On 30th September the UK’s Saga Cruises announced plans to introduce a taste of 21st century cruising to its fleet with the order for a new ship from renowned cruise ship builder Meyer Werft of Germany. The investment follows expectations that consumer cruise spending is predicted to increase by 43% by 2020.

The newbuild will be delivered in summer 2019 with an option also available for a second for delivery in 2021. The newbuild will be for fewer than 1,000 passengers and so will retain the intimacy and personal touch for which Saga is celebrated, but with some new features including balconies for all cabins. The new flagship will retain an intimate smallship feel, a high crew to customer ratio, great public spaces and entertainment facilities and dining can be accommodated in a single sitting.

Plans for the ship will be refined over the coming months but it is anticipated that she will have some 540 suites and cabins, each with a balcony. Around 15% of cabins will be designed for single occupancy and there will be single sitting dining throughout a range of restaurants as well as a variety of bars, speciality restaurants and al-fresco dining options. There will also be outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a spa, saunas, treatment rooms and beauty salon.

The profile of the 55,900gt/234m long and 30.8m wide ship shows influences from the present Saga Sapphire, a Saga ruby style funnel and a profile resemblance to royal Olympic Cruises’ 24,427gt/2000 built Olympic Explorer and Olympic voyager (now the Celestyal odyssey and Chinese Taishan). On 28th May 2016 the 18,627gt/1981 built Saga Pearl II will offer a cruise with difference, sailing non-stop on a 7-night voyage sampling the delights of the British Isles and Irish coastlines.