P&O Cruiser does a Saga Cruise

[Megabear2]

I doubt that it was anyone's intention to cause Saga or any other cruisers offence.  A lot of the comments are tongue in cheek, including my own - which are mainly a bit of banter aimed at ICF on my part because of his enthusiasm for all things Arvia.  It was intended as a bit of fun between us along with the joke shared with Zap however if anyone is offended by me I apologise.

 

Unfortunately when discussions move into personal opinions it is inevitable someone will see things a different way.

 

Incidentally I do not sail exclusively in inside cabins, indeed my last Arvia cruise although booked as a select inside ended up being a disaster in a balcony thus proving what you pay can often have little to no control by paying more.

 

 

[Dermotsgirl]

1 hour ago, Megabear2 said:

But, but but ... we now have the long awaited return of ICF with his ebullient enthusiasm for all things Arvia which will bring with it all the excitement a bouncy Labrador puppy displays.  Time to enjoy the one to one battles again and see old arguments dissected, rehashed with much enthusiasm and lots of sparring.  And it's even better because he's come out fighting with mum and dad going high end!

I nearly responded to ICFs post about what he could do on Arvia but maybe not on Saga. But then I thought, no, I’m not a Saga fan girl and I don’t want or need to convince everyone to come over to the dark side ! 😂

However, I will be interested to hear about how mum and dad fare on Saga 

 

[nosapphire]

54 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

I think you get that included on Saga?  

WiFi is included (although can be frustratingly slow, and there is a block on heavy bandwidth uses, such as YouTube and Zoom calls).

OBC - I think it is still the same as it used to be, it is added to your on-board account. You use the on-board account to pay for anything that is not included in the fare, such as excursions etc., and at the end of the cruise if the account is in credit the credit gets given back to you on whatever card was registered.

So, if still the same (which I think it is) you can take unused OBC back home with you.

[Dermotsgirl]

1 hour ago, zap99 said:

Perhaps I should go to the Saga thread for my enlightenment, but that is a bit quiet.🤣

That’s why I wanted to put the thread on this forum, as I knew I’d get more engagement here 

[Dermotsgirl]

29 minutes ago, lincslady said:

Wow - what a lot of dislike of Saga, and people with such strong views about the world that I don't like to read them.  I shall certainly stay away from this thread in future, as it is positively unpleasant.

 

Maybe it is time for it to be locked or disappear. 

Please don’t suggest that, I want to add to this thread it next year when I do my Saga cruise in May - I hope to update with my further experiences.  I’d be upset if the thread was locked. 

[Megabear2]

Just now, Dermotsgirl said:

That’s why I wanted to put the thread on this forum, as I knew I’d get more engagement here 

I think you got more than you bargained for!  Trouble is the proper discussion has now turned into a free for all with people comparing irrelevant things like posh hotels, spas and Travellodge.   Now people are calling for the thread to close so no doubt for the sake of a couple of jokes between one or two people it will go the way of many other threads that started so well.

[zap99]

18 minutes ago, Dermotsgirl said:

That’s why I wanted to put the thread on this forum, as I knew I’d get more engagement here 

So plan A worked well. TBH I have no axe to grind about Saga. What gets to me is that the Saga board in deserted, so folk post on the P&O threads with stories about how superior Saga are and how downmarket P&O are. We sail on RC, Celebrity, NCL as well as P&O. I rarely see any reference to Saga, or Fred on those threads. I will refrain from any further reference to Saga and take your suggestion to scroll on...bye.

Edited September 14, 2023 by zap99

[Dermotsgirl]

7 minutes ago, nosapphire said:

WiFi is included (although can be frustratingly slow, and there is a block on heavy bandwidth uses, such as YouTube and Zoom calls).

OBC - I think it is still the same as it used to be, it is added to your on-board account. You use the on-board account to pay for anything that is not included in the fare, such as excursions etc., and at the end of the cruise if the account is in credit the credit gets given back to you on whatever card was registered.

So, if still the same (which I think it is) you can take unused OBC back home with you.

Ah, that explains why some of my apps didn’t load 

[Dermotsgirl]

5 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

I think you got more than you bargained for!  Trouble is the proper discussion has now turned into a free for all with people comparing irrelevant things like posh hotels, spas and Travellodge.   Now people are calling for the thread to close so no doubt for the sake of a couple of jokes between one or two people it will go the way of many other threads that started so well.

Exactly, it’s not a competition between other cruise lines or types of holiday.

 

I just felt there was quite a bit of interest in Saga, and as I was a quite staunch P&O cruiser up until 2019, I thought it might be useful to give an account of my experiences. I also enjoyed writing the account.

 

I hope I will be able to carry on with part 2 next year. 

