Round-the-world record for Rose

Saga Rose enters the history books – and the Guinness Book of Records – when she sets off on her 44th and final World Cruise today.
During the 104-day voyage, over 32,500 nautical miles, she will visit 39 ports and secure her place in the record books as having sailed round the world more times than any passenger ship.
There will be fireworks over the Solent when Saga Rose leaves her berth in Southampton at 9.30 this evening.
Highlights of the cruise include five Caribbean islands – Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, St Lucia and Jamaica – Costa Rica, the ancient mud city of Chan Chan in Peru, Easter Island, looking for crocodiles in Darwin, experiencing a taste of India in Kochi and Mumbai, and cruising both the Panama and Suez Canals.
The ship, originally built as Sagafjord for the Norwegian America Line in 1965, later sailed under the Cunard flag, and joined Saga Holidays 13 years ago. She will be retired later this year.
Her final voyage departs on October 30 and will call at Toulon, where she was built, Vigo, for a farewell to sister ship Saga Ruby, and Dubrovnik, Barcelona and Venice.
Entertainers already booked for the farewell cruise include Katherine Jenkins, Des O’Connor, Tom O’Connor and Anthony Stuart Lloyd.
Captain Alistair McLundie, who took command of Saga Rose in 2000, said: “I get a real buzz from seeing the passengers enjoying their cruise, and it is a great privilege to Captain her on this Commonwealth World Cruise to mark this special year