Saga Pearl II Captain's blog

There was a touch of emotion for me as we sailed into Stavanger.

Call me a sentimental old fool and perhaps fatherhood has made me even more so. Which reminds me - little Scott  and Jennie are doing very well, and the first items to enter my new office here on Pearl II were the photographs that cover the wall beside my desk. Every time I look at them a heartstring is pulled. I thought I would add a little picture of my pride and Joy as so many passengers have sent us good wishes - here he is when he was six weeks old.

The reason I felt a little emotional this morning was because the last time we were here, I was sailing the Saga Rose on her final series of cruises. When the Rose left Stavanger for the final time, we were given much pomp and ceremony by the local authorities and were visited by former crew members who remember her back in the 1960's. I should explain that Saga Rose was built for the Norwegian-American Line and it was an important part of many peoples lives here, all of who had wonderful memories.

Today is a new chapter, as Saga Pearl II berths in Stavanger for her first time under the Saga flag. Stavanger is a good port for guests - we dock centrally, it is easy to explore and the shops and restaurants are housed in the winding, cobbled streets of the town.

I heard a story that one of the locals in Alta enquired "Why do you all have to wear red coats?" The passenger she asked dryly answered, "We are on a senior citizen prison ship, we are all tax dodgers that have been caught, they make us wear these coats when we have our daily exercise so that they can identify us if we try to escape - they don't come off you know!" A lovely story and I know the passenger that started the rumour - David Jones, if you are reading this, you have become part of Blog history, and I look forward to seeing you and Irene again.

Today there were another selection of trips for guests to enjoy, the 'Introduction to Stavanger' tour did just what it said on the ticket, taking guests on an orientation and sightseeing visit to the points of interest. Fewer red jackets were visible today as it is considerably warmer. It really was amusing in many of our previous ports of call; the view from the Bridge often extends over the ports and towns that we visit, and I could always clearly identify 'our own' when they were wandering ashore.

This evening brought with it the Farewell Cocktail Party - as I said yesterday, where has the time gone? We all enjoyed a fantastic dinner courtesy of Gavin and his team, served with style by Mathias and his colleagues. The entertainment tonight rounded off the cruise with suitable class, in the form of our friend Tom O’ Connor. Once more, he held us in the palm of his hand. He is as warm and genuine on stage as he is off stage, and when you are in his audience, you feel as though you are in his front room. He is a master of his craft and such fun.

As I look back at the Inaugural Cruise, it has certainly been challenging as the long overnight pilotages and blizzard conditions have made life very interesting, but the sights we have seen have been incredible.

At the start of the cruise, we embarked a film crew who were onboard to film the ship and its interior for a Saga promotional DVD. But also they were there to film footage for the Travel Channel on Sky Television to promote the Saga Pearl II.

The presenter of the programme will be Kim Hartman, and she is onboard with us at present making the piece. She is well known as she played Helga, the rather saucy PA of Herr Flick of the Gestapo, in the comedy French resistance spoof “Allo, Allo”. And what a charming lady she was too. I was duly interviewed by her. I find it amazing that as a young man I had a crush on this pin up when she was in “Allo, Allo”, and here I am getting interviewed by her – it’s a hard job but someone has to do it!

As I look back, it has been a great pleasure to sail the ship north into breathtaking scenery and I look forward to many more years in command of her. She is a fine ship, and one which will fit perfectly into Saga’s fleet.

We head now for Southampton and in a couple of days time we will be en route to the Canaries via Lisbon and Madeira… such a contrast. This has been a very special Inaugural Cruise, and Saga Pearl II has served us well on this ‘voyage of discovery’ - the first passenger ship to enter so many of these destinations so early in the year.

How quickly the time has gone. Another great port and one I have been to many times. I remember saying a few days ago how we had taken the good weather for granted. Today is a little grey and overcast, however Flam is, as always, charming.

For those of you that do not know, Flam lies in heart of Western Norway, in the innermost part of Aurlandsfjord, a tributary of the 130-mile long Sognesfjord. It is famous for the Flam Railway, a masterpiece of engineering that offers one of the most dramatic train journeys in the world.

