Saga has confirmed new restart dates for its holiday and cruise operations.

The company has suspended holidays to 17 May and cruises to 27 June, and has also pencilled in 26 July as the new date for the inaugural voyage of Spirit of Adventure.

Saga said in a statement: “The health and safety of our guests and crew has been our number one priority and throughout the pandemic we have made all decisions with their wellbeing in mind.

“Following the release of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, we have taken the decision to delay the resumption of our holiday and cruise operations until the 17 May and 27 June, respectively.

“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.”

All guests looking to cruise with Saga will need to have both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, as outlined in January.

The company said that “customers want the reassurance of the vaccine and to know others travelling with them will be vaccinated too”.

Saga recently held the keel-laying ceremony for its second river cruise ship at the Vahali shipyard in Serbia. The 190-passenger Spirit of the Danube is expected to enter service in 2022. It will join Saga’s first river cruise ship, the Spirit of the Rhine.