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Saga CEO Bachelor upbeat on cruise

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 30 September 2015 30 September 2015

The cruise operations of Saga, the listed British lifestyle company that offers a wide range of services to over 50s, have performed well and the outlook is encouraging, said group CEO Lance Bachelor in a statement.

"Within our cruise operation, we continue to make improvements and investments to ensure that customer satisfaction levels are maintained at the highest levels. Currently, 98% of our cruise customers rate their experience as excellent or good and, during August of this year, both the Saga Sapphire and Saga Pearl II achieved their best ever overall customer feedback scores," he said in connection of publication of the group's interim results.

"The cruise operation remains at the heart of the Saga brand, continually demonstrating the service excellence and value that Saga is renowned for. The decision we have made to invest in our shipping capacity will be transformational for the cruise business and for our cruise customers. The precise details of the new ships will be finalised over the coming months and the result will be a significant upgrade while retaining the traditional features our customers cherish," Bachelor said.

The company earlier today ordered a 55,900 gross ton newbuilding at Meyer Werft in Germany for delivery in 2019, with an option for another ship for delivery in 2021.

"This means that all cabins will have balconies but we will still provide an intimate small‐ship feel (under 1,000 passengers), a high crew‐to‐customer ratio and great public spaces and entertainment facilities," he said, referring to the new vessel. Saga Cruises started its operations in the mid 1990s and it currently employs the 37,012 gross ton Saga Sapphire and the 18,859 gross ton Saga Pearl II. Both ships were built in Germany in 1981 and were bought by Saga second hand.

"We have made good progress again in the first half of the year in travel and in the year to date our reservation levels for departures in holidays and cruising for the remainder of this financial year and for the financial year ending 31 January 2017 are very encouraging," Bachelor concluded.

 

Britons over 50 to spend 43% more money on cruises in 2020 - Saga

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 30 September 2015 30 September 2015

Britons over the age of 50 are expected to significantly increase their spending on cruising in the next five years, a study commissioned by Saga plc, the listed lifestyle company, has found.

"Research commissioned by Saga into the UK’s over 50s spending on travel and tourism, found that spending on cruising is expected to increase by 43% to £2.2 billion by 2020," the company said in a statement.

"This compares £1.65 billion in 2014 out of a total over 50s spend of £41 billion on travel and tourism. Nearly a third (32%) of over 50s in work said they were planning to increase their spending on cruises after retirement," Saga noted.

Last year, however, the British cruise market contracted by 5% to 1.65 million passengers despite a 3.2% growth rate of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).

The company, which offers a wide range of services from holidays to investment and insurance products to ver 50s, earlier today said it had placed an order for a 55,900 gross ton cruise ship with Meyer Werft in Germany, with delivery set for 2019. The contract includes an option for a second vessel that would be delivered two years later if confirmed.

Saga Cruises in one plus one option 55,900 gross ton ship deal with Meyer Werft

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 30 September 2015 30 September 2015

Saga Cruises, part of the listed British lifestyle company Saga plc, said it has placed an order for a 55,900 gross ton cruise ship with Meyer Werft in Germany, with an option for a second ship.

No financial details were given, but Saga said the first vessel would be delivered in the summer of 2019 and the second one, if the option is taken up, in 2021. The new ships will be 234 metres in length, have a beam of 30.8 metres and carry fewer than 1,000 passengers in all balcony accommodation.

"Plans for the ship will be refined over the coming months but we anticipate her to have some 540 suites and cabins each with a balcony. Around 15% of cabins will be designed for single occupancy and the maximum capacity for the ship will be fewer than 1,000 passengers. There will be single sitting dining throughout a range of restaurants as well as a variety of bars, speciality restaurants and al-fresco dining options. There will also be outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a spa, saunas, treatment rooms and beauty salon," the company said.

Robin Shaw, chief executive, Saga Cruises, said in the statement: “Our plan for the first of our new modern and elegant cruise liners is sure to delight our existing passengers and we hope it will entice new passengers to cruise with us. We will retain an intimate small-ship feel, for fewer than 1,000 passengers, a high crew to customer ratio, great public spaces and entertainment facilities and dining can be accommodated in a single sitting."

Lance Batchelor, chief executive officer, Saga plc who announced the decision at the company’s half-year results said: “The cruise operation remains at the heart of the Saga brand and demonstrates our commitment to deliver excellence in customer service and outstanding value. This investment will be transformational for the cruise business and for our cruise customers. The precise details of the new purpose built ship will be finalised over the coming months but will retain the traditional features our customers cherish.”

Saga Cruises started operations in the mid 1990s and it currently employs two ships, the 37,012 gross ton Saga Sapphire and the 18,859 gross ton Saga Pearl II. Both ships were built in Germany in 1981 and are second hand purchases. The ship ordered today is the first newbuilding the company has contracted.

Saga offers a wide range of producrs, from holidays to financial services, to customers over the age of 50.

 

Royal Caribbean announces change to Safety, Environment and Health Team

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Top Headlines Top Headlines

Published: 28 September 2015 28 September 2015

Royal Caribbean announced on Friday that Gary Bald, Senior Vice President, Safety, Security, Environment, Medical/Public Health and Situation Management for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., will transition his duties to top corporate and federal security executive Jennifer Love as he prepares for his retirement in the Spring of 2016. Love will join Royal Caribbean on September 28, 2015.

Bald has been with Royal Caribbean since 2006, overseeing environmental practices and stewardship as well as the safety, security and health of the company's 62,000 employees, more than five million guests annually, its fleet of 43 cruise ships and its shoreside facilities and terminals.

"Gary has been a key figure in the development of Royal Caribbean's approach to safety, environment and health, and an important leader who has made significant contributions to the entire cruise industry," said Adam Goldstein, President and COO, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "Gary's leadership has enhanced the safety and security of our guests, crew and employees. We are privileged to have had Gary at Royal Caribbean"

Goldstein added: "We are very excited to have Jennifer Love join our team. I am confident Jennifer's skills and expertise will build on our momentum and take our company to even greater advances in our preparedness, procedures and systems."

Love spent nearly 25 years at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), where she gained broad experience and received numerous honors and awards for her exemplary leadership in both national security and criminal financial law enforcement. Most recently, Love headed the enterprise-wide security programs and process for the Cablevision Systems Corporation and served as the company's chief liaison to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

"I am delighted to join Royal Caribbean, a company renowned for innovation and continuous improvement," Love said. "I look forward to working with the talented team to take Royal Caribbean to the next level."

Among Love's honors are the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executive Service in 2010, and the National Association for Advancement of Colored People, Community Leader Award in 2009.