 

 

 

[Megabear2]

3 minutes ago, zap99 said:

So plan A worked well. TBH I have no axe to grind about Saga. What gets to me is that the Saga board in deserted, so folk post on the P&O threads with stories about how superior Saga are and how downmarket P&O are. We sail on RC, Celebrity, NCL as well as P&O. I rarely see any reference to Saga, or Fred on those threads. I will refrain from and further reference to Saga and take your suggestion to scroll on...bye.

A lot of P&O cruisers clearly use Saga as well so surely a thread such as this one started out as is really useful.  However I have to agree with you there is very little over on the Saga boards so it is difficult to actually gauge an unbiased opinion and it can get very wearying to be repeatedly told how good such and such a line is if you are trying to review or discuss a P&O matter.  

 

This seems to have creeped in very much after the restart as past P&O passengers have moved to other lines (which they of course have a total right to compare).  Where I would agree with you however is how some of these folk (quite a lot have thankfully moved on completely) Iiked to denigrate and run down anything P&O immediately someone mentioned anything with even a minor sniff of a problem. This in turn arouses people like ICF and others to defend what they love about P&O and from there the whole thing becomes personal, people get upset and then very valid points/ideas are lost.

[Interestedcruisefan]

Yep and I won't apologise for saying positive stuff (that I genuinely believe) about my experiences on P and O. 

 

I've basically bigger up Arvia rather than criticised Saga. 

 

My only real criticism of Saga is the prices they charge. 

 

Good for Saga though if Wi-Fi is included in that price as that's extortionate on P and O and my beloved Arvia

Edited September 14, 2023 by Interestedcruisefan

[nosapphire]

1 hour ago, Fionboard said:

Yes, love the way people who choose cheap inside cabins on P&O criticise those of us who  choose to spend more on our cruises! It is our choice. 

Actually, when Saga got their new ships that upset a lot of Saga passengers who pointed out that they always booked the cheapest inside cabins on Saga in order to afford more cruises, and now the ships were all balcony the prices would rise to balcony prices, and they could not afford to cruise so often.

Still, somebody has to pay the mortgages for the ships

[Interestedcruisefan]

1 hour ago, Fionboard said:

Yes, love the way people who choose cheap inside cabins on P&O criticise those of us who  choose to spend more on our cruises! It is our choice. 

Not sure if that's aimed at me but I always book cheap inside.

 

We never use the balcony when we've had one before and we are always out early enjoying all the facilities on the ship 

 

We don't take our own drinks on board we prefer cocktails instead

 

No point us paying for something we don't use

 

Especially as i've got loads more holidays to pay for as well each year

 

We've got a balcony included in Jamaica in October that we won't use at all as we would rather be round the pool next to the beach 15 yards from our room

 

And a balcony in Cape Town in January that me might use very rarely

 

Nice to have but not something we would ever pay extra for at this stage

 

So we can afford endless cocktails, meal upgrades, excursions, Cadburys dairy milk  and even the Wi-Fi on Arvia with what we save on not using balconies 

 

When we got moved to one last year all it gave us was more light in the room tbh 

[Interestedcruisefan]

Just checked and a standard balcony on Arvia in Feb without choosing location would cost us an extra 1800 pounds between us for the 15 night break!!

 

Lol

 

120 pounds a night for something we would barely even open the door on

 

That would pay for epicurean every night and paired wines with the meal

 

Cocktails all day?

 

Cannot possibly justify the extra cost for us

 

I would want full body massages from the spa team included for each of us every day on the balcony to justify that extra expense!

 

 

[Megabear2]

26 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

Just checked and a standard balcony on Arvia in Feb without choosing location would cost us an extra 1800 pounds between us for the 15 night break!!

 

Lol

 

120 pounds a night for something we would barely even open the door on

 

That would pay for epicurean every night and paired wines with the meal

 

Cocktails all day?

 

Cannot possibly justify the extra cost for us

 

I would want full body massages from the spa team included for each of us every day on the balcony to justify that extra expense!

 

 

I just received one of those "personal" email offers I get from P&O.  This one's offering money off until 26/9 on Caribbean cruises.  A balcony forward is £4458 select fare with £320 OBC on every Arvia cruise from her arrival in the Caribbean until end of February. A saver is £3198.

 

Insides are £3098 on select and £2398 saver.

 

So no, not a fortune st the moment and a much bigger cabin, natural light etc as well.

[zap99]

3 minutes ago, Megabear2 said:

I just received one of those "personal" email offers I get from P&O.  This one's offering money off until 26/9 on Caribbean cruises.  A balcony forward is £4458 select fare with £320 OBC on every Arvia cruise from her arrival in the Caribbean until end of February. A saver is £3198.

 

Insides are £3098 on select and £2398 saver.

