Saga vs Oceania and Azamara

[Glenndale]

 

29 minutes ago, hermioneb said:

Glendale, it sounds as if you have got a good deal! It seems that Oceania are offering several cruises with their O Life Ultimate perks for next year, but I haven’t seen any for ex -UK cruises yet.  Today I received notification of a couple of Mediterranean cruises which work out at about £320 per day with O Life Ultimate.  You are quite right that comparisons are difficult as there are a limited number of Azamara and Oceania cruises departing from UK ports.  As we are still happy to fly to the Med., but no further, I will go on looking at Azamara and Oceania in case a good deal comes up, but would be very happy if Saga have some fly cruises in the future, as I think the Spirit of Discovery is a lovely ship.

We are actually flying to Miami on this cruise, but as it's a day flight we aren't so bothered.

It's the night flights we cannot abide.

The cruise is a TA which is not everyone's  cup of tea.

We have visited all of the ports before but have found some good excursions doing different things in the ports.

The ultimate designation was only for a few weeks and I was lucky to spot it. It's now reverted to ordinary O life.

We are waiting for the full 2021 programme from Saga before we book any more cruises, there are a couple on other lines that I'm interested in but don't want to commit before I see what Saga are going to be offering.

With Saga you really need to book early to grab the 35% discount.

[lincslady]

As with most lines (but sadly not really with Saga) there are incentives now and again which,  if you spot them, help to bring the price down or have more included.  And of course transatlantic crossings are always cheaper per day than other cruises.

 

There isn't really much that Saga could do, as almost everything is already included,  but I am sure that there are extras - even on board credit - which could help them to sell cruises.  Unless they are already quite happy with takeup!  The Saga company attitude does now seem a bit old-fashioned as compared with other lines IMO.

[Bloodaxe]

5 hours ago, lincslady said:

As with most lines (but sadly not really with Saga) there are incentives now and again which,  if you spot them, help to bring the price down or have more included.  And of course transatlantic crossings are always cheaper per day than other cruises.

 

There isn't really much that Saga could do, as almost everything is already included,  but I am sure that there are extras - even on board credit - which could help them to sell cruises.  Unless they are already quite happy with takeup!  The Saga company attitude does now seem a bit old-fashioned as compared with other lines IMO.

 

At least they don't seem to indulge in gimmicky sales practices that sometimes turn out to be anything but a sale, unlike another line I could mention.

Edited October 18, 2019 by Bloodaxe

[lincslady]

Bloodaxe (not the most attractive name, maybe there is a good reason?) essentially I agree with you.  I was really playing devil's advocate regarding others who compare Saga unfavourably with other lines.  My only Saga head office complaint is that the pricing can seem strange  - for no apparent reason, for instance, the last time I enquired about a booking I was suddenly offered £600 per person off the price quoted on the website.  I was told that as we were already Saga cruisers this was the reason, but it  does not always happen - I imagine it was that this  cruise still seemed to have a lot of unsold cabins.   I don't like mysteries.

[Bloodaxe]

3 hours ago, lincslady said:

Bloodaxe (not the most attractive name, maybe there is a good reason?) essentially I agree with you.  I was really playing devil's advocate regarding others who compare Saga unfavourably with other lines.  My only Saga head office complaint is that the pricing can seem strange  - for no apparent reason, for instance, the last time I enquired about a booking I was suddenly offered £600 per person off the price quoted on the website.  I was told that as we were already Saga cruisers this was the reason, but it  does not always happen - I imagine it was that this  cruise still seemed to have a lot of unsold cabins.   I don't like mysteries.

 

Eric is my name and Bloodaxe (Viking King of York) was my nickname at work has I never took any prisoners, in a nice way honestly.

[lincslady]

Thanks, Eric.  I will mind my Ps and Qs when corresponding with you!😊

[Glenndale]

14 hours ago, lincslady said:

Bloodaxe (not the most attractive name, maybe there is a good reason?) essentially I agree with you.  I was really playing devil's advocate regarding others who compare Saga unfavourably with other lines.  My only Saga head office complaint is that the pricing can seem strange  - for no apparent reason, for instance, the last time I enquired about a booking I was suddenly offered £600 per person off the price quoted on the website.  I was told that as we were already Saga cruisers this was the reason, but it  does not always happen - I imagine it was that this  cruise still seemed to have a lot of unsold cabins.   I don't like mysteries.

Lincslady are you a member of Saga Possibilities?

I have sometimes seen extra discounts on cruises offered to members.

Maybe that accounted for the extra discount?

Surely price reductions shouldn’t be at the whim of Saga sales staff on the other end of the phone.

From correspondence with Saga it seems that this board is monitored it would be helpful if there was interaction as well.

Unfortunately the only interaction from Saga in a response to Cinnamon’s ‘live from’ was rapidly removed.

 

[lincslady]

No,  Glenndale.   Just watched us beating the Aussies in the quarter-finals, but we may meet the All Blacks next!

 

I have said before that pricing seems a bit strange - we have done probably 8 cruises with Saga, most within the last three years or so.  Sometimes when I phone to possibly book the price is as on the website, sometimes they say 'there is £50 or £100 off today' with no real explanation.  I don't know if the sales staff themselves, in order to get a bonus, or the Head of Sales, decides on this, maybe dependent on how well or not sales are going.  But it is a bit of a lottery for the customer.

 

 

[Glenndale]

43 minutes ago, lincslady said:

No,  Glenndale.   Just watched us beating the Aussies in the quarter-finals, but we may meet the All Blacks next!

