Silversea could take up an option on another ship if the 540-passenger Silver Spirit, which was launched this week, sells well.
Speaking during a two-night inaugural cruise from Monaco to Barcelona on Silver Spirit this week, president Amerigo Perraso said Silversea needs time to “digest” the new ship, but sales showed there is room for more growth.
Referring also to Yachts of Seabourn’s two new ships, Seabourn Odyssey, which launched in June 2009, and Seabourn Sojourn, which launches in June 2010, Perraso said: “There are now three new luxury ships on sale and if we can sell as we are, it shows there’s a big market and a lot of confidence.”
He said by the end of the year, Silversea would have achieved more than 70% of its 2010 revenue plan.
He said: “We are usually happy if we achieve 60%, so it shows how strong the market is.”
Perraso said it would be “several months” before a decision on a new ship was taken as he wants time to see how passengers like the bigger vessel.
The 36,009-ton Silver Spirit is about one-third larger than Silversea’s previously two bigger ships, Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper, which each weigh 28,258 tons and hold 382 passengers. The ship gives Silversea about 38% more capacity to sell in 2010.
He said: “There was concern that a ship for 540 passengers would be too big for us because it’s important to keep the human dimension. We have an option for a sister ship, which could be identical, or we could make some changes.”
Perraso admitted pressure on rates during 2009 had been good for customers but not so good for Silversea or the trade, but said the discounts had not been “so significant”, averaging just 10%.
Executive vice-president and chief operating officer Ken Watson said the first few months of 2009 had been difficult but Silversea had enjoyed rapid growth in the second half of the year, with record bookings each week.
Watson said: “People love to travel and haven’t stopped. We overcame September 11 and now we are overcoming economic issues.”
Silver Spirit takes on its first paying passengers in Barcelona today for a cruise to Lisbon, before making a debut transatlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.