Saga Spirit of Adventure to Scandinavia July 2025

[towny44]

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.

Thanks Merv, that is interesting. Your review has certainly given us food for thought, but being a tight fisted Yorkshireman I am not sure I really want to pay double the cost of a cruise on Iona just for a wee bit of pampering.

[barney]

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.

Thanks Merv, that is interesting. Your review has certainly given us food for thought, but being a tight fisted Yorkshireman I am not sure I really want to pay double the cost of a cruise on Iona just for a wee bit of pampering.

It is interesting but I’m also in your camp with reference to the costs.
We find it impossible to justify but then we tend to take five or six holidays a year, so have to be sensible cost wise for each one.
By the way, I’ve never seen a spot of rust on Iona or Arvia, which are of a similar age.
One of our very good friends died on this ship on Christmas day two years ago.
Ironically he was a retired heart surgeon and died of a sudden heart attack.
Their care of Cathy was excellent and way and above what would have been expected.
She speaks very highly of them.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Fair points from Towny and Barney, but I would say don't assume it's much more expensive. It often is, but how much depends on what you want from your holiday and when you book. Would you use the included add ons of drinks, tours, transport or parking, internet? Where do you want to go?

For example a Baltic Cruise next summer on Britannia comparable to the one we're on, but with two fewer ports, including parking and tips, in a slightly smaller cabin, would be significantly than we paid for this one. But of course you'd be paying for drinks, tours and internet. Throw in a drinks package and it's still less. Then you'd get OBC on Britannia but if you wanted internet and tours that would be gone, and more. If you want everything we've had the saving would be marginal.

I'd agree there are great bargains on Iona and Arvia which are lovely ships (we are happily booked for Arvia with the family next year) but itineraries are more limited if you stick to those two.

It's definitely horses for courses. If you want the touches we bemoan losing to cutbacks over the years they're all here and more. Definitely more than just a little pampering! And definitely not double the cost.

The key is certainly booking early, though in Saga's case that's only about a year to 18 months. They release them much later than some others. But it's certainly worth it. We saved 30%, around £3k. The discounts vanish as cabin grades are booked. So it's undoubtedly harder if you need something likely to sell out quicker, like fully accessible.

I'm not trying to sell it, There's no doubt P&O offer excellent value. I'm just saying don't rule it out. We've got one more night then disembarkation to assess. Full conclusion after that but at this moment it's heading towards a yes from us.

[barney]

Our friends Cathy and Mike swore by Saga and had numerous cruises with them before he passed away.
They always booked the top suite available because they were absolutely minted.
I remember one that they went on and I checked it out and it was £13k each. That wasn’t even a long one.

Personally, I’d love to give it a try, but can’t really justify the outlay.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Final thoughts when we get home tomorrow, but one thing to say now. While it's interesting to point out differences between Saga and P&O, both in service and price, it.would be hugely unfair to directly compare them. P&O markets itself as great value family holidays while Saga is positioning itself as a Premium Cruise line. Both meet their aims very successfully, and there is a place for both. It would be daft to expect P&O to still provide the pre Carnival level of service and the little treats they offered then given how they've contained costs against the flow of inflation. It's just a matter for what suits anyone of us at a particular time.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Very smooth disembarkation today. Final conclusions tomorrow as I'm knackered tonight. This cruising is tough stuff.

[Onelife]

Very smooth disembarkation today. Final conclusions tomorrow as I'm knackered tonight. This cruising is tough stuff.

Sleep well Sir Merv.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I will thanks OL. Choccie on my pillow?

[Onelife]

I will thanks OL. Choccie on my pillow?

In your dreams

[Mervyn and Trish]

Final parts. Disembarkation. Very well organised but slow because the majority of passengers use the included transport.

Disembarkation is by numbered groups coordinated with the appropriate vehicles being lined up outside and drivers ready to greet their passengers. The last group weren't due off until 10.30.

But as independent travellers we were "Tag 2". Out of cabin 8.00. Called to disembark 8.04. Off, car collected and on the road by 8.30.

Cruise terminal 1, including CPS parking undercover, is entirely based within what was once Dover Marine railway station, so from ship to car we were indoors throughout. Suitcases are laid out by Tag number rather than deck, so far fewer to search through.

10 out of 10.

[Mervyn and Trish]

So, big drum roll, time after a couple of days meditation, the conclusion.

To say again, although there have been comparisons to P&O, because that's a common denominator we understand, this is not a Saga versus P&O question. The current version of P&O is a good value for money family cruise line and remains our affordable favourite when we take our daughter and granddaughters. Bring on Arvia next year.

This is about just the two of us when we want something more like the pre Carnival premium P&O, or better.

So in the running three lines we've tried, Saga, Cunard and Princess. In the latter two cases it would not be the basic product, which has also slipped over the years. It would be their up market options, the Cunard Grills or what Princess now call their Reserve Collection. Versus bog standard cabins on Saga.

