Spirit of Adventure

The 2020-built/2021-inaugurated MS Spirit of Adventure cruise ship is the second of two identical expedition-style vessels built for Saga Cruises at Meyer Werft's shipyard in Papenburg Germany. Spirit of Adventure (delivered in August 2020 / inaugurated in July 2021) has one sistership — Spirit of Discovery (delivered in June 2019).

The vessel (IMO number 9818084) is UK-flagged (MMSI 232026551) and registered in London.

Saga Cruises is a UK company and a 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 older fleet (Saga Sapphire / now Blue Sapphire and Saga Pearl 2), the new liners are fully owned by Saga Group and replaced the two chartered vessels Sapphire and Pearl 2.

The vessel is owned by Saga Group and operated exclusively by the UK-based cruise company (via Saga Holidays). The shipowner Saga plc is a British travel company and cruise brand targeting mainly UK travelers aged 50+. Saga UK annually serves around 2.7 million customers. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) under the ticker symbol SAGA.

Decks and Cabins

Saga Spirit of Adventure staterooms (554 total) all feature step-out balconies, meaning the ship has no Inside cabins. Cabin categories include Standard Balcony, Deluxe Balcony, Midship Suites, and larger Panorama Suites. More than 100 single cabins are specifically designed for solo travelers (available with single-occupancy rates), representing approximately 20% of the ship's capacity.

Stateroom décor and color schemes are available in three styles. The first group’s design features garden-inspired elements with light timbers, pastel-green colors, and beautifully embroidered fabrics. The second group incorporates a more sophisticated grey and dark-timber scheme with pink-orange accented furnishings, carpeting, and upholstered headboards. The third group offers the most calming palette, featuring neutral sunset tones with burnt oranges.

All cabins offer the following standard (complimentary) amenities: smart HDTV (infotainment system with Internet, on-demand movies, ship information channel, real-time camera views from the Bridge), direct-dial phone, large wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), hotel-style beds (two twins convertible to a double 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, and keycard room access.

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

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

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

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

The Living Room is a midship lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows and comfortable modern seating (three-seat sofas and lounge chairs). Its café bar functions as a patisserie during the day (serving gelato ice cream, premium coffee, and freshly baked cakes) and as a specialty cocktail bar in the evening. The design includes a sculptural grand staircase and full-height artwork.

The cruise liner also features a modern wellness complex and two swimming pools (outdoor and indoor). The Spa complex includes a Beauty Salon, Hydrotherapy Pool, Salt-Steam Room, Saunas (one infrared), and five treatment rooms offering massages and beauty treatments. The Library Lounge serves coffee and fresh cakes and features one of the best-stocked book collections at sea. The 444-seat Playhouse Theatre has tiered seating and hosts evening shows, cinema screenings, and live music performances.

The ship's team of Executive Chefs serves all five onboard restaurants. The Grand Dining Room (main restaurant) offers British-influenced cuisine specialties using locally sourced ingredients based on the cruise itinerary. Menus feature constantly changing dishes. Passengers can reserve and dine in any of the other 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, which includes a Bar and Grill with separate indoor and outdoor seating areas. These are essentially two restaurants combined into one, offering self-service buffet lunches and waiter-served dinners. The open kitchen allows passengers to watch the ship's chefs preparing dishes during their galley shows.

Khukuri House is an Italian restaurant with Nepalese cuisine, featuring traditional artwork, room dividers made from Dhaka fabrics, and hidden lighting. Most tables are two-seat (which can be combined into four-seat clusters), along with four-seat tables with sofas and armchairs near the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The Amalfi is a sophisticated Italian restaurant providing an authentic dining experience. Its design features four-color tiled flooring, floor-to-ceiling illuminated wine cabinets, uplighting screens, and red leather chairs.

