Saga Rose Greenland Voyager August 2007

[Saga Ruby]

Is anyone booked on the '08 world cruise or on the RUBY's September 08 cruise to Greenland/Montreal/New York cruise? Stephen (the painter)

 

A cheery hello back to you. In answer to your note about the September cruise, I briefly looked at it as a New England/Canada cruise. As you can imagine, it would be a one-off thru special consideration of Saga as I am done with flying to the UK to wind up almost in the arms of North America, sailing back to the UK, then flying home, thereby recrossing the same time zones in too short a time.

 

But I stumbled over my own feet and wound up in Greenland and Iceland on Saga Rose this past August. Perhaps someone else would be joining your cruises?

 

Ruby

[PRINSENDAM]

HELLO STEPHEN!!! AND WELCOME TO "THE BEST THREAD ON CRUISE CRITICS".

 

I am playing host for RUBY who is busy house hunting with her daughter. I believe I speak for all of us when I say...WE REALLY LIKE YOUR WORK!!! LOL!!!

 

HI DRUKE! I believe the good old "SUNDANCER" went under a few years ago...and I do mean to the bottom of the sea.

 

Ross

 

Hi Ross,

 

Many thanks your kind comments! :o

 

I'm inclined to agree about this being the best thread on CC. At least we can discuss one of the world's greatest ships. The ROSE has been a popular ship since she was first introduced as SAGAFJORD. What a magnificent career! My first visit to the ship was in 1966 or 67 when she called at Bermuda on a cruise. My first cruise on her was not until 1992. Back then both SAGAFJORD and VISTAFJORD had rather similar interiors, but then VISTA... as CARONIA was an awful makeover. Saga have done a lot to eliminate much of the awful work that was done but the two ships now look and feel different.

 

Stephen

[Druke I]

Yesterday, on youtube, I found a video of Saga Rose leaving Southampton. There is also a link to the video on Cruise Critic's Boards' Page.

 

I tried to send it to Saga Ruby, but the machine didn't work properly. I checked back this morning, and it is still on youtube, so those of you who have the fascination with the ship can go pull it up.

 

I don't care for jazz, and it has a soundtrack of jazz. Would much rather have had a proper military band playing Rule Britannia.

[CGTNORMANDIE]

Yes, Sundancer went down, but I was referring to Stardancer, which was Sundance Cruise Line's 2nd ship!

 

SORRY DRUKE!!! You are correct...I just got the Sundancer in my mind. One of the biggest problems I have is that I am writing this from my office and all my reference books are at home...LOL. Sometimes working off the top on my head just does not come out the way I would like.

 

HI STEPHEN!!!

 

The SAGAFJORD was always my favorite of the 2 NAL liners...even though I was never aboard them...I always liked the looks of SAGAFJORD...a classic transatlantic greyhound...and that the First Class dining room was one seating. I do believe that one fact set her apart from a lot of other ships. I remember seeing the VISTAFJORD close up as she passed us when I was onboard the LEONARDO DAVINCI. She was fairly new and looked majestic as she glided past. I guess there is nothing better than seeing a ship when she is at sea...working in her natural element.

 

Ross

[Conte Di Savoia]

Saga Cruises has this wonderful video of the sisters racing each other at sea. Druke, I hope this music is more to your liking. It isn't Rule Britannia but it does seem to match the excitement of the event and it does keep time with my heart beat when I watch it!

[Druke I]

Which reference do you prefer?

 

I've always liked Arnold Kludas, and may some day get a complete set of his works.

[Druke I]

Yes, that background music is much more suitable. Thanks for the link.

 

(I think we must have posting at the same time.)

[CGTNORMANDIE]

Which reference do you prefer?

 

I've always liked Arnold Kludas, and may some day get a complete set of his works.

 

HI DRUKE!!!

 

I have all of Kludas and a lot more...in fact...a complete library including the original 2 volumes of Lloyd history and just about everything ever published on the CGT and the NORMANDIE. I always rely on my 8 volumnes of Aronold Kludas and then Maxtone Graham, Malcom Brinnan, and a few more...and Frank Braynard is always good.

 

Try to find a complete set of Kludas...They are getting scarce...and expensive. My 2 volumes on the Lloyd history are now valued at $1200 and you can't even find them. Who knew...LOL!!!

 

Ross

[Conte Di Savoia]

I hope you had a wonderful trip on board Europa. It would be great to have a critique of the cruise.

[Saga Ruby]

We have now passed the 20,000-views mark and no one is more surprised than I am - and appreciative of your interest.

