Saga has sold its retired cruise ship Saga Sapphire to Turkish travel firm Anex Tour, whose chairman Neset Kockar has recently taken a stake in Thomas Cook.
Kockar said 382-cabin Sapphire would be used to launch eastern Mediterranean cruises from Turkey.
The ship will be delivered to Anex by the middle of next year and its maiden voyage will be from Antalya in Turkey.
Saga COO Nigel Blanks said: "With her spacious cabins and comfortable public areas, Saga Sapphire has become hugely popular with our guests over the last seven years.
"As the time approaches for her to leave the Saga fleet, we are delighted that she will now have a new career launching Anex Tour’s exciting new cruise product."
