Saga compared with Silversea

[Tothesunset]

We've booked a Saga cruise for 2022 that includes ports in Ireland and the Channel Islands. Normally we cruise Silversea (over 200 days sailed) but their British Isles per diem is nearly twice Saga's cost. We aren't prepared to take international flights until such time as our fractured world returns to normal. 

 

So will we find Saga a good alternative?  Nice cabin? Tick. All inclusive? Tick. Small(ish) ship? Tick. 

 

Does anyone have experience of both lines and care to comment on the similarities and differences? 

 

Looking forward to a new perspective on ocean cruising. 

[LandC]

  We have not yet sailed with Silversea, but we sailed with Saga for the first time in 2019 on Spirit of Discovery, and were very impressed with the ship. Lovely cabins. There are plenty of public spaces,  the crew were friendly and the food was excellent.  We are in our late 60s, and were concerned that the average age of the passengers might be quite a bit older than us, but this wasn’t the case.  We have also sailed with Azamara, and enjoyed that experience, particularly the mix of nationalities, which you  won’t get so much with Saga.  If you can find the right itinerary I don’t think you will be disappointed.  The home pick up and included travel insurance is a bonus!  Hopefully someone on these boards will be able to provide a comparison of the two lines for you.

[Fletcher]

I've done a few Silversea trips (West Africa, Galapagos etc) and one cruise with Saga - Southampton round-trip via the Caribbean - on their old ship Saga Sapphire.  They picked us up from home and basically threw money at us when we got on board - refund for a noisy cabin, refund for a downgrade to a better cabin, refund for a rubbish excursion, refund for unused on-board credit.  Service could not have been nicer though probably a notch or two below Silversea levels of prescience.  The library, bar, lounge area on the ship was fabulous and surprisingly contemporary in design given the elderly profile of their passengers.  Overall we had a great time despite someone coming up to us in Antigua and asking if we were on a hospital ship.

 

Saga now has two new ships.  And no matter what garbage they spout about boutique ships, these new ones are BIG - 1000 passengers.  Too big in my view for a UK cruise because many of the most interesting places won't be accessible - smaller islands in Scotland such as St Kilda for instance.  But I guess Silversea's new ships also have that drawback.

 

Silversea is twice the price because it's nearly twice as good - it's the small details, the more reliable food, the cosmopolitan vibe and, dare I say it, a younger and more sophisticated crowd.  And while Silversea is the more formal of the three great luxury lines - Regent and Seabourn (my favourite) are the others - Saga has a rigid dress code that I find quite ridiculous.  Given identical itineraries I would always choose a Silversea ship.

 

If I wanted a UK-based cruise I personally would choose something like this:

https://www.noble-caledonia.co.uk/tour/2653/hebridean-secrets/?search_url_id=0 

 

 

Edited May 19, 2021 by Fletcher

[Windsurfboy]

Can I suggest you look at Solent Richards blog and reviews of the  sagaspirit of discovery and silversea silver spirit and Seabourn Sojourn. Not direct comparisons but reviews of all three ships (and others Large and small) .

[Tothesunset]

I must say, we are hoping that we enjoy Saga because, quite honestly, we are getting fed up with long distance air travel to catch a cruise ship. The ability to leave the house and be looked after all the way to the ship then back is very appealing. 

 

The only snag is that we have about half a million air miles to use up. A first class weekend trip to New York? Bangkok? Hong Kong? 

[Glenndale]

My favourite cruise line is Oceania, great food, service, comfortable beds and less inclusive than Saga and Silversea. 

However like yourselves we are disliking air travel more and more, so are seeking out cruises which originate and end in the UK.

Our next 5 cruises are with Saga and after our experience in 2019 on Spirit of Discovery are more than happy with that.

We should have been sailing on Saturday from Southampton on Sirena but sadly that was cancelled.   

Next cruise on SoD will be at the end of September - yay 😁

We have lots of airmiles too and have been using them for excursions in foreign ports.

[lincslady]

About 6 or so on Silversea, though not for about 10 years after discovering Seabourn.  Recently about 6 on Saga, though not yet on the new ships.

