Saga Spirit of Adventure to Scandinavia July 2025

[Mervyn and Trish]

Funnily enough I reckon they're younger than Aurora last year. And more sober than my last on Azura.

[Stephen]

They must have known Merv was onboard and did it deliberately. Nine times out of ten we found the lifts empty when requested with not a wheelchair in sight.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Same with us. But that tenth time......

[Mervyn and Trish]

I have great news for OL, should he consider a Saga cruise. The excellent library has a lovely book about Highgrove, which will save him buying a copy.

We're on our final included tour this afternoon. Astonishingly we were the first to arrive in the theatre for one of our tours. However we were not first to arrive at the coach. While most passengers are seated a few rows down in the theatre while waiting there is an area nearer the exit for those "with limited mobility". You'd be amazed how fast they can run when the starting pistol is fired. And then limp to the seats at the front of the coach.

Yesterday we were in Helsingor, or Elsinore to Shakespeare fans. It was Saga's first call there but if you ever get chance of a visit with any cruise line take it. It's a tender port but once ashore the castle grounds and old town are easily walkable.

Tonight part of the entertainment is a Crew Show on deck.

[Stephen]

It’s the same on other ships with them hobbling or wizzing around on scooters, yet come a dance they like in the evening it’s like god just touched them with his hand and they’re off almost break dancing.

[Onelife]

Sir Merv, Did it mention in the book that Charlie was a nasty piece of work to work for?

https://www.thedailybeast.com/king-char ... staff-say/

At least I know how to treat my estate workers .

[Mervyn and Trish]

Ah, rather like Meghan then. I can see why you like him so much.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Room Service. Much more extensive menu than P&O. And free at all times. Cunard have started charging for theirs other than for Grills guests. We're liking this more and more.

[towny44]

Sir Merv, Did it mention in the book that Charlie was a nasty piece of work to work for?

https://www.thedailybeast.com/king-char ... staff-say/

At least I know how to treat my estate workers .

What on earth is the Daily Beast, and how do you manage to dredge up such worthless websites?
I hope you don't pay to give you access to the the seedier headlines, just think how much more fun you could have donating your funds to the bookies benevolent fund.

[Onelife]

The story is available via various sources but as I was only replying to Sir Merv’s quip about Highgrove, we best leave it here… I don’t wish to distract from Sir Merv’s excellent cruise report/observations.

[oldbluefox]

What on earth is the Daily Beast, and how do you manage to dredge up such worthless websites?

It's an American site, say no more

[Mervyn and Trish]

And they don't have a King. They have a President who is apparently a joy to work for.

But quite right OL, let's get back to my splendid review

[Stephen]

How’s your cabin. And is Trish enjoying the cruise. Asking for a friend

[Portsmouth]

To add to Stephens question about the cabin /stateroom...
Is the air conditioning actually effective and how noisy is it when full on at night ?
you said earlier in the thread you had a fridge in the room......so my question is... is it quiet at night when you are going to sleep, or does it hum ?

[Portsmouth]

ps Mervyn....I'm sure you'll give a positive answer....I'm not looking for faults as you've opened my eyes about how good Saga cruises can be.
Maybe time to spend a bit more than usual on a cruise with the benefits you've mentioned

[Mervyn and Trish]

How’s your cabin. And is Trish enjoying the cruise. Asking for a friend

We're very happy with the cabin, a standard double/twin, the majority type cabin on the ship. I can't see we'd ever bother to pay more for anything else. Comfy bed, dressing table with mirror with lights and a separate full length mirror (so yes Trish is very happy), heavy but moveable table with two comfortable armchairs big enough for eating room service brek, or just lazing, loo with proper shower cubicle, big tv opposite bed, balcony with two chairs and table, loads of lights, 13amp sockets and four USB charging sockets. Serviced twice daily. Only reservation is wardrobe space is a bit tight.

