Saga anyone?

Saga cruises, my experience has been 4 river cruises, 3 were brilliant however the 4th on the lower Danube did not meet my expectations. I experienced a really bad bout of asthma, which I could barely control with my usual medication. The cruise director was extremely unhelpful, I knew that I really needed hospitalisation, but the nearest main hospital was Bucharest which would have involved an inflatable boat down river to a hospital which was described as being third world. I couldn't telephone my insurance company as there was no signal and even the ships satellite phone wasn't working. So I struggled on until I got home, when I found myself rapidly hospitalised. I complained to Saga, who brushed the whole thing under the carpet, suggesting I shouldn't have travelled with my condition.

Food, people, staff were, however, all brilliant

A single friend frequently goes on Saga cruises. She speaks very, very highly of them. They are expensive and she pays to have an outside cabin (her name is down for the maiden cruise on the new ship!). You get what you pay for.

She says service excellent, a lot of care taken of those on their own. The only extras are alcoholic drinks at the bar and optional excursions. For these excursions you can pre book and pay, and there is a folder with all information on the ones you have booked for when you first get to your cabin. They are also really well thought out and interesting with a talk about them beforehand.

She has found the people are invariably very nice and sociable. There is an excellent library with wifi and computers so you can access emails and internet easily, all included.

Food is excellent and a choice of restaurants so a choice of apparel! She likes the dining room and so takes evening dresses and enjoys the black tie nights. These are totally optional.

have a great time.

I've been with saga a few times and have already booked to go with them again. They are not the cheapest but they are very good for seniors and people travelling alone. I read "crafting's" reply and totally agree with everything she said .

I have had several holidays with Saga (although as yet not a cruise). On the whole the holidays are well run and the reps very good.

Since the company was sold I do think the customer service leaves a lot to be desired - delays in replying to emails and when a reply is received doesn't answer or deal with the query.

We had a our first saga holiday this year celebrating husbands 70 th. Not a cruise but a tour in Cuba. We were picked up at home by car and driver was waiting when we returned, which was very nice.

It was efficient and well run with an excellent guide. Not a large group, probably about 24 people. Mostly couples but a few travelling alone. It really worked for us all and it was a thiroughly enjoyable break.
We would use saga again.

I've never done cruising but used Saga many times. Unfortunately latest trip has put me off for good. Be wary of VIP travel service. My trip out and back was in "people carriers". Mini buses in other words - most uncomfortable, circuitous route for drop offs and break for driver meant a 5 and a half hour journey home to midlands from gatwick. Would have been quicker on public transport. Complained but they didn't want to know. If ever used again would pay extra to have private car. Not the only complaint I and other passengers had on that trip but a very disapointing experience.

We've never been on a Saga cruise but have friends who have been on a river cruise - they hated it. They thought it was poor quality. We, and they, find Riviera very good quality. And, none of their excursions are extra though drinks are.

We've only done river cruises with Saga - and a couple of safari type trips. We found them very good. On the Nile cruise the boat was well run and the accommodation good. A point was made that the boat had its own water filtration system and the plates were washed in that water and not the Nile as happened on most other boats - and we always had the best parking spots.

The best bit about Saga is being collected from the house, met at the airports and looked after all the way. We have noticed though that there are more optional trips rather than inclusive ones.

Thanks Jane! (despite having worked full time in a relatively well paid job, main problem is cost of housing here - most expensive place in Britain - and being single parent. Ah well, there's always the premium bonds!)

Didn't mean to decry your right to the thread at all, good luck to you all and enjoy yourselves!

Crafting thanks for the helpful info. Its looking good!

devongirl this query is important to us because it is indeed a lot of money. I'm thinking of next summer so will have a year to save for it. Its a big commitment so I really need to know if it's worth it!
No question of us going on several cruises a year!

Sorry Jane forgot to say we go in the cheaper inside cabins, if money is not an issue the outside cabins are bigger from what we have seen and the cabins on the Saphire bigger than the Pear 2. Saga have a new ship due to start cruising in 2019 with all balcony rooms only.

PS another reason for us going on Saga is it is a small ship which we like.

jane10 difficult question to answer re the cabins as it all depends on your own point of view.

Basically we go in an inside cabin because it is much cheaper. I know a lot of people who say they couldn't cope without a window but to pay another couple of thousand for one made the difference for us between going on a cruise and not!

