New to Saga

[Denarius]

6 minutes ago, Host Sharon said:

I'm not sure that is true about those who cruised on the old Saga ships pushing up the average age. The one moan I continually hear from that cohort on forums etc is that the new ships are too big and too expensive now all cabins are balcony ones.

Not sure about the "too expensive" but I have frequently heard long standing customers saying that the new ships are too big. But to me they seem pleasantly small. Star Clippers excepted, I have not sailed on a cruise ship so small since sailing on Cunard's Vistafjord in 1995. I suppose it comes down to what you are used to.

Edited March 4, 2023 by Denarius

[Host Sharon]

1 minute ago, Denarius said:

Not sure about the "too expensive" but I have frequently heard long standing customers saying that the new ships are too big. But to me they seem pleasantly small. Star Clippers excepted, I have not sailed on a cruise ship so small since sailing on Cunard's Vistafjord in 1995. I suppose it comes down to what you are used to.

Indeed. They are the perfect size for me but much larger than Saga Pearl for example. ALso, in the days of Pearl and Sapphire, you could book an inside cabin. No excursions or WiFi were included and you only got wine for lunch and dinner so the cruises I guess were that much less. I don't know becuase I only started with Saga when Discovery was launched.

[Windsurfboy]

I agree they are perfect size, big enough for Bay of  Biscay or Atlantic,  but not too big. They have a passenger space ratio of twice that of old ships. Plenty of outside and inside space.

 

It's not a fair comparison to look at inside prices on old ships , to prices of very generous balcony cabins with all the extras. 

 

I don't think saga ages are much different to other cruise lines out of school holidays. Saga passengers act as if they are much younger,  to most of them age is just a number. Yes you get some but a small minority of very old and no so sprightly passengers on Saga, especially singles. That's because Saga staff go that extra mile to look after them.

[Host Sharon]

On 2/5/2023 at 1:13 PM, LandC said:

We book direct. This enables us to access MySaga online for information on excursions, pick up times etc.
 

If cruises are booked via a TA,  Saga send all the information to them.  This may mean that some of the most popular excursions are sold out by the time the info reaches the client.

Also note, as from April 1, any cruises booked through an agent won't count towards the Britannia Loyality Club.

[Ladycommonsense]

On 2/16/2023 at 2:46 PM, Tothesunset said:

I don't know how to put this without sounding a bit snobbish but I'll give it a go. We sailed Saga for the first time last year because we were still concerned at the impact of Covid disruption on international travel. Previously we had sailed 7 nights Cunard Grill, 14 nights Seabourn and 201 nights Silversea, the latter two lines advertised as 6-star luxury lines. 

 

So? So we expected Saga to be a bit Darby and Joan meets Butlins. Isn't that an awful thing to say? I know, I know but bear with. Well, we thought Saga acquitted itself well against those other lines and we weren't in the least disappointed. An equivalent itinerary on Silversea, for example, would be around £150 pp per day more expensive but wouldn't include the wonderful home-port-home transport. So (yes, it's sometimes permissible to start a sentence with so. Again) we are on SoA again in May. 

 

To be honest, at first glance some of the Saga pricing seems a touch ambitious until you consider that everything is included. But there's a difference between price and value; I'd say Saga offers excellent value. 

 

(I noticed some previous posters were comparing Saga to cheaper lines so I've tried to approach that price point from the other direction. No animals were harmed in the making of this post.) 

What an excellent response. Thank you so much for taking the time and trouble to send me your thoughts.. love the ending about the animals🤣

[Ladycommonsense]

On 2/22/2023 at 6:01 PM, Denarius said:

I found myself in the same situation as you. I first sailed with P&O in 1997 after previously sailing with Cunard. I found them to my liking and they quickly became my first port of call; rougthly 2 out of 3 of my subsequent cruises have been with them, over 30 in total. But over the years I have seen their product deteriorate to such an extent that it no longer felt like the quality experience I used to enjoy. Last year I sailed for the first time with Saga (twice) and felt myself reminded of P&O as it used to be, when it was very much middle England at sea. I am well satisfied with Saga and have future cruises booked with them; I have none booked with P&O for the first time since that first cruise on Oriana.

My only real quible with Saga was the entertainment. Not that it bothers me much personally as I prefer to socialise rather than be entertained. And it is in the nature rather than the quality. On both cruises, there was a very strong emphasis on show tunes and classical music, to the detriment of mainstream pop and rock. And genres like blues, country and reggae were noticable by their absence. A little more musical variety would have been appreciated, we were after all the rock and roll generation.

What does super response - thank you!

[Ladycommonsense]

On 2/18/2023 at 4:37 PM, Windsurfboy said:

 

It is hard to compare Saga with other lines.  Comparisons with very much cheaper lines, makes Saga look expensive. But you get what you pay for, and Saga is in a different league. 

