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Saga Cruises fleet

Spirit of adventure, spirit of discovery, spirit of the moselle, spirit of the danube, spirit of the rhine, spirit of the douro, ms filia rheni ii, ms rex rheni, review of saga cruises.

Saga Cruises (Saga Shipping Ltd, saga.co.uk/cruises) is a British company, luxury cruise brand and division of Saga Group. The company started passenger shipping operations under the travel brand name "Saga Cruises" in 1997, with the purchase of Saga Rose (former NCL ship MS Sagafjord), Saga Rose was the flagship until 2004 when Saga Ruby was bought from Cunard Line (previously named MS Caronia). Saga Travel's CEO is Nick Stace.

The shipowner Saga Group/Saga plc (1951-founded, headquartered in Folkestone, Kent England, UK) is a London Stock Exchange-listed company specializing in travel and insurance. Currently, Saga plc is managed by Mike Hazell (CEO) who in 2024 succeeded Euan Sutherland (2020-23).

Company history and changes

While on its final cruise in the Caribbean, Saga Ruby had one of its generators fail disabling the air-conditioning plant. Then it was decided to cancel the sailing and head for a Western Mediterranean itinerary. Saga Ruby returned to Southampton on Jan. 9, 2014 due to bad weather. While in Funchal Madeira, the ship met up with Saga Sapphire for New Year's Eve fireworks display. Saga Ruby then departed for Gibraltar out of Southampton for the last time on January 10th and was handed over to her new owners on Jan 13, 2014.

In 2005, Saga Cruises introduced the "Spirit of Adventure Cruises" brand. In March 2006, MV Spirit of Adventure (former Orange Melody) entered into service. In 2013, Saga sold the brand.

For summer 2003, Saga Holidays chartered  Minerva  (1989-built) which sailed as "Saga Pearl". Saga Rose was retired in 2009 after a final 37-night Mediterranean voyage. Subsequently, the ship was laid up in  Gibraltar  and scrapped  in China in 2010. In 2014 was acquired Saga Ruby (former NCL ship MS Vistafjord), which last voyage was in January 2014.

Until 2020, Saga Holidays operated two ships under charter - Saga Sapphire and Saga Pearl 2 . The former fleetmate Saga Ruby was built and launched under the name "MS Vistafjord" for NCL/Norwegian America Line. In 1983, the vessel was sold to Cunard, and in 1999 renamed "MS Caronia". In 2004, Cunard sold it to Saga. It was operated as "Saga Ruby" until 2014 when was sold to a Chinese company, renamed "Oasia", operated as a hotel ship until 2017, then scrapped at Alang India .

Earlier in 2009, Saga UK acquired Astoria (Saga Pearl 2). Followed a GBP 14 million drydock refurbishment of the 1981-built vessel. The upgrades included new Veranda Restaurant; new balcony cabins; new Library Lounge; a redesigned Spa, and renovations to both swimming pools. The ship has 126 twin-bed cabins, 25 twin or king-bed cabins, 42 double-bed cabins. Of all staterooms, 20 have balconies and 9 have French balconies. Saga Pearl 2 has 60 single cabins (almost 1/4 of all staterooms). Among Saga's signature trademarks are the shipboard Afternoon Tea service and ballroom dancing. Saga ships departure from UK ports ( Southampton and Dover) on cruises to the Canaries, Baltic, and the Mediterranean. Itineraries range between 7- and 24-days in length.

Saga Sapphire and Saga Pearl 2 were both withdrawn from service/left the fleet after two new ships ( Spirit of Discovery /2019 and Spirit of Adventure /2020) were delivered. In August 2019 was announced that Saga Sapphire will be acquired by ANEX Tours (Turkey's largest travel agency/tour operator), starting operations for ANEX in mid-2020. However, due to the global health crisis in 2020, the 39-year-old liner was officially sold to ANEX Tours in July 2020. Renamed to "Blue Sapphire", it started operations for ANEX in 2021, offering roundtrips from Antalya Turkey to Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea ports.

• In November 2019, after acquiring Thomas Cook Group's subsidiaries in Germany (Oger Tours, Bucher Reisen and Neckermann) and Russia (Intourist, 1929-founded USSR-Russia travel brand privatized in the 1990s by Vladimir Yevtushenkov), ANEX Tours became the world's second-largest tour operator - after TUI Group. The company's Chairman (Neset Kockar) commented that expects the annual passenger volume to increase to 8 million and the turnover to reach ~EUR 10 billion (~USD 11 B).
• Thomas Cook Group plc (2007-founded / 2019- defunct ) was a British travel group formed by the merger of Thomas Cook AG (British-German, 2001-founded) and MyTravel Group plc (British, 1972-founded). Neset Kockar (ANEX Tours) was the second-largest shareholder in Thomas Cook Group plc - after Fosun International China.

