Saga Rose Greenland Voyager August 2007

[bcscot]

Admiral Ma'am: GDR, TDY,FIL?? What sort of cyber-babble is this? If you cannot speak English, then please, at least stick to your North American approximation, as I have a better chance of interpreting it.

 

I was watching a documentary about the history of Britain on the Knowledge Network (local PBS station) last night. They visited Skara Brae in Orkney: the best preserved Neolithic settlement in the world, 5,000 years old & uncovered by a storm in 1850. I wonder if Conte went to see it.

 

FIL joins US in the US/Alaska next week on the Ryndam visiting Juneau, Ketchican, Skagway & Glacier Bay. We are not too bothered about the ports as Alaska is not so different from BC, but we love the scenery, the wildlife & the ship experience.

 

Kazover40: Welcome to our quiet little backwater here. That certainly is a very active little fellow you have there. Is he under the influence of something, or just happy to have seen the beautiful Saga Rose in port?

 

Are you Manx, just living there, or visiting Douglas? It is many many years since I visited Douglas, on a ferry (yes, another one!) from Wales. Do many cruise ships visit the Isle Of Man? It used to be part of Scotland until the Vikings came along, doing their Viking thing. It is nice to meet someone from the British Isles on this cruise. Being a Saga one, I thought that there would be more of us here.

 

I see that you have sailed on the Black Watch, ex-Royal Viking (them again!) Lines, Royal Viking Star. Ruby is an old Royal Viking Line hand. How did you find Fred Olsen Lines? I saw the P&O Arcadia in Malta this year, when I was on the ex- Royal Viking Sun(Prinsendam). How was Arcadia?

 

Did you sail on the Royal Viking Star, Ruby?

 

VIKINGS!:eek:

 

Graham.

[kazover40]

.

 

Kazover40: Welcome to our quiet little backwater here. That certainly is a very active little fellow you. Is he under the influence of something, or just happy to have seen the beautiful Saga Rose in port?

 

Are you Manx, just living there, or visiting Douglas? It is many many years since I visited Douglas, on a ferry (yes, another one!) from Wales. Do many cruise ships visit the Isle Of Man? It used to be part of Scotland until the Vikings came along, doing their Viking thing. It is nice to meet someone from the British Isles on this cruise. Being a Saga one, I thought that there would be more of us here.

 

I see that you have sailed on the Black Watch, ex-Royal Viking (them again!) Lines, Royal Viking Star. Ruby is an old Royal Viking Line hand. How did you find Fred Olsen Lines? I saw the P&O Arcadia in Malta this year, when I was on the ex- Royal Viking Sun(Prinsendam). How was Arcadia?

 

?

 

VIKINGS!:eek:

 

Graham.

 

Hi Graham

 

OMG so many questions.

 

None of my happy little fellows imbibe lol.

 

I am English but have lived in Isle of Man for the past 30 years. We have had several ships in this year, always makes me green with envy when I see them!Love it here and it's laid back approach to life.

 

 

I loved Fred Olsen and could never find a thing to complain about. You are treated more like family than passengers. It is the best food I have ever had on ANY cruise line. The Captain and officers will join you for a drink and a chat! The staff go that extra mile to make your cruise that bit special! Why have I not cruised on them lately? No balconies! Although I think that is changing with the newer ships!

 

Loved Arcadia and P & O OB charges where half of that of the American lines lol Met some really great people.

 

I tend to now choose cruises for the itinerary and price. Who cares what ship it is! I'm cruising! Hey! IMHO there is no such thing as a bad cruise! Nothing, but nothing can spoil it!

 

[Saga Ruby]

It’s great fun to have a new voice on this thread and no one ever butts in. Thanks for speaking up. We welcome anyone who is civil. (I’m working on a Nostalgia Cruise motto, something like Dulcis Civilis. Anybody speak Latin?)

 

I’m a bit vague on the island chain which includes the Isle of Man. Are you close to that intriguing duchy (Sark?)? I wanted to be the Duke-ess of Sark but the fellow in place refused to push over.

 

Graham - Last night I recorded a documentary titled something like "Voyage of the Vikings" - are we talking about the same documentary? I haven’t watched it yet. I’m hoping it has some of the ancient ruins that I saw at the Orkneys, including Skara Brae. I’m saving that particular program for the dull period when you and D’maniac have the gall to leave this forum for a week. Sniff.

