cruise critic forum saga spirit of discovery

• Saga Cruises

Spirit of Discovery - Comprehensive Cruise Review

By Solent Richard , December 17, 2019 in Saga Cruises

Recommended Posts

Solent Richard

Good morning.

I have just published my comprehensive review our our recent 16 Night cruise onboard Spirit of Discovery. 

The review is illustrated with over 100 photographs and covers both the ship and the itinerary ports.

I'd be delighted to answer any questions members may have on the aspects I have covered.

Here is the link...

https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2019/12/17/sagas-spirit-of-discovery-16-night-cruise/

I'd be delighted to answer any questions you may have.

Suite A526...

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

Wow, that is certainly a comprehensive review!   Many thanks - I have not yet had time to read it and look at the pics.  thoroughly, and don't need to ask questions, as I am already convinced I would like Discovery.  I am sure others will find it helpful (though we can't all manage a suite).  I think some of the people who have already been on board have made a few invidious comparisons with other lines, such as Oceania and Azamara, but you certainly seemed to like almost everything.  I see that you are a Cunard and P and O cruiser - do you think you prefer Saga to either of these?

Thanks Solent Richard. This is certainly a very helpful review.  We spent a week on SoD in September and thoroughly enjoyed it.  We had a standard cabin but found the storage space rather limited, especially in the wardrobe where the life jackets etc took up the space normally used  for shoes.  We ended up having to put our shoes under the bed!  We are considering booking a higher grade cabin next time to get the extra space.  How did you rate the mid-ship suite?  The bedroom area looks rather small, but this may be due to the angle of the photo.  Did you have the opportunity to view a deluxe cabin whilst on board, and if so, how did it compare?

Another vote of thanks here - we're booked to sail in October next year, and your review has certainly whet the appetite!  If we have any questions, we'll take up your kind offer of help.

Thanks again, 

Thank you - another great review (have already read many of your previous ones!)  It confirms what I've been thinking for a while, Saga isn't for us at the moment - too formal and too 'British'. 

Even though I've recently turned 70, I still don't feel old enough for it.  We'll stick to Viking for the time being. 

Excellent review, Saga is seriously under consideration for a future cruise, this has wetted our appetite but I do have similar concerns to the previous poster.

I am surprised to read that people who are 70-ish don't feel old enough for Saga, but if it is the certain amount of formality and Britishness putting them off, I fear that may not change for some time.  Certainly there are plenty of activities on board for those who are active, and some challenging shore excursions as well.

It would be interesting to hear what demographic Discovery is attracting - hopefully more 'young' ones.   Maybe Solent Richard or the cruiser currently on board who started this thread could give an opinion?

Mrs Miggins

I was on SOD in September.  When I describe my cruise to friends I say "The ship is lovely, the food is fine (with some highlights), entertainment good, activities good BUT not sure we are old enough !"  I am 70'sh.  

The large number of people sleeping in the library, the many table companions who said they preferred the older ships and weren't sure about SOD since they couldnt find their way around, the time it took to load the lifts since many had no idea where they were going or what floor they needed.  I applaud the many who were treating their parents to cruises.  I applaud the determination to keep on cruising despite decreasing mobility and age related problems.

We all had to do a step test to see if we could stand up and step over 2 tape lines on the floor.  Nobody could get off the ship onto a tender if they could not do this since staff were not allowed to help.  On our other cruises some people have indeed been helped on and off tenders where there was a swell.  So I was surprised Saga said they would not help.  As it happens we were never asked to show our piece of paper which confirmed our ability to walk one step.  Seems a little silly as the biggest problem is surely being able to step up or down rather than make one step on a flat dance floor.

I may be ready in a few years because the onboard staff were certainly lovely and very caring.

 However Saga have new ships to fill and somehow they must I think find a slightly younger (in mind)  demographic.

23 hours ago, Bloodaxe said: Excellent review, Saga is seriously under consideration for a future cruise, this has wetted our appetite but I do have similar concerns to the previous poster.

It's not so much the age thing that's concerning me, I am over 70 and my Wife'is almost, it's more that we are used to the international feel of Azamara which we really enjoy.

