Saga Sapphire Photos & Cabin 8508

During our very pleasant stay on the Saga Sapphire, we had been allocated cabin 8508 on deck 8, which was very comfortable indeed.  The beds can be made up as a king size or two singles.  The cabin had an adequate balcony with two chairs, however it was narrow and there was no room for a table.

Balcony

There were two types of electrical sockets - one European and a double UK three-pin socket above one bedside table and a single UK three-pin socket beside the other bedside table which I used for the hairdryer which was provided and which was next to a large mirror and light. The bathroom had a walk-in shower with adjustable shower head  Full size toiletries and bathrobes were made available for use.  Towels were changed very regularly.  There was plenty of storage for clothes and there were adequate hangers supplied in the wardrobe.  There was a safe in the room and also a small fridge.  A clothes brush/shoe horn was provided.  There were two full-length mirrors and a flat screen TV.  Water was provided on a daily basis and there was a water jug and ice bucket.  Fresh fruit was also provided. There are also binoculars in the cabin for use by passengers.  Lifejackets were stored in the cabin.

I've already included photos of the cabin in an earlier post, so will just post some general photos of the ship that I took during our trip:

Aviators Bar

Aviators Bar

Drawing Room

Pool area

Outside seating/eating

Out on deck

Coopers Bar

Coopers Bar

This was just a small selection of photos.  I will compile an album in my Webshots folders specifically for the ship and will post a link to the album when I get it done.  Meanwhile, hopefully this will give you a little taste of what life is like on board the Saga Sapphire.

I did have lots of other photos linked into Webshots, but that all changed when Webshots changed into something else, so I'm afraid I've not managed to get the other photos uploaded into another on-line album as yet!!


Just for information, here is a note of the laundry prices on board

Laundry list & prices

I should probably mention the swimming pool - or rather the lack of a swimming pool!!  During our journey en route to Norway the water in the pool was crashing about and would have been too dangerous to use.  It was closed after we saw staff looking at what was happening and it never opened again for the duration of the cruise.  Now, we weren't bothered by that at all as we were en route to Norway and unlikely to use it, but if the ship was on her way to a warmer climate and the same thing happened, then that could cause a problem.  There are also hot tubs on board and they were never in use either.

We had read about unpleasant sewage smells prior to our trip but can quite honestly say that we didn't experience that problem.  There were also no engine problems and no smell of diesel fumes during our cruise.  The air conditioning in the cabin wasn't a problem and the temperature was just fine.

There is a page on the Saga website dedicated to the Saga Sapphire and you can find reviews here too - this is the link, which might be helpful.

http://travel.saga.co.uk/holidays/ocean-cruises/saga-sapphire.aspx

Disembarkation and Journey Home

We were up early for breakfast just as we were coming in to Dover.  After breakfast it was back to the cabin for the last time to pick up our bags and go to the Britannia Lounge to await being called to disembark.  We already had our disembarkation number, which was 18, and which had been given to us the previous night so that we could mark our luggage accordingly.

It wasn't long before the numbers started being called but we were somewhat surprised when after the number six I think it was, they called 18!!  So, off we went and into the holding area for the luggage where we identified our cases.  After that, it was off to follow the rep where the cases were packed into a taxi and we were packed into a separate taxi and whisked off to Dover train Station where there was another Saga rep waiting and who helped take our cases to the relevant platform.  I must say that Saga had all of this very well organised.  We got ourselves onto the train for St. Pancras in London and managed to get seats fairly nearto the luggage racks and we were finally off on our journey home.  It was easy to get from St. Pancras to Kings Cross in London where we found the first class lounge - however, because of whatever kind of ticket we had, we had to pay another £5 each to be allowed to use the lounge and partake of the food and drink on offer.  Being Scottish, we paid with a Scottish £10 note whether they liked it or not, and made sure that we had value for money as far as the food and drink on offer was concerned!!  We certainly didn't have to pay any extra when we used the first class lounge in Edinburgh, so goodness knows why we had extra to pay in London.

As we approached the train that would take us to Edinburgh, we were able to put our luggage into the baggage car, so that was a great help, then we found our seats which had been pre-booked by Saga.  The train was going to be busy it seemed by the number of tickets that were protruding from most of the seats in our carriage.

During the journey we were offered sandwiches and drinks - not just soft drinks either, alcoholic ones were on offer too, and the service was superb.  The weather was also superb most of the way towards the Scottish Border but, just before arriving in Berwick on Tweed, it took a turn for the worse, and we already knew that it was pouring with rain at home!!

As you can see in the above picture, the skies were getting very dark indeed!!  This was taken just prior to Berwick on Tweed, a place which is very special to me, and I was looking forward to crossing the Border Bridge once more on the way home, hoping to capture some photos as I crossed, as I was on the right side of the train for one of the best views in the world!!

We were soon approaching Berwick, so the camera was at the ready even though the skies were grey and the rain was beginning to start.  I did manage to take a few photos, but they're not as good as I had hoped for because we had left the sun behind!!

