How I became proud godmother to Saga’s newest ship

Aboard Spirit of the Moselle, you can immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Central Europe as you meander along a majestic river, enjoying the food and wines of the region on a state-of-the-art ship.

In case you are wondering, my role as godmother is to bring good luck and protection to "my" ship and, of course, to smash the bottle of Champagne against her bow at her christening in Amsterdam on 30 June. It also means I will be joining an exclusive club, as the other godmothers of Saga cruise vessels include none other than Queen Camilla, Dame Jenni Murray and Commodore Inga Kennedy CBE, the former head of the Royal Navy Medical Service. Needless to say, I am hugely honoured to be in such company.

Everyone at Saga is incredibly proud of our beautiful new ship and we can't wait to show her off. If you haven’t yet tried river cruising – or at least haven’t done it the Saga way - I can’t recommend it highly enough. I love my days on the ocean, but what you get on a river cruise is the chance to see a country the way travellers have seen it for hundreds of years – from the water. You get right up close to its beating heart, and with a new port every day and the constantly changing scenery, there’s never a dull moment.

So let me tell you a little about my "god child". Spirit of Moselle is the third purpose-built vessel to join our fleet and will set off on her first cruise to the Netherlands and Germany in July. She has four decks and can carry 172 passengers, providing an intimate, boutique experience. The main deck has floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing the ship in light and offering a fantastic vantage point from which to take in those ever-changing views.

The ship’s stunning contemporary interiors have been inspired by the paintings of JMW Turner, with accents of rich reds, greens and golds throughout, and the design also nods to the rich architecture and ubiquitous vineyards of the region. Head of Hotel Operations at Saga River Cruises, Lorraine Friend, reveals that the exciting design plans included handcrafted chairs and lampshades in the ship’s atrium for a truly elegant look, while the lounge will feature a quieter social area with a Parisian café feel, along with an inviting library space – perfect for relaxing with a good book.

And of course, Saga cruises are renowned for their food. The Panorama, the main restaurant, where breakfast and lunch can be enjoyed while admiring the passing view, will feature waiter-served fine dining in the evening, while the intimate speciality dining restaurant, Beilstein, will be free to dine in, with a reservation. As Hotel Operations Director Horst Pint says: “We have used our experience with our ocean ships to enhance our boutique river cruises, so that the ship, the menus, the crew and overall experience is of a high standard. It was very important for all our boutique river cruise ships to feature a speciality restaurant as it really makes a difference to our guests. We can really spoil them for special occasions, too.”

I can hardly wait. And on top of all this, there is also the option of eating al fresco up on the top deck. That is where I will be when weather permits; eating under the stars is one of my favourite things about river cruising.

Finally, I'm keen to check out the cabins, many of which have beautiful French balconies. All the cabins are fully equipped with separate seating areas, flat screen TVs, tea and coffee making facilities and a small fridge. The super-comfortable beds, always appreciated by Saga customers, will be dressed with crisply luxurious linen.

River cruising with Saga means you have the benefit of all-inclusive, travel insurance and a nationwide door-to-door chauffeur service. Along with the drinks reception and gala dinner, guests feel they are having a treat like no other.

The ship’s first voyage will be 'Highlights of the Netherlands and Germany' visiting Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Nijmegen and experiencing the castles, culture and natural beauty of Central Europe.

I'm now counting the days until the christening. It's such a privilege to be smashing the traditional bottle of Champagne against her bow and blessing her for many safe voyages ahead.

I hope I will be meeting some of you on board very soon.

Find out more about Saga river cruises aboard Spirit of the Moselle.