Bit of thread drift here but I enjoyed the game too 😀

[lincslady]

Sorry - back to the topic.  It is obviously very difficult to compare prices between not just these three but any cruise lines, as they all have their own ways of trying to persuade punters to cruise with them.   We all have our own priorities, but to have different aspects compared by those who have tried all or two of these lines is interesting.  Things like standard of food and drinks; size and comfort of cabins; attitude and helpfulness of staff - and also of their Head Offices when booking (or complaining).  And whether it is better to book direct or through an Agent (not allowed to mention Agent's names on here).

 

We now really only cruise ex UK, and have noticed that the other top lines tend to charge more per day on these cruises than their fly-cruises.  No doubt there is a good reason for this,  but wish it was not so.

[lincslady]

Back to price comparisons - just seen today that for anyone willing to book as far ahead as March 2021 and prepared to visit the Med. at that time of year there is a cruise on Adventure for 15 nights which works out at just over £210 pp per day.   This does suggest that when Saga say book early for the best price it might be true.  And considering everything door to door is included except shore excursions, this does sound like a good buy.  (Obviously in a standard balcony cabin, but with choice, not just a guarantee).

[Glenndale]

5 hours ago, lincslady said:

Back to price comparisons - just seen today that for anyone willing to book as far ahead as March 2021 and prepared to visit the Med. at that time of year there is a cruise on Adventure for 15 nights which works out at just over £210 pp per day.   This does suggest that when Saga say book early for the best price it might be true.  And considering everything door to door is included except shore excursions, this does sound like a good buy.  (Obviously in a standard balcony cabin, but with choice, not just a guarantee).

If that cruise had been booked when the discount was 35% then the cost would have been  £173 pppn 

[lincslady]

I'm up early today!  This was advertised both on the website and in the paper as a 'new cruise', and is 20% off (theoretically) on the lowest grade , and  35% just on the suites.

[Glenndale]

2 hours ago, lincslady said:

I'm up early today!  This was advertised both on the website and in the paper as a 'new cruise', and is 20% off (theoretically) on the lowest grade , and  35% just on the suites.

We paid £90 each to 'jump the queue' when the new 2021 itineraries were released and they were selling the first tranche up to the end of March 2021 when we were on board last month.

They sent a brochure to our cabin and there was one waiting for us on our return.

The bottom line price for the standard balconies was £2599.

We couldn't see a cruise that we wanted to take, there were only 7 in total, so we transferred our £90 to the next release which we were told would be in the new year.

The £90 is refundable if you decide not to take a cruise with Saga.

[lincslady]

Thanks - this is what I mean about confusing pricing!

 

Once, on board,  we had a flyer advertising a cruise at a (genuine) 25% off the then current low price, if we booked and paid a deposit on board.  I suppose Saga are no worse than most lines in this smoke and mirrors pricing - you do get to have an idea of when is best to book if you keep an eye on how it seems to work.

[janecambridge]

On 10/10/2019 at 4:43 PM, Mrs Miggins said:

Yes its great when a couple of the ports are new, but I also love to revisit some old favourites.  Last time in Livorno, having done Florence, Pisa and Lucca several times, we got the bus into a lovely seaside town called Castiglioncello.  Absolute bliss, lovely lunch, surrounded by locals.  We are back in Livorno in June and I expect we will take the local bus again.

Havent tried Cunard as not sure it would suit us.  Only done one Oceania, which was good except everyone went to bed at about 10 - ship deserted after that.  I am sure we will try them again as I did love the speciality restaurants.

I think Saga may well be a good fit for us in a couple of years.  Also I think some of the small wrinkles that we found onboard will soon be ironed out.  Saga do seem to understand there are one or two teething problems.

The shows on Oceania generally start at 9.30pm,so maybe the passengers were in the lounge? 

[janecambridge]

We are just back from Marina,Oceania.One week.Our third Oceania voyage.We did a week on Spirt of Discovery in the summer.

There is something ‘polished’ about Oceania that we like.But could be our last cruise  with them.We had 3 instances of having to pay for something,unexpectedly.

One was the gratuities at La Reserve,even though our blue book ( individual book sent prior to each cruise to each passenger) stated if we had a full beverage package this would not be the case (20%).

The Currents daily paper stated limited coach transfers in Valencia between 12-1pm.This was not the case on arrival at bus stop.Turned out to be 1-2.30.So passengers paying for a taxi.Also, although we had drinks package,on Spanish night offered sangria with meal.Limoncello offered in Toscana.Astounded we had to pay for drinks and gratuities.Little things but after a big problem last year, we were giving them the benefit of the doubt. There were two big communication problems and a rude concierge to boot.shame as they have so many positives.

Booked Saga for next winter now.

 

[lincslady]

Yes, one good point in Saga's favour is the all inclusive aspect, which now does include some pretty good drinks.  We have always preferred the free and easy way you get a drink on lines like Seabourn and Silversea etc., not liking the idea of showing a card or whatever when ordering, especially when socialising.  The 'packages' some lines offer seem very convoluted, and sometimes pretty pricey unless you drink a lot.

[Mrs Miggins]

3 hours ago, janecambridge said:

The shows on Oceania generally start at 9.30pm,so maybe the passengers were in the lounge? 

 

No, we would have gone to the shows but the passengers seemed to go straight to bed immediately afterwards.

However it is dangerous to make comparisons.  We went on a wonderful Scenic River Cruise from Bordeaux this year and it was very lively in the evenings.  Lots of music, dancing and general good fun which went on til at least midnight.  Our friends have recently returned from a Scenic Rhine cruise which they loved, apart from the fact that everyone went to bed very early.  Each cruise and mix of passengers is different