I hear where you are coming from, as they say.  I would say that for those who have previously enjoyed the likes of Seabourn, Silversea, Oceania,  Azamara etc. they are likely to find that if/when they no longer feel like flying to board a ship then the Saga ships are the nearest thing to what they have enjoyed  - apart from the international clientele.

We have always enjoyed being on 'international' ships - except when one nationality was in a huge majority,  but if that majority is Brits. it is easier to tolerate, for us anyway.

So I suppose it is likely that they will be older - and therefore pleased to have a car from and to home, and luggage taken care of.

I must admit I am tempted to book a short Saga cruise to see how we go,

If it is important to you - it is to me - there is no nickel and diming on Saga.  I know you can get this with some other lines, where you can have a drinks package, etc. etc.  Although the wines etc. on Saga are not exceptional, there is plenty included which would sit most people, and poured generously.  And the same applies to other drinks.  It is not that one necessarily drinks a lot, just nice to feel that you are treated completely as a guest, no signing or showing cards etc.

2 hours ago, lincslady said: If it is important to you - it is to me - there is no nickel and diming on Saga.  I know you can get this with some other lines, where you can have a drinks package, etc. etc.  Although the wines etc. on Saga are not exceptional, there is plenty included which would sit most people, and poured generously.  And the same applies to other drinks.  It is not that one necessarily drinks a lot, just nice to feel that you are treated completely as a guest, no signing or showing cards etc.

Are drinks not charged extra at other times apart from wine with dinner?.

No, they are all included - quite good brands, like Tio Pepe sherry, Campari, etc.  And at least one bar will be open from 10 a.m., so anyone who wishes could get completely sozzled.  (Never seen that happen!)  Wine with lunch and dinner, or indeed at any time.  I am not sure if  single malts are included, for example, but apart from the fact that there is a limited choice of wines, usually four reds, four whites, and one or two roses, IMO the choice and generosity is excellent.  Recently I said after dinner | did not drink coffee, so the wine server said 'why not have a Baileys on ice', something I had never done before, and actually enjoyed it and had one each evening, in fact she brought it without being asked.

Regarding mixing with people at meals, if you prefer to dine a deux or just with friends you can ask to have a set table every evening, including for two, and still go in for dinner whenever you like during opening hours.   We tend to do this being both a bit deaf and finding large tables difficult.

I should have said that the above applied to Sapphire earlier in the year - I doubt if it has changed for Discovery, but hopefully if it has someone will chime in and report.

20 minutes ago, lincslady said: I should have said that the above applied to Sapphire earlier in the year - I doubt if it has changed for Discovery, but hopefully if it has someone will chime in and report.

Thank you for all the useful information, I am almost convinced to give Saga a try, I will reported back if we book.

All future cruises on Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure are all inclusive.

I'm not sure if any 'top shelf items' are extra, maybe SolentRichard could advise.

On 12/22/2019 at 1:39 PM, Glenndale said: All future cruises on Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure are all inclusive. I'm not sure if any 'top shelf items' are extra, maybe SolentRichard could advise.

Yes, there is a small price for the 'Premium Selection' drinks...

We have just returned from an all inclusive Christmas Markets cruise on Saga Sapphire and have another booked for next March on the same ship. 

We previously cruised this time last year on the Saga Pearl which we found too small and too formal for our taste. 

Happily only being six days last weeks cruise on Sapphire did not have a formal night so smart casual was the order of the day. 

I must say we do not enjoy waiter service, I am diabetic and a self service option in one of the dining rooms would save me a lot of explaining at table. 

Also as many of our younger age group we do not enjoy formality particularly if it is enforced for the whole evening, dress up by all means if you want to but don't force it on the rest of us, smart casual is just fine if like us that is what you prefer. 

I also wonder if Saga has priced itself out of its own market of middle income pensioners with the two new ships, expensive outside cabins with balconies are fine for the summer or the tropics but what use in the winter when it's dark by 5.00pm.

Likewise the added benefits of endless coffee and cake, ice cream machines, pick and mix sweets or added excursions at every port, all well and good but these few benefits don't justify such a massive price increase as the new ships come into service. 

Speaking to other passengers we found many of the same opinion that the added benefits of the new ships did not justify the new far higher fares. 

