News

Following the recent announcement that HRH The Duchess of Cornwall will become the Godmother to Saga Cruise’s new boutique cruise ship, Spirit of Discovery, more details have today (Monday 24^th June 2019) been unveiled about the Naming Ceremony which will take place at the Port of Dover, Kent, on 5th July 2019.   Following the successful completion of her sea trials, Saga has also today announced that it has officially taken ownership of Spirit of Discovery from ship builders Meyer Werft.

The Spirit of Discovery’s Naming Ceremony will see 500 invited guests joining HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, the Saga management team, crew and employees to pay homage to one of the great British traditions of summer;  a contemporary Garden Party. The extensive Afternoon Tea will be prepared by Saga’s celebrity chef Kevin Woodford working with Selwyn Stoby, the former Executive Pastry Chef at Buckingham Palace and Paul Gayler, the former Executive Chef of the Lanesborough Hotel.

The Port of Dover quayside will be transformed, with grass grown in Yorkshire. There will be traditional bunting and table settings, stunning foliage, florals, trees and parasols. Guests will be served Spirit of Discovery sparkling wine, specially blended by Kent vineyard Hush Heath for the ship, and Anno Kent Gin, from nearby Marden.  

The celebration cake, a two metre long replica of Spirit of Discovery, will be designed and made by Mark Tilling, winner of Bake Off Crème de la Crème, and cut by The Duchess of Cornwall. During the official naming ceremony, guests will be entertained by the Royal Marine Band and the Welsh Male Voice Choir and the ship will be blessed by The Right Reverend Trevor Willmott, Bishop of Dover, before being christened by The Duchess of Cornwall with a Jeroboam of the specially-created Hush Heath Spirit of Discovery English sparkling wine.

Saga confirmed that it has now taken ownership of Spirit of Discovery, the first of two British boutique cruise ships they commissioned from world-leading shipbuilders Meyer Werft.  Robin Shaw, CEO, Saga Travel signed the official documents with Meyer Werft’s Managing Director, Tim Meyer, marking the formal handover.

Robin Shaw, CEO, Saga Travel said: “Now we have completed the formal ownership handover of Spirit of Discovery, we cannot think of a better way to mark the launch of our pioneering new boutique cruise ship than with the ultimate British summertime event; a Garden Party with a sumptuous Afternoon Tea.  As far as we’re aware, this is the first time any ship naming ceremony has been celebrated in this way.  This unique afternoon will symbolise a key moment in both the history, and the future, of Saga. We couldn’t be more honoured than to have HRH The Duchess of Cornwall joining us for this prestigious day.”

Doug Bannister, Chief Executive of the Port of Dover said: “We are really proud to be hosting the naming ceremony for Saga’s first ever new build ship, twenty years after Saga cruises officially launched here in Dover. This momentous occasion is testament to the outstanding partnership we have built with Saga and represents an exciting future for us as a Port, as we take a step closer to fully unveiling our Western Docks redevelopment.”  

Following her ‘First Arrival’, on 28^th June, Spirit of Discovery will become the first cruise ship to be named at the Port of Dover for over a decade, and the first to be docked at Berth 4 in the recently developed £250m Dover Western Docks Revival.

Before the afternoon’s formal proceedings, The Duchess of Cornwall will be given a tour of the ship, which epitomises the best of British contemporary boutique hotel style and elegance. Her Royal Highness will view some of the 1,000 artworks on board, many of which have been created by artists working in Britain, as well as the suites named after the Radio 4 Shipping Forecast.  The Duchess of Cornwall will meet Captain Burgess and his officers and crew as she tours the impressive new British boutique hotel at sea.    

Saga has already shown its firm commitment to Britain as Spirit of Discovery has been registered in the UK and will proudly display London as her port of registry on her stern.  The ship will sail 999 guests around the world, flying the Red Ensign, and her sister ship, Spirit of Adventure, will also fly the Red Ensign when she launches in August 2020.  The arrival of Spirit of Adventure next year will mark the realisation of a £600million+ investment in both ships, underlining Saga’s position as the British company creating distinctly British boutique cruising.

The inaugural cruise of Spirit of Discovery, A British First, will depart from Dover on 10^th July and sail around the British Isles. 

ENDS

Issued on behalf of Saga Cruises by Embolden. For further information please contact: Rhona Gardiner, PR Manager +44 (0)7740410052 rhona.gardiner@embolden.agency  - Media who are keen to cover the Spirit of Discovery Naming Ceremony on 5th July 2019 should also contact Rhona Gardiner on these details.