Bit of a Blog : B2B2B : SoA : embarking 20/01/22

NorbertsNiece · January 23, 2022

Please continue to ask questions and add your thoughts. Interruptions welcome.

Ice cream available in the Living Room. The queue for Sunday roast dinner was *very* long in the Grill. Plenty of alternate dishes. Discovered they're serving various fish dishes on the Verandah at the aft. Walkabout.

NorbertsNiece · January 23, 2022

There are 2 laundrettes on board for guests to use. Persil provided.

SallyRobert · January 23, 2022

Thank you so much for taking the time with these posts for us. Very informative. It’s been so difficult trying to get information out of Saga. Which deck is your cabin on?

JuCru · January 23, 2022

I agree with others. This blog and the photos are absolutely wonderful. You have answered so many questions. Do you get up at the crack of dawn to take photos of food beautifully laid out and no one in sight?! In particular the ice-cream looks untouched!

Hope you don’t mind if I ask a couple of questions. Is there a washing line in the shower room? What is the temperature like in the public rooms on board?

Looking ahead to the Northern Lights cruise we will be on perhaps someone can help tell me what the Arctic Jacket is like. Saga said Goretex with padded lining. Other things I have read say the inner is fleece. Is the inner separate?

Keep blogging. This is giving me a real taste of what to expect! Will try to find you on board in a couple of weeks

Holcha · January 23, 2022

Hello. This is my first post on CC but I have been a lurker on P&O since March 2020 and Saga since Sept 2020 when we booked SOA to Baltics Sep 2021 and Med Croatia 24 April 22. We are due to pay for Med tomorrow and have been worrying if we are doing the right thing. It is for our Ruby anniversary, so a special one. We loved SOA last year but found some COVID restrictions hard after a few years cruising with freedom. Your photos have put a smile on our faces, with many happy recollections. In our view Saga’s best points are the onboard staff, especially in the grill, the food in all venues, room steward, and cleanliness everywhere. Nice to see Resty’s photo too. The only downside for me was the size of the wardrobe in the standard balcony but I have bought magnetic hooks as 22 nights is quite a long cruise for us! Thank you so much for your brilliant photos, very much appreciated. Now to get the diet started!

NorbertsNiece · January 23, 2022

1 hour ago, SallyRobert said:

Thank you so much for taking the time with these posts for us. Very informative. It’s been so difficult trying to get information out of Saga. Which deck is your cabin on?

Hi. Thanks for following.

We're on C deck.

NorbertsNiece · January 23, 2022

1 hour ago, JuCru said:

I agree with others. This blog and the photos are absolutely wonderful. You have answered so many questions. Do you get up at the crack of dawn to take photos of food beautifully laid out and no one in sight?! In particular the ice-cream looks untouched!

Hope you don’t mind if I ask a couple of questions. Is there a washing line in the shower room? What is the temperature like in the public rooms on board?

Looking ahead to the Northern Lights cruise we will be on perhaps someone can help tell me what the Arctic Jacket is like. Saga said Goretex with padded lining. Other things I have read say the inner is fleece. Is the inner separate?

Keep blogging. This is giving me a real taste of what to expect! Will try to find you on board in a couple of weeks

Hi. Thanks for following.

I think the ice cream had just been put there when I came by!

There is a barely 1 metre line for hanging washing on in the shower. We've brought a line to fix but I've not seen it in action yet! Public rooms are very comfortable. Many in t shirts.

I was approached earlier and asked, "Are you NorbertsNiece?" I'm also prone to wear dungarees so that may help!

NorbertsNiece · January 23, 2022

32 minutes ago, Holcha said:

Hello. This is my first post on CC but I have been a lurker on P&O since March 2020 and Saga since Sept 2020 when we booked SOA to Baltics Sep 2021 and Med Croatia 24 April 22. We are due to pay for Med tomorrow and have been worrying if we are doing the right thing. It is for our Ruby anniversary, so a special one. We loved SOA last year but found some COVID restrictions hard after a few years cruising with freedom. Your photos have put a smile on our faces, with many happy recollections. In our view Saga’s best points are the onboard staff, especially in the grill, the food in all venues, room steward, and cleanliness everywhere. Nice to see Resty’s photo too. The only downside for me was the size of the wardrobe in the standard balcony but I have bought magnetic hooks as 22 nights is quite a long cruise for us! Thank you so much for your brilliant photos, very much appreciated. Now to get the diet started!

I have the over door shoe hanger, use multiple garment hangers in the wardrobe and cases under the bed! We're making it work!! Fabulous experience so far in every single respect, and even the lack of sushi won't dampen my enthusiasm!!

NorbertsNiece · January 23, 2022

We've both tested negative. All crew tested negative yesterday.

Yayyyy!!!!

david05 · January 23, 2022

3 hours ago, Wacktle said:

Thank you Vivaldi. I did register as a veggie on SoD in 2019 but found so much choice in the evening buffet that I asked Reception to stop sending me the menus. However all that's changed. No buffet in the evening, so a limited choice. I never ordered from the veggie menu in 2019 because I was at a loss to know how and when the meal would find me. It's something I need to ask Saga for our next cruise.

Re the wine menu, that's interesting. In 2019 cruise I went to a wine tasting towards the end of the cruise and the highly qualified chap said what bargains some of the paid-for wines are. Another thing to investigate 🍷.