This is what many of our guests have come here to experience. Over a distance of less than 30 miles, the track climbs from sea level to approximately 2,850 feet, crossing rivers, passing waterfalls and through 20 tunnels. It is spectacularly impressive from an engineering and a natural perspective.

Other tour options were available today, and one that I have heard great things about was the visit to Laerdal and the Borgund Stave Church - this church is the best preserved out of the 29 that remain in Norway, and it is almost impossible to comprehend that it has remained unchanged since 1190. The word Stave refers to the wooden pillars that form the main supports. I should mention that they are highly prized buildings because they are built without a nail, bolt or any form of iron.

We sailed at 4.30pm in order to keep our schedule to Stavanger. Onboard today we have as always been busy getting the ship to our way of operation. Behind the scenes we have been making our work place more homely.

For me it was time to have my office refurbished and Horst Pint, our Hotel Director, is somewhat of a DIY and Decoration guru. He would certainly do well on the Changing Rooms programme, where people’s homes are transformed. His talents extend way beyond just being our HD as we call him - he has an eye for detail, and I don’t mind saying he keeps in touch with his feminine side, by picking cushions and curtains!

Tonight, as well as our usual round of fun quizzes and the Cinema film we enjoyed the second offering from Cabaret Artistes 'Il Divi Fourever' Having been suitably impressed by their first show, I must say that their second show surpassed it, and the standing ovation from audience members was certainly well deserved.

Stavanger tomorrow and until then I must rest, Goodnight for now.

I always enjoy sailing to Olden. The scenery is spectacular as we sail right to the ends of the Fjord, 100 miles inland. But also because the pier we go to is beautifully constructed and was until recently owned by a local man who had the vision to build it. We call him Mr Everything as quite literally he does everything. He drives the mooring boat that takes our ropes, he is our agent, he drives the forklift truck to dispose of our garbage, he is security, and all at the ripe old age of 80!

So it’s always a pleasure to see him. I have known him for 13 years and I have never been ashore. So it was great to see him again. He told me that next time we arrive in Olden, I am to take time off so he can drive me around as a guide in his old Rolls Royce.

I was also marvelling at his lovely 42 foot yacht which he has moored and told him that one day I was going to purchase such a yacht for my dream of sailing around the world with my family, stopping whenever I want and for however long I wanted.

He is such a generous man, he told me I had to come to Norway in the summer with my family and take his boat as he doesn’t use it. Very tempting, but sadly we would not have time, but such a lovely man and a great character. Nothing pleases him more than fighting local bureaucracy as he likes to put a cat amongst the pigeons, he tells me with a mischievous wink!

I thought I would attach a few photographs of the run into Olden for you to see with the beautiful snow-capped scenery.

One of the reasons for coming here is that Olden is the ideal base to gain access to go and view the Briksdalsbreen Glacier - visitors can be taken right to the foot of the ice mass itself.

Of course today's excursions offered that opportunity. No sooner had we docked than the passengers were keenly waiting in the Discovery Lounge to be taken on the 'Briksdalsbreen Glacier Hike'. Wearing their all-too familiar red jackets (the inaugural cruise uniform) they boarded the coach for the 14-mile drive to the Glacier base.

Other guests chose to visit the Glacier Centre - an educational full-day tour, this involved a scenic drive, photograph opportunities and, en route, a drive through a four-mile tunnel that runs beneath the Jostedal Glacier, before visiting the Norwegian Glacier Centre itself. Here there were films, replica ice caves and a wealth of information on the geology of Norway - not to mention the buffet lunch at the beautifully situated Skei Hotel, on the Jolster Lake.

Guests were all aboard by 4.30pm today and the Cruise Staff joined them on the open deck for our sailaway. The evening entertainment brought great variety – in fact you could say, from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Following, what I understand, was an enchanting recital from the Magnus Duo, we had a main showtime of 'Call My Bluff' - our version of the popular panel gameshow. Unfortunately I could not join the panel tonight and sit alonside Rob Payne, Ship's Security Officer and our John Parton. I had a fine deputy however in the guise of our Hotel Director, Horst Pint.

