Saga to name two new river cruise vessels at Arnhem

Longstanding broadcaster and keen cruiser Dame Jenni Murray is godmother for the sister ships.

Spirit of the Danube was built at the Vahali shipyards in Serbia and the Netherlands. Following the naming ceremony, she will embark on her inaugural cruise along the Dutch and Belgian waterways.

Meanwhile, Spirit of the Rhine embarked on her inaugural cruise of the Moselle Valley in September 2021. Following the ceremony her next cruise will be Keukenhof and Dutch Delights, lasting seven nights.

Two types of cabin

Each vessel has four passenger decks and 91 cabins, hosting up to 182 passengers and 50 crew. There are two types of cabin available on both vessels. Spirit of the Rhine’s design is reminiscent of Saga’s larger ocean ships and Spirit of the Danube based on an art nouveau and Danube delta theme, with elements such as migratory birds used throughout the ship.

Ahead of the ceremony, Saga Cruises CEO Nigel Blanks said: ‘After the delays as a result of the pandemic, we’re delighted to formally name both ships. To see them side-by-side, after a challenging couple of years for the industry, it’s fantastic to reach this milestone and enjoy the return to cruising Europe’s iconic waterways.’