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Meyer Werft Starts Work on First Ship for Saga Cruises

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Rendering courtesy Saga Cruises

Published Mar 1, 2018 5:22 PM by The Maritime Executive

On Wednesday, Meyer Werft announced that it has started cutting steel for the first purpose-built luxury ship ordered by Saga Cruises. The 1,000-passenger vessel, to be named Spirit of Discovery, will be delivered sometime next summer. Lance Batchelor, CEO of Saga Group and Tim Meyer, managing director of Meyer Werft together pushed the start button on a CNC cutting machine to start processing the first sheets of steel for the new ship.

This project reactivates Meyer Werft’s Building Dock I, which was not in use for building new hulls. With Dock I back in service, Meyer Werft says that it will be able to deliver three cruise ships in 2019-2020 rather than the two ships that were originally planned.

The Spirit of Discovery is the first of two ships from Meyer Werft for the English cruise line, and the second, the Spirit of Adventure, will be delivered in summer 2020. The sister ships will be tailored to the English market, and Saga says that they will feature the "design cues, cuisine and levels of service you expect in the world’s finest boutique hotels." 

Main dining room (Saga Cruises)

Spa (Saga Cruises)

Theater (Saga Cruises)

In 2019, Spirit of Discovery's destinations will include the Channel Islands, Norway, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, the Caribbean, Florida and New York. Prices start at about $330 per night for weeklong cruises, wine included. 

Saga's smallest ship is set to exit service after the 2018/2019 season. The 450-passenger Saga Pearl II has been carrying passengers since 1981 for a variety of operators, including Safmarine and Transocean Tours, and Saga acquired her at auction in 2009.