Saga has completed the keel-laying ceremony for its second new cruise ship for the British market – Spirit of Adventure.
The ceremony for the 774.3ft, 999-passenger ship took place on Monday June 3 at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.
A commemorative coin stamped with Spirit of Adventure’s name and keel-laying date was placed under the first of 54 blocks to be laid in the dry dock, marking the beginning of construction for the 58,250 gross ton ship, slated for delivery in summer 2020.
Robin Shaw, chief executive of Saga Travel, said: “These are exciting times for Saga and the occasion marks a key stage in the construction of our second new-build cruise ship.
“Our decision to build two new boutique cruise ships, Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure for our guests heralds a new era in the history of Saga cruising.
“Both ships have been designed to epitomise Saga’s British boutique cruising concept and they are the first small, luxury ships to be built by a British company, for the British market, in more than four decades.
Shaw added: “Each of our new ships has been exclusively designed for the British market and we have incorporated luxury interiors to meet our past and present guests’ feedback.
“We are proud to be working with Meyer Werft again, and it will be an honour and a pleasure, to celebrate the delivery of this ship in summer 2020.”