Saga Pearl II Captain's blog

We approached the pilot station at Gibraltar with our sister vessel, Spirit of Adventure, and we sailed in together, which is a nice feeling. Captain Frank Allica on Spirit, is well known to me. He’s a nice chap and I had been emailing him in preparation of our arrival together, and preparations for meeting and “Cross decking”. This is when passengers and crew go from ship to ship visiting and looking around the respective vessels.

Well, we berthed alongside each other and there was a lot of waving and excitement from all crew seeing their friends and collegues. Once all fast, I wandered across to have a coffee with Eddie Denaghael and Phil Jeavons, Hotel Director and Chief engineer respectively. I then showed Frank and his wife Jenny around Saga Pearl II.

Considering our stay here alongside the Spirit of Adventure was a short one, there were a number of tours to choose from today. Obviously Gibraltar is famous for it's rock and that was the title of today’s first excursion - 'The Rock'.

Guests were taken by mini-coach across the unique airport runway at Gibraltar (unique because it is the only runway in the world that has a main road cutting across it's middle section) to see the frontier with Spain. They then passed many points of interest including the American War Memorial, British Naval Base and Trafalgar Cemetry, before arriving at Europa Point, where the only Trinity lighthouse outside of Great Britain is situated.

After a chance to photograph Morocco across the water the trip continued up onto the Rock itself. From here our passengers were taken into St Michael’s Cave to see the impressive display of stalagmites and stalagtites that nature has created and to visit the Barbary Apes that inhabit the Northern Rock.

Others chose to go Dolphin watching. Gibraltar's bay is resident to three types of dolphin and seven species of whale. Passengers boarded the 'Dolphin World' pleasure cruiser, enjoyed a commentary on Gibraltar's history with refreshments and were not disappointed with sightings - the dolphins certainly came out to play this morning.

There were two more excursions on offer today, 'Fortress Gibraltar' gave passengers the opportunity to learn about the fascinating wartime history of the British Protectorate, whilst the 'Tapas Tour' was a leisurely paced look around Gibraltar before a selection of delicious tapas and sherry tasting at a waterfront restaurant.

Sadly, 1pm came all too quickly and it was time to sail. What I found very touching, but to be honest was expected, was that the deck crew from Spirit, who are our friend, helped the crew, retrieving our gangway from the quayside, even though their job was on a different ship. Helping colleagues… lovely! Then they waved us off as we turned away from the quay. Lines of crew on each ship waving each other bon voyage.

It wasn’t too sad an occasion for me as I will be seeing them in three weeks when I go on for the National Trust For Scotland charter, who requested me to be their Captain. For me it is a privilege as I get to sail the ship around Scottish waters and someone else pays for the petrol

This afternoon, once onboard, many guests took advantage of the sun loungers on our open decks as we entered the last leg of this cruise - making the most of the wonderful weather before the homeward stretch.

Tonight I took part in the evening entertainment, joining the Call My Bluff panel, consisting of John Parton Assistant Cruise Director, and Betty Charlton, the onboard Doctor - we had such a laugh. I have to say, Betty and I were just there I think to make up the numbers, and John was the star of the show. It was such a welcome and rewarding sight, to see the whole room in tears of laughter. A great tonic as I’m sure the Doctor would agree!

This was my first visit to this port, so there was a little excitement as it is always nice to see somewhere different.

The port was going to be challenging as there was not too much water in the entrances to the main pier, so when the pilot boarded, we took a few moments to look at the plan. The pilot would navigate up to the swinging circle and then i would manoeuvre the ship. We had to get quite close to the concrete when swinging and holding the ship in the middle of the entrance, then we moved aster into the harbour.

Due to a limited depth of water, only two metres under our keel, it took a little time to get the ship alongside as the water was trying to run past the bow and stern and underneath the ship. You get a cushion effect, which tends to stop the ship coming alongside. So you persevere, and use power to break that cushion… and when you eventually do, you get alongside.

It was as if I had driven the ship into the centre of the town, and parked it in the middle of the street. We were right in the centre, right in front of apartments so the residents soon got a shock when they opened their curtains. In fact some of our passengers got a shock when the residents opened their curtains in the morning, expecting a view and some privacy (If you know what I mean).

Anyway once all fast, the passengers were ready to go ashore. The sun was shining again and temperatures were soaring.

We were so central in our berth that guests could walk directly into a series of shops, winding streets, cafes and canals. The canals were a feature of one of today’s most popular tours – the ‘Canal du Midi Tour’, which ran in both the morning and the afternoon.

The idea of building a canal to link the Atlantic to the Mediterranean dates back to the time of the Romans, but it wasn’t until the 17th century that this feat was achieved. The Canal du Midi, sometimes known as the ‘canal of the two seas’ took 12,000 labourers (1,000 of which were women) nearly 30 years to complete, and stretches 150 miles with 100 locks.