In June 2018, Saga Cruises signed a partnership agreement with Jools Holland (English pianist, singer, and BBC TV presenter) for "The Club by Jools" steakhouse restaurant. Under the five-year partnership (until 2024), live music performances are held in the restaurant, and its bar is designed in the style of a 1950s cabaret lounge. The dinner-only menu features classic steaks (fillet, T-bone, ribeye, tomahawk), accompanied by live music performances from resident and guest musicians and premium cocktails.

Itineraries

Saga Spirit of Adventure's itinerary program is based on roundtrip cruises from two UK homeports (Dover and Southampton). The ship was initially scheduled to start service with her Maiden Voyage from Dover on August 21, 2020. The 17-day Baltic Sea itinerary included an overnight stay in St Petersburg Russia and visits to Stockholm Sweden, Copenhagen Denmark, Visby Sweden, Tallinn Estonia, and Aalborg Denmark. Other itineraries planned for the inaugural 2020 season (and later canceled) included:

• "The Inaugural Cruise" (August 21 from Dover) — from GBP 4700 pp
• "This Sceptred Isle" (September 7 from Dover) — from GBP 3470 pp
• "A Norwegian Canvas" (September 21 from Dover) — from GBP 1510 pp
• "A Taste of France and Spain" (September 28 from Dover) — from GBP 2710 pp
• "Tales from the Ancient Mediterranean" (October 10 from Southampton) — from GBP 5180 pp
• "Stars of the Canaries" (November 1 from Southampton) — from GBP 2670 pp
• "Rhythm of the Caribbean" (November 15 from Southampton) — from GBP 6670 pp
• "Christmas Sights of Amsterdam" (December 16 from Southampton) — from GBP 750 pp
• "Canary Island Christmas" (December 20 from Southampton) — from GBP 3750 pp

Due to COVID-related construction delays (shipyard closures), the ship's inaugural cruise was rescheduled several times and eventually planned for July 26, 2021. However, the Maiden Voyage had to be amended due to Scotland's continuing lockdown restrictions (enforced through August 9, 2021).

• Departing from London-Tilbury England, the itinerary excluded all Scottish ports (Newhaven-Edinburgh, Kirkwall Orkney Island, Dundee, Ullapool, St Kilda, Greenock-Glasgow) and replaced them with Belfast, Newcastle upon Tyne, scenic cruising off the Isle of Man, Holyhead (Isle of Anglesey, Wales), Liverpool, Bristol, scenic cruising around the Isles of Scilly, and Falmouth, before returning to London-Tilbury on August 10.
• The naming ceremony in Portsmouth England was also rescheduled for July 19.
• The ship's first cruise officially open for booking departed on August 29. The 15-night "Postcards from the Baltic: August" itinerary (Dover roundtrip) included ports in Sweden (Goteborg-Gothenburg, Stockholm), Finland (Helsinki), Russia (St Petersburg), Estonia (Tallinn), Denmark (Copenhagen, Skagen), and Norway (Oslo). Prices ranged from GBP 4157 per person (EUR 4850 / USD 5726) for a Standard Twin cabin with double occupancy, up to GBP 8204 pp (EUR 9572 / USD 11300) for a Midship Suite with double occupancy.

Like her sistership Discovery, Spirit of Adventure is also operated on cruises to European and Canadian Arctic regions, as well as Antarctica voyages departing from South American ports. As is traditional for Saga, the new liner offers both roundtrip cruises from UK ports and fly-cruise deals.

Saga Cruises' new ships operate with all-inclusive packages. Fares include unlimited shipboard-served house spirits, beers, wine by the glass, and soft drinks. Packages also include:

• UK travel package (to/from the departure port), shuttle bus transfer (to the nearest downtown from the homeport)
• Onboard gratuities and porterage
• Onboard welcome cocktail party
• All onboard meals, afternoon tea, and live entertainment
• Unlimited tea and coffee (in selected ship venues)
• Free Wi-Fi
• 24-hour room service
• Premium service (two staff members for every three passengers)