 

Military acronyms make me giggle. Evidently our military services have divisions and weaponry so tortuously titled that everybody has to ABC it. Being an Admiral Ma’am, I can’t be bothered with such stuff and nonsense. My aide de camp will have to see after it. Now where did I put that aide de camp?

 

We of the Nostalgia Cruise sincerely wish you and D’maniac the very best of cruises with an even better one to come. All the best.

 

To all, yes, even you lurkers. When a sailor goes out to sea on an aircraft carrier or some such largish ship, is that person working shifts for 7 days a week while onboard? Is it considered a tour of duty and they have no down time? Do sailors get a day or two off during their "cruise" or is it all work and no play? I need input.

 

Ruby

[bcscot]

Admiral Ma'am: Sark is in the Channel Islands between England & France. The Isle Of Man is off the west coast of England, between there & Ireland, just south of the south-west tip of Scotland.

 

No, my documentary was nothing to do with VIKINGS!:eek: That was a bit of a coincidence though! Did you sail on the Royal Thingy Star, Ruby? Maybe Fred Olsen Lines is another one for you to consider. I am told that you can sometimes get good last minute deals with them. They are on my list.

 

I gave up on the study of Latin after a very short introduction. I preferred to take woodwork, metalwork & technical drawing; more fun & more useful. English, they tell me, is a Germanic language shoe-horned into a Latin set of rules! Besides, those Romans were just as bad in their own way, as the VIKINGS!:eek:

 

Thank you Ruby, for your good wishes for the cruise. When travelling with extended family, I need all the help I can get!

 

Kazover40: Welcome again. With our motto of 'DULCIS CIVILIS', I do speak to the English as well as Americans!!!:D (Sometimes I sail a little close to the wind though!!!).:D

 

I am sure that the Isle Of Man is a lovely place in which to live. The aforementioned FIL has a cousin living on IOM. The said cousin is coming up to Edinburgh for a family reunion next year, to coincide with our visit on QE2 during her farewell visit to Scotland.

 

I am glad to hear that your hyperactive little chaps live a sober existance; maybe try a little less sugar!

 

Graham.

[kazover40]

SagaRuby: Thankyou for your welcome, makes a refreshing change from some of the harsher threads on these boards.

 

As Graham says we are in the middle of the Irish Sea. On a clear day, from the top of Snaefell (a small mountain) we can see 7 kingdoms. Scotland England Wales Eire Northern Ireland Isle of Man and the Kingdom of Heaven lol

 

As for LATIN! HELP I need a translator!

 

Hope you like my little fellows:

Here's The Captain. Have you

met him on your travels! lol

[Saga Ruby]

SagaRuby: Thankyou for your welcome, makes a refreshing change from some of the harsher threads on these boards.

 

Feel free to call me Ruby. I think of Saga Ruby as that magnificent ship along with her Sister.

 

I have indeed seen your captain. He was hurling invective on his Windjammer ship with its keel buried in deep, soft sand off an out island in the Bahamas. His passengers were too "three sheets to the wind" to care. Good old Windjammer.

 

. . . "harsher threads." Well put.

 

Ruby

[Saga Ruby]

Did you sail on the Royal Thingy Star, Ruby? Maybe Fred Olsen Lines is another one for you to consider.

 

I am sure that the Isle Of Man is a lovely place in which to live. The aforementioned FIL has a cousin living on IOM. The said cousin is coming up to Edinburgh for a family reunion next year, to coincide with our visit on QE2 during her farewell visit to Scotland. Graham.

 

Oh, nice acronyms, Graham. That paragraph is so obscure that it qualifies for the upper reaches of our strivings here on the Nostalgia Cruise. Nice.

 

I sailed on Royal Viking Star, Sea, and Sky and the last one - the Queen? I get Queen and Sun mixed up. I was on RVL for most of the 80s with a little Fairsky and Rotterdam LXXXIII thrown in. Small, elegant ships, single seating or open seating - to quote George Gershwin and the abfab Ella Fitzgerald, who could ask for anything more?

 

Ruby

[Kapricorn]

Kazover40, welcome to Nostalgia Cruise! I've read great things about the Fred Olsen cruises. I think that a British chap has sailed on the Black Watch something like 77 times, or was that you?

 

Donald D'Maniac.

[kazover40]

Kazover40, welcome to Nostalgia Cruise! I've read great things about the Fred Olsen cruises. I think that a British chap has sailed on the Black Watch something like 77 times, or was that you?

