Thursday, April 11, 2024

Spirit of Discovery Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review

saga cruise vessels

In 2019 Saga Pearl II will retire from service and be replaced by the brand-new Spirit of Discovery and although it will become the line's largest ship it will still carry fewer than 1,000 passengers. In 1996, Saga Cruises made a significant leap by purchasing its first cruise ship, Saga Rose, which marked the beginning of its foray into the cruise industry. Over the years, Saga acquired additional ships, such as Saga Pearl and Caronia, expanding its fleet and enhancing its cruise offerings. The launch of the Spirit of Adventure in 2006 further solidified Saga’s presence in the cruise market, showcasing the brand’s commitment to providing unique and memorable travel experiences to its guests. Passengers can also dance to live music in the ballroom, enjoy strolls on the decks, or sit peacefully in the library or variety of bars. The library lends DVDs to enjoy in the privacy of your cabin, or you can head to the cinema for a full wide-screen experience.

Fleet

saga cruise vessels

Saga Cruises (Saga Shipping Ltd, saga.co.uk/cruises) is a British company, luxury cruise brand and division of Saga Group. Already a firm favourite since her launch in 2019, step aboard Spirit of Discovery and discover the ship’s selection of grand public rooms, restaurants, balcony cabins and outside spaces. As Saga Pearl II and Saga Sapphire are older vessels they do not feature the type of "identikit" cabins you find on modern ships.

Discover the big benefits of our small-ship cruises

Gratuities are included in the fare, and additional tipping is not expected. Professional dancers, musicians, and cabaret artists entertain in the lounge every evening. A smattering of shorter voyages, from five to seven-nights, also sail around the UK, Ireland and to Norway. Saga has long followed the tastes of its British clientele with departures from UK ports, currently Portsmouth, Dover and Tilbury, mostly to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Scandinavia, and around the UK. Saga Cruises took delivery of Spirit of Adventure from the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, in October 2020. Spirit of Discovery is not for party people, gamblers, fitness freaks or shopping addicts -- but the ship should serve Saga well, with plenty of appeal to Gen-Xers as they sail into their 50s and into the cruise line’s sights.

SAGA's Spirit of Adventure ship forced to divert to Cornwall due to Storm Ciaran

In 2005, Saga Cruises introduced the "Spirit of Adventure Cruises" brand. In March 2006, MV Spirit of Adventure (former Orange Melody) entered into service. Captain Ikiadis first went to sea in 1986, and has held many positions since, working up the ranks to captain for cruise lines such as Azamara and TUI.

Saga Cruises Cruises

So that’s meals in every one of our speciality restaurants and drinks in every bar – beer, wine, cocktails, soft drinks and everything in between. The inaugural cruise was initially scheduled for July 23, 2019 (themed "Channel Island Hop Cruise"), with next planned voyages themed as "Gourmet Spain" (August 3) and "Natural Scandinavia" (August 17). However, as the liner was to be delivered earlier, its maiden voyage was rescheduled for July 10th.

Vegetarian, sugar-free, and healthy selections are always alternatives. A traditional English tea is served every afternoon, and midnight buffets are set up in the Lido restaurants. While alcoholic beverages and wine are not included in the fare, bar and wine list prices are quite affordable. Couples account for the bulk of passengers, though Saga is popular with single travellers (many widowed) who make up more than 20 per cent of guests. With more than 100 single balcony cabins on each of its ocean ships, Saga claims to have the widest selection at sea.

Saga to operate almost 200 cruises in 2022

Saga has a very transparent booking policy with a sliding scale of discounts for early bookers. After that, the "price promise" means that if there are any additional deals the value of the saving is refunded to passengers who have already booked. This means there are no awkward or "point scoring" dinner table conversations where passengers brag about how little they have paid, which is inevitably a fraction of what you forked out. In addition to its outstanding onboard amenities and service, Saga Cruises is also committed to sustainability and environmental stewardship. The company has implemented a range of initiatives to minimize its environmental impact, from reducing single-use plastics to investing in energy-efficient technologies and alternative fuels.

