News

This is the first time that BBC Studios has partnered with a cruise line to offer exclusive access to a range of its stars and experts, such as Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Ella Al-Shamahi and Strictly Come Dancing professionals Luba Mushtuk and Vito Coppola, as well as the visual effects team behind iconic shows like Doctor Who and Silent Witness. They will be on board selected Saga Cruises to give insights into the making of their respective TV shows as part of an enhanced entertainment experience.

Commenting on the partnership, Richard Curwen, BBC Studios Live Entertainment Executive Producer says, “Everyone at BBC Studios is excited to bring our new live entertainment programme to Saga Cruises. This is the first time people will be able to enjoy a variety of BBC Studios’ shows with their presenters and entertainers, live on a cruise ship. Whether it’s Strictly Come Dancing or The Sky at Night, we look forward to taking guests behind the scenes with the magic of BBC Studios!”

Nigel Banks, Saga Cruises CEO adds, “I am delighted that we are welcoming celebrity guests and experts from BBC Studios onto our ships. This is the first time BBC Studios have partnered with a cruise line and a variety of experts, bringing these unique experiences from the television screen to our beautiful boutique ships! We are both iconic British brands, trusted for many years, and this is a fantastic opportunity to enhance our on-board entertainment offering.  We expect these cruises to be popular, so I recommend booking soon.”

Saga and BBC Studios partnership programme will initially run between July 2024 and March 2025  across specially selected all-inclusive no-fly itineraries aboard sister ships, Spirit of Adventure and Spirit of Discovery.

Strictly Come Dancing is one of the most popular entertainment shows on British television.  On board, some of the favourite Strictly professionals, including Luba Mushtuk and Vito Coppola, will give an insight into their careers, firstly as competitive dancers and then on to the Strictly ballroom, as well as what it’s like to be part of one of the biggest shows on television. They will also deliver show-stopping routines in two glittering performances in the ship’s Playhouse theatre.

The cruises featuring Luba and Vito both set off from Portsmouth and include the 22 night Croatia and the Treasures of the Adriatic, which departs on 28th February 2025 and the 18 night Western Mediterranean and Italian Riviera cruise, departing on 26th March 2025.

The Sky at Night has been a staple of British television for over 65 years, bringing the world

of astronomy and space to the small screen. Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock DBE is a space scientist and science educator and has presented The Sky at Night since 2013.  Maggie continues to undertake ground-breaking space science research and works to inspire new generations of astronauts, scientists and engineers.  Over two appearances on board, Maggie will give an insight into her stellar career, the world of science and space exploration, and how she takes the most complex astrophysics and makes it accessible for the non-scientist. She will also talk about the making of The Sky at Night, its long history, and how it continues to engage the audience with astronomy and space science. 

Dame Maggie will be on board the 49-night all inclusive Caribbean and Central America Discovery cruise, departing Portsmouth on 6th January 2025. Dame Maggie will also be aboard the 15 night Casablanca and the Canaries itinerary, departing Portsmouth on 13th February 2025 and priced from £4,649 per person.

Explorer, evolutionary biologist, paleoanthropologist and writer, Ella Al-Shamahi has presented a range of television programmes for BBC Studios. This includes ‘Neanderthals – Meet Your Ancestors’, ‘Horizon – Body Clock’, and the new flagship science programme ‘Human’ which transmits on BBC Two in 2025.  ‘Human’ tells the story of how humans became the dominant form of life of Earth. 

On board, Ella will give an insight into her career and work, from researching Neanderthal history to exploring for fossils in danger zones around the world. She will also give an insight into the making of the new BBC Studios produced series ‘Human’ and the ground-breaking techniques and research involved to bring the story of mankind to the screen.  Ella will be on board the 19 night Arctic Summer: Iceland and the North Cape cruise, departing Dover on 17th July 2024 and priced from £3,999 per person (was £4,399pp), as well as the 29 night Contrasts of Canada and the USA cruise, departing Portsmouth on 21st September 2024 and priced from £6,969 (was £7,669pp).

Millennium FX is a multi award-winning visual effects company which has worked extensively on BBC Studios productions, as well as major Hollywood films, West End-theatre productions and international tours. From Doctor Who to Silent Witness, Gladiator to Saving Private Ryan, Phantom of the Opera to Stranger Things, The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra to Iron Maiden, Millennium FX has created prosthetics, costumes, animatronics and props, bringing the fantastical to the stage and screen. On board, Millennium FX Director, Kate Walshe, will tell guests all about the fascinating world of visual effects, and how they are created on BBC Studios produced programmes. In one of her two talks, Kate will also demonstrate how to turn an ordinary man into a gruesome vampire!  Join the Millennium FX team on board a 49-night all inclusive Caribbean and Central America Discovery, departing Portsmouth on 6th January 2025.

Saga’s boutique ocean cruises are all-inclusive with no hidden costs on-board and guests also have the benefit of the a complimentary return chauffeur service between home and Dover or Portsmouth of up to 300 miles each way on 2024 cruises and nationwide on 2025 cruises.

Saga cruises come with all dining and house drinks including a selection of cocktails, draft beers and lagers, wines, spirits, mixers and soft drinks, including premium label spirits available at no additional cost. Wi-Fi, gratuities, fitness facilities, 24-hour room service, sightseeing tours in selected ports, entertainment (from lectures to recitals to shows), porterage of luggage, shuttle buses to nearest town centres and travel insurance are also included.  All prices based on two people sharing and are subject to availability and change and include all relevant special offer savings.

Guests can view and book these amazing new cruises at saga.co.uk/cruise-partnership or by calling 0808 273 6463.

Selected BBC Studios images are available here, and cruise ship images here.

END