nosapphire

On some cruises they did not hand us back our passports at check-in, we had to collect them several days later from ship reception. Probably because of specific customs/visa requirements at ports of call. Check-in is always a remarkably cheerful affair, and they explain things as they go along. (The photo they take at check-in is always the best photo that gets taken of me for the entire cruise.)

They won't normally start embarkation until all cabins are ready, which is usually sometime about 13:00, but arrive about 12 and check-in should be open.

grade of cabin. For example, standard twin cabin has 6 grades - F,G,H,I,J K, with L and K(on deck E) being the lowest grade, and F (on sun deck) being the highest grade. The view probably gets better as you go up, but the cabin itself is still the same. When booking a standard cabin, forget the actual cabin grade class as that is pretty immaterial. Just concentrate on the price and whereabouts on the ship you want to be.

We prefer deck E aft for exactly the same reasons as Truro001. We prefer grade L when available, but as these are not normally offered until a bit later in the voyage, usually have grade K. We have also been on decks C and D, and can confirm that there is no difference at all in the cabin size, facilities or comfort. .We have been forward on deck D, but not on E - looking at the ship when on board, I very much doubt if the restricted view cabins at the front of deck E have any noticeable restrictions at all. The only time we have noticed any noise is when we have the balcony doors open and there is a large group of walkers on the promenade chatting as they walk - which is a very transient noise, nothing to worry about. The only difference is, I suspect, that cabin stewards start off on the lower decks/cheaper cabins and work their way up as they become more experienced, but the standard of cleaning and attention is still high. My only fear is that Saga realise how popular deck E is and put the prices up......

Not necessary at all. Speciality restaurants are booked on board, either by telephone or visting the desk (you will be given details how and when on the Today programme in your cabin on arrival). On board spending can be checked on your room TV, or ask reception and they will print it out for you (you get a detailed receipt at the end of the cruise). Events are in the Today programme (delivered the night before) and anything that has to be signed up fpr is done on board. Excursions can be pre-booked or booked on board, in person, at the tours desk. Best system to use is Manage My Booking on the travel.saga.co.uk/mytravel - you can print out documents there, and book excursions when they are available - or even book them on the 'phone. At a pinch, if you cannot print anything, ask Saga to send them by post. https://travel.saga.co.uk/mytravel Saga may be very flaky with the technology, but they have lots of alternativeand easy methods that have worked well for years. (I have found the App... the reviews show many are having exactly the same problems.)

I didn't know Saga even had an app... but I get the same message quite frequently on my laptop when trying to log in to MySaga. Their whole website system can be very flaky - sometimes it works all the way through, sometimes it works part the way thorugh and then dies, and sometimes it does not work at all. Been like it for years - it seems to have a personality all of it's own, and sometimes takes an intense dislike to a particular browser or system. Best telephone them, they can probably reset it for you.

I have been on Saga cruises where some of the passengers had brought their own ukeleles on board and set up a passenger organised weekly play/practice/self help/tutoring session. Saga arranged a space for them and added it to the Today programme.

When we were on a Saga cruise during the advance registration calls, we returned to our cabin one day to find a copy of the e-brochure and a message to go to the Saga future cruise desk during opening hours if we wanted to make a booking (which we did). There were quite a few people on board who had "received the call" as it were. We may have slipped a few places back in the queue, but certainly did not have to wait until our return to book. It is probably the same system now (hope so, as we will possibly get the 2025 call while we are on a cruise...). (Just think of the outcry if people on a Saga cruise of 30plus nights had to wait until their return)

Bit uncertain what the criticism is here... are we saying that "old fashioned" foods should never be offered? When Saga offered steak and kidney pudding (also as chef's recommendation) there was a near riot from some passengers because it was so popular they ran out. And it is not the sort of thing that can be perpared in a few minutes. Had to do some more specially for the next dinner. Bread and butter pudding is another popular choice when offered.

Thanks for that. ++ On the 2018 Christmas cruise on Saga Pearl II, it was announced by Captain that traditionally formal wear applied on Christmas Day. He said that this year a vote would be held whether tradition continued, or whether smart casual would apply. Passengers had to hand in their voting form to reception a few days before, and it was later announced that "by a resounding majority" the vote was for smart casual.

I stand corrected...🙊

Formal attire applies in the theatre on formal nights, so he may want to pack a jacket and tie anyway just in case. Be a shame if there was a show that you really would like to see on a formal night but you couldn't get in (cabin TV is not quite the same for some shows). Formal does not have to be the full DJ. And if he is a tie-hater, find somewhere that sells clip-on ties.

Don't get too excited... Saga interpretation of "soon" is not the same as our interpretation. They sent the same flyer last year at about the same time as this year. And the year before. And the year before. And the...etc. The flyer is mainly to encourage people to pre-register. The more pre-registrations, the better reports they can give to their shareholders.