This excursion took guests along a stretch of the canal passing picture postcard scenes. Although it has to be said the real highlight of this trip was our Executive Chef Gavin’s cake – he had baked a fruit cake which the tour escorts took with them and it has been the topic of discussion ever since.

‘The Thau Lagoon’ was today’s other tour option. This is the largest and deepest saltwater lagoon in the Languedoc, stretching from the Rhone River to the foothills of the Pyrenees. Passengers were taken aboard a glass bottom boat to view the marine life and to learn about the cultivation of mussels and oysters in a region that produces 13,000 tonnes of oysters a year. As impressive as the tour was, Gavin’s cake took the limelight again.

Come 6pm, we were ready to set sail. As it was Brittannia party tonight, I had dressed in my formal wear to take the ship away. I think our pilot got a little shock as it was an unusual sight. They don’t get many cruise Ships in Sete and I had to explain why I was dressed like this.

Anyway, keen to get the ship away, and wanting to get settled before the party, things don’t always go according to plan. The pilot stayed a little longer than expected as I think he was feeling quite at home and enjoying the hospitality and grandeur of the ship.  I was finally able to get down and address our very loyal guests at the party, and then onto dinner in the dining room with my guests.

This evening the Discovery Lounge was full by 10pm in anticipation of the show. Tonight’s artists were ‘Elektra’, a violin duo. A gripping name and certainly a gripping show. Hazel and Caroline are the two ladies that make up this duo and their range was exquisite, playing everything from classical through to jazz, musical theatre to film scores. You can always tell the success of an artist by the number of CD’s they sell – Caroline and Hazel are going to be playing in front rooms across the country.

After a very comfortable crossing of the Gulf of Lyon, we arrived at the pilot station on time. There were again a few cruise ships arriving at the same time at the pilot station. It always amazes me how some ships’ Masters always try and push in against the ports advice to get to the front of the queue, and today was no exception.

We arrived and were given a slot to come into the port, but as we were lining up for approach, another ship came sailing by at full speed despite the port telling them to slow down! They were starting to encroach on our space but were obviously interested in getting in first.

Anyway in good French fashion, they were robustly told to stop and follow us in. I must admit that I had a little chuckle to myself. For me the observance of good seamanship is paramount. Anyway I will get off my soapbox.

I always remember when coming through the ranks how desperately I wanted to manoeuvre the ships I was on and always making a point of asking the Captains. So whenever an officer shows the same keenness, I am more than happy. So this morning, Graeme Berge, the Chief Officer showed an interest and he berthed the ship this morning for the first time, and did a very good job.

It is very enjoyable ship handling, and it is very easy to do it all yourself, but I do try and give others as much driving as possible. I promised Wes, the Staff Captain, he could do the departure. Boys and their toys, and big toys at that – 19,000 tonne toys to be exact.

Once all fast, our guests were welcomed at the foot of the gangway by local people, wearing traditional costume, playing music as the guests went on tour. A lovely gesture, as this was our first call. Once they were all finished in their duties, in my finest French, I invited them onboard for a cup of coffee and a Danish, although it probably should have been a croissant!

For guests wishing to explore Marseilles independently, it was a pleasant 15-minute drive along the coastal road in our complimentary shuttle bus to the harbour. Marseilles is good to explore by foot - the harbour is surrounded by cafes and restaurants that overlook the many beautiful yachts that are berthed there.

Today we offered another comprehensive selection of excursions. The ‘Marseilles Highlights’ tour was certainly the most popular and the ideal trip to gain an overview of the city. It took guests to the La Major Cathedral, the old port and fortifications and on a drive along the Kennedy Corniche Road, which is lined with splendid mansions, en route to the Notre Dame de la Basilica and the Longchamp Palace.

Another excursion included a visit to ‘Saint-Remy-de-Provence’, a typically French town set in the heart of the Alpilles Mountains. The houses here are beautifully restored and it is the setting where Van Gogh painted his ‘Starry Night’ and where Nostradamus was born. The final tour this afternoon was to ‘Cassis and the Cap Canaille’ a beautiful seaside resort, about which Frederic Mistral wrote, “He who has seen Paris and not Cassis has seen nothing”.

This evening the French theme continued and we benefited from our late sail by inviting a local group onboard to entertain us – we were charmed by the ‘La Gai Farandoulaire’ folkloric group. It is always good for us to sample local entertainment and culture, and it is always greatly appreciated and received – tonight was no exception.

When all the entertainers had departed, we let go, and Wes took the ship to sea.

Until tomorrow, when we go to Sete… au revoir mon amis.

We arrived at the entrance to the natural harbour of Mahon, at 7.40am. I decided to arrive a little earlier as it is quite a challenging harbour and I wanted time to turn the ship in the confined harbour. So we made our way in and the pilot boarded just inside the harbour where it was more sheltered.