I am told that it was an evening full of revelations, some that I am still coming to terms with. John and Rob's jokes may be as old as the Briksdalsbreen Glacier, (Rob - "Do you remember those two apalling winters in the 1970's?"; John - "Ah yes, Mike and Bernie!"), but they still make me laugh.

Until tomorrow - goodnight from me.

We sailed through the night, weaving our way through narrow fjords. It was a beautiful clear night with a full moon so I was able to visually identify the navigational marks during the night. It is such a pleasant experience sailing through the night amongst stunning scenery, and sheer cliffs.

What a contrast. By morning, the clouds had fallen and the visibility had reduced to literally zero with thick falling snow.

As we approached the berth, normally, I look at a reference point on the quay to adjust the ship’s speed and momentum. However my vision was so obliterated from the snow, as it was so thick, we had to berth the ship with our electronic chart, using it to show the ship’s position in relation to the quay. The equipment is accurate to the nearest metre and is very impressive.

Anyway, we were all fast shortly before 8am.

Today is Palm Sunday and this afternoon, our guest chaplain, Archdeacon Arthur Hawes, held a most excellent service. It opened with the Filipino Choir performing a set of hymns that were delivered beautifully. Much praise to Ramon and to Fernando, and to all that took part, it fills me with pride. Here, in writing I congratulate them - thank you Crew.

We are of course in Alesund today, another strikingly attractive fishing port. The berth is visually very pleasant, and the town is easily accessible for our guests and there is much to explore independently. Cassie and Grazia, the ladies behind our Shore Excursions, offered another good selection today.

For an overview of Alesund there was the 'City and Surroundings' tour. Another option was the 'Islands of Giske and Godoy' excursion - taking passengers to the rural regions outside of Alesund itself and to some of the smaller villages.

Today's most popular trip however was the 'Art Nouveau Walking Tour', although the weather was certainly grey and more than a little snowy this morning, this did not put off our intrepid tourists. This excursion involved a guided tour into the very heart of Alesund, looking at the city's buildings and learning it's fascinating history as passengers strolled through the winding streets. The tour included a visit to the Art Nouveau Museum and was enjoyed by all that took part.

On departure, I was able to exercise the ships manoeuvrability as the port is confined. We were soon clear, heading for our next port of call in Olden.

I have already mentioned the excellent choir service today, and the entertainment this evening certainly followed in the same first-class vein. It is always lovely to welcome Tom O’ Connor onto any of our ships. Tonight, the Dining Room was full of early diners - hoping to eat in plenty of time to get front row seats for Tom's show. Tom showed us all why he is considered to be one of Britain's finest comic talents. He held the audience in the palm of his hand for 1 hour and 20 minutes, and quite frankly we could have sat there all night with him. He is a not only a great talent but an absolute gentleman, and we look forward to his next show in a few days time.

Having travelled south, across the artic Circle Southbound, we started to experience a little more “Dreich” weather as we approached Trondheim. This is what we Scots call low cloud, drizzle and cold!

We had little or no visibility as we approached the harbour, but with our new Radars and Electronic Charts, it was easy to navigate to the berth. I donned my wet weather gear this morning as I knew I was going to get wet. We tied up alongside, again on a berth that wasn’t long enough to fit the ship. I wonder how they manage this, to give us short berths. Anyway we overhung both ends, but with Matt stationed forward and Steve aft, we managed to make a suitable tie-up. It looked a bit like spaghetti down there but the ship was secure

Trondheim is a very attractive city - it is picturesque and Norway's third largest city. It has had a tough history and its wooden buildings have been devastated by fire no less than 15 times in the last 500 years. Much has been restored and its modern expansion dates from the 1870s.

The all too familar sight of our 'red-jacketed' guests taking to the gangway occurred soon after we had docked. Guests and crew alike cannot absorb enough of this fresh Norwegian air - it is clean and invigorating. The first tours left promptly at 8.15am. Today's selection catered for all tastes. For those that wanted a gentle overview of Trondheim we offered a panoramic tour, mainly coach based, these excursions (which we offer in many of our ports) are set at a leisurely pace, stopping at points of interest for photo opportunities. Part of this trip saw our guests transferred to a  vintage streetcar to view old Trondheim, it's Cathedral and the statue of King Olav.