In July 2022, SAGA UK marked the anniversaries of Spirit of Adventure (July 6th) and Spirit of Discovery (July 10th), announcing interesting facts about the boats and their guests. In three full years, Spirit of Discovery navigated ~145,000 NM/nautical miles, completed 48 voyages, visited 273 different destinations, and served 2825 shore excursions. In one year, Spirit of Adventure navigated ~80,000 NM, completed 23 voyages, visited 144 destinations, and served 1617 shore excursions. Both vessels served ~36,9M meals, ~5,7M eggs, ~9,2 tons of lobster, ~13,5 tons of Dover sole, ~190 tons of smoked salmon, ~668,000 bottles of wine. ~12,000 customers used the onboard spas for massages.

In January 2024, Saga Group announced that it is exploring the option of a "partnership arrangement" for its ocean cruise business (including the potential sale of a stake in the division or selling the ships Spirit of Adventure and Spirit of Discovery) to unlock capital. In the period August 1, 2023, through January 29, 2024, Saga Group reported significant revenue growth (10-15%) over the same period in 2022-23, as well as ~30# increase (year-on-year) in revenue from its OCEAN division.

In 2017, Saga UK ordered two new cruise ships with capacity under 1000 passengers, each vessel with a total of 540 cabins and suites. The shipbuilder is Meyer Werft ( Papenburg Germany ). Unlike all previous Saga ships, these two are fully-owned by the company.

The vessels were scheduled for deliveries in 2019 July ( Spirit of Discovery ) and 2020 August ( Spirit of Adventure ). This is a new series of polar-class expedition ships with ice-strengthened hulls. Each costs USD 346 million (GBP 280M / EUR 310M) and has a total of 540 staterooms (cabins and suites), of 100 are single cabins (designed for solo travelers, no single supplement required), which is approx 20% of all cabins. The other staterooms are in categories Standard Balcony, Deluxe Balcony, Mid-Ship Suite and larger suites.

Among the signature venues onboard are the Britannia Lounge (2-level Atrium bar lounge), The Verandah (specialty restaurant) and an outdoor (alfresco dining) restaurant. Each vessel has two swimming pools (indoor and outdoor).

At the end of March 2017 was announced the name selected for the first ship - "Spirit of Discovery" (scheduled delivery June 2019). The second vessel was ordered in September 2017 - "Spirit of Adventure" (scheduled delivery August 2020).

In mid-September 2018 was announced that starting January 2020, Saga's new ships deals will be all-inclusive. Fares include unlimited (shipboard served) house spirits, beers, wines (by the glass) and soft drinks. Company's packages also include:

• UK travel package (to/from departure port), Shuttle bus transfer (to the nearest downtown from the port)
• Onboard gratuities, Porterage
• Onboard Welcome cocktail party
• All onboard meals, afternoon tea, live entertainment
• Unlimited tea and coffee (selected ship venues)
• 24-hour room service
• premium service (2 staff members for 3 passengers)

In early-March 2019, Saga announced that the company's both newbuilds (the sisterships Adventure and Discovery) are all-inclusive. This means that Saga cruise fares are inclusive of specialty restaurant dining, drinks (wine, beer, house spirits, soft drinks), 24-hour room service, Wi-Fi, gratuities, transfer (chauffeur service to/from homeport for cruise passengers based within 250 ml / 402 km distance). Shore excursions remain optional and at additional cost. The cruise company offers complimentary shuttle bus services in all ports where the town/city is over 0,5 km from the ship.

In early-November 2019 was announced the shipbuilding order for Spirit of the Rhine (2021-inaugurated, 192-passenger riverboat). In early-February 2021 started the construction of a second newbuild riverboat - Spirit of the Danube (2022-inaugurated, sistership). Since 2024 is also chartered Spirit of the Douro (2017-built, owned by Mystic Invest via Douro Azul ).

In late-March 2022, Saga announced a 4-ship expansion project for its riverboat fleet, ordering 4x ships (Spirit of the Moselle, Spirit of the Main, Spirit of the Elbe, Spirit of the Rhone), with the first entering service in 2023 and the rest following one vessel per year.

Saga Holidays ocean- and river cruising experience

Saga Cruises offers both Ocean and River cruise travel vacations. All the company's vessels are chartered. The cruising experience is classic, elegant and comfortable. Passengers are able to choose from contemporary amenities such as modern spas, Internet cafes, alternative dining in intimate restaurants. Do not expect shopping centers, casino or lustrous shows - Saga passengers like the relaxed and good-mannered social life. Traditional English tea is served each afternoon; ballroom dancing is presented nightly.

Saga passengers are more adventurous than it might be imagined. They seek a high level of comfort and service while they are careful not to squander pensions on gambling (the reason why there are no casinos on Saga's ships). They also demand fine food, that is well-prepared, from varied menus. Some of the mainstream cruise lines may get away with fortnightly or weekly menu cycles. That wouldn't be welcomed by Saga Cruises customers who are free to stay onboard for back-to-back cruises.

