Silversea Cruises’ choice of Ger­many’s Meyer Werft for a pair of cruiseships breaks a long-standing relationship with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, where it has two newbuildings on order.

Silversea, in which Royal Caribbean Cruises took a 66.7% stake costing $1bn four months ago, has signed a memorandum of understanding for the Evolution class ships, as well as a contract with Dutch shipbuilder De Hoop for a new expedition cruiseship to be named Silver Origin.