Sorry for interrupting the blog, which is wonderful ☺.

You just tell the waiter your room number and they should find your meal order. Also in The Grill in the evening you should be able to get cheese on request. Saga are generally very good at giving you what you want. Once asked for an omelette at dinner and they were happy to provide it even though it wasn't on the menu that evening.

NorbertsNiece · January 23, 2022

1 hour ago, NorbertsNiece said:

We've both tested negative. All crew tested negative yesterday.

Yayyyy!!!!

And all passengers have tested negative. Now waiting on Cadiz authorities and Saga HQ for go ahead for all shore excursions tomorrow.

JuCru · January 23, 2022

Thanks for info on the washing line - got similar on Island Sky so was going to bring one of those stretchy twisted ones and hope I can find somewhere for it. Other tips on clothes storage and hanging very useful too. Also good to know ship warm enough for T shirts.

Great news on the testing. Full steam ahead now! Hope all well for tomorrow’s excursions.

We will also be on deck C towards the rear.

NorbertsNiece · January 23, 2022

Just confirmed. Ship excursions at all ports are going ahead. Guests may go ashore independently tomorrow. Future ports of call independence will depend on the circumstances on board.

Edited January 23, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

NorbertsNiece · January 23, 2022

There was a talk about Bob Monkhouse today. The theatre offering this evening is an Eric Clapton tribute act.

I went to a presentation about Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar which centred on Cadiz. Another quiz this evening. Didn't win. Again lol.

Clocks go forward tonight.

Thanks for following.

NorbertsNiece · January 24, 2022

Day 5 / 67

Good morning. Pitch black out still. Lights in the distance. We are pulling in to port. According to the Marine Traffic site we (the blue arrow) are in the company of Marella Discovery and Coral Princess cruise ships (the blue squares). I'd not been expecting them. P&O Iona will be arriving shortly.

NorbertsNiece · January 24, 2022

CADIZ - 24TH JAN

SNAPSHOT OF CADIZ - INCLUDED EXCURSION

Since the end of the 15th century, the city of Cádiz has provided a gateway to the New World. Throughout this panoramic

tour, you will be met by several sights including the cathedral, city walls, Genovese Park and Alameda de Apodaca.

You will also see some of the settlements surrounding Cadiz such as La Cortadura, San Fernando and Puerto Real before

returning to the port.

Please note: Walking will be at your discretion during any photo stops.

Edited January 24, 2022 by NorbertsNiece

paulatsea · January 24, 2022

17 minutes ago, NorbertsNiece said:

CADIZ - 24TH JAN

SNAPSHOT OF CADIZ - INCLUDED EXCURSION

Since the end of the 15th century, the city of Cádiz has provided a gateway to the New World. Throughout this panoramic

tour, you will be met by several sights including the cathedral, city walls, Genovese Park and Alameda de Apodaca.

You will also see some of the settlements surrounding Cadiz such as La Cortadura, San Fernando and Puerto Real before

returning to the port.

Please note: Walking will be at your discretion during any photo stops.

Have a lovely day and trip - there was torrential rain and lightening for the whole time when we were there - which was a shame ! We stayed an extra day because the weather was so bad we couldn’t get out.
look forward to your pics so I can see what it looks like !!

paul

NorbertsNiece · January 24, 2022

We are berthed right near town.

NorbertsNiece · January 24, 2022

'Yas' superyacht was originally a Dutch Royal Navy frigate now rebuilt and registered in the UAE. You may find a quick Google interesting.

Wacktle · January 24, 2022

17 hours ago, david05 said:

You just tell the waiter your room number and they should find your meal order. Also in The Grill in the evening you should be able to get cheese on request. Saga are generally very good at giving you what you want. Once asked for an omelette at dinner and they were happy to provide it even though it wasn't on the menu that evening.

Thank you for the info about the veggie menu. I did wonder about the omelette option, seeing as it's always available on the room service menu. That would be a good option for me.

NorbertsNiece · January 24, 2022

Our departure from Cadiz has been put back from 5pm to 630pm. The Iona is berthed quite close and Capt Ryan just said a collision involves a lot of paperwork so we'll be leaving after them!

In the meantime I'm playing scrabble having napped after lunch!

I have many, many pics to share from Cadiz. Later....

Kenmure · January 24, 2022

Linda, thanks for all your blogs. Brilliant. Just to keep things going here’s a little quiz for you as you continue on your photographic tour of the ship. Other Saganauts who know the answers don’t spoil the fun with the answers just yet!

Where and what is the secret garden on board? Where’s the little bird who constantly has it’s eye on passengers? Clue. It’s not a real one!

Another note for Saganauts. Linda’s photo of the Iona reminded us that when it sailed on it’s inaugural cruise last year, approx passengers 5000 I think, was captained by Wesley Dunlop who was a regular captain on Pearl 2 which accommodated rather fewer!

Glenndale · January 24, 2022

You are doing a grand job 😀

NorbertsNiece · January 24, 2022

Ok. Here goes. Sat in the Britannia Lounge with a glass of bubbly. Pics from the coach. No photo stops as it poured with rain on and off the whole day! Apologies for the quality and the fact that you can't tell the white spots in one pic are flamingos!

The crew had mandatory drills this morning. Bottled water is provided at the gangway.