In contrast to this short excursion there was also a full-day tour that took guests to beautiful Roros, one of the four World Heritage sites in Norway. I was told this evening that the tour was like stepping back in time, and the coach journey to get there was as impressive as the town itself. The three-course lunch at the local restaurant was also given a universal thumbs up - so that was good news.

I was called at 10.30am for a meeting with the Harbour Master. When I approached this female official, who was introduced as the Harbour Master,I recognised her, and straight away she  recognised me. She was called Annita and was a 1st officer with me on Saga Rose back in early 2000. So it was great to see her again. It’s such a small world being at sea.

Tonight, as I write this, the Discovery Lounge is filled to capacity; our John (Parton that is - many of you will know him) is opening the evening with our pianist David in an 'All Our Yesterday's' night. If I know John there will be more than a few laughs, and after that, something for the ladies - a group of very charming Spanish gentlemen called  'Il Divo Fourever', who are, as you may very well guess, a tribute to the very popular group 'Il Divo' I shall be interested to hear how they are received in the morning.

Just a quick add on to today's blog, but this afternoon I was thinking, it is surprising, but already the Saga Pearl II has developed a character - she is a beautiful ship, with a great sense of style about her. Of course we all miss the old Rose and have wonderful memories, and it is unfair to draw comparisons. Whilst the Pearl II is physically different, there is still the same indescribable 'warmth' that has been carried over by our crew and that has become part of the fabric of our new ship - and that is very apparent to me. We are all settling in very well and indeed settling down in what is, for many of us, our home.

It is another early start tomorrow, so please excuse me until then. Thank you for reading.

As we left Tromso, the locals were telling me tonight might be the night for the Aurora Borealis.

As we sailed past the airport, our pilot had to call air traffic control to get clearance to pass by the end of the runway and flight path. A passenger plane flew past the Wheelhouse and landed just before we passed by. I bet it made a great sight for the passengers on the plane looking down our funnel as they passed by!

We continued through the night. Then at 8.55pm the green glow of the Northern Lights came into view. As promised, I made a ships’ all call to the passengers, they all left the dining room - it was like the Marie Celeste according to the Maitre D. One minute he had gone into the galley to get something, the next he came back and the room was empty, with half-finished dinners, wine glasses still charged and chairs askew - you can imagine the scene.

But there it was, spreading across the sky as we looked, this amazing and awesome spectacle. The lights were switched off on the ship for a better look. I was so pleased as this is what we had come up to see and it was there for all to marvel at.

Again at 11pm, as if waiting for the main show to finish, it appeared again, this time with more vigour and style. Sharp shards of green, flickering light - it was as if you were watching a science fiction movie, incredible.

We continued through the night to our next port of call, Narvik. A beautiful day arose as we approached. We arrived in Narvik at 8.00am and the restaurants were buzzing for breakfast by 7.00am.

Passengers are showing each other their favourite photographs, and there are a lot to choose from as this cruise has been so very rich in incredible scenery. In many of our ports we have been the first passenger vessel this year. The tourist season does not generally begin until April, when much of the snow has melted away. We are literally viewing sights that no passenger vessel may have seen before.

As well as showing each other photographs, many guests are discussing those that have been put on display in our Briefing Room. I should explain - our photograph lecturers select a collection of our passengers’ photographs for display every day, some are shown on a digital photo-frame, whilst others are made into glorious A3 photographs, to be kept by the snapper as a happy memento of the cruise.

Today's first tour was a dream come true for railway buffs. Guests were taken on the Ofotbanen Railway through the mountains from Norway to the edge of Sweden to view even more spectacular scenery. I have met one passenger who is a serious railway enthusiast and according to him today's excursion should be put in the 'Great Railway Journeys of the World' - that is quite some recommendation.

The train for this trip literally stopped alongside the ship at the berth, and took guests high into the mountains and through a tunnel where painted flags mark the border between Norway and Sweden. On their arrival at Riksgransen, coffee and cake was served at a local hotel and some free time was spent before returning to the train and the journey back to Saga Pearl II in time for lunch at 1.30pm.