 

Donald D'Maniac.

 

I WISH LOL

[kazover40]

Feel free to call me Ruby. I think of Saga Ruby as that magnificent ship along with her Sister.

 

I have indeed seen your captain. He was hurling invective on his Windjammer ship with its keel buried in deep, soft sand off an out island in the Bahamas. His passengers were too "three sheets to the wind" to care. Good old Windjammer.

 

. . . "harsher threads." Well put.

 

Ruby

 

THAT WAS FUNNY! LOL

[bcscot]

Took our 12yr old black lab to the kennel today. Always very sad. At his age we are just never too sure if he will still be with us on our return.:(

Would rather have left aforementioned FIL at kennel & taken dog on cruise. Wife agreed. Unfortunately HAL do not take dogs but do take FILs.:(

 

Donald: Have a nice cruise on the Zaandam. We may pass each other somewhere along the way. Do you play the trumpet?

 

Kazover40: I note that you are heading off to South America with NCL in November. Sounds very interesting. I hope you will let us know how it goes. How about trying Saga (or are you not mature enough yet; like me!)?:D

 

Admiral Ma'am: Please keep everything ship shape & Bristol fashion on this great Nostalgia cruise.

 

The shepherd is coming. I must go & join the flock. The 'sheep ees leeving'!

 

Bye for now.

 

Graham.

[Conte Di Savoia]

Please excuse me for butting in, but just wantd to say the Saga Rose sure looked pretty in Douglas harbour last week. I do hope you enjoyed your short visit to the Isle of Man and had a great cruise!

 

We had a wonderful time. How lucky your are to live in such a beautiful place! We walked around Douglas and had a wonderful lunch of local "queenies" at MacFarlanes and then toured Castletown in the afternoon. Saga Rose looked particularly lovely in the harbour as she made her first "official" visit to Man. I thought the others might enjoy seeing what we did on that day.

Saga Rose at Douglas, Isle of Man

[kazover40]

We had a wonderful time. How lucky your are to live in such a beautiful place! We walked around Douglas and had a wonderful lunch of local "queenies" at MacFarlanes and then toured Castletown in the afternoon. Saga Rose looked particularly lovely in the harbour as she made her first "official" visit to Man. I thought the others might enjoy seeing what we did on that day.

Saga Rose at Douglas, Isle of Man

 

Hey! Great photo, with the Tower of Refuge in the foreground! You couln't have chosen any better Manx delicacy. We sure love our Queenies!

 

Glad you enjoyed your stay!

Karen

[kazover40]

Took our 12yr old black lab to the kennel today. Always very sad. At his age we are just never too sure if he will still be with us on our return.:(

Would rather have left aforementioned FIL at kennel & taken dog on cruise. Wife agreed. Unfortunately HAL do not take dogs but do take FILs.:(

 

Kazover40: I note that you are heading off to South America with NCL in November. Sounds very interesting. I hope you will let us know how it goes. How about trying Saga (or are you not mature enough yet; like me!)?:D

Graham.

 

Graham Have a wonderful cruise! Losing a dog n gaining a FIL mmmm could have been a MIL which is even worse lol!

 

I qualify by default for Saga! MY DH is 65 next year lol! I'm the spring chicken in our relationship OR Is that old broiler lol

 

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[Saga Ruby]

Could someone explain that delicacy? I assume the aristocracy is lurking in the background of that story. (cough cough) Karen, your captain is hereby requested to extinguish all smoking materials.

 

Hmmm, black Lab or FIL. In my book, no choice. I had the world's greatest black Lab - I still miss him.

 

Conte - the photo of Saga Rose is breathtaking in front of the Tower of Refuge. So refreshing to see a proper ship. Even better to sail on one.

 

Ruby

[kazover40]

Could someone explain that delicacy? I assume the aristocracy is lurking in the background of that story. (cough cough) Karen, your captain is hereby requested to extinguish all smoking materials.

 

 

Conte - the photo of Saga Rose is breathtaking and thanks to Karen for identifying the Tower of Refuge. So refreshing to see a proper ship. Even better to sail on one.

 

Ruby

 

 

Ruby This is a photo of queenies. They are a shellfish similar to a scallop, but smaller! Taste sweeter! We usually fry them with a little bacon and garlic and occasionally add fresh cream (Definitely the food of Kings lol)

 

The pipe is just a soother lol Not actually lit lmao

 

[Kapricorn]

Today's weather in Vancouver is cloudy with light rain. However, I don't think that it will put a damper on Graham & company's first day on the Ryndam as they head out for a week of relaxation and adventure.

