Cunard Caronia / Saga Ruby

[YankeeClippr]

Has anybody travelled on the former Cunard Caronia since it was sold to Saga?

 

She was such a lovely ship, and a Med cruise during her last Cunard year was a great experience.

 

I'd like to sail on her again, but am wondering how the Saga experience would compare.

 

Thanks. (First post ,,, have enjoyed reading for years!)

[carlmm]

In case you have not already seen: There is a thread about Saga Cruises including the posts of people who have sailed the former Caronia.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=295371

[PRINSENDAM]

Has anybody travelled on the former Cunard Caronia since it was sold to Saga?

 

She was such a lovely ship, and a Med cruise during her last Cunard year was a great experience.

 

I'd like to sail on her again, but am wondering how the Saga experience would compare.

 

Thanks. (First post ,,, have enjoyed reading for years!)

 

 

Dear Clipper,

 

I have sailed in the ship as VISTAFJORD, as CARONIA most recently as SAGA RUBY. IMO as the RUBY she is much better than she was CARONIA. The interiors are now much more refined and suited to the ship. My only disappointment is the new carpet in the dining room.

 

Saga provides a quality cruise experience. You will not be disappointed in the standard of service or the quality of the food. Bar prices on board are much less than what Cunard charged... about half or less.

 

Stephen

[TomKel]

Like you, we have had many wonderful cruises on the former Caronia. While we haven't cruised on Saga Ruby yet, she was here in port (Savannah) on Monday of this week.

 

We went on board and were very impressed by the refurbishment. In truth, not too much has changed as to overall design and layout. However, Cunard had let so many things go in anticipation of her sale, it is wonderful to see this quality ship with a fresh look.

 

The best improvement is in the Lido - much better layout for food and eating. Of course, it's still not large enough - passengers taking their plates into the ballroom. A step in the right direction.

 

We talked with several passengers. They all had high marks for the ship and their experience!

[PRINSENDAM]

Like you, we have had many wonderful cruises on the former Caronia. While we haven't cruised on Saga Ruby yet, she was here in port (Savannah) on Monday of this week.

 

We went on board and were very impressed by the refurbishment. In truth, not too much has changed as to overall design and layout. However, Cunard had let so many things go in anticipation of her sale, it is wonderful to see this quality ship with a fresh look.

 

The best improvement is in the Lido - much better layout for food and eating. Of course, it's still not large enough - passengers taking their plates into the ballroom. A step in the right direction.

 

We talked with several passengers. They all had high marks for the ship and their experience!

 

 

Glad you enjoyed your visit.

 

Did you notice that aall of her teak decks have been sanded clean and are no longer dark wwith awful varnish?

 

Some things could have been done better but overall she is still a wonderful ship.

 

Breakfast and lunch in the ballroom? I don't think that will ever stop. It is almost 'tradition'!!!!

 

BTW... there is no charge to eat in View Restaurant and the food is excellent and he most expensive bottle of wine is about $28!

 

Stephen

[seabourndt]

hi there sorry to butt in, but have been looking for recent posts from you stephen for ages now. i tried to enquire from liners list but i was told not to. do you remember me? i said i wanted to meet you i was going on the NOORDAM from new york to rome which i did. as you said about signing the books you have done i mentioned about coming to bermuda specially to meet you.

if it would be better writing bu email you can write to

seabourndt@aol.com

as i'd love to know what happened.

i watched the SAGA RUBY arrive in bermuda late, any idea why she was solate as the blog never mentioned it. i left the books in the neptune lounge as i did not have any acess to it. but i heard you never came on board. its such a shame as i think you are a great artist and would have loved to have met you. i heard you have som4e paintings on the SAGA ROSE? where abouts are they? as iam doing a ship tour on her soon. are there any on the SAGA RUBY or did you do any while on board.

i had a great cruise neverthe less.

