Saga Sapphire

Wednesday 9 April 2014 saw me boarding a ship again, but this time on a day visit to look over Saga Sapphire. The weather was very different from the last time I saw this ship - in Alta in Northern Norway last month when both she and Oriana were on cruises to see (hopefully) the northern lights.

This time it was a bright and sunny spring day in Southampton. I was up early enough to watch her arrive, assisted by a tug at her stern, although since she didn't sail in until nearly 8am it wasn't a hardship!

My friend and I decided to get the ferry over to Southampton and stop off in Mayflower Park to take more close-up photos of her before we walked to the City Terminal where we were to embark.

 

We were offered bottled water while we waited for clearance from the captain to board. People were still disembarking Sapphire up till around midday, although we were told people could stay on board until their transport arrived, even if it was for an afternoon flight. This is because Saga offer free transport from your home to the ship.

 

We boarded on Deck 7 by Reception. There is a small atrium on the ship, with a delightful hanging sculpture of silver fish. One apparently has a red eye - if you have the time to search for it!
 

 







We were taken on a guided tour starting in the small spa and gymnasium on Deck 2. Unusually for a ship today, she has a small indoor swimming pool as well as saunas, steam room etc.

We were then taken round a selection of various cabins and suites. Like QE2, there is a great variation in the shape of cabins within certain grades but they were all very spacious. Because the balconies were added later, they are small and the balcony area was taken from the cabin so outside cabins are usually larger than cabins with balconies. Quite a few cabins had over-bath showers rather than walk-in showers, and I didn't like the fact that the top suites are round the stern, overlooking the stern deck and each others balconies!



Suites with overlooked balconies

The public rooms were delightfully furnished but there were a few odd changes in levels with steps/slopes.

 

Our tour ended with a delicious four-course lunch in the main dining room. This is open-sitting every night between 6.45pm and 9pm.

To sum up, I thought her a lovely ship with great food, but left with the thought that I was not ready for Saga. 

On the plus side were:- robes in every cabin, same toiletries in every cabin and large bottles at that, gentlemen dance hosts, good food (judging from our four-course lunch), open sitting dining, large cabins, nice atrium, huge library, towels and blankets available on deck, free “sweet shop” and ice cream on deck, free internet, you can stay on ship until transport is ready – even if afternoon flight.

Minuses for me were:- no reclining chairs on deck – only sun beds or chairs, composite decks, suite balconies overlooked and only have view astern, carpets need replacing – thin and grubby, strange changes of levels everywhere requiring a few steps or slopes, lots of over-bath showers in cabins rather than walk-in ones, no three-berth cabins - that is to say there were three berths but the third berth was not in use.
There are many more photos here:-
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sharonsshiptravels/sets/72157643859675683/

Next time - my visit to Saga Pearl II !