TV chef Phil Vickery ‘comes home’ to Saga

TV chef Phil Vickery

TV chef Phil Vickery can’t wait to sail on Saga Sapphire in the summer – and he has a special reason why.

Phil started his career as a commis chef at the Burlington Hotel, in Folkestone, where the Saga story began.

He said: “I feel like everything has gone full circle. My first job was working in Saga’s hotel, learning my trade in that kitchen.”

Phil, 53, also had a glimpse of life on Saga Ruby in 2012 while on a cookery assignment in Gibraltar. He said: “I did a day’s filming and I was really impressed by the service on the ship.

“It was a really nice experience, the service was amazing – a real eye-opener and I thought ‘I would like to do some work with these guys some time’.

“So when Saga approached me to be their guest chef on the Adriatic Explorer cruise in June I was very excited!”

Phil has travelled the globe but this will be his first ocean cruise. He said: “Although I have visited and cooked in most parts of world, from Alaska to Vietnam, Brazil and the southern states of the US, I have never been on ‘a proper cruise’.

“During that brief visit on Saga Ruby I loved the tranquillity and the relaxed atmosphere on the ship. I can’t wait to step on Sapphire.”

Phil will be presenting three cookery demonstrations and talks on the 700-passenger ship. He will also discuss his work on devising gluten-free recipes and cookery options for people with other dietary requirements, including coeliac.

Phil is the National Food Ambassador for Coeliac UK and he said: “This part of my work is really important to me so I am keen to show guests the ‘science’ of how to successfully cook meals and choose ingredients.”

Michelin-starred Phil is one of Britain’s favourite celebrity chefs and his TV career started after he filled in for Keith Floyd on the Breakfast programme. He has appeared on the BBC’s Holiday Programme, Ready Steady Cook, Phil Vickery’s Pudding Club and he has been the resident chef on ITV’s This Morning for 15 years. He has cooked for Margaret Thatcher and John Major and had the honour of being chosen to bake the Queen Mother’s 100th birthday cake.

Between TV work and writing 14 books, Phil breeds pigs on his farm in Buckinghamshire where he lives with his wife TV presenter Fern Britton. The couple have one daughter Winnie, and three children from Fern’s first marriage; Grace, Jack and Harry.

In his ‘spare time’ sports-loving Phil follows Tottenham Hotspur FC and supports England. With so many interests and plenty of energy Phil thinks he will love his time on Sapphire, from jogging round the ship in the mornings to exploring the fine dining options.

He said: “I will no doubt find being on Sapphire a fun and relaxing experience and it will be so good, sitting on the deck talking to guests - and I also understand draught Spitfire beer is served on board. That’s my favourite pint, so it just gets better!”

25 nights from £5,054 departing from Dover on May 30, 2015. Price includes Price includes UK travel package to and from Dover, all meals and entertainment, afternoon tea, 24-hour room service, welcome cocktail party, unlimited tea and coffee in selected venues, free Wi-Fi internet, all on-board gratuities, porterage, free shuttle bus to nearest town centre (whenever possible and when the ship is berthed more than 500 yards away), travel insurance and additional cancellation cover.

(Photo credit to Phil Vickery/Saga Travel)

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Saga wins best specialist small cruise line at British Travel Awards - and here's why

Saga Pearl II

Saga has scooped the British Travel Award title for the Best Specialist Small Ship Cruise Line. Saga Cruises left other companies in the shadows because with Saga everything is taken care - from the minute guests leave their front door.

The Saga cruise price includes a myriad of extras that often come at an additional price on other cruise lines, so it’s no wonder 98% of Saga passengers describe their cruise as 'good' or 'excellent'.

Elegant 700-passenger Saga Sapphire and 400-passenger Saga Pearl II are small, friendly and intimate ships yet boast spacious and comfortable lounges, bars and dining areas. The ships also get into the heart of destinations that many other ships cannot reach, including Venice.

Here’s 20 reasons to demonstrate that, while Saga ships may be small, they are big on value and why 75% of customers choose to sail with us time and time again:

1. Door-to-door chauffeur service to the port and return, up to 250 miles each way
2. Free shuttle bus from the ship’s port to the nearest town, if the distance is more than 500 yards
3. Travel insurance and additional cancellation cover
4. 24-hour room service
5. Ratio of two crew to three passengers
6. All onboard gratuities included
7. Free wifi
8. Free fitness classes and use of fully equipped gym
9. Daily classes, quizzes and activities
10. Free sauna and solarium
11. Inside and outside pools
12. Porterage of luggage
13. Full evening entertainment programme including guest musicians and comedians
14. Free lectures by A-list authors, historians, celebrity gardeners & wildlife experts
15. Bridge visits to meet the captain, plus captain’s welcome cocktail party
16. Themed cruises – including food, wine, music, literary, arts, gardens, architecture & history
17. Fine dining – choose from buffet or waiter service, plus barbecues when weather permits
18. Full afternoon tea each day
19. Thermos-cooled water in each cabin and bottled water on all shore excursions
20. 24-hour quality tea and freshly ground-bean coffee

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One Saga Pearl II cruise - One raft of new adventures

Saga Pearl II

Four-wheel drives, trekking in the Atlas Mountains, stargazing, a RIB adventure.....and much more
In answer to fun-loving passengers’ insatiable appetite for adventure tours, Saga has introduced a selection of action-packed excursions on Saga Pearl II’s new Canary Island Coasts cruise.

