Silver Nova: This is the name of the first cruise ship from the ultra-luxury travel brand Silversea Cruises®
Silver Nova: This is the name of the first cruise ship from the ultra-luxury travel brand Silversea Cruises®, which was developed as part of the innovative new building project “Project Evolution” and the construction of which has just started in the Meyer shipyard in Papenburg. As the first hybrid luxury cruise ship that emits no emissions in port, the Silver Nova, which will be delivered in summer 2023, is revolutionary and Silversea will take on a leading role in the field of sustainable cruising in the future. On November 18, the management team at Silversea and Meyer Werft celebrated the start of construction of the Silver Nova with the traditional steel cutting ceremony.
The construction of the Silver Nova, like the Nova-class ships planned for the future, shows Silversea’s continued efforts to provide travelers with an ultra-luxury experience while protecting the unique destinations and locations they visit.
With its hybrid energy sources, the Silver Nova is an absolute novelty in the cruise industry, because it enables locally emission-free operation in the ports through the use of fuel cells and batteries. The Silver Nova uses liquefied natural gas (LNG) as its main fuel. The new hybrid technology is not only effective in the port, but also reduces overall greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent compared to the previous ship class, the Muse class.
SUSTAINABILITY AT SEA – Silver Nova
Silver Nova will be one the most sustainable ships ever built. Not only will she feature an innovative mix of the most advanced sustainable technologies, but Silver Nova will be the first hybrid, luxury cruise ship free of local emissions while in port.

“Our Nova-class ships represent a significant investment in unprecedented technological solutions. With them we come a great deal closer to our goal of protecting the environment without sacrificing comfort or luxury,” says Roberto Martinoli, President and CEO of Silversea Cruises. “The Silver Nova is a manifestation of Silversea and the Royal Caribbean Group’s long-term commitment to sustainability.”
“Sustainability is the future of luxury travel and the name Silver Nova stands for the unique, innovative luxury of Silversea,” adds Barbara Muckermann, Chief Commercial Officer. “Silversea is already a leader in eco-friendly travel and with Silver Nova we are continuing on this path to meet the expectations of today’s and tomorrow’s luxury travelers.”
In line with the company’s commitment and progress in climate-neutral construction, the Silver Nova in Papenburg is being built by Meyer Werft, one of the largest and most modern shipyards in the world. One focus of Meyer Werft is on developing environmentally friendly and energy-efficient technologies together with customers and suppliers.
“We are excited to begin building this innovative ship and to continue our longstanding partnership with the Royal Caribbean Group. This is a very special day for us because it is the first time that a Silversea ship has been built in our shipyard, ”says Bernard Meyer, Managing Director of Meyer Werft.
One of the sustainable features of the Silver Nova and all future Nova-class ships is a micro-car gasification system that reduces the volume of waste on board, resulting in lower combustion emissions. In addition, the ship class achieved an Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), which is around 25% better than the applicable requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The shore power supply enables the ship to switch off its main generators in selected harbors and connect them to the energy supply on land, thereby reducing local emissions on board to zero. Overall, the pioneering hydrodynamic ship design and optimized innovation technology help reduce the ship’s impact on the environment.
To provide passengers with an ultra-luxurious experience with plenty of space, the Silver Nova is one of the most spacious cruise ships ever built. In concrete terms, this means a room-to-guest ratio of 75 GT per passenger – the highest in the Silversea fleet. In addition, travelers can expect one of the most personal services at sea – with a ratio of 1: 1.3 between crew and guests – as well as a separate butler service for all suites. The Silver Nova has a travel capacity of 728 guests and a gross tonnage of 54,700 tons.
The Silver Nova will be delivered in summer 2023. Silversea Loyalty Program members, the Venetian Society, and travel agents will have pre-sale access from December 16, 2021. General sales will open on January 6, 2022.
Here you can find more information about the new Silver Nova.
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