I fear we are unlikely to be cruising with Saga once the new ships come into use. 

JMyrtle - a shame you did not like Saga Sapphire - and from your profile have gone off Fred Olsen also.  You say 'once the new ships come into use' - obviously as you can see from this thread,  Spirit of Discovery is already sailing, and the other new ship will be launched in a few months.

Hope you will find a cruise line you can enjoy.

You misunderstand, we were quite happy on Sapphire other than the dress code but when we go to Denmark in March we don't intend to comply 😊

We are also more than happy with "Fred" but we have sailed with them so often we have been everywhere they sail from Dover in 2020 except one cruise to Seville in April which we have already booked thru Saga and going all the way to So'ton is a bit of a route march. 

I have a firm rule that I will not pay more than £1000.00 each for a week or £1500.00 for a fortnight and for that price I would expect all inclusive or at the very least a drinks package. 

As far as I am aware Sapphire is still in service until I think September but we already have four cruises booked on various lines for next year so as I have already said once both new ships are in service I have no desire to spend several thousand pounds more  in 2021to achieve the same number of weeks away so I guess it will be "Fred"  C&M or maybe even three weeks somewhere on land in the Med for one of the four. 

My pensions took many years to achieve and I'm not about to waste the money on outside cabins and balconies I will never use, meals I can not eat and excursions I don't want to go on. 

Saga needs to re-think as I know I am not alone in this thought. 

Saga seem to be moving with the times in the hope of attracting more customers than they loose.

I for one have only been considered booking with them since the new ships came on the scene.

They have now entered a very competitive more upscale market, only time will tell how it works out.

I hope you are right as cruises from Dover are very limited, we have no airport in East Kent and Gatwick is a lottery as to getting on your flight because of delays on the M2/M25 so fly cruises are  out unless we take up Saga's suggestion to go up the night before and stay over, hey that's a thought 🤔

It looks like cruises will be "Fred" from Soton or C&M from Tilbury unless Saga lowers their prices substantially or "Fred" comes up with better choices from Dover for 2021.

Yes, I am afraid that the days of a cheap inside cabin on Saga are nearly over, and they have moved up a notch in the 'luxury' or premium stakes.  Sadly, of course, they are the company who will get you to Southampton or Dover ports door to door, which I don't think any other cruise line does - certainly not included.  For myself, I find the 'extras' Saga include, like the drinks, tips and  insurance as well as transport, do add up to being worthwhile and help with no bill at the end, unless you have taken excursions.  But the initial cost is naturally more, especially with all cabins being fairly large and with a balcony.

2 quick comments. For Gatwick flights, we always stay the night before at the Premier Inn Gatwick North. The restaurant food is quite good and it's a 2 minute walk to the terminal, and a quick train shuttle to the other terminal. Secondly Saga does door to door transfers for other cruise lines booked via them, eg Fred, CMV and Azamara.

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started 1 hour ago

LauraS · Started Friday at 07:21 PM

LauraS · Started Friday at 03:17 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 04:15 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 03:00 PM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

• CruiseMapper
• Saga Cruises

Spirit of Discovery

Former name: saga olympic.

Cruise line Saga Ocean Cruises (Saga Cruises)

• Portsmouth UK (England)
• Dover (England)

Spirit of Discovery current position

Spirit of Discovery current location is at North East Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 46.85425 N / -7.37735 W) cruising at speed of 14 kn (26 km/h | 16 mph) en route to GB PME>PT LEI. The AIS position was reported 21 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Spirit of Discovery

Spirit of Discovery current cruise is 12 days, round-trip Exploring Spain and Western France . The itinerary starts on 28 Apr, 2024 and ends on 10 May, 2024 .

Specifications of Spirit of Discovery

•   Itineraries
•   Review
•   Wiki

Spirit of Discovery Itineraries

Spirit of discovery review, review of spirit of discovery.

MS Spirit of Discovery cruise ship is the first of two identical polar expedition vessels built for Saga Cruises at Meyer Werft's shipyard in Papenburg Germany . Spirit of Discovery (scheduled delivery on June 28, 2019) has one sistership - Spirit of Adventure (delivered in August 2020/inaugurated in July 2021).

