Ship Review – Saga Spirit Of Adventure
I was recently able to attend the unique naming ceremony for Saga’s newest boutique ship, the Spirit of Adventure, as well as spend the day on board the ship in Portsmouth.
The designation of the ship as the Spirit of Adventure
The christening of a new vessel is always a momentous occasion. There is nothing else quite like it since it is so steeped in history, tradition, and ceremony. You may learn everything there is to know about the beginning of a cruise ship’s life, including its christening and naming.
I’ve gone to a few naming ceremonies for ships, and each one has been entirely unique and special in its own way. I highly recommend going to as many of these events as you can.
Spirit of Adventure was given its godmother, Commodore Inga J. Kennedy, a senior officer in the Royal Navy and a former head of the Royal Navy Medical Service. This was done as a sign of respect to the medical profession, particularly with regard to the tireless work they have done over the last 18 months with the Covid-19 pandemic.
The event, which marked the very first occasion a cruise ship has been christened at Portsmouth Port, took place while the weather was pleasant and sunny. During the live broadcast of the event on Facebook, the entire crew could be seen lined up on the decks with a view of the dock.
Throughout the course of the event, a number of speakers took the stage. These included Nick Stace, the CEO of travel for Saga, Captain Tanner, and the Dean of Portsmouth, who blessed the ship and gave it his blessing. During the momentous occasion, a bottle of English sparkling wine from the Balfour Hush Heath Estate in Kent was broken over the bow as is customary. The wine was produced by Balfour Hush Heath Estate.
The entire gathering gave off the impression that another step had been taken back toward normalcy, and that things are slowly getting back to cruise speed despite the continued effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
But how would you describe the Spirit of Adventure?
A boutique hotel experience
When you first go aboard the Spirit of Adventure, the distinctive design of the ship is the first thing that catches your eye. It has been designed to resemble more of a boutique hotel, such as one that you might find if you were to stay in London, and there is a bold use of colour everywhere. This is due to the fact that passengers have pointed out that “life isn’t beige,” which was something that was taken into consideration when designing these ships.
You will find yourself in The Living Room as soon as you step on board. This room also contains The Atrium and The Bar. Atrium is a charmingly constructed room with its double height staircase, and it serves as the centrepiece of the building. The artwork that spans two stories and is located beneath the staircase evokes images of water currents with its two-toned carpet that transitions from a light grey to a teal colour. The artwork focuses primarily on notable British explorers.
The Library is located on the second floor, and it is a contemporary room that features many nooks and crannies in which one can spend time. You’ll find a variety of seating locations scattered all throughout the atrium, each with its own unique configuration of chairs and seats. In every one of these areas, you’ll find one-of-a-kind artwork that complements the overall colour scheme of the ship.
Visit “The Playhouse” if you’re looking for some entertainment while you’re aboard. A theatre with 444 seats that has been constructed so that there are no pillars or other visual impediments in the seating arrangement. The Spirit of Adventure also has a full wrap-around promenade, which is something that a lot of people who go on cruises really enjoy doing (and miss on other ships). You will also find the huge terrace area, which provides breathtaking views of the ocean, in the rear of the boat.
After climbing the stairs, you will arrive to the world-famous Lido pool and space. The atmosphere here is authentic art deco, and whether you’re there during the day or the evening, you’ll have a great time there regardless. Last but not least, The Britannia Lounge may also be found in the neighbourhood of the Lido. The utilisation of glass has contributed to the room’s naturally bright and airy atmosphere. It is planned to be a vibrant venue with a large dance floor, live music, and other activities in addition to having magnificent views from the ship itself.
The sensation of dining
There are five different restaurants on board, each of which has its own distinct atmosphere, menu, and approach to cooking.
To begin, there is The Main Dining Room, which, although being quite a huge area, manages to give off the impression that it is rather cosy thanks to its ingenious design. There is a wide selection of seating options, ranging from huge booths to more intimate tables for two.
The Supper Club is a new venue that specialises in steaks and live entertainment. It is located right upstairs from where you entered the building. Evenings will almost certainly find you surrounded by a vibrant crowd if you want to spend time there. When you continue to head aft from here, you will also arrive at the ship’s two specialty restaurants (both of which are included in your fare). Initially, there is Amalfi, which is a contemporary Italian restaurant, and then there is Khukuri, which is a first on any cruise ship. Khukuri is a Nepalese restaurant that draws on the culture, design, and colours of the Gurka community. This thrills me to no end.
The last option is The Grill, a restaurant that serves a variety of dishes and is open throughout the day, from breakfast through the evening. Throughout the course of the day, this area will go from having a casual atmosphere to one that is more intimate and even slightly more formal. Even though it is laid out in a buffet style, it won’t be used that way for the foreseeable future. Instead, wait staff will bring people’s meals to their tables after they make their food selections at the various food stations.
Additionally, there are several bars located on board the Spirit of Adventure. The North Cape Bar is another option, in addition to the ones listed above. Given its namesake in honour of a forerunner that served aboard one of Saga’s first cruise ships. Additionally, it is the identical counterpart to the South Cape Bar that can be seen aboard Spirit of Discovery. Both of these spaces take up the whole width of the ship and have an upscale, late-night ambiance to them. They also feature high stools and comfortable seating.
The experience of accommodation
There are a total of 554 cabins on board the Spirit of Adventure, and every single one of them has a balcony. When compared to other ships, the cabins on this one are far larger than those seen on other cruise lines. On board, the size of a conventional balcony readily competes with that of a similar entry-level suite on competing lines. The 109 single cabins on the Saga are each uniquely built and priced according to their grade, which can range from standard to suite-level accommodations. This is another unique aspect of the Saga.
Each cabin comes equipped with Wi-Fi, a flat-screen TV with free movies on demand, 24-hour room service, tea and coffee-making facilities, a writing desk and sitting, a refrigerator, mineral water and fruit basket, binoculars, a private bathroom, and high-end toiletries.
In addition, there are a variety of suites available on board the Spirit of Adventure. Every suite also features a butler service, in-cabin dining options, a wake-up tray in the morning (upon request), pre-dinner canapés, a big lounge space with a sofa and dining table, a walk-in closet, and an upgraded bathroom with dual sinks, a shower, and a bath. The four front suites take luxury accommodations to an entirely new level. These are designed on an individual basis and range in size from 765 to 855 square feet. They include a series of living spaces in which guests can relax and dine, a separate bedroom, a luxury bathroom with a whirlpool bath, a large private balcony, cabin extras such as daily newspapers, a guest bathroom, in-cabin dining for entertaining, and a wine cooler. Additionally, the passengers’ favourite choice of wine is stocked in advance in order to make their time spent onboard as memorable as humanly possible – incredible!
Saga has taken the successful blueprints of its sister company, Discovery, and continued to develop and define quite an interesting product. This is something that Saga’s clientele, and more importantly, future clientele, are going to love. This was accomplished by Saga with the release of Spirit of Adventure.
