The QE2's former running mate, Saga Rose (ex Sagafjord), heads to the breakers yard at Jiangyin. The Sagafjord and her sister-ship Vistafjord entered service in 1965 and 1973 for the Norwegian American Line before transferring to Norwegian American Cruises (NAC) in 1980. In May 1983 UK conglomerate Trafalgar House (then owners of the Cunard Line) purchased the two liners and they joined the Cunard fleet.
Both vessels retained their names but had their funnels repainted in traditional Cunard colours. The Sagafjord served until 1997 when, after a fire whilst under charter to Transocean Tours, she was sold to Saga Cruises becoming the Saga Rose. The Vistafjord - renamed Caronia in 1999 - was sold in 2004 when she too joined Saga Cruises as the Saga Ruby.
Following new legislation governing safety at sea (SOLAS 2010) the Saga Rose was retired in October 2009, leaving Southampton on 7th December. She headed to Gibraltar where she stayed, awaiting an uncertain future. However, in April 2010 she departed, heading around Africa, destination unknown. Today Maritime Matters reports she has arrived off Shanghai for scrapping at Jiangyin.
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