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1. Was there a Saga Pearl I? Owned by Saga? 2. What was the nature of configuration and operations of Astoria? And how different was Saga Pearl II.3. I previously read about a bucket of Money being lavished on Astoria before she was introduced as Saga Pearl II.
In other words, was the ship I was on, a very good ship by the way, fundamentally different from Astoria. In what ways? I feel better making comments and evaluations of this ship with a few facts uner my belt.
Over.
Fakta om Fartyg on Saga Pearl
Saga Pearl II has been refurbished - allow me to again post the link to the MS Astor fanpage.
I hope that helps.
Then in 2008 end the charter by Phoenix Seereisen and she is now in Swan Hellenic Cruises as Minerva...
The stairways are spacious and also bespeak a much larger vessel. The only hit of size are the three tiny elevators, or "lifts" if you will, one aft and two forward. They always seem to come when called, tiny plush boxes, accommodating perhaps six people, and appear to have been summoned by and reserved for you alone. Rarely was there another passenger. That 449 pax payload again!
Dining rooms are large, and capacious. Again, it appears to me that the spacing of the chairs and tables seems to have created the illusion of a larger ship. The main dining room was about the size of QE2's "Caronia." Service was swift and food was excellent.
Cabins and their access companionways also give no hint that you are aboard a smaller ship.
I am unable to comment on relative stability vs a larger ship. A force 8 gale certainly bounced us around a bit...but when you leave the protected coast of Norway and must traverse the North Sea, such is to be expected.
All in all, Saga Pearl II packages advantages of a larger vessel in about 18,000 tons or so. Size works to your advantage, and I would sail happily again sail aboard Saga Pearl II. Shore excursions were rapid and efficient.
As a personal aside: were it not for a the current USDollar/Pound rate, which, for example, brings drinks and table-wines into the category of significant fiscal investments! That tended to make Saga, operating on GBPounds, a mite pricey for a Yank like me.
[ 09-12-2010: Message edited by: Cambodge ]
I felt that the 'Saga' cruise experience was that of a 'premium' cruise ship, broadly similar to Cunard, Holland America & Celebrity. I did, however, appreciate the regular British items on the menu, including very good McSweens haggis on one occasion, (it even came with a free dram with which to wash it down)!
Graham.
quote:Originally posted by bcscot:Thank you for that report on Saga Pearl II. [...]
I second that. What I am interested in is to learn more about how she is received amongst the loyal Saga passengers. She is not a bad ship from a passenger point of view but as bcscot indicated, she has some shortcomings compared to her predecessor. I am however convinced that she was an excellent choice for Saga giving the circumstances.
The deck space was adequate, and if one went to the bridge deck there was room for a full promenade cycle, abbreviated but complete.
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