Silversea Cruises has officially named its newest vessel, Silver Endeavour, in a unique and appropriate way. The ship, billed as the most luxurious expedition ship in the world, was christened in Antarctica, using an ice-sculpted bottle for the momentous ceremony.
Silver Endeavor Christened in a Cool Way
The newest ship for Silversea Cruises, Silver Endeavor was officially named on November 19, 2022, bringing the cruise line’s fleet size to eleven.
The special occasion actually began several days earlier, on Tuesday, November 15, with the traditional blessing ceremony held at the Cape Horn Sub-Antarctic Center in Puerto Williams, Chile.
Festivities in Chile included the customary bagpipe performance, singing the Chilean and American national anthems, and the introduction of the ship’s godmother, British explorer, climate scientist, and the first woman to ever cross Antarctica alone, Felicity Aston.
“A source of great inspiration for our guests, we are honored to name Felicity Aston as the ship’s Godmother,” said Roberto Martinoli, President and CEO, Silversea Cruises. “Felicity is the perfect ambassador for Silversea; she shares the same unwavering sense of curiosity and adventure that unites all of our guests.”
“Being among the first to sail aboard Silver Endeavour, naming the ship in the company of such esteemed guests, and assuming the role of Godmother makes me incredibly proud,” said Aston.
“Today, exploration is not only about geographical discovery; it is also about finding new ideas, new inspiration, and new perspectives. Silver Endeavour will allow more people to become explorers and return home with new outlooks. She will be a source of self-enrichment, as people connect with the planet and each other. Fair winds and following seas to all those who sail on her.”
Unique Naming in Antarctica
Silver Endeavor‘s official christening took place within Antarctic waters. The official naming on Saturday, November 19, was in the iceberg-filled, 6.8-mile (11-kilometer) Lemaire Channel off the continent’s mainland, one of the top cruising destinations for Antarctica for its scenic beauty and protected waters that provide calm, beautiful vistas.
For the christening, instead of breaking a bottle of champagne on the ship’s bow, an ice sculpture carved as a magnum-sized bottle (equivalent to two standard bottles) was smashed on the hull, while guests observed the historic moment from Zodiacs and toasted with their own glasses of champagne.
“We are excited to officially welcome Silver Endeavour to the Royal Caribbean Group fleet, bringing our global fleet to 64 ships,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group.
“Silver Endeavour will continue to strengthen Silversea’s position as the leading ultra-luxury and expedition cruise line, allowing us to grow capacity while building upon Royal Caribbean Group’s mission of delivering the best vacations in the world, responsibly.”
Using a carved ice “bottle” is a quirky example of responsible tourism in Antarctica, as no shattered glass or champagne fell into the water to christen the ship.
About Silver Endeavor
The new ship was originally built in 2021 as Crystal Endeavor for the now-defunct Crystal Cruises and was purchased for Silversea Cruises when that line declared bankruptcy in early 2022.
Silver Endeavor is designed for polar expeditions and features an industry-leading Zodiac-to-guest ratio along with kayaks and other onboard expedition craft. Cutting-edge navigation and exploration technology includes a remote gimbal camera system, which can capture high-quality images from as far away as 3.1 miles (5 km).
At the same time, however, guests onboard will luxuriate in a mega-yacht experience, complete with a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1, butler service for every suite, and amazingly spacious accommodations as well as elegant public spaces that provide outstanding views.
Silver Endeavor also features a fitness center, beauty salon, wellness spa, multiple dining venues, glass-enclosed pool deck, and a sophisticated cigar lounge.
The 20,449-gross-ton ship has a guest capacity of just 200, ensuring an intimate, exclusive experience for everyone aboard, and will offer a range of polar itineraries both in Antarctica and around Iceland and Greenland, as well as British Isles, northern Canada, and similar destinations.
