Saga Cruises has ordered its first newbuild cruise ship, placing an order with German shipyard Meyer Werft for a vessel to be delivered in 2019. The deal also includes an option for a second cruise ship which would be delivered in 2021. It will measure 55,900 gt, 234m long and 30m wide
Up until now Saga Cruises has used refurbished secondhand acquisitions to provide vessels for its fleet. With increasingly limited availability of suitable secondhand tonnage, Saga has opted to go for a newbuild to meet its requirements.
Lance Batchelor, chief executive at Saga plc, said: “The cruise operation remains at the heart of the Saga brand. This investment will be transformational for the cruise business and for our cruise customers. The precise details of the new purpose-built ship will be finalised over the coming months but will retain the traditional features our customers cherish.”
Robin Shaw, chief executive, Saga Cruises, added: “Our plan for the first of our new modern and elegant cruise liners is sure to delight our existing passengers and we hope it will entice new passengers to cruise with us. We will retain an intimate small ship feel, for fewer than 1,000 passengers, a high crew to customer ratio, great public spaces and entertainment facilities and dining can be accommodated in a single sitting. We will continue to consult with our loyal cruise customers throughout the design and build to ensure they get ships that they have helped to make their own.”
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