Saga Spirit of Discovery

[Midlandslass]

Forgot to mention for all you P&O fans, all cabins get slippers and lovely fluffy cotton bathrobes.
No distinction between Pacific and Baltic
The bath towels are also large fluffy cotton.
Also to request your room to be made there is a switch inside the cabin which lights up a panel outside the door. Do not disturb the light is red outside.

[CaroleF]

We have just booked a 9 night cruise on Spirit of Discovery for April. We had to postpone a cruise we had booked on Oceana for next month. At the time the balance for that cruise was due - last November - we weren't sure whether John's health would allow us to go, or if we could get insurance cover. John has Vasculitis which is now in remission and he has one more infusion of a drug that combats his over-active immune system which is what causes the problem. He is much better - although not a lot of energy which for a man who was incredibly fit and active until this illness is very hard to bear. Of course the drug is responsible for the lack of energy and we hope after the last infusion next week when he will go onto a different drug - tablets - that gradually he will recover some of his energy and that the damage that's been done to some of his blood vessels will, in some cases, recover.

The doctors have said there's no reason for us not to go away so hopefully a cruise which goes from Southampton and returns to Dover visiting, La Coruna (overnight stay), Gijon Spain, Bilbao, La Pallice for La Rochelle, St. Peter Port, Dover shouldn't be too demanding. We live near Southampton but as travel is included in the fare we don't mind coming back to Dover, although we could do without the trek back to Southampton but never mind. We'll be in La Coruna on Easter Sunday, I'm not sure we'll get to Santiago de Compestela as with John not being able to walk very far it probably won't happen. Never mind, at the moment just the thought of getting away on a cruise is wonderful after the past months.

We have been impressed with our dealing with Saga so far. For the first time we booked direct with the Cruise Company. I'd read on the Saga Forum on CC that there seemed to be various problems for those people who booked through an agent so we decided to go direct. Saga have phoned us back exactly when they said so we'll see if the level of service continues. Now all the drinks are inclusive and what with that plus the travel included, no tips and WiFi included the price seems a little more manageable. As we've been through a fairly rough time we've splashed out and booked a mid-ship suite. This is the smallest of the three grades of suite so we'll see what it's like. Looking at the pictures it looks about the size of the aft suites on Azura and Ventura.

After all this time sailing with P&O, apart from a few departures to Fred Olsen and Cunard it seems strange to be going on a cruise ship when we are 'newbies'. I'm really looking forward to this holiday so we're keeping fingers crossed all is well. John has his insurance through his bank and after claiming for the on board medical expenses we incurred on the Aurora Canada/USA cruise and having to cancel a cruise back in May last year, booked before John was ill, we thought there was no way the bank would agree to continue cover which would include John's illness. Amazingly they agreed, providing we paid an extra premium - £25! John went through all the medical details with them, the drugs he was on etc. but they still agreed to cover us, really surprised. Of course Saga offer to include Insurance but we felt we'd stay with the bank, especially as it's an annual policy so we get a refund from Saga for not using their Insurance - £23 each apparently.

It seems like a real adventure on the horizon!

Carole

[Happydays]

Good news that John is recovering, I hope you have a lovely cruise I'm sure you'll both be ready for it

[Ray B]

Good news indeed, I'm sure you will be up to having a good time together. Happy Cruising.

[Midlandslass]

Hi Carole
Fingers crossed that you have an incident free cruise this time, I remember reading about all your trials in Canada.
A suite sounds great, do let us know what extra perks you get, we have future cruises booked with Saga but only in their standard cabins.
Have you read Solent Richard’s review of his 16 night cruise on SoD?
Could you hire a motorised scooter for Santiago de Compostela? Just a thought

[Kenmo1]

Really good to read your news, Carole.

Maureen

[Mervyn and Trish]

Hope you enjoy. We're on for a short one next month

[GillD46]

So pleased to read things are starting to look up for you both. I’ll be really interested to read your thoughts afterwards.

