TORONTO — Cruise Strategies Ltd. has signed a new partnership with David Morris International (DMI) headquartered in Dallas, and SAGA Cruises, based in Folkestone, England, as the cruise company enters the Canadian market for the first time.

SAGA Cruises has selected DMI exclusively to represent its cruise division in the North American market and DMI has in turn selected Cruise Strategies as its Canadian partner.

Saga Holidays was founded in 1951 and offers worldwide travel experiences to over 210,000 travellers annually while Saga Cruises, marking its 20th anniversary this year, offers mature, retired or semi-retired ‘port collectors’ a traditional British cruise experience and highly personalized service aboard smaller boutique style ships, able to visit unusual ports and out-of-the-way harbours.

Saga is also known for its program for solo travellers with over 100 staterooms and suites across the various categories with no single supplement.

To meet the demands of its current market and to expand into North America, Saga has begun an aggressive expansion program with its first new ship, Spirit of Discovery, setting sail in July 2019 and a sister ship, the Spirit of Adventure to be delivered in August 2020.

The Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany is building the all-balcony vessels which will carry 999 guests and weigh 57,750 gross tons. There are 540 staterooms including the 100+ dedicated to solo travellers in various categories including Standard Single with Balcony, Superior Single with Balcony, Deluxe Suite and Single Suite.

Exclusive events and activities, singles mingles cocktail parties and lunches as well as singles group shore excursions are available on each departure.

There are also five dining options, ranging from the traditional Grand Dining Room to alternate venues such as the Asian venue East to West and a new concept for Saga, Coast to Coast, a seafood restaurant, serving British and locally-sourced fish, shellfish and other fruits de mer.

There are no cover charges in any of the dining venues and complimentary red, white, rosé and sparkling wines are included during lunch and dinner.

Other venues include The Living Room, Spa, The Playhouse Theatre, The Library and Verandah and Grill.
Spirit of Discovery’s inaugural season itineraries will include the Mediterranean, Baltic, Canary Islands, Britain/Ireland, Norway and Iceland.

A bespoke concierge service, Explore Ashore, will also be launched to help guests plan and enjoy time ashore tailored to meet their needs. Pricing includes all onboard gratuities and service charges, porterage of luggage at the port, free shuttle bus in ports, onboard WiFi, wine with lunch and dinner, all port taxes and surcharges.

Also included are a welcome cocktail party and Captain’s dinner, all onboard activities and entertainment, special activities such as cooking demonstrations, dance classes, workshops and lectures, and a full butler service and stocked mini bar in select suite categories.

All Saga cruises also include a special private chauffeur service collecting clients at the arrival airport or a shared service (with up to three other guests) from any other location within 400 km from their port of departure (Dover, Southampton or Portsmouth) and taking them to the ship. Prices start at US$1,670 for a seven-night cruise and can be booked through Auto Europe as of Jan. 23, 2018 by calling 1-888-689-0054.

For clients wanting to experience Saga Cruises in 2018, there is a range of itineraries available aboard Saga Sapphire, an intimate ship carrying 720 guests to ports in Norway, the British Isles & Ireland, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and the Baltic. Pricing starts at US$1,226 per guest based on a seven-night Dover roundtrip departure and an all-inclusive onboard offering.

“We are demonstrating a sincere commitment in entering the Canadian market and chose the best partner possible to help us with that in Cruise Strategies and Vanessa Lee and her team,” said Marilyn Conroy, DMI’s Executive Vice President. “We know that this will take time and effort and we are certain that Canadian agents and their clients will see that our remarkable product delivery, value-priced cruises and competitive commissions will be a springboard to increasing support in this market.”

Vanessa Lee, President and CEO of Cruise Strategies Ltd., said Cruise Strategies is “delighted to once again be working with our friends at DMI in the U.S. and extremely pleased to join with them in offering Saga Cruises to Canadians.”

Lee adds: “These new ships will fill a void in the market for those seeking a certain onboard atmosphere, British hospitality and diverse itineraries. These smaller ships are also in demand for the port collector clients of our retail partners and we feel single guests will embrace this brand with its dedicated program and no supplement pricing. We will be announcing various initiatives shortly to showcase the product to the Canadian retail professional along with marketing plans, brochures, commission levels ranging from 13-15% and other agent-friendly sales tools.”