 

IMO, one  main advantage of Saga is getting to the ship.  Fairly civilised, leaving home around 9 a.m., lunch on ship and you do not bother about your luggage after putting it  inside your front door to be taken by the driver until you see it in your cabin.  Disadvantage here of course  is time at sea before any port.  The atmosphere is obviously less cosmopolitan - which I confess to liking, as there are fewer people who barge in front of you at buffets etc. if any, and generally very good manners from fellow passengers. 

 

The special restaurants on the new ships get very good reviews, but the drinks are not as varied or top notch as on Silversea - a fair choice but no single malts or decent cognacs included for instance, and usually about four or six wines to choose from.

 

I find the staff just as helpful and perhaps rather warmer than those on Silversea, and also enjoy the rather British orientated things like the Speakers, various classes, bridge, the odd jazz concert etc. - that is a purely personal opinion of course.  We have enjoyed meeting some lovely fellow passengers from the USA and other countries on Silversea, but I guess getting older find it easier and more relaxing to fit in with our fellow countrymen.   You will certainly find people on board to whom you can relate, and make friends of if you want to, having read your contributions to the Cooler.

 

 

[Windsurfboy]

3 hours ago, Tothesunset said:

 

The only snag is that we have about half a million air miles to use up. A first class weekend trip to New York? Bangkok? Hong Kong? 

 

 

It will  be some time before a weekend away is worth all the fuss of testing. However given that you need normally to book well in advance to get air miles (on BA anyway) , might be OK by then.

 

My view is if you can get a route with the new club suites , then first is not worth it.

 

Back to the point if this topic, glad to see that most people like Saga, and no bad reports of new ships by anyone whose been on them.   

 

 

Edited May 20, 2021 by Windsurfboy

[Kohima]

Obviously there are likes and dislike everyone will have about particular cruise lines. From the days of the old Spirit of Adventure onwards, the thing we have enjoyed above all is the very convivial, inclusive atmosphere on Saga. Even though the ships used to be rather old, the atmosphere on board more than made up for that. We didn’t find that quite replicated on the new ship yet, but it’s still early days. On some of the other lines mentioned above, we enjoyed the ships but overall felt somewhat anonymous. Although it can be good to meet people from other countries onboard, it can be difficult to suit the taste and expectations of all nationalities. Saga knows exactly who their market is and provides accordingly. Saga now has ships which compare very favourably with the more upmarket brands

[Tothesunset]

Picking up the points above, without reference and meaning no ill-will or controversy:

 

Having almost exclusively UK passengers is not necessarily a plus point if, like us, you find other nationalities interesting and entertaining. I would say the same for the crew. (BTW, I'm not a Brit but OH is. I don't hold it against her.) 

 

Door to door service earns a multitude of gold stars. 

 

Speciality booze doesn't interest us but good food does. However I am fond of a good beer (what you probably refer to as lager beer) and enjoy trying different kinds. Is there a decent selection on Saga? 

 

When does one book the speciality restos? On SS this can be done online 120 days before departure but because I'm booked through a TA I can't access my Saga booking on the Saga site. 😞

 

Lastly, am I correct in thinking there is no indoor room for post-dinner port and cigars? 

 

Thanks for all the input so far. 

[Windsurfboy]

As speciality restaurants are "free" , my understanding from this forum is this can only be done on board, and one at a time. Objective is to ensure everyone gets an equal opportunity. 

[Windsurfboy]

Don't shoot me but I think they tow a lifeboat behind the ship for cigars

[Tothesunset]

8 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

Don't shoot me but I think they tow a lifeboat behind the ship for cigars

As long as there's a port decanter to hand, I'll be fine with that! 

[wowzz]

29 minutes ago, Windsurfboy said:

As speciality restaurants are "free" , my understanding from this forum is this can only be done on board, and one at a time. Objective is to ensure everyone gets an equal opportunity. 

I would certainly hope that is the case, and certainly the web page says bookings can only be made on board.

