Saga Cruises, Spirit of Discovery, Northern Europe Review

Spirit of Discovery, Northern Europe

Our first time with Saga, I doubt it will be our last!. The Spirit of Discovery is a beautiful, nearly new ship, purpose built for the senior British market. It's not as large as the normal cruise ships we use, but there is plenty of space on deck, no worry about obtaining a sunbed, and good size staterooms, all with a nice balcony and decent size en-suite.
The check-in and out procedure was managed very well on shore, although we were delayed disembarking due to missing the tide at Dover after coming through a force 7 gale in the North Sea.
The all-inclusive cost covers drinks, gratuities, wi-fi, a couple of excursions per week, and dining in all the restaurants, use of the spa facilities, plus the normal Saga pick-up and home drop-off.
These cruises are'nt cheap, but the service is very good, the dining excellent, and they excel in looking after seniors and solo cruisers.
The cons: price - as above. Staff not always understanding the need to ensure de-caf drinks are de-caf (medical needs), full details of included excursions not known on board (I have a phobia of heights and was caught out which caused a full-on panic attack), and the entertainment team was very small and not as good as elsewhere.
However, I would not hesitate to recommending this cruise line if you can afford it, and wish to avoid airport hassle :)