We sailed past beautiful villas on each side, some seemingly within touching distance at times. On the hills above, there were many old derelict barracks and fortresses, once used by the British.

Once inside the main harbour, there were a few cruise ships and space was very tight. So I had 3rd Officer Gemma aft, calling distances, Dion Safety forward again calling distances, and on the Bridge, Graeme Chief officer and Wes Staff Captain, all feeding me information to let me swing the ship without hitting anything… which is usually a good career move!

We were soon fast alongside, the Naval Base, which was very picturesque. The sun was shining, and it looked like a beautiful day was going to come to fruition in this beautiful island.

There were three tour options to choose from today – as is always the case we provide a more leisurely option, which proved popular. The ‘Scenic Northern Drive’ excursion took guests on a coach journey through some of Minorca’s charming seaside resorts. There were photo stops at Puerto de Addaya, Macaret and Arenal d’en Castell . The journey continued through the landscaped gardens of Cala Tirant with a visit to the nearby monastery.

For those who wanted a more vigorous trip, Cassie and Grazia offered the ‘Ciudadela and Binisues’ tour. Ciudadela is Minorca’s former capital and guests were given a guided tour of the town’s sights – including the cathedral and the Placa des Born (one of the most impressive squares in Spain, originally built as a parade ground for Moorish troops) before free time to explore independently. Later they were taken to Binisues, a beautifully restored country house and farm where refreshments and tapas were served.

The third tour today was ‘Monte Toro and Binibeca’, a trip that revealed Minorca’s varied history. Highlights included a drive up to Minorca’s highest point, Monte Toro where the magnificent Augustinian Monastery is overlooked by a large statue of Jesus. Later there was a visit to sample local wine and cheese at Sant Patrici, an old Minorcan farm.

Once all back onboard, we set sail, again taking things very gingerly to clear the harbour safely. As we passed by the Hamilton Hotel, which is used by Saga for guests, we always salute by blowing the ships whistle.

Once clear of the harbour and after the pilot had disembarked, we turned north to head directly to Marseille, across the Gulf of Lyon, and the weather for the crossing was looking perfect.

Tonight it is true to say that many guests dined early for the sole purpose of getting a good seat in the show lounge. The reason behind this was Gary Williams, in his last show he really hit the mark for our guests. He has starred in the Rat Pack in the West End as Frank Sinatra and his music and presentation is second to none.

Tonight he sang to an audience that hung on every wonderful note. We hope to see this talented artist and absolute gentleman back again soon - sadly he leaves us tomorrow, but we have all bought a CD to bridge the gap until his return.

After a good comfortable run from the north, we approached the Cadiz Pilot station at 7am. The pilot was duly embarked and we started our way into the port. Cadiz is a very straightforward port and once inside the harbour, there is vast space to manoeuvre the ship. So I swung the ship 180 degrees and made our way to the berth. At 7.45am we were all fast alongside, what we call “4 and 2“. This means 4 headlines and sternlines, and 2 springs fore and aft.

We had heavy rain that morning and the forecast was for continued heavy rain. The Pilot also warned me to warn the passengers. So looking out the window and seeing great dark clouds, I knew they must be talking the truth. So I duly told passengers to wrap up and keep dry.

As usual I like to position myself at the bottom of the gangway to see the passengers ashore. For me it is a way of getting first-hand feedback on how the passengers are felling and I am available if they want to speak to me about anything. I have been doing this ever since I took command 10 years ago for Saga… how time flies. Horst the Hotel director is very good at keeping me company and we spend the time greeting passengers and indulging in a bit of banter.

Today’s tour excursions were once again varied. Cadiz is, of course, a famous sherry producing region and two of our tours reflected that – ‘Jerez, Sherry and Horses’ took guests to the Williams and Humberts Bodega. Founded in 1870, this wonderful bodega has its own horse exhibition ring and guests were treated to a performance, before touring the bodega, learning the processed and of course sampling the goods… thoroughly so I hear. and why not?

‘Bodegas Barbadillo and Cadiz Panoramic’ was the Wine Appreciation group tour, taking guests to Sanlucar, absorbing the scenery en-route, before another round of taste tests.

Other guests chose today’s final option, an afternoon tour, ‘Flamenco in Puerto De Santa Maria’ – this region is considered to be one of the original sources of Flamenco and guests enjoyed this most evocative dance in all its colour and glory.

Wesley Dunlop took the ship away today. I remember when I was Staff Captain always keen for an opportunity of driving the ship, and although I love ship handling, I am always reminded about when I was Staff Captain. So Wes is always very keen and very competent, and he took the ship away expertly today. It’s also good training for when he assumes command in the future.

We entered the Straits of Gibraltar at 2100 and sped through with a little tide up our stern, making 19 knots.

