Spirit of Discovery

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

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

Saga Cruises is a UK company and 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 former fleet, the new ships 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 exclusively by the UK-based cruise company (via Saga Holidays). The shipowner Saga plc is a British travel company and cruise brand targeting primarily 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 stock symbol SAGA.

Decks and Cabins

Saga Spirit of Discovery staterooms (554 total) all feature private step-out balconies, meaning the ship has no Inside cabins. Cabin categories include Standard Balcony, Deluxe Balcony, Midship Suites, and larger Panorama Suites. A total of 100 single cabins are specifically designed for solo travelers (bookable at single-occupancy rates without a single supplement), representing approximately 20% of the ship's total capacity.

Stateroom decor and color schemes are presented in three styles. The first design group features garden-inspired elements with light timbers, pastel-green colors, and embroidered fabrics. The second style incorporates a more sophisticated grey and dark-timber scheme with pink-orange accented furnishings, carpets, and upholstered headboards. The third style uses calming neutral sunset tones with burnt orange accents.

All cabins offer the following standard (complimentary) amenities: smart HDTV (infotainment system with Internet, on-demand movies, ship information channel, and real-time Bridge camera views), direct-dial phone, large wardrobe, electronic safe box (in the closet), hotel-style beds (two twin beds 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 four 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 eight 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, and Trafalgar Suite.

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

Shipboard dining and entertainment options

Spirit of Discovery features 4 restaurants (3 specialty venues and 1 main Dining Room), several indoor and outdoor bars and lounges, a wellness complex (Fitness Center, Spa, Hydrotherapy Pool, 5 treatment rooms, 2 saunas, steam room, Beauty Salon, Sports Court), Boutique Shop, Library, Lobby area (Reception and Tour Desk), 2 swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), a wraparound Promenade Deck, a Sun Deck with comfortable seating and outdoor gym equipment, and self-service laundrettes on all cabin decks. The ship has 6 elevators arranged in two clusters of three lifts.

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

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, two saunas (one infrared), and five treatment rooms offering massages, beauty treatments, and therapies. The Library Lounge serves coffee and fresh cakes and features one of the best-stocked book collections at sea. The 430-seat Playhouse Theatre has tiered seating and hosts large-scale evening show productions, 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. Chefs use locally sourced ingredients based on the cruise itinerary and destination to create menus with constantly changing dishes. Passengers can make reservations and dine at any of the other four restaurants at no additional charge. House wines from the ship's cellar are complimentary and served in every restaurant.

On Lido Deck is The Verandah Restaurant, consisting of a Bar and Grill with separate indoor and outdoor seating areas. These function as two restaurants combined into one, offering a self-service buffet lunch and waiter-served dinner. The open kitchen allows passengers to watch the chefs preparing dishes during live galley demonstrations.

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 deal (until 2024), the venue featured live music performances and a bar designed in the style of a 1950s cabaret lounge. The dinner-only restaurant's menu included classic steaks (fillet, T-bone, ribeye, and tomahawk), live performances by resident and guest musicians, and premium cocktails.

The Club is a premium steakhouse served by its own bar. In June 2025, following a drydock refurbishment, the new specialty restaurant "La Vie en Rose at The Club" was introduced (aft on Deck 6, as part of The Club). The design was developed by Atlantic Marine Interiors. The menu (6 starters, 7 main dishes, 6 desserts) was created by Phil Vickery (1961-born English celebrity chef) and includes the signature wine Cote des Roses (a rose wine from Languedoc). The wine bottle was designed by an Ecole Boulle designer. The venue serves classic French dishes including onion soup, escargots a la bourguignonne, Tournedos Rossini, Bourride (fish stew), Sole Colbert, Duck a l'Orange, and Crepes Suzette.

In December 2018, Saga Cruises signed a partnership deal with Hush Heath Estate (a wine producer based in Staplehurst, Kent) 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 the cruise company's executive chefs to create Saga's exclusive sparkling wine label "Spirit of Discovery".

Itineraries

Saga Spirit of Discovery's itinerary program includes cruises departing roundtrip from UK ports as well as UK fly-cruise deals. The ship's two homeports are in England (Dover and Southampton). Dover roundtrips visit Baltic Sea ports (Scandinavia and Russia), the Norwegian Fjords, Germany, and Belgium. Southampton roundtrips visit Mediterranean destinations (Spain, France, Italy) and the Canary Islands with Madeira. The ship also operates 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"), followed by voyages themed "Gourmet Spain" (August 3) and "Natural Scandinavia" (August 17). However, as the liner was delivered earlier (June instead of July 2019), the maiden voyage was rescheduled for July 10 (themed "A British First").

In late March 2021, Saga announced a revised ex-UK summer 2021 program with three all-inclusive cruise itineraries scheduled for Spirit of Discovery, all departing 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, and 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 per person.
• 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 per person.

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

• UK travel package (transport 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 (selected ship venues)
• Free Wi-Fi
• 24-hour room service
• Premium service (approximately two staff members for every three passengers)