 

So no, not a fortune st the moment and a much bigger cabin, natural light etc as well.

We booked Arvia.  2 weeks in the med. Select balcony with £560 OBC £3200. I think an inside saver was a little less.🤣

[Cynthia Darch]

This business about tables being close together on Saga is a joke, yes there are some close particularly in the buffet which frankly many enjoy but there are loads in the MDR which are set out with plenty of space between them. I have just returned from a 2 week cruise on the SoA and it was amazing especially when compared to the cruising on P&O. P&O in days gone by used to be magnificent but sadly not any longer. However you get what you pay for and P&O are selling it cheap and piling it high now, so if you like that then fine for you.

[paulatsea]

1 hour ago, Cynthia Darch said:

This business about tables being close together on Saga is a joke, yes there are some close particularly in the buffet which frankly many enjoy but there are loads in the MDR which are set out with plenty of space between them. I have just returned from a 2 week cruise on the SoA and it was amazing especially when compared to the cruising on P&O. P&O in days gone by used to be magnificent but sadly not any longer. However you get what you pay for and P&O are selling it cheap and piling it high now, so if you like that then fine for you.

 

It’s not a joke - many if not most tables for 2 were very close together in the MDR  on my cruise last year on SOD.

Much better on Aurora.

 

We did manage to find a decent table eventually but the original one we were allocated was so close to others it was effectively a shared table. 
 

The cabin and service everywhere was excellent , all inclusive and free transport to ship - but despite all this we still prefer p&o Aurora - it has a better atmosphere for us.

 

Perhaps it’s different on SOA.

Edited September 15, 2023 by paulatsea

[lancashire_cruisers]

I still feel a bit too young for a Saga cruise but I’ve found this thread quite interesting to see what you get for the extra money you pay. I can completely understand why some would love it but purely based on the dining arrangements as described it wouldn’t be for us.

 

However, I can’t see anything in the thread that warrants closing it down and it would be a shame if @Dermotsgirl’s hard work disappeared into the ether. If you don’t like something just scroll on by people!

[FatBoy20]

11 minutes ago, lancashire_cruisers said:

I still feel a bit too young for a Saga cruise but I’ve found this thread quite interesting to see what you get for the extra money you pay. I can completely understand why some would love it but purely based on the dining arrangements as described it wouldn’t be for us.

 

However, I can’t see anything in the thread that warrants closing it down and it would be a shame if @Dermotsgirl’s hard work disappeared into the ether. If you don’t like something just scroll on by people!

The Dining Arrangements are one persons view don't believe everything you read. If you are prepared to do your homework (Book in advance) you can get excellent Tables for Two in the MDR!.

[lancashire_cruisers]

3 minutes ago, FatBoy20 said:

The Dining Arrangements are one persons view don't believe everything you read. If you are prepared to do your homework (Book in advance) you can get excellent Tables for Two in the MDR!.

We’ll see, maybe in the future when we feel we’re the right age profile. In the meantime we have other potential cruises we’re planning to do including Cunard and a world cruise in a few years’ time when we take early retirement.

[paulatsea]

4 minutes ago, FatBoy20 said:

The Dining Arrangements are one persons view don't believe everything you read. If you are prepared to do your homework (Book in advance) you can get excellent Tables for Two in the MDR!.

My view as well so 2 peoples view. 
I am comparing to Aurora - and Aurora is much better.

[paulatsea]

3 minutes ago, paulatsea said:

My view as well so 2 peoples view. 
I am comparing to Aurora - and Aurora is much better.

Although good tables for 2 are available there are much less of them - in my experience.

[Denarius]

14 minutes ago, lancashire_cruisers said:

I still feel a bit too young for a Saga cruise but I’ve found this thread quite interesting to see what you get for the extra money you pay. I can completely understand why some would love it but purely based on the dining arrangements as described it wouldn’t be for us.

 

However, I can’t see anything in the thread that warrants closing it down and it would be a shame if @Dermotsgirl’s hard work disappeared into the ether. If you don’t like something just scroll on by people!

I agree. The thread has unfortunately become bogged down on the narrow issue of  tables for two (spacing thereof) and whether one should be greeted front of house and escorted to a table in the Grill; important issues for some people, inconsequential to others. People have lost sight of the fact that the OP's excellent review covers all aspects of her Saga cruise and apart from these issues is overwhelmingly positive. I look forward to reading the next instalment.

 

[nosapphire]

Is there any ship anywhere where one can say that everything is perfect, there is nothing that could be better?

As a regular Saga cruiser, I certainly can think of a lot of things that Saga could improve on - but as there are many other things that I think they do well, Saga suits me just that little bit more than P&O suits me.

I thought the OP's review was an excellent, well judged and balanced one, and personal reviews like that are always much more use than the "professional" reviews.