New Ship

[Topsham]

New ship for Saga. Meyerweft due 2019

 

Roughly same size as HAL S Class. 55,900 gt. 999 passengers, 550 balcony (a lot of singles). Larger space per passenger better than the new Viking Star.

[Topsham]

A full image of the ship.

[sppunk]

Hopefully she avoids the Star's exploding glass shower wall issues and mechanical failures too. (What a disaster that line is)

[Topsham]

The new Saga ship is being built by Meyer Werft.... nothing to do with Viking Star owners or the builders at Fincantieri. Of course mechanical problem can come with ANY ship...even the with best! ;-)

[foodsvcmgr]

I like the fairly traditional look of the ship, particularly the funnel which is based on SAGA ROSE.

 

Looks like a design that HAL could easily adapt if/when they opt to build a replacement for PRINSENDAM.

 

I find it interesting that Saga can contract for this ship when the major lines claim that nothing under 95-100,000 tons and 2000+ pax is capable of generating a profit.

[InTheWASide]

I like the fairly traditional look of the ship, particularly the funnel which is based on SAGA ROSE.

 

 

 

Looks like a design that HAL could easily adapt if/when they opt to build a replacement for PRINSENDAM.

 

 

 

I find it interesting that Saga can contract for this ship when the major lines claim that nothing under 95-100,000 tons and 2000+ pax is capable of generating a profit.

 

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but I believe Saga's pricing is much closer to that of Crystal, Oceania, etc and as such they can generate profit from smaller ships as most is upfront in cruise fare.

 

If prices are more "typical HAL" in nature though it is a good question.

[Topsham]

Saga is successful, but does everything just the opposite from most cruise lines.

 

Cruise costs are kept relatively high. All inclusive. Tips included. Insurance Included. Travel to the ship included ( within UK). Portage included. No extra charges in speciality restaurants. Bar/wine charges are very low. Not known for shopping on board.... other than a small boutique for 'emergencies'. No casino. A lot of single cabins. Single dining sitting. Formal 2 nights per week. 2 informal and three casual. Evening shows.... not big events, but enough to make a good evening. Good classic music concert a couple of times a week. Brilliant jazz band on many cruises. It is all what you would remember on old style cruising... from 20 to 30 years ago. It is want the passengers want. Oh... if you want to bring wine of alcohol on board... you are more than welcome. Officers mostly British... and one Dutch.... (ex HAL) and Filippino crew. Crew just about the same as HAL... recognize faces Saga on HAL and vice versa. Not stuffy... very relaxed. Just what you would expect for passenger from the 50+ age group.

[bishop84]

So, with Sage going for new builds who is likely to take the remaining S Class ships when they become available?

[Topsham]

So, with Sage going for new builds who is likely to take the remaining S Class ships when they become available?

 

 

Thompsons? Louis?

 

 

 

Saga would never take for any HAL ships... apart from PRINSENDAM. They looked at the ship... several years ago. The price was too high. On top of that she would have to go back Royal Viking style... and back to single sitting. Too expensive.

[bishop84]

Thompsons? Louis?

 

Saga would never take for any HAL ships... apart from PRINSENDAM. They looked at the ship... several years ago. The price was too high. On top of that she would have to go back Royal Viking style... and back to single sitting. Too expensive.

 

True, but there were reports of them visiting an 'S' Class ship to evaluate it.

 

For other companies I think Thomson are sorted with their tonnage plans with ex-RCCL and Celebrity Cruises ships heading their way. This will have a knock on effect with Celestyal Cruises (formerly Louis) as they will have to absorb or dispose of the tonnage they have on charter to Thomson.

There are a few other opportunities so I guess we wait and see and speculate until HAL announces their plans :rolleyes:

[cruisemom42]

Saga is successful, but does everything just the opposite from most cruise lines.

 

Cruise costs are kept relatively high. All inclusive. Tips included. Insurance Included. Travel to the ship included ( within UK). Portage included. No extra charges in speciality restaurants. Bar/wine charges are very low. Not known for shopping on board.... other than a small boutique for 'emergencies'. No casino. A lot of single cabins. Single dining sitting. Formal 2 nights per week. 2 informal and three casual. Evening shows.... not big events, but enough to make a good evening. Good classic music concert a couple of times a week. Brilliant jazz band on many cruises. It is all what you would remember on old style cruising... from 20 to 30 years ago. It is want the passengers want. Oh... if you want to bring wine of alcohol on board... you are more than welcome. Officers mostly British... and one Dutch.... (ex HAL) and Filippino crew. Crew just about the same as HAL... recognize faces Saga on HAL and vice versa. Not stuffy... very relaxed. Just what you would expect for passenger from the 50+ age group.

 

Interesting. Sounds much like the small line (one small ship of 350 pax) I like. I would think it's a bit more of a niche market approach than HAL would go for, however.