Saga Sapphire ship's 8-night "Canary Island Medley" cruise (prices from GBP 897) departed from Southampton on December 8, 2017. The company sells directly to the public, not counting on travel agents. Allowing traveling companions who are 40+ years old is beneficial to couples who want to cruise together with grown-up families and in-laws, and also to those who need assistance and personal care. Saga's customers are elderly and almost exclusively British, with occasional passengers from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, rarely Japan. Afternoon Tea is a daily cruising tradition with tempting cakes, pastries, finger sandwiches. Dinner - the day's highlight - is always waiter-served, one-sitting, sometimes with six courses.

Cruise with us for more than 35 nights and we’ll give you free membership to our Britannia Club. That means exclusive offers, an extended chauffeur service, priority boarding and even a free cruise (depending on your level of membership). In late-March 2021, Saga announced a revised ex-UK 2021 summer program with 3 all-inclusive cruise itineraries scheduled for Spirit of Discovery, all leaving roundtrip from homeport London-Tilbury England. Spirit of Adventure ship departs Dover on August 28, 2023, for a 6-night roundtrip along the Cornish coastline.

Watch chefs sear seafood and steaks in the open kitchen of The Grill, a casual eatery. Exotic flavors of Sri Lanka and Thailand are served in the 64-seat East to West restaurant. Traditionalists who yearn for the "golden age" of cruising will love the elegance of Saga's ships. The two vessels look like "proper" ships that hark back to a previous era. Both were built in 1981 and sailed under a variety of names before being acquired by Saga and undergoing multi-million pound refurbishments. Both also have extensive polished brass fittings and boast beautiful teak wraparound promenade decks set out with steamer chairs, cosy blankets and deck games such as quoits.

There are five bars and lounges on board with selected wines, house-branded spirits, cocktails containing house-branded spirits, draught beer and lager, non-alcoholic cocktails, all mixers and soft drinks included. Whether it’s being picked up from home by a chauffeur, exploring new destinations on included excursions, or relaxing with all-inclusive cocktails throughout your time on board. Saga Spirit of Discovery itinerary program offers both cruises leaving roundtrip from UK ports and UK fly-cruise deals. Dover roundtrips visit ports in Baltic Sea (Scandinavia and Russia, Norwegian Fjords, Germany and Belgium).

100 Cruise Passengers Injured in Bay of Biscay Storm - The Maritime Executive

100 Cruise Passengers Injured in Bay of Biscay Storm.

Posted: Tue, 07 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Saga Cruises, a distinguished name in the world of British cruising, has a rich history that spans over seven decades, marked by innovation, excellence, and a commitment to providing exceptional travel experiences to its guests. The vast majority of Saga’s passengers are British, well-travelled, fiercely loyal to Saga and sociable; there’s a chatty, friendly vibe on board. You may also encounter a few North American and Australian guests, although the ship really is geared to British tastes. Some 20 percent of the cabins are reserved for singles, so you will encounter a lot of solo travellers. There are hosted tables for singles every night and get-togethers where singles who want a companion on excursions are encouraged to buddy up.

If you’re trying to count the decks in your mind while trying to decide whether to take the stairs of wait for the lift, sometimes it’s easier to visualise them as numbers, E being deck 7, D deck 8 and so on. Relax into life on the river as Europe’s finest destinations come to you. The vessel was last drydocked in 2023 (January 8 - February 2) at Lloyd Werft Shipyard (Bremerhaven). The scheduled drydocking was for routine class works and general maintenance (hotel and machinery).

Traditional English tea is served each afternoon; ballroom dancing is presented nightly. Classic cruisers in every sense of the word, Saga’s passengers are travelers who expect inspiring itineraries coupled with traditional onboard amenities and comfortable surroundings. In the style of Saga Holidays’ land-based tours, Saga Cruises takes care of the details that discerning passengers don’t wish to leave to chance—from providing insurance and arranging visas to placing fruit and water in every cabin.

The all-balcony ship has 554 balcony cabins, along with the same art deco Lido pool and promenade deck and other facilities such as a spa, library and 444-seat Playhouse Theatre with unobstructed views. Saga Cruises is renowned for wrap-around touches that cocoon guests as they leave home, with chauffeur-driven transfers to and from ports and travel insurance, both included in the price, and the loyal and friendly crew. You need to be over 50 to book a Saga cruise, although companions of 40-plus are allowed.

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