Tonight’s entertainment brought John Parton to the Discovery Lounge, in a different show called ‘All Our Yesterdays’. John took our guests on a trip down memory lane, visiting the heyday of the wireless, variety and television and there were more than a few laughs along the way.

Later, The Fenyo Duo (yes, still a duo - the ash cloud is still causing problems flying entertainers in and out, but we have a good band of entertainers on board to see us through) gave a marvellous recital of music that can only be described as captivating. Gustav Fenyo is the leader of the group and this very accomplished, talented and charming man has sailed with us many times. When we see his name as a forthcoming guest we know we are in for a treat.

We arrived in Lisbon, with grey skies and a very fresh breeze from the south. A strong ebb tide was running so we edged slowly towards the berth. Again, with this being new ship to us, I was keen to see if she would manoeuvre in the strong winds pushing us on to the berth. There was also a very strong tide of about three knots against us.

Anyway, we gingerly drifted in towards the pier in a controlled manner. Again I was really impressed by the ships handling which is really en joyable to work.

We were escorted into the harbour by tug boats dressed with flags as this was our inaugural visit to the port… a nice touch.

You may remember that this was due to be our first call on this cruise. However, it is now our last before Southampton because we swapped it with Oporto due to the weather. Lisbon is a favourite city of mine and is always popular with our guests. Many choose to explore it independently because it is so easy and accessible.

The ship’s complimentary shuttle bus takes guests on a short 10 minute trip into the main square – Black Horse Square – and from here the city is directly in front of you. You enter it through an arch, and it was designed on a grid pattern - there are wide promenades, an abundance of shops and cafes and it is very difficult to get lost. Lisbon has a great feeling about it and I like it very much.

Today’s tours included a Panoramic Excursion, the relaxing way to sample a flavour of Lisbon; this afternoon coach trip with commentary took guests to view the points of interest and included a refreshment stop where guests could enjoy a famous Belem Pastry in one of the city’s oldest and most characteristic cafes.

Meanwhile other guests chose to leave the city behind and took a trip to the Arrabida Mountains, via Sesimbra. The coach drove through the countryside, past the traditional whitewashed houses and firstly to the Sesimbra Moorish Castle. Once photographs had been taken our passengers were then taken to Azeitao, famous for its wine cellars. Needless to say, wines were sampled and by all accounts, thoroughly enjoyed. The return journey was through the Arrabida National Park.

On sailing, we were again treated to the harbour tugs escorting us out, and pirouetting around to show off their manoeuvrability. Again, a lovely touch to say farwell. We proceeded down the Rio Tejo, towards open sea and north to Southampton.

Tonight the Discovery Lounge was captivated by Bettine Clemen’s second show. It was a full house, and understandably so. Bettine is not only a terrific flautist, but she is one of life’s characters and a very special lady and all of this comes across in her show.

Where has the time gone again?

Here we are in Casablanca, made famous of course by the classic film of the same name.

Incidentally – anyone wanting to visit Rick’s Bar and re-create the movie would be better off heading for Hollywood. I was most disappointed to learn that not one scene was filmed in Casablanca itself. True I suppose of most films, after all, African Queen, also starring Mr Bogart, was made in Turkey.

Anyway, I digress.

On arrival, our allocated berth was a space between NATO warships visiting the port and a large container ship behind us. As we lined up with our space, Dion, my Safety officer on the bow told me when it was clear to bring the bow in to the quay. From where I was, it looked as though we were going to take out a Greek and Turkish patrol boat but trusting my Officers, I duly carried on. As we continued to close on the quay, and the Patrol boats remained where they were, and I knew Dion had been telling me the truth.

We were soon fast alongside, so I went to the quayside to marvel at the tight space we had got ourselves into. I can’t even park my Jeep in this tight a space so putting 19,000 tonnes of steel in her gave me a little kick.

Today’s tour offerings were as rich and as varied as the culture of this colourful city. The ‘Casablanca City Tour’ was the leisurely option; guests were taken to the Hassan II Mosque by coach, photographs were taken before a drive along the Corniche to the seaside. Here, cooling refreshments were served at one of the beachfront hotels before the coach took our passengers back into the city to see the Royal Palace and the French Cathedral. Some passengers returned on the coach to the ship whilst others stayed in the city independently for some shopping at one of the many fabulous stalls in and around the Souk.

Certainly, a very popular tour was the ‘Hassan II Mosque Tour’, and this took guests to view the Mosque in greater detail. This building is astounding - it stands on a promontory looking out at the Atlantic Ocean, which can be seen beneath you on a gigantic glass floor. The mosque holds a staggering 25,000 worshippers and at night the minaret emits a laser beam in the direction of Mecca.

Other guests chose to visit Rabat, home to the ruling monarch as well as the seat of local government in Morocco – this full day tour included a selection of sights, a visit to the Kasbah and a traditional lunch.

