That makes the fare easier to budget for. It does not automatically make it the cheapest holiday. The question is whether you want the things Saga includes, and whether the complete price compares well with another cruise you would enjoy.
Saga is worth considering if you want a smaller ship, a balcony and much of the holiday paid for before leaving home. There is no separate drinks package or speciality-dining bundle to choose. For 2027 sailings, a selection of premium wines joins the included drinks.
If you drink little, the drinks inclusion is worth less to you, though the cabin, dining, excursions and travel may still justify the fare. It is harder to justify on cost alone if you also prefer independent days ashore and already have suitable travel insurance. You can decline Saga's insurance for a price reduction, but the other standard inclusions are part of the holiday you are buying.
Saga's ocean cruises are aimed at guests aged 50 and over; travelling companions can be aged 40 and over. This guide covers Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure, rather than Saga's river cruises. It is research into fares and booking terms, not a recent onboard review.
What does a Saga cruise include?
Saga's ocean fare includes the main onboard costs, an excursion in every port and arrangements for reaching the ship. Insurance has eligibility and medical-screening conditions, explained below.
| Part of your holiday | Included |
|---|---|
| Cabin | A balcony cabin |
| Dining | Main meals and speciality restaurants, plus afternoon tea and 24-hour room service |
| Drinks | A selection of wines, premium branded spirits, cocktails, draught beer and lager, mixers and soft drinks |
| Tips | Gratuities to the onboard crew |
| Internet | Starlink Wi-Fi |
| Days ashore | An included excursion in every port; town shuttles where the ship berths at least 500 yards away |
| Travel to the ship | Included UK travel options or port parking |
| Insurance | Travel insurance in the advertised fare, with Saga's additional cancellation cover; eligibility and medical screening apply. Declining it reduces the price. |
| Leisure and entertainment | Included activities, entertainment, gym, pools and spa access |
| Port charges | Port taxes, fees and charges |
Saga lists these on its ocean-cruise inclusions page. "All-inclusive drinks" means the included selection, rather than a promise that every bottle or brand is available without charge.
What's new for 2027?
Saga is adding a selection of premium wines to its included drinks for its 2027 anniversary season. The 2027 ocean programme confirms this is a sailing-year benefit, rather than simply a promotion for bookings made in 2027.
Speciality dining is included, but access is not unlimited
You do not pay a cover charge for the speciality restaurants. The choices differ by ship:
| Ship | Included restaurant choices beyond the main dining venues |
|---|---|
| Spirit of Adventure | Khukuri House, serving Nepalese food; Amalfi, serving Italian food; the Supper Club, combining dinner with cabaret-style entertainment |
| Spirit of Discovery | East to West, serving Eastern cuisine; Coast to Coast, serving seafood; La Vie en Rose at The Club, serving French brasserie food |
Reservations are made on board. Saga may restrict repeat visits and does not guarantee more than one speciality meal on cruises of seven nights or fewer. See Saga's dining arrangements.
Included and additional excursions
You must book the included tours you want to join; they are not reserved automatically. One included excursion per person can be booked in each port. Paid alternatives sit alongside the included programme.
Book through Manage My Booking, or through your agent if they made the cruise booking. Saga normally opens bookings 10–12 weeks before departure and closes advance sales seven days before sailing. Tours are subject to availability; tickets are delivered to your cabin.
Each description gives an activity grade and practical details. The walking grade excludes the distance between the gangway and the excursion vehicle, which can add to the walking involved. Accessible transport must be arranged in advance and is subject to availability. Saga explains these arrangements in its excursion FAQs.
Getting to the ship: what the chauffeur service covers
Saga includes return travel from home to the ship for UK mainland guests, with different arrangements according to the journey.
| Option | Published arrangement |
|---|---|
| Private chauffeur | Included for journeys up to 75 miles each way |
| Shared chauffeur | Nationwide UK mainland service |
| Domestic flight and chauffeur | Included flight with chauffeur connections at each end |
| Driving yourself | Included parking at the port |
These are alternatives. Saga reserves the choice of the most appropriate transport and domestic airport; "chauffeur included" does not mean every guest receives a private car for any distance. The service also covers the return journey. See the chauffeur-service terms.
