LandC

We also went on SoD last year to Norway in September! It was our first time with Saga and we loved it.  We have booked again for an autumn cruise on Spirit of Adventure. Just waiting now for the new itineraries to be released for next year,  hopefully we will find another cruise we want to book for spring or summer 2021.

I totally agree Glenndale.  The date has  slipped still further.  I was told recently that they are still planning the itineraries, and will be in touch in early spring!  

I find it hard to believe that they really are still planning the itineraries at this late stage.   I wonder if it’s a pricing issue? They raised their prices significantly when they introduced all-inclusive drinks last November, and from reading comments on this Board, it has deterred some people from booking.

We paid a pre-registration fee of £90 per person last Autumn, for cruises departing from April 2021 onwards.  

Has anyone else has done this? 

We  expected to be contacted by Saga this month, with details of the new cruises, but have heard nothing yet.

Thanks Solent Richard. This is certainly a very helpful review.  We spent a week on SoD in September and thoroughly enjoyed it.  We had a standard cabin but found the storage space rather limited, especially in the wardrobe where the life jackets etc took up the space normally used  for shoes.  We ended up having to put our shoes under the bed!  We are considering booking a higher grade cabin next time to get the extra space.  How did you rate the mid-ship suite?  The bedroom area looks rather small, but this may be due to the angle of the photo.  Did you have the opportunity to view a deluxe cabin whilst on board, and if so, how did it compare?

I agree Glenndale.  We  pre-registered for cruises from April 2021 when we were on board SoD in September.  I phoned recently to enquire when these cruises would be available to book, and was told that it would be in the New Year.  Does that mean January 2020, I wonder?  

Following your blog Cinnamon!

We were on the same cruise as you, and it was our first Saga cruise. We are in our late 60s.  We loved the ship, the crew were fantastic and the food excellent.  We managed to eat at all three speciality restaurants during the week.  We enjoyed most of the entertainment, which included a classical quartet.  I also joined in the Joanna Hall WalkActive sessions which were very useful for improving my posture and walking technique!  

However we would have liked to hear some interesting lectures, as we thought those delivered by the ex SAS chap were poor.

We also book fly cruises, as we don’t want to be away from home for more than 2 weeks at a time, and flying means we can venture further afield with fewer sea days.  Perhaps Saga will consider offering fly cruises when Spirit of Adventure is launched?  Maybe one ship could be located in Piraeus from April - October, then reposition to Barbados for the winter?

This  would also attract a younger demographic.

I agree. We live 240 miles away from Dover, and are being picked up at 8.25 am on Thursday.

Hello hermioneb.  I’m so pleased that you find the ship to your liking.  Are you happy with your cabin? Is the balcony spacious?

We are boarding on 5 September, and we have booked a standard cabin.  Any information on the cabins, or any tips would be so helpful.  Enjoy the rest of your cruise!

Linda

Thanks Glendale. Hopefully we will be able to book on board!

We are on the 5th September sailing, and received our excursions brochure last week (we booked direct). Can’t wait to get on board Spirit of Discovery! 

Can anyone advise when the brochure for cruises sailing in 2021 is likely to be published?

We received a refund cheque today for the Black Sea cruise. This is a good sign. Hopefully others will get their refunds promptly. Good luck everyone.

I agree roger747, there is no other cruise line similar to VTA for the UK market at the moment.  G Adventures bought the Swan Hellenic brand name but have done nothing with it so far.

I received the following letter this morning from Jos Dewing, Managing Director, dated 29 April 2019: 

"It is with deep regret and sincere apologies that we write to inform you that we must cancel your upcoming cruise aboard Aegean Odyssey.

Aegean Odyssey recently developed a fault with her starboard engine and, following a detailed inspection by maritime authorities in Athens, it has been confirmed that the ship will be out of operation for some time.

Following her recent cruise, AO will undergo the necessary repairs.  Sadly, we anticipate that this will affect a number of cruises, including the cruise you are booked to travel on.

Having considered all the alternative options, we are unfortunately unable to offer you any alternative travel arrangements with VtoA, at this time, and so will process a refund of all monies paid for your cruise to date.  You should receive said refund within the next 21 days along with a cancellation invoice.  If you have booked with a travel partner, the refund will be sent to them to process and they will forward it on to you as is standard practice with partner bookings.

