Saga Shipping, also known as Saga Cruises, division of the Saga plc, is a cruise line headquartered in Folkestone, England. Saga Cruises exclusively markets to and operates for people aged 50 and over. History 1997–2005: Development In 1997, Saga Group purchased its first ship, Gripsholm, from Cunard Line, after which it renamed the ship Saga Rose. The vessel was remodeled and arrived in Southampton on 14 May 1997, commencing operations thereafter. Saga Rose was briefly joined by Saga Pearl in the summer of 2003 after Saga chartered her. In November 2004, Saga purchased its second ship, Caronia, from Cunard. After a £17 million refurbishment at Malta Dockyard in 2005 she entered Saga service as Saga Ruby. 2006–2013: Attempts at growth In 2006, Saga founded a sub-brand, named "Spirit of Adventure," with the ship, Spirit of Adventure. The ship had most recently operated as Orange Melody as a charter for the Russian Metropolis company, and was originally set to be named Saga Opal following Saga's purchase. In 2010, Saga purchased Astoria from Transocean Tours and renamed her Saga Pearl II. In August 2011, it was reported Saga was selling Spirit of Adventure to German tour operator FTI in 2012, upon which she would become FTI Berlin. In May 2012, Saga Pearl II was transferred to the sub-brand and named Quest for Adventure. In August 2012, Saga announced the "Spirit of Adventure" sub-brand would be absorbed into its parent brand, and in November 2013, Quest for Adventure rejoined Saga and was renamed Saga Pearl II. In 2009, Saga retired Saga Rose in 2010, citing the prohibitive repair costs due to the ship's age and the new SOLAS regulations set to become law in 2010. Her farewell cruise was scheduled for 30 October 2009. She was later laid up in Gibraltar and later scrapped in China. In July 2012, Saga announced Saga Ruby would exit the fleet in early-2014. Due to a failed generator, the ship's final cruise was changed from a Caribbean sailing to a Mediterranean sailing. She was sold in January 2014 to become a hotel ship in Myanmar, but those plans dissolved and the ship was scrapped in India in 2017. 2014–present: Modernisation In 2014, Saga's parent company, Saga Group, went public via an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange. In 2015, Saga announced it had signed a memorandum of agreement for its first-ever new-build from Meyer Werft