Spirit of Discovery

Spirit of Discovery’s main restaurant brings you the very finest in British and International cuisine at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Open seating is the standard, as is exemplary service. If you would like fixed seating you can book before you sail. In this restaurant you can expect an ever-changing menu of sumptuous dishes, cooked by our team of expert chefs to the highest standard.

Recalling the famous music lounges of the 1950s, The Club by Jools combines sumptuous cocktails and dining with live music. The cuisine rivals the world’s best supper clubs, with classic starters such as Retro Tiger Prawn Cocktail and Baked Three Onion Soup. Among the sumptuous mains, you can experience Jools’ Signature Dishes; New York Striploin Steak, Tomahawk Steak, Roast Rack of Lamb, Berkshire Porterhouse Pork Steak, Grilled Fish of the Day and Baked Aubergine with Bulgar Wheat and Grilled Halloumi. As with all the restaurants aboard Spirit of Discovery, dining in The Club by Jools is included in your fare.

The Grill has been designed to give you the option of a more casual, relaxed and sociable culinary experience. Offering the same dinner menu as The Grand Dining Room on formal evenings, it’s a superb alternative venue, giving you even more dining choice. The Grill offers even more culinary options, from an irresistible buffet at breakfast to a bespoke lunchtime menu.

Adjoining the restaurant is the Verandah – a sumptuous outside space. Here you can enjoy the same dining choices, but alfresco with stunning ocean views. When the weather’s fine, it’s also the place to enjoy irresistible barbecues out on deck.

They say variety is the spice of life, so why not try something completely different? Spirit of Discovery’s variety of restaurants mean you can mix things up as much as you like. Start by making a reservation in East to West free of charge.

Just like the original East to West on Saga Sapphire, this restaurant offers an exclusive, dinner-only service every evening. Impeccably presented, our chefs bring to the table the full diversity and vibrancy of Eastern cuisine, from classic favourites to those with a contemporary twist.

Exclusive to 74 guests every evening, Coast to Coast is designed to showcase modern seafood cuisine: the very best of British and locally-sourced fish, depending on what’s fresh in the destination you’re visiting. Sophisticated and intimate, of course it’s also free of charge to dine here.

You can choose from the Coast to Coast seafood platter to share and a range of sauces and accompaniments. Or who can resist our tempting take on classic fish and chips, served with thrice-cooked chips. The ship’s world-class seafood restaurant is another first for Saga.

24-hour room service is always there and always free of charge, perfect for morning coffee, breakfast in bed, in-cabin dining or a late-night snack

In a first for Saga, this ship features our very own theatre at sea. Comfortable, raked seating The Playhouse seats 444 guests, meaning you’ll enjoy the best seat in the house wherever you are, with unrestricted views of the stage. In The Playhouse you can expect a quality entertainment experience, every night of your cruise. This includes West End-style shows, classical music performances, plays and revues.

During days at sea, expect matinees performances to boost your entertainment choices throughout the day. The venue is also the place to enjoy talks and lectures from our roster of guest speakers enriching your cruise experience.

It’s another first for Saga: Spirit of Discovery also has her own elegant steakhouse fine dining restaurant and music club. Better still, the venue is full of surprises, starting with its patron, music legend Jools Holland. Saga has worked closely with Jools to bring this idea to life, and it’s designed as a classic 1950s cabaret club, with elegant wood panelling and of course, a grand piano.

The menu is every bit as exciting. The Club offers classic steaks from fillet to sirloin, plus more unusual cuts such as tomahawk steaks. But much more than a restaurant, it’s another of the ship’s vibrant and fun entertainment venues too – the place to enjoy live music and cocktails in the evenings, with resident and guest musicians entertaining until late.

No Saga ship would be complete without our signature Britannia Lounge, and it’s an exciting, multi-purpose venue where you’ll always find something to see and do.

Located on the Lido deck, it’s a double-height venue with panoramic windows looking out and over the front of Spirit of Discovery, offering some of the most impressive views the ship has to offer.

In a nod to Saga Cruises’ legacy, the ship features a large, fully-glazed observation lounge, just like our first-ever ship, Saga Rose.

During the day, enjoy talks from guest speakers, or simply relax while admiring spectacular views. Then, later at night, it comes alive with dancing and live performances.