Our other excursion was called 'Pride of Narvik’, a shorter trip that gave a taste of Narvik's attractions. Part of this included a cable car journey up the Fagernesfjellet Mountain, affording views of more great scenery and a coffee stop at the panoramic ski resort some 2,100 feet above sea level.

We departed Narvik this evening at 7.00pm. After the mountain air and the days’ activities it was surprising to see so many guests around this evening, but having looked at the programme of events I could see the attraction. Kim and Magnus, our classical duo gave another recital in the Discovery Lounge, before a complete contrast - our brilliant production team put on another showstopper of a revue with "Love Sweet Love". The costumes, as well as the cast, are brand new, as are the shows themselves. The cast rehearse very hard, often late at night when I am expecting the pilot and walking the public rooms, and there they are, in the early hours of the morning, using the Discovery Lounge to practice - and their hard work really does show.

Horst and our other Austrians, Alfred, Food and Beverage Manager and Mathais the Maitre D all went sking. I got an excited phone call from Horst this afternoon on the slopes. He was like a child, all excited at the snow and sking.

As we sailed away, the sun reflected off the mountains making for a stunning exit from Narvik.

Located on the island of Troms, Tromsø is more than five times the size of Norway’s capital, Oslo. It is known as the world’s northernmost city, located 200 miles inside the Arctic Circle. Often called the ‘Gateway to the Arctic’, Tromsø has been a base for many of the 19th century expeditions and hunting trips to the Arctic, a history that is remembered in the city’s Polar museum.

Today it is still the starting point for many explorations often in search of the Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis. Tromsø is a wonderful mix of the old and the new with wooden buildings sitting next to more modern contemporary architecture. It is possible to take a cable car ride to the top of Mount Storsteinen with wonderful views over the city, and surrounding countryside of forested peaks.

On our arrival in the evening we had the opportunity to attend a concert exclusive to Saga during our evening in Tromsø. Held in the distinctive Arctic Cathedral, built in 1965 and whose architecture was inspired by ice and snow. This is an iconic symbol of Tromsø. Once inside the cathedral the Vice-Mayor of Tromsø and myself said a few words of welcome before we were treated to an hour’s concert of Norwegian classical and folk music. The exceptional acoustics inside the cathedral made this a memorable evening.

The following day there were a variety of excursions on offer. Many passengers chose to be adventurous and go ‘Dog Sledding through the Wilderness’. The opportunity for a thrilling half hour ride being pulled along by teams of a dozen huskies. A once in a lifetime opportunity to enjoy the snow covered wilderness in a very traditional way. Afterwards it was good to go into the ‘lavuu’, a traditional Sami tent, and warm up around an open fire.

Some passengers chose to explore the local museums – the Polar Museum, with its history of Polar expeditions. The Polaria, a modern architectural building, with its exhibitions on the local flora and fauna. The Tromsø Museum which shows the challenges facing the traditional Sami peoples. The Defence Museum, set in a former German Naval Canon Battery which shows the occupation of Norway by the German forces during World War II.

The shuttle bus ran into the centre of town for those who wanted to explore independently. A few of these intrepid passengers even joined in with some impromptu snowball throwing on the quayside.

As we headed North East, along the Norwegian coast, I was reminded of my time on North Sea Supply vessels, the dark cold nights with temperatures falling. However, it was quite a unique experience on the ship, as we were heading north, looking out for the harsh conditions to be found this far north.

It wasn’t long before we found it. We had heavy snow showers with minus temperatures. We were prepared and had equipped the ship for the climate by draining water lines and changing the Diesel fuel in the lifeboats for artic fuel, as in minus temperatures normal diesel becomes waxy and clogs up fuel filters. Also, all the crew were issued cold weather gear in way of Mullion Suits - padded, watertight suits we use when out in the rescue boats, which are very warm and dry.

We passed by the Lofoten Islands, and picked our pilot up on a beautifully clear night at the Lodigen Pilot Station. We inched our way carefully through the various narrows, with the street lighting casting an eerie glow over the snow covered houses, the snow untouched and smooth, really portraying the fact we are north of the Artic Circle during the winter.

We approached Alta, and with temperatures plummeting, myself and the Staff Captain had to don our adult baby grows as you can see, as it was rather cold!!

