Saga introduces six new voyages for next year

 Bookings opened for the cruise line’s 2023 itineraries in April.

Canary Islands

The first of the new itineraries is a 13-night Canary Islands cruise leaving Portsmouth on January 12. The line’s newest ship, Spirit of Adventure, will first call Lisbon, Portugal where passengers can see UNESCO-listed sites as part of a sightseeing excursion included with the voyage, before the vessels moves to Spain for Arrecife in Lanzarote, home of the lava fields of Timanfaya National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Las Palmas, Gran Canaria follows with its coves, sandy beaches and cafe-lined squares, before the ship reaches Santa Cruz, Tenerife crowned by the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mount Teide, and whose sights can be seen as part of another excursion included with the cruise.

Santa Cruz in La Palma, the greenest of the Canaries, comes next before the equally green final destination of Funchal in Madeira.

An included scenic tour of Funchal will take place, with optional tours of its forest and gardens.

The cruise is repeated between February 15 and 28, 2023 onboard Spirit of Adventure.

Celestial Canary Islands

The 14 night ‘Celestial Canary Islands’ cruise gives stargazers the chance to observe the cosmos owing to late night departures from Tenerife and La Gomera. It departs Portsmouth January 25 and involves Spirit of Adventure calling at El Ferrol in Spain, with its seafaring history and diverse architecture, and the pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela. Arrecife in Lanzarote, which includes a sightseeing excursion, comes next followed by Las Palmas. An included tour takes in the main sights, including the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Spirit of Adventure subsequently sails on to Santa Cruz in Tenerife where a tour of the capital takes place before heading to San Sebastian in La Gomera where Christopher Columbus readied his ships.

The ship then calls at La Palma, before a scenic tour of Funchal in Madeira takes place, with optional tours of Funchal’s forest and gardens.

Continental Flavours

Taking place over Valentine’s Day, Spirit of Adventure’s seven-night ‘Continental Flavours’ cruise departs February 8, first traversing the River Scheldt and into the heart of Antwerp, berthing close to the medieval Het Steen fortress for an overnight stay. A leading port in the diamond industry, it has a district dedicated to precious gems with cultural and 

historic sights consisting of the Medieval Grote Markt town square, the Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady and the home of Baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens.

Rotterdam is the next port of call where passengers can see historic Delfhaven – which avoided bombing during World War Two and therefore still features traditional gabled houses – or modernist architecture, such as the Erasmus Bridge and Cube Houses. Next is Zeebrugge and the UNESCO-listed Bruges, Belgium, where Medieval, Renaissance and Gothic architecture can be seen.

The final stop is Le Havre, France which is also on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Arctic Norway and the Northern Lights

Spirit of Adventure first calls at Bergen, Norway – where the UNESCO-listed Bryggen waterfront and its old town of characterful 17th and 18th-century wooden houses can be found – during its 15-night Arctic cruise leaving Portsmouth February 28.

In Tromsø, passengers can behold the iceberg-like Arctic Cathedral as part of an included sightseeing excursion or take a cable car for views across the city. The gateway to the North Cape, which is featured on an included tour, takes place in Honningsvåg.

The cruise then heads to Alta for its UNESCO-listed rock art carved out thousands of years ago, its Sami culture plus attractions such as the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel. An evening gathering around a campfire for the chance to spot Aurora Borealis forms part of an included excursion. .

Cities of Spain and the Western Med

The last of Saga’s new 2023 cruises departs Portsmouth on March 15 for a 16-night sailing, taking in the cities of Spain and the Western Mediterranean. Gibraltar and Palma kick off the programme, ahead of Barcelona for its subterranean Roman ruins, Gothic architecture, Gaudi’s designs, Sagrada Familia and the famous promenade of La Rambla.

Toulon in France, with its lively markets, boutiques, squares and harbourside eateries is next on the programme, before the ship reaches Valencia in Spain, which has a 13th-century cathedral and the Gothic La Lonja Silk Stock Exchange.

In Cartagena, Spain passengers can see a Roman theatre unearthed in 1988; other attractions include Punic ruins, a 13^th century cathedral and a modernist town hall.

The final port is Lisbon, with its UNESCO-listed sites and pastel de nata tarts. 

Four excursions are included in the programme.