This afternoon also saw the return of our ‘overnighters’ – yesterday 13 passengers left us in Agadir to spend a night in Marrakech before returning to us this afternoon. According to all reports, the trip was a great success. Last night they had a traditional Moroccan evening and spent yesterday and today absorbing the sights, sounds and smells of this colourful city, including carriage rides, museum visits, garden tours and a belly dance show. John Parton took them and thank heaven he returned – because we needed him for tonight’s show. Passengers were once again treated to a reprisal of John and Rob Payne’s Call My Bluff. Joining them on the panel this week was one of our Cruise Staff, Charlotte Batson, who did a superb job trying to maintain some level of decorum. Well done, Charlotte!

After the show, guests made their way into our very popular late night ‘Shackleton’s Bar’ for a night cap, a snack and easy listening music from our cocktail pianist. Play it again, Dave… doesn’t sound quite right does it?

No trip to this part of the world would be complete without touching some part of North Africa and in this case we started our Moroccan visit with a half-day visit to the port of Agadir. 

We made a point of arriving early, as there was one of these large cruise ships with interesting paintwork on the side, due in to the port. So I sneaked in ahead of them, in order to get our tours off first.

We were squeezed into a corner berth today, but again the challenge was exciting for me, to yet again test the ship and once again she delivered. So we were all fast at 7am and ready for the tours to get away early.

Famed for is magnificent crescent shaped beach, it is also a wonderful place from which to explore the local area, cultures and traditions. Several excursions allowed access to this unusual land but the most popular by far was City Secrets and Fantasia tour.

This began with a drive through the port area itself, which incidentally is the largest sardine port in the world! Mosques, citadels and stunning views awaited our guests before they were able to enjoy the memorable fantasia performance by the Berber horsemen who provided a display atop galloping Arab stallions before releasing a simultaneous burst of gunfire into the air. Something our passengers will no doubt remember for a long time to come!

John Parton, our Assistant Cruise Director, escorted the tour to Marrakech and took photographs of when they went to the local markets, which I was envious of. I remember when I was in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City on the 2008 World Cruise and I went ashore to the local food market and bought some wonderful spices for cooking, and to this day, I still use them. I have included a photograph of the spices for sale in the markets – I wish I’d given John a shopping list!

We sailed at 1pm, when all passengers were onboard, into beautiful blue seas and clear skies, and hot temperatures… just what the doctor ordered. With some leisurely time at sea in the afternoon and the sun streaming onto the decks, it was a scene of peace and quiet for most as they took advantage of the break and caught up with friends, their current book or indeed the sun.

The evening saw a double bill of entertainment commencing at 9pm with another classical recital from the Pakkanen Duo and then a wonderful performance at 1pm from former West End ‘Rat Pack’ star, Gary Williams.

Another day, another country on the Canary Archipelago. This time it was Lanzarote, where we berthed the ship at 8am.

Our guests were eager to get off and explore having heard so much about the unusual landscape from our destinations lecturer Peter Hipkin. The island boasts a fascinating history with one of the most notable events being the volcanic eruptions during the 1730’s. The main volcano area of Timanfaya erupted for six years, covering nearly a third of the island with lava and it has now become the site of the Timanfaya National Park, also known as ‘Fire Mountain’.

A lunar-like terrain awaits and passengers were able to see various demonstrations of the latent power of the volcano including wood being burnt and steam created using the heat that lies just below the surface.

Once all were onboard, Wesley, the Staff Captain, took the ship away from the pier and we set a course North East towards our next port, Agadir.

On the way north, you have to be very vigilant and keep a good lookout, as many boat people try and sail across from Morrocco to Lanzarote, seeking a better life in less than seaworthy boats. It is so sad that people all over the world are displaced and feel the need to flee. It makes you realise how lucky we are. So we needed to be alert to this potential navigational danger.

We took a trip back in time during the All Our Yesterday’s quiz before being introduced to another act which was new for the second half of the cruise - Bettine Clemen, a flautist who has used her talent to perform in over 85 different countries with 85 different flutes!

We arrived at the pilot station at 7am, and as it was still dark. More vigilance is required when approaching a busy port. There were many vessels jockeying for position, wanting to get the pilot first, so like little schoolboys pushing through a crowd to get to the front, they crowded around the port entrance.

This has always amazed me why some do this. You have 1000s of tonnes of steel under your command, and to try and push for that 5 minutes early and getting in everyones way is crazy. So as we approached, the port has a VTS system, a marine traffic control system. We were informed to proceed, so we did, having to weave in and out of ships not taking heed of the instructions to wait!