Spanning the full width of the lounge is an impressive bar area, where you can choose from the ship’s full range of drinks, or enjoy waiter service from your comfy seat.

The 'hub' of Spirit of Discovery is the bright and inviting Living Room. Greeting you as soon as you step aboard, this vibrant, sociable venue is the place to meet friends, grab a coffee, or relax with an after-dinner cocktail.

Open day and night, it serves gelato, fresh pastries and homemade cakes. In the evenings, the Living Room is a sociable bar with occasional light entertainment, open until late. The perfect place for pre and post dinner drinks.

With the style and ambience to match anything found in London, Spirit of Discovery’s main bar is superbly designed with an art deco influence.

This stylish venue offers our full selection of wines, draught craft beers, and a curated collection of fine whiskies. Or for gin connoisseurs, there’s a varied list that’s as stylish as the bar’s elegant wood panelling and leather chairs.

Spanning the width of the ship, the South Cape Bar windows look out onto the wraparound promenade on both sides, for amazing views inside and out. It’s a great place to relax with a tipple, meet up with friends, and to unwind after a busy day exploring another amazing destination.

Did you know? The South Cape Bar is a tribute to our cruising heritage: it was the name of the main bar on Saga Ruby, launched in 2005.

A well-stocked library has long been a tradition on Saga’s ships, and on Spirit of Discovery, it’s one of the finest afloat. The Library is a quiet, relaxed space located at the top of the ship’s atrium, and is another of the ship’s artful delights. It’s a booklover’s paradise where you can browse and borrow from a curated selection of books covering history, travel and art to the latest fiction and literary classics.

Much more than that, The Library feels like an artisanal coffee-shop, thanks to its self-service area with freshly-ground coffees and teas, and a tempting selection of cookies and snacks, replenished throughout the day. It’s also the perfect spot to log-on to the ship’s free Wi-Fi, research your next port of call, and catch up with family and friends back home via email and Facebook.

Set within the surrounds of The Library you’ll find two additional spaces: the Craft and Card Rooms. These extend Spirit of Discovery’s areas to socialise, entertain and inspire.

This elegant ‘secret’ garden area is the perfect setting to enjoy the fresh air any time of the day. Expect it to be especially inviting as you sail away, when you can watch the sun set into the ocean while sipping a cocktail.

The Terrace also offers easy access to Spirit of Discovery’s full-length wraparound promenade. This encircles the ship and offers the chance to enjoy walks in the sea air, relax on the soft loungers and chairs, and simply let the world pass beautifully by.

Did you know? Stroll four times around the promenade and you’ll walk a mile – so you don’t just have to use our wellbeing services to keep fit and healthy on your cruise.

A dedicated craft area, where you can enjoy a range of classes and workshops, from jewellery-making to papercraft. Expert teachers and artists will be on board most cruises, instructing and assisting. The Craft Room offers the opportunity to learn new skills, make new friends, and enrich your cruise experience.

The Card Room is essential for any serious bridge player. Join in with organised lessons and tournaments, or simply use it to play card games however you wish.

The shopping experience aboard Spirit of Discovery is as unique as the ship itself. Take advantage of tax-free purchases on selected cruises including clothes, bespoke fine jewellery and watches, and the services of a private jeweller offering unique hand-crafted pieces. There are also perfect gifts for every occasion, and personalised pieces exclusive to Spirit of Discovery. You’ll also find a range of the latest fragrances, cosmetics and skincare from some of the world’s most renowned high-end brands. Or if you’ve forgotten an essential item, you’ll also find a wide range of everyday products, toiletries, drinks and snacks in our smaller port shop by the entrance.

Not only is Spirit of Discovery a state-of-the-art ship, she also houses amazing art inside. Our team have been working behind the scenes for several years, commissioning painters, sculptors and graphic artists to create bespoke pieces for the ship, showcased throughout the public areas. British artists have been given a major focus, combining classic artworks with contemporary pieces. In addition, you can also visit a dedicated art gallery on board. Located next to The Playhouse theatre entrance on Promenade deck, it houses a permanent collection of exciting art. The Gallery will also be used to display new art exhibitions at sea, featuring an exciting line-up of up-and-coming artists in Britain.

Opposite The Gallery, you’ll find The Chart Room. It’s a space designated for learning and talks with our on-board experts. From interactive learning sessions to illustrated lectures, it’s the venue to try new things on your cruise. A place where you can enjoy enriching experiences that enhance the destinations you visit. The Chart Room is also where you can have professional photos taken by the on-board photographer.

