FannyLiz

I noted on 7th Nov that we didn’t move until 8.20 pm and were supposed to go at 5 pm. Perhaps they are waiting for someone or something ? More eggs and edible bananas perhaps ?

The Plot Thickens…..!🤫

At the Meet the Captain event he was asked when it was first known that the software needed updating and answered that it was on the way from Portsmouth to Lisbon. A shore excursion shuttle bus has been arranged tomorrow for anyone who wishes to go to the Gunwharf Quays Christmas Market. We have just sailed by Spirit of Adventure en route to A Coruna and the Canaries. Very clear view and looking much more elegant than the block of flats that we passed a lunchtime.

Don’t think we will; I’m certainly not expecting it. Those people who took out insurance with a missed ports clause might but no mention has been made of compensation for those who did not. We have had immediate refunds for missed excursions.

It's the crew I feel sorry for. Talking to one of the young lasses in the Living Room she says how traumatised they were by the situation last cruise and now this. They can't show their fear but she is worried. At least we passengers can break out more Stugeron and take to our beds if necessary but the crew have to go on working and, if remarks I have heard in the Living room are typical, take the flak from some disgruntled passengers too.

The new itinerary arrived this afternoon. We knew when we left Lisbon that we were going direct to Barbados. I have not compared the new one with the original but the new order is : Bridgetown 20 th Nov,, St Georges Grenada 21 st, Roseau, Dominica 22 nd, St John’s Antigua,23 rd, St Juan, Puerto Rico 24 th, Road Town, Tortola 25 th, St Maarten 26 th, Funchal Madeira 3 rd Dec, Portsmouth7 th Dec. We have had one substitution ( Lisbon for the Azores) and missed Trinidad altogether. At the moment we are just off Madeira with 2 m swell. Given the rather dramatic circumstances I’m surprised we have had so little disruption to the schedule. As a first time cruiser I am very impressed and sure this will not be my last Saga voyage.

Interesting first hand piece on the SoD voyage front page of the Sunday Times.

Interesting. An hour ago the Captain said we would leave tomorrow evening ( Sunday). Various complimentary tours have been arranged for tomorrow as well as shore leave. Presumably Lisbon port are looking at a worse case scenario.

My family tell me you can see the ships on the Lisbon harbour webcam.

I think negotiations are on hand to let us disembark. There are 2 Fred Olsen ships behind us (Balmoral and ? ) so they would not have to bring in port officials specially. I suspect the officers posssibly feel they have enough to deal with without having to book coaches and venues.The knock on effect of unexpectedly putting the clocks forward at 9.10 am this morning affected lunch plans ,opening times and activities but otherwise it is dry, sunny and warm and we have dozens of sailing boats on our port side and busy Lisbon to starboard. Who needs the Caribbean….?! We leave tomorrow morning.

11 am today. A check has been run on something mechanical and this has to be signed off by the relevant body before we leave.

We’ve spent an excellent day in Lisbon with crew and passengers being actively encouraged to visit and have meals together. That was great but what has been really memorable was SoA’s sailaway at about 5 pm. We are still here on SoD though we were supposed to leave at the same time. Someone was joining here and has not yet arrived. Latest departure time announced was 9.30 pm. We were moored close together, nose to nose all day. SoA untied, came out very slowly but only just enough to clear us and then slowly and with great dignity, sailed down our entire length port to port, what seemed like close enough to shake hands across balconies. Much loud and rude hooting from ship to ship. They then gracefully turned away from us, pirouetted so they came in with their bows right up to our midships and then backed off and continued up river to the sea. All this was done with a lovely sunset and then both ships lit up overall. A really memorable sight especially for me, a first time cruiser. Hope someone else can put in photos as I can’t get them from Goigle photos to my ipad.

The interior is absolutely immaculate. Full credit to those who managed it. The only thing different apparently is that we have plastic disposible cups in the cabin for water instead of glass because, I am told, so many glasses got broken. Suits me as I would rather a plastic cup fall onto the floor in rough weather rather than a glass. We are also stopping at Lisbon and missing the Azores. Crew are a delight and so friendly

I guess the crew will be too busy clearing up to sleep well A couple of newspaper reports I have seen are reporrting: : “The incident happened when ship's propulsion safety system activated at 12.30pm and turned the ship - resulting in the injuries to around 100 of the 1,000 passengers on board” as the cause of the injuries, when the ship was hove to near A Corunā.

I wonder how many crew were injured ? Hard to avoid getting burnt as a chef or kitchen worker, falling when carrying heavy trays, even getting trapped when heavy doors swing back on you when you haven’t got a free hand. Goodness knows how many bumped heads in the engine room. ( I speak as someone who was thrown into a Christmas tree, chipped a chunk out of my leg on its stand and then, on the rebound, got thrown into a plate glass window, not quite head first. There didn’t seem anyone about to be sympathetic so I went back to our cabin to have a lie down. I’d only gone out to find some food)

Hear hear to that ! They seem to have gone above and beyond to have cooked meals, served them, dealt with injuries and vomit, kept everything running and all when no doubt many of them felt awful themselves.

I do hope they provide transport into Bilbao and don’t let them think that Santurtzi is “ it”.

Are you actually entitled to compensation ? I thought bad weather, like war, was counted as an Act of God in the insurance world and you were not entitled to a payout. I can understand them giving an ex gratia one or vouchers to keep customers loyal but it is going to be an expensive week for Saga.

I wonder how many stand by captains they have ? If they want to do a thorough debrief of this one then they will have to find another able to do 30 days away at short notice.

I imagine there will also be a lorry load of china and glassware waiting at the dockside as well. Perhaps this is why you are eating from paper plates in cabins ?

I’m glad, for everyone’s sake, that the end is in sight. While I feel for everyone the poor soul with the broken hip ….well, I hope they are well-sedated. I can only imagine what the effect on the outcome will be of excessive movement and a long wait for treatment. On a purely selfish note, is there any indication of what the knock on effect of all this will be ? Is there an expectation that the ship will sail on Tuesday evening as scheduled ? I’ve been crossing the Bay on ferries on a regular basis several times a year for the last 20 years and we have only had 3 cancellations though some horrific sailings. We have several times had apologies from the Portsmouth cleaning ladies gang that they can’t get rid of the smell of vomit or dry the carpet in time before sailing but SoD sounds to have had a worse bashing that this and higher standards are presumably expected by the majority of joining passengers.

My friend on board did not mention that option. I suppose they could not stop anyone who wanted to get off- being Saga they’d probably got them a taxi and train ticket.

From the Falmouth webcam she is moving now, bang on expected time.

I recommend strawberries for pud: they taste the same going down and coming up. Hope you get some sleep tonight. All credit to the staff, even if they are not feeling sick simply moving around in those conditions can leave you aching all over. At least you are not in the actual Bay of Biscay where winds have been getting up to 100 mph on the coast.

Sounds awful. Is there any further news of injuries ? Not serious I hope. SOA is sailing from Falmouth this evening. They think they are going direct to A Coruna. At one point Brest was mentioned so I wonder if that is the fall back if it is too stormy en route. Apparently the ports are full with sheltering ships so hard to find somewhere to go. Good luck those on SOA tonight and I hope the winds drop soon.