In Madeira, a four-wheel drive safari will take guests on and off-road through hidden valleys and mountain roads. There also be a RIB adventure to watch for whales and dolphins in the sea around Madeira, accompanied by a team of marine biologists.

Tenerife’s Teide National Park has ideal conditions for stargazing and this sparkling experience starts with guests sipping champagne at sunset before dinner. As night falls, under the stars a guide will point out distant constellations and impressive planets using professional telescopes.

In Morrocco, jump into a 4x4 vehicle for a scenic drive to Imouzzer Paradise Valley, leaving behind the palm groves and gorges of the River Tamrhakht to view the ever-changing landscape with traditional houses set among the Argan trees.

For those who prefer to stretch their legs, trekking in the Atlas foothills is another new option. Walk across the rugged landscape of arid mountains and ochre-red rocks softened by lush palm and banana groves.

Those who can’t get enough of four-wheel drive experiences can take to the roads of Cascais and Sintra.  Cascais is one of Portugal’s most popular seaside resorts and a favourite spot for windsurfers and kite-surfers. Travel along dusty roads to the Sintra mountain range with its beautiful trees, passing pretty villages to reach Cabo da Roca where the land ends and the sea at Sintra. Stop at a café and take a stroll to savour this westernmost point of mainland Europe.

16 nights from £1915, departing Southampton on March 19, 2016.

Price includes UK travel package to and from Southampton, all meals and entertainment, afternoon tea, 24-hour room service, welcome cocktail party, unlimited tea and coffee in selected venues, free Wi-Fi internet, all on-board gratuities, porterage, free shuttle bus to nearest town centre (whenever possible and when the ship is berthed more than 500 yards away) and Travel insurance and additional cancellation cover

(Photo credit to Saga Travel)

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Enjoy a fabulous fortnight aboard Saga Sapphire

Balearic Islands

Uncover the centuries of history and fascinating cultures at the heart of some of the most famous cities of the Iberian Peninsula on this Spanish Adventure itinerary on-board Saga Sapphire. Take time to explore the variety of sights in modern Lisbon, artistic Barcelona and vivacious Valencia, and more.

Departing from Southampton enjoy two relaxing days at sea before arriving at Lisbon in Portugal. Set on seven hills on the banks of the River Tagus, Lisbon has been the capital of Portugal since the 13th century. It is a city famous for its majestic architecture, old wooden trams, Moorish features and more than twenty centuries of history. Following disastrous earthquakes in the 18th century, Lisbon was rebuilt by the Marques de Pombal who created an elegant city with wide boulevards and a great riverfront and square, Praça do Comércio. Today there are distinct modern and ancient sections, combining great shopping with culture and sightseeing in the Old Town, built on the city's terraced hillsides.

A day at sea follows before calling into Almería in Spain. Almería is an old Moorish town, founded by Calipha Abd-ar-Rahman III of Cordoba in 955AD. Its mighty castle, the Alcazaba, is the second-largest Muslim fortress in Spain after the Alhambra in Granada. During the Middle Ages the city was one of the major Moorish strongholds in Andalusia, and it was attacked on numerous occasions by the Christians. It was also a centre for silk production. Almería was conquered by the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, in 1489, and was devastated by a violent earthquake in 1522. The port also suffered from raids by Barbary pirates throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. The discovery of iron ore in the province brought renewed prosperity to the city in the 1800s. Since the 1960s, the pleasant climate has attracted many tourists to Almería, and the district has also become a centre for intensive agricultural production, with massive ‘invernaderos’ (plastic greenhouses) allowing farmers to grow vegetables all year round.

The port of Alicante in Spain follows the next day. The principal city of the Costa Blanca, Alicante (or Alicant), is a port and popular seaside resort built around a natural harbour area. Situated in the shadow of Mount Benacantil, Alicante is a mixture of different styles and influences, and was once the home of Greek and Roman settlers before the Moors took control in the 8th century. Alicante is home to the imposing 16th-century Castle of Santa Barbara, which looms majestically over the city, as well as the tree-lined waterfront promenade of the Explanada de España. Also worth seeing is the 18th-century town hall, whose marble staircase is marked with a metal disc, used as a reference point in the measurement of sea levels around the whole of Spain.

The following day sees the ship dock in Palma, Majorca. Palma is the cosmopolitan capital of Majorca, the most popular and largest of the Balearic Islands with its host of bars, restaurants and stylish shops, a palm-shaded seafront promenade and attractive Old Town. Past settlers have left their mark on this vibrant city, and it retains a wealth of attractions, including the Bellver Castle which has dominated the skyline since the 14th century, and also the cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece which took over 400 years to complete. Undoubtedly one of Palma’s best features is the main promenade, lined with plane trees and abloom with colourful flowers. If you want to seek a little solace from city life, the beautiful Parc de Mar is built on several levels and its focal points are a manmade lake and a colourful mural by Joan Miro, who also co-designed the park.

