Saga Pearl II Captain's blog

The capital of Minorca since 1721, Mahon has an impressive natural deep water harbour, which is one of the largest in the world. This, coupled with a strategic location, has made it a stronghold for many nations throughout history. The island was actually occupied by the British during the 18th century and Lord Nelson is thought to have stayed on the island.

Mahon is one of my favourite ports as you sail right into the heart of the island, through a natural Harbour.

It was a beautiful morning this morning and we berthed shortly before 0800 on the best berth in the town, right in the centre...

There were two tour excursions today the first of which was ‘Scenic Northern Drive’. The passengers enjoyed a scenic journey along some of Minorca’s charming seaside resorts, and then the passengers took a trip onto Monte Toro, the highest point of the island, where they could savour the spectacular views from here, where, if the weather is clear, you can see the mountains of Majorca in the distance. Finally, enjoy a brief tour of the historic monastery nearby, which was founded by Augustinian monks at the end of the 17th century.

The second tour this morning was ‘Monte Toro and Binibeca’ this tour reveals varied history and rural traditions. The first stop was a picturesque Binibeca, a pedestrian village and coastal resort made-up of white painted fisherman’s houses built in Moorish style. After the photo stop the passengers travelled along the south coast to the Taula de Torralba, a megalithic ‘T’ shaped stone monument dating from 1000 BC, afterwards the passengers took a trip to an old Minorcan farm which has been modernised. It remains family owned and produces some fantastic wine and cheeses.

On leaving, it was a very tight manoeuvre, one which I have to say I relish. The officers fore and aft, Chief Officer Martin and Safety Officer Igor were giving me constant distances off the berths ahead and astern of us. It was a slow intricate manoeuvre but successful and we sailed out in bright sunshine down this idyllic and picturesque port. Once clear, we set course for the long run to Vigo.

The evening’s entertainment started with a team trivia quiz hosted by one of our cruise staff Rebecca. After dinner the passengers were invited into the show lounge for a night of laughter with Call my Bluff, with special guest panellists myself, Christopher Dorries and our very own cruise director John Parton. The evening did not stop there, we invited our passengers in to our shakletons bar to dance the night away in our Halloween Disco.

Malta’s capital city was built by the Knights of St John in 1565 and named after the French Grand Master of the Order, La Valletta. It is a great palace to explore on foot as it’s full of historical sites and many shops, cafés and restaurants. St John’s Co-Cathedral is certainly worth a visit, its resplendent interior making it one Malta’s most important treasures. The city itself is a masterpiece of baroque architecture with narrow streets leading to pretty courtyards, and with fountains and statues dotted throughout, including Republic Square’s Monument to Queen Victoria.

The first tour to leave this morning was ‘Medieval Mdina and Mosta’. The passengers enjoyed a scenic ride through the pretty towns and villages of Malta to Mdina. Known as the silent city, it is the former capital of Malta and one of the finest ancient walled cities in the world. The passengers enjoyed a walk through the narrow streets , palaces and museums and then continue on the coach for a panoramic view of the Island, before stopping for some refreshments and then some free time to do some shopping.

The second tour to leave this morning was ‘Scenic Malta’, this scenic tour reveals some of Malta’s finest attractions and was ideal for the passengers who prefer to see the sights with little walking. The passengers began the tour with a drive south east through the picturesque fishing village of Marsaxlokk, one of Malta’s largest natural harbours, where you will see many colourful fishing boats known locally as ‘Luzzu’. The passengers continued to Zurrieq where you can discover the blue grotto and the tiny rock island of Filfla, a haven for migrating birds. Continue travelling north past Mdina, Malta’s oldest capital, and along the coast to Selmun Castle. Here the passengers enjoyed some refreshments on a terrace while taking in the sweeping views of the bay and surrounding area.

As we sailed, I had invited some very loyal passengers to the bridge for our sail out of this beautiful harbour, also a passenger, Mr Lawerence, who served in the Royal navy, escorting the convoys to Malta. As we sailed out, we were given the 8 gun salute, and Mr Lawerence responded to the gun salute, with his own salute to his comrades.

The evening’s entertainment stared with a general knowledge quiz hosted by one of our cruise staff Rebecca. The passengers made their way through to the Show lounge for an evening of popular classics combining the musical talents of The Nero String Quartet and our cocktail Pianist Adam Reece.

Corfu is the most popular of the Ionian Islands. A verdant oasis, it has four million olive trees, orange and lemon groves, striking architecture, wonderful coastal scenery and secluded beaches. There are many sights of interest on the island, including the beautiful Achilleion Palace and the gardens that have an idyllic setting overlooking the sea, the 13th century Byzantine Monastery of Virgin Mary, picturesque villages and secluded coves and beautiful sandy beaches lapped by the Ionian Sea.

We arrived at the pilot station at 7am. We were here for a full day in Corfu, rather than the half day originally planned as we had to abort our call to Hvar, the previous day. As we sailed into Hvar, the wind was 30 knots and I tried for two hours to get a good anchorage. I tried to manoeuvre the ship into position but the wind, swell and current just howled through the anchorage. In the end it was the tenders inability to stay alongside that made me make the decision to abort, as it kept getting pushed off by the conditions and it was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain position for boarding passengers. We decided to head south and make a full day call in Corfu.

Thankfully that morning of arrival in Corfu the weather was superb and we were soon fast alongside.

The first tour to leave this morning was ‘Corfu Overview’. The tour began with a scenic drive through the countryside for a visit to the famous Monastery of the Virgin, which overlooks Paleokastritsa Bay, sometimes referred to as the ‘Capri of Greece’. The passengers then travelled uphill to the Golden Fox cafe where you can admire a spectacular panorama over the Bay of Paleokastritsa or also known as ‘Gods Balcony’. They could also enjoy refreshments whilst watching some local entertainment. Afterwards, the passengers took a scenic drive through Corfu Town, taking in some of the fantastic sites such as the ancient ruins of Palaiopolis, which was the summer palace of the old King of Greece

The second tour to go this morning was ‘Historic Corfu’. The excursion began with a scenic drive through lush countryside passing olives groves, vineyards and beautiful wild flowers before reaching the traditional village of Gastouri. Here the major attraction is Achillieon Palace. It was built in 1891 for Empress Elisabeth of Austria and later owned by Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. Afterwards the passengers began their walking tour outside the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the old Venetian Fortress. This fortress dates from the 14th century and passes the old British cricket grounds. The last visit was to the 300-year old church of the Patron Saint Spirdon.

