This will be the first time that the UK port has hosted a cruise ship naming ceremony
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Saga Cruises is to christen its new cruise ship Spirit of Adventure at Portsmouth International Port on 19 August, marking the first time that the UK port has hosted an official cruise ship inauguration ceremony.
The port has been chosen as the christening location due to its maritime heritage, picturesque harbour and ongoing regeneration plans, which include a significant berth extension and a terminal transformation project.
“We're so proud Saga has chosen Portsmouth to host the naming ceremony for its newest ship, Spirit of Adventure, which is a first for the city,” said Gerald Vernon-Jackson. Leader of Portsmouth City Council. “Portsmouth's dramatic harbour entrance is a stunning backdrop to showcase the ship and we will work closely with Saga to put on an event to match. It will also be a fantastic spectacle with the opportunity to welcome the ship as she arrives in Portsmouth and put on a firework display that will take place in the evening from Southsea Common.”
Currently under construction at Meyer Werft’s shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, Spirit of Adventure is the second of Saga’s purpose-built boutique cruise ships – the first, Spirit of Discovery, debuted in 2019.
The 999-guest Spirit of Adventure will feature “bold and striking” interiors that showcase the “best of British contemporary design” and offer onboard highlights including all-balcony cabins, a 500-square-metre spa, The Lido outdoor pool, a 444-seat theatre and a large library. The ship will also have three speciality restaurants, including Khukuri, the world’s first Nepalese restaurant at sea.
“While the ships are recognisably sisters, they are most certainly not twins,” said Nigel Blanks, managing director of Saga Cruises. “Spirit of Adventure will have a distinctly different identity to her sister ship, which is why we have chosen a different port for her naming ceremony. Alongside the port and the city’s partners, we are planning another utterly memorable event.”
Spirit of Adventure’s 17-night maiden cruise will depart the Port of Dover on 21 August 2020, taking guests to destinations in the Baltic. The ship will then sail cruises in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and Norway.