Saga has become the first cruise operator to be awarded a new Covid-19 health assurance accreditation by the maritime safety experts, Lloyd’s Register.

The move “is a crucial step ahead of the planned return of cruise operations in spring next year”, Saga said, as it revealed details of the Shield+ accreditation, the highest category of health assurance offered by Lloyd’s.

The accreditation – which applies to Saga’s new ships, Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure – is assessed against six categories, covering every aspect of ship safety where risks are elevated, including medical, policy, food, ventilation, accommodation and water.

In addition, Saga has now exceeded compliance criteria in all categories of the UK Chamber of Shipping’s government-backed Covid-secure guidance.

Saga Travel CEO Nick Stace 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 per cent 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 on board our ships in the safest capacity possible.”

Lloyd’s Register’s global passenger ship manager Joep Bollerman added: “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 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.”