 

The only line that is similiary priced are the "upper" Cunard cabins. A standard saga cabin costs the same as a Brittania Club. A saga suite similiar price  (may be a fraction more) than a Cunard Queens Grill. All I can say is Saga compares very favourably with Cunard QG. Food is just as good,you get more with Saga. General service around ship is as good if not better than say Grills terrace. Saga feels more friendly throughout whole ship

 

 

Thank you for sharing your observations with me - it is much appreciated and certainly makes me feel we are making the right decision if we choose Saga.

[Goosebear Mum]

On 3/4/2023 at 2:57 PM, Scorpio41 said:

I have a pre pandemic deposit cruise to take on P&O’s Aurora in May. It will be interesting to see how things have changed. 

Please let us know what you think post Aurora. Like you we are on Aurora in May, as we deferred a cruise during covid. But reading about all the considerable post covid P&O cut backs and service deterioration, I have been researching future companies over the last few months, as I sadly believe this coming May, may be our final cruise with P&O.  
 

My preference from research is Viking, but like some others in this thread, the hassle of flying puts us off.  We may book a Saga cruise for our next holiday (I am still working, so only tend to get about one cruise a year, till our new mortgage is again paid off) 

 

In 5 years, I’ll be booking a longer holiday for my 60th and I want to have found the ‘right alternative company/ies’ by then!

 

Many thanks to everyone for their opinions on this thread, really appreciated reading them. 

 

 

 

 

[lincslady]

Have you read the recent reports about dogs on Viking?  A bit offputting.

[Jammy Bun]

1 hour ago, Goosebear Mum said:

Please let us know what you think post Aurora. Like you we are on Aurora in May, as we deferred a cruise during covid. But reading about all the considerable post covid P&O cut backs and service deterioration, I have been researching future companies over the last few months, as I sadly believe this coming May, may be our final cruise with P&O.  
 

My preference from research is Viking, but like some others in this thread, the hassle of flying puts us off.  We may book a Saga cruise for our next holiday (I am still working, so only tend to get about one cruise a year, till our new mortgage is again paid off) 

 

We gave up on P&O after a cruise on Aurora in 2015, and many years of cruising mainly on P&O.  Aurora was always our favourite of that fleet.  We then did two more Fred cruises (enjoyed their homely atmosphere), and a cheap NCL one, before discovering Viking in 2016.  Since then, apart from our Saga cruise in February this year, we have stuck with Viking as, for us, it is a perfect fit. Elegant understated decor and casual dress codes, with lots of cosy quiet areas in which to relax.   Saga just didn't compare IN MY OPINION.  

BUT - and I've said this before (and been flamed for it) if you've been happy with the P&O or Cunard way of doing things, then you will like Saga too.  The only way you can be sure is to try it... but try Viking too😉   Good luck!

[Goosebear Mum]

2 hours ago, lincslady said:

Have you read the recent reports about dogs on Viking?  A bit offputting.

Yes, but it’s a minor issue for me, and I think after this episode, Viking may be far more careful about vetting evidence for so called service dogs

[Denarius]

42 minutes ago, Jammy Bun said:

We gave up on P&O after a cruise on Aurora in 2015, and many years of cruising mainly on P&O.  Aurora was always our favourite of that fleet.  We then did two more Fred cruises (enjoyed their homely atmosphere), and a cheap NCL one, before discovering Viking in 2016.  Since then, apart from our Saga cruise in February this year, we have stuck with Viking as, for us, it is a perfect fit. Elegant understated decor and casual dress codes, with lots of cosy quiet areas in which to relax.   Saga just didn't compare IN MY OPINION.  

BUT - and I've said this before (and been flamed for it) if you've been happy with the P&O or Cunard way of doing things, then you will like Saga too.  The only way you can be sure is to try it... but try Viking too😉   Good luck!

I also used to sail regularly with P&O, having first sailed with them on Oriana in 1997. I first sailed with Saga last year, and have sailed with them twice since. I like them. In many ways they remind me of P&O as they used to be, when they were very much an up market line and before the relentless cuts of recent years. If you liked P&O as they were then, you will probably like Saga now. Having said that, they may be a little too traditional for some tastes; my main gripe is their retention of formal nights when others in their sector - Viking, Azamara, Oceania etc - no longer have them, if they ever did. I would like to try Viking, but I am a solo traveller and they do not appear to cater for us. Unlike the Saga ships which have over 100 single cabins, Viking ships have none and their single supplement is 100%. And I am not prepared to pay double fare!

[Goosebear Mum]

48 minutes ago, Jammy Bun said:

We gave up on P&O after a cruise on Aurora in 2015, and many years of cruising mainly on P&O.  Aurora was always our favourite of that fleet.  We then did two more Fred cruises (enjoyed their homely atmosphere), and a cheap NCL one, before discovering Viking in 2016.  Since then, apart from our Saga cruise in February this year, we have stuck with Viking as, for us, it is a perfect fit. Elegant understated decor and casual dress codes, with lots of cosy quiet areas in which to relax.   Saga just didn't compare IN MY OPINION.  