Barcelona, Spain, follows the next day. Barcelona is a stylish and dynamic city with spectacular Mediterranean scenery and an infectious party atmosphere, best experienced in the mosaic-paved Ramblas area, the city's social hub, filled with open-air cafes, street entertainers and flower displays. During the summer months the city is abuzz with festivities, and the sunshine can be enjoyed virtually throughout the whole year. Awash with culture and art, Barcelona has been home to many famous artists including Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró and the eccentric architect Antoni Gaudi, whose surprising and striking work can be seen throughout the city. Look out for his beautifully-coloured and detailed buildings, which seem to grow organically out of the ground.

Valencia, Spain, is the next port of call. Spain's third-largest city, Valencia lies on the Mediterranean coast some 217 miles south of Barcelona. Madrid is a similar distance inland. Gastronomically, the region is home to Paella, Spain's most famous dish. Historically, it is believed that the Holy Grail resides in Valencia's cathedral and it was here that El Cid fought the Moors. The Valencia climate tends to be mild all year round and one of Spain's greatest festivals, Las Fallas, takes place every March when revellers enjoy a week-long party with fireworks and massive bonfires every night. The city has a wealth of fascinating buildings and museums, including the modern Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències, situated in the former bed of the river Túria, which was diverted to a new course following a tragic flood in 1957. In 2007 and 2010 Valencia was the venue of the America's Cup sailing yacht competition, the only European city to have hosted this event.

A well-earned day at sea follows before the final port of call of Gibraltar. Tagged on to the end of Iberia, the intriguing British outpost of Gibraltar is dominated by a sandy peninsula and the stunning 1,400-feet-high limestone Rock. Although small, Gibraltar has always been seen as having great strategic importance on account of its advantageous position where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, just 12 miles from the coast of Africa. Ever popular with British holidaymakers, Gibraltar is very much a home from home, boasting excellent duty-free shopping in many familiar British high street shops.

Three days at sea follow before the ship returns to Southampton on this no-fly cruise.

This 15-night cruise departing on 14 October 2015 starts from £2,300 per person based on two sharing an inside cabin.

(Photo credit to Saga Travel)

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Enjoy a dazzling dance performance from Strictly Come Dancing's Kristina Rihanoff and Robin Windsor

Kristina Rihanoff and Robin Windsor

Discover the classic cities of Rome, Florence and Barcelona on the Wonders of the Mediterranean itinerary on-board Saga Sapphire.

Step aboard Saga Sapphire as she heads to the Mediterranean Sea and traces the coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Pause at the British outpost of Gibraltar, head to the sparkling shores of Italy, visit the vibrant Spanish cities of Barcelona and Valencia, and spend time in Oporto – the home of Portugal's famous fortified wine.

This voyage also includes a dazzling dance performance from Strictly Come Dancing's Kristina Rihanoff and Robin Windsor! Dance enthusiasts, and fans of BBC1's 'Strictly', can also look forward to a Q&A evening with Kristina and Robin, as well as a special dance workshop with this professional dance duo. On this ballroom and Latin themed cruise – ideal for seasoned dancers and beginners alike – you'll be able to enjoy expert tuition from our dance tutor, Nick Miles. Take to the floor for some after-dinner dances – from waltz to cha-cha – and follow Kristina and Robin's inspirational lead.

Russian Kristina Rihanoff began dancing at the age of seven, and by the age of 21 she was competing professionally in America. She has won numerous international awards including at the prestigious World Exhibition at the Blackpool Dance Festival. Now retired from competitive dancing Kristina has been a regular on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing in 2008 she was paired with the nation's favourite John Sergeant, other celebrity partners have included the boxer Joe Calzaghe, Goldie, Jason Donovan, Colin Salmon, Ben Cohen and in 2014 Simon Webbe.

Ipswich born Robin Windsor joined Strictly in in 2010, partnering Patsy Kensit, followed by Anita Dobson, Lisa Riley and Deborah Meaden in 2013, but a back injury prevented him from joining the show in 2014. Robin has been dancing since a child, competed in dance competitions throughout his youth and has represented England in the World Championships, as well as performing on Broadway and the West End. Robin and Kristina met on Strictly Come Dancing and are now professional dance partners.

Nick Miles has been dancing from an early age and is now co-principal of the Star Dance Club, running a successful school in London and Kent with his partner Mark Willemite, and training pupils at all levels from beginner to professional.

As a member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) he is involved in the running of competitions throughout the country. He is also a member of the British Dance Council and of the Everyone is Born to Dance Committee.

In 1999 along with Richard Hunt he introduced the Grand Finals weekend at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, an event that now attracts over 4,000 competitors, and working alongside Peggy Spencer MBE he oversees the annual Ballroom Blitz, a showpiece of the London social dance calendar. In 2002 he received the Imperial Award for services to the ISTD and has also received the Carl Alan Award for services to dance.

(Photo credit to Saga Travel)

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Explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes joins Saga cruise in search of the Northern Lights

Sir Ranulph Fiennes

Sir Ranulph Fiennes is the world’s greatest living explorer and he will be joining Saga Pearl II in search of the Northern Lights when she sails from Southampton on March 4, 2015.

Norway is Saga passengers’ favourite cruising destination and Sir Ran, as he is usually known, will make the sailing even more fascinating as a guest speaker on the 400-passenger ship.

Sir Ran is looking forward to talking about his ’40 years of explorations’ as well as joining guests to watch the skies when they cross the Arctic Circle, hoping to witness the Aurora Borealis.

