Saga Cruises’ first-ever newbuild, the Spirit of Discovery, completed its fifth year of service earlier this month.

Built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, the 999-guest vessel was delivered to the British company in late June 2019.

Before entering service, the Spirit of Discovery sailed to the United Kingdom and was named at an inaugural event at the Port of Dover.

The ceremony, planned as a “royal garden party,” took place on July 5, 2019, with Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall and now Queen of the United Kingdom, serving as the ship’s godmother.

The Spirit of Discovery then departed on its maiden voyage five days later.

Circumnavigating the British Isles, the cruise featured visits to Newcastle, Leith, Kirkwall, Belfast, Liverpool, Dublin, Cork, Portland, Guernsey and Southampton before returning to Dover.

Continuing its maiden season, the Spirit of Discovery also offered ex-UK itineraries to Northern and Western Europe, as well as the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.

Saga Cruises celebrated the occasion with a special ceremony onboard the Spirit of Discovery, which included a commemorative cake.

Planned as a replacement for the 1981-built Saga Pearl, the Spirit of Discovery was originally ordered in 2015.

As Saga’s first-ever new cruise ship, the 55,900-ton vessel was designed to offer a premium all-inclusive cruising experience.

Among the main features of the vessel are several specialty restaurants and a large theater.

In addition to several bars and lounges, the Spirit of Discovery also offers a craft room, a two-deck observation lounge, a library, a card room and a fitness center.

An identical sister ship, the Spirit of Adventure, followed forfor Saga Cruises in July 2021.

In 2024, the Spirit of Discovery is set to continue to sail from the United Kingdom with itineraries visiting Northern and Western Europe, Scandinavia, Greenland, the Canary Islands and more.

In November, the vessel also offers a 30-night itinerary to the Caribbean, cruising roundtrip from Portsmouth.