Saga Holidays buys 'classic' cruise liner; soaring demand from over-50s leads to Cunard deal.BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 23, 1996--Saga International Holidays Ltd., the Boston-based specialists in vacations for people aged 50 and over, has bought its own cruise liner liner /lin·er/ (lin´er) material applied to the inside of the walls of a cavity or container for protection or insulation of the surface. liner see teat cup liner. to meet growing demand from this sector of the market. The former Sagafjord, a five-star ship rated 16th in the world for quality out of 220 ships in an independent survey, has been acquired from Cunard. Currently on charter to a German operator and re-named Gripsholm, she will gain a new name under the Saga flag. Saga's $30 million investment will be used to create a product which will occupy a unique position in the international cruise holiday spectrum -- classic, quality cruising at affordable prices. And in a climate in which cruise companies are wooing ever-younger customers, Saga's cruise ship will be the only one in the world on which passengers under 50 are banned. Saga's American cruise customers will share the ship with customers of the Boston tour operator's United Kingdom parent company. The 24,474 ton-liner, which takes 620 passengers, will be taken over by Saga in spring 1997. She will operate a series of summer cruises in the Mediterranean, Scandinavia and the Baltic, operating out of the historical British port of Dover The Port Of Dover is the cross-channel port situated in Dover, south-east England. It is the nearest English port to France, at just 34 kilometres (21 miles) away. History Eastern Docks , before a winter refit. Announcing this acquisition, Saga Chairman Roger De Haan Roger De Haan CBE is the son of the late Sidney de haan, who created the Saga group of companies, mostly famous for selling holidays to the over 50s market. Roger took over Saga in 1984 when his father retired and then ran the company with his brother for a further twenty years, said that Saga had been selling cruise holidays on the world's leading lines for many years. "At present, demand is exceeding supply. Running our own ship is the only way to ensure that we can offer the number of quality berths which our customers require. "We sell holidays direct to our customers, unlike cruise lines
Name Headquarters A'rosa Europe NCL America America AIDA Cruises Europe American Cruise Lines America who sell mainly through travel agents. We have no need for costly offices at prestigious addresses which cruise companies often have around the world. "Our operating costs operating costs npl → gastos mpl operacionales consequently are far lower, and we will be bringing in spectacular prices for a product which will reflect much of the style and quality of service which are the essence of cruising in the classic manner. Not only that, but our pricing structure will include a no-tipping policy." The Berlitz 1996 Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships This is a list of cruise ships, both those in service and those that have since ceased to operate. Both cruise ships and cruiseferries are included in this list. (Ocean liners are not included on this list, see List of ocean liners. , undertaken when she was sailing under the Sagafjord name, gave the ship a five-star rating and a quality score of 132.6 compared to the Guide's No. 1 quality-rated liner which earned 136.8 points. The Guide's comments about the former Sagafjord, which entered service in 1965, include the following: "One of the most beautifully proportioned ships afloat... Quiet as a fine watch, this classic ship provides the refined life at sea for discriminating dis·crim·i·nat·ing adj. 1. a. Able to recognize or draw fine distinctions; perceptive. b. Showing careful judgment or fine taste: passengers... "The main lounge is among the best afloat for cocktail parties...large, fairly spacious suites and cabins with superb appointments all with excellent insulation. "Sumptuous sump·tu·ous adj. Of a size or splendor suggesting great expense; lavish: "He likes big meals, so I cook sumptuous ones" Anaïs Nin. dining room with its high central ceiling and grand entrance staircase is both a rarity and a real classic among ships today...High quality food and service." De Haan De Haan or de Haan may refer any of the following people or places:
The ship has 321 cabins of which 298 (93%) are outside. Said De Haan, "Some of the new ships coming on to the market are so large that you can spend two weeks on board and fail to meet a long-lost friend who's taken the same cruise. For our purpose, a 600-passenger capacity is ideal. The classic style of the public rooms and the quality of service we will deliver will enable us to sustain and build on the special ambiance am·bi·ance also am·bi·ence n. The special atmosphere or mood created by a particular environment: "The noir ambience is dominated by low-key lighting . . . that she is renowned for. "There has been a lot of development at the cheap-and-cheerful end of the cruise market, but typical Saga customers are looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a better product. We will be providing a higher quality cruise experience, in a beautiful and distinctive ship, but at prices far below those of the established cruise lines." CONTACT: Saga Holidays, Boston Sherry Bounnell, 617/262-2262 |
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