 

Donald.

[dougnewmanatsea]

I sailed on Royal Viking Star, Sea, and Sky and the last one - the Queen? I get Queen and Sun mixed up.

QUEEN was the little baby one, a sister to SEABOURN PRIDE and SPIRIT... She was originally ordered for Seabourn who cancelled the order and RVL picked it up. She's the SEABOURN LEGEND now. Since she was so atypical of the fleet (about 1/3 the size of the stretched STAR/SKY/SEA or 1/4 the size of SUN) and was only an RVL ship for three years (1992-1995) most people don't associate her with RVL at all.

 

SUN was the last "real" RVL ship (that is, actually designed and built for RVL) and was larger than the original three. She's now PRINSENDAM.

 

Here's a nice photo of QUEEN and here's SUN.

 

With any luck, next month I will be visiting BLACK WATCH, ex ROYAL VIKING STAR - full report on my return, of course (assuming I can swing a visit).

[Saga Ruby]

Ruby This is a photo of queenies. They are a shellfish similar to a scallop, but smaller! Taste sweeter! We usually fry them with a little bacon and garlic and occasionally add fresh cream (Definitely the food of Kings lol)

 

Gee, in my view, you could eliminate the queenies and just cook up the bacon, garlic, and fresh cream.

 

D'maniac - wouldn't it be a good assumption that the weather up your way and into Alaska will not be a 7-day sail of blue skies and bright sun? When I was in Seattle many years ago, the taxi driver asked me how long I had visited in that fair city. Upon my answer of 5 days, he replied, "You've been here for the only sunny five days we've had all year!"

 

By the bye, most of the Brits on my Saga Rose cruise had sailed on Fred.Olsen. They prefer Saga Cruises because it is a bit more luxury and slightly better service but, in their view, it is splitting a fine hair. They are quite enthusiastic about cruising on Fred.Olsen. One passenger told a great story about the real Fred Olsen (Jr.) being onboard on a cruise - he does not in any way welcome a chat with one of his passengers.

 

Ruby

[Kapricorn]

Conte, thanks also from me for the splendid photograph of the Saga Rose!

 

Surely the Tower of Refuge is not as small as it looks in comparison with the ship behind it, or did telephoto lens distort their comparative sizes?

 

Ruby: Weather is extremely variable here in the Pacific Northwest, especially at this time of year. For example, for Wednesday the forecast is mainly sunny for my embarkation on the Zaandam. I am under no illusion that I will be wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts over the seven days of the cruise. I am bringing both warm- and cold-weather clothes with me.

 

Donald D'Maniac.

[kazover40]

By the bye, most of the Brits on my Saga Rose cruise had sailed on Fred.Olsen. They prefer Saga Cruises because it is a bit more luxury and slightly better service but, in their view, it is splitting a fine hair. They are quite enthusiastic about cruising on Fred.Olsen. One passenger told a great story about the real Fred Olsen (Jr.) being onboard on a cruise - he does not in any way welcome a chat with one of his passengers.

 

Ruby

We where once unfortunate enough to be on the same ship as THE Olsen Jr. He was the most obnoxious rude person I have ever met! He hogged 1 of the 2 Blackjack tables all night.

 

I found out from the Captain that he was using the Casino’s money. This explained his erratic gambling! He ended up playing alone with the croupier! We were so glad when he left the ship. The Captain actually said he would love to throw him overboard!

 

We had met the Captain on a previous cruise; this was his first sailing as captain. When we all lined up for formal photo’s he politely shook everyone’s hand. Me, I got a big hug! It certainly made some of the female passengers green with envy! Lol

 

Donald Indeed the Tower of Refuge is only small!

 

 

 

 

 

The Tower of Refuge

The traveller arriving by sea at Douglas cannot help but notice, depending on the state of the tide, either a fortress-like building rising directly out of the sea, or, if it is low water, a long menacing reef of rock on which this structure is built. Despite its appearance, this tower had no military or defensive function. Rather, its purpose was the humanitarian one of providing shelter for the crews of the many vessels which were wrecked on the reef. It also served to indicate the presence of the dangerous rocks. The building is called the Tower of Refuge and the reef on which it stands is known as St. Mary's Isle, or Conister Rock. The name Conister derives from the Manx Gaelic, Kione y Sker, meaning the end of the reef.