Saga Pearl II will dock for two nights in Alta, one of the best places on earth to witness the phenomenon, during this Norway nights and the Northern Lights cruise. Here, when heavy snow falls and temperatures drop to sub-zero, the clear dark skies become the arena for the dazzling displays.
Guests will take an early dinner on board the ship, attend a lecture to learn the best location for viewing the Northern Lights that evening, and travel to the selected viewing point.

Wearing an Arctic jacket supplied by Saga, passengers will also be able to keep warm by a campfire while waiting for a glimpse of the colourful night sky.

The 16-night cruise also includes many other winter sporting and social activities in Alta, including snowmobiling and dog-sledding or visiting a traditional Sami settlement of reindeer herders.

Another option is to call in or stay overnight in the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel which is built from snow and ice every winter. The indoor temperature varies from -4 to -7°C, but guests will be snug in a sleeping bag on a bed of luxurious reindeer fur. Of course, there is only one drink served at this hotel – a bright-blue vodka tipple served in a glass made from ice!

Although the Northern Lights are expected to be the cruise highlight, further ports of call also offer some exciting tours in Bergen, Tromso,  Andalsnes, Flam, Alesund and Leknes. New excursions include the Vossbanen steam railway in Bergen and a musk ox safari or a twilight moose safari in Andalsnes.

16 nights from £3299 departing March 4, 2015. Price includes VIP travel service, all meals and entertainment, afternoon tea, 24-hour room service, welcome cocktail party, unlimited tea and coffee, free wifi, all gratuities, porterage, shuttle bus to town centres from the port of call and travel insurance and cancellation cover.

(Photo credit to Saga Travel)

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Sail into Salzburg on 50th anniversary of The Sound of Music

Saga’s Salzburg and the Beautiful Wachau Valley river cruise features a two-night hotel stay in the musical city of Salzburg to ensure guests have time for a few of their ‘favourite things’ during the special anniversary year of The Sound of Music.

Whether it is climbing every mountain or searching high and low for The Sound of Music film locations, passengers will be well-placed at the four-star NH Hotel which is close to Mirabell Palace Gardens where Maria and the Von Trapp children sang Do-Re-Mi.

Nearby is Leopoldskron Palace, the lakeside residence used as the von Trapp family home, and Hellbrunn Palace where the romantic Liesl sang '16 going on 17'.

The city offers much more, too, with the magnificent cathedral and narrow lanes lined with burgher's houses, cobbled streets and horse-drawn carriages. Salzburg was the birthplace of Mozart and his former home can be found on Getreidegasse.

After the musical interlude, Filia Rheni II will sail on to Linz, a historic city on a curve of the Danube, and Passau, the 'Venice of Bavaria'. Here is the meeting point of three rivers – the Danube, Inn and Ilz.

Melk, with its medley of architectural styles from across the centuries, will be the next port of call before cruising along the Danube through the glorious Wachau Valley to Krems, a region ringed by vineyards. Guests will arrive in Bratislava to discover the charms of the 2,000-year-old city which was the capital of Hungary in the late Middle Ages and part of the Eastern Bloc between 1948 and 1993.

The last, but definitely not least, stop will be Vienna - home to the waltz, coffee houses and one of the world's finest opera houses. Explore the city where Marie-Antoinette grew up and where Mozart died. In the evening enjoy an optional after-dinner concert in the heart of the city featuring works by Mozart or Strauss.

10 nights from £1498, departing Heathrow (with local flight options from Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester, Newcastle and Norwich) to Munich on April 23 and October 21. Extend the holiday by two nights in Vienna from £249.

The cruise is exclusive to Saga passengers and the price includes UK travel service, two nights in hotel, all meals, wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on the ship, welcome cocktail party, entertainment and activities on the ship, two excursions, all gratuities, porterage and travel insurance.

(Photo credit to Saga Travel)

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Look back at the biggest cruise stories of 2014

Britannia receiving her contemporary Union Jack inspired hull artwork

As it is the last day of the year I thought it would be appropriate to look back at the most popular news articles posted on the Time Spent at Sea blog during 2014. I've looked at the total number of views and have pinpointed the five most popular cruise stories of 2014.

5) Three die in cruise ship engine room fire

At number five is the sad news that three people - two contractors and a crew-member – died in a tragic engine room fire on-board Oceania Cruises' Insignia cruise ship earlier this month. John Honeywell reported that the incident happened in port at Castries, on the Caribbean island of St Lucia.

4) P&O's Britannia is put through her paces for the first time

Next is the news that P&O Cruises' Britannia had been put through per paces in her first sea trials off the coast of Italy. The course tracked by Marine Traffic shows hair-raising turns and loops during her first open water sailing. John Honeywell noted that the path was reminiscent of a particularly drunken version of Join the Dots!

3) P&O Fly The Flag - In Pictures & Video

The third most popular story the year is the unveiling of plans by P&O Cruises to roll out the contemporary Union Jack inspired hull artwork fleet-wide starting at the end of 2014. Simon and Susan Veness explained how the bold new look celebrates the company's heritage and its popularity as Britain’s leading cruise line. Aurora was the first cruise ship in service to receive the new artwork earlier this month.