When you are not out or it is one of those lazy days at sea onboard Saga ships, you will be surprised by the great number of onboard activities. You will have the opportunity to join painting or computer classes, keep fit with Pilates and yoga, enjoy swimming, attend a talk from guest speakers. Relax with new and old friends, or look for some quiet time in ships' cozy areas. Other diversions include the beauty salon and spa - go for a pampering treatment or a massage or try the gym - go for a refreshing yoga course. A well-stocked library with thousands of books is also provided. Another choice is using one of the computers and keep in touch with family and friends.

In the evening onboard Saga ships, while heading to the next destination before dining, enjoy an aperitif in onboard bars, or work up with pre-dinner dance classes. At formal nights (one for a week-long cruise, two for a 14-night cruise) enjoy the feeling of occasion. Later take your seat for a show, go dancing, watch a film or socialize with friends - you may even enjoy a nightcap accompanied with live music in the inviting lounges and bars.

On select cruise itineraries, you will be entertained by celebrities. But the best part of all is that with no children on board, kids' games arcades or clubs taking up space, everything aboard is designed for your pleasure.

No matter which Saga ship you choose (ocean or river), each mealtime is going to be an exciting dining experience. Good breakfast is essential when you have a day full of activities - plenty of choices await for you for the day ahead. Choose from a waiter-served meal, the buffet onboard Saga Ruby, or eat out on deck. Opt for full English breakfast brought to the cabin. There are plenty of things to tempt you at lunchtime: choose from the buffet or enjoy a cooked-to-order lunch in the main restaurant.

Afternoon Tea is a daily cruising tradition with tempting cakes, pastries, finger sandwiches. Dinner - the day's highlight - is always waiter-served, one-sitting, sometimes with six courses. A talented team led by the Executive Chef prepares the meals using the finest and freshest/locally sourced ingredients.

Delicious wines from well-stocked "cellars" are recommended from sommeliers who are also on hand. Main courses, including game, fish, meat, vegetarian dishes, are followed with desserts from a selection of souffles, tarts, pavlovas, petits fours. The best of all is that you will never feel rushed to end your meals or have to wait for guests, as flexible arrangements make sure you dine at any time between 7-9 pm.

Saga Cruises customers

The Saga cruise line targets 50-and-older customers and is kids-free. The company sells directly to the public, not counting on travel agents. Allowing traveling companions who are 40+ years old is beneficial to couples who want to cruise together with grown-up families and in-laws, and also to those who need assistance and personal care. Saga's customers are elderly and almost exclusively British, with occasional passengers from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, rarely Japan.

Saga UK provides free chauffeur service (door-to-door) for passengers who live within 75 mi (120 km) of cruise departure ports, and also shared chauffeur for up to 250 mi (400 km) homeport distances. Alternatives include coach and rail transportation, or domestic flights (from the UK) which can be fare-included. Saga also offers free parking to all its cruise passengers.

Saga Cruises enjoys a high repeat booking rate (about 75%).

To attract first-timers, since 2016 Saga offers "Love it First Time". By this initiative, a full refund is guaranteed to anyone who doesn't enjoy the company's cruising vacation product. SAGA UK guarantees that if passengers find that the experience is not for them, they can leave the ship at the next available call port. The "Love it First Time" offer applies only to new bookings and first-time customers.

Saga Holidays fly-cruise deals

For the end of 2017 (November and December), Saga Cruises offered 3 fly-cruises. The 8-, 11- and 12-night itineraries were available for booking with all-inclusive prices starting from around GBP 114 per person. Saga's "flight and cruise" deals are inclusive of airport and seaport transfers, all onboard meals, alcohol (wine by the glass / at lunch and dinner, house-brand spirits, cocktails, draught beers, lager), also soft drinks, afternoon tea, free Wi-Fi and, all onboard gratuities.

Saga Sapphire ship's 8-night "Canary Island Medley" cruise (prices from GBP 897) departed from Southampton on December 8, 2017.

The Saga Pearl 2 's 11-night "Jewels of the Canary Islands" cruise (prices from GBP 1516) departed from Southampton on November 20, 2017.

The Saga Pearl II ship's 12-night "Contrasts of the Canary Islands and Cape Verde" cruise (prices from GBP 1980) departed from Southampton on November 1, 2017.

The Nov 1st voyage included a flight from the UK to Funchal (Madeira), boarding there Saga Pearl 2, and the home flight from Lisbon back to the UK.

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021

Due to the COVID pandemic, Saga Ocean Cruises suspended its fleet's passenger shipping operations by cancelling all voyages with pre-scheduled departures in the period March 15, 2020, through early-July 2021.

Operations resumed in 2021 with Spirit of Discovery (June 27) and Spirit of Adventure (July 26/ Maiden Voyage ). Saga UK requires all passengers to have had both doses of the COVID vaccine before boarding the ships.

All affected bookings received full monetary refund (100% of the fare paid) or 125% refund in FCC (future cruise credit) with rebooking made within 24 months.