On departure, the pilot had informed me that it would be better to leave just before because the overtime payments come into force of 35% for mooring men, pilots and tugs. Now the tug boats are compulsory even though we didn’t use them which always grates on me being a good Scotsman!!

So resigning myself to this, we made arrangements to sail just before 6pm. And just to rub salt in the wound, the pilot said he would conduct operations from the quayside and not come onboard.
So here I was paying for a tug I didn’t need and a pilot who wasn’t onboard (not that we needed him, I have to say).

As we manoeuvred off the berth, we passed our tug boat that was compulsory for us to take on departure, sitting tied up alongside, engines lying dormant and not a soul to be seen onboard. And we are paying for this service.
Ah well shouldn’t complain, that’s the love of cruising, you get to see all these idiosyncrasies as you go around the world.

The evening’s entertainment started with a team trivia quiz hosted by our assistant cruise director, Mike. Afterwards we invited our passengers through to the Discovery Lounge for a fantastic night of entertainment with West End vocalist and entertainer, Sally Jones. The evening did not end there as for those passengers who chose to stay up late enjoyed a late-night cabaret and cocktails with a selection of easy listening melodies from our very own cocktail pianist, Adam Reece.

Split is Croatia’s second largest city and Dalmatia’s regional capital is set between the Adriatic Sea and the rugged Dinaric Mountains. First put on the map by the Roman emperor Diocletian, who had a vast palace built here in AD305, Diocletian’s palace is the best preserved palace from the Roman world and was designed by a Scottish architect Robert Adam. Split was left unscathed by the 1991/1992 war; Split is a lively, welcoming city, with lots of seafront cafes and several museums and galleries.

We arrived at this beautiful port, with a splendid scenic background. The weather was calm, and the manoeuvre was a very quick, run through the break waters and a tight turn to starboard and place the ship right to the end of the quay as far as we could go. The Bulbous bow was so close to the end of the quay, you could have stepped off onto it!!

The first of the tours to leave this morning was “Medieval Trogir”. The passengers travelled a few miles down the coast to the medieval town of Trogir. First settled by the Greeks of Issa in 380BC, the island came under Roman rule in 78AD, when it was known as Tragurium. The end of the Roman Empire saw the decline of the settlement, but it came into its own again when refugees from nearby colony of Salona came to Split in the 7th century. One of the highlights of the tour was to visit the Cathedral of St Lawrence, which stands in the main square. Although construction began in 1193 on the site of an ancient church destroyed during the Saracen raid, it was not completed until the 15th century, considered to be one of Croatia’s finest pieces of architectural work. Afterwards the passengers could enjoy some free time to explore the town independently.

The second tour to leave was “Split sightseeing and Ancient Salona”. This was a fantastic walking tour which revealed highlights of the vast residence built for Emperor Diocletian over 1700 years ago. Classified by UNESCO as a world heritage site, it is the most famous and best preserved monument of antiquity in Croatia. The passengers got to take a glimpse of life in days gone by, taking in the cellars, corridors and halls beneath the southern section of the palace. Next, passengers enjoyed a stroll through the picturesque stone paved streets on the way to the Cathedral of St Dominus, which was constructed around Diocletian’s mausoleum and consecrated in the 7th century. The passengers continued by coach to Salona famed as the most important archaeological site in Croatia, were the passengers visited a Roman amphitheatre which is believed to have had a seating capacity of between 18,000 and 22,000, it is one of the most impressive sights. Afterwards passengers were given some free time to explore the city before being transferred back to the port.

On departure, Andy, the Staff Captain took the ship away again; it’s becoming a habit where I sit back and watch!!! He is an extremely good right hand man so it’s very pleasing to see him do well.

The evening’s entertainment started with a special drinks themed quiz hosted by one of our cruise staff Resty. We then invited our passengers into the discovery lounge for Showtime for a night with the international comedian Lee Wilson, for those who wanted to stay up late there was late night cabaret and cocktails featured our cocktail pianist Adam Reece.

Having enjoyed a nice relaxing day at sea yesterday, today we visited the beautiful port of Dubrovnik, Croatia. Dubrovnik is a historic and picturesque town on the Dalmatian coast and was a major tourist resort on the Adriatic Sea until much of the town was destroyed during the 1991 war. The town is now the focus of a major restoration program to help preserve and restore the old cities history and medieval character.

Three tours went ashore in Dubrovnik today. The first tour off was the ‘Sights of Ston’ tour. This tour actually took our passengers out of Dubrovnik itself for a chance to explore some of Croatia’s lesser-known attractions. The city of Ston itself is protected by three miles of stone walls, the longest in Europe. The city enjoys a relaxed and gentle pace of life and our passengers were lucky enough to be able to spend some time here to experience it for themselves. The tour finished with a visit to a Dalmatian cellar and the chance to taste fresh oysters before returning to the ship.
 
‘A Country Home in Konavle’ was the next tour to leave and this one allowed our passengers to visit what is Croatia’s southernmost region. Shaped by the hills bordering Bosnia and Herzegovina, it has a rural feel with miles of farmland and valleys clad with vines and olive groves. Enjoying the sights and atmosphere of a historic home in the country, while being treated to homemade cheese and wine, our guests had the chance to really relax and enjoy the local culture and hospitality.
 
