Taking influence from the success of her sister ship Silver Muse, Silver Moon will welcome guests in whispered luxury when the ship becomes the ninth vessel in Silversea’s fleet on October 30th, 2020. Many of the same craftspeople who contributed to the build of Silver Muse have plied their skills to Silver Moon too, bringing expertise from around the world while preserving Silversea’s elegant Italian heritage.
During the peak months of Silver Moon’s construction at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, over 1,000 skilled professionals were working on the ship simultaneously, with over 390 companies contributing to her build. Silversea Cruises spotlights just some of the talented craftspeople who were involved in Silver Moon’s build.
“Each and every element of Silver Moon’s interior spaces has been crafted to enhance guests’ experiences and comfort,” says Barbara Muckermann, Silversea’s Chief Marketing Officer. “We value the craftsmanship of our distinguished suppliers—each of whom was selected for their commitment to exceptional quality. From our Savoir beds to our Lalique crystal artworks, the fine details of our new ship is reflected throughout our entire cruise experience. Silver Moon will push boundaries in the world of travel and I look forward to welcoming our guests aboard in the near future, as they discover the authentic beauty of the world in a new standard of comfort.”
HIRSCH-BEDNER ASSOCIATES – S.A.L.T. VENUES
Among the most innovative features of Silver Moon, Silversea’s new culinary programme, S.A.L.T. (Sea and Land Taste), will inspire guests in three dedicated venues—S.A.L.T. Lab, S.A.L.T. Kitchen, and S.A.L.T. Bar—which were designed and built by multi-award winning design firm Hirsch-Bedner Associates. Work on Silver Moon’s S.A.L.T. venues took 18 months from initial brief to completion, with approximately 2,740 man-hours invested by craftspeople in London, Miami, and various locations in Italy. Across the three venues, around 330m2 of carpet was used, as well as 220m2 of tiles, 160 spotlighting fixtures, 137 chairs plus banquette seating, 81 tables, and one purpose-built wine cellar.
“Silver Moon will be the first of Silversea’s ships to incorporate an entire ecosystem for culinary discovery and the S.A.L.T. programme is an innovation for the world of cruise,” says Matteo Pace, Associate at HBA. “Creating a synergy between the ship’s three S.A.L.T. venues, which evolves from day to night, and having such a strong sociable element to the immersive culinary experiences is completely unique. The brief was about finding a balance between land and sea, bringing the two together through the world’s culinary influences. Each space needed a bespoke design with a clear connection, driven by the overall flow. Tactile and surprising in their design, the spaces needed to bring to life places and personalities, and be experiences within themselves. The S.A.L.T. programme will transport travellers on a journey of discovery from port to port, which is reflected in the design of the venues, with lots of unique objects that draw on influences from all over the world. The colour palettes used in each venue enhance the guest journey, with lighter tones employed in the communal areas and cooking spaces in S.A.L.T. Lab; rich details and accents in the main restaurant, S.A.L.T. Kitchen; and a darker, more mysterious feel for S.A.L.T. Bar, evolving the guest experience as the day goes on.”
GEM – PUBLIC VENUES AND SUITES
Accommodating just 596 guests in 298 ocean-view suites – 96% of which have a private veranda – and with a crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1.45, Silver Moon will maintain the small-ship intimacy and spacious accommodation which are the hallmarks of the Silversea experience. As for Silver Muse, GEM was appointed as the architectural firm tasked with designing the public spaces and suites aboard Silver Moon.
“In true Silversea style, Silver Moon certainly whispers luxury—just like her sister ship Silver Muse,” says Lorenzo Mortola of GEM. “Beyond the introduction of the S.A.L.T. programme, the overall guest experience has been enhanced, with guest feedback from Silver Muse informing the new ship’s design. Many venues have been enriched aboard Silver Moon: the enlarged La Dame Restaurant will now accommodate 56 diners and is decorated with 11 handcrafted Lalique crystal panels; the popular Atlantide Restaurant has been increased aboard Silver Moon, with a capacity of 220; the Connoisseur’s Corner now includes a sophisticated outdoor area; and the Dolce Vita Lounge, at the heart of the ship, will also enjoy a new layout, with a warm atmosphere that changes throughout the day. Guests will experience various other enrichments as they explore the ship. Each enrichment will contribute to Silver Moon’s status as one of the most luxurious and comfortable ships afloat.”
LALIQUE – HANDCRAFTED CRYSTAL ARTWORKS
Another bespoke embellishment aboard Silver Moon, 11 handmade crystal artworks by Lalique adorn the walls of La Dame Restaurant. A team of around 15, including a designer from the Lalique Interior Design Studio, an engineer, and a team of specialised Lalique artisans, completed the project over an 18-month period. Lalique’s craftspeople spent approximately 30 hours on producing each bespoke panel, applying their ancestral know-how in the company’s historic French factory, which dates back to 1922. Before being installed on Silver Moon, each of the crystal panels underwent two essential stages during the manufacturing process. During the hot glass process, Lalique’s glassmakers braved extreme temperatures in the workshop to gather, clean, shape, and reheat the crystal. Next, in the cold glass process, the artisans applied unwavering attention to detail to sculpt and finish each creation, forming a characteristic contrast between clear and matte crystal—a hallmark of Lalique’s design.
“Both the Lalique and Silversea teams showed remarkable prowess during the accomplishment of this project,” says Silvio Denz, Chairman and CEO of Lalique. “We are thrilled that these entirely bespoke Lalique interior crystal panels will be sailing aboard the ultra-luxurious cruise ship Silver Moon, enriching to the unique cruise experience for Silversea’s guests.”
SAVOIR – AMONG THE BEST BEDS IN THE WORLD
Silver Moon will be one of the most comfortable ships at sea, with unusually high space-to-guest ratios and the personalised service of butlers in every suite, yet, in the ship’s top 10 suites – four Owner’s Suites, four Grand Suites, and two Royal Suites – travellers will experience a distinctive level of comfort even as they sleep. Widely considered as the world’s most illustrious maker of beds, Savoir has crafted 10 bespoke beds for Silver Moon. A masterpiece of longevity and comfort, each bed was handcrafted by Savoir’s artisan craftspeople in the company’s bedworks in Wales, with each piece taking over 30 hours to complete. As well as hand-teased horsehair and soft lambswool, the 10 beds comprise 72kg of needled cotton, 72kg layered cotton, 30kg wool, 32,560 mattress spring units, and 720 tufts. Each bespoke mattress offers dual tension, meaning guests can choose between firm support on one side and soft on the other. The result is perfect support and a rejuvenating night’s sleep. Each element of the beds – the box springs, the mattresses, and the toppers – were signed and dated by the craftsperson who created it, symbolising the ultimate mark of pride in one’s craftsmanship.
“Savoir has a rich history as a bed provider for the world’s finest hotels and luxury cruise ships, starting with The Savoy,” says Alistair Hughes, Managing Director of Savoir. “We are thrilled to work with Silversea Cruises to offer guests the bespoke comfort of a Savoir bed on board Silver Moon. Like all our beds, the handcrafted Savoir toppers and mattresses will offer guests the ultimate cloud-like comfort.”
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