Kohima

The list of included drinks is not definitive. Among other cocktails, we often enjoy an espresso martini made free of charge.

Denarius makes a good point. Many who wear a suit and tie every day of their working life don’t necessarily want to do the same on holiday. Notions of smart dress may vary.

Are we the only people more interested in the conversation, the food, the service and (in the Grill) the view, than in what other people are wearing??

Wrist seabands (available from the onboard shop or pharmacies) are helpful in rough conditions. If all else fails complimentary Stugeron are available from reception, or bring your own.

The new ships are generally so quiet and stable that it’s hard to know they are moving. However, like any vessel, in severe gales be prepared for some rocking about. This is most obvious near the top of the ship but can be felt everywhere to some extent. In our mid ship, mid deck cabin our water bottle and glasses crashed off the shelf and smashed in a severe gale across the Bay of Biscay. We learned the lesson not to leave vulnerable items in risky places when conditions were bad. When your steward ties down your balcony furniture it’s always a sign of expected movement!

And just for absolute clarity……. the general principle in both the MDR and the Grill is turn up at any time within opening hours and sit wherever is free with whomsoever you choose. The waiters will do their best to meet your requirements. The only exception to this is for those who have, before boarding, pre booked tables in the MDR for every evening. Only 150 people may do this in order to maintain freedom of choice for others.

Windsurfboy has just explained all it clearly and simply. The pre boarding booking of the limited number of set evening tables for the MDR has absolutely nothing to do with Britannia Club status. Neither has the onboard booking of the speciality restaurants anything to do with the Britannia Club.

We are just back from the North Cape cruise on SoA. Yes, there is still evidence of old smut stains on some of the outside upholstery and occasionally on the decks. A small amount of more recent smuts were still on a few of the outer handrails. However the good news is that the situation is now on the way to be resolved. On embarkation day in Dover a large crane was lifting a heavy steel object up to the funnel and 2 workmen (not crew) were seen working on top of and inside the funnel during the voyage. The silencers are being replaced but it is a slow process as heavy objects can only be craned up to the funnel at Dover within a small window of wind tolerance so this work is ongoing as conditions allow. At least the workmen standing on top of the funnel were able to take great photos of the Svartisen Glacier when we were there!

Lack of high quality coffee is not a sign that standards have fallen. In fact the coffee is much as it always has been. In my experience, over many years, the Saga ships have never had particularly good coffee. Now that people are becoming more used to fancy machines both at home and elsewhere they are noticing the Saga difference.

Factual correction: shared transport was always the norm over 75 miles. A temporary change (for safety reasons) from shared to private transport was made during the pandemic. Transport has merely reverted to the pre pandemic situation.

Thanks for the Smut Hunt, TwoTravellers. Some of the upholstery looks new and it’s great to see that looking for smuts is a needle in the haystack job now on SOD. We are on SOA shortly so look out for Smut Safari part 2!

True, David05, every picture tells a story. It can’t be denied: there definitely has been/?is an ongoing soot problem. I just hope it’s fixed soon and the upholstery cleaned up in time for our next cruise.

On SoA in January it was generally unsuitable weather for sitting outside, even in the Canaries. However, while walking around the outside decks it was quite noticeable that much of the seating upholstery was badly marked with soot specks. In some areas there were sooty deposits on the handrails too.

Sorry it’s bad news Windsurfboy, it’s A….. £2.50 x the excess mileage over 75 x 2. I would be surprised if Saga offer a reduction for making your own arrangements. They sell the holiday as a package so there will always be some elements which benefit some people more than others. If you see it the other way around you are getting a much better deal with the included transport for 225 miles than someone living 25 miles away. Some people drink a lot, others nothing at all but they can’t get a reduction.

In over 17 years of cruising on Saga ships I have never sat at a card table, plodded on a treadmill, used a golf simulator or made a felt object but I have enjoyed browsing with a coffee in the excellent onboard libraries and borrowing books to read there or elsewhere on the ships. A wide selection of well chosen books used to be available, including novels, biographies, reference, historical, nautical, scientific, art and coffee table books, to name a few. Books relating to the current cruise destinations were rotated, as appropriate. The facilities were very well used. While this was not essential to my enjoyment of a cruise, it definitely enhanced it, just as the above mentioned activities do for others. Many, if not most, will never have experienced the SOD’s well stocked library of 2019 and perhaps don’t realise that copious numbers of books (rather than cardboard cut outs) ever filled the shelves. Clearly the amount of shelving in the libraries, specified in the building of the new ships, must have always envisaged a large stock of books. On SOA in January I was party with others to discussions with senior management where assurances were given that the books were coming back. It is disappointing that this has not yet happened. If it is never to happen then the areas should be re designated as coffee lounges (without the ridiculous fake books).

Try this Saga2024.pdf

Looks like a good central position. Enjoy!

Re the age of Saga passengers, on board in a Q&A with the senior Saga management in January, we were told that the average age of Saga passengers has increased by 10 years in the last 10 years. On that cruise the average age was 78. I must say that we randomly shared tables at mealtimes with people of all ages, from someone celebrating her 50th birthday onboard to a remarkable 90 year old. On every occasion we had interesting conversations. Yes there were some sedentary people with walkers and sticks who stationed themselves in the Living Room for the day, but isn’t it great that they can still enjoy a holiday watching the world go by?

On our recent SoA cruise there was a very marked improvement in the entertainment offered. An excellent Beatles look and soundalike tribute band performed in both the theatre and the Britannia Lounge, where they packed the dance floor. Several days later Ray Lewis (from the Drifters) was in great voice singing many of the best known Motown hits. Then we had comedian Roy Walker who was very well received. We also had interesting speakers, particularly theatre director Jamie Hayes. With the classical music, the production shows and the show band as well, there seemed to be something for everyone. Sadly no crew show though.

Some ports are undoubtedly more difficult to negotiate than others for those with mobility issues. Saga are clearly learning lessons in how best to manage Portsmouth. Hopefully things will be better once the new terminal is up and running. However there will continue to be a shuttle bus, the gangway slope will depend on the tide and the car park will be at a distance. For the able bodied still to use Portsmouth: just be prepared for a different experience, keep hand luggage to a minimum and don’t disembark until your number is called as your luggage and car won’t be there. On the plus side it’s a great historic and scenic sail out to enjoy.

Good news! The word is that books are coming back to the library on 28th February (Adventure) and 5th March (Discovery).

We have recently returned from a Saga cruise where we encountered delightful dinner companions on shared tables in all the venues. Many were first time cruisers with Saga, mostly refugees from P&O. Overwhelmingly they were delighted with their Saga experience. On the new ships the standard cabins are the same on all the decks and there is definitely no hierarchy of treatment throughout the ship based on the cabin you occupy. The Saga CEO and top management team were onboard, seeking and listening to passenger feedback in their quest for continual improvement. For example, the boarding experience at Portsmouth was very poor on this, the first cruise of the year to depart from Portsmouth. Having experienced this for themselves, changes were immediately put in place to rectify the problems for our return.

Sorry, LandC, there doesnt seem to be a definitive answer other than “We are working on March”.

Stop press! We are onboard SoA in the company of the Saga top management team. Books are returning to the library “in the spring.”

Try calling Saga to book excursions as soon as possible as some are sold out quickly. I can highly recommend the dog sledding and the Ice Hotel excursions. We did those last year. I understand that booking through an agent means that you have to rely on them for information and communications so contact them too.