thanks

dave

[PRINSENDAM]

hi there sorry to butt in, but have been looking for recent posts from you stephen for ages now. i tried to enquire from liners list but i was told not to. do you remember me? i said i wanted to meet you i was going on the NOORDAM from new york to rome which i did. as you said about signing the books you have done i mentioned about coming to bermuda specially to meet you.

if it would be better writing bu email you can write to

seabourndt@aol.com

as i'd love to know what happened.

i watched the SAGA RUBY arrive in bermuda late, any idea why she was solate as the blog never mentioned it. i left the books in the neptune lounge as i did not have any acess to it. but i heard you never came on board. its such a shame as i think you are a great artist and would have loved to have met you. i heard you have som4e paintings on the SAGA ROSE? where abouts are they? as iam doing a ship tour on her soon. are there any on the SAGA RUBY or did you do any while on board.

i had a great cruise neverthe less.

thanks

dave

 

 

 

Dave,

 

Humble apologies... but see my direct post.

 

I have several paintings on the ROSE... Britannia Lounge and the North Cape Bar.

 

Just one in the South Cape Bar on the RUBY.... the clipper THERMOPYLAE.

 

Stephen

[seabourndt]

the email adreess you gave is not working.

dave

[dougnewmanatsea]

I had an absolutely delightful visit to SAGA RUBY today. She is every bit as great as everyone says! Of course she is not perfect, but she is very, very good.

 

She is a ship aboard which one instantly feels at home and it is very clear that both the crew and passengers have a tremendous amount of enthusiasm for this ship, as well as for SAGA ROSE which was spoken very kindly of as well. The member of the cruise staff who gave my small group a tour had been with Saga eight weeks and knew more about the ship than the masters of some other vessels I've been aboard. The tour itself was uncompromisingly thorough and an especially nice touch was that several vacant cabins were opened up for inspection (ranging from very nice to downright luxurious). I won't even start on the lunch which was quite extraordinary in both quantity and quality. The normal lunch menu looked quite nice but for their visitors they obviously decided that was not enough, and served us six courses!

 

This ship is the antithesis of "cheap" in every way. Everything about her screams quality, down to details like the carpeting, or the extraordinarily expensive-looking "passenger services directory" in the cabins (bound in very soft leather), or the generous portion of real caviar at lunch. Absolute quality, through and through.

 

Of course, there are faults... The decor could use a touch more color. The carpet in the theatre should be replaced. The art collection is poor (it's about the only thing that doesn't convey quality). And that's about it - I can't think of anything else negative to say. Oh, a ship like this deserves to have monogrammed silver in the dining room (she doesn't).

 

One thing that is very noticeable aboard this ship is the almost total absence of any on-board-revenue-extracting measures. The shop is so tiny, I actually had to look for it. There's no casino at all. I didn't hear one announcement all day long. The daily programme is almost completely devoid of advertising. Clearly, Saga's attitude is that when one has paid a substantial fare (and their fares are), one should not be accosted by pleas to spend more money. What a novel concept!

 

Most of the passengers I saw were, quite frankly, old but then they are the ones who stayed aboard, so perhaps the younger ones were ashore. At any rate, I have never seen a ship on a 34-day cruise where the passengers are not quite elderly, and I doubt the passenger mix would be much different even without the minimum age.

 

All in all, it was a thoroughly impressive experience. I had high expectations but even they were exceeded. I heard several people in our small group remark that this was probably the best ship visit they had ever had, and this is coming from people who have had dozens!

 

SAGA RUBY is like a vintage Bentley - timeless, uncompromising in quality, luxurious without being flashy... And utterly superior to modern copies. She is in absolutely sparkling condition and looks like she could have decades more life left in her. (I hope she does!)

 

I really can't say enough good things about this ship. If you are "of age", do yourself a favor and at least book a short "sampler" cruise aboard her or SAGA ROSE to "test the waters". I cannot imagine that you will be disappointed.

 

More tomorrow, with 100+ photos.

[PRINSENDAM]

the email adreess you gave is not working.

dave

 

Hi Dave,

 

address: prinsendam@hotmail.com

 

 

Stephen