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The Beatles’ theme for Spirit of the Rhine’s inaugural voyage

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Art, food, music, railway and garden-focused cruises with a host of celebrities

 

DJ Johnnie Walker, cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew, broadcasters Alistair Stewart and John Sergeant, TV gardener Charlie Dimmock, art expert Raj Bisram and wine connoisseur Jilly Goolden to join sailings

The Beatles, Gilbert and Sullivan and Rembrandt provide themes for Saga’s new luxury boutique river ship Spirit of the Rhine which launches on March 23, 2021.

Itineraries have been announced for Spirit of the Rhine on routes along the Rhine, Moselle, Main, Danube and the waterways of Holland.

DJ Johnnie Walker and broadcast journalists Alastair Stewart and John Sergeant, art expert Raj Bisram, of TV’s Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip, wine connoisseur Jilly Goolden, cricketer, commentator Jonathan Agnew and TV gardener Charlie Dimmock will join cruises throughout the ship’s first season.

The inaugural, six-night voyage will feature the music of the ‘Fab Four’, performed by leading tribute group the Bootleg Beatles, and will include a private, guided tour of the Beatles museum in Alkmaar – an extraordinary collection of personal memorabilia.

The 190-passenger ship will echo the boutique styling of Saga Cruises’ new ocean vessels and most of the 17 sq metre cabins will have a French balcony and floor-to-ceiling windows. Features will include a lounge with a bar and separate library area, a main restaurant and a smaller, reservation-only restaurant with show cooking, and a large sun deck with a hot tub, barbecue and extensive seating – open even when going under low bridges.

The ship will also have a gym area and lift, while wifi will be available throughout. All cruises will be sold on a full-board package, to include wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner plus free tea, coffee and water.

There will be a minimum of three included excursions on each cruise, while Saga is dedicating a resplendent Rhine cruise to solo travellers in the autumn and arranging singles’ groups on two other cruises. There will also be a Mystery Cruise and Saga’s VIP car service will operate for every cruise!

2021 sailing highlights  

Inaugural Spirit of the Rhine Cruise with the Bootleg Beatles, six nights departing March 23

Amsterdam city and canal tour or culinary walking tour, Alkmaar Beatles museum tour including souvenir Beatles in Holland book autographed by author. Spirit of the Rhine will also cruise to Hoorn, Enkhuizen and Zaandem, where guests have the opportunity to join an optional excursion to the magnificent Keukenhof Gardens.

Flowers on Parade with Charlie Dimmock, seven nights departing April 12

Highlights include Brussels Floralia, Utrecht Botanical Gardens, Keukenhof Gardens and the flower displays in Haarlem.

Jazz and Tulips in the Netherlands with live band, seven nights departing April 26

From Amsterdam join a scenic drive through tulip fields of Noordoostpolder and visit Keukenhof Gardens. This cruise is set to the rhythm of live jazz music performed onboard by Richard Leach’s Jazz Quartet.

Keukenhof and Dutch Delights, seven nights departing May 3

Amsterdam city and canal tour or culinary walking tour, Keukenhof Gardens and The Hague City tour.

From Rembrandt to Rubens with Raj Bisram, nine nights departing May 10

Visits include the Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam; Kroller-Muller Exhibition and Sculpture Park, Utrecht; Mauritshuis and Gemeentmuseum, The Hague; Dordrecht Museum; Royal Museum of Fine Art, Rubens House Museum and Cathedral of our Lady, Antwerp and the Royal Museum of Dutch Arts, Brussels.

Mystery Cruise, eight nights departing May 19

The Magnificent Rhine, Main and Moselle, fourteen nights departing May 27 and November 1

Tour Arnhem and Amsterdam, visit Trier, try wine tasting in Traben-Trarbach, Frankfurt and Strasbourg city tours.

The Rhine and Glacier Express to St Moritz, eleven nights departing June 13 and August 29

Basel, Amsterdam, Strasbourg city and canals, Heidelberg and castle. Included pre-cruise stay for two nights in Montreux, eight-hour Glacier Express train through Alps and two nights in St Moritz.

Gilbert and Sullivan on the Rhine with live performances, seven nights departing June 24

Music every evening and tours of Arnhem, Amsterdam, Cologne and Dusseldorf.

The Magnificent Rhine, Main and Moselle with John Sergeant, fourteen nights departing July 1

Visiting Arnhem, Amsterdam and Trier, a chance to go wine tasting in Traben-Trarbach, a Frankfurt city tour and a city and canal tour of Strasbourg.

Castles and Vineyards of the Rhine with Alastair Stewart, seven nights departing August 26

Offers an Amsterdam city and canal tour or culinary walking tour, visits to Heidelberg and its castle, a Strasbourg city tour and canal cruise.

Guests can also choose to extend for Four-nights in Basel and Davos.

Wine Festivals of the Rhine and Moselle with Jilly Goolden, twelve nights departing September 9

Visiting Amsterdam, with city tours of Trier and Dusseldorf, a trip to Oberwesel street festival and the chance to see the Rhine in Flames firework display. For wine lovers there is a chance to visit the Traben-Trarbach wine festival and local vineyard experts will come on board for tastings.

Castles and Vineyards of the Rhine with Jonathan Agnew, seven nights departing October 4

Visiting Basel, Amsterdam, Heidelberg and its castle and a city tour and canal cruise in Strasbourg.

Castles and Vineyards of the Rhine with DJ Johnnie Walker, seven nights departing October 11

Featuring live music from a 60/70s band, with visits to Basel, Amsterdam, Heidelberg and its castle, a Strasbourg city tour and canal cruise.

Resplendent Rhine in Autumn for solo travellers, November 15

Features Arnhem commemoration, a Dusseldorf city tour and a visit to Bonn where guests can explore the former home of Beethoven.

For details call free on 0800 096 2032 or visit https://travel.saga.co.uk/cruises/river/our-ships/spirit-of-the-rhine.aspx

Prices include VIP chauffeur service with unlimited mileage, all meals, wine, beer and soft drinks at lunch and dinner, complimentary tea, coffee and water, welcome cocktail party, porterage, optional travel insurance and additional cancellation rights or a discount if passenger has own insurance.

A minimum of three excursions are included while others are optional, at an additional cost, and are subject to availability and change.