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)
• Free Wi-Fi
• 24-hour room service
• premium service (2 staff members for 3 passengers)

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)

Godspeed!