I had not heard about problems with the ' Saga Rose ' although she is now 43 years old.

The big question is will Saga have any new ships, that they own, once the Solas 2010 regulations come in to force, or will they charter a ship or ships.

I have heard nothing about their present ships being updated.

The Classic International Cruises ship ' mv Funchal ' seems to have had another good cruising season in Australia and next year, while she is again cruising from Fremantle, their recently aquired 'Princess Daphne, ' ex ' Ocean Monarch ', will be also be cruising from Sydney .

I wonder if her name will course confusion with the Princess Cruises ships sailing out of Sydney, for those not famililar with that companies ships !

Neil ( Bob )

[ 03-18-2008: Message edited by: Neil Whitmore ( Bob ) ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ):
Hi Pam

I had not heard about problems with the ' Saga Rose ' although she is now 43 years old.

]

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No decision yet, apparently, on a replacement for Saga Rose. They'd better hurry up, the clock is ticking...

Apparently there are still plans to take her around the world in 2009 and 2010, but after that she seems destined for Alang.

I wonder what compensation Saga will be offering to passengers on the world cruise of Saga Rose with all these ports being missed.

They do have a Captains blog on the Saga holidays main website but no updates have been done for March !

If there are leaks affecting the main switchboard, and causing a complete black out, I would assume that the airconditioning would not be working and also food stored in the ships freezers could be affected as emergency generators, if they cut in, would only supply a minimum of lighting.

It sounds as if the ship needs a good overhaul before next years round the world trip.

When power was restored at midnight, the ship made her way to Cebu in the Philippines, with most facilities restored, apart from air-con.

On arrival at Cebu on March 5, passengers were disembarked and spent three nights in various hotels. Passengers who had booked excursions in Hong Kong were flown there for a two-night stay.

By Saturday evening, the ship was under way to Saigon with all systems running, for a scheduled overnight stop on Tuesday.

After departure on Wednesday, all went well and the ship berthed at Singapore on Friday. Two hours before the scheduled departure, power failed again. Passengers were taken off to 5-star hotels in the city.

The first problems were traced to a leak from the port boiler which short-circuited the electrics. This was repaired in port at Cebu, only for another unconnected leak to affect the starboard boiler at Singapore.

From what I read, Saga have behaved generously to the affected passengers, as one would expect. It must have been an expensive exercise.

quote:

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Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ):
Hi

I wonder what compensation Saga will be offering to passengers on the world cruise of Saga Rose with all these ports being missed.

Neil ( Bob )

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With Saga Rose being on a round the world cruise, and not just a seven day trip around the Caribbean, it was good to read that Saga have looked after their passengers.

It should be remembered that a large number of passengers on Saga Cruises are over 60 years old and in some cases over 80 years old so there might be some passengers that are not keen on flying.

quote:

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Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ):

It should be remembered that a large number of passengers on Saga Cruises are over 60 years old and in some cases over 80 years old so there might be some passengers that are not keen on flying.
Neil ( Bob )

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Yes, and most of these people are from a generation which is less litigeous than many in today's world. I would also imagine that most of Saga's pax on a world cruise are quite well-travelled; they know and understand that schedules can be changed in a heartbeat, plans go awry, and it's really nobody's fault. You just have to roll with the punches, make the best of things, and carry on, instead of whining, complaining, shaking your fists at the gods and threatening to sue!

Who has said they were whining ?

All I have said is that some may not like flying !

My mother never liked to fly but for her 80th birthday I took her on her first flight which was a celebration supersonic flight on Concorde but I did not tell her where she was going until we had parked the car at Londons Heathrow airport.

We flew out over the Bay of Biscay and she thought it was great having never been in an aircraft before.

quote:

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Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ):
Rich

Who has said they were whining ?

All I have said is that some may not like flying !

Neil ( Bob )

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Nobody said that--in fact, I was more or less agreeing with your point that most of this lot would be rather quiet and calm about it all, whatever their reasons. I was comparing this scenario to what typically takes place on a mass-market ship, filled with nouveau cruisers looking to take advantage of any slight misfortune or changes to what was advertised in the brochures. I'm sure the typical Saga pax are a much better-behaved group of people.

quote:

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Originally posted by Linerrich:

I'm sure the typical Saga pax are a much better-behaved group of people.

Rich

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Not according to today's Daily Telegraph, which has a story headlined "Drunken 'Saga louts' causing trouble abroad"

After reading the article in the English ' Daily Telegraph ' newspaper I can just see all the drunken ' English Oldies ' running round the decks at midnight, on Saga Rose, singing their heads off, with a large glass of gin in one hand and their false teeth in the other !

The big question is why should the ' Oldies ' not enjoy themselves.

They most likely have been working long hours, for many years, to save for their retirement.

Now let them enjoy themselves, and spend what they have saved, before their kids get their hands on the nest eggs and spend it for them !

I do feel for the older generation, those over 50 who are seemingly not supposed to try bungee jumping, water skiing or riding a moped - "risks abroad that they would never contemplate at home".. why not? isn't that what one goes on holiday for? to do somethig different? I doubt 99% of the holidaymakers have a chance of being able to go water skiing or bungee jumping at home, 50 is not 90! How old is the writer? perhaps he needs a refresh on another article written by him let the older ones/elderly live life, dangerous or not.

quote:

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Originally posted by Neil Whitmore ( Bob ):

Now let them enjoy themselves . . .

Neil ( Bob )

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If I remember rightly, from reading the Captain's Blog from the 2007 world cruise, on the day the ship crossed the International Dateline, the programme of events included a feast of special activities, among them the Over 80s Nudist Leapfrog Contest (Trampoline Section), Naked Table Tennis, and a wife-swapping party.

(Readers with a sense of humour failure should be advised that the day they crossed the International Date Line is a day that disappears from the calendar)

[ 03-20-2008: Message edited by: greybeard ]

As we headed north, we had an unplanned stop for technical reasons. However the whole crew pulled together to ensure the passengers were well looked after. As a captain, it is very rewarding to see all your crew and officers working towards the same goal when required. Frank Little, our Chief Engineer, pulled out all the stops to rectify the problem and we were on our way again.

And later, without further explanation . . .

From Cebu, some passengers flew on to Hong Kong for a two-night stay. They came back raving about their stopover in this beautiful city. Others chose to remain in Cebu to see the highlights.

Captain's Blog

One thought: If the Chief Engineer is Frank Little, do they call him Little Chief?

Why is he using this term ? ? And why is it in this thread ? ?
I don't see anything mentioned about the Saga ships, only a quote from someone working for the Saga Insurance Company.

quote:

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Originally posted by Willem:
.The term "Saga lout" was coined by Dr Peter Rice, a psychiatrist, to describe heavy-drinking pensioners.

Why is he using this term ? ? And why is it in this thread ? ?
I don't see anything mentioned about the Saga ships, only a quote from someone working for the Saga Insurance Company.

Willem

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Cruises are not their main business.

About Saga

quote:

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Originally posted by Ernst:

Cruises are not their main business.

About Saga

Saga webpage

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I know the Saga company.