Once inside the breakwaters, we approached our berth. Again the usual manoeuvre was carried out - we swung off the berth and moved astern, until in position then gently alongside to be made fast. In these sort of manoeuvres it is impressive how all the various bodies assist in this. Gemma, 3rd officer down aft, giving me distances and clearance aft of dangers; forward, Dion, the Safety Officer, was doing the same, letting me know when it was clear to bring the bow closer to the quayside; and finally, Rob Payne, Security Officer at the gangway, ensured that we didn’t ‘park’ the ship so that the gangway was fouled and that the garbage door was clear to discharge garbage.

So all this information is being passed to the Bridge and Staff Captain Wes, to relay to me, and like marine choreography we berth the ship in the right place… and we were all fast at 8am.

When on the quay this morning seeing the tours off, I met a passer-by walking his dog. So being a dog lover I asked to pat the dog, and this gentleman said “Good Morning, Captain Mclundie” - turns out he has sailed with me on the old Saga Pearl. What a small world.

There were three main tours to chose from today, all of them very different to each other.  A full day around the island was enjoyed by many, where they were able to sample the delights of some of the lowest and highest points geographically – the village of Tejeda, the highest point on Gran Canaria, and the Bandama Crater which is 3,000 feet in diameter and 650 feet deep, and then to the Artiles Caves, one of the lowest points to visit – underground!

Others elected to go camel riding on a Sand Dune Safari in the southern resort of Maspalomas where some of the dunes reach up to 50 feet in height and you can view the world from a different perspective – strapped to a basket seat on one of these unusual animals.

I was a bit worried this morning as the skies looked decidedly grey, but as the day wore on, the sun broke through and by the time we sailed, it was extremely hot and sunny.

After a lovely sunny sailaway, the evening took on a more formal atmosphere with our Britannia Club Party. It was a wonderful meal and a fantastic cabaret show by the onboard team, the Gail Davies Production Company who performed ‘Love, Sweet Love’ to much applause and acclaim from our passengers.

As we approached the pilot station to Tenerife, it took me back to my early days as a Cadet. My first trip to sea on these very large Bulkcarriers, took me here to Tenerife, port of Santa Cruz, to bunker fuel on our way to South Africa. It’s always nice to revisit your past.

As we approached the port, the Pilot arrived and boarded, and as he entered the bridge, “welcome back Captain Alistair to Tenerife” were his first words. It sounds silly, but you feel very special when someone has taken the time to know your name. I have been down to the islands for many years with Saga so have got to know the pilots here as well.

Here I am saying how nice it is when someone remembers your name and you feel special, when right under my nose, the Crew have that gift with all of our passengers - mental filing cabinets to remember your names and personnal things about you, such as your favourite drink at the bar.

Anyway, we sailed in to the port, and with the sun rising and a nice temperature, dressed in our tropical wear and driving our new ship (boys and their toys), life really doesn’t get any better. In fact, I was speaking to my wife Jenny the other day, and she was saying we had nice weather in Scotland and she has been able to get out into her beloved garden for the first time since being pregnant. She was saying that standing weeding, she looked around and saw the pram with Scott in it, our dog Hodge, and our hens scraping around on this beautiful day, and she felt the same way that I did! 

Well, we were soon all fast alongside the breakwater.

There were several tours to tantalise today but the most popular by far  had to be Mercedes and La Laguna. This saw our passengers taking a drive through stunning scenery to the charming fishing village of San Andres, one of the island’s oldest settlements dating from 1497 and boasting a beach which was partially man made using 216,000 tonnes of sand from the Sahara.

However, for some, no trip to Tenerife would be complete without a tour to Mount Teide, a volcano rising 12,000 feet, which is the highest peak in Spanish Territory. The Volcano has been dormant now for a hundred years and is quite unique, with a lunar-style landscape, made up of unusual rock formations, lava flows, vast flatlands and volcanic tunnels. Once back onboard and, taking advantage of the later than usual sailing time, we managed to get a local show to entertain us, with song, dance and music from this most well known Canary Island.

We slipped away at 11pm after being refuelled , heading to our next destination of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, 118 miles away.

We approached the pilot station at La Palma at 10.45am after a leisurely and comfortable run across the Atlantic Ocean from Funchal, Madeira.

The sea was like glass, and once the pilot boarded, I swung the ship around off the entrance and sailed, stern first into the harbour. Using the bow thrusters and engines, we were soon fast alongside the breakwater.

Passengers had the opportunity of selecting one of three excursions -  a visit to the Taburiente National Park, which features a famous volcano crater, unique to the island and enhanced by a museum which shows a film explaining how the area has been shaped over millions of years.

Or the Volcano and wine tour, again visiting the amazing vistas that this island is renowned for as well as experiencing local wines at the Bodegas Carballo and a visit to the famous ceramics workshop and museum ‘El Molino’.

For the slightly more adventurous there was the Forest Walk, nestled in the Los Tilos, which literally translated means ‘laurel forest’, where a guide explained all about the various species of plants and points of interest along the way.

