Saga to add new cruise ships

The 55,900 gross ton vessels will span approximately 234 metres in length and 30 metres in width.

The Folkestone-based company has signed an agreement with Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany to build the liners, the first ready in 2019 with an option to build a second by 2021.

The new ship will be launched in 2019, with fewer than 1,000 passengers, to retain the intimacy and personal touch for which Saga is renowned, but with some new features including balconies for all cabins.

Although plans will be refined over the coming months, the ship is expected to feature around 540 suites and cabins, each with a private balcony. In addition, around 15% of the accommodation will be just for solo travellers, with a choice of single cabin grades.

The newbuild will also offer a variety of bars, speciality restaurants, al-fresco dining options, outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a spa, saunas, treatment rooms and beauty salon. This will help to reserve your place on the new Saga Cruises ship, and in doing so you will also receive 5 per cent discount on the cruise.

Lance Batchelor, Chief Executive Officer of 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”.

Research commissioned by Saga into the UK’s over 50s spending on travel and tourism, found that spending on cruising is expected to increase by 43% to £2.2 billion by 2020.

Shares in over-50s travel, insurance and financial products firm Saga climbed more than 3 per cent this morning after it reported a doubling in half year pretax profit to £101.3million. Almost a third (32%) of over 50s in work said they were planning to increase their spending on cruises after retirement. This, along with the launch of its motor panel, will be “important” for the future of the business, Batchelor said yesterday.

Saga, the over-50s holiday and insurance group, is set to buy two new cruise ships in the next six years after reporting a growth in trading and pre-tax profits. According to Daily Telegraph, demand for sailings on the ships is extremely high: they carried around 25,000 passengers previous year, with a 75 per cent repeat passenger rate.