Celebrating Spirit of the Rhine

Five years since Saga launched its first boutique river cruise ship, here’s a look at life on board and what you’ll see on land.

By Sue Bryant

This year marks 75 years since Saga Travel began, in a town on the Kent coast creating holidays for retirees. Now, exactly 75 years later, we have grown to become the UK’s most trusted brand for people over 50, known for our high-quality products and exceptional standards of service.

In 2027, Saga will launch its fourth custom-designed river ship, Spirit of the Lorelei. But as well as looking forward, this is a time to reflect to where the river fleet began, with the launch of Spirit of the Rhine in September 2021.

The 172-passenger Spirit of the Rhine was constructed in 2021 at the Vahali Shipyards in Serbia – the same shipbuilder that is constructing the new Spirit of the Lorelei – and set sail on her inaugural cruise later in the year. Her official naming ceremony took place in Arnhem in the Netherlands, with the late broadcaster and Saga magazine columnist Dame Jenni Murray serving as godmother.

The following year, Spirit of the Rhine was joined by Spirit of the Danube, and in 2025 Spirit of the Moselle. Here’s what to expect on a river cruise with Saga.

Light-filled spaces

Spirit of the Rhine’s stylish interiors take inspiration from the architecture and legends along the river. Look for a painting of Rheinfels Castle, created by South Korean-born artist Sunga Park, in the Rheinfels Restaurant. You’ll also see British artist Lista Haftel’s 3D depiction of dozens of delicate butterflies landing on the book, The Lorelei, in the Lorelei Lounge, the social heart of the ship. The butterfly theme continues in the corridors, which are adorned with prints of butterfly wing patterns by Lauri Dunn.

The Lorelei Lounge itself is filled with light, the perfect spot to relax with afternoon tea or simply curl up with a book from the library or a jigsaw as ever-changing river views drift by. There is a self-service coffee, tea and biscuit station here to keep you supplied.

Depending on your cruise, during the day, you could find craft sessions, lectures, and on some cruises, wine tasting sessions. In the evenings, this is the place to swap stories with fellow guests over a cocktail, included in price, listen to tunes on the grand piano, or to enjoy the entertainment that’s part of each cruise, from string quartets to local dance bands.

On warm days, the place to be is the Sun Deck, perfect for enjoying drinks, and the passing scenery, especially when the ship is sailing through the scenic Middle Rhine Gorge, where every bend is guarded by a castle. There’s a splash pool up here, as well as a giant chess set and plenty of comfortable loungers.

Fine dining with river views

All dining is included on all the Spirit ships, with a choice of two venues. The main space is the Panorama Restaurant, done out in soothing pastel shades, with river views running its entire length. Breakfast and lunch here are buffet service, whether you’re ready for a Full English to start the day or a healthy salad or taste of local specialities at lunchtime. Evenings have waiter service, wines poured by the glass, and four- or five-course meals during which you can expect mains like beef tenderloin Wellington and pan-seared lemon sole.

The Spirit of the Rhine has a more intimate restaurant, too, the Rheinfels, with a separate menu featuring delicacies such as herb-crusted Dover sole and filet of black Angus with wasabi mash. You’ll need to make reservations once on board, but there’s no extra charge.

Luxurious cabins

All Spirit ships have 92 cabins, each one a private sanctuary and more than three quarters with French balconies, which means you can simply slide back the glass doors to let river breezes in. Decor throughout the ship is equal to what you’d expect to find in a smart boutique hotel, with thoughtful touches like a TV, Bluetooth speaker with USB, tea and coffee-making facilities, a small fridge, hairdryer, telephone, safe, bathrobes and slippers. There are 12 dedicated cabins for solo guests too.

Where does Spirit of the Rhine sail?

Spirit of the Rhine sails on the Rhine and her tributaries and the Dutch and Belgian waterways, with itineraries ranging from five to 14 nights. Perhaps you’ll be tempted by a springtime short break on a five-night Taste of the Netherlands itinerary from buzzing Rotterdam to Dordrecht, Utrecht and Amsterdam. Or in summer, a week-long journey through the Rhine Gorge, sailing between Rotterdam and Mainz via some of the prettiest wine-growing villages along this scenic stretch of the river.

The Rhine and Moselle Explorer sails round-trip from Mainz, taking you along the Moselle Valley, where braided vineyards cling to the steep slopes and medieval towns like Cochem and Treis-Karden cling to the banks. Or join a ten-night Main, Rhine and Moselle Explorer journey that gives you a full day in glorious Strasbourg. In addition, it also takes in cities along the Main, from Frankfurt, where you can relax in the leafy garden of one of the apple-wine taverns, to Aschaffenburg, where the riverbank is dominated by the 17th-century renaissance-style Johannisburg Palace.

Christmas and New Year is a magical time to sail the Rhine, visiting the twinkling Christmas markets, sampling sizzling sausages and mulled wine, and taking strolls along the riverbank in the crisp, sparkling air. Spirit of the Rhine’s 2027 Christmas and New Year cruise sails the Rhine, Main and Dutch waterways, with Christmas day spent in Andernach and New Year’s Eve in Frankfurt, where fireworks will light up the sky at midnight.

As with all of Saga’s river cruises, Spirit of the Rhine’s itineraries are all-inclusive with include a return shared chauffeur service from home, flights and transfers, travel insurance, WiFi and gratuities, all meals, drinks, a gala dinner and cocktail reception, and an included excursion in every port.

Adventures ashore

As well as an included excursion in every port, Saga offers a great range of optional tours. These might include a day at Zaanse Schans Windmill Village, an enchanting open-air museum in the Netherlands, or a tour of the Royal Delft Museum. You could enjoy wine tasting in Mainz, or in Koblenz, a trip by cable car up to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, overlooking the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle. There’s also a trip to fairytale Eltz Castle from Koblenz and in Cologne, a guided beer walk through the Old Town, complete with tastings in local pubs.