Edited May 20, 2021 by wowzz

[Kohima]

There’s definitely no indoor smoking! Outdoors it’s very restricted.No gambling either. Unless they change the system, you just pop along to each speciality restaurant and make bookings at the desk. We did so at each one on the first evening with no problem and were also able to book again at our favourites later on in the cruise (it was 18 days so lots of restaurant opportunity).

Yes Saga is very British, which has pluses and minuses. For instance, the library is excellent with predominantly British/well known international authors. Newspapers and magazines, where available, are British. Where tv channels are available they are largely British. Quizzes are British based. Beer is British, also the Hush Heath sparkling wine. The tea used to be from the Tregothen estate in Cornwall. Over 100 cheeses are stocked, many being excellent artisan British.

However it’s very convivial, civilised and welcoming to all.

[Windsurfboy]

4 hours ago, Tothesunset said:

As long as there's a port decanter to hand, I'll be fine with that! 

 

As long as it's a good vintage port , I'd join you ,especially if its an open lifeboat 

[lincslady]

Thanks for that reminder of the Saga experience, Kohima.  I had forgotten about the cheeses; served at the right temperature and lots of choice, unlike most other lines.

[Windsurfboy]

6 hours ago, lincslady said:

Thanks for that reminder of the Saga experience, Kohima.  I had forgotten about the cheeses; served at the right temperature and lots of choice, unlike most other lines.

 

Can't wait, 100 cheeses , will take all 32 days to go through this selection even at 3 or 4 each night after dinner.  I can't think of any hotel or even cheese shops  with such a choice.  Hope the Port is up to it.

[Lvshack]

On 5/21/2021 at 11:13 AM, lincslady said:

Thanks for that reminder of the Saga experience, Kohima.  I had forgotten about the cheeses; served at the right temperature and lots of choice, unlike most other lines.

Oh Lola can't believe you have popped up on saga .... I've only just replied to a silversea comment from you !!!!  Well I have  been very very bored today & have looked at regent.silversea( my favourite ) and seabourn...( Don't like the concept of the "elete  the retreat!!!)  And also saga where you popped up!!!

My friend lives in portishead Bristol & sent me a photo a few weeks ago from her balcony at home with a saga ship passing through so I thought I would look at there website ... Southampton is only just under 60 miles from home and it does sound very appealing ..no long drive to Heathrow .. air flight .. but still sat on the fence a little being it probably all British passenger base ( don't get wrong I don't have a problem with that but it's nice to meet people from all over the world ... Or maybe after 32 years of cruising would it matter ...  Oh and the cheeses wow very British old school ...keep safe happy cruising 🚢 soon day soon 

[lincslady]

Hello Lvshack - yes, I am a bit bored too!   (My comment on Silversea was on the SALT site, and was a cruise line comparison, which often does not go down well, although it was perfectly polite).

 

We do love Seabourn - the Retreat thing is anathema to most Seabournites, and underused.  Otherwise SB is friendly and multi-national.  However, this is about Saga:  yes, pretty well everyone on board is a Brit. of some sort, but that does actually have advantages, as well as them all being over 50.  You would not find any pushy people, or noisy children, for example, and the passengers represent all walks of life,.  Advantages of being rather British are things like a great library, super cheeses, some things which many Brits enjoy like a passenger choir, and fairly British based quizzes.  Plus mostly very  good lecturers.  The entertainment is perhaps not as glitzy as other lines, and no comedians, that I can remember, but often very good classical musicians, and a band who like to do jazz concerts.

 

Even so, the number one attraction, if you are older or not particularly fit, is the door to door transport, with no need to carry luggage around at all.  If I could cruise again it would be with Saga, but then I am getting on in years.   I think you would find the food, especially  the specialist restaurants on the spiffy new ships, to be comparable to Silversea or Seabourn.  Wine perhaps a notch down price-wise, but quite well chosen and served generously.  And the dry sherry, served cold, is Tio Pepe, not so easy to find on an American ship.  Included spirits not anything like the quality found on the 'luxury' lines, but then the price is a bit lower overall.  Worth considering, IMO.