19.00pm was our sailing time, so when Rob Payne, Security Officer, called to confirm all were onboard, we cast off and sailed straight out. Our course takes us south of the island of La Gomera and then North to Tenerife. That evening I was informed by the Bridge that a red flare had been seen in our vicinity, so we were asked by the Coast Guard to keep a sharp lookout which we did. Sadly nothing was found.

We were entertained once again by Eliza Emery, daughter of the late Dick Emery, with songs from the world of Jazz in the Discovery Lounge.

At 9.00am we arrived alongside in Funchal, Madeira. It was a beautiful morning, the skies were blue and the sun was warm.

I am truly surprised that the harbour and the island look so good. As you may or may not know, earlier this year there was serious flooding and landslides here, there were tragic deaths as a result and it is remarkable that there is little evidence of any damage. The locals have reacted swiftly and the island is as beautiful as I remember it.

The only difficulty was that all the mud had flooded down the mountain and deposited itself in the harbour, thus reducing the channel width. This being the case, ship movement was closely watched by the Harbour Master. We were one of many ships today, including the Marco Polo and the Oriana, to name just two.

We were all drifting off the harbour awaiting our turn, which came and we made our way into the harbour. Our berth was near to where the dredgers were desperately trying to clear the harbour, so I had to manoeuvre the ship into a tight space, but with the manoeuvrability of our newest ship, it was a piece of cake. Plain sailing you might say!

We were soon all fast.The local officials were extremely efficient and we were ‘cleared’ within minutes of our arrival. (This means that the local authorities were satisfied that we met all of the requirements for guests to proceed ashore). The efficiency of the whole port has been impressive, it makes it easier for us and it will continue to cement regular visits not only from us, but I am sure, from many shipping companies.

Funchal has always been an important harbour, ever since the 16th century when it was a stopping place between the Indies and the New World. It is famous of course for its sugar and wine, and now as a seriously popular port of call on cruise itineraries – it is easy to see why.

There were a selection of excursions available today for our passengers. The first was ‘Leisurely Madeira’ - a wonderful title for a morning out. This involved a gentle coach trip around the countryside surrounding Funchal, taking passengers to some superb vantage points. There was a refreshment stop before returning to the ship via the village of Monte, home to a handsome baroque church, tropical garden and the island’s famous toboggan run.

Other tours included the ‘Faial Circular Tour’; highlights of this full-day out included a visit to the trout hatchery, views from some of Madeira’s highest peaks and en-route back to the ship, a visit to one of the local wine lodges.

More adventurous guests chose one of the other two options; the ‘Levada Walk’ tour was a three-and-a-half mile walk through some of Madeira’s most inspiring countryside. The Levada trail is fascinating; the ‘levadas’ were built as irrigation channels by Portuguese settlers in the 19th century who painstakingly carved them out of the rock by hand. Designed to carry fresh water from the north to the drier regions of the south, they helped to create much of the lush landscape that is visible today.

The ‘Jeep Safari’ was the other option; in groups of six, guests set out in open top jeeps to explore Madeira both on and off road, affording them the opportunity to see some of the islands most inspiring sights.

During the day, I was called from the gangway to see two of my father's friends, who were passengers on Oriana across the dock. They had seen the ship, knew I may be onboard and called my father in Scotland to ask if I would mind if they came across. Which they did. Isn't modern technology amazing? Anyway it was nice to play host to my father's friends and show off my new ship.

On sailing, the wind had freshened and with all the larger ships having left, my temporary breakwaters had sailed, so the ship was exposed to a fresh breeze blowing us onto the berth. As we had to manoeuvre quite a distance away from the berth to clear the mud banks behind us, it took a bit of time to “wiggle” the ship against the wind but again we managed where we may have had to call for tugs on the other ships. So again, the ship impresses me.

Back onboard this evening, the entertainment was as varied as the day trips. At 9.00pm the Pakkanen Duo gave their third recital; Samantha and Irina captivated their audience with works from Beethoven and Sarasate, following the young ladies, magician Philip Hitchcock had our guests roaring with laughter, having chosen an audience member to assist him . Dear Philip did not know he had bitten off more than he could chew – they need to add something to the old show business saying, ‘Never work with children or animals – or Saga passengers!!’

Tomorrow we will dock in Santa Cruz, it is an afternoon port of call, so a morning at sea first. Until then, thanks for reading.

On Friday we docked a little later than anticipated in Southampton. However, our staff, as efficient as ever, largely caught up on lost time as we said farewell to our inaugural cruisers.

We call this day ‘turnaround day’, quite simply because we have a turnaround of guests. It never fails to amaze me that the Crew ‘click’ into action, particularly our cabin stewards and stewardesses, who, in just a few hours, have all of our cabins and public rooms not only ready, but immaculate, for embarking guests.