We berthed right next to the airport and due to the close proximity to the runway, we had to illuminate the ship as much as possible as during the frequent blizzards we experienced, as the planes needed to see the ship on final approach. I wondered how I would write an incident report for a plane landing on the bow!

The weather went from beautiful sunshine and blue skies, to the extreme - gale force winds, blizzard conditions, driving snow. Despite this, our passengers were here to see the Northern Light, Aurora Borealis. They indeed saw a little of the light but were to satisfy their want for the lights later in the cruise. Dog sledging was another of our tours along with Skidooing aboard snow mobiles. Sadly I couldn’t go, but would have loved the chance. Ah well, maybe next time.

We were visited by the local school, who brought 15 or so children, aged up to about 5 years old. For me as a new father, it reminded me of my son Scott at home, and just for a brief moment, I yearned to be back with him as I looked at the innocence of the children tucking in to chocolate ice cream and biscuits, laid on by Horst, the Hotel Director.

Our stay was superb, and our passengers loved the cold climate, as we were north in the Artic Circle in winter and experiencing the harsh conditions that go hand in hand with these latitudes. But with the warm ship to come home to, with the kettle on or gluvine to enjoy, the passengers were elated by the experience.

After a fairly comfortable night sailing northwards along the Norwegian coast, we headed into the Pilot station just south of Alesund to pick our pilot up to take us to Molde. We wove in and out of the small islands and watched the sun rise over the snow-capped mountains. Molde is one of my favourite ports as the pier is right in the centre of the bustling town, and it is a nice approach.

Again we made our way alongside, getting used to the ship and her manoeuvring characteristics. The ship has been fitted with the latest state of the art equipments so this is a great benefit as it makes life very comfortable for us on the bridge.

I received emails of Good luck and Bon Voyage from my colleagues on the Saga Ruby and Spirit Of Adventure, which was a nice gesture.

Once alongside, our passengers again set off ashore in two separately timed convoys for today’s tour - half of the ship in the morning and half this afternoon. The excursion was the ‘Atlantic Ocean Road’ – a fascinating coach trip along the road that links the islands between Molde and Kristiansund, which zig-zags its way across 12 low bridges and affords fabulous views of the islands and World War II fortifications. Guests stopped for fresh coffee and cakes to take away the chill before heading back to the ship with yet another collection of beautiful photographs.

Many guests have shown me their photographs this trip, which so many are very proud of. I must say, they are very accomplished images  - a result, I am sure, of our guest photography lecturers, Phillip and Janet Lawson, who have been guiding passengers in their photographic pursuits. Simple snappers and more serious amateurs alike have all gained a great deal, not only from the talks themselves but also from both Phillip and Janet being around and about the ship – it is a serious passion for them.

As the last red jacket made its way up the gangway, looking as though it was independent of an occupant (the wife had taken her husband’s by mistake and she had to take two steps before the coat took one) we made ready for our departure. At 5.00pm we left Molde for Alta, where we will spend almost three days.

Tonight, guests were treated to a show of Broadway proportions. Our new singing and dancing troupe excelled in their debut ‘Big Top’. They are a brand new cast, with new shows and are full of enthusiasm and talent – well done to them, they must have had first night nerves, but nothing showed – super!!

Next stop Alta in the Artic circle.

We approached the pilot station at Marstein at 0500 in the morning. It certainly was a different kind of morning to that which I’ve become used to when picking up Norwegian pilots in the summer. Those were tranquil mornings.

However, this morning we had severe gale force winds and driving sleet, so I knew I was in the North Sea during winter. It took me back to my days on North Sea Supply boats where we battled the winter storms in the North Sea getting to the oil rigs.

Once the pilot was onboard, we made our way north to Bergen, a route I have sailed on numerous occasions whilst aboard passenger ships. This morning however, it felt very odd indeed, as all the usual and familiar sights were peppered with snow. It was an odd feeling but a somewhat nice change.

As we approached the berth, the wind was strong and this would be my first real chance to test the ship. And I was pleasantly surprised how she manoeuvred.

