Not quite Live From SoD 12th - 26th September

[kentchris]

All going well so far: collected an hour before schedule so on board by 3.30, The Club booked by phone for tomorrow night, and we’ve just been solicited in The Library to dine in East to West tonight. At this rate we may never reach the Grand Dining Room. 😉

[cinnamon]

Yay Chris! So pleased you’ll be able to keep us all in touch with the SOD. I’m sure being a longer cruise will make it easier to eat in the 3 Specialty restaurants. Enjoy!

[kentchris]

I won’t guarantee the depth and frequency of your commentary but as things occur I’ll try to mention them.

[kentchris]

Tomorrow’s first full day’s daily below. Tonight’s West End to Broadway show in the Playhouse was entertaining but marred to my ears by a slightly muddy sound setup which didn’t do the singers any favours. Musicals aren’t especially my thing but the company put a lot of energy into their first night of four and deservedly carried the audience with them.

 

The shocking news from today’s Today is that two of our three formal nights are on port days. Unheard of...

Edited September 12, 2019 by kentchris

[IbizaLover]

Had a great meal in the MDR this evening, on a table for two. Ended up in the Club with some fellow Facebookers for a drink, and have booked two speciality restaurants. Loving it so far. The ship is fabulous.

[kentchris]

No intrusive in-cabin announcement from Captain Burgess this morning. Perhaps last cruise’s experience was a blip. 

[Mrs Miggins]

Glad that everything is going well.  By the way I do agree about the sound set up in the Theatre.  Singers often overwhelmed by the band.   We thought the singers and young dancers were working very hard but perhaps need more experience.  Also some of the costumes seem to fit very badly.  Is there a seamstress or tailor onboard who could make a better job of turning up their trousers.  I only say this because we were often latecomers into a packed theatre so had to sit right up at the front.  Probably wouldn't have noticed further back !

[Glenndale]

44 minutes ago, kentchris said:

No intrusive in-cabin announcement from Captain Burgess this morning. Perhaps last cruise’s experience was a blip. 

Wasn't Nick Sutherland the Captain on Cinnamon's cruise?

Hope Captain Burgess stays on board for the next cruise.

We have sailed with him on Princess and P&O before.

Edited September 13, 2019 by Glenndale

[cinnamon]

Yesterday was Captain Sutherland’s last day before a break. 

 

I cant help wondering if the announcements into the cabins was a mistake. It didn’t happen on our last day. Perhaps after my blog had been read?

[Glenndale]

4 minutes ago, cinnamon said:

Yesterday was Captain Sutherland’s last day before a break. 

 

I cant help wondering if the announcements into the cabins was a mistake. It didn’t happen on our last day. Perhaps after my blog had been read?

Then your blog has done us all a service, as well as being very informative 😀

[Lottie A]

Glad to read the next SOD blog as I enjoyed my daily read of Corinne's so much! I'm sure lessons are being learned all the time and things onboard will be changed appropriately. I liked the look of the daily programme...lots there I would want to do. 

[Tigrou]

23 minutes ago, cinnamon said:

Yesterday was Captain Sutherland’s last day before a break. 

 

I cant help wondering if the announcements into the cabins was a mistake. It didn’t happen on our last day. Perhaps after my blog had been read?

 

Perhaps during his break he'll be given refresher training on how to work the PA system. 😉

 

[kentchris]

One thing I don’t remember seeing being mentioned elsewhere is the escort to one’s cabin on embarkation which we experienced on Sapphire on our first ever cruise. For some reason I wasn’t expecting it this time but there it was, with a relay of crew taking us from the Living Room where we boarded the ship to the correct lift, someone in the lift to take us to the correct deck, and from the lift to our cabin. Useful enough for anyone unfamiliar with the ship, and essential for the easily disorientated. 

 

Having last cruised in Cunard’s QG, and not had a bell boy escort us to our suite because we weren’t in a high enough grade, it was nice to see Saga continuing to give passengers in the cheap seats at least one little frill. 

Edited September 13, 2019 by kentchris

[white_bear]

We esperienced the escort-to-cabin on the mini-cruise 1-5 September.  Very good introduction to the ship.

[cinnamon]

We were escorted to the lift and then on deck 7 just pointed in the general direction of our corridor. To be fair, I think I/we probably looked as though we were not confused. 

[Bell Boy]

48 minutes ago, kentchris said:

One thing I don’t remember seeing being mentioned elsewhere is the escort to one’s cabin on embarkation which we experienced on Sapphire on our first ever cruise. For some reason I wasn’t expecting it this time but there it was, with a relay of crew taking us from the Living Room where we boarded the ship to the correct lift, someone in the lift to take us to the correct deck, and from the lift to our cabin. Useful enough for anyone unfamiliar with the ship, and essential for the easily disorientated. 