This was our first turnaround and no exception; guests boarded and were shown to their cabins between 2.00pm and 4.00pm, and once settled, enjoyed afternoon tea in the Discovery Lounge. Of course, this ship is still new to our crew and so I have been doubly impressed with their excellent endeavours.

We departed Southampton at 5.00pm on Good Friday, an important day for many and one which I felt could not be left unmarked. For the duration of Easter we have been very fortunate to have The Venerable Arch Deacon Arthur Hawes with us as our ship’s chaplain and he held a service shortly after we left our berth. This service was called the ‘Colours of the Cross’ and was both moving and thought provoking and a valuable reminder for us all about the precious nature of life, regeneration and moving forward.

The beginning of this cruise has been eventful. In complete contrast to our snowy adventures in Norway we have taken a course south as we begin this Canary Island cruise.

On leaving Southampton, looking at the weather forecast, we were going to have to endure a few “speed bumps” on our way south. Mother nature wasn’t going to allow us to go south without a fight! We battened down the hatches, and sailed . I was looking forward to testing out our new ship in a gale. Having worked in the North Sea for over 12 years, I have become experienced in heavy weather handling. So I try to zig zag through any adverse weather to make a scomfortable as possible.

I also like to try and reassure the passengers over the PA system. As I say to guests, one of the hardest things is to try and portray your confidence of the ship over the Public Address system. However, it seems to work. By the time we hit the Bay of Biscay, we were into the full force of the storm. Unfortunately the presence of our dear friend, the Arch Deacon, had little impact on Mother Nature’s mood for the first two days of our cruise.

On Saturday we soldiered on, many guests taking advantage of room service due to the movement.  We really gave the Saga Pearl II a thorough test and I was mightly impressed by her performance. We have been spoilt with Saga Rose and Ruby as they were built when they plied their trade across the North Atlantic. So Pearl II needed to make her mark in this respect. I am sure many thought it was rough, and it was, but as a Captain manoeuvring the ship, I was very impressed by her performance. So that is another box ticked on her abilities.

I should mention a word of praise to one young lady in particular – her name is Samantha Ward, she makes up one half of our Classical Duo, the Pakkanen Duo. Both young ladies suffered with sea sickness, Samantha’s colleague, Irina, much worse than her. We had every intention of cancelling their first show as they were suitably indisposed. However, at the 11th hour, Samantha called us to say, even if she is alone, some sort of show must go on. The young trooper did indeed play the piano alone to an unexpectedly high number of guests, and she did so beautifully – well done Samantha.

Anyway, there was a lovely bit of high pressure to the south, so there was light at the end of the tunnel and we soon found it. Spirits were lifted. By Sunday, having changed course significantly in order to maintain some levels of comfort for our passengers, I knew that our scheduled stop at Lisbon would at best be late (perhaps a half day) and at worst would not happen. In all honesty the second was increasingly more likely. I was also aware that guests did need a port of call, somewhere to put their feet on solid ground and so the decision was made to change the itinerary. We were due to visit Oporto at the tail end of our trip, and so that was brought forward and Lisbon will now feature at the end. A simple swap, and one that I am glad we could easily accommodate.

Easter Sunday (yesterday) saw a calming of the waters, certainly by the afternoon, when we held our Easter Sunday Service. Our Filipino choir emotionally opened the proceedings with excellence before a selection of hymns, prayer and readings by the Arch Deacon and myself. I hope I did the service justice. The Arch Deacon has a wonderful gift of portraying not only the words but of stirring both feeling and emotion.

I also had the privalage of administering Communion with the Arch Deacon, passing the goblet of wine to those who wished to take it. I had already done this during the last cruise, and heard the Arch Deacon say he would like me to do it again as he now felt I was an old hand at it! What praise, something to go in my CV... 

Last night guests enjoyed a West-End style production show from our cast before heading back to their cabins to enjoy a surprise from us; boxes of chocolates and Easter eggs for all.

Today we berthed in Leixoes at 8.00am, and our Shore Excursions team of Cassie and Grazia should be commended for switching and re-arranging the tours. A shuttle bus was available to take guests into Oporto, situated on the Douro River; it is a delightfully scenic destination. Guests could walk the narrow, cobbled streets of the old quarter, visit the Cathedral, National Museum and the Tower of the Clerics, to name but a few sights.

One of today’s highly praised excursions was the ‘Oporto Sights & Douro River Cruise’ and the weather was perfect for cruising the river.

I wish we could have spent more time here, however to maintain our schedule it was all aboard for 1.30pm.The mood as well as the weather is much brighter now. We are all the same - sunshine and warmth as well as the opportunity to step ashore has had a wonderful effect. The forecast is good, and as the saying goes, ‘sometimes in life we all have to experience the rain, in order to enjoy the rainbow’ – how true.

Tomorrow takes us to Madeira – until then ...