 

I left Cruise Critic 3 years ago because I was planning my first Saga cruise on Saga Ruby and found zero information on that particular cruise line. The only information available on the Web was discussion of the progressive owners of Sagafjord and Vistafjord. So I am quite happy to have this Saga Rose thread continuing onward.

 

Now. About Europa?

 

Ruby

[Conte Di Savoia]

Unfortunately, this November we forfeited our transatlantic crossing and took a 9 day cruise to the Canary Islands on the much touted (by the Berlitz guide) Europa of Hapag Lloyd. We wish we had taken a Seabourn or Regent transatlantic instead.

 

I found this comment posted by JDRMYS the other day on a Seabourn thread. Sounds ominous!

[CGTNORMANDIE]

GOOD NEWS!!! Some very good and great friends of mine just got off the SAGA RUBY (recent transatlantic) and absolutely loved it. They are now totally hooked on SAGA and have booked the sister line SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE. Does anyone know anything about the SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE???

 

Ross

[Druke I]

According to google, Spirit of Adventure is the former Berlin, built in 1979 for Peter Deilmann, and described as "yacht-like".

 

There are several entries, although I did not read them all.

 

There are a couple of new videos on youtube, showing the new Cunarder, Queen Victoria, entering Southampton waters for the first time. There is one or two with QV blowing her whistle (horn), which sounds better on this tape than it did on the one I attempted (without success) to send to SagaRuby a few days ago.

 

All you whistle (horn) lovers, check it out. Quickest route is via posts on the Cunard Forum on Cruise Critic.

 

SagaRuby is obviously happy with the number of viewers on this thread - I predict that given time (and continued cooperation with the moderators), we can get the number of replies well above the 1,200 mark.

[Saga Ruby]

I found this comment posted by JDRMYS the other day on a Seabourn thread. Sounds ominous!

 

I read JDRMYS's comments on Seabourn and, like Conte, find it quite interesting. So many times, travel ratings seem to be self-generated or "inspired" by the touting facility or ship, with an ad agency or PR type lurking in the background. I was uncomfortable with the raves about Europa and now we have reason to question same.

 

It's like the Burj in Dubai - it declares itself a 7-star hotel. Will the Emirates build the first 10-star hotel in the future? The constant push to be The Best is like spraying cockroaches - eventually they develop an immunity.

 

Ruby

[Conte Di Savoia]

GOOD NEWS!!! Some very good and great friends of mine just got off the SAGA RUBY (recent transatlantic) and absolutely loved it. They are now totally hooked on SAGA and have booked the sister line SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE. Does anyone know anything about the SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE???

 

Ross

 

Spirit of Adventure does not operate under the restrictive age policy which applies to Saga Rose and Saga Ruby. The itineraries are port intensive and unusual.

[CGTNORMANDIE]

THANKS DRUKE AND CONTE!!! I am hoping that my friends will enjoy the SPIRIT. Just off the top of my head...wasn't the BERLIN originally the ASTOR???

 

Ross

[dougnewmanatsea]

Just off the top of my head...wasn't the BERLIN originally the ASTOR???

She wasn't either of the ASTORs, but she's very closely related to them. She was built by the same builder at the same time as the first ASTOR, and looks rather like miniature version of them.

 

BERLIN was built as such in 1980 for Peter Deilmann, his first purpose-built cruise ship. From 1982-1985 she was called the PRINCESS MASHURI and chartered to Blue Funnel Line. Then from 1985-2005 she was BERLIN again before becoming ORANGE MELODY in 2005-2006 on charter to the Russian tour operator Metropolis Tur. She's been SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE since 2006.

 

The first ASTOR was built a year later, in 1981. In 1985 she became ARKONA and since 2002 she's been ASTORIA with Transocean Tours.

 

The slightly larger, faster second ASTOR was built in 1987, became FEDOR DOSTOEVSKIY in 1988, and then ASTOR again in 1995. She too is chartered by Transocean, in this case since 1996.

 

All three ships were built by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft, BERLIN and ASTOR (II) in Kiel and ASTOR (I) in Hamburg. HDW, Kiel is the largest shipyard in Germany. The Hamburg yard closed in 1985.

 

As a ship SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE is obviously very different from the Saga sisters - smaller, plainer and newer - but she does look quite nice nonetheless, and her itineraries product are very appealing to me. And of course there is not that annoying age restriction ;) ! I know several people who have sailed with her and found it a delightful experience, and I would certainly like to myself.

[Saga Ruby]

I was reading the CC review of the ship. In part, it says, "What distinguishes the lush, red velvet Red Court Theater from other cruise ship performance venues is its row of upper level private boxes; not limited to royalty, passengers will be able to "book" an evening here which involves a pre-show (post-dinner) drink in a private bar, escort to your box, Veuve Cliquot Champagne and truffles, and a pull-cord to summon bell boys for any other desires."