Saga UK's "Cruise Price Promise" allows penalty-free cancellation up to 14 days prior departure. All shipboard employees (fleetwide) remained on the docked vessels. Both SAGA ships' berthing location (during the no-sail period) is London-Tilbury Port .

Itinerary of Saga Cruises

(fka "Saga Holidays") SAGA UK's cruise Itineraries and shore excursions are designed mainly for adults. The company has 60+ years of holiday travel experience in Europe. The company used to charter two older boats, but since 2021 operates a small (SAGA Group-owned) fleet of two newbuilds - Spirit of Adventure and Spirit of Discovery .

Saga UK also operates (under time-charter) the following riverboats: Filia Rheni 2 , Amadeus Royal , Amadeus Symphony , Johannes Brahms , Rex Rheni , Dutch Melody (fka River Melody, since 2020) .

Saga Group also owns a fleet of six newbuild riverboats /sisterships - Spirit of the Rhine (2021), Spirit of the Danube (2022), Spirit of the Moselle (2023), Spirit of the Main (2024), Spirit of the Elbe (2025), Spirit of the Rhone (2026).

Since 2024, Saga also charters Spirit of the Douro (Douro Serenity/2017-built) for Douro River voyages in Portugal and Spain.

SAGA's free shuttle bus service is available if you want to explore independently - the shuttle will take you to the nearest city center or town. The service is offered if the distance between Saga ship and the city is over 500 yards. At ports of call, you will have a choice of exciting optional excursions. Saga representatives accompany cruisers on the coach. Saga Cruises company is sending a detailed booklet a few weeks before the cruise which gives the chance for pre-booking. If you prefer so, you can also visit the Tours and Travel Office onboard and Saga staff will book the preferred tours for you, if available.

The organized tours are a great way to see the sights. Saga excursions include transport, entrance fees, services of English-speaking guides. Lunch and refreshments are sometimes also included, so you will enjoy without worrying about costs. All excursions are optional, an additional cost will be added to your account. They are subject to change and availability. Among the highlights detailed on Saga cruises, are some that may be seen only by exploring independently or on optional excursions.

Douro River cruise itineraries

Starting in 2024, Saga offers two itineraries scheduled for Spirit of the Douro - "Lisbon & the Heart of the Douro" and "Douro Explorer".

Saga Douro River cruise fares are inclusive of travel insurance, onboard beverages (between 11 am-11 pm/non-branded alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks), Cruise Director services, return flights and land transfers, Captain’s events (dinner and cocktail reception), onboard Wi-Fi and gratuities, land tours/excursions (Lamego, Figueira Castelo de Rodrigo, Salamanca sightseeing, a quinta dinner, a wine estate tour, Casa de Mateus Palace, Oporto City tour with a wine cellar visit).

The company provides interactive maps and audio headsets for independent shore exploration.

"Lisbon and the Heart of the Douro" itinerary

"Lisbon and the Heart of the Douro" is a 10-night/11-day cruisetour itinerary starting in Lisbon. These voyages are priced from GBP 2520 pp (EUR 2945/USD 3180) and are inclusive of a flight from the UK to Portugal (Lisbon), a 3-day/2-night hotel stay in Lisbon and a domestic flight from Lisbon to Oporto.

• (Day 1) flight UK to Lisbon
• (Days 2-3) Lisbon hotel
• (Day 4) flight Lisbon-Oporto, boarding the Spirit of the Douro ship (overnight port stay)
• (Day 5) cruising from Oporto to Regua and Pinhao
• (Day 6) cruising from Pinhao to Vega de Terron/Salamanca (Spain)
• (Day 7) cruising from Vega de Terron to Barca d'Alva
• (Day 8) cruising from Barca d'Alva to Cais de Espinho and Pinhao
• (Day 9) cruising from Pinhao to Regua and Bitetos
• (Day 10) cruising from Bitetos to Entre-os-Rios and Oporto
• (Day 11) Oporto (debarkation/return flight to the UK)

"Douro Explorer" itinerary

"Douro Explorer" is a 7-night/8-day cruise itinerary starting in Oporto. These voyages are priced from GBP 2180 pp (EUR 2550/USD 2750) and are inclusive of a flight from the UK to Portugal (Oporto).

• (Day 1) flight UK to Oporto, boarding the Spirit of the Douro ship (overnight port stay)
• (Day 2) cruising from Oporto to Regua and Pinhao
• (Day 3) cruising from Pinhao to Vega de Terron/Salamanca
• (Day 4) cruising from Vega de Terron to Barca d'Alva
• (Day 5) cruising from Barca d'Alva to Cais de Espinho and Pinhao
• (Day 6) cruising from Pinhao to Regua and Bitetos
• (Day 7) cruising from Bitetos to Oporto (overnight)
• (Day 8) Oporto (debarkation/return flight to the UK)

"Discovering St James' Way" itinerary

A discovery of ancient pilgrims' route is the highlight of one of Saga's holidays - it runs from southern France over the Pyrenees, ending in Santiago de Compostela. Discover St James (Camino de Santiago) way with Saga. Along the Way, visit ancient cities and villages; do not do the hard work, walking in pilgrims' footsteps. Look out for highlights as Gaudi's fairytale Episcopal Palace; stay in Pamplona - evoked by Hemingway in The Sun Also Rises; taste wine in La Rioja's bodega; see the cathedral cities of Logrono, Burgos, Leon. For 12 nights, prices start at GBP 899. Among the many inclusions are additional cancellation cover and travel insurance, all breakfasts, ten dinners. You will be accompanied by an experienced Saga manager throughout.