We appreciate that this will be very disappointing, but sadly it is an issue beyond our control.

If you have any further expenses relating specifically to this booking, please discuss your options with your travel insurance provider."

Hello Marysb, I hope you enjoyed your stay at the Grand Bretagne.  

We’ve just had a call from Voyages to Antiquity’s UK office.  Our Black Sea cruise, due to depart from Piraeus on 4 May, has been cancelled.  Engine problems on the ship mean it is too risky to make the long voyage up to Ukraine. They don’t know how long it will take to fix.  They will issue a full refund.  We are so disappointed 😩.  I spent the whole weekend packing!! Currently searching the internet for alternatives.  Good luck to anyone who is booked on future cruises. Please post here if you have any more news. 

We also got the preview brochure yesterday. I was disappointed. I'd hoped that Saga would base a ship in the Med for part of the summer or in the Caribbean for part of the winter, and there would be some fly-cruises. We like to minimise sea days, and also don't want to be away for more than 14 nights, and preferably less. It rules out a lot of cruises, and leaves many with similar itineraries. I will wait to see what the prices are like, and then compare them against Fred Olsen, Marella or CMV, taking into account the cost of getting to the departure port. So, let's wait and see!

Hello Wacktle. We have identified a possible cruise we may book on Spirit of Adventure. It will be interesting to see how the prices, when published, compare with other cruise lines. Just waiting for Saga to call us now!

We received a preview brochure through the post today for 2020 cruises on Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure. Not available to book yet, but Saga will contact those who have pre-registered first, before the cruises go on general sale. We hoped there might be some fly cruises included, but all cruises depart from Dover or Southampton.

We're booked for the Grand Voyage that includes your cruise and Aegean Experience II, so perhaps we'll meet!

 

Bill

Pleased to hear it Bill. I started a Roll Call a few months ago for Aegean Experience 1, but didn’t get any replies. I understand that nearly all the cabins have been sold. Should be a very interesting itinerary. Linda :D

We have booked a cruise on Saga’s new ship Spirit of Discovery, due to launch summer 2019.

We have also pre-registered for cruises on Saga’s second new ship Spirit of Adventure, due to launch in 2020.

We are wondering when the cruises will go on sale. :rolleyes:

These photos are wonderful Mary, thank you so much for posting. Linda. :D

Mary, Thanks very much for posting your review. We are looking forward to getting on board again in October for Aegean Experience 1. We have also booked the Black Sea cruise departing May 2019! Linda. :D

I look forward to reading your review Mary. We are boarding the ship on October 1st for the Aegean Experience 1. Can’t wait! :D

Hi Linda, hope this message is not duplicated. Was having trouble

this a.m. with website. We are getting excited as it is about 2 weeks

until the trip begins. I will give comments when we return. I hope you

enjoy your trip also. What’s not to like, beautiful country, beautiful weather

and interesting people to meet.

Diane

Thanks Diane, much appreciated. Have a wonderful holiday! Linda.

Hi MarySB, we will also be on AO April 30 thru May 8 “Aegean Experience 1 Greece and the Islands. Any chance that’s your trip also?

Bozo5404 aka Diane

Hello Diane. We have booked Aegean Experience 1 departing October 1st. I have started a Roll Call but so far no replies, although there were only 3 cabins available when we booked, so it is obviously a very popular itinerary! I hope you have a great time on the cruise, and would be interested to hear about it on your return. Linda.

We were on a similar cruise with Fred. Olsen in 2016, and really enjoyed it.

The Worldwide brochure was issued early March last year. So hopefully the new one will be available at the same time this year.

Thanks for the update tring. I wonder if the Swan Hellenic cruises, if relaunched, will include Arts Society accredited lecturers as before? We had four

lecturers on our last cruise on the Minerva, and they were all interesting and informative. We took our first cruise with Voyages to Antiquity this year. Their ship, the Aegean Odyssey, is a similar size to the Minerva. There were only 2 lecturers on board but both were good. The ship is not without its problems - we think the soundproofing between cabins needs to be improved - but we enjoyed the cruise and will book again.

Sounds like a good plan marylizcat, thanks!