International Cruises, Saga Cruises

SAGA CRUISES

        Saga Cruises is a British cruise line which also owns Spirit of Adventure. Saga Ruby and former Saga Rose are both legendary ships and were the most luxurious cruise ships in the world in the 80s of the last century. They reflect the beauty of ship design, where curves dominate instead of straight lines. This feature enables the ships to overcome the fierce waves when crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

        Saga Cruises provides traditional cruise experiences to passengers over 50 years old (those below 50 are not accepted), and everything onboard resembles a classic ocean liner style. Their cruises travel to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, as well as longer voyages such as World Cruises and South America Adventures.
 

Ship(s) in Operation
 

Ship

Saga Ruby

Saga Sapphire

Entered Service

1973 May

1982 January

Builder

Swan Hunter Shipbuilders, Newcastle (England)

Bremer Vulkan, Bremen (Germany)

Original Cost

US$35 million

US$120 million

Registry

Valletta, Malta

Valletta, Malta

Gross Tonnage

24492 tons

37301 tons

Length x Beam x Draft

191.1 x 24.4 x 8.2 (m), 626.8 x 80.0 x 26.9 (ft)

199.6 x 28.5 x 8.3 (m), 654.7 x 93.5 x 27.2 (ft)

Speed

20 knots

19 knots

Passenger Decks

10

10

Number of Cabins (Inside/Oceanview/Balcony)

382 (60, 288, 34)

382 (56, 298, 28)

Passengers
(Standard Occupancy / Full Occupancy)

661 / 661

762 / 762

Passenger Space Ratio
(Standard Occupancy / Full Occupancy)

37.05 / 37.05

48.95 / 48.95

Total Crew

380

415

Crew to Passenger Ratio
(Standard Occupancy / Full Occupancy)

1.74 / 1.74

1.84 / 1.84

Navigation Officers

British

British

IMO Number, Call Sign

7214715, 9HA2415

7822457, 9HOF8

Sister Ships

/

/

History

1973-1983: Vistafjord (Norwegian America Line)
1983-1999: Vistafjord (Cunard Line)
1999-2004: Caronia (Cunard Line)
2004- : Saga Ruby (Saga Cruises)

1982-1999: Europa <V> (Hapag-Lloyd Kreuzfahrten)
1999-2000: SuperStar Europe (Star Cruises)
2000-2002: SuperStar Aries (Star Cruises)
2002-2002: Ocean Voyager (Orient Lines)
     [planned but never operated]
2002-2004: SuperStar Aries (Star Cruises)
2004-2008: Holiday Dream (Pullmantur Cruceros)
2008-2012: Bleu de France
     (CDF Croisières de France)
2012- : Saga Sapphire (Saga Cruises)

 

Former Ship(s)

 

Ship

Saga Pearl II

Entered Service

1981 December

Builder

Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Kiel (Germany)

Original Cost

US$55 million

Registry

Nassau, The Bahamas

Gross Tonnage

18591 tons

Length x Beam x Draft

164.4 x 22.6 x 6.1 (m), 539.2 x 74.1 x 20.0 (ft)

Speed

18 knots

Passenger Decks

7

Number of Cabins (Inside/Oceanview/Balcony)

253 (70, 148, 35)

Passengers
(Standard Occupancy / Full Occupancy)

446 / 446

Passenger Space Ratio
(Standard Occupancy / Full Occupancy)

41.68 / 41.68

Total Crew

252

Crew to Passenger Ratio
(Standard Occupancy / Full Occupancy)

1.77 / 1.77

Navigation Officers

British

IMO Number, Call Sign

8000214, C6SI2

Sister Ships

Astor (Transocean Kreuzfahrten)