Last to leave was ‘The Pearl of the Adriatic’ tour which allowed our passengers to explore the beautiful city that holds this title. Along with visiting a Franciscan monastery whose cloister is considered a masterpiece of architecture, they were also able to visit the old pharmacy located within the monastery itself which is the third oldest in Europe and the only one still in use. Following this they were able to enjoy some time to themselves to explore other parts of the city having had a chance to learn about the history of the area.
 
The evening’s entertainment started with a general knowledge quiz in Shackletons Bar hosted by one of our cruise staff James. We invited our passengers into the discovery lounge for Showtime with the international vocalist Robert Craig, for those passengers who wanted to stay up late we had late night Cabaret and cocktails with a selection of music presented by our cocktail pianist Adam Reece.

After leaving Salerno, we travelled south towards the Messina Straits. I took the ship to about 1 mile off the volcano Stromboli, but as it was 0100 in the morning, there were not too many sight passengers on deck.

We then arrived at the pilot station at 0300, and the pilot boarded at 15 knots!! Normally the boarding speed is 6 knots for pilots but the Messina Strait pilots are renowned for boarding at speed.

We lined up with the straits and there was not much traffic at night. During the daylight transits I have done over the years of this part of the world, the ferries running from the mainland to Sicily are in abundance and you have to thread your way through them. However this evening, it only took 40 minutes to get through without any traffic really. Then the pilot said his goodbyes and left at 16.5 knots, no lifejacket, with the boat bucking around in the swell. Gung-ho, brave or just confident one of the three. I’m sure UK health and safety would have a fit watching this, but they know what they are doing.

I grabbed another hours sleep and then woken again for the pilot for Catania. It was a fairly straight forward manoeuvre and the pilot just asked me to keep the control of the ship which I am always happy to do. So we swung off the berth, and backed into our position. The pilot asked us not to touch the fenders very hard as they may fall off so I made sure I just “kissed” them while docking the ship. A point of pride I have to say with Ship Handling. As we were all fast, Mount Etna was steaming away in the distance. It must be rather worrying for those living within reach of having this active volcano on their doorstep.

Sicily the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea has a long and turbulent history. The ruins of two Roman theatres and an amphitheatre, which once seated 14,000 spectators, can still be seen. By the middle ages, Catania was a major port, but the city was a victim of Etna’s fickle temperament it was seriously damaged by a volcanic eruption in 1669 and again by an earthquake in 1693. Its wide streets, Baroque churches and elegant mansions date mostly from the 18th century and are largely constructed of grey volcanic rock, giving the city a very distinctive appearance.

The first tour to leave was ‘A Trip to Taormina’ which occupies an idyllic situation, perched on a terrace overlooking the Ionian Sea and has a distinctly medieval character although it is of much more ancient origin. This walking tour gave our passengers an insight into this fantastic town, a popular 19th century haunt of English aristocracy and sometimes described as Sicily’s Monte Carlo. The main highlights of the tour include the 15th century Palazzo Corvaia and the Greek theatre, which dates from the third century BC, and it is one of the most celebrated ruins in Sicily. Renowned for its excellent acoustics, it is still used in summer for performances.

The second tour to leave was ‘Mighty Mount Etna’ on this tour our passengers could discover awe-inspiring Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano. Soaring to a height of nearly 11,000 feet, with a base circumference of over 125 miles the volcano is arguably the most spectacular in Europe. It has a beautiful natural setting, with the lower slopes cloaked in citrus, almonds, vines and olive groves, which give way o forests of oak, pine and eucalyptus higher up.

The last tour to leave was ‘Catania, Castle and Coast’ our passengers travelled by coach along the shores of the Ionian Sea, passing the Aci Castello with its Norman castle, constructed from black volcanic rock. The passengers could see the picturesque fishing village of Aci Trezza. The passengers looked out to the three offshore islands which according to local legend are the three stones that the Cyclops threw at Odysseus in Homer’s ‘Odyssey’. On returning to Catania the passengers stopped for refreshments in the seaside Ognina district.

The evening’s entertainment started with a special Trafalgar Day team trivia our Tall ships lecturer Amanda Butcher, which was followed by Showtime in the discovery lounge for the spectacular Gail Davies Production company presenting sailaway. The evening’s entertainment did not end there as we invited our passengers in to the Shackletons bar for late night cabaret with ‘The Rat Pack Re-visited presented by the international vocalist Robert Craig.

We arrived at our next port of Call, Salerno. Another beautiful morning greeted us as we sailed in to this very picturesque harbour. Despite the fact that it’s a commercial port with much going on with Container ships unloading cargo, Large Car carriers depositing numerous new cars on the dock side, the surrounding scenery made for a beautiful setting. The Italians know how to build houses into the rocks and the roadways running along the cliff face with the bridges were a remarkable fete of engineering. I find the pilots of the smaller less well known ports are very friendly and enthusiastic in trying to gain your future business, where by some of the bigger more commercial ports can get a little blasé towards the customer. However this morning, we had a cheery chap of a pilot and it’s amazing what connections you can have with people around the world. We were discussing previous Jobs and I was telling him I used to work on the high speed ferries in the UK, and he used to work for the ame company out of Newhaven, so we had a short time of reminiscing. It always makes you feel the world is a smaller place after all.

Salerno is home to the oldest university in Europe, the Schola Medica Salernitana, regarded as the most important source of medical knowledge in Europe in the early middle ages. A series of earthquakes and plagues damaged Salernos importance during the 17th century but the 1800s saw a revival in fortunes with a growth in trade and industry. Salerno also played a pivotal part in the Second World War, as King Victor Emmanuel III established a ‘Government of the South’ here after Italy had negotiated a peace with the Allies, who chose the city as the location for their invasion if Italy, Operation Avalanche.
 