Naples to Apulia itinerary

Saga Cruises offer is colors of the South 90-night tour. You will travel from Naples to olive groves of Puglia; stay on Ischia island with subtropical foliage. Discover the beautiful scenery of towns along the way; gain a wonderful insight into the Italian way of life. You will stay in four throughout the tour - five-star hotels on a half-board basis. Enjoy the glorious views of the bay while in Naples; visit Unesco World Heritage; listed dwellings in the Apulia region; enjoy naturally heated spa thermal waters at Ischia hotel. As on many Saga holidays, prices start at GBP 949 and single staterooms - available on selected dates - no extra cost! Join Saga Cruises' team and enjoy tours of Romania, Portugal, the Baltic; go shopping in Greece; join a tour in Croatia; discover Italian Lakes. Additional cancellation cover and travel insurance are one of the money-saving elements that are included in the Saga holidays.

Saga's tours in the USA, Mozambique, and Japan

Let your year to embark on one of the most memorable journeys with Saga Cruises experts. The chances Saga Cruises has the right trip you have been looking for, are quite big. Wherever you want to go into the world and however you want to travel, there's a good chance that Saga Cruises will help. Unlock Japan's mysteries. Stay in Mozambique's authentic bush camps, dare to look over the edge of South Rim in Grand Canyon. Saga Holidays seeks for new destinations and new experiences for the over 50s audience - such are these exciting new tours.

Trans-frontier Trail - Mozambique to Kruger

This 12-night tour will make you discover Greater Limpopo Trans-frontier Park and the rich Portuguese. The three national parks in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique are protected and form a territory of 36,000 square miles. Mozambique's most beautiful beaches on the Indian Ocean are the place you could swim off, stay in comfortable bush camps and venture bush walks and safaris- for unrivalled opportunities for spotting wildlife. The size of the group is limited to twenty people. Of course, you will be fed well too - seven lunches, all breakfasts, and dinners are price included.

South West Iconic Parks of America

Wide-open spaces, fresh air and relax. Each of the national parks is more spectacular than the last one; the rock formations are impossibly beautiful and multi-colored. Experience Mother Road and what was left of Las Vegas Route 66 - The Strip is the one place to stay if you travel through Nevada. The best way to experience the Grand Canyon is to stay in the park, close to South Rim. Since you will be in the Wild West, probably you will wish to experience the badlands of Painted Desert; see the Sedona formations of red rocks; enjoy scenic cruising along Antelope Canyon; see the limestone spires in Monument Valley.

Saga Mystery Cruise 2018

Captain Horne's Mystery Cruise surprises up to 720 passengers every day for 3 weeks. The intriguing cruise aboard Saga Sapphire left Southampton UK in November 2018 with Captain Stuart Horne promising to keep "everyone guessing as long as possible." He added he would only tell his engineers and navigation team as much as they need to know for fuel management and route planning.

No guarantee where the captain sails but there are all-inclusive drinks and tours as well as entertainment from Syd Lawrence Orchestra on 6 nights. VIP Chauffeur service is guaranteed to and from the port, all included in the fare, along with travel insurance. Another surprise is the array of mystery celebrities/VIP guests on Saga Sapphire.

Ports of call are announced once the ship is berthed, but there is a shore trip included in every port.

The adventure is the last mystery cruise aboard Saga Sapphire and features a choice of table wines at lunch and dinner, as well as house-branded spirits, soft drinks, draught beer, and lager. Afternoon tea, unlimited tea, and coffee in selected venues, welcome cocktail party, free wifi, onboard gratuities, and 24-hour room service are also included.

Saga Sapphire departed Southampton on November 27, 2018. Prices for the 21-night cruise started from GBP 3090 pp (based on double occupancy / 2 people sharing a Twin Cabin).

Itineraries 2021 (cancelled)

Saga UK planned 7 new itineraries for early-2021 (all were eventually cancelled) including an 83-night South America itinerary visiting the Amazon Delta, Punta Arenas , Cape Horn , Rio de Janeiro , Buenos Aires , Montevideo on MS Spirit of Discovery.

This world cruise was the ship's longest and planned to depart from Southampton on January 6, 2021. Prices included chauffeur service to the homeport, balcony cabin, all-inclusive meals and drinks, daily afternoon tea, free wifi, onboard gratuities.