[Mervyn and Trish]

We are aboard now. Review coming up a piece at a time. The headline is very impressed so far, despite some hiccups out of the cruise lines control.

[Mervyn and Trish]

So first hiccup. The ship had an outbreak of norovirus on the previous cruise and was denied berthing at Gib.

Despite media hysteria about plague ships I never blame the ship, the crew or the line. Noro is endemic in the UK in the winter and we currently have a lot of cases. It has an incubation period of up to 48 hours so it is entirely possible for a passenger to innocently and unknowingly bring it aboard. And that is even before those who know damn well they just had it and lie on the boarding questionnaire.

On this last cruise there was a further problem. Noro can be passed on for around 48 hours after the worst symptoms have gone. Yet apparently some sick passengers defied instructions to remain in their cabins putting others at risk. If I was the cruise line I'm afraid I'd blacklist them.

Anyway the upshot was boarding was delayed while a specialist team was brought on board to do a deep clean. We were notified of that by phone call from Saga in good time and our included transfer was put back by three hours so we didn't end up hanging around at the port. It worked well and we were on board around half an hour after arrival at the terminal.

Departure was initially put back to 10pm and then till 10am the following morning so we had a peaceful night in port. More on that and the second hiccup later.

[Stephen]

Hope you and Trish have a lovely cruise. I look foreward to hearing about the Saga.

[GillD46]

I shall look forward to reading about your experience. Enjoy.

[cruisin_duo]

Have a great cruise. Looking forward to reading your review.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Hiccup two. Our sole purpose for this trip was to try the ship so destination was relatively unimportant. It was supposed to be across the channel, up the River Seine to Rouen, all day and overnight there and then return.

However Storm Ciara had resulted in heavy rain and flooding in northern France and the river well above normal levels. That resulted in a bridge being too low. So the fallback was to be Le Havre but with a final decision made at the last minute.

Once aboard Captain Julian Burgess (ex P&O, Princess and Cunard) announced at dinner that Rouen was indeed still inaccessible and that the French, as seems is often the case, were having industrial action at Le Havre. So we were now going to Honfleur. A much nicer alternative in our view. Most tours would operate as planned with the addition of a coach trip to Rouen for those who really wanted to be there. We had only intended a walk ashore so Honfleur would do quite as well for that.

So the new itinerary was a quiet overnight in Southampton that meant drill could wait till the morning followed by 10am sailing, a leisurely coastal cruise to Eastbourne, then double back to cross the channel and dock in the early hours of Valentine's Day. All day and overnight there along with part of Saturday before crossing back accompanied by Storm Dennis.

In a first for me the Captain announced that because of concerns about reboarding the Southampton pilot if the weather was bad we were taking him with us for the entire cruise.

In the end departure was further delayed by a medical disembarkation and we finally got away at around 11. At time of writing we are indeed alongside in Honfleur.

So a lot of issues before we even set off but in our view and clearly that of most passengers Saga dealt with them well. One or two muttering about compo and one claiming to have secured a full refund, on board credit and a free future cruise. I don't think so somehow.

[Meg 50]

Wow - I hope the pilot had sufficient warning to pack his glad rags!

[Stephen]

Hiccup two. Our sole purpose for this trip was to try the ship so destination was relatively unimportant. It was supposed to be across the channel, up the River Seine to Rouen, all day and overnight there and then return.

However Storm Ciara had resulted in heavy rain and flooding in northern France and the river well above normal levels. That resulted in a bridge being too low. So the fallback was to be Le Havre but with a final decision made at the last minute.

Once aboard Captain Julian Burgess (ex P&O, Princess and Cunard) announced at dinner that Rouen was indeed still inaccessible and that the French, as seems is often the case, were having industrial action at Le Havre. So we were now going to Honfleur. A much nicer alternative in our view. Most tours would operate as planned with the addition of a coach trip to Rouen for those who really wanted to be there. We had only intended a walk ashore so Honfleur would do quite as well for that.