[Topsham]

True, but there were reports of them visiting an 'S' Class ship to evaluate it.

 

For other companies I think Thomson are sorted with their tonnage plans with ex-RCCL and Celebrity Cruises ships heading their way. This will have a knock on effect with Celestyal Cruises (formerly Louis) as they will have to absorb or dispose of the tonnage they have on charter to Thomson.

There are a few other opportunities so I guess we wait and see and speculate until HAL announces their plans :rolleyes:

 

 

 

Yes, Saga did evaluate a ship from HAL... but it was PRINSENDAM, not the S Class. They knew that the S Class would not work because the reasons... not enough room for single sitting... and they are not interested in over 1200 passengers.

 

Thompson... I must wonder what will they do get rid of the old NOORDAM and Nw AMSTERDAM. I have a better idea... give the NOORDAM back to HAL. Good refit and I'd be happy to sail in her again!

 

Joking aside, I wonder what will happen in tonnage in the future. I can't see any buyer for second hand ships like ALURE OF TH SEAS or QUEEN MARY 2. Nothing else to do or run them into the ground and then scrap them.

[Topsham]

SAGA, a niche line with one small 350 passenger ship and on for 750. But much more with a niche line. Almost of 40% of passengers in the UK book through Saga Holidays! If you to book for any cruise in world on any cruise line.... but if you want to book on the two Saga ships... you must book through.

 

He bit of history...Saga Group

 

 

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Saga Group Plc

 

SAGA Group logo

"Nothing is too much trouble"

 

 

 

Type

Public

 

Traded as

LSE: SAGA

 

Industry

Insurance, Travel, Financial Services, Healthcare

 

Founded

1959

 

Headquarters

Folkestone, Kent, UK

 

 

Key people

Andrew Goodsell, Non-Executive Chairman

Lance Batchelor, Group Chief Executive

 

Revenue

£1,257.9 million (2014)[1]

 

 

Operating income

£160.3 million (2014)[1]

 

 

Net income

£109.6 million (2014)[1]

 

Website

http://www.saga.co.uk

 

Saga is a British company focused on serving the needs of those aged 50 and over. It has 2.7 million customers. The company operates from several sites. All are in the UK, four in Folkestone, Kent at Middelburg Square, Enbrook Park, Cheriton Park and Ross Way; the fifth at the Eurokent Business park in Ramsgate, Kent, and the newest at Priory Square in Hastings, Sussex.[2][3][4] It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

 

 

 

 

History[edit]

 

Sidney De Haan founded the company. His son Roger De Haan took over in 1984, after his father's retirement. The Group Non-Executive Chairman is Andrew Goodsell. In May 2014, Andrew announced that Lance Batchelor - formerly head of Domino's Pizza - would be taking the role of CEO of the Saga Group ahead of a possible IPO.

 

Saga was acquired by staff (20%) backed by the private equity firm Charterhouse in 2004. Saga merged with The AA (owned by CVC and Permira) to form Acromas Holdings. Acromas is approx 20% owned by staff, 35% Charterhouse, 20% Permira, 20% CVC and 5% others.

 

In May 2014, Saga Group successfully made its debut on the London Stock Exchange as a Public Company, and therefore changed its name to Saga PLC.[5]

 

Operations[edit]

Saga Holidays provides package holidays and tours across the globe. It owns and operates the cruise ships MS Saga Pearl and MS Saga Sapphire and also owns and operates the Bel Jou Hotel in St Lucia, as well as Titan Travel.

Saga Services provides a wide range of Insurance products - Motor, Home, Travel, Caravan, Commercial Van, Pet, Private Medical, Life Insurance, Motorhome and legal services.

Saga Personal Finance provides savings accounts, credit cards, travel money, financial advice, equity release, share dealing, annuities, life assurance & long term care funding advice.

Allied Healthcare (not to be confused with Allied Healthcare Products Inc.) is a sister company providing domiciliary care nationwide (after the acquisitions of Nestor and Allied Healthcare). It provides Home care, including respite care and live-in care

Clinical services, including paediatrics, PEG feeding, and ventilator care at home

Nursing services at home

Specialist services, including learning disabilities support

Healthcare staffing and locum services, providing doctors, dentists, nurses and other healthcare staff to public and private organisations

 

 

MetroMail is a direct mail business that was acquired by the Saga Group in 1989. Although the acquisition was planned primarily to satisfy Saga's own direct mail needs, the company was expanded to compete for business from other customers in 2000 from its facility in County Durham.

Saga used to operate a telecommunications business, but this was sold in 2010 to The Phone Co-op.

 

Magazine[edit]

 

Saga operates a subscription magazine, Saga Magazine, claiming a circulation figure of over 500,000 and a readership of some one million per month. Founded by Paul Bach, under his editorship it became Britain's biggest-selling monthly magazine.[7]