The first of 14 Saga cruise holidays for 2018 got underway this week from Portsmouth International Port.

The port said it had significant plans to grow its cruise offer, as Saga bases much of its ‘no fly’ 2018 schedule from the port. The company is also bringing Saga Sapphire, a larger vessel with up to 720 guests, for a port of call  in June 2018.

The first of Saga’s ships to start its 2018 cruise schedule from the port, Saga Pearl II, will use the port as its base for the next four months. The ship will make its way towards Morocco, becoming  the first of eight Saga cruise holidays from Portsmouth between now and the end of April. A further six holidays are scheduled from October this year.

Saga Pearl II, a 164 meter-long classic ship cruised past the Emirates Spinnaker Tower into Portsmouth Harbour last week from her last port in Lisbon, bringing to an end a 20-night ‘Traditions of the Canaries and Africa’ cruise.

Mike Sellers, port director, said: “We know that Saga had a choice of UK Ports to use for these ‘no-fly’ holidays, and we see the decision to base Saga Pearl II with us for much of 2018 as a massive vote of confidence in our facilities, location and high standards of service. Portsmouth’s reputation as a cruise port is gathering momentum,” he said, adding: “We have ambitions to grow our cruise offer and make significant improvements for our customers.”

Recent additions have included new gangways and passenger walkways at the cruise berth.

Guests will be back in Portsmouth in time for Valentine’s Day, when Saga Pearl II starts a new 16-day cruise; in the opposite direction, towards Norway.