Saga Spirit of Adventure to Scandinavia July 2025

[Mervyn and Trish]

So I thought I should do this properly with a separate thread. This cruise is 14 nights departing from Dover on 9th July and heading for various Scandinavian ports, including.some we've not visited before. It's what we might have previously called a Baltic cruise,though St Petersburg is clearly off the agenda.

We're booked in a standard double cabin on E Deck. The cabins on this ship all have balconies. There are.554 cabins, including singles, and maximum capacity is 999 passengers. Being Saga the minimum age to book is 50, though if you are 50 plus you can bring a companion who is as young as 40. First impression is the average age on this cruise is lower than many P&O adult only ships.

Some say Saga is expensive. We don't think so for what you get. It includes tips, internet, drinks, transport to the port, insurance subject to medical screening, four excursions, speciality dining restaurants and room service. Every cabin gets little touches like robes and slippers, fresh fruit, binoculars, twice daily service including a choc on the pillow, decent toiletries. Service is excellent, like the good old days. But because it looks expensive, forgive my snobbishness, no riff raff. No drunks determined to get value for money from a drinks package, no fights.

It's only our second experience of Saga after a long forgotten 5 night taster five years ago. And our first experience of Dover as a cruise port...

First impressions all round so far are excellent. More to follow.

[Stephen]

Merv wrote
No drunks determined to get value for money from a drinks package

Thankfully for the crew it’s only your second day, but give it time


No need to sell Saga to us Merv, like you we done a five night taster last year and loved it. Already booked for next year.

2026, excursions are included in every port.

[Meg 50]

it's the leaving from Dover that bothered me - having been watching the doc about the port over the past few weeks!

[Whynd1]

I love Saga.

Have a booking for the Around Britain cruise next month and really looking forward to it.

Totally agree with Merv, and yes next year an excursion for every port.

Lindsey

[Mervyn and Trish]

it's the leaving from Dover that bothered me - having been watching the doc about the port over the past few weeks!

So let's tackle that one pretty quickly.

We opted to drive down ourselves and take the free parking alternative to the included transport. The latter is very good but we decided against for various reasons. Our past experience was the disembarkation process can be quite slow as they reunite passengers with their transport and it's much faster for the independent travellers. We'd have been picked up at silly o'clock to get down on the day with the unpredictable M25 en route. And Trish is not a great traveller and can be guaranteed a front seat in our car.

So we drove down at a leisurely pace the day before and stayed at a Premier Inn. On the day we had a late breakfast, checked out at midday and were at the port at 12.10. The cruise terminal is on the western side of Dover, separate from the notoriously busy ferry port. It is literally just off the bottom of the M20/A20, much quieter and easier to get to than Southampton docks.

There was a slight hiccup where we missed the luggage drop off point and had to retrace our steps. The luggage was taken away by friendly porters, no self service luggage trolleys. We then drove 50 yards to the CPS drop off. A much smaller operation than Southampton. There were two in the queue before us. The car is then stored under cover again 50 yards from where we left it.

Security was the usual scanners for luggage but no need to remove jackets, belts or watches.

There are no staggered boarding times for Saga at Dover, that being controlled pretty much by most passengers arriving in their provided transport. No on line check in or credit card uploading either. Just turn up with passports, photos taken, health questions asked verbally and that's it. We were told to bring proof of insurance but no one asked to see it. Credit cards are registered at reception on board if you wish. Though since it's all inclusive you may not actually spend anything!

And straight on the ship. We were on board within half an hour of driving through the port gates.

Far easier and less stressful than Southampton.

More later.

[Meg 50]

thank you.
next question. I had a look at your itinerary - we did the Baltic last year and have booked it again next year ( different ship) so looking forward to hearing all about it.

It says included excursions - which all seem to be 'panoramic overviews'. Does this leave time for independent mooching too?
Are they compulsory? (or at least not going is frowned upon?)
And is there a shuttle bus too in case there's time after the tour to go back and check out some highlights?

