MIAMI -- Cunard Line sold its 668-passenger Caronia to
U.K.-headquartered Saga Group, and the ship will leave the fleet in
November 2004.
The Saga Group operates two ships, including the Caronia's
sister ship, the former Sagafjord.
The Caronia, formerly known as the Vistafjord, was positioned in
the U.K. and Europe cruise markets in 2002 and was moved to a home
base in Southampton, U.K.
Cunard president Pamela Conover said in a statement that the
Caronia "will continue to play an important role in the fleet
through the fall of 2004. We expect strong demand for ... her
farewell season."
The Cunard fleet will grow by two ships that are each more than
double -- and in the case of the Queen Mary 2, nearly four times --
the passenger capacity of the Caronia.
The 2,620-passenger QM2 is slated for a January launch; the
1,968-passenger Queen Victoria, which will be targeted to a U.K.
and European market, will debut in 2005.