Saga has released its river itineraries for 2024, with a new ship among the programme.
Spirit of the Douro, which joins the fleet in March next year, will sail a total of 36 cruises along its namesake river until November 2024.
The itinerary through Portugal, starting at £1,461 per person, will showcase a region which is one of the oldest wine producers in the world.
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Saga Cruises chief executive Nigel Blanks said: “There are a lot of exciting new experiences for our river guests in 2024, including Spirit of the Douro arriving in the fleet to operate one of our most popular regions, the introduction of ‘taster cruises’ that are just five nights, new itineraries including to Lake Ijssel and Flanders Field and more of what our customers love most, such as André Rieu events.”
The 2024 cruises are currently available with a 25% discount for early bookers. The line added it had seen a 37% rise in pre-registrations compared with 2023.
Next year’s collection introduces five-night ‘taster’ cruises, described as a “great option for those who want to try river cruising before committing to a longer itinerary”.
Examples include A Taste of Holland with Keukenhof which starts in Amsterdam on April 4, 2024, and visits Hoorn, Lelystad, and Zaandam, where guests will tour the Keukenhof Gardens.
Another new offering is the Ypres and Flanders Fields cruise, stopping at the town that saw some of the heaviest fighting of the First World War. Guests will visit the Flanders Field Memorial Museum and the Menin Gate Memorial, with the Spirit of the Rhine also calling at Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Ghent and Brussels.
Saga also said it would now be offering four André Rieu cruises instead of three “due to overwhelming demand”, with sailings including a ticket to one of the King of Waltz’s concerts.
Other new itineraries are Rhine in the Springtime and the 11-night Hidden Treasures of the Ijsselmeer.
Blanks added: “Our ‘Spirit’ river cruises are now all-inclusive from dining and drinks to Wi-Fi and gratuities, and we offer a complimentary chauffeur service from home to the airport or St Pancras, and back again. Everything is taken care of so our guests can just relax and enjoy the rivers.”