The vessel (IMO number 9802683) is UK- flagged (MMSI 232021171) and registered in London .

Saga Cruises is a UK company, division of Saga Group. With the purchase of Saga Rose (former NCL ship MS Sagafjord), in 1997 Saga Holidays started passenger shipping operations under the brand name "Saga Cruises". Unlike Saga's old fleet, the new boats are fully owned by Saga Group and replaced the two chartered vessels Saga Sapphire (now Blue Sapphire) and Saga Pearl 2 .

The vessel is owned by Saga Group and operated by the UK-based cruise company (via Saga Holidays) exclusively. The shipowner Saga plc is a British travel company and cruise brand targeting mainly UK travellers in the 50+ age group. Saga UK annually serves around 2,7 million customers. The company is LSE-listed (on London Stock Exchange) under the stock symbol (ticker) SAGA.

Decks and Cabins

Saga Spirit of Discovery staterooms (554 total) are all with private step-out balconies, which also means that the ship has no Inside cabins. Cabin categories include Standard Balcony, Deluxe Balcony, Midship Suites and larger Panorama Suites. 100 single cabins are specifically designed for solo travellers (can be booked with single-occupancy rates and without single supplement), which is approx 20% of the ship's total capacity.

Staterooms as decors and colour schemes are in three styles. First group's design features garden-like elements with light timbers, pastel-green colours, beautifully embroidered fabrics. Second group's design incorporates the more sophisticated grey with a dark-timber scheme, with pink-orange accented furnishings and carpet and upholstered headboard. Third group's colours are most calming, in neutral sunset tones with burnt oranges.

All cabins offer as standard (complimentary) amenities smart HDTV (infotainment system - Internet, on-demand movies, ship info channel, real-time camera views from the Bridge), direct-dial phone, large wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), hotel-type beds (two twins, convertible double beds or fixed double beds with headboards), luxury bedding and pillows, bedside cabinets, wall-mounted reading lamps, mirrored dressing table (writing desk) with chair and magnifying mirror, separate lounge area (low table with two comfortable armchairs), en-suite bathroom (WC, glass shower, single-sink vanity with under sink storage), private step-out balcony (with table and deckchairs), individually controlled air-conditioning, LED lighting, keycard room access.

The 4 top-tier suites (Forward Balcony Suites categories AA and BB) are named Rose Suite (after the Saga Rose liner / 1965-2010 scrapped ), Ruby Suite (after the Saga Ruby liner / 1973-2016 scrapped ), Sidney De Haan Suite (after Sidney Isaac De Haan / 1919-2002, Saga Group's founder) and Joseph Meyer Suite (after Josef Lambert Meyer / Meyer Werft's founder).

The 8 top-tier suites (Aft Balcony Suites categories CC and DD) are named after regions and islands in the UK - Bailey Suite, Fair Isle Suite, FitzRoy Suite, Hebrides Suite, Humber Suite, Lundy Suite, Thames Suite, Trafalgar Suite.

The boat has 14 decks , of which 10 are passenger-accessible and 6 are with cabins.

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

Spirit of Discovery has 4 restaurants (3 specialty, 1 Dining Room), several bars and lounges (indoor and outdoor), wellness complex (Fitness, Spa, Hydrotherapy Pool, 5 treatment rooms, 2 Saunas, Steam Room, Beauty Salon, Sports Court), Boutique Shop, Library, Lobby area (Reception, Tour Desk), 2 swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), Promenade Deck (wraparound), Sun Deck (with comfortable seating, outdoor gym equipment), laundrettes (on all cabin decks). The ship has all 6 elevators (2 clusters of 3 lifts).

"Saga Discovery" ship features all-balcony staterooms, modern hotel amenities, British-style themed onboard activities, professional and traditionally attentive service. There is a choice of dining experiences, bars and entertainment venues, including speciality (one of which Asian, serving complimentary wines), outdoor Lido Deck (with open-air/alfresco dining space), Saga's signature Britannia Lounge, theatre lounge, central hub (named "The Living Room").