 

Having last cruised in Cunard’s QG, and not had a bell boy escort us to our suite because we weren’t in a high enough grade, it was nice to see Saga continuing to give passengers in the cheap seats at least one little frill. 

I expect Saga are able to do that ( escort guest to their cabin) as the majority of Saga crew members are not fully involved with other duties . Unlike Cunard Line where on Embarkation day 'lunch is available' for all guests. (either in the two Grill restaurants, the Lido or the Pub)  

 

As a trade off, I think I would prefer to have the opportunity to be able to board early and enjoy leisurely lunch 😉 

[kentchris]

We chanced lunch at the Lido as the sun is out and it’s not too blowy. I forgot to photo the fish goujonettes until it was too late, but the menu is below.

[kentchris]

22 minutes ago, Bell Boy said:

As a trade off, I think I would prefer to have the opportunity to be able to board early and enjoy leisurely lunch 😉 

Agreed, each line makes its own trade offs which some passengers enjoy and others endure.

 

One of Saga’s that newcomers are finding irksome is that passengers using Saga transport may not leave the ship until quite late. Dover only has limited capacity for cabs to pick up and drop off compared with Southampton so that might not be such an issue for Soton arrivals. Our driver said yesterday that the queue to drop off his passengers from Scarborough was slow because cabs were still picking up, and he must have been there no earlier than 1pm - he was due to collect us at 3pm but called at about 1.45 to ask if we’d like go earlier so we were off at 2pm and on board just after 3pm. 

[kentchris]

We had an excellent tomahawk steak in The Club tonight, but weren’t finished in time for Peter Donegan’s show so enjoyed some

cool jazz while we finished our meal. Then up to the Britannia Lounge to hear Abbie Chambers do a solo set - well worth hearing but frustrating that the levels could set OK in the lounge but not in the Playhouse last night when we could hardly hear her. The Silver Show Band took over and a few people got up on the floor with the Gentlemen Hosts. Conclusion: the ents are good when you can hear them properly. 

 

Tomorrow’s daily:

[kentchris]

In cabin announcements from both Captain Julian and Cruise Director Michelle Dunne just after 8 this morning. Fair enough as half the shorex departures are before 9am.

 

We’re docked at Arendal next to the Volvo Museum, there’s a very modest little cruise terminal here. There’s a half hourly shuttle to the Stora Teatern just off the city centre for independent travellers. 

[cinnamon]

Hope you have a good day Chris. 

I still don’t believe you should have a forced wake up. You’re on holiday. If you wanted to choose to sleep in and miss the early finishing breakfast, that would be your own decision. 

[Bell Boy]

I'm going to have to discuss this nonsense with Captain Burgess  ( in October) as he is formerly from Cunard Line where no cabin announcements are ever made direct into the cabin, unless in emergency.

I'm taking this trip to completely chill out after a busy year and I don't want to be hearing unecessary announcements direct into the cabin from the bridge or the Cruise director first thing in the morning.

 

Hopefully, if that Customer Services representative from Saga who posted on this board the other day is reading this , will you please  forward these comments to head office shore side.   You have new discerning  customers who have chosen to experience the Saga brand for the first time. ( some who are young professionals , not quite in our retirement yet)  We have a wealth of cruising experience on other premium lines, we won't accept being disturbed from our rest early mornings .    

[trams]

We are due to join SoD on 26th September and recieved a letter from SAGA this morning explaining the new arrangements for booking the speciality restaurants. You have to visit your chosen venue between 15:00 and 16:45 on embarkation day to book a table, only one booking per guest Any further bookings can be made at the passenger's leisure.

[Mrs Miggins]

Just a warning that the lines to book East to West and Coast to Coast were very long.  I spoke to one lady who waited one hour.  Very short line for The Club.

We went just a few minutes after 3 and the lines were already very long.  Most people (including us) did not realise they could only book one restaurant.  Someone walked along the line taking 'waitlisting' bookings.  The system could, of course,  tell if any booking had already been made. 

[Lottie A]

29 minutes ago, Mrs Miggins said:

Just a warning that the lines to book East to West and Coast to Coast were very long.  I spoke to one lady who waited one hour.  Very short line for The Club.

We went just a few minutes after 3 and the lines were already very long.  Most people (including us) did not realise they could only book one restaurant.  Someone walked along the line taking 'waitlisting' bookings.  The system could, of course,  tell if any booking had already been made. 

Hmmm. Not sure about queuing for an hour to book a speciality restaurant, especially if you can only do this one at a time. Perhaps something Saga need to revise . 🙁