History

1981-1984: Astor (Hadag Cruise Line)
1984-1984: Astor (T.F.C. Cruise Line)
1984-1985: Astor <I> (Safmarine)
1985-1990: Arkona (Deutsche Seereederei)
1990-2002: Arkona (Seetours)
2002-2009: Astoria (Transocean Tours)
2009-2009: Quest for Adventure (Spirit of Adventure) [planned but not operated]
2009-2010: [laid up]
2010-2012: Saga Pearl II (Saga Cruises)
2012- : Quest for Adventure (Spirit of Adventure)

 

 

Ship

Saga Rose

Saga Opal

Entered Service

1965 October

1980 June

Builder

Societe Nouvelle des Forges et Chantiers de la
Méditerranée, La Seyne-sur-Mer (France)

Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, Kiel (Germany)

Original Cost

US$30 million

unknown

Registry

Nassau, The Bahamas

Nassau, The Bahamas

Gross Tonnage

24528 tons

9570 tons

Length x Beam x Draft

188.9 x 24.5 x 8.3 (m), 619.6 x 80.4 x 27.2 (ft)

139.3 x 17.5 x 4.8 (m), 456.9 x 57.4 x 15.7 (ft)

Speed

20 knots

15 knots

Passenger Decks

9

6

Number of Cabins

(Inside/Oceanview/Balcony)

323 (34, 265, 24)

206 (48, 158, 0)

Passengers
(Standard Occupancy / Full Occupancy)

583 / 583

348 / 348

Passenger Space Ratio
(Standard Occupancy / Full Occupancy)

42.07 / 42.07

27.50 / 27.50

Total Crew

350

180

Crew to Passenger Ratio
(Standard Occupancy / Full Occupancy)

1.67 / 1.67

1.93 / 1.93

Navigation Officers

British

British

IMO Number, Call Sign

6416043, C6ZU

7904889, /

Sister Ships

/

/

History

1965-1983: Sagafjord (Norwegian America Line)
1983-1996: Sagafjord (Cunard Line)
1996-1997: Gripsholm (Transocean Tours)
1997-2009: Saga Rose (Saga Cruises)
2009-2010: [laid up]

2010: sold for scrap in Jiangyin, China

1980-1982: Berlin (Peter Deilmann Reederei)
1982-1985: Princess Mahsuri (Blue Funnel Cruises)
1985-2004: Berlin (Peter Deilmann Reederei)
2004-2005: [laid up]
2005-2005: Orange Melody (Metropolis Tur)
2005-2005: Saga Opal (Saga Cruises)
     [planned but never operated]
2005-2012: Spirit of Adventure (Spirit of Adventure)
2012- : FTI Berlin (FTI Cruises)

 

Ship

Saga Pearl

Entered Service

1990 / 1996 April

Builder

Okean Shipyard, Nikolajev (Ukraine) / T. Mariotti S.p.A., Genoa (Italy)

Original Cost

(originally built as a naval ship)

Registry

Nassau, The Bahamas

Gross Tonnage

12449 tons

Length x Beam x Draft

133.0 x 20.0 x 5.8 (m), 436.2 x 65.6 x 19.0 (ft)

Speed

16 knots

Passenger Decks

6

Number of Cabins (Inside/Oceanview/Balcony)

178 (52, 114, 12)

Passengers
(Standard Occupancy / Full Occupancy)

352 / 352

Passenger Space Ratio
(Standard Occupancy / Full Occupancy)

35.37 / 35.37

Total Crew

160

Crew to Passenger Ratio
(Standard Occupancy / Full Occupancy)

2.20 / 2.20

Navigation Officers

British

IMO Number, Call Sign

9144196, C6NP5

Sister Ships

/

History

1990-1996: Okean (Soviet navy)
1996-2003: Minerva (Swan Hellenic)
2003-2005: Saga Pearl (Saga Cruises) / Explorer II (Abercrombie & Kent)
2005-2008: Alexander von Humboldt <I> (Phoenix Reisen) / Explorer II (Voyages of Discovery)
2008- : Minerva (Swan Hellenic)

Back to International Cruises