So the new itinerary was a quiet overnight in Southampton that meant drill could wait till the morning followed by 10am sailing, a leisurely coastal cruise to Eastbourne, then double back to cross the channel and dock in the early hours of Valentine's Day. All day and overnight there along with part of Saturday before crossing back accompanied by Storm Dennis.

In a first for me the Captain announced that because of concerns about reboarding the Southampton pilot if the weather was bad we were taking him with us for the entire cruise.

In the end departure was further delayed by a medical disembarkation and we finally got away at around 11. At time of writing we are indeed alongside in Honfleur.

So a lot of issues before we even set off but in our view and clearly that of most passengers Saga dealt with them well. One or two muttering about compo and one claiming to have secured a full refund, on board credit and a free future cruise. I don't think so somehow.

[GillD46]

Result for the Pilot I'd say. I fancy trying Saga.

[Stephen]

Expensive.

[CaroleF]

Really looking forward to your account of the trip. Can't wait until our trip in April.

Carole

[Mervyn and Trish]

As Stephen has commented I'll do price next. Yes it is significantly more expensive than P&O. But there are a number of good reasons for that.

First small ships are always more expensive to operate.

It's the newest ship currently operating out of the UK.

Standards are without doubt higher than the main stream cruise lines as I'll elaborate later.

An awful lot is included in the price. Transport to and from the ship (private car up to 100 miles or shared with one other couple up to 250) or if you don't fancy that other travel options or parking. Drinks. Tips. Wifi and internet. Specialist dining. Insurance or a reduction if you don't want it. Room service. Shuttle buses.

The pricing policy is very clear. If it goes down after you book you get a refund. So it is always cheaper by a chunk to book early and noone is going to get a bonkers deal on the cabin next door by booking very late.

Robes, slippers, binoculars, fruit, bottled water in every cabin, not just the posh ones.

A good selection of on demand films in the cabin tv with no extra charges.

Excursions seem a little cheaper than most.

And finally without doubt they are very clearly not aiming to be the cheap one that attracts the yobs for a booze cruise!

[Mervyn and Trish]

The ship I won't over do the detail as their website is very clear.

It's shiny new and small. Around 1000 passengers. It has a lot of single cabins. About 100 I believe.

Decor is modern bright and elegant. It feels spacious. Even on sea days there were plenty of places to sit. No inside cabins and all balconies means noone has to hog the coffee shop because they have nowhere else with daylight.

One main restaurant with open seating from 6.30 to 9. There are a small number of fixed tables which can be requested when booking but I believe they are also flexible on time.

The buffet, which is called The Grill, offers exactly the same dinner menu if you simply want less formal surroundings.

Three speciality restaurants, sea food, Asian and a music and food place, all of which have to be booked on board but all in the price.

An area called the Living Room where you can get drinks and snacks. All included .

Self service coffee machines doing fancy stuff in the buffet and other places including the library. Again no extra charge. Ditto ice cream .

Two main entertainment venues. One a theatre. The other a bar/show lounge/dance venue where the Crows Nest would be. Cinema is shown in the theatre and simultaneously on one of the tv channels.

A number of smaller bars and lounges.

One outdoor pool and two whirlpools. A lot of outside deck area for the number of passengers.

Nice library. Card room. Craft room. A couple of shops but not the vast malls appearing on the big ships.

Golf simulator. Sports Courts. Deck games. Spa. Salon. Gym.

No casino and of course no kids areas. No pub doing karaoke.

Overall very nice and very classy.

[Stephen]

What is the cabin like Merv.

[Manoverboard]

…. Overall very nice and very classy.

Right up your street then

[Mervyn and Trish]

What is the cabin like Merv.

Patience dear boy. I have a cruise to enjoy between typing this stuff

[Stephen]

Slacker. .