Probably the best known wreck on Conister Rock was that of the St. George in 1830. The Douglas lifeboat rescued all 22 persons on board. Sir William Hillary, who lived on Douglas Head at FortAnne, now demolished, was the founder of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Hillary was a member of the Douglas lifeboat crew and took part in the service to the St. George. On that occasion he was washed overboard and injured.

In the following year Hillary had the idea of building a refuge on Conister rock. This consists of three stout towers linked together to form a triangular shaped structure. It was designed by John Welch and was erected in 1832. The cost was £255 and £181 was raised by public subscriptions. Hillary made up the difference himself.

 

 

 

 

[dougnewmanatsea]

By the bye, most of the Brits on my Saga Rose cruise had sailed on Fred.Olsen. They prefer Saga Cruises because it is a bit more luxury and slightly better service but, in their view, it is splitting a fine hair.

Interesting. They do both seem to go after a fairly similar market but Olsen does have lower fares so it is not a surprise that Saga is better.

 

Of course Olsen does not have any age restriction and on a few cruises a year even encourages (gasp) families!

 

My friend Tony Cooke, who publishes some wonderful ocean liner books under the Carmania Press imprint and is also a great author in his own right, is certainly a very big fan of Fred. Olsen - in fact he even gives a very nice lecture about the company, which he gave to one of our local groups here in New York a couple of years back. He was a bit worried that the American audience might not be interested but of course being ship nuts (and being that it was him doing the lecturing) we really enjoyed it. He brought up some very interesting facts about the company and I think many of us left the lecture hall wanting to book an Olsen cruise.

 

Now they are going after the North American market to at least a limited extent; the "new" BALMORAL (currently NORWEGIAN CROWN for a little while longer) is going to be based in Miami in the winter and they are hoping for 20% North American/80% British passengers on those cruises. If they market themselves right I am sure they will have no trouble getting it especially as there are so many Americans like us who would like to cruise on smaller ships without having to spend an arm and a leg, something that is increasingly difficult to do.

 

One passenger told a great story about the real Fred Olsen (Jr.) being onboard on a cruise - he does not in any way welcome a chat with one of his passengers.

I shall have to keep that in mind in case I ever run into him :eek: !

 

In a way I am rather surprised to hear that as everyone I have come into contact from the company has been absolutely delightful.

 

In my view if one owns the cruise line (or is a senior executive of any short) and is travelling aboard the ship openly as oneself, then one has something of a duty to mingle with the passengers.

 

I can certainly understand him not wanting to "talk shop" on holiday but if that is the case I suppose he should not make it known to passengers who he is, or else choose some holiday option that doesn't involve his own ships.

[Kapricorn]

In my view if one owns the cruise line (or is a senior executive of any short) and is travelling aboard the ship openly as oneself, then one has something of a duty to mingle with the passengers.

 

Fred Olsen Jr. should remember that it is his passengers who help shovel money into his bank account. It wouldn't hurt to go out of his way to show his appreciation to them by being respectful and friendly.

 

Donald.

[Saga Ruby]

We where once unfortunate enough to be on the same ship as THE Olsen Jr. He was the most obnoxious rude person I have ever met! He hogged 1 of the 2 Blackjack tables all night.

 

I found out from the Captain that he was using the Casino’s money. This explained his erratic gambling! He ended up playing alone with the croupier! We were so glad when he left the ship. The Captain actually said he would love to throw him overboard!

 

Thanks for telling that story. I was pulling my punches when I brought up stories about Fred Jr. Several Saga passengers had run into him onboard an Olsen ship and said that he was a complete boor and startlingly rude. The speculation was that he carried pepper spray in case an Olsen passenger dared to approach and disturb him. I agree with D'maniac - one should remember from whence one's bread and butter derives.

 

Ruby

[CGTNORMANDIE]

GOOD MORNING!!!

 

WELCOME TO KAZOVER!!! And a belated BON VOYAGE to Graham!!!

 

Hi Kazover!!! The queenies looked wonderful!!! I think they would be nice to just sautee them in butter with lemon!!!

 

Speaking of fish:

I was going over some 1936 menus from the Swedish American Line. They really liked fish. The menus were loaded with every kind of sil, rollmop, sardine and herring that you could think of. They also had a ton of caviar too.

 

Ross