Saga River Cruises

River Cruises

Amsterdam

Southampton

Europe - All

Europe - River Cruise

Canary Islands

Africa

Very Good

Terrible

Poor

Spirit of the Rhine

Spirit of the Danube

Now I Know Why Saga Doesn't Market in the United States

Spirit of the Rhine is nice small ship with only 180 or so passengers, mostly like minded and good company. We were nervous about the entertainment (after 65 ocean cruises) and I don't know if we were just lucky, but the local entertainers brought aboard were really excellent and the onboard Saga entertainers / cruise staff got other activities just about right. Maybe do some more quizzes though?  

Food choice was not as wide as on an ocean cruise, not too surpringly given the galley room available, but there was  always something that was more than acceptable.

Lovely picturesque towns & scenery along the Rhine to watch while we were sailing. We went in November so chilly and wet but there were several Christmas Markets all lit up, bustling and festive looking. 

Only niggle I had is sadly almost universal these days on all classes of ships - inescapable all day background music in the only lounge on board. Its not clear to me why I should pay companies a lot of money for them to actively prevent me just enjoying peace and quiet to read, chat or doze off! At least the music, although not what I'd choose myself, wasn't too loud or jarring. We have already booked another cruise, this time on the Spirit of the Danube in May/June and this time I'll dig out my previously well used noise cancelling headphones.

Great Trip for Two First Time River Cruisers.

Jost Van Dyke

Spirit of the Rhine a new beautifully COMPACT ship. Beds twins can be put together but with single duvets. Staff exceptional. All inclusive a bonus. Lots of wine some good. We have today come back from Highlights of the Mosel which we found relaxing. We climbed up to each castle on the hilltops which I loved. The journey on Eurostar like waiting at an airport. The included chauffeur got us there 2 1/2 hours before train (we live about 30 mins drive away). I was not pleased. Return flight into Heathrow from FRA: we spent no less than 2 1/2 hours walking round airport to find the correct departure gate. Our guide was very good but FRA airport a shambles. 2 people missed the flight and my husband got there in the nick of time. A holiday should be door to door. This time we had a private chauffeur home: 45 min! Would we go Saga again? The company should marry up the admin to the standard of the ship. I had a good holiday in the ship!

Ship great but journey to and from bad

i was slightly worried having read some of the reviews on Cruise Critic but actually we were very pleasanatly surprised by how good it was.  We arranged to go to the airport a day early to avoid the ridiculously early pick ups  some people had.  we paid for the hotel and transfer to the terminal but felt that was much better than being collected at 0500.  the transport to and fro was good, clean and on time.  Flight to Amsterdam is very short and we flew with KLM which was fine.  WE were gahered at the airport and then escorted to our coach.  We were taken on a short tour of Amsterdam, mostly so we did not arrive too early.  We were allowed on the dboat in tinme for lunch, though not immediately to the cabins.  Our luggage was delivered to the cabins.  The cabins are quite small but very well planned.  Ensuite showere had plenty of hat water  and was reasonably powerful  bed linens good.  we had a 'french balcony' but honestly had very little opportunity to use it.  Either  we were moored right next to another boat or we were travelling through the night. The cabins with window only were considerably smaller and would have been a bit cramped.  The food in the main dining room was excellent with a good menu which changed every night.  The speciality Rheinfels restaurant had the same menu for the week but we loved eating there as it was smaller and quieter. we managed to get in twice (no charge).  For our cruise drinks were included and there was a good choice, although not premium whisky or brandy.   

The best thing of all about the cruise was the excellent staff.  Erna, Goshka, Elvis Kathy and lots more were cheerful, friendly, helpful and efficient.  The entertainer Norman was brilliant, a good singer and a good quizmaster.

No problems with the boat at all which was excellent.  Excursions could have been organized better

We had a close friend living in Oxford that was interested in going on a river cruise with us.  After much research, I discovered the Saga line, with one of its newest river boats, Spirit of the Rhine.  One appealing aspect was the fact that Saga offered VIP transportation so that we could get door to door service.  I ignored the negative reviews.  If you live in the US, the website doesn't help you.  I went through an agent in Blackpool.  The ship was beautiful and the cabin was one of the nicest ones I had.  It was our first river cruise.  Transportation from Oxford to Heathrow was excellent.  People were all British and extremely friendly.  Food was fair and portions were very skimpy.  The ship was aware that we didn't eat meat or poultry.  Since I don't eat friend foods, I asked for salmon to be broiled and it came boiled. I questioned it the next day and the hotel manager was arguing that I should have insisted that it be "grilled."  When I told him the menu said "fried salmon" he continued to argue, pulled out the menu, saw the error and said "it will be changed".  No apology.  The hosts were wonderful and performed numerous duties. Some of the excursions were disorganized.  Entertainment was terrible.  It would have been helpful to have a representative talk about the ports that we would be visiting.  Many passengers had never sailed on a river cruise and thought that ocean cruising was much better.  On the first day, when we met someone who asked where we were from and we said from the United States, she responded "and you came all the way from there to this."  Well I get it now.

It went wrong from the start.  Taxi driver had us down for Manchester T1 instead of T2 .  Luckily i put him straight.