2) First pictures of P&O's newest cruise ship, Britannia, in her red, white and blue Union Flag livery

In September the first pictures of P&O Cruises' Britannia were released showing the contemporary Union Jack inspired hull artwork for real. Until this point all we had seen were computer-generated graphics of the design. John Honeywell noted that at 94 metres long, it was the world’s largest contemporary version of the Union Flag and that it took 420 litres of paint to complete this artwork.

1) Cruise ship Saga Pearl II sails to the rescue of injured yachtsman in mid-Atlantic 

The biggest news story by far this year was reported by Lesley Bellew and told of the rescue of an injured yachtsman in the mid-Atlantic by crew on-board Saga Pearl II. On route to Cape Verde, Captain Wesley Dunlop of Saga Pearl II answered a call for assistance from the Portuguese marine authorities and made a 90-mile diversion to meet the catamaran Coco Jet III.

(Photo credit to P&O Cruises)

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Mystery and murder on the Seven Seas

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and Saga Ocean Cruises are both planning murder mystery cruises for 2015 - with the involvement of the Duchess of Northumberland and the help of crime writer Ruth Rendell.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' Boudicca

Fred. Olsen Cruise Line’s Boudicca will embark on a Poison, Murder & Mystery Cruise on 10 July. Setting sail from Rosyth, Scotland, the vessel will call in at ports at Leixoes (for Oporto, Portugal), Funchal (Madeira), Santa Cruz (Tenerife), Las Palmas (Gran Canaria), Lisbon (Portugal) and Newcastle (UK). During the voyage a staged murder will occur and it is down to the passengers to piece together the clues to identify the perpetrator.

The themed cruise is the result of a creative collaboration between Mr Fred Olsen Senior and the Duchess of Northumberland. This event will be the largest participative murder mystery event ever held on a cruise ship, and will be officially witnessed by Guinness World Records.

The cruise will be themed around the subjects of poison and mystery with plays, talks and special tours on offer, besides the murder mystery that starts as soon as guests board the ship and culminates in a ‘Grand Finale’ at Alnwick Castle, home of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland. Guest speakers include Peter Dean, Her Majesty’s Coroner for Essex and a former forensic medical examiner with Scotland Yard; Dr Dan Jones, a poison historian and archaeologist; and Dr Mark Siddall, curator of The Power of Poison’ exhibition at The American Museum of Natural History.

Meanwhile, Saga are also planning a murder mystery on a cruise sailing from Southampton on 6 May.  Saga Sapphire's Baltic Treasures itinerary has the ship call in to ports at Rønne (Denmark), Stockholm (Sweden), Helsinki (Finland), St Petersburg (Russia), Tallinn (Estonia), Saaremaa (Estonia), Riga (Latvia), Warnemünde (Germany) and Ijmuiden (The Netherlands) together with two transits of the Kiel Canal during the voyage.

On-board will be crime novelist Ruth Rendell who will be hosting a Q&A session. Undercover experts will also be on hand to show guests how to fight real-life villains in the tradition of Rendell's Detective Chief Inspector Wexford. This new-found knowledge will be put to the test with an interactive murder mystery to solve. Each passenger will receive a signed copy of Rendell’s most recent novel The Girl Next Door.

(Photo credit to Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines)

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Spend Christmas at sea on a Saga cruise

Forget the cold winter and the cooking over Christmas and the New Year on a sunshine Saga cruise. There are still a few cabins available on Saga Sapphire or Saga Pearl II.

Christmas in the Canaries

Have yourself a merry little Christmas on Saga Sapphire’s (above) 20-night Christmas in the Canaries cruise. This special sailing includes a chance to spend the night in Marrakech and watch the fireworks over Madeira on New Year’s Eve.
Cruise on the chic and friendly Saga Sapphire from Southampton on 21 December with further ports of call including four of the Canary Islands, Agadir, Casablanca, Lisbon and Gibraltar.  Price from £3,699

A Mediterranean Christmas

Saga Pearl II will be sailing into the sunshine on a Mediterranean Christmas cruise which will give passengers time to explore the glorious historic cities of Rome, Nice, Florence and Barcelona, as well as the contrasting islands of Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily.
Christmas Day will be spent at sea so passengers can get into the full Christmas spirit and on Boxing Day Saga Pearl II will sail in to Almeria, just the place to walk off the excesses!

A highlight of this festive 23-night cruise will be the spectacular fireworks over the harbour in  Valletta, in Malta, on New Year’s Eve. Price from £4,099, departing Southampton on 21 December

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Adventure Cruising blog

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The rivers are alive with The Sound of Music

Saga’s Salzburg and the beautiful Wachau Valley river cruise features a two-night hotel stay in the musical city of Salzburg to ensure guests have time for a few of their ‘favourite things’ during the special anniversary year of The Sound of Music.

The city offers much more, too, with the magnificent cathedral and narrow lanes lined with burgher's houses, cobbled streets and horse-drawn carriages. Salzburg was the birthplace of Mozart and his former home can be found on Getreidegasse.

The cruise will visit  Vienna where in the evening guests can enjoy an optional after-dinner concert in the heart of the city featuring works by Mozart or Strauss.

10 nights from £1,498 departing Heathrow (with local flight options from Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester, Newcastle and Norwich) to Munich on 23 April and 21 October 2015. Extend the holiday by two nights in Vienna from £249.