 

In your opinion, is this a nice, nostalgic touch or Cunard's bid to hike a price wherever possible?

 

Ruby

[CGTNORMANDIE]

THANKS DOUG...I new the Berlin had something to do with the ASTOR.

 

Sounds like SAGA better order another newbuild on top of the one they just ordered.

 

Ross

[dougnewmanatsea]

In your opinion, is this a nice, nostalgic touch or Cunard's bid to hike a price wherever possible?

Most definitely the latter.

 

QUEEN VICTORIA does not look like an unpleasant ship by any means, but she has been surrounded by an almost unprecedented amount of pretense. This is one example.

[Druke I]

At least one person has commented that those fancy box seats in the theater, Queen Victoria, do not have good sight lines to the stage, and therefore are highly over-rated.

 

I've had bad luck forwarding youtube tapes, etc., recently. There is a very good photo of Oceania's Insignia and Azamara's Journey, tied up elephant style, at Rio De Janiero, couple of days ago. It is located on the Oceania Forum, on the thread titled "Just Back - Barcelona to Rio".

[Kapricorn]

Have recently returned from Saga Ruby cruise during which we were addressed by the Saga Travel Chief Executive who anounced that SAGA are ordering a new build ship to replace Saga Rose and that SAGA are working hard to convince the builders that they don't want a floating block of flats and the funel must be in the middle!!

TRAMS

 

It'll be interesting what name will be given to the new ship. Saga Rune? Saga Rime? Saga Rock?

 

Donald D'maniac.

[Druke I]

I saw over on the NCL Forum that Norwegian Dream (former Dreamward) has hit a barge at Montevideo, and has effectively closed the harbor.

 

Orient Line's Marco Polo, which was supposed to have had a port call in Montevideo, has now cancelled that port, and is diverting to Buenos Aires.

 

We were on the Norwegian Dream into the Baltic, back in May 99. Loved the itinerary, including the Kiel Canal, but weren't wild about the ship. It had been recently stretched, but left with what we thought was a poorly executed deck plan and flow of traffic plan. When they stretched the ship, they did add lots of passenger cabins, but little in the way of public lounges, etc. It seemed rather cramped.

 

We had been on her sister, Windward, Sep 94, before the stretch and name change to Norwegian Wind (which sounds like a flatulence problem). We thought it a well designed ship, for a 7 to 10 night cruise.

[Conte Di Savoia]

Welcome home, Donald! How was the b2b?

[Kapricorn]

Welcome home, Donald! How was the b2b?

 

Hi, Conte! Overall I enjoyed my two weeks on the Vision of the Seas. I was glad that I booked the b2b, because the first week had only three sunny days (all in Mexican ports), while the second week had six sunny days. I was able to spend more time around the ship's pool working up a sun-tan.

 

One thing that I've noticed over numerous times on that route is that the last sea day back is always rough, windy and chilly. Fortunately I had warm clothes in preparation for the homeward flight to cold Vancouver. Barf bags were distributed at each staircase, so I guess that seasickness was a problem for some of the passengers. Not me! The ship really pitched at the bow and stern. For some reason the outdoor pool was not drained, resulting in soggy conditions on the deck as water sloshed out of the pool. I observed it from my stool at the bar in front of the pool, as I drank beer.

 

The Crown Lounge atop the superstructure, with its spectacular views, was my favourite place for my nightly pre-dinner martinis. By comparison, the Martini Bar in the interior of the Mercury seemed like a windowless prison cell.

 

Like NCL, there were the Mr. Sexy Legs contests at the poolside on both weeks. Ten men competed the first week, and nine on the second week. Five women were recruited from among the passengers to serve as judges. On NCL, the judges ranked the top five finalists, but on RCI each judge chose her favourite, so there were always five separate winners who received a blue ribbon and a kiss.

 

Food was comparable to Celebrity, but was not served in the dining room with equal finesse. I enjoyed the staff who were just as courteous and friendly as on Celebrity. There were better benefits for repeat cruisers than on Celebrity - for example, I got a free coffee at the ship's Seattle's Best Coffee kiosk, and a free photograph with the purchase of another photograph. In addition, I could buy a second bottle of wine for 20% less as long as it is under $50. I took advantage of all these on both weeks.

 

I cancelled my second b2b on the Vision next February because I switched to the Galaxy on her 10-day cruise in Eastern Caribbean next March. I haven't been over there since 2001.

 

D'maniac.