Heading towards the Border Bridge

Looking towards the town and the road bridges

New bridge and old bridge

New bridge, old bridge and boathouse

From here it wasn't far to Edinburgh, the silly thing being that we had to pass our own village in the train en route there, then catch a train in Edinburgh to come back on the same line!!  On getting to Waverley Station, we could see our train waiting at the platform so it was a mad dash to get the cases from the baggage car then make our way to the platform for our train and, just as we got there, the ticket collectors motioned to a huge group of students to come forward to board the train, so we had to fight our way through hoards of people while carrying our luggage as well!!  However, we made it by the skin of our teeth and we were soon back home after a memorable trip to Norway.

We were also back to the rain!!

Last Day at Sea

The first thing I done this morning on getting up was put my seaband wristbands on!!  I didn't want to start feeling ill like I had done on our full day of sailing at the beginning of the cruise!!  The sea wasn't as rough on the way back however, and would you believe it, the sun was shining and both the sky and sea were brilliant blue!!  We had found the sunshine at last in the middle of the North Sea!!

We just lazed around the ship for most of the day and also attended the lecture regarding disembarkation at Dover.  Our cases had to be outside our cabins at 11 p.m. that night, which is something we hadn't realised would happen, so it was a logistical problem for me to sort out what to pack, what to keep in the cabin and where to pack it in the morning on leaving the cabin - cabins had to be vacated at 8 a.m.  However, I got that sorted out and made a mental note that if we do another cruise, I must pack a spare bag to pack our nightwear and toiletries in!!

We had lunch at the BBQ on deck which was lovely - and the sun was still shining!!  I took some photos of various places on the ship and then it was soon time to get ready for the Captain's farewell cocktail party prior to dinner.  Yet more champagne and canapes - I could get used to this!!

After dinner at the Verandah we went to the Britannia Lounge to watch the last show of the cruise - a Motown special again put on by Explosive Productions, which was just superb, as were their previous shows.

We had an earlier night than normal so that we could get back to the cabin to prepare to disembark at Dover in the morning, plus of course we had to get those cases outside the cabin door!!

Bergen and Hardanger

Another early start but woke up to very grey clouds, so the weather wasn't so good at all.

After breakfast we made our way to the Britannia Lounge for our disembark instructions and then made our way to where the coaches were waiting.  This is when we found out that the tour operator had added an extra destination to our eight and a half hour tour, but without taking anything out of the existing tour - we wondered just how that was going to work out!!

I'm going to use some of the text of my subsequent letter of complaint to Saga to explain what happened next!!  But, don't worry, I will intersperse it with photos so that it doesn't get too boring!!

On arrival at the coach, our Guide Anna told us that the tour had been changed to also include a visit to Voss, which she and the driver reckoned was far too ambitious, and she also voiced her concerns to the Saga Representative who was on shore checking on the coaches.  Our given time for being back on board ship was 4.30 p.m.  En route to our first stop our guide mentioned that we may not be able to have a proper visit to the Steinsdalsfossen, and reiterated again that the extra portion added on to our trip was far too ambitious.

When we arrived at the Steinsdalsfossen, we were asked not to get involved in queues at the gift shop or toilets as we were so short of time so, basically, it was a choice of looking at the gift shop and perhaps going to the toilet, or walking up to and behind the waterfall to take some photos and then getting back onto the coach!  There was certainly no time to do both.  I chose to take photos!!

Steinsdalsfossen

Going behind the falls

Behind the falls

Behind the falls

From here, we made our way to the Hardanger Boat Preservation Centre where our visit here was also rushed and cut by at least 15 minutes, and Anna had to explain to the tour guides from the boat centre that they were to keep their tour shorter than normal.  We had been split into two groups to take this tour, and one group had to miss out totally on their rope making experience as there was no time to fit it in.  Our group did have the opportunity to make ropes and to see how they are still made in the way they were many years ago. We also had time to see a rather fascinating film on life in the past, which was really interesting.  The weather was still holding out but, by the time we left, the rain had started.  I still managed to take some photos though!!

Some of the boats that have been restored

Reflections

Reflections

And more reflections

Rope ball

Rope pulling room

We were then taken on to the Steinsto Fruit Farm where we had an extremely rushed lunch and had no time at all to look round the farm (which was to be part of our itinerary) or to buy some fresh produce from the farm shop.  This lunch stop was also cut by at least 15 minutes and I felt really sorry for the owner who gave us a little talk about the history of the farm. I'm sure we all would have loved to have seen something of the farm even though it was still pouring with rain, but there was just no time.  The lunch was lovely too - all home made by the owner.

From the farm we were taken the short distance to the Peer Gynt boat which would take us for a sail into the Fyksesund.  As it was still raining, most of the tour group sat inside the boat with only a few, including me, braving the elements on deck to take a few photos!!

After this short trip, according to the original itinerary, this is when we should have then been taken back to Bergen for a short drive through the Bryggen area, and perhaps a short stop if time allowed.  However, due to the last-minute change of plan by the tour operator, we were then driven to Voss where we never even left the coach with no time even for a comfort stop!!  There was absolutely no point in taking this journey whatsoever and I still cannot understand why it had to be done. Other passengers that we spoke to were also annoyed by this change of plan.