The cruise is exclusive to Saga passengers and the price includes UK travel service, two nights in hotel, all meals, wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner on the ship, welcome cocktail party, entertainment and activities on the ship, two excursions, all gratuities, porterage and travel insurance.

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Adventure Cruising blog

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Saga Sapphire's Nordic 2015 eclipse cruise

Take a journey to witness the solar eclipse and stargaze in the clear night skies on
Saga Sapphire’s Nordic Eclipse cruise in March 2015. An astronomy expert will be on board to help passengers understand the wonders of the solar system during stargazing sessions and fascinating talks.

Saga Sapphire will follow the stars to Bergen, Geiranger, one of Norway's outstanding fjord landscapes, Andalsnes, Lerwick, and the Faroe Islands.

On March 20, Saga Sapphire will be at sea for the total eclipse. The last port of call will be Kirkwall, on the Orkney Islands.

12 nights from £2,289 departing Southampton on 11 March 2015. Price includes VIP door-to-door chauffeur service, all meals, all on-board activities and entertainment, daily afternoon tea, 24-hour room service, welcome cocktail party, unlimited tea and coffee, free Wi-Fi, all gratuities, porterage, shuttle bus to town centres from the port of call, and travel insurance.

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Saga announces 2015 maiden ports of call to meet demand for new destinations

In 2015 Saga ships will make inaugural calls to destinations in Spain, Finland and Denmark.

Alcudia, Majorca (above)
Saga Pearl II will make her maiden call to Alcudia, in Majorca, as part of a 16-night Springtime in the Mediterranean cruise. Although Alcudia will be new to Pearl II, the town is steeped in history; it has been inhabited since the Bronze Age and the Romans put it in the history books when they arrived in the bay and captured Alcudia in 123 BC.
The vast stretch of sandy beach is now lined with cafes, restaurants and shops and the old town, surrounded by a medieval wall, is well preserved with houses dating to the 13th century.
Saga Pearl II departs Southampton on April 26 for 16 nights, prices from £2,989

Rauma and Kemi, Finland
The Gulf of Bothnia cruise includes two new ports of call and guests will be able to witness the white nights of summer and immerse themselves in Scandinavia's fascinating past.
Rauma, on Finland’s west coast, flourished until the 17th century when it was devastated by two fires. The town centre was rebuilt in a neo-Renaissance style and guests will love visiting the now listed UNESCO  World Heritage Site.
The second maiden port of call, Kemi, was founded in 1869 at the mouth of the River Kemijoki, a natural deep-water port. 
Saga Pearl II departs Dover on June 23 for 15 nights.

Fredericia, Denmark
On the Voyage of the Vikings, Saga Sapphire will make her first call at Fredericia on the Jutland peninsula. Founded in 1650 by King Frederick III, it was intended as a fortress to protect Jutland and remains a military base to this day. Visitors can take the sentry path and walk around the ramparts that encircle the town or stroll 500 yards to Øster Strand beach, which has been awarded the European Blue Flag.
Saga Sapphire departs from Dover on August 12 for 11 nights, prices from £2,257

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Novelist Ruth Rendell on Saga Sapphire cruise

Crime writer Ruth Rendell will be headlining Saga’s Meet-the-Author series on Saga Sapphire’s Baltic Treasures cruise in May 2015.

More formally known as Baroness Rendell of Babergh, Lady Rendell is celebrating the 50^th anniversary of her career as an author. She will take part in a Q & A session with passengers who will each receive a copy of her new novel The Girl Next Door. The best-selling novelist travels the world but has chosen Saga for her first luxury cruise. She said: “I never usually take holidays but this one looked rather nice."

The Saga Sapphire Baltic Treasures cruise sails from Southampton for 16 nights on 6 May 2015. Prices from £2879.  Ports of call include Ronne, Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg overnight stay; Tallin Riga,  Warnermunde  Ijmuiden. The ship will sail through the Kiel Canal on the outward and return journey.

Price includes VIP chauffeur service all meals and entertainment, free wifi, daily afternoon tea,24-hour room service, welcome cocktail party, unlimited quality tea and coffee, all gratuities, porterage, shuttle bus to town centres from port of call and travel insurance and cancellation cover.

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Saga's Garden Voyage With Chris Beardshaw

We thought here at World of Cruising that Cruisers who also love their gardens would be well advised to take notice of this opportunity to combine a great holiday with the hobby as TV garden designer and RHS Chelsea gold winner Chris Beardshaw (above) will be aboard Saga Cruises' Floral Delights to the Canaries voyage in December.

Beardshaw will be sharing his expertise and love of gardening with passengers during talks and a question-and-answer session.

Chris, a long-standing member of Radio 4’s Gardener’s Question Time, explained: “There are always lots of people wanting gardening advice and tips - this is something I really enjoy and am very used to doing. I will also be joining a garden tour, as well as presenting new talks focusing on projects behind the show gardens at RHS Chelsea, including The Arthritis Research UK Garden, which was awarded Gold and People’s Choice Award in 2013.”

Chris knows the Canary Islands but has not visited all of the destinations and gardens on the itinerary. He added: “It is wonderful to have the opportunity to visit gardens and in December, when we are sailing, the climate will be much better than at home. I really enjoy seeing plants in differing habitats and often end up wishing I had the conditions to grow many of the plants that thrive in that part of the world.”

