His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco joined the line to celebrate at Port Hercule
By
Rebecca Gibson |
His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco joined Silversea Cruises’ to watch as its new flagship Silver Muse was christened at Port Hercule in Monaco on 19 April 2017.
Silver Muse was officially named by Constanza Lefebvre, daughter of Silversea chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, in front of dignitaries and other invited guests. They included His Excellency Minister of State of the Principality, Serge Telle; His Excellency Archbishop of Monaco Barsi; master of ceremonies and CBS-TV anchore and news travel editor Peter Greenberg; Geoffrey Kent, founder of Abercrombie & Kent; and Gerald Lawless, chairman of WTCC.
In addition to the traditional ship blessing and champagne bottle-breaking, the ceremony included performances by the Sinfonietta Orchestra of Rome and renowned violinist Charlie Siem.
Monaco was chosen as the christening venue due to Silversea’s Monegasque history.
“The close ties between Silversea and the Principality of Monaco reflect not only our commitment to this beautiful region but also to the history and values to which we adhere,” said Lefebvre d'Ovidio, during the ceremony. “As the home of Silversea, Monaco was always the natural choice for the christening of our new flagship, Silver Muse, and it is with great pleasure that we can share this milestone with both the residents and guests of the Principality.”
HSH Prince Albert II also spoke during the ceremony. “On behalf of the Principality of Monaco, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Silver Muse, its crew and passengers,” he said. “She represents the next generation of cruise ships with respect to both fuel efficiency and energy-saving technology. We share with Silversea common values and principles surrounding responsible environmental practices, and the development of sustainable business activities.”
Built at Fincantieri’s Genoa Sestri Ponente yard, Silver Muse is Silversea’s ninth cruise ship and marks an evolution from Silver Spirit, which was delivered by the shipbuilder’s Ancona yard in 2009.
Weighing 40,700gt, the luxury vessel can accommodate 596 passengers and 411 crew members and offers a swimming pool, an exclusive Zàgara Beauty Spa, a casino, a gym, a 327-seat theatre and eight dining venues. The ship also offers guests the highest number of large suites – Silver, Royal, Grand and Owner’s – in the Silversea fleet, and the greatest number of connecting suites.
“As we continue to invest in our entire fleet, Silver Muse offers guests a taste of what is to come,” said Roberto Martinoli, CEO of Silversea. “Silver Muse represents an evolution of the Silversea hallmarks that set the company apart from the competition. With more open-air spaces and state-of-the-art facilities onboard, we are positive that both new and returning guests will enjoy unforgettable memories.”