Saga Spirit of the Rhine

[kentchris]

Saga's first purpose built river ship is now in the water which is some good news in these trying times. I can't see any press release yet but it was announced this morning on social media.

 

 

 

[notamermaid]

Exciting times for Saga. Thanks for posting. I am glad Vahali have been able to complete her with it seems little or even no delay. She will now become a "Kasko-Transport" as it is called in German. She is a hull that cannot propel or steer by itself. Outfitting will be done in the Netherlands, so from Serbia she has a long journey ahead of her. Not sure if the pushboat along side her will be doing the job (together with a kind of tugboat at the front).

 

Hopefully the guys from Binnenschifferforum will track her with some shipspotting for more nice photos along the way.

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

The people on Binnenschifferforum did follow her first journey on the rivers, pushed by boats, to her outfitting in the Netherlands. The ship spotters did a great job, here are the photos: https://www.binnenschifferforum.de/showthread.php?102210-Spirit-of-the-Rhine-KFGS-Kasko

 

She is now ready or nearly ready and signalling from Gendt.

 

Inauguration sailing is planned for March, fingers crossed that it will go ahead.

 

notamermaid

 

 

[notamermaid]

Saga have just announced that they will begin their operations on 1 May and will require all passengers to have a full Covid-19 vaccine.

 

Here is the website: https://travel.saga.co.uk/travel-updates/coronavirus-holidays-guests.aspx

 

A sign of things to come in the industry?

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

 Earlier this year, in February, Vahali Shipyard, started work on the Spirit of the Danube: https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/24355-keel-laid-for-new-saga-river-ship-spirit-of-the-danube.html

The "Spirit of the Rhine" meanwhile has had her christening and is successfully sailing the Rhine: https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ports-destinations/saga-spirit-rhine-begins-inaugural-sailing-future-voyages-outlined

 

Now the "Spirit of the Danube", her sister is getting ready, that means being outfitted in the Netherlands. In July, the ship spotters on Binnenschifferforum have beautifully caught in photos her transport as a hull (she cannot sail herself yet) part of the way from Serbia across Europe: https://www.binnenschifferforum.de/showthread.php?107113-Spirit-of-the-Danube-KFGS-Kasko

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

Spirit of the Rhine has obviously already been sailing but she has not had a naming ceremony yet. This will happen this Saturday, 19th March in Arnhem, done together with her sister ship the Spirit of the Danube: https://www.ttgmedia.com/news/saga-to-name-two-new-river-cruise-ships-in-dutch-ceremony-33275

 

And CC has picked up the news as well: https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/6829/

 

notamermaid

 

 

[notamermaid]

The report on the naming ceremony: https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/cruise/saga-cruises-christens-sister-ships-in-arnhem-ceremony

 

Safe travels always.

 

And as I have mentioned elsewhere already, the sisters will get four more sisters over the next four years.

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

A bit more news on the itineraries on both ships for 2023: https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/cruise/saga-releases-river-itineraries-for-2023

 

notamermaid

 

[notamermaid]

It has been a full year since the Spirit of the Rhine started sailing, so here is an article on the ship's life and sailings so far:

https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ship-operations/saga-marks-first-anniversary-spirit-rhine

 

Some nice info in there, one thing stuck out for me: excursion to Lake Titisee. That sounds unusual to me. Titisee is a lake high in the Black Forest and therefore is quite a distance from the Rhine. An hour by car from Breisach will get you there. The Black Forest is a standard area for excursions from Breisach of course but the Lake is rarely mentioned here on CruiseCritic. Am I right in assuming North American lines go to other areas of the Black Forest, like Triberg and around Freiburg?

 

notamermaid

 

[Canal archive]

Hi Notamermaid Scenic next year do a trip to Breisach for a guided tour and a guided bike ride from Breisach to Freiburg.
On our Black Forest tour many moons ago we went to a beautiful waterfall stopped off on the way at an open air museum of buildings from the area, actually quite interesting as we have a similar one with buildings in the Weald and then onto the obligatory cockoo clock shop, which was huge.

I would love a really good cuckoo clock but we already have a beautiful Grandmother clock, could they live together?

[notamermaid]

6 hours ago, Canal archive said:

I would love a really good cuckoo clock but we already have a beautiful Grandmother clock, could they live together?

Hmm, interesting. Not sure that I would want the cuckoo and the chime at the same time... It may also depend on whether you want to mix woods or look for a similar grain and shade.

 

That waterfall is probably the one at Triberg, really beautiful area: https://www.europeanwaterfalls.com/waterfalls/triberger-wasserfalle/

 

notamermaid

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

7 hours ago, Canal archive said:

I would love a really good cuckoo clock but we already have a beautiful Grandmother clock, could they live together?

Not in my house!  I hate ticking/chiming clocks.  I love the look of a 'Grandparent' clock, but when I visited my parents' home the first thing I did was stop the pendulum.

[Canal archive]

Notamermaid yup that’s the one beautiful a really lovely day and time was had by all.