Tothesunset

Catch yerself awn wee woo-man.

After coming from God's own country we settled in God's own county. And have ended up in the county time forgot!

If not I shall fix them with a threatening stare and whisper "I know where you live" in my best Shankill Road accent. 🤣

Oh god, I hope not! Our Sainsbury seems to be the agreed meeting place for obese younger people with 3 squalling kids in tow. I'm grateful to Sainsbury though - they keep the riff-raff out of Waitrose!

Yes, really. This coming Friday 8 July we Embark Saga's Spirit of Adventure for an 11 day itinerary that includes 5 ports in Ireland, one in France and a stop in Guernsey. All Saga cruises start and finish in UK. Now, it's going to be impossible not to compare Saga with SS but I'm hoping to be open-minded yet I shall immediately make some pre-boarding observations. Suite: About 22 sq mtr including a balcony - so expecting living space to be a tad less than the Wind veranda suites. Booking: Easy peasy. Book early for best price, no haggling, no OBC plus transport to and from the ship is included up to 250 miles each way. Price: Per diem rate roughly 1/2 equivalent SS itinerary (don't shoot me - I know there are differences). For all-inclusive that's pretty good. Some included excursions, too, but of the "3 hrs in a coach" variety. Ship: Nearly 1000 passenger capacity, 5 or 6 restaurants, several bars and all the other bits and pieces that we are used to. Will that be a bit big? Dunno yet. So we're good to go. Disappointed that it's not SS, excited to try a new line and to see my homeland again. One drawback that strikes me even now, and I really mean this in a positive way, is that the vast majority of customers will be from the British Isles. That isn't a problem per se but we will miss meeting folk of a more international flavour. But we're sailing, getting fed and watered and going to God's own country. What's not to like?

One thing about SS that, I hope, most would agree upon is the willingness of the staff to do their damndest to please the customer. They are SS's single most important asset. Good to hear from Lois that they are giving her all the assistance she needs.

Bet you're glad you joined in now!

OK, so the cruise itself starts Friday next week but receiving the final documentation today seems like the right time to kick off this thread. By way of introduction we are both 65-year-old retirees with over 200 days on Silversea, a QM2 crossing and a 14-day Seabourn Caribbean cruise under our belts along with a couple of river cruises. Saga has drawn us for this trip because we, at the time of booking last spring, didn't know what the international travel arena held for 2022. In addition we haven't done a British Isles itinerary and felt that Saga's all inclusive sailings would fit our needs. The itinerary visits several Irish ports, not least of which is my home town of Belfast. OH is English (I try not to mind) but has only visited the island once, about 10 years ago, and the Republic not at all. I lie. We stopped at Waterford with SS a few years ago. Anyway, the car picks us up between 0820 and 0850 next Friday for the run to Soton; it's a journey we know well because my S-i-L lives down that way. 3 hrs? Probably - on a good day. Several excursions booked, except Belfast (obviously!), which I'm hoping will persuade Madame that moving "back home" isn't a crazy idea at all. At the very least she'll get some proper Guinness. I shall try to keep a travelogue flowing, WiFi permitting, and answer any questions about our cruise, the ship, the cabin, food and the chances of Ireland winning the Six Nations. J and K