Silversea cruise ship Silver Muse launches: New luxury ship christened in Monaco

Silver Muse, the latest and largest ship from ultra-luxury cruise line Silversea, has just been christened in a glamorous ceremony in Monaco, with the lights of Monte Carlo twinkling across the harbour in the background. A last-minute rain shower and sudden chilly end to a sunny Mediterranean day did little to dampen the mood, as champagne was served and an orchestra played.

Silver Muse is the company's ninth ship and boldest venture to date, and Silversea's first new ship since 2009. It was built in the Fincantieri shipyards in Trieste in Italy. The mid-sized ship clocks in at 40,700 gross tonnes and accommodates 596 guests and 411 crew.

Among the guests attending the 19 April ceremony was HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, who wished the new ship fair winds and fair seas. Also present were Silversea Cruises' Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio and company CEO Roberto Martinoli.

The chairman's 17-year-old daughter Costanza, named the ship's godmother, undertook the christening honours by breaking a bottle of champagne on the bow. His Excellency Bernard Barsi, the Archbishop of Monaco, performed a traditional religious blessing for the safety of the vessel and its crew and passengers.

Italian family-owned Silversea is intending Silver Muse to redefine the ultra-luxury ocean travel experience.

"We're not swayed by ephemeral trends and opulence," said Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio in a short speech. "We stand for tradition, luxury, personalised cuisine and service, elegance and Italian style." The chairman added that Silver Muse would only be a taste of things to come for Silversea.

Silversea has a reputation for small-ship intimacy and spacious, all-suite accommodation, but Silver Muse offers more high-end suites than any of its other ships, as well as the most family-friendly connecting suites.

It also has eight dining venues, which the company says is more than any other luxury ship afloat. In a departure from tradition, there is no main dining venue.

Some of the restaurants are exclusive to Silver Muse, including Kaiseki sushi bar and teppanyaki grill, Asian fusion restaurant Indochine and signature seafood and grill venue Atlantide. Spaccanapoli caters to a trend towards more informal shipboard dining with its homemade, Neapolitan-style pizzas.