Sep
2019
Saga Spirit of Discovery Summer Soirées Mini Cruise – 1st September 2019
2019 is an exciting year for Saga as it takes delivery of it's spanking new cruise ship, Spirit of Discovery.
It looks really swish, and on this taster cruise, you can be amongst the first to sail on this new ship.
Oh no, the ship has sailed on this cruise
Sorry, the ship has sailed on this mini cruise and I'm sure it was a blast! Never mind though, there are plenty more mini cruises to choose from.
About this cruise
While September can often be the dawn of miserable Autumnal weather, this mini cruise is tagged right onto the beginning of the month. Fingers crossed for some glorious sunshine from August to stick around.
Your adventure will start in Dover on Sunday 1st September where you'll excitedly board the shiny new Spirit of Discovery. Purpose-built for Saga's clientele, the ship will incorporate design cues, cuisine, and hospitality that you'd normally find in the world's finest boutique hotels. Each cabin has its own private balcony so you'll be able to watch sail-ins and sail-outs from the comfort of your well-appointed room.
There's no sea-days on this itinerary so it is an intensive line-up. You'll sail each night and awake in a new destination each morning. Be sure to spend enough time exploring the ship - if you are like me, you'll still discover new areas on day four of the cruise!
Monday's call is Ijmuiden, a gateway port to Amsterdam. Join an optional shore excursion or head off on your own to explore famous sights such as Anne Frank's House, the Van Gogh museum, or the Rijksmuseum. Alternatively, head to Haarlem for something a little different.
You'll sail overnight to Germany two rocky islands 29 miles off the German coast. Welcome to Heligoland, a former naval base during both World Wars. This is a tender port, so you'll be ferried between Spirit of Discovery and the island on small tender boats.
By Wednesday morning you'll arrive in Belgium, at the port of Zeebrugge. This is the gateway port to Bruges. Join an optional excursion or make your own way by bus, taxi, or tram-and-train and explore the small Medieval city. It's picture-perfect and is awash with marvellous architecture, a range of boutiques, museums and churches, as well as plenty of chocolate shops.
On Thursday morning your adventure draws to a close back in Dover.
(Photo credit to Therealvalox)
The Route
The itinerary for this mini cruise is:
| Day | Date | Port | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunday 1st September 2019 | Dover | 5pm |
| 2 | Monday 2nd September 2019 | Ijmuiden (for Amsterdam) | 8am to 5pm |
| 3 | Tuesday 3rd September 2019 | Heligoland | 8am to 3pm |
| 4 | Wednesday 4th September 2019 | Zeebrugge (for Bruges) | 9am to 9pm |
| 5 | Thursday 5th September 2019 | Dover | 8am |
Why choose this taster cruise?
- 4 nights on Saga Cruises' brand new ship, Spirit of Discovery
- Voyage SD006 departs on Sunday 1st September 2019
- Sail round-trip from Dover
- Spend a day each in Ijmuiden, Heligoland, and Zeebrugge
So you know, the map above shows point-to-point lines which may cross land. Don't worry, your cruise ship will not sprout legs and run across dry land. Instead it's water all the way! Mapping is approximate, and the scheduled times are estimates. Your trip is subject to change as, occasionally, operators have to alter itineraries due to bad weather or unforeseen events.
The Price
Oh no, the ship has sailed on this cruise
Sorry, the ship has sailed on this mini cruise and I'm sure it was a blast! Never mind though, there are plenty more mini cruises to choose from.
More choices
Not quite right? Here are some other suggestions that may suit better.