Saga : Launches Full 2025 River Cruise Programme

Saga, the UK's leading specialist provider of services and products tailored for people over 50, has launched its full range of Saga River Cruises' 2025 itineraries, with up to 25 per cent off, offering early bookers the best deals and choice of cabins.

The new programme includes the expansion of Saga's river cruise collection, with the addition of a new ship, 'Spirit of the Moselle', which joins the fleet from July 2025 and which will sail along the Main and Rhine rivers in her first year, through to destinations such as Nuremberg, Frankfurt, Bamberg and the UNESCO-protected Rhine Gorge.

Carrying up to 172 guests, the ship is being built exclusively for Saga guests and comes complete with a wealth of facilities, including speciality dining, a splash pool and 92 comfortable cabins, 73 of which will have a French Balcony, plus a restaurant with panoramic views and a sun deck for the warm weather. Taking similar design cues from her two sister ships, with a focus on bright, spacious surroundings, guests can expect the same high-quality, all-inclusive experience and 'Spirit' service that they experience on other Saga cruises.

A typical Spirit of the Moselle itinerary is 'Gems of the Main River', which offers seven nights on board and cruises the Main River stopping to experience the culture and history of the riverside towns and cities along the way. This includes medieval Nuremberg, a full day in UNESCO-listed Bamberg, an included walking tour of Bavarian Schweinfurt and a full day in Würzburg, with an excursion to visit the Residence Palace, followed by a guided walking tour of the historic centre before exploring the medieval market square of Wertheim and the picturesque cobblestone streets of Miltenberg's old town. Priced from £1,949 per person, with departure dates between July and October 2025.

Also new for 2025, Saga's river cruise guests can fly from their local airport closer to home with no extra supplement to pay on selected cruises, subject to availability. This is in addition to Saga's existing nationwide chauffeur service which picks guests up from home and takes them to the airport and back home again, for a hassle-free start and end to every cruise.

Other highlights from the 2025 programme include the new 'city explorer' itineraries, which have been designed to showcase city style breaks, albeit experienced on a river cruise.

An example of this kind of itinerary is the 'City Explorer: Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna', which offers five nights on board Spirit of the Danube. The itinerary starts in Vienna, including the Ringstrasse and Opera House during an included tour, then sails overnight to Bratislava for a full day in the historic capital city. It then continues cruising towards Budapest for an overnight mooring offering plenty of time to uncover the city's landmark sights. Priced from £1,559 per person, with departure dates between April and October 2025.

A predicted favourite itinerary for 2025 on board Spirit of the Douro is the 'Douro Explorer', offering seven nights on board. This cruises along the Douro through Portugal and the vineyard-clad landscapes and traditional towns of the UNESCO-listed Douro Valley, one of the oldest wine-producing regions of the world. Guests will sample regional delicacies and enjoy wine tastings along the way as well as exploring such attractions as the UNESCO-listed city of Salamanca and the medieval town of Figueira Castelo de Rodrigo, visiting the 18th-century Casa de Mateus Palace, plus port wine tasting

in Oporto. Priced from £1,521 per person, with 36 departure dates between March and July 2025.

Saga boutique river cruises offer an all-inclusive experience. There are no hidden costs on-board either with all dining and house drinks (including selected wines at lunch and dinner, house-branded spirits with mixers, draught lager, and all soft drinks), Wi-Fi, gratuities, sightseeing tours in selected ports, entertainment, luggage porterage and travel insurance also included, as well as the nationwide return shared chauffeur service from home to the airport.

Saga is committed to offering early bookers the best deals, so always launches its river cruises with up to 25 per cent off the full price, and its ocean cruises with up to 35 per cent off. Saga also offers a price promise, whereby if the price of the cruise ever drops, guests who have paid the higher price will get the value difference.

Guests can view and book these 2025 cruises at saga.co.uk/rivers-2025or by calling 0808 273 6463.

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