Three tours were on offer today for our passengers to enjoy and the first to go ashore was ‘Pompeii: An Ancient Roman City’. Pompeii is largely regarded as the scene of one of the World’s best known natural disasters, when in the early hours of August 24th 79AD, Mount Vesuvius erupted and caused an avalanche of pumice and rock to fall onto Pompeii, burying the city under 64 feet of volcanic debris. This tour gave our passengers the chance to explore the ancient ruins of Pompeii, with its well preserved Roman houses, mosaics, furniture and personal possessions while learning more about the history of the disaster. There was also a chance to view the remains of Pompeii inhabitants, whose bodies were covered by volcanic ash and gradually decayed leaving an imprint in the ash. Scientists pour plaster into these hollows and are able to create casts of the bodies at the moment of death. Although perhaps slightly eerie it really gives an incredible sense of the force, magnitude and sheer destructive power of the eruption and the damage it caused that night.
 
The second tour off was ‘Herculaneum’s Buried Secrets’, a town which according to legend was founded by Hercules. Herculaneum is smaller than Pompeii and suffered the same fate as its neighbour on the other side of the volcano. In many ways Herculaneum is better preserved and has a very different feel from Pompeii as during the time of the eruption Pompeii was a busy commercial centre exporting wine and fish, while Herculaneum was purely residential. Much of the town is still underground with excavations ongoing and our passengers had the chance to discover more about the work in progress in this little town that may not be as well known as Pompeii, but certainly shares just as much history.

The final tour to go ashore in the morning was ‘Highlights of Salerno’. From the comfort of their coach our guests were able to explore this bustling modern seaside town while learning about its long and eventful history. There was also the chance to visit Salernos cathedral, which was consecrated in 1085 and contains the tomb of Saint Matthew the Evangelist. Before returning to the ship there was also a chance to explore the city centre and pick up a few souvenirs.

I asked Andy, the Staff Captain to take the ship out this evening. Sadly in contrast to the morning, we had quite pilot who didn’t really add anything to the conversation or ambience to the bridge, and was a little moody so little was said, and a sigh of relief when he left!!

This evening’s entertainment started with inviting our passengers into the shakletons bar for a team trivia quiz hosted by one of our cruise staff Resty, which was followed by Showtime were we invited our passengers in to the Discovery lounge for the warm voice & personality of international vocalist Robert Craig. The evening did not end there for those who wanted to stay up late we had Country and Western cocktails hosted by our cocktail pianist Adam Reece.

Civitavecchia is the port for Rome, central Italy and the main ferry link with the island of Sardinia. It was founded early in the 2nd century by the Emperor Trajan on a stretch of coast known as Centumcellae. Civitavecchia is the gateway to Rome and legend has it that Romulus founded Rome in 753BC after a battle to the death with his twin brother Remus over who should govern. From this legend an empire developed which eventually controlled almost the entire world known to Europeans at the time.

We arrived at the port at 0600 in the morning. There were 8 cruise ships waiting to enter this popular port, and all ships had a slot time to fulfil to get into the port safely. We were no.3 so I was holding the ship in position against a rather stiff breeze with these monstrous cruise ships all around. I mentally counted about 23000 passengers would be deposited into the port today!!!

Well sadly punctuality and foresight was not on the cards of the shore authorities today, and there was only a few pilots on duty to cope with all the ships, so after an hour long wait, we were told to proceed, and even as we entered the port, ships were turning around, berthing so everything had to be done safely and slowly. Anyway we were all berthed a little behind schedule but because Rome is a very important excursion, I informed our manager of excursions that we would sail 30 minutes later to ensure all got their full time ashore.

As I’m sure you can imagine, Civitavecchia and Rome is a stop that a lot of people had been looking forward to and the ships shore excursions were full of eager passengers looking forward to having a chance to explore some of the sights and learn about the history. The first tour to go ashore was the ‘Panoramic tour of Rome’. This coach trip encompassed some of the city’s most impressive sights including the Baths of Caracalla and the site of the Circus Maximus. Our passengers were also able to enjoy views from the Palatine Hill, where the Roman Emperors had their palaces, and the well preserved circular Temple of Hercules and nearby Temple of Portanus. Naturally no visit to Rome would be complete without a chance to see the Colosseum, the vast amphitheatre that is believed to have been built between 75 and 80AD and our passengers had the chance to marvel at this before finishing their tour with a visit to St Peters Basilica, the most important of all catholic churches.
 
The next tour to depart the ship was ‘Rome and the Vatican’. A full day tour to the ‘Eternal City’ where our passengers had the chance to appreciate its beautiful museums, historic buildings and amazing works of art, the tour included a visit to the awe inspiring Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo’s most famous work ‘Creation’, can be seen on the ceiling. The walls are adorned with incredible frescoes and paintings including works by Botticelli, Pinturicchio and Luca Signorelli. The tour also included a visit to the Colosseum as well as a guided tour of St Peters Basilica.

The final tour to leave was ‘Rome for the Free Spirited’. A tour for those passengers that wanted the chance to explore the city independently and visit the places that interested them the most. The nine hour tour dropped our passengers in the city centre where their guide pointed out some of the points of interest before sending them on their way to explore the city in their own time and at their own leisure giving them the chance to do exactly what they wanted on their own terms.

Again for sailing, we were slot no.1 and naively I thought we would be off soon. Sadly not, another hour of waiting and waiting as ferries berthed around us. It’s a very busy port so patience was required here as if you lose your cool, things can be made difficult and slow I am sure. Anyway it’s a straight forward run out as I had turned the ship in the morning so we were soon on our way and trying to catch up a little lost time as we sailed down the coats to Salerno.

Another night of great entertainment onboard and along with a classical concert from the Nero Quartet, our passengers also had the chance to test their general knowledge skills with the Saga Pearl II ‘Big Quiz’. Seven rounds of questions to test even the brainiest of brain boxes and with a first prize of a visit to the bridge to join us for our sail away. For those passengers who wanted to stay up late could go through to our Shakletons bar for Cabaret and Cocktails with our cocktail pianist Adam Reece.

This morning I took the Sunday Service with again another superb performance by our Pilipino Choir led by the Hotel Carpenter Ramon. Every week they get better and better and the passengers thoroughly enjoying this. Also one of our Passengers, Reverend press, read from the bible for me. I have known him and his wife from previous cruises and he was very gracious in reading, as he has just retired from the ministry and I didn’t want to spoil his holiday by making him work!!