We have found that we spend very little time in the cabin and when you're asleep you don't need a window. The air conditioning in the cabins seems to be quite responsive and works well. The cabins are not huge nor is the shower but we cope well and don't find it a problem. The cabins on the Saphire are bigger than those on the Pearl but we are happy with either. Bed linen good, nice towels, well cleaned, hairdryer soaps and shower gel etc included. There is a wardrobe, small desk, chair and TV as a basic minimum and twin or double beds. Hope that helps.

If money is an issue, think seriously about an inside cabin (I have claustrophobia but found no problem at all). Good luck.

Sorry devongirl I can't really answer your question. We have been through hard times financially in the past but have been fortunate in DH having a good job and me having a more poorly paid job (NHS worker) but in work for many years. We are lucky in that both our sons are now employed ( both have been made redundant in the past) and basically we have saved up.

Not a very helpful answer I'm afraid and I do feel for you as we have been through times when we couldn't make ends meet either. I suppose with most things it depends which generation you were born into and what happens during your lifetime as to how financially secure you are (my mother had no shoes as a child and very little food either). I hope things improve for you.

Please oh please, where do you all find money to go on cruises, several times a year sometimes? - I can barely make ends meet from one month's end to the next despite working full time Serious question...

Thanks crafting. That's what I wanted to hear. We're not big drinkers either and wine at lunch and dinner is fine by me!
The pick up from home and delivery back too is a very attractive proposition!
Are the cabins OK? There were no photos in the brochure we were sent. DH was suspicious.

Teetime I assume the recent cruise you mention wasn't with Saga as they make no charges for activities (unless you mean excursions which are always extra with all holidays). Drinks charges are not expensive on Saga. As I said on most Saga cruises wine is free at lunch and dinner. On our first cruise with Saga before the wine was included we used to spend £14 on a bottle of wine which we thought was very reasonable.

Hi Jane I can give you my opinion on Saga as we have been on 3 of their cruises (and have 3 more booked). It depends on what you like and what is important to you as to whether or not Saga is for you. I will just list some things so you can make up your own mind.

Collection by car from own front door -makes it easy to cope with luggage as you don't have to carry it

Ratio of crew to passengers is high - means there is plenty of people around to help. Service is excellent and your wishes are instantly dealt with by lovely smiley people who seem really pleased to have you on board.

Food is plentiful, excellent and choice amazing. If you want anything special just ask for it.

People travelling on their own are given oportunity to sit with others if they wish, meet with others prior to excursions if they would like some company on shore.

No one under 50 allowed so no children and means that the people you meet you can chat with about most things.

Great deal of help for those with disabilities. Numerous crew who assist with finding seats, wheelchair users, help on and off coaches.

Clear excursion details. How far you need to walk, if there are steps to climb, how many. Where the nearest loo is!! (Very important for some)

From our personal point of view DH and I are 70 and 68. Able to walk, no disabilities and youngish compared to some of the other cruisers. We are not wealthy or snobbish and have not encountered anyone on our cruises that wasn't prepared to chat in a pleasant manner. Plenty of places to sit for a quiet read (or snooze). Good entertainment if you want it. Great food. Very relaxing. We love it.

The crew are the best thing about Saga and they make the cruises so enjoyable. They have a complete full on safety drill every week including launching lifeboats and checking all cabins. It makes you feel very safe in their hands

It is more expensive than some other cruises but all charges are included. No hidden extras, no tipping, free wine at lunch and dinner on most cruises. One sitting for meals, you can eat where and when you want.

Hope that helps in your decision making and enjoy your holiday whatever you do

P.S I was totally against cruising before we went with Saga. Now I love it ?

Saga always seem very expensive to me. Our experience of a recent cruise that there were a lot of hidden costs for things on board like activities and the drinks bill was horrendous.

I can't speak from personal experience as I have never been on a cruise with any company. However, I have some good friends who are very regular cruisers and they rate both Saga cruises and Saga holidays very highly.

This is mainly because they do not have lots of younger and often rowdier people on them but more of the older, like-minded types. I stress this is only hearsay but my friends are delightful, fun-loving people and I do trust their judgment. They have made some good acquaintances on Saga holidays too and thoroughly recommend them.