Saga has revealed the names that will adorn the suites on its new ship, Spirit of Discovery.

Eight will bear the name of areas from BBC Radio 4’s British Isles Shipping Forecast: Bailey, Fair Isle, FitzRoy, Hebrides, Humber, Lundy, Thames and Trafalgar.

Meanwhile, Spirit of Discovery’s forward suites will honour inspiring names from the company’s past, including founder Sidney de Haan.

This will be joined by the Joseph Meyer Suite – paying homage to the company’s relationship with the Meyer Werft shipyard – the Rose Suite, and the Ruby Suite, Saga’s first cruise ships.

Saga chief operating officer Nigel Blanks said: “The Shipping Forecast’s areas are heard four times a day on the radio, but on Spirit of Discovery they will be ever present.

“Saga Rose and Saga Ruby were Saga Cruises’ first two ships and are still fondly remembered by our guests, so the Rose Suite and the Ruby Suite have been named in their honour.”

Blanks added: “The Sidney de Haan Suite and the Joseph Meyer Suite salute our founder and the new relationship we have developed with the Meyer Werft shipyard, in Papenburg, where Spirit of Discovery is being built.

“We are working with Bernard Meyer, who is the seventh generation owner at the family-run shipyard which started in 1873 when Joseph Meyer built the company’s first iron ship.

“Our suites will enjoy a butler service and will be among the finest afloat – each with its own character and personality, sumptuous furnishings, fabrics and fittings, as well as bespoke artwork.

“At 730sq ft the Sidney de Haan Suite and the Joseph Meyer Suite feature separate living rooms plus bathrooms to impress with twin sinks, a shower and a separate bathtub.”

Spirit of Discovery will be named in Dover on 5 July 2019, while a second new ship, Spirit of Adventure, will enter service in 2020.