We were all fast by 0730 in Bergen, a favourite port of call of mine. It is the second largest city in Norway, and a cultural haven. It is certainly one of the most accessible ports from a passenger point of view. The port is scenic and there is a great deal to see and do close to the ship.

The previous evening, Saga had kindly delivered red Northern Light jackets to each passenger, so the gangway this morning was a sea of red as our passengers flowed down the gangway sporting their new attire. And it was needed due to the chilling wind.

Cassie and Grazia are our Shore Excursions Team on this cruise, and whilst it may be a grey day, our guests were full of enthusiasm to explore our first destination. ‘Bergen City Highlights’ was a tour that did just that, taking our passengers to view all of the local points of interest. In complete contrast, the ‘Taste of Hardanger’ tour left the city behind and took passengers to view spectacular waterfalls and the rural way of life of the Hardanger region, including a stop at a local farmhouse for coffee and apple cake.

The third tour today was called ‘Images of Grieg’ and this was certainly a cultural highlight for the many that went. This excursion took passengers to Grieg’s home, beautifully preserved with his Steinway piano still in situ. After a guided tour of the house and gardens there was an exclusive recital of his music in the purpose-built theatre that has been erected in the grounds of Grieg’s garden – very special indeed.

On sailing, our next port was due to be the Port of Andalsnes. However, we had received word from our agent that the snow had been so heavy in the area that the port and town had been cut off - avalanches had blocked the railway line and only essential traffic was able to get through. Apparently this was the first time in 35 years this had happened. So we had to do a quick rethink and we set off for a day in Molde.

Tonight, the entertainment followed in the vein of our ‘Images of Grieg’ tour, as our Classical Duo gave a hauntingly beautiful recital. The Magnus Duo are a refreshing departure from our usual classical ensembles. Rather than being entirely instrumental, they are made up of Magnus and Kim. Magnus is a talented and accomplished pianist and Kim has a cut glass voice. Both have performed all over the world and have an impressive list of appearances and awards to their credit.

Well, I will leave you for the moment. As you may or may not know I was delighted to become a father six weeks ago. It is lovely to be back with my crew, however it would be a lie to say that it has not been a little gut-wrenching leaving my wife Jennie and our first son Scott behind. So, as usual, I am going to make my daily phone call, so that I can hear some comforting gurgling and other unusual noises – and perhaps Jennie will put the baby on too!

Today was a very special day in the history of Saga Shipping.

MV Saga Pearl was about to embark on her Inaugural Cruise. She has been in Swansea since September, having a major overhaul with much work being done on engines, cabins and public rooms.

I am sure you enjoyed reading Horst Pint’s blog as much as I did.

I joined the ship in Swansea to bring her round to Southampton and then headed home for another week to spend with my family and new son. It was a real struggle to leave him but my job is here, to take the ship on her first cruise.

I have had the privilege of sailing Saga Ruby and Spirit of Adventure on their inaugural cruises and I’m now onboard Saga Pearl II on hers.

Monday was very busy for us as the Marine and Coastguard Agency visited the ship to give her a thorough inspection to ensure she was fit and safe and we were pleased to have their approval.

The United Kingdom Public Health people also visit the ship to ensure all our practises and procedures are being followed. Again, they left happy. These are routine inspections carried out regularly on all cruise ships to ensure they are safe to operate.

We embarked our guests at 2pm who were greeted by the smiling faces of the crew, all handpicked from Saga Rose, Saga Ruby and Spirit of Adventure. So many of our passengers already knew our crew and vice versa.

The obligatory safety drill was carried out and all passengers continued to explore and settle into the new ship. It was an exciting time and it was great to see so many familiar faces amongst the passengers.

We sailed at 9pm, having waited for a slot in the busy Southampton Port schedule in amongst the many traffic movements. Soon we were away and it felt good to take the ship to sea with passengers on board for the first time.

Finally, we left Southampton behind us and “stretched the ship’s legs” up the channel...

In the dark of the night, all our new electronic navigation equipment made the scene on the bridge look like something from Star Trek. The company has invested in the latest software and electronic products, which makes it even easier for us to navigate the seas safely.