When we arrived in Amsterdam and after a long wait because of the luggage belt not working, we were  ushered into a holding aread and told to wait until other flghts arrived.  That took all of 2 hours.  Eventuall we were show to a coach and told we were to being transported to a nice park with windmills as the boat was not due into Arnhem (not Amsterdam) for another few hours.We were in the Park area for 2 hours in scorching 85F+ heat.  When the coach did leave the drive had no idea where the dock was for the boat.  But  eventuall we got there just as the boat arrived which had taken well over an hour. Passengers who were not flyers were already there and had been waiting with toilet facilities. Our guie asked us to hand in pre medical questionnaires. We did but others did not have them.  To my  knowlege they were never presented to reception.

Our cabin was on the lower deck with no  acess to lifts for disabled passengers - which has always been a facility on other cruises.  The cabin was small than expeced and over furnished. There was no need for a pouffe.  Nor for a easy chair which resrtricted movement between the bed and the dresser.  And totall obscured the long mirror.  After asking for it to be removed i was told that housekeeping saidthere was nowhere t to put it. But when i said i would move to the corridor and left a note on it stating that it - it disappeared.

The food on board for lunch and dinner was terrible . The consume soup was like dishwater and was served atleast 5 times.  the main courses were below par and with little choice and were skimpy  to say the least.  In one case it was indedible. The wind with the meal was good but the waiters made sure you never to more than 2 glasses. The Maitre de was useless and was not doing what he was supposed to do. He never aske anybody how the meal went, and when challenged that the service by me that the service was poor he replied " we start at 7 and finish at 9 on dinner on time"  Customers were known to wait for their first course whilst the next table were enoying coffee

Not enough time was spent in visited ports - in particular Rudhiseim.   The boat docked and Ira failed to tell passengers it was only a 500 metres walk into town. No doubt wanting us to use Noddy Bus at 7.50 Euros so she could get  commission.  Overall Ira was a good hostess but feel somewhat she was driven by commisions.

The laid on entertainer Michael was extremely good and versatile.  The only criticism being largely he only entertainer for  the vast majority of the cruise it got quite repetitive and boring towards the end.  Only one outside entertainer was presented onen night as a trio and they were also good.   However Covid developed on board and no heath checks made

Worst ever cruise

Where to begin? The places we went to and the flowers and gardens were excellent, including our external speakers. 

The ship was good, rooms very small,  but very badly let down by the staff both  in the Saga office pre departure,  and then on the ship itself. Total disorganisation from the staff running the cruise program, itinerary changed with no explanation as to why, lots of hanging around while the staff decided what we were doing, late departures ( not due to the passengers) and shortened time  of the excursions, very few local guides, most walking excursions involved a 'guide' from the ship using Google maps to get us to where we were going. No announcements during sailing times telling us where we were or passing by areas of interest. Very slow  and surly staff in the dining room, including the Maitre D. They could not cope with a gluten free diet request. On board we found out that although  Saga advertised 'everything included' that was not the case. Drinks, wine,  were only included if you were in the dining room and the staff would not get anything else  from the bar - so if you wanted something to have with after dinner coffee for example, you had to go down to the lounge for it where they charged you. Also it took them 8 days to change the sheets and that was only after requesting a change. Evening entertainment non existent.

The lady who met us at Schipol  airport and took us on an excursion before getting on the ship was excellent, but she was not part of the crew, unfortunately.

This was our first time with Saga on a River Cruise and it will be the last. Our previous experiences with Tauck, Uniworld were far better.

Keukenhof and Floriade

Kusadasi

Our 1st Saga Cruise or Saga Holiday

Booking process by phone simple and efficient.  However from then on trying to communicate with Saga was  difficult and a little frustrating.   Final details arrived far too close to sailing date and presentation could be improved.   Perhaps consequences of Covid ?

So called Chauffeur pick up not quite what we expected.  Car turned up just outside the 30minute collection spot.  Driver pleasant but very  scruffily dressed . Car very clean and well presented though.  Port Covid tests were quickly and well handled, so embarkation smooth and quick.

Discovery is in excellent shape, and very well maintained.  Tis furnished tastefully in a traditional style, with quality art and ceramics featured in the many public rooms.  We were impressed by the space and comfortable seating in these rooms.

Standard double cabins at around 20sq metres , perhaps a little tight.  We had a Suite , with small separate bedrooms but at double the price too!  Came with so called Butler too and a Bar set up if requested.

If you include the Grill Bar, there are 5 Restaurants.   Food was of a very high standard  and I say that after perhaps 20 cruise, incl  mainly Regent and Silversea.   The Coast to Coast Fish Restaurant was outstanding with Cornish Lobster, huge fresh fish platters and local scallops etc.     Booking in the Speciality Restaurants tricky and difficult due to demand, although we ate  very, very well many nights in the main Grand Restaurant.

Service in Restaurant again excellent - professional and friendly .  Bar service too.

Deck staff could learn a few lessons from their Colleagues in the main bars and restaurants, as on Lido Deck area it was a little hit and miss.    There were only two Deck Buffets, otherwise Staff would go to the Grill Bar for food for you on the Deck.   An area for improvement?

Covid restrictions, changing 1/11/21 , meant we could only go ashore in organised Groups on Excursions .     So called incl excursions were poor - a orientation trip around the Port Town in the main.   Others available at a cost  in usual manner .

Not sure about Entertainment.  Clearly amplification problems in Main Theatre.  Entry is by 9:15pm with no large admissions, which didn’t suite our dining regime!   Good Cabaret and music after Dinner in Britannia Lounge, with a warm atmosphere.

Saga have a  surprisingly high quality product here, well delivered and very much geared to the older age range scale.   That delivery is also done with love and care and always from a UK Portsmouth 

Ps.   Should mention the first class Hydro Pool and facilities - beautifully laid out

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