Spirit class · Saga · In service since 2019
Spirit of Discovery
Spirit of Discovery is a Spirit class cruise ship operated by Saga, in service since 2019. At about 58,119 gross tons, it carries roughly 987 guests and ranks #1 by size in the 2-ship Saga fleet we cover.
- 58,119 gross tons
- 987 guests
- 774 ft long
Photo: Rodhullandemu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ship facts
- Cruise line
- Saga Cruises
- Ship class
- Spirit class
- Entered service
- 2019 (7 years ago)
- Gross tonnage
- 58,119
- Guests
- 987
- Length
- 774 ft (236 m)
- Builder
- Meyer Werft
- Flag
- United Kingdom
- IMO number
- 9802683
About Spirit of Discovery
Spirit of Discovery was Saga Cruises’ first purpose-built ship, entering service in 2019 and named by the then Duchess of Cornwall, now Queen Camilla. She is designed for British travelers aged 50 and over, with a boutique-hotel feel, every cabin with a balcony and an unusually large number of cabins for solo travelers. Saga’s fares are inclusive, covering drinks, gratuities and Wi-Fi, and the atmosphere is refined but friendly, with live music, West End-style shows and enrichment talks. Dining includes the Grand Dining Room plus specialty venues such as East to West, focused on Asian flavors, and Coast to Coast for seafood.
Best for: British travelers over 50, including solo travelers, who want a refined, inclusive boutique-style cruise.
Spirit of Discovery highlights
- Balconies for every cabin
- Dedicated single cabins for solo travelers
- East to West and Coast to Coast specialty restaurants
- The Living Room, a central lounge with live music
- Inclusive fares covering drinks, gratuities and Wi-Fi
How Spirit of Discovery compares in size
- Spirit of Discovery58,119
- Spirit of Adventure58,119
Gross tonnage measures a ship's enclosed volume, not its weight. Source: Wikidata.
Spirit class sister ships
Sailing with Saga
Saga Cruises is a British boutique line exclusively for travelers aged 50 and over (companions 40 and over), sailing two modern, all-balcony ships of under 1,000 guests from UK ports. Its package is unusually inclusive for UK residents, covering drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi, excursions and even a chauffeur to the port. It is built and sold for British travelers, so most North Americans will find it hard to arrange and less tailored to them.
Read our full Saga guide: dining, drinks, tipping and who it suits →
Spirit of Discovery FAQs
How big is Spirit of Discovery?
Spirit of Discovery measures about 58,119 gross tons and is about 774 feet (236 m) long. That makes it #1 of 2 Saga ships we cover by tonnage, and #201 among all 255 ocean cruise ships in our guide.
How many passengers does Spirit of Discovery carry?
About 987 guests, according to Wikidata's record for the ship. Cruise lines usually quote capacity at two guests per cabin; with third and fourth berths filled, the maximum is higher.
When was Spirit of Discovery built?
Spirit of Discovery entered service in 2019 and was built by Meyer Werft.
What class of ship is Spirit of Discovery?
Spirit of Discovery belongs to Saga's Spirit class, alongside Spirit of Adventure. Ships in the same class share a layout and most signature features.
Is Spirit of Discovery good for families?
Saga is designed mainly for adults, so Spirit of Discovery isn't the best fit for young children. Anyone under 50, unless traveling with someone who qualifies
Updated November 2026 by the BookMyDreamCruise editorial team. How we research and fact-check.
Sources: Wikidata, Wikipedia, Saga official site.