For someone facing a long drive or several train changes, the return service can remove a difficult part of the holiday.
Sailing from Britain also takes time. On a Mediterranean or winter-sun itinerary, decide whether the travelling days at sea are part of the holiday you want or whether you would prefer to fly closer to the destination.
What is left to pay for?
Saga highlights salon and beauty treatments and additional shore excursions as optional purchases. Those are its headline extras, rather than a complete list of every possible personal expense.
| Extra | When it belongs in your budget |
|---|---|
| Treatments | If you want hairdressing, beauty or wellbeing appointments; included spa access is separate |
| Additional excursions | If you choose a paid outing beyond the included programme |
| Personal purchases | Shopping, gifts and your own spending ashore |
| Replacement insurance | If you decline Saga's included cover and need another policy |
You do not need to add a daily crew gratuity or buy a standard drinks package. Onboard spending is in sterling.
Travel insurance: included, with conditions
Travel insurance is included in the advertised fare; you can decline it for a price reduction. Medical screening and eligibility apply. Astrenska Insurance Limited underwrites the policy; Saga provides the associated additional cancellation rights.
Medical screening takes place after booking. Saga's medical-screening FAQ says the deposit remains fully refundable until insurance is accepted. Arrange screening promptly if cover is important to your decision.
If you already have insurance
The insurance opt-out reduction is specified for each sailing.
Compare the reduced fare with the cost and suitability of your own cover. Declining Saga's policy also means losing the additional cancellation rights tied to it. An annual policy is not automatically an equivalent replacement.
Saga requires adequate insurance whichever option you choose. See its travel-insurance information.
For readers living outside the UK
Non-UK residents can book, but Saga's insurance FAQ says its included insurance and additional cancellation cover are unavailable to them. The nationwide chauffeur promise applies to the UK mainland. These readers need to compare their own travel and insurance arrangements rather than assume the whole UK offer applies.
The ships, cabins and style of holiday
Both ocean ships carry fewer than 1,000 passengers and have a balcony for every cabin. That matters when comparing prices: an inside cabin on another line is not an equivalent starting point.
| Ship | Year built | Maximum guest capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Spirit of Discovery | 2019 | 987 |
| Spirit of Adventure | 2020 | 987 |
Dedicated single cabins are also available. Solo travellers should compare the complete single-cabin price with a suitable cabin on another line, rather than the advertised per-person sharing fare.
Cabin suitability and getting around
Guests who need a wheelchair or mobility scooter on board are booked into a wheelchair-accessible cabin, and the number of such guests on each cruise is limited, so ask whether there is space when you book. Tell Saga about any wheelchair or scooter when you arrange the chauffeur service, so it can send a suitable vehicle. At tender ports, guests who rely on bulky equipment or cannot step into the tender themselves stay on board. Saga's accessibility guidance covers the detail.
Who can travel?
Saga's published standard is guests aged 50 and over, with companions aged 40 and over. It is a more specific age policy than an adults-only sailing. See the ocean-cruise FAQ.
Evenings are smart, with formal nights
The evening dress code applies from 6pm. Smart open-neck shirts and trousers, dresses, or smart separates suit ordinary evenings; polo shirts, T-shirts, shorts and denim are excluded.
Formal nights require formal dress in the restaurants except designated seating in The Grill. Evening-casual dress is permitted there and in bars and entertainment venues. You can enjoy the evening without a formal dinner, but this is a holiday to pack smart clothes for. Saga's dress guidance explains the arrangements.
Booking terms worth knowing
Deposit, balance and changing your mind
The published deposit is £250 per person or 15% of the cruise cost, whichever is greater, with the balance due no later than 90 days before departure.
Saga's FAQ offers a 14-day cooling-off period for changes or cancellation without charges. Section 1 of the current ocean booking conditions says the contract is created 14 days after you receive the confirmation invoice.
The same conditions require full payment at booking for departures within 90 days, unless advised otherwise. After the cooling-off period, normal cancellation charges rise from loss of deposit to the full cruise price as departure approaches. Insurance acceptance and the first-cruise guarantee are separate provisions.
