Final Year for Saga Ruby

[Jeff Taylor]

I've seen posts from members thinking of trying out Saga Ruby again.  Well, don't waste any time.  Apparently Saga plans to retire her in January, 2014 at which time she will be 40 years old.  No mention of whether she will be put up for sale for further trading or head straight for India.

[Twynkle]

Have you seen the itinerary for Saga Ruby's final world cruise?
From a personal perspective, she is doing just about the best Southampton to Sydney voyage imaginable.
Rio - Port Stanley, Cape Horn, Easter Island, Bora Bora et al and nearly a week sailing round New Zealand (ex-home!)
Lucky are those who can afford it...
Over last weekend there was one brilliant cabin in the lowest grade on offer at £10,800 for the 60 night segment. This was nearly £5000 more than our Full worldie on QM2 cost us in 2011 - and Saga's price is something completely beyond our means.

Saga's cruise dept have said that there are no firm plans for her to be decommissioned in the near future - and at the moment, there are several discounts and availability on cruises next year. 

[Andy F]

Saga's cruise dept have said that there are no firm plans for her to be decommissioned in the near future - and at the moment, there are several discounts and availability on cruises next year.

Now where have I heard that before...?

[Jeff Taylor]

I wish I had copied it, but I also saw a quote from a Saga official saying that her retirement was due to the difficulty of providing their high level of quality and service on a ship of that age, etc, etc, etc.  Ally also picked up the same story on the Cruising Forum.  I think, unfortunately, that it's true and the sales department may think their version will be better for sales.  On the other hand, look how QE2 was sold out from the moment her retirement was announced.  As I said before, if anyone has an interest in her I wouldn't wait...

[Twynkle]

Quote from Cruise Critic
'The 25,000-ton, 655-passenger ship will celebrate its 40th (ruby) anniversary with one final round the world cruise at the start of 2013.

Meanwhile, the line has announced Quest for Adventure will revert back to its former name of Saga Pearl II once its published cruise calendar is complete in 18 months. It will also no longer offer adventure itineraries.

The move means that Saga will be back to a two-ship fleet in 2014, and the line has hinted at plans for a new-build ship, most recently at the European Cruise Council meeting in Brussels.

A U.K. spokesman has confirmed that Saga would like to expand the fleet, but he denied any order had been placed for a new-build.

Robin Shaw, Chief Executive of Saga Shipping said: "Saga Ruby has delighted cruise-goers for some 40 years, but operating a ship of this age to meet the exacting standards we and others set is becoming an increasing challenge. We have therefore decided that she should be gracefully retired in 18 months. Saga Ruby will in her ruby anniversary year visit many of the ports where she been warmly welcomed over the years.

"We believe that Saga cruising has a great deal of potential and we have invested over the last few year well over £100 million on our fleet and we continue to look for opportunities to expand and improve our classic cruise experience."

Saga Ruby was built in 1973 at Jarrow Shipyard on Tyneside, and has sailed under two previous incarnations: Vistafjord and Caronia, when it became part of Cunard's fleet. Saga bought the vessel in 2004 and spent £17 million refurbishing it.'

From Cruise Critic
http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/news.cfm?ID=4901

The beaches of Alang could hardly be experienced as graceful...maybe the yard in the River Yangste will be her fate, like that of 'The Rose'...

[Rob Lightbody]

Some (not me) would argue that Rose had a more graceful end than QE2...

Sent from my phone using Tapatalk.

[Jeff Taylor]

Remember how vigorously Saga shopped Rose around after they retired her?  She was the subject of many rumors, and even moved around a bit.  It had to have been a hotel ship audience as unlike Ruby she was not Solas compliant.  At least with Ruby she has that, but 40 year old mechanicals and plumbing must present some challenges.  Well, Godspeed to her.

[Rob Lightbody]

Nice article here

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/cruise-news/9394984/Last-British-built-cruise-ship-to-retire.html

Some nice facts and stories there, including the fact that before the first world war, Britain made more ships than ever other country combined. Amazing. How far we've come...

Sent from my phone using Tapatalk.

[Tyne Turbine]

You would think that Saga themselves would know that the ship was not built in Jarrow but at Wallsend.

[pete cain]

some nice images here of her classic lines   
                                         http://www.captainsvoyage-forum.com/showthread.php/455-Vistafjord-Caronia-Saga-Ruby-and-Sagafjord-Gripsholm-Saga-Rose/page5  just page down a wee bit, so so sad that the  ''Last''    is going, no more beautiful ladies...................

[Gill]

 :(2013 will be in the final year for Saga Ruby.  She apparently has numerous sailings throughout this year - 2 from Portsmouth; 5 from Southampton and 13 from Dover.  She will begin her final World Cruise on 7th December 2013 from Southampton, returning to Southampton for the final time on 7th January 2014.  So there will be several opportunities to see her throughout the year, depending on which part of the south you are in, but perhaps a special day would be Saturday 7th December 2013 when she begins her final World Cruise from Southampton and anyone who is able, to be there on 7th January next year to welcome her home for the final time at the end of her World cruise.  If all the dates are still valid, perhaps 7th January next year (weather permitting) might be a special day to be in Southampton to welcome her home.

[pete cain]

 Have today received the latest cruise brochure from SAGA ,& it looks as though the (what has been billed as the final cruise, in previous issues) Christmas In The Caribbean,  dep Southampton Dec7 for 31 nights has been dropped, (listed as cruise no RU669).      Voyage To The Canaries dep Southampton  Nov 23 (cruise no RU668) is her last, according to the May2013- March 2014 issue received today.

regards Pete....

[pete cain]

Some good news (for a change  on the forum) Ruby is enroute to Port Stanley at a steady 16Kn, however still Very Worried at the apparent cancellation of her final cruise (see last post).

[Peter Mugridge]

Is it not simply a case of it not being in the brochure because it has sold out?

[pete cain]

Peter they usually have bragging rights to say so, be it cabin grades or whatever, however you are probably correct in your correction.

[Peter Mugridge]

They might be wanting to avoid a huge fuss over it after all the egg that a certain other shipping line is still getting after several years?

[riskygizmo]

Just had a look at the Saga Travel site and the Dec 7 Farewell Cruise is still listed and with berths available.

[Tyne Turbine]

Now the opportunity is there to put a bid in for the Ruby:

http://www.marine-consultant.com/p505.htm

[Rob Lightbody]

Now the opportunity is there to put a bid in for the Ruby:

http://www.marine-consultant.com/p505.htm

Well that's more than QE2 got from her original owners... good luck to her! Gives her a better chance than our old lady got

[cunardqueen]

  Well that's more than QE2 got from her original owners... good luck to her! Gives her a better chance than our old lady got   

When you consider the price of some of the private yachts, she seems a bargain price...
I hope she goes to a nice home..

And unless lm mistaken, isnt that the Cunard Countess for sale as well further down the list...