We liked the Reserve experience on Princess, but the biggest boost was a smaller restaurant, with flexible dining that worked, and a few other perks like priority embarkation and a limited initial stock in the minibar. We get a few other perks as top tier members of their loyalty club, mostly earned on P&O when it was transferable. But beyond that the general experience was the same as most other cabins.

The Princess Grills experience on Cunard was great. Dedicated table every night in the exclusive restaurant, access to Grills Lounge and bar, and Grills deck with really comfy loungers. And excellent service. The problem is that only lasts within the Grills bubble. Once in other areas the service is the same as everyone else.

One big downside for me of Cunard and Princess is the onboard currency of Dollars. Inconvenient and the extra costs of exchange rates and bank charges.

Then there are drink prices and tips. You can buy out both with a Princess package but it's not cheap and as modest drinkers not really worth it.

So back to Saga. Excellent service for everyone across the ship. More than 500 crew to look after fewer than 1000 passengers. That's marginally better than Cunard, a lot better than Princess. As well as being super efficient the crew are very friendly too.

The passenger/space ratio is amazing. Queen Victoria, for example, has more than twice as many passengers as the almost twin Saga ships, but only 50% more space.

So much is included in the price you really can do a cruise without spending a penny. We chose to buy a couple of photos and book an extra tour, but there's one included at every port from next year.

The food on Saga is better in our view than the MDRs on Cunard and Princess. The speciality restaurants (free but have to be booked) are comparable to the Princess Grills, or better.

So you can see where this is headed. For us as a couple Saga is our new favourite cruise line. Of course we will still check prices but with very few exceptions if one books early with Saga, and taking into account all the inclusions, it's usually going to win there too.

Time to preregister for 2027 then....

[Whynd1]

Couldn't agree with you more Merv. Your remarks are spot on.

I'm converted to Saga and have bookings with them for 2026.

Am off at the end of August on the Around Britain on Adventure and am looking forward to it.

Lindsey

[Onelife]

Hi Sir Merv, thanks for you very honest and unbiased review, I’m sure many will find it useful when considering their next cruise. At the end of the day if you can afford it then why not go for it.

For those like myself, Butlins still hold those special memories…come to think of it, we used to dine in the Yacht club like you.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Funny isn't it that critics who've possibly never been on P&O describe it as Butlins at sea. They think it's an insult. But actually the modern Butlins is a successful provider of great value family holidays. So it's exactly what P&O aspire to these days. So it's a compliment!

[oldbluefox]

I really enjoyed Merv's detailed experiences on board Saga. I must say I am not surprised by what he has said but despite what he says they are not a cheap holiday. You do get what you pay for and if you appreciate the pampered experience and can afford it then why not. I'll keep my eyes open for discounted offers.

[Onelife]

Funny isn't it that critics who've possibly never been on P&O describe it as Butlins at sea. They think it's an insult. But actually the modern Butlins is a successful provider of great value family holidays. So it's exactly what P&O aspire to these days. So it's a compliment!

As kids we had several holidays at Butlins and as you say they still provide cost effective way of taking the kids on holiday. We have on a couple of occasions taken our daughter (a good few years ago now) with the time between each holiday showing a significant change in how Butlins operates. On the last occasion there were far more “pay extra options” including better dining facilities….

[Stephen]

Great review Merv. Thanks

Already booked our second Saga cruise for next April. Twelve nights to Portugal, Spain and France

[Mervyn and Trish]

Well we've both come home with colds. Trish first then me. It's all the unhealthy old people cluttering up the lifts.

Come to think of it it's probably not a cold. More likely Covid or Bird Flu or Rabies. Much better for compo. Pass me a form. Sniffle. Sneeze.

[Stephen]

Sounds like a serious case of man flue. I’ll send you two forms….Trish can just have a couple of aspirin.

Out of interest there’s a Saga eight page pull out in the Saturday Daily Wail.

[Onelife]

Hi Stephen/Sir Merv, I note that Saga’s package includes comprehensive travel insurance, with a reduced fare should you wish to opt out. Seeing that some will have their own travel insurance do you know what the reduction would be?

[Mervyn and Trish]

It depends on the length of the cruise but my recollection from our booking was not a lot.

[Stephen]

No, I can’t remember either but it wasn’t allot.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Well damn it. Just tested and it is Covid. Which means some b@stard carried it on board, didn't report symptoms, didn't isolate and spread it.

So what do we reckon? £10m compo?

And Fred Olsen is now my favourite cruise line.

[Stephen]

The joys of cruising. I was going to invite you both down for a BBQ. You can forget that now.

Have a large single malt to kill off the germs instead

[Mervyn and Trish]

I'll be doing that for sure.

BTW just checked our invoice and although it says we opted out of the insurance doesn't specify the amount. .

But just looked at a similar cruise for later in the year and it's £87 per person not taking it.