Spirit of Discovery Debut
Saga’s custom-built ship, the 999-guest Spirit of Discovery, made her first appearance on 12th May as she floated out from the Building Hall at Meyer Werft Shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. Immediately prior to her debut, her mast and funnel were lifted on to the ship. Later that day she was moved to a nearby quay where she will undergo further trials in readiness for going to sea. Towards the end of May, Spirit of Discovery will be towed along the River Ems, from Papenburg to Emden, before commencing sea trials in early June. It was also confirmed that Spirit of Discovery will proudly fly the Red Ensign and her port of registry will be London.
The interior design of Spirit of Discovery showcases British style and excellence, with all the architectural and interior design created by UK based agency SMC. Over 400 pieces of original British art will be amongst more than a thousand artworks, many of which have been created by artists working in Britain today. Guests onboard the ship will enjoy a host of produce from independent British suppliers, including Hush Heath wine producers of Kent.
Nigel Blanks, Chief Operating Officer, Saga Cruises said: “This is a major milestone for Saga Cruises and for the future of the Company. Spirit of Discovery has been meticulously designed for our customers and to epitomise Saga’s unique British boutique cruising concept. We’d like to thank everyone at Meyer Werft, and look forward to the keel laying of Spirit of Adventure, on 3rd June, as we start the construction of our next ship for the British market.”
The spacious and modern cabins aboard Spirit of Discovery are set to be a real hit – the ship’s design means every cabin will have a balcony. In addition, around 15% of the 540 cabins and suites will be for solo travellers, with a choice of single cabin grades. There will be single-sitting dining, two speciality restaurants, a selection of bars, indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, comprehensive library, signature Britannia Lounge and much more – all with a fresh and contemporary twist on the traditions of classic Saga cruising.
Arriving in Dover on 28th June, Spirit of Discovery’s Naming Ceremony will take place on 5th July, her with inaugural cruise - ‘A British First’ - commencing on 10th July.
Very much a niche operator, Saga Cruises rarely conforms to the norm and tends to steer a course away from the regular cruising playgrounds. Itineraries are varied and include short-break cruises to Europe, week-long cruises to the Norwegian fjords, and two-week adventures to the Baltic. Other favourites are island-hopping itineraries around the Canary Islands and Mediterranean, and longer voyages across the Atlantic to the Caribbean and Canada. What’s more, rarely does the same routing appear twice in the carefully-planned itineraries.
- 13th May 2019
Gary Buchanan
Edinburgh-born Gary Buchanan has been a travel writer for over 30 years. He has been a specialist cruise writer for 25 years contributing to leading British publications including national newspapers and consumer magazines. He is the author of five books about cruising and spends over seven months every year at sea sailing the world’s oceans.