The new ship for Saga Cruises - Spirit of Discovery, along with Meyer Werft's shipbuilding team completed vessel's conveyance from the Papenburg shipyard along River Ems to open sea. The only cruise ship constructed for the British market in 2019, Spirit of Discovery left Papenburg at 9 pm, before passing through River Ems sea lock late Sunday night, May 26, marking the start of its voyage to homeport Dover UK.
Following the departure, the liner was towed along River Ems from Papenburg to Emden, passing Weener (Friesenbrucke/bridge) and Jann Berghaus bridge (Leer) prior to arriving at River Ems barrier and passing through to Emden sea lock (arriving at 8 am).
Spirit of Discovery will undergo nautical and technical sea trials until mid-June. Saga Cruises will take official delivery of the vessel on June 20 before it arrives in Dover for the naming ceremony (scheduled for July 5, 2019). On July 10, Spirit of Discovery leaves Dover on the inaugural cruise themed "A British First".