The cruise liner also has a modern wellness complex and 2 swimming pools (outdoor and indoor). The Spa complex consists of Beauty Salon, Hydrotherapy Pool, Salt-Steam Room, 2 Saunas (one infrared), 5 treatment rooms (for massages, latest beauty treatments and therapies). Library Lounge offers coffee and fresh cakes and one of the best-stocked book collections at sea. The 430-seat Playhouse Theatre has tiered seating and hosts grand-scale evening show productions, cinema screenings, live music performances.

Ship's team of Executive Chefs serves the all 5 onboard restaurants. Grand Dining Room (main restaurant) serves the best of British-influenced cuisine specialities. The chefs use locally produced food sources (based on cruise itinerary/destination) and create menus of ever-changing dishes. Passengers are able to make a reservation and eat in any of the other 4 restaurants at no extra cost. House wines from the ship's cellar are complimentary and served in every restaurant.

On Lido Deck is The Verandah Restaurant that consists of Bar and Grill with separate indoor and outdoor seating areas. These are actually two restaurants combined into one, with self-service buffet lunch and waiter-served dinner. Open-kitchen allows passengers to watch ship's chefs preparing the food during their galley (kitchen) show.

In June 2018, Saga Cruises signed a partnership deal with Jools Holland (English pianist, singer, BBC TV presenter) for "The Club by Jools" steakhouse restaurant. By the 5-year partnership deal (until 2024), at the Jools restaurant are performed live music and its bar is designed like a cabaret lounge from the 1950s. The dinner-only restaurant's menu features classic steaks (fillet, T-bone, ribeye, tomahawk steaks), live music performances (by resident and guest musicians) and premium cocktails.

In December 2018, Saga Cruises signed a partnership deal with Hush Heath Estate (Kent England wine producer, Staplehurst-based winery) to blend a new wine label specifically for Saga's new liner Discovery. The project was coordinated by Owen Elias (Hush Heath Estate's consultant winemaker), who worked with cruise company's executive chefs to create Saga's exclusive sparkling wine label "Spirit of Discovery".

Itineraries

Saga Spirit of Discovery itinerary program offers both cruises leaving roundtrip from UK ports and UK fly-cruise deals. Ship's both homeports are in England ( Dover and Southampton ). Dover roundtrips visit ports in Baltic Sea (Scandinavia and Russia, Norwegian Fjords, Germany and Belgium). Southampton roundtrips visit ports in the Mediterranean Sea (Spain, France, Italy) and the Canary Islands with Madeira. The ship also operates on roundtrip UK (Southampton) Transatlantic crossings to Caribbean and USA ports.

The inaugural cruise was initially scheduled for July 23, 2019 (themed "Channel Island Hop Cruise"), with next voyages, themed "Gourmet Spain" (August 3) and "Natural Scandinavia" (August 17). However, as the liner was delivered earlier (in June instead of July 2019), the maiden voyage was re-scheduled for July 10 (themed "A British First") - see more in the ship's WIKI section.

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 .

• 14-night "Great British Isles Adventure" itinerary (departure July 11) visiting Falmouth , Holyhead , Belfast , Greenock-Glasgow , Ullapool , Kirkwall , Newhaven , Newcastle , with included tours in Kirkwall, Belfast, Edinburgh , Newcastle. Balcony cabin prices started from GBP 3375 per person with double occupancy.
• 6-night "Northern Isles to the Fjords" itinerary (departures July 3 and July 25) visiting Kirkwall, Sognefjord (scenic cruising), Lerwick , Stornoway , Scrabster , with included tours in Lerwick and Kirkwall. Balcony cabin prices started from GBP 1540 pp.
• 6-night "Scottish Highlands and Islands" itinerary (departure June 27) visiting Lerwick, Scrabster, Invergordon , with included tours in Invergordon and Lerwick. Balcony cabin prices started from GBP 1155 pp.

Saga's new ships are operated with all-inclusive package deals. Fares include unlimited (shipboard served) house spirits, beers, wine (by the glass) and soft drinks. Packages also include:

• UK travel package (to/from departure port), Shuttle bus transfer (to the nearest downtown from homeport)
• Onboard gratuities, Porterage
• Onboard Welcome cocktail party
• All onboard meals, afternoon tea, live entertainment
• Unlimited tea and coffee (selected ship venues)
• 24-hour room service
• premium service (2 staff members for 3 passengers)

Spirit of Discovery - user reviews and comments

Photos of spirit of discovery.