The Love it First Time guarantee
If it is your first Saga cruise and you want to leave because you are unhappy, you must tell the Hotel General Manager within 72 hours on cruises of seven nights or more, or 48 hours on shorter cruises.
Saga then has 48 hours to try to resolve the problem. If no solution is agreed, it arranges and pays for transport home from the next available port and refunds the cruise price. Costs bought elsewhere, such as third-party hotels or insurance, are excluded. It does not replace pre-departure cancellation terms. See the guarantee conditions.
Is Saga better value than the other British lines?
Saga includes a broader combination of everyday holiday costs than the standard fares and packages discussed in our other British guides.
Whether that represents better value depends on the comparable holiday and the extras you want.
| Alternative | The important difference when comparing with Saga |
|---|---|
| Fred. Olsen | Gratuities are included with Freedom and Saver; selected mealtime drinks are included with Freedom. Allow for your chosen drinks upgrade, internet, dining and excursions. |
| Ambassador | Ambassador Fare includes Premium drinks and gratuities; internet, speciality dining and excursions remain separate. Compare ship age, cabin and departure convenience too. |
| P&O Cruises | Tips are included. Optional bundles add drinks, Wi-Fi and a dining credit, rather than Saga's combination of dining, excursions and UK travel. |
| Marella | Selected drinks and tips are standard, and specified UK fly-cruises include flights and transfers. Compare the whole journey with Saga's UK departure arrangements. |
How to compare Saga's price
- 1. Choose a similar itinerary, duration and a cabin you would be happy with. Use a balcony cabin if you want a like-for-like accommodation comparison.
- 2. Start with each complete fare quote, using Saga's insurance opt-out price if that is the version you would book.
- 3. Add only missing extras you would buy: drinks, gratuities, internet, dining, outings, suitable insurance and travel to the ship. Count nothing twice.
- 4. Consider the remaining price difference alongside the ships, itinerary and convenience.
A tour you would never buy is not a cash saving. Conversely, include the cost of a balcony, outings and travel if you want them. Value Saga's chauffeur against the journey you would otherwise arrange, rather than a private car you would never book.
Is Saga worth the price? Our verdict
Saga deserves a place on your shortlist if you want a balcony on a smaller ship, organised days ashore and fewer separate purchases to arrange.
Its UK travel service and eligible insurance cover can matter as much as the drinks.
| Worth considering if... | Compare carefully if... |
|---|---|
| You want a balcony and included dining choices | You would be happy with a cheaper cabin category elsewhere |
| You would use organised excursions | You usually explore independently |
| Included travel removes a difficult journey | Your preferred alternative departs conveniently nearby |
| You value arranging much of the spending upfront | You prefer buying a few extras as you go |
You do not have to use every inclusion to enjoy Saga. If you drink little, the drinks matter less, but the cabin, dining, excursions and travel may still justify the fare.
Choose it when the complete holiday suits you at a price you are comfortable paying.
About this guide
Based on Saga's official ocean-cruise information read on 23 October 2026.
That includes its 2027 wine announcement, inclusions, dining, chauffeur terms, insurance, excursion FAQs, ship details, current ocean booking conditions and first-cruise guarantee. Saga is not supported by our calculator. See our methodology.
Keep reading
- British cruise lines compared 2027: which should you choose?
- Deposits, final payment and onboard card holds
- Saga name changes, price rises and unused credit
- Ambassador Cruises 2027: fares and packages
- Fred. Olsen drinks package 2027
- P&O Cruises all-inclusive 2027
- Marella Cruises all-inclusive 2027
- More International guides
CruiseClarify is written by someone who worked behind the Purser's Desk at a major cruise line — handling guest accounts, disputed charges, and the end-of-cruise bills that caught guests off guard — and who has sailed as a guest with 10 cruise lines. We keep it independent: no affiliate links, no advertising, no sponsored content. This guide is general information, not financial advice; your booking conditions and the cruise line's current terms decide what you pay. See our Methodology.