We made our approach to Gibraltar pilot station at 1245 and I was pleased to hear my good friend Martin Breen calling us as the pilot. As all the readers know I am sure, Martin was a Captain with Saga and he and I started with Saga at the same time, so he has been a good friend to me. So it was good to catch up on old times.

Today’s port visit was the second for the cruise and we were in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. Located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula and Europe at the entrance of the Mediterranean, the territory covers 6.843 square kilometres and shares a land border with Spain to the north. Gibraltar is dominated by the stunning 1,400-foot-high limestone rock and has become popular with British holidaymakers as it is very much a home away from home, boasting excellent duty-free shopping in many familiar British high street shops.
 
Our second port of call had some splendid shore excursions on offer and the first one to leave the vessel was ‘The Rock’. This gave our passengers the chance to explore and learn about the iconic rock of Gibraltar as well as view many interesting and historical landmarks along the way. Having passed the frontier with Spain, our guests went on to see American War Memorial, British Naval Base and Trafalgar Cemetery before arriving at Europa Point and the only Trinity Lighthouse outside Great Britain. The stalagmites and stalactites of St Michael’s Cave on the upper Rock area made up the next part of the tour before the coach transported our passengers to the King Charles V wall where they had the chance to come face to face with the famous Barbary apes. Some time spent in the upper town to enjoy some duty free shopping rounded off this tour nicely and it proved a great way to learn more about Gibraltar, its rock and the history behind both.
 
The second tour to leave was ‘Fortress Gibraltar’. Gibraltar has a fascinating and unique wartime history and this tour let our passengers learn more about it. Following a stop at Europa Point to admire the stunning views, the tour took them to the Nature Reserve, home of the Northern Defences Sector and another place where there was the opportunity to meet the famous Barbary apes, who are undoubtedly Gibraltar’s most famous residents. Continuing on to the Hays Level, there was a guided tour and a visit to an exhibition of photographs that illustrated the history of the World War II tunnels that our passengers later had the chance to explore for themselves. With a chance to learn more about the soldiers that were stationed within the tunnels during a visit to the east side of the rock the tour was full of information and fascinating facts for our passengers that really gave them a chance to immerse themselves in the history of the port.

The final tour to leave the Saga Pearl II was only a short tour but proved to be a very popular one as it gave our passengers the chance to go in search of dolphins and other fascinating marine life. There are three different species of dolphins in Gibraltar’s bay and seven species of whale, as well as sunfish, flying fish and turtles. A local guide was able to provide our guests with detailed facts and background about the bay and its marine life while our passengers kept their eyes peeled for a look at some of the unbelievable creatures that were on show.

On sailing, Andy, Staff Captain took the ship away as we sailed east, further into the Mediterranean, to our next call Civitavecchia.

The evening’s entertainment started with a pre-dinner delight courtesy of Steve Galler with ‘Down at the Old Bull & bush. The passengers had a choice of entertainment at show time to join The Nero String Quartet for a classical recital or to join our cruise director John Parton and cocktail pianist Adam Recce in shackletons bar for a fun music quiz “All Our Yesterdays” remembering the great days of variety, radio and television.

Once again someone must have been smiling down on me as we had another good crossing of the Bay. On approach to the entrance to the River Tegus, thick fog prevailed and I had been on the bridge since 03:00 that morning.

At 06:00 we started our Blind approach to the river. There were many ships around us all going for the same spot in the river.  With our modern technology, radar, electronic charts and automatic identification system, I was able to have a clear picture of where we were, who was around us and what they were doing. We also still employ the basics, so we had the foghorn going and in the distance through the night in the fog we could hear the others ships horns. It always strikes me as haunting. The fog persisted all the way up the river so we had to have our wits about us. Then suddenly lights and the land became apparent as the fog bank clears. It is a very welcoming feeling suddenly being able to see again. We had to dock just ahead of another cruise ship. With three knots of current running against us, I just paralleled the other ship. Once the officer told me we were clear of his bow, I applied just enough power to make three knots so we were stationary, stemming the current and using the rudder and bow thrusters wiggled the ship alongside still maintain an accurate distance of the ship astern of us.

Lisbon , Portugal, is the first  call on our ‘Mediterranean Odyssey’. Famous for its majestic architecture, old wooden trams and Moorish features, Lisbon has been the capital of Portugal since the 13th century and is a picturesque and popular port with which to begin. Situated on the banks of the River Tegus, the city is surrounded by nearly two dozen hills and the waterfront stretches for almost 20 miles.

Two tours went off this morning. The first was the ‘Lisbon Panoramic’ were our passengers visit some of the most famous landmarks and places of interest that the area has to offer. These included the Monument to the Discoveries and Belem Tower. Our passengers were also able to enjoy refreshments at Pasties de Belem, one of the oldest and most characteristic cafes in Lisbon. Famous for its traditional and local cakes, many of our passengers took the opportunity to enjoy a taste of the local flavours. On their return to the ship they were lucky enough to be able to stop at the top of Eduardo VII Park where they were able to enjoy a panorama of the whole city. They then crossed the suspension bridge to view the statue of Christ the Redeemer.
 
The second tour was  ‘Panoramic Coast and Wine tour’. This included visits to the popular coastal resorts of Cascais and Estoril and a trip to a local winery. Our passengers also enjoyed a stop at Cabo da Roca - the most western part of Europe. Along with the chance to take photographs of the beautiful landscapes, the tour also included stunning scenic drives showing our passengers some of the countries incredible scenery.

Those passengers who chose not to go ashore, or had been and returned, were able to enjoy a full day of activities with the cruise staff. The evening’s entertainment started with some pre-dinner drinks in our Sundowner Bar, with musical accompaniment from our cocktail pianist, Adam Reece. This was followed by a team trivia quiz from our cruise director, John Parton. We invited our passengers in to the show lounge for the enchanting voice of Justine Balmer for tonight’s main show. For those passengers who wanted to stay up late, they could join the cruise staff out on open deck for a night of dancing under the stars.

