Ultra-luxury cruise line Silversea Cruises has gone forward with plans to expand its fleet, inking a Memorandum of Understanding with shipbuilder Meyer Werft to build two ‘Evolution Class’ ships and signing a contract with Shipyard De Hoop to construct a new 100-guest expedition vessel to be called Silver Origin.
The strategy comes a few months after Silversea Cruises was partially acquired by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Under the MOU, the German shipyard will deliver the first of the two new ‘Evolution Class’ ships in 2022; the specific size of the vessels has not yet been revealed, nor have the names. The agreement with the Dutch yard will see Silver Origin expected to enter service in March 2020, operating Silversea’s Galapagos Islands program currently sailed by Silver Galapagos.
“We are delighted to have entered into an agreement with Meyer Werft on the Silver Evolution series and De Hoop for Silver Origin,” said Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Silversea’s Executive Chairman. “With our guests in mind, we are pushing the boundaries of ultra-luxury cruising, as well as expedition cruising in the Galápagos Islands and beyond, redefining the concept of immersive travel.”
“We are excited to get to work helping Silversea grow and realise its ambitions,” said Richard D. Fain, Chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., which finalised its two-thirds acquisition of Silversea earlier this year.
“There is tremendous potential in the ultra-luxury and expedition markets of the cruise industry, and we believe discerning travellers will embrace the exciting designs Silversea is imagining for them.”
The agreements are subject to certain contingencies which are expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2019.