We've had 29-30 degrees outside a lot of the time and the air con is very effective at keeping us cool. Like most ships you can only control the temperature, not the speed, and although you can hear it in the dead of night it's much quieter than most ships and not sleep disturbing, and Trish is easily disturbed.

The fridge is tiny. About 18 inches high and wide but literally one bottle deep. One bottle of wine, the supplied carton of milk (regularly replenished, and a couple of beer cans and it would be full. But with drinks all included on board there's no need for smuggled cabin supplies! And it is totally silent.

Final conclusions to come but we're both very happy with the whole package.

And did I mention no riff raff?

[Mervyn and Trish]

Other cabin grades available. The next up is deluxe double. Wider with more storage space. Nice to have but a lump more money. Then various suites. Also single cabins and suites. About 20% of total are singles and they are reasonable size, About 85% the size of standard doubles. Of course some fully accessible cabins. There are no inside cabins, in fact all cabins have balconies.

[Ray B]

Excellent report Merv, I did enjoy reading about the facilities that were on the ship and the places visited.
The food as would be expected seemed very good, which is always a big plus, entertainment is something that, with a large group of passengers, will be attractive to some but not others. The big thing is ,that with a large outlay of money, you were happy with the package .
Interestingly, the behaviour of a few of the passengers made me smile, we see them every.
One thing you didn't say you witnessed, was the calling of the lift with the walking stick .
Thanks again Merv for your report and being able to regularly keep us so upto date as you cruised.

[Onelife]

Sir Merv wrote...

"And did I mention no riff raff?"

I thought Stephen cruised with Saga theses days?

[CaroleF]

You've been an excellent advertisement for Saga Merv. I had a look at some of the clips on You Tube showing the Saga cabins. One thing that occurred to me was the position of the television in some of the cabins. Not that I spend a lot of time watching tv when I'm on a ship but it seemed that in order to watch the tv you had to be on the bed, is that the case? It's just that on my last cruise I spent a lot of time on the ship so perhaps saw more tv than I would normally. Just curious. It certainly wouldn't stop me going on a Saga cruise. I have a friend who's been on a few Saga cruises and she loved it. It's been good to hear in such detail from you what it's like. You have really made me determined to look at Saga with relation to using a scooter or possibly a powered wheelchair on board. I understand that it probably means I'd have to have an adapted cabin, which I don't really need but it may be that's the rules.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Yes the tv is on the wall at the end of the bed. That suits me as I like to sit with my feet up when I watch at home. It is, however, perfectly possible to watch it at an angle the comfy chairs.

[Mervyn and Trish]

One specifically for Towny. We're in Kristiansand today. I've not noticed it at the other ports but all the tour coaches I've seen here have extra wide centre doors and a proper wheelchair lift that they are using. I've seen a couple of passengers boarding them seated in their chairs.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Final formal night tonight. There are usually three on a 14 night cruise. They are generally well observed. For those who prefer not to dress up the deck 12 Grill, that does buffet breakfasts and lunches, does waiter service with the same menu as the Dining Room on formal nights, and indeed most others. In fact it's only been a self service buffet on two nights.

Smart casual (they emphasise the smart) is also allowed in the theatre and bars.

There are only very few (probably single figures) passengers exhibiting the "I've f@#@ing paid for my holiday and I'll wear what I like" attitude, turning out in their grandad's old jumpers and gardening trousers. Phew.

[Mervyn and Trish]

The ship is four year's old (Spirit of Discovery is six) and we had a birthday party with cake and champagne cocktails this week. But it is immaculate. Like the old P&O there's always someone painting. In two ports they had a cherry picker on the quayside touching up bits they can't reach from inside. Today they're using a tender as a working platform to paint the stern. There's not a speck of rust to be seen anywhere, something that can't be said of P&O these days.

[Onelife]

I suppose the take away from Sir Merv’s cruise report is that once you’ve done a Saga cruise anything less is going to seem inferior, tinged with disappointment?