The clockwise South America circumnavigation itinerary had to start with a Transatlantic crossing (UK to Brazil), followed by coastal cruising through the Amazon Delta, Patagonia, Panama Canal , Ecuador, Colombia. From Callao Peru were offered optional tours to Machu Picchu and Galapagos Islands . Overnights were scheduled in Rio de Janeiro , Manaus , Stanley (Falklands) .

Spirit of Adventure had planned in Europe 6 itineraries (January through March 2021) including

• 14-night "Constellations of the Canaries"
• 16-night "A Norwegian Aurora" (Northern Lights cruise) with included Aurora Borealis shore excursion, Rauma Railway through Troll Wall, overnight in Sorrisniva Igloo hotel)
• 15-night "Taste of the Mediterranean" visits Barcelona , Cartagena , and Valencia and includes flamenco dancing, horse show, paella and tapas-making, chocolate and wine tastings.
• 8-night "Scandinavian Rhythms" visits Copenhagen , Frederikshavn , Gothenburg , Odderoya, Kristiansand .

The wellness-themed 16-night "Exotic Morocco and the Canary Islands" itinerary featured outdoor yoga classes, guided hikes, tours in Lisbon and Funchal, Madeira Island .

For Spirit of Discovery was planned an 83-night "South America: A Grand Voyage" (from GBP 17,324 pp) departing from Southampton on January 6, 2021. For Spirit of Adventure were planned the following voyages:

• 14-night Constellations of the Canaries, from GBP 2449 pp, departs January 5, 2021.
• 16-night Exotic Morocco and the Canaries, from GBP 3024 pp, departs January 19, 2021.
• 15-night The Beautiful Canaries, from GBP 2892 pp, departs February 4, 2021.
• 16-night A Norwegian Aurora, from GBP 3117 pp, departs February 19, 2021.
• 15-night A Taste of the Mediterranean, from GBP 2799 pp, departs March 7, 2021.
• 8-night Scandinavian Rhythms, from GBP 1475 pp, departs March 22, 2021.

Summer "Around Britain" 2023 itineraries

In October 2022, Saga added a further 4 round-Britain voyages into its summer 2023 schedule, all with up to 35% off, and timed to coincide with events like the Tall Ships Race and the Rolex Fastnet Yacht Race.

Spirit of Discovery ship departs from London-Tilbury on July 16, 2023, sailing along Britain's south coast, visiting Scilly Isles, Fowey, Falmouth, and Portsmouth, and concluding in Dover. The 8-night itinerary also visits Tresco (Abbey Gardens) and also has a price-included tour of Portland. Guests will have the chance to see the start of the Rolex Fastnet Yacht Race. Prices start from GBP 1819 per person with double occupancy.

On July 24, 2023, Spirit of Discovery starts a 6-night voyage to the Shetland Islands (Dover roundtrip), visiting Invergordon and Scrabster . The itinerary also includes Lerwick as it hosts the Tall Ships race before returning to Dover. Included tours are a visit to John O'Groats and a scenic drive along the Scottish Highlands. Prices start from GBP 1367 per person.

Spirit of Adventure ship departs Dover on August 28, 2023, for a 6-night roundtrip along the Cornish coastline. The itinerary visits Scilly Isles, Fowey, Falmouth, and Portland , with 2 included excursions - a scenic drive along the Dorset coast and a visit to Tresco's Abbey Gardens. Prices start from GBP 1378 per person.

On September 3, 2023, Spirit of Adventure starts a full Great Britain circumnavigation voyage. The 8-night roundtrip from Dover visits Ullapool (fishing town at Loch Broom, Scotland), Isle of Mull , Isle of Staffa 's Fingal’s Cave and volcanic rock formations, and features scenic cruising along the English Channel's Jurassic Coast (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Prices start from GBP 1755 per person.

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• Saga Cruises

New to Saga

By escrick , July 3, 2022 in Saga Cruises

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My husband and I will take our first Saga cruise in November.  Therefore, I am grateful for any information about Saga cruising.  We will be on Spirit of Adventure, and so can anyone let me know how the ship copes with rough seas. I am thinking of the Bay of Biscay.

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So much depends on wind speed and direction, swell etc as to how the ship copes with the Bay of Biscay. We have been through it on both ships in rough to seriously bad weather and definitely needed Stugeron tablets as well as sea bands. It’s best to be prepared but reception will give you a couple of Stugeron free if you run out. You will know there’s going to be a problem when the cabin steward ties down your balcony furniture, puts your glass water flasks on the floor behind a cushion and the formal night is postponed!

Thanks, Kohima.  I will be prepared.  Wristbands usually help,  but probably need pills. Have been on rough seas before but on bigger ships.

twotravellersLondon

The "dreaded Bay of Biscay" was far, far worse in the days of small stay ships with no stabilisers intrepidly making their way from one coaling station to another and through the Suez Canal to all points in the Orient and Pacific in the distant days of Empire.

