BREAKING NEWS: Saga Cruises have finally acquired the cruise ship Astoria as a replacement for Saga Rose. Their plans to purchase the ship were scuppered earlier this year by the original owners’ financial problems, but Astoria came up for auction in Gibraltar yesterday and Saga were the winning bidders. After extensive refurbishment, the ship will be re-named Saga Pearl II.
More details soon.
About the Author: John Honeywell
John Honeywell is a travel writer specialising in cruise ships and cruise travel. Winner of CLIA UK's Contribution to Cruise award 2017.
Noted that ASTORIA docked in swansea today..
Spotted ASTORIA at SWANSEA Docks today
Thanks Mike. Saga Cruises tell me the refit work to turn Astoria into Saga Pearl II will not be carried out at Swansea, but it will be later next week before we know where.
Anybody know what’s happening to The Astoria.
It seems to have become stuck in the lock at Swansea for a few days. The port has seen no traffic since it happenned.
Fred – local resident.
Thanks for the info Fred, but Saga say the ship is not “stuck”, but is being inspected in Swansea prior to the final decision being made on where the re-fit work will be carried out.
5th november. £20 million refit started in Swansea according to BBC Wales
Thanks Martin. Have you seen the item I posted yesterday (November 4) about the deal for work on the ship to be carried out at Swansea Dry Dock?