We had opted to arrive at Southampton via the Needles Channel. At 05:00 this morning, after a very good crossing of the Bay of Biscay, we slipped through the narrow entrance to the channel. The conditions have to be right to do this. We had good visibility and about three knots of tide running across the face of the entrance, but there are very good leading lights on the shore to let me know if I am to port or starboard of track and keep in safe water.

We picked our pilot up off Cowes on the Isle of Wight and were soon fast alongside at 07:30 at the 101 berth in Southampton.

We said farewell to our passengers and reminded ourselves how lucky we have been with the weather throughout the whole cruise.

Southampton was a busy day for all of us as we prepared to start our ‘Mediterranean Odyssey cruise. We welcomed onboard a new group of passengers, and it was a delight to see so many familiar faces making their way up the gangway for another Saga voyage.

Just as our passengers remember the faces of the crew who they have sailed with before, our crew members, who pride themselves in providing an exceptional level of customer service, welcome passengers they recognise as they walk onboard. In fact, walking around the ship on the first day is a little bit like attending a big reunion. Passengers and crew bump into familiar faces and rekindle friendships.

With new passengers and new crew onboard, we carried out our obligatory Lifeboat drill then set off on our new cruise. We sailed out of Southampton with a sense of excitement as we set off on another cruise ready for more great ports. The night’s entertainment started with some easy listening musical melodies from our cocktail pianist, Adam Reece. Later in the show lounge we invited our passengers for a classical experience presented by The Nero String Quartet.

We arrived in Lisbon at 1pm, so we spent the morning at sea enjoying the fun activities being hosted by the cruise staff such as shuffleboard and short tennis. With it being Sunday I led the morning church service, passengers and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the Filipino choir.

The first tour departed as soon as we arrived alongside in Lisbon this was the Lisbon Panoramic tour. Passengers enjoyed an informative commentary during a relaxing drive through Lisbon and its environs, stopping to take photographs at famous landmarks. They stopped at Pasteis de Balem to enjoy refreshments. On their return to the ship they stopped at the top of Eduardo VII Park to take in a panorama of the whole city.

The second tour Panoramic Coast and Wine this departed at 1:15pm. They travelled to Colares to sample three types of wine, continued to Cabo da Roca. Next they stopped at Cascais where they spent half an hour here to wonder round at their own leisure before visiting cosmopolitan Estoril, then a final scenic drive along Estoril’s promenade.

Mike was the one to host this evenings team trivia 9pm in our Shackletons bar. Cruise Director John hosted the passenger fashion show! This led straight into tonight’s main show which was Sarah Jessica and Jean Philippe in a variety of music including classical rock and Jazz to Broadway.

At 10:30pm in the shackletons Steve Galler was playing on his banjo.

We arrived alongside in Castellon de la Plana just after 8am. This was a brand new port for us and we were made to feel very welcome by the authorities. A marquee was set up on the quayside with fresh orange juice served to our passengers as they walked to their buses, also free gifts for our passengers. There were also glamorous assistants on the pier to welcome our passengers and they all asked if they could have their photograph taken with me. I have to say, wishing to keep up Anglo Spanish relations, I agreed, having to have my photograph taken with all these attractive women, it’s a chore but someone’s got to do it!!

The first tour, Peniscola, departed as soon as we docked. This was a coach to Peniscola, this is a popular tourist destination on the Costa del Azahar in the province of Valencia. It came to worldwide attention when its well-preserved castle and medieval houses were used to portray the medieval city of Valencia in the 1961 film ‘El Cid’. The fortress of Peniscola was built between 1294 and 1307 by the knights Templar, but became the property of the Spanish crown in the 15th century.

The second tour Valencia Panoramic departed at 8:45am, they travelled to Valencia by coach. On arriving in Valencia they stopped at the impressive City of Arts and Sciences. This modern leisure complex was built in 1998 on the former bed of the River Turia, which was diverted after a flood in1957. The complex includes an aquarium, planetarium, opera house, museums, concert halls, an IMAX cinema and gardens. They continued to the heart of the city to see the Plaza de la Reina, the Gothic Cathedral and the Miguelete Tower after the panoramic tour of the city centre they enjoyed a ride along the promenade before heading back to Castellon.

The final tour departed at 9:45am this was the Sagunto and the Vall d’Uixo. The trip started with a visit to Sagunto which was at one time the most courageous town in Spain. After exploring the historic heart of Sagunto, they travelled by coach to the Vall D’Uixo where they boarded a small open boat to visit the magnificent St Joseph’s Cave. A navigable subterranean river runs through the cave, the journey took them past a serious of underground gorges and lakes, adorned with stalactites and stalagmites. After the mini-cruise through the caverns, they then re-joined the coach for the ride back to Castellon.

On sailing, our Shore excursion Manager informed me that the tours had gone really well and that many passengers actually felt this was one of the best ports. This was great to hear, as it rewarded all the hard work the locals had put in to welcome us.

At 6pm, before dinner, the Rivoli String Quartet performed a classical concert, presenting captivating classics. After dinner Resty hosted the team trivia followed by a special opener which was the credit crunch pantomime. Then the fantastically talented international variety Cellist Sarah Jessica Maer took to the stage.

We started the day with a morning at sea. Mike, the Assistant Cruise Director started of mornings activities with his fitness club. The Cruise Staff were out on decks in the sunshine hosting an abundance of activities. For those passengers who just wanted to relax they could join Bob Snelling with his presentation on our forth coming visit to Lisbon.

We approached the pilot station at midday, with calm conditions and glass like seas and soaring temperatures.