The only time that we were a bit on the green side was over 20 years ago in the mid-Atlantic on the Black Prince in the owner's suite just behind the wheelhouse... no wonder every item of furniture in the cabin was bolted down.... a plate of canapés levitating  was a sight to behold! The ship was "stabilised" but not effectively! On that occasion my wife had an injection and was as right as rain in an hour or two.

We've since completed over 40 cruises, experienced a Gale Force Nine in the Bay of Biscay and a Force Ten in the Irish Sea and Hurricane Force winds off the coast of Norway in the midst of winter without any unduly unpleasant effects. We've never experienced any problems on the SAGA fleet... past or present... but that may be a personal thing.

The usual advice is... what you have already been given... but a moderate consumption of alcohol and food, remaining hydrated, lots of fresh air, staying warm and keeping busy and occupied really seems to help many people.

If you are at all worried you can take one Stugeron tablet just before you travel and then one each day for the first few days as a preventative measure. It usually works. 

38 minutes ago, david05 said: If you are at all worried you can take one Stugeron tablet just before you travel and then one each day for the first few days as a preventative measure. It usually works. 

Thanks for the great advice.

We usually take ginger biscuits on board as ginger is helpful to nibble if feeling queasy. They don’t seem to keep them onboard and since Covid don’t have the bowls of ginger available at the dining entrances.

1 hour ago, Kohima said: We usually take ginger biscuits on board as ginger is helpful to nibble if feeling queasy. They don’t seem to keep them onboard and since Covid don’t have the bowls of ginger available at the dining entrances.

You can, however, ask for the crystallised ginger pieces with the petit fours at dinner (we did on our recent cruise).

 I love crystallised ginger pieces, and sometimes buy them before cruising.

We just paid the rest of our cruise fare. Hurrah!  We are using a TA, and so I have more questions.  Will I be able to access a description of shore excursions?  And/or will I have to book anything through the TA.  I am so grateful for any help you can give me.

4 hours ago, escrick said:  I love crystallised ginger pieces, and sometimes buy them before cruising.   We just paid the rest of our cruise fare. Hurrah!  We are using a TA, and so I have more questions.  Will I be able to access a description of shore excursions?  And/or will I have to book anything through the TA.  I am so grateful for any help you can give me.

We've just returned from our 1st Saga cruise on SoD. 

We used a TA to make the booking and as a result, all communication with Saga must be made via your TA. You are not able to set up a MySaga account ahead of your cruise but we did receive advance notification of the various excursions available with detailed descriptions of what was involved.

We ended up making our excursion bookings through the TA, although I believe we could have contacted Saga direct for this part of the process.

I think in future if we decide on a Saga cruise, we will probably book directly. On our cruise, we did sign up for the Advanced Notification facility where you can pay a fee to get early access to new seasons itineraries before they are released to the general public.

Thanks for your help, Arlowood.  I’ll be talking to our TA soon.

Windsurfboy

Best to check wave heights every night for next day on internet . We found  needed tablets if wave was 3meter or more. On QE didn't need them until  4 meters. 

But on other hand on small waves SoA  was smoothest ship ever been on.

We use weatheronline for  wave heights. 

17 hours ago, Windsurfboy said: Best to check wave heights every night for next day on internet . We found  needed tablets if wave was 3meter or more. On QE didn't need them until  4 meters.    But on other hand on small waves SoA  was smoothest ship ever been on.   We use weatheronline for  wave heights. 

More good advice.  My thanks to everyone.  Folk like you are making me more excited, in a good way, about the cruise.

LondonLad60

On 7/3/2022 at 7:55 PM, Kohima said: We usually take ginger biscuits on board as ginger is helpful to nibble if feeling queasy. They don’t seem to keep them onboard and since Covid don’t have the bowls of ginger available at the dining entrances.

Ginger ale helps as well

You can get Ginger and Lemon infuse (tea) on board also Peppermint if anyone has over indulged . Not that any one would 😉

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• Saga Cruises

Pre registration

By marsh99 , May 16, 2023 in Saga Cruises

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Hi all. We're new to Saga, so been perusing the forum for information and come across mention of pre registering. How does this work and how do we do it? I can't find anything on Saga's website to explain. We're thinking about a specific cruise in 2025 which is it runs the same time as 2023 and 2024 will coincide with both a big '0' birthday and anniversary, so if this gives a bigger discount we may splash out for a better cabin. Thanks.

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You telephone Saga & request Pre-Registration (state the year wanted) & pay £90 per person which is credited against the booking or refunded if you decline. Saga E-Mail out the programme, it is usually out in 2 parts Jan-March & April -December. In date order of pre-registration Saga then ring you. For April- December 2024 the E-Mail was sent out early March with a telecon about 10 days later & the programme going on sale to the General Public the first week of April.

