Just returned from Norway on the SoD - Excursion availabiliy and service prior to cruise was a disappointment. In Bergen the included excursion was ok. We never strayed very far from the ship. Multiple stops / walkabouts and short but helpful explanations. Next time I would do own thing as Bergen is so compact
Olden was booked up solid for the activities suitable for my party that included 80 plus participants. Saga customer service asked me to be patient but never followed up with a solution. However, on the day we booked exactly the same tour with the same operator for 30% less than Saga, on a bus with 12 Saga refugees all having had a similar experience. This tour was excellent as smaller groups are much better.
In Alesund we had an optional overview tour. It would have been 50 quid a ticket but Saga never charged us presumably because it was dreadful and everyone complained.
The tour guide's vocabulary came from the sewer.Her points of interest were aligned to her own interests rather than what you reasonably expect. Highlights included the car park of the local aquarium, a 3.5km road tunnel - yes we went through it then immediately round a roundabout and back through it again, and the burned out shell of a house where the owners had had a domestic,The view from the top of the hill and short walkabout were good.As it fell so wide of the mark its good to know Saga did the honourable thing.
In Stavenger we did the included bus to the city and 3 hour walkabout. Why Saga changed the itinerary and docked at Sandnes instead of Stavenger we will never know. lIs a bit like budget airlines using a bus to the stand rather than boarding directly from the gate. Sandnes is a desolate place, but Costa were moored in Stanvenger harbour.
Saga do talks to educate you about your destination. These were good albeit brief 20 minutes talks. 2 stops covered in each lecture. It was possible to view these in the cabin on the video on demand service. The televisions had a tendency to freeze so not very practical.
The cruise Director and guest facing officers were practically invisible. The cruise director was especially poor. Apart from the odd brief appearance on the stage at the big events, I never once saw him engaging with passengers.
I would rate Saga 6 out of 10 for excursions. I am new to Cruising and if I go again will do my own thing. Saga do many things well but excursions are not one of them.