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SAGA moves a step closer to sailing with award of new COVID safety accreditation by becoming the first cruise operator to be awarded new COVID-19 health assurance accreditation by Lloyd’s Register, the maritime safety experts. The move is a crucial step ahead of the planned return of cruise operations in spring next year in a COVID-secure environment.

Lloyd’s Register has awarded Saga the Shield+ accreditation, the highest category of health assurance they have. The new framework has been created to reduce risk and provide greater confidence in the safety procedures of operators against the introduction of infectious diseases onboard cruise ships, including COVID-19, Norovirus and common flu, as the industry works with government to restart an industry that employs 88,000 people and is worth £10bn a year to the British economy.

Being awarded the accreditation demonstrates that Saga exceeds the compliance criteria in every category set out by the UK Chamber of Shipping in their guidance for COVID Secure Cruising, which has been supported by the government.

The safety accreditation is assessed against six key categories covering every aspect of ship safety where health risks are elevated: medical, policy, food, ventilation, accommodation and water.

Award of the accreditation follows months of detailed planning from Saga, designing and putting in place detailed new procedures to meet the highest standards of health and safety. Saga’s ships have been surveyed and inspected in all key areas and the accreditation has been awarded for both the Spirit of Discovery and Saga’s brand new ship, the Spirit of Adventure, which is due to set sail for the first time in May 2021.

Nick Stace, Saga’s CEO of Travel, said:

“We are delighted to have been awarded the highest health and safety accreditation from Lloyd’s Register for our two ships – the newest on the seas. We have been working with the government, all the relevant authorities and our peers in the cruise industry to put in place all the measures needed to ensure a safe return to cruising. At Saga we believe that our ships offer one of the safest places in the world to see the world.

“This important step removes one of the last barriers to a safe return for cruising. We know there is considerable pent up demand from our customers for cruising. In our most recent round of cancellations, more than 80% of guests immediately rolled their booking over to a new cruise and our guests tell us they are ready to sail. Being the first cruise operator to achieve Lloyd’s Register’s Shield+ accreditation is testament to the work done by all our Saga colleagues and brings us one step closer to welcoming our guests back onboard our ships in the safest capacity possible.”

Joep Bollerman, Lloyd’s Register’s Global Passenger Ship Manager, said:

“We are delighted to award our first ever Shield+ certification to Saga. Our new standards are based on medical science from the global health industry, including guidance from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in line with the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Shield+ provides a detailed survey and inspection regime of the key areas where health risks are elevated, which helps operators like Saga maintain the highest health standards at sea.”

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Headland Consultancy Sophie O'Donoghue Tom Grant

Tel: 020 3805 4822 Tel: 077 9868 7042 Tel: 078 3322 3170 Email: saga@headlandconsultancy.com

Notes to editors

About Saga

Saga is a leading provider of products and services primarily tailored for customers over the age of 50 in the UK. The Saga brand has been carefully developed over the past 60 years to become one of the most recognised and trusted brands among UK consumers aged over 50. Saga is synonymous in the UK with the over 50s market and is recognised for its high-quality products and services. These include cruises and holidays, home and motor insurance, savings and share dealing and the award-winning Saga Magazine.

www.saga.co.uk