Cynthia Darch

4 minutes ago, FatBoy20 said: You telephone Saga & request Pre-Registration (state the year wanted) & pay £90 per person which is credited against the booking or refunded if you decline. Saga E-Mail out the programme, it is usually out in 2 parts Jan-March & April -December. In date order of pre-registration Saga then ring you. For April- December 2024 the E-Mail was sent out early March with a telecon about 10 days later & the programme going on sale to the General Public the first week of April.

When is the Jan-March made available for pre reg .. thanks

There is no programme for pre-registry - you phone up and pre-register for whenever you want.

You can pre-register now for any year, so if you know that you want a specific date for - say - 2027, you can phone now.

There is a separate fee of £90 per person for each date, so if you register for- say - spring 2025, autumn 2025, and and spring 2026, you pay separately for each.

The fee gets deducted from any cruise you book, or is fully refundable if you do not book (even if you simply change your mind after pre-registration)(it is probably the most flexible system out there).

The programme referred to by FatBoy20 is the programme mailed out to people who have already pre-registered, and Saga have no set time for issuing either programmes or brochures.

Pre-registry is definitely the way to get an early choice and the best fares.

Just to add some additional information to that provided above.

When a particular season is launched, a proportion of the cabins in the various grades are offered at a 35% discount on the normal price. (I believe it's a proportion rather than all the cabins being offered at 35% but I am happy top be corrected if this is wrong). As these initial maximum discounts are booked by prospective passengers , then the discount drops to say 30% then 25% an so on.

Consequently the earlier you register for a particular season, the earlier you will receive the phone call once the programme has been emailed to you. That will give you the best chance of snagging a maximum discount.

Just be aware that the call can come anytime depending on you position in the pre-registration queue for a particular season. We had pre-registered for the April - December 2024 season and received the email with the Summer 2024 programme shortly before we left for a holiday in Cyprus. As sod's law often dictates, the call came while we were having a relaxing drink in our hotel in Paphos. Cue a dash back to our room while still on the call to retrieve passport details and credit card info so that we could secure our chosen booking. I'm sure we could have requested a call back when we were back in the UK but that might have meant missing out on the best discounts.

If you keep checking this forum or the various social media groups (I think there are at least 2 on FB) you will start to see posts as people receive their phone calls for a particular season. You can usually get a rough idea of how things are progressing, if people are willing to share there pre-registration number. The calls go out in sequence from the earliest to pre-register and your number will reflect where you are in the queue.

Thanks everyone for responding. I've phoned and registered for 2025.

9 hours ago, Cynthia Darch said: When is the Jan-March made available for pre reg .. thanks

For the last 2 years it has been around the end of January (for the following year Jan-March).

• 3 months later...

Saga have announced that for 2026 the two pre-registration block dates for booking are Jan-April & May- December (In previous years it has been Jan-March & April-December).

Does anyone know if Saga have a similar system for river cruises? If so, what is the number to ring?

• 2 weeks later...

Flyer received today indicates that Saga will launch Jan to April 2025 Cruises soon. This should be earlier than the 2024 Launch which was January 2023 (for Jan to March 24) & March (for April to December). Perhaps Saga are realising they have been nearly the last to release Cruises for future years.

33 minutes ago, FatBoy20 said: Flyer received today indicates that Saga will launch Jan to April 2025 Cruises soon. This should be earlier than the 2024 Launch which was January 2023 (for Jan to March 24) & March (for April to December). Perhaps Saga are realising they have been nearly the last to release Cruises for future years.

Your post just prompted me that I should get pre-registered for the "summer" 2025 season.

Called Saga and made the registration.

The young lady I spoke to stated that our summer season registration would cover cruises from 1st May until 31st December 2025.

So I 'm guessing that Saga have massaged their season tranches to include April in the "winter" block.

Did Saga say when they will start phoning people who have pre-registered for the Summer 2025 season?

Don't get too excited... Saga interpretation of "soon" is not the same as our interpretation.

They sent the same flyer last year at about the same time as this year.

And the year before. And the year before. And the...etc.

The flyer is mainly to encourage people to pre-register. The more pre-registrations, the better reports they can give to their shareholders.

5 hours ago, arlowood said: Your post just prompted me that I should get pre-registered for the "summer" 2025 season. Called Saga and made the registration. The young lady I spoke to stated that our summer season registration would cover cruises from 1st May until 31st December 2025.   So I 'm guessing that Saga have massaged their season tranches to include April in the "winter" block.

My flier states that "January to April 2025 cruises abard the Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Advenure will go on sale soon" So April is definately now in the Winter/Spring block.

1 hour ago, nosapphire said: Don't get too excited... Saga interpretation of "soon" is not the same as our interpretation. They sent the same flyer last year at about the same time as this year. And the year before. And the year before. And the...etc. The flyer is mainly to encourage people to pre-register. The more pre-registrations, the better reports they can give to their shareholders.    

The Flyer for Jan to March 2024 came out in November 2022 & E-Mailed programme was early January.

39 minutes ago, FatBoy20 said: The Flyer for Jan to March 2024 came out in November 2022 & E-Mailed programme was early January.

I stand corrected... 🙊

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