Our berth was the best in the house, the World Trade Centre, just under the cable car. As we sailed in, we passed the opulence of the wealthy, with the largest Super yacht, the Eclipse, built for the Chelsea Owner, Roman Abramovich. A nice shiny ship!! We were all fast at 1230.  We had two excursions planned for today, the first one being, Montserrat with Rack Train. This excursion departed at 1:15pm. In this tour passengers got to visit the sacred mountain of Montserrat where they could admire the spectacular views over the mountain ridge. After the 15-minute ascent by rack train, they visited the 16th-century basilica. Once at the top of the mountain they visited the Montserrat Audio-Visual Exhibition, also having the chance to taste the local Aromas de Montserrat liquor.

The second tour departed at 1:30pm, which was the Barcelona Panoramic. Passengers were able to relax on the coach while the guide showed them the city’s highlights. Stopping at a few major sites of interest to take photos these included the Gothic Quarter, the Sagrada Familia and Montjuic Mountain.

I did my usual task, and went to see the passengers away on the buses, then ended up talking to one of the traffic cops about his motorbike. How I would have loved to have my bike on-board the ship so I could just lift off and ride out in this beautiful weather.

We slipped away just after 2100. John Parton the Cruise Director had given me strict instructions to have the ship sailed and quiet by 2130 so we didn’t interrupt the show!!!

This I duly complied with, Well passengers do come first!!

The evening’s entertainment started with a fun team trivia hosted by Rebecca. This was followed by the spectacular ‘Gail Davies Production Company’ in Love Sweet Love. The night didn’t stop there, passengers could decide if they wanted a late night snack or they could join Adam Reece in the Shakletons Bar for late night cabaret and cocktails.

We had a pleasant run across to Corsica last night, transiting the Bonafacio Straits at 0330 this morning, the stretch of water between Corsica to the North and Sardinia to the south. As we approached the pilot station, it was a warm calm morning. Once the pilot had duly boarded and the formalities were over, I decided to practise my French so offered the pilot a cup o coffee with milk and sugar. He replied with a deluge of French, which sadly my School French could not cope with so had to resort back to English!!

On approach, we slotted in between the ferries running to Marseille. So we berthed bow in to the quayside, and as the pier is quite short, we had to get as close to the end of the quay as possible, so we ended up about 8 metres from the Concrete to the Bulbous bow.

The first tour departed this morning shortly after we docked, this was the Vizzavona and Spuntina. This tour was also available in the afternoon. After a short drive from the ship the excursion headed into a forest abloom with fragrant maquis and beautiful Mediterranean shrub in hues of green and brown. Passing the village of Bacognano, situated in the middle of the mountain where granite houses nestle amid chestnut tree and wild scenery, before continuing up the mountain. There they stopped to enjoy a snack or ‘spuntinu’. This Corsican word was traditionally used by labourers who, after a long morning’s work in the mountains, would rest for a small bite to eat before resuming their duties. Following that the passengers enjoyed a short walk to admire the spectacular scenery.

The second tour, Prunelli Gorges departed in the afternoon at 12:40pm. The excursion followed Corsica’s beautiful coastal roads, crossing the Prunelli River before heading deep into the countryside. The tour later passed the village of Cauro and then through the beautiful Pineta Forest, before winging their way along the Prunelli Gorge. There was then a stop for a short walk, past the pink granite cliffs. At the end of the gorge, they could see the dam of Tolla with its large reservoir. On the return journey they passed through a series of pretty hill villages with their tall granite houses, slate roofs and narrow windows.

The final tour was the same as the first tour but at a later departure time which was 12:45.
On departure this afternoon, Andy, the Staff Captain took the ship away, and I did his job basically. It’s very encouraging to see the Staff Captain so proficient, in this and having a right hand man of such professionalism helps me greatly.
We disembarked the pilot and set course for Barcelona.

We started the evening by welcoming all the newcomers to Saga Cruising, with a special private cocktail party. After dinner it was time for team trivia with Resty in our Shackletons Bar. The evening continued with another spectacular opener from our Gail Davis Production Company before the sensational ‘Man with the Golden Banjo’ Steve Galler took to the stage.

We approached the pilot station at 06.00. Five other cruise ships were also arriving. This is a very popular port and we were second for the pilot. We edged in slowly waiting for the ship ahead of us to turn and get to her berth. We did the same - swung around and backed into our berth. The other ships followed suit as if it were a well choreographed routine. We were all fast by 07.00 on another beautiful day.

It was an early start for the tours this morning. The first one leaving at 7:45am was the ‘Rome and the Vatican’ tour. On the arrival in the Vtican City, passengers first walked to the fascinating museum which is home to ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian relics. They then visited Sistine Chapel. Next they had a drive along the Via Veneto and stopped for a traditional Italian lunch in a local restaurant. The excursion finished with a guided tour of St Peter’s Basilica.

The second tour departed at 7:45am. It was the panoramic tour of Rome. The drive took them passed the Baths of Caracalla and the site of the Circus Maximus, then on to the Palatine Hill, Temple of Hercules and the spectacular colosseum. There was a stop at a local cafe for refreshments just before heading back to the ship. Passengers got to see the Castel Sant’Angelo and St Peter’s Basilica.

The third tour was 'Rome for the free spirited' and started at 08.15.

Rome is packed with monuments, plazas, churches and artistic wonders. On this tour passengers were able to explore everything they wanted to independently. On the drive to Rome, a guide provided everyone with general information about the remarkable city and directed them to the main attractions.

The final tour departed at 12:45pm. This tour was ‘Ostia Antica’. It is reminiscent of Pomeii, but on a smaller scale and in a prettier park-like setting. On arrival at the site a guide joined them to give a guided walking tour through the ruins. We saw the Baths of Neptune and the well-preserved House of Diana. Afterwards, they spent some time looking at artefacts in the onsite museum before returning back to the ship.

We sailed out at 19.30. As the blood-red sunset filled the horizon, we set course for Corsica and Adjaccio.

Before dinner, Resty, one of our cruise staff members, hosted the team trivia quiz. After dinner it was time for a very special show time. John Parton, our cruise director, presented his show ‘George Gershwin - The Man and His Music’. This was followed with late night cabaret with our resident cocktail pianist, Adam Reece.