Saga Pearl II will sail to the floral island of Madeira and then on to Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote, where green-fingered guests will be able to stroll through glorious sub-tropical gardens as well as explore dramatic volcanic landscapes and lush banana plantations. The ship will also call at Agadir in Morocco, and Lisbon, where the city’s botanical garden and former royal summer place of Queluz will fulfil any keen gardener’s delight.

The Floral Delights of the Canaries cruise lasts 13 nights and costs from £1,569, departing Southampton on December 8. The price includes UK mainland travel service, all meals, daily afternoon tea, 24-hour room service, all on-board gratuities, entertainment and activities, welcome cocktail party and Captain’s dinner and travel insurance.

More info: call 0800 50 50 30 or visit saga.co.uk/cruises.

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All Aboard For Saga’s New Antiques Seashow

Calling all fans of BBC's Antiques Roadshow - you can take to the sea with Saga Cruises AND enjoy your favourite TV show on a special voyage to northern Europe this May.

In keeping with Saga's style of adding onboard value to the entertainment and lecture programmes, Roadshow presenters Paul Atterbury and Ian Harris (above) will lead a fascinating series of talks, master-classes and valuations on board the Saga Sapphire's sailing to the Baltic.

They will be joined by valuer Clive Steward-Lockhart, who is also a familiar face on the show, and archaeologist and antiquities lecturer Dr Ann Birchall, who will give fascinating talks on underwater archaeology and life in the classical world.

Guests will also be able to join a hosted antique-hunting shore excursion, where the experts give hints and tips along the way during this new A Voyage the Baltic cruise.

Saga Sapphire will sail from Dover on May 19, heading to the Baltic via the Kiel Canal,  a 60-mile channel through the German countryside. The journey ends when passing the Canal lookout station, which uniquely plays the national anthem of each ship as it passes.

Blending the imposing grandeur of St Petersburg with the refined grace of Helsinki and the stylish allure of two ports in Sweden, Stockholm and Gothenburg, this cruise celebrates northern Europe's great maritime heritage, as well as that of the the new Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which have each celebrated more than two decades of independence.

Tallinn in Estonia is acclaimed for its fairytale skyline of turrets and spires, while there is great shopping in Latvia's Ventspils and, from the Hansa port of Klaipeda, in Lithuania, passengers can visit the 13th century Memelburg Castle.

The 14-night cruise costs from £2,368 per person, with the price including VIP door-to-door chauffeur service, all meals and snacks, 24-hour room service, welcome cocktail party, entertainment and lectures, all gratuities, porterage, travel insurance and cancellation cover.

More info: call 0800 056 8986 or visit saga.co.uk/cruises.

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Try A Gulet Cruise With Saga

Gulet cruising is a signature Turkish experience and features small-ship style with a real up-close-and-personal taste of the local culture and cuisine.

And now you can unwind on an authentic gulet cruise, passing beautiful bays and golden beaches, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast with Saga Holidays this summer.

 

Their holidays travel in a flotilla of up to three boats, where life on board is friendly and relaxing, with the captain and two crew taking care of guests.

Gulets are two-mast wooden sailing boats, refined for modern holiday-makers’ comfort by providing eight en suite cabins with air-conditioning. The former fishing or sponge diving boats each have a different character and décor to make the sailing experience totally unique.

Mealtimes are a special experience on this all-inclusive option. Guests can tuck into local produce, in Turkish meze style, while dining on the deck overlooking the sea. A free bar is open from 9am to midnight, serving local alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

The round-trip from Marmaris via Ekincik Bay allows plenty of time to explore towns and villages or join walking tours. Of course, for those who would prefer to laze on the beaches, they will be spoilt for choice.

The 7-night gulet cruises cost from £949 per person, departing Gatwick from May to June and September and October. The price includes travel insurance and cancellation cover, return flights, full board, free bar open 15 hours a day, two excursions and a Saga tour manager.

More Info: call 0800 0923082 or visit www.saga.co.uk/turkey

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Saga's Spellbinding Norway

It's the final day of our fabulous Cruise Week with Saga Cruises, sailing their world and enjoying their cruise style and destinations. To conclude, we have a final journey to epic, beautiful Norway...

We make no bones about it - Norway is one of the most amazing countries to visit, especially by cruise ship, and this voyage just about has the lot.

Set sail on Saga Sapphire from Dover in July and you can visit quaint villages, historic ports and experience the UNESCO-protected landscape of Norway’s stunning fjords. In the evenings, guests can also get into the 1960s groove with the Steve Love Band and, to continue the theme, a 60s culture speaker will also be on board to bring back memories of the ‘Make love, not war’ era.

And then there are the ports. Old Stavanger (above left) is characterised by white-boarded houses, fantastic gardens and cobbled streets. Extremely quaint and dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, these houses are still lived in today and make for a fascinating tour. You can also explore the beautiful Lysefjord, where the cliff walls rise more than 300ft out of the still, blue waters for a distance of more than two miles.

The cruise then calls in at Flam deep in the Aurlandsfjord, surrounded by picturesque scenery of meadows, orchards and imposing mountains. Here, guests can enjoy a choice of several excursions, including include a ride on the Flåm Railway - one of the most dramatic train journeys in Europe.