[Mervyn and Trish]

I'll come to tours later when we've sampled them but generally yes the included ones are panoramic tours. They're about 2 hours long and there are several departure times to choose from so you can certainly combine with a mooch. They're not compulsory, so you can do them or not as you please. There are also alternative paid tours at every port. And there are free shuttle buses if the ship is docked more than 500 yards from the town centre.

[Stephen]

Merv’s pretty well covered it.

But to add, if you go onto your chosen Saga cruise home page where it shows your cruise itinerary and then scroll down to ‘what’s included’ then click on ‘excursions/find out more’ it will list dates for all cruises and when the excursions go on sale. That way you can get a head start booking your chosen excursion of choice as they get taken up very quickly.

I’m not sure why they list the excursions as ‘excursions on sale’ unless it’s for the ones you can purchase.

[oldbluefox]

Apparently their excursions are "panoramic touts" according to their website. There are others available on a paid basis.
I notice also their pick up service is advertised as nationwide with no limit as far as I could detect on a mileage limit.

[Stephen]

Taken from Saga website (click on image to enlarge)

UntitledSaga.jpg

[Mervyn and Trish]

Yes that's the difference. Pickup nationwide but above 75 miles it's shared. Extra cost if you want a private, you only, car. The maximum passengers in a shared vehicle is 4, but it can add time to your journey if you're the first pickup and you go off the direct route for the second. Or if you're second the best seats will have been taken. And some of their vehicles have some of the seats facing backwards. That would be a disaster for Trish.

[Stephen]

That’s one of the reasons I/we don’t fancy the share option. The thought of facing backwards the whole journey …….no thanks.

[oldbluefox]

Wusses!!!

[Mervyn and Trish]

Let me clarify on excursions. On this cruise four were included in the cruise fare. However there are several alternative departure times for each, some in the morning, some in the afternoon, in one case where we have an overnight in port, across two days. So you still have to book them, just like other tours, to choose your departure time. It's just that when you go to your basket to check out the charge is zero.

As for availability I don't know if this is always the case, although it is logical, ours were bookable the same day our balance was due. So we paid up, then booked our tours, including the free ones and a paid one we fancied.

[Mervyn and Trish]

So to the ship. First impressions (and second and third...) are great. Entered service in 2021, built by the same people as Oriana and Aurora, the ship is modern, light and airy. We have a standard double/twin cabin made up as a double. Decor modern shades of grey. We have dressing table with chair, two other comfy chairs and table, very small fridge, several 13amp sockets, four USB charging points, loads of lights, plenty of shelves and drawers. Only complaint is wardrobe space is tight and awkward to access. Usual tea and coffee supplies and carton of milk in the fridge. Better than those silly little pots! No biscuits! But there are loads of those in the library just along the corridor. Two glass bottles of water (i assume ship's tap water but rested so no obvious twang) replenished daily.

The shower (no bath) has a proper cubicle, no flappy curtains. There is a dim light round the mirror that is permanently on for nocturnal excursions. Big bottles of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, liquid hand soap and hand and body lotion. And a decent bar of solid soap. Fluffy bath towels, hand towels and face cloths.

There are two switches inside the door that turn on lights outside to say do not disturb or please make up my cabin. The latter also glows green when you insert your card to turn on the cabin electrics, giving the steward a clue that you're in. Service is twice a day.

Tv on the wall opposite the bed has as good a range of services as I've ever seen, including navigation map, destination information, on board account, video and music on demand and a huge list of tv channels, subject of course to reception. Once you've gone out of the satellite footprint for example most UK domestic channels vanish. One TV channel is the Playhouse Theatre so you can watch the shows from the cabin.

Fresh fruit delivered daily as requested. A good room service menu, all included.

Other cabins include singles, deluxe doube/twins that are a bit wider, and a range of suites.

More on public rooms later. Lunch beckons.

