM, Merchant Ships Division. Speaking remotely via live video feed, Richard Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group, and CFO Jason Liberty commended the more than 1,000 craftspeople involved in the building.

'This beautiful ship represents the resilience of the global cruise industry and it is encouraging to see such innovation and progress in this challenging period,' Fain said.

Silver Moon was oompleted just a couple months after its originally planned delivery date, the Ancona yard making up for Italy's COVID-19 lockdown earlier this year. 

'It is apt that Silver Moon was built here in Italy, a cradle of luxury and a country celebrated for its rich culinary heritage,' Martinoli said.

Stecconi presented Capt. Alessandro Zanello, master of Silver Moon, who also commanded sister ship Silver Muse, with a commemorative ampoule containing seawater from the float-out.

Silver Dawn to come

Silver Moon follows 2017's Silver Muse, built at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente. A third in the series, Silver Dawn, is to come from Ancona in 2021 and during Thursday's Royal Caribbean Group earnings call, CFO Jason Liberty said the ship is scheduled for a fourth-quarter handover.