Not quite Live From SoD 12th - 26th September

[Wacktle]

Thanks. I have registered as a veggie via MySaga. I wasn't aware of a separate menu on Sapphire. I'll look out for one on the new ship, but am happy with meals without the meat or fish if staff are ok to oblige. 

[kentchris]

We scored a fourth alternative restaurant visit in five nights by having a word on our way back from our afternoon in Stockholm with the maître d at The Club to see if he had a table for two tonight. He offered shared tables before 8pm, but when we said that was too early for us he suggested we call back at 8pm. We arrived at 7.50 and the earliest table due to be free was at 8.30, but we were only sat with a drink for 15 minutes before we had our 2-top. Another excellent meal and a win for flexibility on time.  

 

Tomorrow’s dailys - we’re getting so far ahead on the port talks that it’s difficult to relate to where we actually are on any day. At least previous talks are now on the TV under video on demand. 

 

BTW the rug/shawl was delivered as promised. It may as well be as new as the ones provided for all the difference we can see. That goes down as an above and beyond bit of customer service - we had happily accepted we couldn’t buy a rug so there was no need to give us one...

 

[lincslady]

We sat next to a vegetarian  couple for dinner each night on Sapphire recently, and I imagine they had told Saga in advance they were vegetarian.  The waiter or head waiter brought them a large list of dishes for them to choose - I presume for the following night - and there was certainly plenty of choice and they loved the dishes.  The 'regular' menu does not have much choice, and I doubt if this large menu is for other than dinner, but it was very impressive.  I feel sure it  will be available on SOD.

 

I have been known just to ask for a baked potato with cheese and butter when I have been a bit sated with the more fancy offerings, and never a raised eyebrow or problem.  The first dinner menu shown above is identical to a recent one on Sapphire - and we enjoyed it (and are quite fussy).

[Wacktle]

Thanks lincslady ... I'll ask for the veggie menu on our SoD cruise.

[lincslady]

I think they had asked Saga well before the cruise - worth phoning in advance, or if you have booked with an Agent you might have to go through them,  I suppose.

[kentchris]

Thanks Lincslady, that supports the impression I’ve got about how Saga do these things - ie that they’ll go a long way to keep their customers happy. 

 

Back to tonight: we got into Coast to Coast on spec, asked at the desk at 7.20 if any tables for two were likely to be free later, were advised to ask again in half an hour and to have a drink in the Club bar in case something came up. Just after our drinks arrived the maître d offered us two seats immediately at a table for four as there’d been a cancellation, which resulted in a very pleasant evening. And we’ve still got our table for two booked for Friday. The only upset was running foul of the ‘no entry after the show starts’ rule at the Playhouse where Peter Donnegan was performing. Wayne Sleep was just in front of us and wasn’t impressed by being turned away. 

 

The clocks go forward again tonight as we approach Helsinki,

but after an intensive four days there, in SPB, and Tallin we’ll start getting the time back. 

[trams]

Who is the Cruise Director on the current cruise? We are due to join the ship on 26th September and the cruise booklet gives the Cruise Director to be John Parton whois probably one of the best SAGA cruise Directors.

[kentchris]

27 minutes ago, trams said:

Who is the Cruise Director on the current cruise? We are due to join the ship on 26th September and the cruise booklet gives the Cruise Director to be John Parton whois probably one of the best SAGA cruise Directors.

Michelle Dunne, not Kayleigh Lane who was named in our book. The Executive Chef was named as George Streeter: John McCerery is credited on board as running the show, so it’s anyone's guess who’ll turn up. 

Edited September 18, 2019 by kentchris

[kentchris]

Early night tonight as our tour has an 08.00 departure in order to have enough time to see everything on tomorrow’s schedule. Note tomorrow’s late night Russian Buffet in the GDR for people on evening tours, and anyone else fancying a shot of vodka or two and some caviar...

