Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

Keel laying ceremony held in Serbia for Saga Cruises’ Spirit of the Danube

CRUISE_saga_spirit_danube.jpeg
A CGI image of the Spirit of the Danube on completion
The keel laying ceremony for Saga Cruises’ newest river vessel, Spirit of the Danube, took place today at Vahali’s shipyard, Serbia.

The vessel will join the Saga Cruises fleet in 2022, sailing first to Amsterdam with journeys to Budapest, Vienna, Rousse and Tulcea anticipated for the future. 

‘Over the past few years, we’ve been focused on redefining [our] river cruise range… Spirit of the Danube joining the fleet marks an exciting milestone in this journey and we cannot wait until she joins her sister ship Spirit of the Rhine next year,’ commented Saga Holidays CEO Chris Simmonds.

Design

Design of the 190-passenger ship is inspired by culture and landscape found along the Danube. It will possess first-class facilities including a lounge, library, bar and two restaurants – one of which will initially serve cuisine from celebrity chef Mark Sargeant.

Other celebrities scheduled to sail on Spirit of the Danube are TV presenter and natural historian Miranda Krestovnikoff, antiques expert and regular on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow, Eric Knowles, as well as horticulturist, Sir Roddy Llewellyn. 

Health and safety 

Saga Cruises was the first cruise line to announce that vaccination against COVID-19 would be mandatory for prospective passengers

Saga’s first river cruise ship, the Spirit of the Rhine, is currently preparing for its inaugural cruise in May - the same month Spirit of Adventure sails, marking the cruise line's return to service.