Saga Rose Greenland Voyager August 2007

[Druke I]

2500 posts, and thread will be two years old later this month!

 

See what you started, Saga Ruby? Good for you!!

[franu]

At this time, I have not had to "greet the dawn" due to a plane res. Many people do. Is your flight an NCL arrangement or did you choose to make the early flight to arrive on embarkation day?

I made these reservations on a small airline that still serves meals and apparently good service. Unfortunately they decided to merge FLL with Orlando and will take extra time but I am paying about half of what Air Canada charges.

 

For my Hawaii flight my TA arranged the flight and that too was a considerable savings over the cruiseline's price. In both cases I am going the day before the cruise and will overnight in Miami for this cruise San Diego for my Hawaii cruise.

 

Living in the frozen north where the precipitation needs to be shoveled, I like to have that cushion and not have quite so much anxiety about missing the ship. It also helps me enjoy my first day onboard as I am that much more relaxed.

 

I am taking my new toy with me. It is a mini notebook pink computer. It weighs less than 3 lbs. I will see how this works for me.

Fran

[franu]

Bon Voyage Donald. Have a wonderful and safe trip.

Fran

[Saga Ruby]

I am taking my new toy with me. It is a mini notebook pink computer. It weighs less than 3 lbs. I will see how this works for me. Fran

 

Your new toy sounds intriguing. I have never carried a laptop because, for my purposes, even the Sony Vaio was too heavy. However, before I leave in May, I will purchase an iPhone and I hope to use that phone as my portable computer. My son and daughter each have iPhones and I will have them for my human instruction manuals.

 

I'm keen to hear how you like your Pink Thing. Have a wonderful cruise, Fran, and take notes about NCL - we will look forward to hearing your comments.

 

Donald - a happy Bon Voyage to you. From what I'm hearing about winter in the Northwest, the Caribbean sunshine and warm temps can't come soon enough. Think of it - rain and snow today, sunblock on Sunday!

 

Ruby

Edited January 7, 2009 by Saga Ruby

[Druke I]

http://www.maritimematters.com has a nice photo of the Saga sisters at Southampton, prior to departing for world cruises.

 

Just follow the prompts to the photo section.

[Kapricorn]

Donald - a happy Bon Voyage to you. From what I'm hearing about winter in the Northwest, the Caribbean sunshine and warm temps can't come soon enough. Think of it - rain and snow today, sunblock on Sunday!

 

Thanks, Ruby! I'm off to the airport in an hour and a half. Will let you know after my return how things went on Galaxy.

 

Donald.

[Host Sharon]

Enjoy your cruises all those just off.

 

There is another lovely picture of the Saga sisters here. Not one of mine I hasten to add, but a friend's.

Edited January 10, 2009 by ships cat

[Saga Ruby]

Thanks to everyone who has shown those pix of the glamourous Saga Sisters. Aren't those gals swellelegant?

 

I'm standing by impatiently, waiting for Fran's return and report. I hope she doesn't unpack before she relates her adventures on NCL Jewel.

 

Ships cat - where are you off to next? I find that I'm avoiding getting individual visas for independent travel nowadays. I have cancelled my day trip to Izmir to visit the ceramic tile factory and have decided to shop in Istanbul instead. The ship's visa will cover me while I'm touring around town. My Turkish friends in Istanbul can surely direct me to the best places off the beaten path. I wonder if I can afford true antique tiles or "modern" renditions? Does anyone have input about prices of Muslim ceramic tiles?

 

Ruby

[Druke I]

This month's Cruise Travel magazine, which came in the mail today, has a nice photo of Sagafjord, in their article of "Beautiful Ships".

 

They also have a great photo of Royal Princess in the section of "Transitional Ships".

[Host Sharon]

Thanks to everyone who has shown those pix of the glamourous Saga Sisters. Aren't those gals swellelegant?

 

I'm standing by impatiently, waiting for Fran's return and report. I hope she doesn't unpack before she relates her adventures on NCL Jewel.

 

Ships cat - where are you off to next? I find that I'm avoiding getting individual visas for independent travel nowadays. I have cancelled my day trip to Izmir to visit the ceramic tile factory and have decided to shop in Istanbul instead. The ship's visa will cover me while I'm touring around town. My Turkish friends in Istanbul can surely direct me to the best places off the beaten path. I wonder if I can afford true antique tiles or "modern" renditions? Does anyone have input about prices of Muslim ceramic tiles?