Next up, the impossibly pretty village of Olden stands at the end of the beautiful Nordfjord,

with its quaint wooden homes, miles of forest and simple way of life. You can visit the Briksdal Glacier (right) on a guided hike or the Norwegian Glacier Centre, where you can learn about how glaciers are formed.

Finally, the Sapphire calls into the quintessential Norwegian port, Bergen. Surrounded by mountains and fjords, the waterside city has one of the most spectacular settings in all of Scandinavia and is a guaranteed hit with passengers. There has been a settlement here since Medieval times and the colourful waterfront buildings of the Hanseatic Wharf, known as the Bryggen, are testament to its fascinating history.

Saga's 7-night Spellbinding Norway voyage costs from £909 per person, departing Dover on July 24 and calling at Stavanger, Flam, Olden and Bergen.

More info: call 0800 096 0074 or visit http://travel.saga.co.uk/holidays/ocean-cruises.aspx.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link. 

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Saga, The Canaries and Moorish Morocco

We're up to Day 6 of our marvellous Saga Week here on Time Spent At Sea and on the World of Cruising website, and we have some super spring sunshine to deliver today...

Saga Pearl II is one of Britain's most popular ships, and her classy array of amenities really come into their own on longer voyages. Like this one to the Canaries and Morocco, with plenty of wonderful sea time, in April, 2015.

Sailing from Southampton, the first port of call is beautiful Funchal in Madeira. The island is famous for the varied and luxuriant scenery, from mountain slopes covered with vines to picturesque villages and a profusion of wild flowers. 

Following Madeira, Saga Pearl II heads for the Canaries and four superbly contrasting ports of call, from Santa Cruz on 'the beautiful isle' of La Palma; San Sebastian on the rugged, cone-shaped island of La Gomera; and Santa Cruz on the mountainous main isle of Tenerife; to the volcanic scenery of Arrecife on Lanzarote. It is an in-depth and up-close look at this amazing island range.

Next stop will be Agadir on the Morrocan coast. The city itself was largely destroyed by an earthquake in the 1960s so today it is filled with broad, palm-lined avenues edged by cafés and blossoming parks. The city is still a real mixture of old and new, though, as you wander

past the modern restaurants and shops and encounter colourful bazaars, spice-scented souks (left) and lofty minarets.

On the return journey, the ship calls in at vibrant Lisbon, where the Portuguese capital is a true treat for cruise visitors. Set on the famous Seven Hills surrounding the River Tagus, it is strewn with majestic architecture, old wooden trams, historic Moorish features and more than 20 centuries of history.

For your mobile home for this two-week maritime adventure, the ship itself offers a range of dining options, while you can also treat yourself to a massage or sauna, a few lengths in the indoor pool, soak up the sun on the ample open deck space and then enjoy a drink in the small and intimate Sundowner bar.

 
The 14-night Canaries and Moorish Morocco cruise departs from Southampton on April 4, 2015, and calls at Funchal, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Agadir and Lisbon before returning to Southampton. It costs from £1,784 per person.

More info: call 0800 096 0074 or visit http://travel.saga.co.uk/holidays/ocean-cruises.aspx.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link. 

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

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Saga and Fjordland Melodies

Think “Norway” and you’re thinking of one the most visually spectacular places in the world. Winding fjords lined by snow-capped mountains with waterfalls thundering down thousand-foot cliffs to the still waters below while eagles waft lazily across the bow of your ship.

The fjords may be stunning but there is plenty to more to enjoy in this scenic part of the world as the towns and cities with their architecture frozen in time and exquisite seafood-based cuisine are complemented by the people being so friendly.

And Saga's Fjordland Memories voyage will encapsutale much of it, spending three leisurely days cruising the Hardangerfjord during the unique Hardanger Music Festival, with musicians from the festival performing on board against a backdrop of breath-taking scenery.

The voyage starts in picturesque Bergen (above), however, where there will be a chance to visit composer Edvard Greig’s former home at Troldhaugen. After exploring the old town,

it's back on to the ship for a leisurely drink in the bar as Saga Sapphire sets sail out of the lovely harbour.

Passengers will then be able to fully enjoy the Music Festival and the local natural beauty, just at the time the fruit orchards are in bloom. But you can’t come to Norway without seeing the fjords and this cruise takes in one of the finest, with the classic vista of precipitous cliffs and waterfalls, plus the small settlement of Eidfjord, as the gateway to Norway’s largest National Park. Here, the clear blue sky sets the off the snow-capped mountains perfectly and it is a wonderful place to disembark and just wander the fabulous pathways.

The colossus of Hardangerfjord also gives rise to the lesser-visited Sorfjord (below) at one end, with the traditional town of Odda set at the foot of the mountains. Here, guests can view the beautiful waterfalls of the Odda Valley on a panoramic drive or perhaps take in the interesting Tyssedal Hydropower Museum.

Saga's 7-night Fjordland Memories cruise costs from £909 and departs Dover on June 2,

calling at Bergen, Ulvik, Eidfjord and Odda.

More info: call 0800 096 0074 or visit http://travel.saga.co.uk/holidays/ocean-cruises.aspx.

For a fuller version of this feature, see our website on this link.

The new edition of World of Cruising is now out, and you can see the digital version online on our home page at www.worldofcruising.co.uk. To subscribe at our special offer rate for 2014, see this link.

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