Silversea first to take delivery of new ship since pandemic began with Silver Origin

Silversea Cruises has taken delivery of its new cruise ship Silver Origin, the first to do so in-person since the pandemic began (Celebrity Cruises took delivery of Celebrity Apex remotely back in March).

A small handover ceremony with select Silversea executives such as Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, President & CEO Roberto Martinoli and Chief Marketing Officer Barbara Muckermann, was held at the Dutch shipyard De Hoop where Silver Origin was built.

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“It was a very proud moment for me to attend Silver Origin’s official delivery ceremony in person, and to welcome Silversea’s first-ever destination-specific ship to our fleet,” said d’Ovidio.

“I am very grateful to all involved in the build, especially the professionals at De Hoop Shipyard,” he added.

Silversea was the first cruise line to launch an ultra-luxury ship in the Galapagos Archipelago back in September, 2013 and Silver Origin represents the line’s accrued know-how in the luxury expedition sector, according to d’Ovidio.

“Every element of the ship has been designed with the destination in mind and tailored to enhance the experience for travelers, while fostering a deep sense of respect for this magnificent ecosystem and everything that inhabits it,” he said.

Roberto Martinoli, Silversea’s President & CEO added that Silver Origin is the first ship to be launched by the line since its acquisition by Royal Caribbean Cruises.

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“With Silversea’s destination expertise and the invaluable support of the RCL group, we have pushed the boundaries of ultra-luxury travel in the Galapagos with Silver Origin,” he said.

“I want to extend my gratitude to all those involved, including my colleagues at both Silversea and RCL, but especially to the De Hoop Shipyard who overcame many challenges to complete the ship,” he added.

“It has been extremely rewarding to work on this project, and we are proud for having been able to deliver the ship in spite of the external challenges,” said Patrick Janssens, CEO of De Hoop Shipyard.

“The delivery ceremony marked a momentous moment for both parties, and delivering Silver Origin to Silversea’s Executives here in Rotterdam was a great pleasure.”

“We wish the cruise line every success for the future and we look forward to seeing this beautiful ship in the Galapagos Islands where she belongs.”