Spirit of Discovery ship related cruise news

Saga Group (UK) might sell its ocean cruise division

Saga Group UK has confirmed that it is exploring forming a "partnership arrangement" for its ocean cruise division. The travel and insurance group...

100 passengers on SAGA's Spirit of Discovery injured during distressing incident in the Bay of...

SAGA's vessel, Spirit of Discovery, encountered difficulties amid formidable maritime conditions characterized by "gale force winds and nine-meter...

Portsmouth UK boasts new sustainable cruise terminal

After an 18-month construction period, Portsmouth International Port proudly accommodates visitors from the ship Spirit of Discovery by Saga Cruises...

Saga UK's ship Spirit of Discovery hosts special Coronation celebrations

Saga Cruises announced it was incredibly proud that Camilla, Queen Consort was the Godmother of its ocean ship, Spirit of Discovery and in honor of...

Fred Olsen Balmoral ship's 78-day South America and Antarctica cruise starts Portsmouth UK's 2023...

2023 will see Portsmouth Port UK (England) host more maiden calls/welcome back cruise companies, as it continues to strengthen its place as the first...

Saga UK introduces 4 new Around Britain voyages for summer 2023

Saga Cruises added a further 4 round-Britain voyages into its summer 2023 schedule, all with up to 35% off, and timed to coincide with events like...

SAGA Cruises marks Spirit of Adventure’s and Spirit of Discovery’s anniversaries

SAGA UK marked the first anniversary of Spirit of Adventure’s maiden voyage (July 6th) and Spirit of Discovery’s 3rd anniversary (July...

SAGA's Spirit of Discovery is the first cruise ship in 3 years to dock in Tunisia

A cruise ship docked in port in Tunisia on Wednesday, March 23, for the first time since 2019, carrying 700+ passengers and good news for operators...

Saga Cruises returns to international cruising following Around-Britain itineraries

On October 5, Saga UK's cruise ship Spirit of Adventure is scheduled to depart on a 5-day "Taste of the Continent" itinerary visiting Holland...

Saga Cruises amends Spirit of Adventure maiden voyage due to Scottish restrictions

Saga Cruises had to amend the maiden voyage of their new ship Spirit of Adventure due to Scotland's lockdown restrictions. The ship is scheduled to...

•   show more news

Other Saga Ocean Cruises cruise ships

• Spirit of Adventure

Spirit of Discovery Wiki

For the new ship series, Saga employed the designer company SMC Design, which has extensive experience with cruise vessel design. Among SMC Design's customers are also P&O Cruises UK (Sindhu / Indian restaurant), Viking Ocean Cruises (Explorers Lounge), NCL (Mandara Spa).

Vessel's construction started on February 28, 2018 (steel-cutting ceremony), attended by Lance Batchelor (Saga Group's CEO) and Tim Meyer Meyer Werft's managing director). The boat's hull sections and building blocks were constructed and assembled at Building Dock I (Meyer Werft's Papenburg shipyard). Saga's Spirit of Discovery bookings (for all itineraries 2019-2020) opened in October 2017.

On June 28, 2018, was held the keel-laying ceremony. Traditionally, a commemorative coin was placed under the hull's first block (of all 54 blocks/hull and superstructure). The vessel was launched (floated out from drydock) on May 12, 2019. Its official delivery to Saga plc (UK) was initially scheduled for June 20, but later rescheduled for June 28 (2019).

Next timelapse video shows some phases of the vessel's  construction process .

The ship's christening ceremony was on July 5, 2019, held at Dover Western Docks ( Port Dover England) . Ship's official naming ceremony was attended by 500+ guests, including Saga Group's management, employees and crew. The quayside event was transformed into a traditional British garden party, complete with grass (grown in Yorkshire), bunting and table settings, foliage, florals, trees and parasols.

In early-June 2019 was announced the name of liner's Godmother - HRH Camilla (Duchess of Cornwall, aka Duchess of Rothesay). The 1947-born Camilla Rosemary Shand (now Camilla Parker-Bowles) is a British royal family member as the second wife of Charles (Prince of Wales, 1948-born as Charles Philip Arthur George).

