Spirit of Adventure (2020 ship)

This article is about the cruise ship launched in 2020. For other uses, see Spirit of Adventure.

Spirit of Adventure is a cruise ship operated by Saga Cruises and constructed by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. As Saga's second new-build vessel, she was originally considered as an option in the cruise line's pursuit to renew its fleet, but the company finalised the order in 2017 after seeing rising profits in its travel business following the announcement of her sister ship, Spirit of Discovery. Her keel was laid on 3 June 2019 and she was delivered on 29 September 2020, but in response to travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the inaugural cruise was continuously postponed until she officially debuted on 26 July 2021.

Spirit of Adventure

Spirit of Adventure in Argostoli, Kefalonia in 2022
History
United Kingdom
Name	Spirit of Adventure
Owner	Saga Group
Operator	Saga Cruises
Port of registry	London, United Kingdom
Ordered	22 September 2017
Builder	Meyer Werft Papenburg, Germany
Yard number	715
Laid down	3 June 2019
Launched	24 July 2020
Sponsored by	Inga Kennedy
Christened	19 July 2021
Acquired	29 September 2020
Maiden voyage	26 July 2021
In service	2021–present
Identification	IMO number: 9818084 Call sign: MGWT8 MMSI number: 232026551
Status	In service
General characteristics
Tonnage	58,199 GT
Length	236.6 m (776 ft)
Draught	7.6 m (25 ft)
Decks	15
Installed power	21.6 MW (29,000 hp) (total power)
Speed	18 kn (33 km/h; 21 mph) (service speed)
Capacity	999 passengers
Crew	540

Spirit of Adventure operates under Saga's business model of targeting guests ages 50 and over and shares many of the same dimensions with her sister ship, but includes a different interior design to better distinguish her identity as a distinct vessel in the fleet.

Design

Along with her sister ship, Spirit of Discovery, Spirit of Adventure operates under Saga's model of exclusively serving guests of ages 50 and over. All voyages aboard the ship will also include Saga's "all-inclusive" cruising experience, in which the cost of the cruise covers expenses incurred from beverages, gratuities, specialty dining, room service, internet access, and local chauffeur services to the port. Saga also commissioned a separate firm for the ship's interior to craft an environment unique to her through new decor, a modified variety of accommodations and eateries, and redesigned lounge venues.

Spirit of Adventure is designed to match her sister ship's dimensions, measuring 58,250 GT, 236 metres (774 ft) long, and 31.2 metres (102 ft) wide, and will also have 554 all-balcony passenger cabins housing a total of 999 guests. Saga partnered with Siemens to employ Siemens SISHIP SiPODs for the ships' propulsion and power distribution systems. The ships are powered by four nine-cylinder 32/44 common rail MAN engines equipped with selective catalytic reduction, each producing 5,400 kilowatts (7,200 hp), for a total of 21,600 kilowatts (29,000 hp). To better recover waste heat, they are also equipped with a centralised heating water system that reduces pump power by 65 kW to save 200 MWh per annum.

Construction

On 30 September 2015, Saga announced it had signed a memorandum of agreement with German shipbuilder Meyer Werft for a new-build ship, along with the option for a second new-build, scheduled for 2019 and 2021 deliveries, respectively. On 22 September 2017, Saga confirmed its plans with Meyer Werft for its second new-build after firming up the option and also announced the new ship's name as Spirit of Adventure. Saga explained that the decision to expand its fleet of its first-ever set of new-build vessels stemmed from strong demand for its first new-build on order, Spirit of Discovery, coupled with the desire to further its investment in its fleet after seeing its travel business's profits rise. Spirit of Adventure replaces Saga Sapphire, whose sale was completed in June 2020.

On 27 March 2019, Saga held the steel-cutting ceremony for Spirit of Adventure at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, marking the beginning of construction for the vessel. On 3 June 2019, Saga held the keel laying ceremony, in which a coin inscribed with the ship's name, keel laying date, and yard number of 715, was placed under the first of 54 keel blocks slated for the ship. Her integral components, including the ship's bow and cabin blocks, were assembled by 10 January 2020. The ship was floated into a wet dock in late-March 2020 to begin her outfitting. On 24 July 2020, following the installation of her propellers, she was floated out from the building hall, after which her funnel was installed and final outfitting began. She undertook her Ems conveyance to Emden on 30 August 2020 and underwent her sea trials in the North Sea in September.

Construction for Spirit of Adventure encountered delays arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. She was originally expected to be delivered in July 2020 and was scheduled to be christened at the Portsmouth International Port on 19 August 2020. But on 29 May 2020, Saga announced her delivery and subsequent debut in August 2020 would be postponed after Meyer Werft informed Saga that the shipyard had been significantly impacted by work and travel restrictions as a result of the pandemic. She was delivered on 29 September 2020 in Emden and was christened by nurse and senior Royal Navy officer Inga Kennedy on 19 July 2021 in Portsmouth.