[kentchris]

After a hard day of excursioning, with something of a blot when we didn’t have anywhere to sit down to eat our packed lunch (Explore Ashore all busy running evening excursions so complaining yet to come) we returned to the sight of Viking Jupiter departing - we’d run into their excursions in the Hermitage in the morning. Viking’s ships are the nearest in size/capacity, style, and comfort of  Saga’s competitors that I’ve been on so it was nice to see her. 

 

Dinner in The Grill for the first time. We could see why it’s a popular option for many: more starter options as there are salads in addition to the GDR offerings, plus a daily roast. All served buffet style so as much or little as one wants, and more importantly at one’s own pace. And even more importantly the tot of port with one’s cheese is free there, but charged for in the GDR (although that’ll presumably change once SoD goes AI). The alternative venues tend to operate at a slowish speed, presumably as they’re cooking more to order, and the GDR has been almost too slick on the two evenings we’ve dined there so far. The GDR has oddly been rather slow and disjointed for the couple of lunches we’ve had there so needs to get its act together for when people don’t necessarily want to linger. 

 

Early opening hours in the GDR as they had to set up for the Russian Buffet at 10pm which was to revive people who’d been on evening excursions, some of which had been pretty cold. Everyone on my table had expected something fairly simple, but there was plentiful caviar with the trimmings, vodka, and champagne. The hot offerings were soup, goulash, chicken Romanov, breaded fish, prawns with vodka and tomato, plus a roast which I didn’t inspect and various veg. All of which was still being replenished at 11pm, with senior hotel staff including the executive chef keeping an eye on things. People seemed rather impressed... 

 

Another early start tomorrow so that’s all for this evening. I leave you with tomorrow’s dailies and a couple of action shots from the Russian Buffet. 

 

 

 

[lincslady]

Thanks for the 'almost live' posts,  kentchris.  Especially as I remember what a tiring couple of days - but hopefully worthwhile - it can be in St.P.  The photos of the late night buffet help to show that Saga does put a real effort into the special events.

 

Port is definitely included in the inclusive drinks menu,  when it arrives on SOD.

 

Would love to hear of what you have seen and done in St. P, when you have time to breathe.

[cinnamon]

I was given a glass of Port without asking for it when I had cheese in The Club, but not offered it in the MDR. 

[hermioneb]

I was given a glass of port two or three times in the MDR when I had cheese. The Russian buffet looks marvellous. 

[Glenndale]

Following this with interest as we have booked a Baltic cruise for next June on SoD.

Thanks kentchris

[kentchris]

The internet went a bit flaky last night so a belated update. We did the two day Grand Tour in SPB. It’s available in two versions of exactly the same itinerary, one coach sized parties and the other 10 people maximum in a minibus. We opted for the expensive version in the hope that 10 would be a more manageable sized party which I think was a good call. We didn’t seem to get around that much faster than the full sized tour but we had a bit more flexibility as we could get into and out of venues more speedily, and could opt to walk a couple of times instead of taking the bus between nearby venues. When we had a bit of time spare after the Spilled Blood yesterday we were given the option of 20 minutes stroll in the park next door. 

 

Last night’s dinner was a Saga special - a full Russian themed affair which I would have loved to tried (menu below). We were in Coast to Coast for our second visit and the sixth alternative restaurant meal we’ve had so far, but only the second one we’ve actually booked. The seafood platter was as good as everyone has reported - a must have. 

 

Today’s call at Tallinn was nice although the weather was a bit dingy. It’s good to be back in a Eurozone country, although nearly all the attractions and all of the souvenir shops we visited in SPB accepted most hard currencies, or credit cards for tiddly sums so that people wouldn’t be landed with worthless roubles in change if they paid cash. 

 

Last night’s GDR menu and today’s ‘Today’:

 

[kentchris]

A couple of things before I forget: the deck forward of the Britannia Lounge is open to passengers, although on our first sea day the interior doors to the lobby opening on to it were blocked possibly because it was jolly windy. We found the alternative access from Deck 11 port side - it would be an excellent viewing platform for port arrivals - the bridge roof cuts the view downward a little but it’s otherwise a good alternative to the Sun Deck. 