We then very quickly realised that there was no way we were going to see the Bryggen area of Bergen and also no way that we were going to be back to the ship for 4.30 p.m. and our allocated sailing time of 5 p.m.  When we did arrive back at port around 5.15 p.m., the coach driver drove us straight to the gangplank where we all quickly boarded the ship, the ropes were cast loose and we were on our way.  We never even got to thank our tour guide and driver properly for the marvellous job they had done that day in trying to fit in all that had been asked of them.  I felt really sorry for our guide Anna as she was quite distraught at the fact that in her 28 years of service, she had never ever been late in taking people back to a cruise ship.   

We later learned that the Captain of the ship had announced that the ship would be sailing late because a coach (ours) had been caught up in traffic.  Now, I have no idea what the Captain was really told, but I can assure you that it WAS NOT because of being held up in traffic!!  In fact, we noticed by way of the illuminated speed signs that our driver was actually exceeding the speed limit in some cases in an effort to speed up our arrival at the ship – that is until a Police car pulled in behind us!

In fact, it was all so rushed, that I didn't even get a half decent photo of Bergen to post here!!

Once back on board, it was almost time to begin getting ready for our dinner with the Food and Beverage Manager, so it was again suit and bow tie time and another posh frock for me!!  Again, much the same as the Captain's cocktail party, we had champagne and canapes to start with then we went to the Pole to Pole restaurant for dinner, which I must say was just superb, with good wine and good company as well.  We all had a thoroughly super evening.  In fact, our table was LAST to leave the restaurant that night as we were having so much of a good time!!

It had been a long and tiring day so it was then off to have one last drink and off to bed before our last day sailing home to Dover the next day.

Olden and Geirangerfjord

It was an early start with the alarm wakening us at 6.30 a.m.  We then had breakfast and made our way to the Britannia Lounge for our disembarkation to go on our trip to Geirangerfjord and Mount Dalsnibba.  Our guide was very pleased that the weather was a bit better as her previous two tours had been through fog and mist!!  Another spot of good news was that we were actually able to berth in Olden - originally we were to be at anchor and disembarkation was to be via tender.

Once on the coach we were taken to a lovely viewpoint where we were able to take some photos

There was another stop at a waterfall, but I thought the mountains looked prettier!!

We were soon on our way once more, travelling up some very winding roads with hairpin pins that reminded everyone of 'The Italian Job' movie!!  The coach had an inbuilt temperature gauge, and we could see the outside temperature dropping significantly as we climbed ever upwards.  The weather was still holding out and fingers and toes were very firmly crossed that it would stay like that so that we could see the spectacular views that awaited us at the summit of Mount Dalsnibba!!

Frozen lake in the mountains

Wall of snow!!

Then, at last, we were at the top and it was just magnificent!!  The weather was clear and the views were just amazing.  However, you need to be quick as in just a matter of moments, the clouds can just roll in and obliterate everything.  The scenery could change every minute!! 

View to Geirangerfjord

View to Geirangerfjord

view to Geirangerfjord with cairn in foreground

Cairns on Mount Dalsnibba

Cairns on Mount Dalsnibba

After our stop here, it was time to start making the journey back down the mountain for our lunch at the Union Hotel, but there was one more photo-stop

Looking towards Geirangerfjord

Looking towards Geirangerfjord

After a very yummy lunch we took a little walk and found this little building, which seems to have been an old mill - it had the traditional grass roof that we saw on many buildings in Norway

It was soon time to join the ferry for our sail on the Geirangerfjord, and we boarded quickly, taking seats up on the top deck. As you can see, cruise ships are totally dwarfed by the huge mountains of the Geirangerfjord.

On the Geirangerfjord

Seven Sisters Waterfall

Fishing boat

 After our journey we disembarked at the other end and guess what - yes, another waterfall!!

Some of the scenery on the way back to the ship was just spectacular, but taking photos out of a coach window is a bit hit and miss!!  Here are some that turned out fairly well.

You can just see the Saga Sapphire away in the distance!

Once we were back on board ship we said goodbye to Olden and sailed off to our next and last port of call, Bergen.  I took some photos as we said goodbye.

We weren't sure where to eat that night so decided to book at the East to West restaurant again, but what a fiasco that turned out to be!!  My husband went to make the booking and had to wait at least 25 minutes to see the maître d' who then proceeded to 'interview' him!  It turned out that if you had dined there before, which we had, then we weren't allowed to do so again!!  Well, that fact hadn't been advertised anywhere, so my husband decided to complain to the Food and Beverage Manager who apologised and said that he would sort it out.  As it happened we had just received an invitation to dine at the Food and Beverage Manager's table the next night, which we had already accepted!!  We got a phone call later in the cabin to tell us that we were booked at a table for that night but would have to share a table, which wasn't a problem.  As it turned out, there were eight of us sat at the banquet table, which had previously been unused, so they obviously had to fit in more people than just us two.  We had another enjoyable meal and we left there to go to the Beatles  tribute night in the Britannia Lounge.  Explosive Productions put on another fantastic production which we thoroughly enjoyed.

After the show it was time to retire to the cabin once again as we had another full day trip organised for the following day from Bergen!!