In early-March 2019, SAGA announced that starting with the 14-day Inaugural Canary Islands cruise (Nov 4-18), the new liner becomes all-inclusive. This means that Saga cruise fares are inclusive of speciality restaurant dining, beverages (wine, beer, house spirits, soft drinks), 24-hour room service, Wi-Fi, gratuities, transfer (chauffeur service to/from homeport for cruise passengers based within 250 ml / 402 km distance). Shore excursions remain optional and at additional cost. The cruise company offers complimentary shuttle bus services in all ports where the town/city is over 0,5 km from the ship. The sistership Spirit of Adventure (August 2020) also offers all-inclusive deals.

In mid-June 2021 SAGA announced the names of its cruise ship Captains - Darin Bowland (Spirit of Discovery) and Jason Ikiadis (Spirit of Adventure). Bowland (starting in 1985) was previously employed by RCG-Royal Caribbean Group and Carnival Corporation ( HAL-Holland America Line 's ship Zaandam ). Ikiadis (starting in 1984) was previously employed by RCG ( Azamara 's ship Journey ) and TUI ( Marella 's ships Discovery and Discovery 2 ).

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).

Inaugural itineraries 2019

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. For 2019, the ship had scheduled a total of 11 roundtrips from homeport Dover UK. The following tables show liner's inaugural cruise itineraries in 2019. Prices shown are indicative, in USD, per person, based on double-occupancy (Standard Balcony cabin rates).

The 13-day maiden voyage (themed "A British First" / British Isles circumnavigation itinerary) is a Dover roundtrip priced from USD 4060 pp.

4-day "Inaugural Cruise" from UK (themed "A Channel Island Hop", from USD 890 pp)

7-day Inaugural "Norwegian Fjords" cruise (themed "The Fjords in Focus", from USD 1770 pp)

14-day Inaugural Iberia cruise (themed "Gourmet Spain", from USD 4030 pp)

14-day Inaugural "Scandinavia and Russia" cruise (themed "Myths and Legends of the Baltic", from USD 4000 pp)

18-day Inaugural Mediterranean cruise from UK (themed "The Chic Mediterranean", from USD 4930 pp)

14-day Inaugural Canary Islands cruise from UK (themed "Spanish Islands of the Atlantic", from USD 3020 pp)

35-day Inaugural Transatlantic crossing from UK (themed "Fairy Tale of New York", from USD 9450 pp)

• Saga Cruises

Saga Spirit of Discovery

By davecttr , November 8, 2023 in Saga Cruises

Recommended Posts

Waves 5 metres high in the Bay.  Missed port and missed  a storm. Passengers kept well informed of situation . Back into Portsmouth later today. 

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

Windsurfboy

We've been in more than 5 metres on both  Queen Victoria and Elizabeth and hardly felt it. I wonder either SOD feels waves worse (isopods and fancy stabilizers not as effective ). Or Saga has just become very very risk adverse.

19 hours ago, JoJo1947 said: Waves 5 metres high in the Bay.  Missed port and missed  a storm. Passengers kept well informed of situation . Back into Portsmouth later today. 

41 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:   We've been in more than 5 metres on both  Queen Victoria and Elizabeth and hardly felt it. I wonder either SOD feels waves worse (isopods and fancy stabilizers not as effective ). Or Saga has just become very very risk adverse.  

A bit of both I suspect. At 58K tonnes SofD is significantly smaller than the Queens at 90K, and smaller ships feel the weather more than larger ones. Doubt if pod propulsion is the issue as both QE and QV use it. But it is also true imo that Saga is somewhat risk adverse compared with many other lines and this has probably increased since the unfortunate incident with SofD in Biscay which resulted in many passengers being injured.

I've noticed the swell more on the new ships than on Sapphire & Pearl 2. We put it down to the deeper hull of the old ships.

One very bad night Sapphire was followed from Southamton by a P&O ship. I was watching on marine traffic & the P&O ship seemed to be strugging to keep up with us.  In fact she didn't & we got well ahead.

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started 1 hour ago

LauraS · Started Friday at 07:21 PM

LauraS · Started Friday at 03:17 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 04:15 PM

LauraS · Started Thursday at 03:00 PM

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...