The travel and insurance group said the decision was made following the government’s announcement of its roadmap out of the Covid-19 crisis last month, with health and wellbeing of guests and crew continuing to be Saga’s “number one priority”.
A Saga spokesperson added: “As part of this decision, the inaugural cruise of Spirit of Adventure has been moved to 26 July. We have contacted all our guests who have been impacted by these changes and are discussing their options with them.”
Saga said its previous announcements about improved health and safety protocols across all holiday and cruise operations “remains unchanged”, as does its policy that all guests must be fully vaccinated against Covid before going on one of its trips.
The company has also “reinforced” its financial position after agreeing to amended terms on its loans and credit facilities.
Saga said it had taken the measures to “provide sufficient headroom” should the current suspension of travel continue “well into the second half of the year”.
The group added that it expected to complete next week a further one-year extension to its debt deferral on its cruise ships to 31 March 2022.
Euan Sutherland, Saga’s group chief executive, said: “The successful conclusion of these discussions is the latest step in reinforcing Saga’s financial position, and I would like to thank our funding partners for their ongoing support.
“We continue to see strong pent-up demand for travel among our customers and remain well placed to deliver on this opportunity when the guidance on international travel changes."