Paper could be much faster than the Saga computer.... They will reset MDR tables if the diner leaves early enough, but as no diners are chivvied along they won't know in advance whether people are planning to eat quickly and depart early enough to allow a 2nd seating. ++++++++ Incidentally, keep meaning to suggest that for the Grill, if you enter from the aft (open deck) end, there is rarely anyone there allocating tables, so you just come in and look for a table to suit - we always came in this way (our cabin was aft, so quicker for us to use the outside stairs). It sounds as if you always entered from the inside stairs end, which is where the Maitre'D hovers. (Although, if you have to use the lift, the open deck entrance is no use to you at all).

I would definitely watch Minions films without feeling the need to take a child.

I wouldn't call the MDR tables "packed" together; some are closer than one may like, but Saga have to cater both for those who want tables for two (and there are a lot of very valid reasons for wanting to be somewhat separate) and those who want to share (and a lot of Saga passengers do want to share). They have always had a policy of being able to seat everybody for dinner at the same time - they have never had a two-seating time system, and once seated there is no expectation that you will eat (shoots or otherwise) and leave so the table can be used again.

Woo. Advert in the paper today makes me wonder if Saga is reading this thread.. "The only thing we squeeze are the lemons" "Both our boutique cruise ships offer a choice of spacious speciality restaurants" With a picture showing tables yards apart. (Shared tables, though, so maybe not).

Sorry to hear of the health problems, and hope that the treatment is swiftly effective. The booking conditions (since at least 2018) say under section 6 that if you wish to change the date of the cruise the only way to do so is to cancel and rebook. It looks as if there may be more flexibility to transfer under section 13, medical conditions, but it seems to assume that this is only if you have Saga included insurance and Saga themselves decide the cruise is not suitable/they cannot insure you.. They have in the past allowed changes from one cruise to another, but only if the new cruise is more expensive than the existing one. ADDED: by "more expensive" that means extra payment, either by a cruise that costs more or a higher grade of cabin. Not sure about the same year, but think it had to be a specified replacement (i.e, one that was already on general sale, not just an unidentified future cruise). Not sure whether your TA simply went and asked Saga about transferring the cruise, or whether they tried asking Saga if Saga considered the cruise would still be suitable, and - if not (as it seems would be the case) whether you could transfer to a cruise starting after the treatment ended. Worth checking with your TA. Good luck.

Yakult at breakfast. Also yoghurts. Think cranberry juice also available at breakfast. Not sure about peppermint tea, but there was a big selection of herbal tea bags at the self service stations, so peppermint, probably yes. Bottled water for excursions is available as you leave the ship (even for those going ashore independently). All included in the fare.

Is there any ship anywhere where one can say that everything is perfect, there is nothing that could be better? As a regular Saga cruiser, I certainly can think of a lot of things that Saga could improve on - but as there are many other things that I think they do well, Saga suits me just that little bit more than P&O suits me. I thought the OP's review was an excellent, well judged and balanced one, and personal reviews like that are always much more use than the "professional" reviews.

Not tried any port/shore free wifi myself, but a quick Google for "free wifi Gibraltar" brings up several travel blogs suggesting places where it is available, mainly coffee shops in the centre.

Actually, when Saga got their new ships that upset a lot of Saga passengers who pointed out that they always booked the cheapest inside cabins on Saga in order to afford more cruises, and now the ships were all balcony the prices would rise to balcony prices, and they could not afford to cruise so often. Still, somebody has to pay the mortgages for the ships

WiFi is included (although can be frustratingly slow, and there is a block on heavy bandwidth uses, such as YouTube and Zoom calls). OBC - I think it is still the same as it used to be, it is added to your on-board account. You use the on-board account to pay for anything that is not included in the fare, such as excursions etc., and at the end of the cruise if the account is in credit the credit gets given back to you on whatever card was registered. So, if still the same (which I think it is) you can take unused OBC back home with you.

That is not an actual Telegraph review. It is written by a freelance writer who sells to anyone who needs to fill a bit of space (frequently on Yahoo Sports Canada website, as is this report). She writes lots of cruise "reviews" and they sometimes come across as "please give me a freebie and I'll get a really positive report published for you". Although, in this case it does not actually mention that she was on board any of the ships - so probably was just a handout from Saga's publicity department. (I am very cynical ever since I was on a cruise with a so-called reporter who was sending puff-pieces - sorry, reports - out from the ship, and - as another passenger said in a tone of wonderment - is she really on the same cruise as the rest of us? Or is she just reading the brochure?).

There will be a laundry bag and a list of prices in your cabin wardrobe. My recollection is that the prices were all very reasonable. Just remember, if you use the ship laundry service (as opposed to the free self-service launderette) when you get the clothes back, hunt round and find and remove the little stickers with your cabin number that the laundry put on. They are very unobtrusive, but if you don't remove them, much,much later at home - usually after a few more washes - you'll be wondering why the collar/hem/waistband is suddenly so itchy... and it will be a little tag with a cabin number on it....