News

Saga has today announced that the official naming ceremony of Saga Cruises’ first new-build ship Spirit of Discovery will be held at the Port of Dover on July 5, 2019 – the first ship to be named at Dover following the £250m redevelopment of Dover Western Docks.

 “As the place that Saga’s first cruise ship set sail from more than 20 years ago, Dover was ‘the natural choice”, revealed Chief Operating Officer Nigel Blanks, in London, on 18^th September at an exclusive event with Jools Holland – the face of The Club by Jools’ on board Spirit of Discovery, the only small ship currently being built for a British Market.

“With Saga’s Group headquarters based in Kent, we felt it only right that we name our first brand new, purpose-built cruise ship in Kent and what better way to do that than with the iconic White Cliffs of Dover as a backdrop. Spirit of Discovery will be the first cruise ship to be named in the port for more than a decade and the first following the regeneration of the Western Docks. We are already planning a few surprises, and will no doubt add a few more before next year, so save the date, as we christen the first of our new-build fleet” Blanks added.

Spirit of Discovery’s maiden voyage, A British First, will sail from Dover on July 10, 2019. The 999-guest luxury boutique ship will circumnavigate the British Isles.

“We are really excited about her first cruise as it’s a great way to show-off our first new boutique cruise-ship to the British market as we call in to iconic ports such as Newcastle, Edinburgh, Belfast and Liverpool,” said Blanks.

The inaugural cruise has already sold out and most other 2019 itineraries are well ahead of expectations with the 109 single cabins proving extremely popular. Spirit of Discovery’s destinations throughout summer 2019 include Spain, Scandinavia and the Baltic, as well as a four-night mini-cruise to Holland, Germany and Belgium.

In addition, Saga recently announced the company’s strategic decision to move to all-inclusive cruising as standard from 2020.  Nigel Blanks said “the decision to go all-inclusive in 2020 had been made to distance ourselves further from the competition and mass cruise market”. He said: “I firmly believe this will not only sit very well alongside our ‘Boutique Cruising’ proposition but will reaffirm our position as Britain’s niche luxury cruise operator’.

Port of Dover Head of Cruise, Sonia Limbrick said: “It is a great honour, and we are thrilled that Dover Cruise has been chosen as the venue for the momentous naming ceremony of Saga’s new ship ‘Spirit of Discovery’.

“Having first sailed from Dover back in 1997 with the Saga Rose, their magnificent cruise ships have been a welcome feature of the historic Western Docks for over 20 years. With our exciting £250m redevelopment well underway, ‘Dover Western Docks Revival’ will offer a uniquely enhanced experience to the ship when she calls in 2019 and we are greatly looking forward to greeting her in Dover.”

Editors:

 Customers who would like to Sail on Spirit of Discovery during her inaugural season, or register their interest in Spirit of Adventure, can contact Saga on 0800 505030 or saga.co.uk/cruise

ABOUT SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY

Saga’s first purpose-built cruise ship Spirit of Discovery is the first of two new passenger ships being constructed at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenberg, Germany for Saga Cruises.

Spirit of Discovery will replace Saga Pearl II in July 2019 while the second ship, Spirit of Adventure, is planned to enter service in August 2020. Both ships will host 999 guests and 530 crew members.

The ships will be 58,250 gross ton vessels measuring 774.3ft in length and a maximum beam of 102.4ft.

‘The club by Jools’ is Saga’s first ever endorsed on-board steakhouse and bar.  Saga customers will get to experience their own ‘evening with Jools’ during live performances from Jools Holland during our Channel Island Hop, Gourmet Spain and Natural Scandinavia cruises on-board Spirit of Discovery.

Money back guarantee
Saga is so confident that first-time guests will love life on board its award-winning cruise ships that it is offering early flights home and a refund of the cruise fare to anyone who does not enjoy the sailing.

 The Saga Cruises Price Promise

With Saga Cruises it pays to book early. Should we ever cut our prices or bring in a new special offer later on, we’ll work out the difference and pass the value of the saving back to the customer.