The Saga Rose began sailing back in 1965 for the Norwegian America Line in transatlantic and cruise service as the Sagafjord. She then passed to Norwegian America Cruises, to Cunard and, in 1997, to Saga Holidays, a British firm. The 587-passenger ship is operated at a very high level, much more so than the company's land-based packages. She caters to a mainly British market. No one under age 50 may book passage though a companion may be as young as 40. The Saga Rose represents one of the very last classic ship experiences, and she will likely go out in style when the new Safety of Life at sea regulation kick in in 2010. The atmosphere is old-world Scandinavian, a well-appointed ship with beautiful wood paneling, rich fabrics, sophisticated furnishings, teak decks, and grand-hotel-style food and service. Fares include transfers between London airports and hotels and the ship, and gratuities to all on-board personnel.
The Saga Rose and her running mate Saga Ruby (former Vistafjord of 1973) were the last ships built for the Norwegian America Line and they have stayed pretty much together for their entire careers apart from a few years when Vistafjord remained with Cunard later becoming the Caronia. They are certainly the last pair that can trace their origins to the ocean-liner era.
The vast majority of passengers are British mostly 65 and older, people who have been successful financially and now have the time and money to travel. While Saga cruising is a highly social experience, some come for a quiet time and like to read and dine at a table for two. Anglophile North Americans who enjoy a traditional but not stuffy atmosphere will cotton to the lifestyle of these two ships.
Most Saga cruises begin and end in southern England at Southampton or Dover where the itineraries fan out to the Baltic, Norway, Scotland, Iceland and Greenland and south to Iberia, the Atlantic Isles and into the Western Mediterranean and along the North African Coast. A long transatlantic cruise visits the Canadian Maritimes, the St. Lawrence River Valley and U.S. East Coast, and an annual around-the-world cruise starts out from England in early January and returns in late April. Saga Rose's deep draft of 27 ft makes her a good sea boat. Detailed information about shore excursions uses both key symbols and plenty of copy to describe the itinerary, tour's length, amount of walking and any caveats about steep steps or uneven footing. With often many repeat passengers, there is a good choice of tours in most ports. During the destination lectures accompanied by slides, much helpful information is given for those taking tours or exploring independently. Before going ashore, the ballroom is the staging point, and the fine organization minimizes crowding and queues whether the ship is docked or using tenders.
The most attractive public space is the semi-circular Britannia Lounge where the windows arc 180 degrees. The room sweeps upward towards the bow, and the perimeter seating is higher than the circular center section furnished with additional chairs, a dance floor and bandstand. Readers who like a light airy space gravitate here during the day and at 4 pm a popular afternoon tea accompanied by live music takes place complete with scones and clotted cream and those English-style crustless sandwiches. Then following dinner, the room takes on a restful glow from the bands of recessed ceiling lights as passengers gather for after-dinner drinks and classical concerts. The high-ceiling Ballroom is just that, a throwback to the days when the main evening entertainment was dancing to a good band. Gentlemen hosts are on hand before and after dinner to give the ladies a twirl. Passengers today expect to be entertained so the room hosts vocalists, instrumentalists, small acts and local groups who come aboard in port. In the afternoon, an informal buffet-style tea extravaganza takes place and it is extremely well attended. The North Cape Bar, located portside, provide a cozy setting for drinks and a pianist. Just around the corner, a traditional theater is used for screening first-run films, special interest lectures and the Sunday interdenominational worship service. The library offers a very good hard cover and reference collection with high-back chairs for reading along the starboard side gallery. Facing aft over the stern, a two-tiered pair of rooms provides a computer learning center with Internet access on the upper level and the Polaris Club, used for trivia quizzes and a night club, one deck below. Outdoor deck space is more than adequate for passengers who do not take the sun for very long stretches. The promenade deck has shady recesses for reading and dozing. Constitutional walkers are out in force after breakfast. Games include golf putting practice, table tennis, shuffleboard, and deck quoits. The ship has one of the few remaining indoor pools plus saunas and steam rooms deep down on C-Deck. An outdoors pool is located aft on Veranda Deck.
The Saga Rose's dining room is first seen through a glass wall as passengers descend the main staircase. A two-deck-high center section, punctuated with huge chandeliers, stretches the length of this handsome space. It is designed to take the full complement of passengers and top officers at one sitting, the later hosting tables on formal nights. Tables of two, four, six and eight are reserved at dinner for the entire cruise, while breakfast and lunch provide open seating. Dress alternates between formal black tie, informal jacket and tie, and casual attire during in-port evenings. On formal nights, about 90% of the men wear dinner jackets. During the day, unlike on American-oriented ships, you see very few men in tee shirts or jeans or women wearing shorts aboard or ashore. Wines and bar drinks are reasonably priced. The hotel staff is largely Filipino and many have worked with Saga Cruises since the beginning. The captain is British. The menu reflects British tastes, and preparation and presentation are consistently good. The lido buffet, located aft of the Ballroom, has several serving stations to avoid queues. Seating is available inside and in good weather the open deck provides additional tables under umbrellas.
Because the Saga Rose is an older ship, the cabins vary greatly even within the same category. One of the best features is 60 singles and hence the line attracts many passengers who are on their own or traveling with a friend but not sharing a cabin. Many singles are very small but they come without supplemental occupancy charges. The largest cabins and suites are located on the Promenade Deck and the two decks of cabins added during Norwegian America Cruises era. Some of the two-dozen balcony cabins look over, around or between the lifeboats, and they are marked in the brochures. Cabins feature 24-hour room service, flat-screen TVs, DVD players, radio, direct-dial phones, hair dryers, and fresh fruit, with stocked refrigerators and videos in categories C and up. The great majority have tub baths as well as showers. Originally designed for long-distance cruises, this ship has lavish storage space.
The Saga Rose was built for long-distance cruising and her itineraries span the world. If travelers want to see what cruising was like 50 years ago, here's the opportunity—as long as you meet the age requirement.