 

 

The fridge is a a funny little shallow affair with space for a couple of wine bottle sized bottles lying on their side in the middle and a couple of spaces either side where one might chill small things like mixers (a carton of milk is standard). 

 

[kentchris]

2 minutes ago, kentchris said:

A couple of things before I forget: the deck forward of the Britannia Lounge is open to passengers with access from the lounge. On our first sea day the interior doors from the lounge to the lobby opening on to the deck were roped off possibly because it was jolly windy. We found the alternative access from Deck 11 port side. It would be an excellent viewing platform for port arrivals - the bridge roof cuts the view downward a little but it’s otherwise a good alternative to the Sun Deck. 

 

 

The fridge is a a funny little shallow affair with space for a couple of wine bottle sized bottles lying on their side in the middle and a couple of spaces either side where one might chill small things like mixers (a carton of milk is standard). 

 

 

Edited September 21, 2019 by kentchris

[kentchris]

A thoughtful feature I don’t remember seeing mentioned is that when you turn the bathroom lights off only the downlighters go out completely: the mirror illumination dims to give a nightlight effect. 

 

Sea day tomorrow: two port talks and a Q&A with Wayne Sleep. The clocks don’t go back to CET until

tomorrow night which will make Monday’s visit to Kalundborg relatively relaxing. 

 

[cinnamon]

Chris, I kept meaning to mention the nightlight in the bathroom and kept forgetting. I usually travel with a nightlight that plugs into the razor socket and of course didn’t need it. 

[Glenndale]

What are the toiletries supplied and are they nice to use?

Is there a separate shampoo or is it a bodywash/ shampoo combination?

[lincslady]

Two nice examples of Saga thoughtfulness - the personal one of the rug/shawl gift, and the corporate one about the bathroom light, brilliant.  Up to now, on every cruise line, we and I dare say many others, have left the bathroom light on and the door slightly open at night.  

[IbizaLover]

There is a separate shampoo as well as a combined body wash/shampoo. Nice large bar of soap as well, instead of the usual tiny one. There are also bottles of hair conditioner, hand wash and body lotion.

[kentchris]

The toiletries are in 380ml bottles - our hand wash was down to about 1/4 full and was topped up (not replaced) this morning so Saga appear to be on message about plastics in at least some respects (it’s not clear whether the intention is to refill and reuse the bottles but they’re on the large size to take home as is pretty well customary with smaller toiletries). Cabin drinking water is supplied in glass bottles which are refilled centrally. Water to take off the ship is still in 500ml plastic bottles, but on the positive side drinking straws appear to be paper. 

 

This morning I overheard someone saying that the missing bathroom drying line issue is being addressed. Nothing official yet, but it must be on the radar, especially if people provided anything like the whole page wish/snag list we did on the interim questionnaire last week. 

 

Another odd omission is a lack of lighting on the balcony. I realise people won’t be sitting outside at night on a lot of itineraries but it would be a shame to be somewhere warm and not be able to enjoy dinner on one’s balcony. 

[kentchris]

1 hour ago, Glenndale said:

What are the toiletries supplied and are they nice to use?

Is there a separate shampoo or is it a bodywash/ shampoo combination?

https://prija.gfl.eu/en-gb/ The hand wash are shower gel are fine, but I’m not too bothered about such things as long as they work. We use our own shampoo but my wife is using the hand cream and although it’s not up to Norwegian fishermens’ standards it’s working. 

 

Stop press: Capn Julian has just announced that we’ve got the rugby World Cup available on ITV - we now have a satellite with U.K. channels in sight, something we haven’t had since nearing Helsinki. 

Edited September 22, 2019 by kentchris

[Glenndale]

Another bathroom related query, are there cotton wool balls and q-tips supplied?