Last British built cruise ship to retire

The owners of the last British-built cruise ship have announced it is to retire after 40 years of service.

The 25,000-ton Saga Ruby vessel, constructed in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1973, will embark on its final voyage on December 7, 2013, after more than four million nautical miles at sea.

Robin Shaw, CEO of Saga Cruises, explained that the ship was being retired due to its advancing age. He 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.”

Saga Ruby was built at Jarrow Shipyard on Tyneside, and has sailed under two previous names, Vistafjord and Caronia. Saga bought the vessel in 2004 and spent £17 million refurbishing it.

This recent announcement will be seen by many as confirmation of British shipbuilding’s long decline. Prior to the First World War, Britain built more ships than every other country in the world combined and in the sixties there were still more than 50 shipbuilders across the country.

Two of the most famous cruise ships of all time, the Titanic and the QE2, were built in Belfast and Clydebank, respectively.

Saga Cruises has also announced Quest for Adventure will revert back to its former name of Saga Pearl II in 18 months and that it will no longer offer adventure itineraries.

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

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