BUT - and I've said this before (and been flamed for it) if you've been happy with the P&O or Cunard way of doing things, then you will like Saga too.  The only way you can be sure is to try it... but try Viking too😉   Good luck!

Yes, we love Aurora, but we’ll see what May delivers us… I think it’s time we moved to a different cruise line.  Even on our last cruise pre covid (Dec 2018) I was noticing a deterioration in the restaurant and standards, and we were ending up in the buffet for dinner as it was higher quality.  It sounds from reviews as though it’s become worse, but I’ll see for myself and make a decision after that.  P&O are certainly moving towards the massive ships, stack people high on cheap cruises and charge for everything onboard.  That doesn’t appeal to me, and encourages a cheap ‘booze/sunbed cruise’ mentality.  Viking ships look wonderful and I have followed many ‘live’ reviews over the last few months. But flying at the moment deters us from Viking, and hence to the more limited range of cruises with Saga.  Our May cruise in a deluxe balcony on Aurora has cost a lot of money, compared to more inclusive Saga/Viking, once the extras are factored in. 
 

 

[Tothesunset]

2 hours ago, lincslady said:

Have you read the recent reports about dogs on Viking?  A bit offputting.

I'd be happy with dogs but wary of the passengers. 

[lincslady]

5 minutes ago, Tothesunset said:

I'd be happy with dogs but wary of the passengers. 

I know what you mean - but did you read about the dog on Seabourn which did a whoopsie on the carpet and its old lady owner just picked up what she could with a paper towel, and walked on.  Luckily not too many human passengers do that, although I guess it might happen.

[Tothesunset]

3 minutes ago, lincslady said:

I know what you mean - but did you read about the dog on Seabourn which did a whoopsie on the carpet and its old lady owner just picked up what she could with a paper towel, and walked on.  Luckily not too many human passengers do that, although I guess it might happen.

You make that sound like a challenge.. 

[lincslady]

I do hope not.

[Breezer1]

We are thinking of trying Saga after always cruising on P&O , is it easy to get a table for two for dinner?

[Bloodaxe]

Just booked our first Saga cruise after many cruises mainly with Celebrity and  Azamara

Our last Cruise was in June 2019 with Azamara in the Adriatic, not cruised since for family reasons.

Since we no longer wish to fly to join a cruise we decided that Saga may be a good fit for us, the huge ships have no interest for us at all.

What size are the bathrooms in the standard cabins and do the showers have doors,? on Azamara they are small and showers have clingy curtains which some people hate but we have always managed.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 1, 2023 by Bloodaxe

[twotravellersLondon]

55 minutes ago, Breezer1 said:

We are thinking of trying Saga after always cruising on P&O , is it easy to get a table for two for dinner?

We've never had any problem in doing so and have cruise with SAGA half a dozen times over the last four  or five years. However we do request an allocated table for two when we book. 

[LondonLad60]

49 minutes ago, Breezer1 said:

We are thinking of trying Saga after always cruising on P&O , is it easy to get a table for two for dinner?

It varies. Tables for two tend to go quite early. My wife and I like to dine at about 7;30 pm, and in five cruises with Saga we have only had to wait for a table for two once, and that was only for about ten minutes.  We sat in the nearby Living Room bar, and a waiter came to collect us. If you're happy to dine at about 8:00pm you shouldn't have a problem

[LondonLad60]

5 minutes ago, Bloodaxe said:

 

What size are the bathrooms in the standard cabins and do the showers have doors,? on Azamara they are small and showers have clingy curtains which some people hate but we have always managed.

 

 

 

The bathrooms in standard balcony cabins are quite small, but we have always found them to be perfectly adequate. Standard balcony bathrooms only have a shower - no bath,and the showers have glass doors, so no problem with clingy curtains. . 

 

 

[Bloodaxe]

9 minutes ago, LondonLad60 said:

 

 

 

Thank you, that should be fine for us, we have always liked the international people mix on our cruises, it will be a new experience with mostly British.

Edited May 1, 2023 by Bloodaxe

[david05]

22 hours ago, Bloodaxe said:

What size are the bathrooms in the standard cabins and do the showers have doors,?

The bathrooms are smallish but more than adequate. The showers do have doors. There is a brief glimpse of a bathroom here 

 

[Denarius]

5 hours ago, david05 said:

The bathrooms are smallish but more than adequate. The showers do have doors. There is a brief glimpse of a bathroom here 

 

For those who might be interested, the standard single cabins are very similar but slightly shorter, with only one chair. The bed is the same, as is the bathroom.

Edited May 2, 2023 by Denarius