 

Ruby

 

Sorry - can't help with the tile prices as I didn't get to go round the shops in Instanbul. For the next five months it's work, work, work. Need to build up the cruising funds again! Then I'm over to you, well New York, Boston and Halifax on QM2. Have to see if I can still sail with Cunard post QE2. I know she's a huge ship, but the passenger ratio is low and people who have been on her love her. It is 12 sea days out of 17 :D

Edited January 15, 2009 by ships cat

[Saga Ruby]

Have to see if I can still sail with Cunard post QE2. I know she's a huge ship, but the passenger ratio is low and people who have been on her love her. It is 12 sea days out of 17

 

Several people who have my personal tastes in ships have commented that they enjoy the QM2. Evidently it is a lovely ship and somehow size does not matter on that Queen.

 

Fran? Have you gotten unpacked yet? News from your NCL cruise? Was your "free" cruise enjoyable?

 

Ruby

[Druke I]

One thing that turns us off about QM2 is the dress code. I just don't feel like doing the tuxedo thing anymore.

 

That of course is but one of the many reasons Virginia and I enjoy Oceania so much - the dress code!

[Host Sharon]

One thing that turns us off about QM2 is the dress code. I just don't feel like doing the tuxedo thing anymore.

 

That of course is but one of the many reasons Virginia and I enjoy Oceania so much - the dress code!

 

I am the opposite Michael. I just loooove dressing up, especially as I don't do it at home ever!

[Druke I]

I don't really mind dressing up that much (even if the penguin suit is not as comfortable as a business suit).

 

With the airline's restrictive weight limits, it just seems to be more of a hassle than necessary. I admit, I am getting lazier as I age - but I think that is my prerogative - I've earned my gray hair!

[franu]

Hi everyone, I arrived in Toronto a few hours ago after taking an extra day in FL. I don't and never did like FL but the people in the hotel were exceptional.

 

I unfortunately was ill most of the time as an old illness kept me in bed for more than half of the time. Visually the Jewel colours are garish. The ship's size makes it difficult for someone with mobility issues but not yet chair ridden. Everything seems to require a long walk to the other end of the ship and there are no seats near elevators making the waits not worth the trip.

 

Food in the buffet is always cold and chilled eggs or pancakes do not do it for me. The food in the main dining room must have drained all of the salt from the seas. It had so much salt that my mouth burned for a few hours after a meal.

 

I was shocked to find that this ship does not stock sugar-free jams or jellies. I never would have thought that this would be possible or I would have brought my own from home.

 

I chose to miss approximately half of my meals.

 

Free-style dining is not a good choice for me. There is a lot of standing and waiting. I tried to arrange with the powers that be for a time that I could come and be seated. Every day the arrangements of the previous day were not known to anyone there. I am rather tired now and will gladly answer any questions tomorrow.

 

The cruise was not even worth the price that I paid for it. I would not do it again

Fran

[Druke I]

Sorry your experience was so poor.

 

We are not fans of NCL either.

[Saga Ruby]

Visually the Jewel colours are garish. The ship's size makes it difficult for someone with mobility issues but not yet chair ridden. Everything seems to require a long walk to the other end of the ship and there are no seats near elevators making the waits not worth the trip.

 

Food in the buffet is always cold and chilled eggs or pancakes do not do it for me. The food in the main dining room must have drained all of the salt from the seas. It had so much salt that my mouth burned for a few hours after a meal.

 

I was shocked to find that this ship does not stock sugar-free jams or jellies. I never would have thought that this would be possible or I would have brought my own from home.

 

Free-style dining is not a good choice for me. There is a lot of standing and waiting. I tried to arrange with the powers that be for a time that I could come and be seated. Every day the arrangements of the previous day were not known to anyone there. The cruise was not even worth the price that I paid for it. I would not do it again. Fran

 

Fran, thanks for telling us the reality of an NCL cruise. So sorry to hear that you were not shipshape for the cruise. I expected your comments about "garish" and less-than-stellar food service, but it sounds as though NCL's idea of selling cruise tickets is to wrap poor service and poor management inside a "box" of faux excitement and perceived glamour.

 

I had trepidations about free-style dining when I boarded Nautica but I never ever waited in line. I walked up to the headwaiter's lectern, made my choice of "large table" known, and was escorted immediately to my seat.

 

Celebrity's Constellation was my only "big ship" experience and as I've often said, I got quite tired of hiking a quarter mile back to my cabin or to the dining room. On that crossing from Barcelona to San Juan, altho' the service and food at that time were fine, it was just the right length to learn that apartment barges are not for me.

