Banjo an

Wherever you are off to Windsurfboy, keep safe and enjoy.

No I’m not bothering taking it any further. I was quite disgusted with Nigel Blanks complete refusal to accept responsibility on behalf of Saga. It’s more than likely a boardroom decision because otherwise it would open the floodgates and with Saga’s dire financial situation they couldn’t take the risk. I suspect they will lose a lot more customers than just us following this matter. We have a cruise booked with a different company in May but will definitely not be using Saga again.

Thanks guys, that’s great but is that on ships out of the US or from the UK? Don’t forget British and American tastes in humour are completely different.

No there wasn’t any compensation offered, just excuses.

After our recent Caribbean cruise where Saga cancelled four ports and then sailed back to the UK for nine days across the Atlantic without a stop, only to blame the weather or mechanical breakdowns we have decided not to travel with Saga again.

Thanks guys that’s really helpful. Where would we be without you guys from across the pond. X

I have a question for our our experienced cruiser friends from across the pond! We are due to sail from Southampton UK on the Sky Princess in May 2024. Can any of you give me an idea of what sort of entertainment we can expect. It’s a Mediterranean cruise. Do Princess fly in comedians etc. many thanks.

I’ve heard back from Nigel Blanks and we are just being fobbed off. I’m now consulting my legal team!

I have also sent a further email to Nigel Blanks saying I contest the Guest Experience Executive’s reply to which he replied with more inaccuracies which I have since challenged.

Well said Sir. Incidentally the reply didn’t come Nigel Blanks. It was signed by Sarah Ward, Guest Experience Executive. Have you had a reply yourself yet?

Have just received an email in response to my letter to Nigel Blanks with regard to the cancelled ports on the recent 30 day cruise to the Caribbean. I’m told that prior to embarkation in Portsmouth the ship was cleared by maritime authorities. However, due to challenging weather it became necessary to put into Lisbon. While in Lisbon Siemens engineers advised Saga that further software updates were required. Unfortunately, this work took longer than expected and therefore changes were made to the itinerary. They go on to say that they are pleased that they were able to protect this section of the itinerary with very few changes having been made. They conclude by saying that on the route back to the UK further changes were needed due to poor weather and the visit to Funchal was cancelled. Sadly, I do not agree with much that has been said here and I think that the ship was not fit for purpose and will not be sailing with Saga again.

Have just received an email in response to my letter to Nigel Blanks with regard to the cancelled ports on the recent 30 day cruise to the Caribbean. I’m told that prior to embarkation in Portsmouth the ship was cleared by maritime authorities. However, due to challenging weather it became necessary to put into Lisbon. While in Lisbon Siemens engineers advised Saga that further software updates were required. Unfortunately, this work took longer than expected and therefore changes were made to the itinerary. They go on to say that they are pleased that they were able to protect this section of the itinerary with very few changes having been made. They conclude by saying that on the route back to the UK further changes were needed due to poor weather and the visit to Funchal was cancelled. Sadly, I do not agree with much that has been said here and I think that the ship was not fit for purpose and will not be sailing with Saga again.

I agree entirely. Have you or anyone else heard back from Nigel Blanks yet?

My sentiments entirely. Btw. Did I meet you playing table tennis on the said cruise.

Yes I concur. The problems were not due to weather and should have been sorted before the ship sailed.

That maybe, but that doesn’t explain why after three days in Lisbon possibly making repairs, it was still deemed necessary to shorten the cruise and eventually “limp” back to Portsmouth and then sail a day late on the next cruise!

Yes, I agree. Not being told the truth is annoying. Missing ports due to bad weather is one thing. However, missing ports because the ship is not fit for purpose is another.

You’re right. Weather looks nasty out there. Cynical I may be, but missing four ports, being stuck in Lisbon for three days and losing a day at the end is not what we booked or paid for.

Spirit of Discovery has just sailed from Portsmouth. A day late so which port will they miss out on this cruise.

Yes, that is what we were told, SOA didn’t have any problems going the other way in the Bay though

I notice on cruise mapper that Iona is sailing through 5 metre seas around Brest towards the channel. Could this be a reason why Saga have delayed the sailing of SOD.

I think there will be some upset passengers on board

The spirit of Discovery was due to leave Portsmouth at 4.30pm today. It is now after 7pm and she is still at her berth yet Condor ferries are plying backwards and forwards across the channel to the Channel Islands.

Was it really the weather that necessitated the 3 day stop in Lisbon?

Passengers we have spoken to are not happy that we will have spent 9 days at sea, without calling in at Madeira, not visited the Azores, Trinidad and St. Bart and spent 3 days in Lisbon fixing an engine problem which should have been fixed before leaving Portsmouth.