Prior to Christmas Saga Cruises’ Saga Sapphire departed Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam after receiving extensive repair and refurbishment works as well as a scheduled Class Survey over a 19 day period. The 199.63 metre long vessel returned to service to embark passengers at Dover before heading for the Canary Islands in time for Christmas.

As is customary with cruise ship repair projects, the Saga Sapphire contract involved a tight time frame that required precision planning from Damen’s project management team. The most challenging item on Damen’s to-do list was replacing the vessel’s two sewage plants. Other work undertaken included general repairs to the vessel’s piping, electrical and hydraulic systems. Damen Shiprepair used its biggest dry dock on site, the 307 metre number 8 dock, to accommodate the 37,049gt/1981 built Saga Sapphire during the repair works.

The ship returned to Southampton from her festive cruise on 10th January.