Service history

Spirit of Adventure was originally scheduled to offer a preview sailing for members of the travel industry and press on 11 August 2020, but after announcement of the ship's postponement of delivery, Saga announced it had not decided if it would postpone or cancel the sailing altogether. Her maiden cruise, a 17-night Baltic cruise from Dover, was originally scheduled for 21 August 2020, but was eventually changed to a 17-day Mediterranean sailing departing on 5 November 2020 from Southampton, visiting Gibraltar, Barcelona, Monaco, and Naples. For her inaugural season, she had been expected to operate cruises to the Norwegian fjords and the Mediterranean. At the ship's delivery ceremony on 29 September 2020, Saga announced the ship's inaugural plans had been further modified by postponing her inaugural cruise to 4 May 2021. Saga Cruises eventually opened bookings for the ship in March 2021 for a further postponed debut season and the ship officially debuted on her inaugural voyage on 26 July 2021 for a 15-night sailing around the British Isles.

References

Citations

• Bond, Mary (4 June 2019). "Keel laid at Meyer Werft for Saga's Spirit of Adventure". Seatrade Cruise News. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
• Bond, Mary (28 March 2019). "Steel cutting ceremony for Saga's Spirit of Adventure". Seatrade Cruise News. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
• Coulter, Adam (22 September 2017). "Saga Cruises Confirms Second New Build Ship". Cruise Critic. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
• Coulter, Adam (30 June 2020). "Saga's New Cruise Ship Spirit of Adventure to Debut in November". Cruise Critic. Archived from the original on 5 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
• Davies, Phil (13 July 2021). "Saga amends first Spirit of Adventure cruise due to Scottish restrictions". Travel Weekly. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
• Davies, Phil (22 September 2017). "Saga confirms second new-build as travel profits soar". Travel Weekly. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
• Ebelthite, Shaun (1 July 2020). "Delivery of Saga Cruises' new ship Spirit of Adventure delayed until October". Cruise Arabia & Africa. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
• Ebelthite, Shaun (19 November 2018). "Saga reveals details of second new ship Spirit of Adventure". Cruise Arabia & Africa. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
• Gibson, Rebecca (7 February 2020). "Saga to christen Spirit of Adventure in Portsmouth this August". Cruise and Ferry Review. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
• Kalosh, Anne (22 September 2017). "It's a go for a second Saga newbuild at Meyer Werft". Seatrade Cruise News. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
• "Meyer Werft Bags First Newbuild Order from Saga Cruises". Offshore Energy. 30 September 2015. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
• "Meyer Werft delivers Spirit of Adventure". Meyer Werft (Press release). 30 September 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
• "Meyer Werft Floats Out New Cruise Ship Spirit of Adventure for Saga". The Maritime Executive. 24 July 2020. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
• "New Year, new ship". Saga Cruises. 10 January 2020. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
• Payne, Holly (29 March 2021). "Bookings open for Saga Cruises' 2021 UK summer sailings". Seatrade Cruise News. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
• Payne, Holly (20 July 2021). "Naming ceremony held at Portsmouth for Saga's Spirit of Adventure". Seatrade Cruise News. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
• Payne, Holly (18 June 2020). "Saga Sapphire sold to Anex Tours, name changes to Blue Sapphire". Seatrade Cruise News. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
• Payne, Holly (30 September 2020). "Spirit of Adventure joins Saga fleet". Seatrade Cruise News. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
• "Saga Pushes Cruise Restart Dates, Now April and May 2021". Cruise Industry News. 3 November 2020. Archived from the original on 3 November 2020.
• "Saga releases 2021 cruises for Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure". Cruise Trade News. 21 April 2020. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
• "Saga's New Spirit of Adventure Is Delayed". Cruise Industry News. 29 May 2020. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
• Sharpe, Olivia (3 June 2020). "Saga Cruises postpones Spirit of Adventure trade sailing". Cruise Trade News. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
• "She floats!". Saga Cruises. 31 March 2020. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
• "Spirit of Adventure". Meyer Werft GmbH & Co. KG. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
• "Spirit of Adventure joins Saga fleet". Cruise Industry News. 30 September 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
• "Spirit of Adventure Leaves Building Hall". Cruise Industry News. 24 July 2020. Archived from the original on 26 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
• "Spirit of Adventure onderweg naar Emden". RTVWesterwolde.nl (in Dutch). 30 August 2020. Archived from the original on 30 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
• "Spirit of Discovery 'just the start', says Saga". Cruise Adviser. 8 July 2019. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
• "Steel Cut for Saga's Spirit of Adventure". Cruise Industry News. 27 March 2019. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
• "The innovations behind Saga's Spirit of Discovery". Riviera Maritime Media. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.

• Picture of the Ship passing the Friesenbrücke, Weener
• Pictures of the float out (in German)