[CaroleF]

Sounds incredibly attractive! We had two Saga cruises booked back in 2019 but then Covid arrived so still haven't done one.

[Stephen]

I can vouch for the suites. Very nice.

[oldbluefox]

Great review Mervyn One or two nice innovations.

[david63]

Don't see why anyone would want to go on a cruise today with the temperature up in the frozen wastelands of the north at 28C

[Stephen]

Don't see why anyone would want to go on a cruise today with the temperature up in the frozen wastelands of the north at 28C

[Mervyn and Trish]

Something about eating while we await dinner. There's the main Dining Room, the Grill, and three speciality restaurants, Amalfi (Italian), Khukuri (Nepalese) and the Supper Club (Steaks etc. with entertainment later too).

The Dining Room has limited tables which can be booked for the duration of the cruise but is mostly open dining during opening hours (18:15 - 21:00). Freedom Dining but it actually works. We went at a busy time yesterday after the Captain's Cocktail Party ended and walked straight in for a table for two. The Grill is the self service buffet at breakfast and lunch but waiter service for dinner with the same menu as the Dining Room, a great option if you're scenic cruising at the time. On formal nights you can eat there dressed smart casually. Last night was formal night and everyone looked wonderful. No-one wandering about in shorts and vest.

The speciality restaurants are included but have to be booked. On short cruises you can only initially make one reservation in one of them. On longer cruises one in each. Further bookings subject to availability. It allows everyone a chance. We had no problem getting our first choices of dates and times when we booked after boarding.

There are also cakes in the Living Room, free ice cream by the pool and fancy coffee machines and biscuits in the Library, which is a bit of a social hub. It also has books. Quite a lot, but not as many as first appears as some are decorative fakes.

Comments on quality to follow.

[towny44]

Let me clarify on excursions. On this cruise four were included in the cruise fare. However there are several alternative departure times for each, some in the morning, some in the afternoon, in one case where we have an overnight in port, across two days. So you still have to book them, just like other tours, to choose your departure time. It's just that when you go to your basket to check out the charge is zero.

As for availability I don't know if this is always the case, although it is logical, ours were bookable the same day our balance was due. So we paid up, then booked our tours, including the free ones and a paid one we fancied.

Merv, out of interest can you check if the included tours can accomodate full time wheelchair users, who cannot use coach steps or transfer to a coach seat?

[Mervyn and Trish]

Will do

[Stephen]

Have you tried the ice cream yet by the pool Merv. Very nice

[Mervyn and Trish]

Merv, out of interest can you check if the included tours can accomodate full time wheelchair users, who cannot use coach steps or transfer to a coach seat?

I asked someone at the Tours desk and they say they do their best to accommodate all abilities but it depends on the vehicles provided at the port. For the included panoramic tours that is usually ordinary coaches so I'd take that as an unlikely. However she recommended calling the Saga office where they have disability specialists who are keen to do what they can to make things possible.

Have you tried the ice cream yet by the pool Merv. Very nice

I certainly have and I agree.

More on food and drink. So far we've had breakfast, lunch and dinner in the Grill, lunch and dinner in the Dining Room, the ice cream, dinner in Amalfi, the speciality Italian restaurant, and room service breakfast (only continental available). To emphasise again no additional charges for any of that.

Overall we're very happy with it all. A cut above P&O.

The Grill can be busy but isn't the usual trial to get food and then struggle to find a table. At busy times you are taken to a table already set with cutlery etc and then you go to get food. Drinks are delivered.

Drinks are all (mostly) inclusive. The exclusions are very few, mostly premium champagne. There's a good choice. For example 8 different gins and 9 whiskies including 5 single malts.

Service is great too. Not surprising when there are 540 crew for a maximum 999 passengers, a premium line ratio.

A quick service example loosely related to food. Our toilet failed to flush this morning. We called reception. An engineer arrived within two minutes and fixed it in another 2!