British based cruise line Saga Cruises has ordered a new class cruise ship along with an option for a second. The new ship will be built in Germany and will continue the cruise lines intimate cruising concept.
The new class ship for Saga Cruises will expand the current fleet of Saga Sapphire and Saga Pearl 2. The ship will be built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany and will be delivered in Summer 2019. There is also an option for a second ship to be delivered in 2021.
The new ship will not follow the general trend of larger vessels over 150,000 gross tons and instead will be 55,900 gross tons. The vessel will be larger than any other ship in the fleet and the biggest ever built for Saga Cruises. The new ship will carry less than a 1,000 passengers but will offer plenty of new features.
Lance Batchelor, chief executive officer, Saga plc who announced the decision at the company’s half-year results said:
“The cruise operation remains at the heart of the Saga brand and demonstrates our commitment to deliver excellence in customer service and outstanding value. 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.”
It’s still early days for full details of the new ship but the cruise line has already released several renderings of onboard. A rendering of the entire ship has also been released but final details and features are still being planned so expect further details over the coming years.
Robin Shaw, chief executive, Saga Cruises, said:
“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.
The artist impressions have been well received and 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. Above all the new ships will continue to provide the quality and excellent service for which Saga is renowned.”
The cruise line revealed that around 540 staterooms will have a balcony and there will be choices for single cruisers too. There will also be single seating dining available throughout the ship. The yet to named vessel will 55,900 gross tons, around 234 feet long and will be delivered during Summer 2019. Let us know what you think of Saga’s upcoming new ship in the comments below.