Spirit of Discovery also has a well thought out health and beauty area, which includes a spa, a fitness centre and a salon. Read more about wellbeing on Spirit of Discovery.

So what is Explore Ashore?

Its an exciting service led by our on board team of experts, brimming with local knowledge. You’ll find them at the travel desk on your ship, ready to help you get the most out of your time on land.

More than a normal excursion

Of course there will be a varied programme of shore excursions each insightful and fascinating in their own right. But Explore Ashore is much more than that.

Rather than a tour of thousands, let us show you the main sights of your destination on a small‑group excursion. You won’t feel rushed or herded around on the tourist trail. Its far more personal, and memorable too.

Well-travelled and full of ideas, they can help you get exactly what you want out of your holiday, in all of the ports of call we visit. They’ll be happy to research and provide independent travel advice too. At no extra charge of course.

Bespoke tours, with you in mind

Can't find anything you like in the standard programme of shore excursions? Then let us create a bespoke tour, taking in everything you want. All the highlights from your guidebook, and more.

How about an introduction to the owner of an impressive castle, who might enable you to discover secrets most tourists never see? Or perhaps you simply want to grab a map, book a taxi and go freestyle? Whatever you want, we’ll be delighted to make it happen.

In the centre of the Lido deck, you’ll find Spirit of Discovery’s beautiful main swimming pool and outdoor area, designed with an art deco flair. The Lido has sun loungers and deck games, while you can order drinks, traditional fish and chips, burger or hot dogs all free of charge from the neighbouring Grill – one of the many on board restaurants.

The Lido is perfect for swimming, relaxing in the sunshine, and enjoying waiter-served drinks. What better way to spend a day at sea? The area also offers self-serve ice cream station, offering an irresistible taste of the British seaside.

It’s another of the ship’s special and quirky features: a virtual golf course at sea. It’s a space with plenty of room to practice your swing. Whether you want to play on your own, or join in with a tournament, this state-of-the-art digital simulator allows you to try some of the world’s most famous courses. It’s a sporting experience that’s certainly ‘above par’.

Nearby you’ll find another set of games that are altogether more traditional: shuffleboard and deck quoits. These hark back to the bygone age of cruising, and are a welcome addition to Spirit of Discovery’s line-up of outdoor activities.

Spirit of Discovery offers even more ways to keep fit and socialise. At the very top of the ship on the Observation deck, you’ll find a full-size sports court. It’s perfect if you want to play basketball and shoot a few hoops.

The area behind this on Spirit of Discovery also offers the best panoramic views, uninterrupted from across the top of the ship.

A sumptuous sanctuary for relaxation, The Spa is a place of beauty, delight and wellbeing. Designed in neutral tones with warm colours, this wellness retreat exudes a timeless elegance. Featuring six treatment rooms (one for acupuncture), a thermal suite, salon and fitness centre, Saga’s signature spa concept is an all-encompassing collection of curated moments.

The heart of The Spa – the Thermal Suite is an escape boasting its own 200-foot vitality pool, as well as steam room, infrared sauna, and heated lounge chairs. The Thermal Suite is a prelude to the spa journey or can be experienced as standalone event.

Just off the main Spa area, you can step into another world of pampering and indulgence: the beauty salon. Here you can enjoy a range of beauty treatments and wellbeing services, from hairdressing to manicures and pedicures, even eyebrow and eyelash tinting, and waxing. These and many more services are available on the beauty salon menu. Whether you want to look extra special for a formal night or other occasion, or simply want to treat yourself, make sure you book your appointment on board with one of our fully trained beauty professionals.

If you want to really get active throughout your cruise, head for the cutting-edge gymnasium on the Sun deck. Offering views across the Britannia Lounge and out across the front of the ship, it’s a place where you can always feel your best, thanks to a selection of exercise machines and the latest equipment. Nearby is the adjoining Fitness Centre. Our health and wellbeing expert is on hand to offer advice, tailored exercise regimes and bespoke one-to-one sessions, whether you’re a gym regular or are just starting out. These areas are just one aspect of Spirit of Discovery’s healthy living programme, which also includes Pilates, yoga, and lighter options at every mealtime, within all of our fine dining restaurants.