I am delighted to be sailing with well-known and respected colleagues on this Inaugural Cruise, including Staff Captain Wesley Dunlop, Chief Engineer Sergiy Gavryluk, Hotel Director Horst Pint and Cruise Director Tanya Whitehurst.

I feel very fortunate that we have such a strong team onboard for the first cruises aboard this new ship, as they can be very busy. Wesley, Sergiy and Horst have been on the ship since September, shepherding her through her refurbishment - no small task, as I’m sure you can imagine.

I must apologise for the lateness of this blog as I am sure many of you have been waiting to read it. We have been very busy aboard the ship ensuring all of the crew and passengers settle into their new ship.

Also, I must admit feeling a bit of pressure now as I thought Horst wrote an excellent blog, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading, so I have a lot to compete with.

Its great to be back and I am excited to see what the ship can do.

Next stop, Bergen.

The bed linen in the cabins has been pressed, the library has been stocked with over 3,000 books, the dancers are putting the finishing touches to their routines, the food is being prepped in the new kitchens and the Champagne is chilling, all in preparation of the celebrations that will accompany the launch of our new cruise ship today.

The whole team have been working flat out on the final preparations to ensure the successful sailing of Saga Pearl II on her Inaugural Cruise today. Check back soon for photos of Saga Pearl II after her fantastic multi-million pound refurbishment and the first part of Captain McLundie's Inaugural Cruise blog, as they cruise to Norway and the top of the world.

We unwrapped the Library and Shackelton's Bar from their month-long plastic coverings today, and both rooms instantly recalled the beautifully furnished and decorated public rooms that Saga’s ships have become renowned for.

The Wardroom and Chartroom are looking pristinely clean and tidy, and the show lounge is continually buzzing with rehearsals and frequent sound checks.

Gavin has made us all some apple strudel. Being Austrian, I know a thing or two about this classic pudding and all in all, it was excellent… although I’m sure my grandmother would have had a few tips for our Australian chef!

Generally speaking, we are all in a pretty great state and the hotel is ready for the only thing that’s missing (and, of course, the most important thing)… our guests. 

I will write some more tomorrow. I hope that you enjoy the picture of Captain McLundie, who has recently joined us on board.

We’re now on a fantastic run to the finishing line, pushing ourselves to the limit and all of us with our eyes on the goal - getting the ship ready so that we can get you all on board.

We loaded all the furniture, mattresses, crockery, linen, glasses and everything else by hand. The lorries arrived at the dock thick and fast, and our challenge was to get them empty as quickly as possible. I am incredibly proud of our managers and crew – there’s no finer people working in the hotel business then our lot.

At 9.00pm last night, I asked them if they’d like to finish the two lorries waiting or if they would rather wait until tomorrow, and they all cheered to continue… you couldn't make this stuff up. We finished by 10pm, had some beers and pizza, and then quietly retired for the night.

The ship looks absolutely lovely, the furniture is very comfortable and, although I’ve said it before, the public rooms are amazing. Tomorrow our Housekeeper, Anne Mette, and her team will start getting the bedding ready, which is styled in attractive blues and whites.

Have a great weekend - we hope to see you all soon.

The Hotel areas look beautifully furnished and we all like the colour schemes.

Today we got a lot of more furniture which we have to bring on board by hand, whatever we can lift. The Shuffle board deck was a bit too much to ask for regardless of my motivation skills.

There is a lot more to come and  it is great to see the ship becoming alive, the crew likes it as well, at the moment most of them would love to work in the Library, with its wooden outlines, stylish Verona seating and the constant brightness from the large windows.

There is also the Restaurant, with its beautiful new colours of blue and beige with the sparkle of all the new cutlery. The show lounge has very comfortable settees and the arm chairs looks very inviting.

Now to a different matter, Captain Alistair is a shadow of his former self, meaning he looks very fit, he still tries to boss me around. He was a mere Chief Officer you know, when I  met him 12 years ago.

He is looking forward to take command and meeting you all on board the Saga Pearl II and eventually starting his own blog.

I remember the original Saga Pearl as many of you will and I can safely say that this lady by far grander.

I shall organise a few pictures of most areas including the "Old Peculiar" (aka McLundie) for you to view. Stay tuned and I hope to see you all soon.