 

For my cruise choices, it's all about civility and service - as far up the ladder as I can afford. So I cruise less, read current information about ships here on the boards and in member reviews, then hope my choices are finest-kind experiences.

 

Welcome home, get some rest, and think "Hawaii."

 

Ruby

[Host Sharon]

Oh dear Fran. That sounds a horrible experience. You can put up with some things but inedible food and lifts that take forever are not any of them. I will cross NCL off my list - not that is was really on there to start with.

[franu]

I expected your comments about "garish" and less-than-stellar food service, but it sounds as though NCL's idea of selling cruise tickets is to wrap poor service and poor management inside a "box" of faux excitement and perceived glamour.

Please understand that there are many people who would fight me to my death on these issues. They love everything about the ship and cruise and are repeat offenders.

 

Perhaps our likes and dislikes are a mile apart. I have never enjoyed the ship's shows as they don't tickle my sense of humour. While in bed, I had the TV on for company but couldn't find where I left my remote control and was forced to listen to their version of a TV show where they separate husbands and wives and as the same questions to each group.

 

The questions were what size bra do your wife wear? What kind of panties does your wife have on now? Obviously there must be passengers who think that this is funny. I feel like a snob but I didn't take a dummy test before sailing.

 

We had two meetings onboard of our roll call group of Cruise Critic.

 

As much as I love to cruise, if NCL were the last cruiseline in the world I would have to find a new love on land.

Fran

[Host Sharon]

Please understand that there are many people who would fight me to my death on these issues. They love everything about the ship and cruise and are repeat offenders.

 

Perhaps our likes and dislikes are a mile apart. I have never enjoyed the ship's shows as they don't tickle my sense of humour. While in bed, I had the TV on for company but couldn't find where I left my remote control and was forced to listen to their version of a TV show where they separate husbands and wives and as the same questions to each group.

 

The questions were what size bra do your wife wear? What kind of panties does your wife have on now? Obviously there must be passengers who think that this is funny. I feel like a snob but I didn't take a dummy test before sailing.

 

We had two meetings onboard of our roll call group of Cruise Critic.

 

As much as I love to cruise, if NCL were the last cruiseline in the world I would have to find a new love on land.

Fran

 

I am sure we all know where you are coming from Fran. It's just as well we all like different ships anyway, or we would all be fighting for the same cabins.

[franu]

Oh well! On to Hawaii in 14 days. I need to read up on this one. Any suggestions?

Fran

[Saga Ruby]

Are you home safe and healthy? How was Galaxy? Thoughts and comments?

 

Since you and Fran will be in Hawaii at approximately the same time, what are you looking for as a new experience?

 

Every time my kids did well (graduate from college, graduate from medical school, graduate into the aviation Show), I was taking them to Maui for 10 days or 2 weeks at their request to a specific condo/hotel up the road from Kihei. Love that place. So, during the 90s, I spent more time in Maui, then Kauai, than I did on ships - egad!

 

But I know nothing about cruising the island coastlines and ports. Donald?

 

Ruby

[Kapricorn]

Hi, Ruby and all -

 

I'm still suffering jet lag, but am thankful to be home despite fog-shrouded airports in Seattle and Vancouver two days ago.

 

The cruise on Galaxy was as enjoyable as it was last March. It was windier in the Caribbean this time, though. In Curacao, Queen Victoria was also docked there. An impressive sight! Since I was traveling with my two friends from Los Angeles, we took five tours - three through Celebrity and two private. We preferred the private tours because we were taken to places not on the bus tours.

 

Service on Galaxy was top-notch. My friends, with whom I first cruised on Vision of the Seas two months ago, remarked that the dining room service and cuisine was superior this time. They did say that things cannot compare to what they experienced during their three cruises on Oceania, and urged me to consider cruising on that vessel. However, it's rather pricey for a solo passenger.

 

My diminutive cabin attendant from the Philippines gave me a bear hug on the final day, which surprised me. I put in a good word about her services on the comment card. Eduardo, the Martini Bar server, remembered my martini preference from last March, which greatly impressed me.

 

I'm taking the Hawaiian cruise next month mainly to enjoy some sun. Did I say that a couple of months ago my doctor diagnosed me with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)? I've cruised around Hawaii twice before, and generally we arrive early and depart late, so didn't really get to see the shoreline. There is no dock in Lahaina, therefore, cruise passengers must use the tenders to get to the shore.

 

Donald.

Edited January 22, 2009 by Kapricorn

[Kapricorn]

Here's the Queen Victoria in Curacao.

 

[Druke I]

Not a bad looking ship, at least in profile.

 

Doubt that I will ever sail her.