Once again we started the morning started off at sea. Bob Snelling, our guest speaker, held a destinations presentation on our forth-coming visit to Barcelona.

For passengers who wanted to enjoy activities outside in the glorious sunshine, they could join Mike, our assistant cruise director, out on the open decks for a stretch and relaxation class. Alternatively passengers could join the cruise staff for a game or two of shuffleboard or tennis.

We arrived into Sorrento anchorage at 11.00. It was a busy day with three ships at anchor. As we would have been anchored quite a distance from the Pier, I decided to hold the ship in position off the breakwater to minimise the tender ride ashore. Using the engines and bowthruster this was done. It was a good opportunity to give third officer, George Fullick, and second officer, Martin Gowlett, a chance to manoeuvre the ship while I supervised - taking in the sun of course! Adam Reece, our resident pianist, was playing out on the open deck as the ship sailed in.

The tours departed shortly after we arrived at 12.15pm.

The first tour was ‘Italy’s beautiful Amalfi Coast’. Italy’s scenic Amalfi Coast is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. For over 30 miles the coast road winds along the cliff tops, where villages perch on rocky crags and citrus fruits grow in terraced orchards. Amalfi itself was a major seaport in medieval times, but now just a small resort, although its impressive cathedral is a testament to its past glories.

‘Ancient Herculaneum’ was the second tour to depart at 12:45pm. Smaller than Pampeii but in many ways better preserved, the Roman town of Herculaneum befell the same fate as its neighbour on the other side of the volcano. Although many of the marble and bronze statues and some of the finest frescoes were looted from the site during initial excavations in the 18th century, what remains still holds much fascination. Unlike Pomeii, which was a busy commercial centre exporting wine and fish, Herculaneum was a residential town, so you will be able to see noble mansions and more modest town houses, together with the public baths and their frescoes. A devastating torrent of hot mud buried the town and encased it in tufa-type rock. This meant that wooden structures and many everyday household objects and tradesman’s tools were preserved, including a weavers loom, paintings and a bed. A large portion of ancient Herculaneum remains under the modern town and excavations.

The final tour ‘buried treasures of Pompeii’ departed at 1.00. This excursion allowed passengers to explore the excavations, which have revealed well-preserved buildings, mosaics, furniture and personal possessions. They could see the city’s public buildings, including temples, the law courts and the marketplace. The guide provided informative commentary as they walked through the ancient streets. Afterwards they enjoyed some free time for shopping before returning to the ship.

Throughout the day we had to contend with what I can only consider to be poor seamanship by the local ferries speeding past us causing wash at the gangway. Every time a ferry arrived and departed, we had to stop operation and stand the tenders off until the ferry wash had passed.

Ashore, our shore excursion manager, Jaquie Forbes Watson, and her assistant Julie, were leading from the front getting all the tours away amongst the mayhem on the quay. With three cruise ships already tendering their passengers, ferries depositing hundred of locals, cars and lorries, the quayside was rather crowded.
However, Andy boyd, the staff Captain, also remained firm ashore taking charge and directing traffic and keeping our passengers safe and in the right direction. They did a sterling job keeping the operation running efficiently even with the sun beating down on them. They were sent emergency rations mid-afternoon. These included sandwiches and cigarettes!

Anyway as the sunset, and all the cruise ships were gone, we had the last few hours in a tranquil setting. All our passengers were brought back home safely and we set sail for Civittavechia.

The evening’s entertainment started straight after dinner with the team trivia. James, one of the cruise staff on board, hosted this evening’s fun general knowledge quiz. The evening then continued on in the discovery lounge with the Gail Davies singers and dancers opening the show for comedian, Gerry Graham. After the show, passengers joined Adam Reece in the Shakleton’s for late-night cabaret and cocktails before retiring to bed.

As it was a Sunday we started off the day with a church service. It was a beautiful morning and I thought I would be fighting with the sunshine for audience. However, I was shocked at a packed room. So much so, we ran out of Hymn books. It’s always pleasing to see this as the choir are so good in their song, that it makes them happy playing for a big audience.  They get better every week. Ramon, our hotel carpenter, leads them so well.

We arrived at the pilot station at 11.00 and made our way into the port. The pilot left me conning the ship, so we proceeded into the berth. On approach, our bow thruster malfunctioned right at the most inopportune moment. However, like airline pilots, us Captains earn our money when tasks are made more difficult. This was one of those time when our training kicks in.
I reconfigured our approach, and using old-fashioned seamanship brought the ship alongside using engines and ropes. We were soon all fast at 12.00 without incident. The day then continued into the afternoon with many fun activities such as shuffleboard, pilates and virtual golf.

 The first tour departed at 12:45pm. It was the ‘Nora and its Excavations’. The tour started with a drive along the southwest coast of Sardinia to Nora.  Along the way the passengers passed St Gilla’s Lagoon and the Sarroch oil refinery. After a walking tour of the excavations, the tour stopped to view the small church that traditionally stands on the site of St Efisio’s martyrdom. The excursion then returned to Cagliari to enjoy a panoramic drive through the Sardinian capital.

‘Historic Cagliari City Tour’ was the second tour to depart today. This tour started with a panoramic drive around Cagliari. This took the guests to the top of Monte Urpinu, from where they could enjoy the beautiful view over the city and the Golfo degli Angeli. This was then followed by a walking tour of the old town, followed by a visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria. The tour then continued to the Bation of St Remy for splendid views over the city and its harbour. Finally they all enjoyed some free time before returning to the ship.

The final tour ‘Maracalagonis Folklore’ departed at 1:15pm. The excursion set off towards Maracalagonis, passed the beautiful Poetto beach and finally reached their destination - the agricultural and wine-producing community of Maracalagonis. The passengers then visited a typical country house, built in the Roman ‘domus’ style. Passengers were then entertained by the folk dancers while sampling local wine and biscuits.

On departure, Bob Kelso, our chief engineer, rectified the bow thruster.  It turned out to be a simple switch malfunction I let my staff Captain, Andy, take the ship away. We sailed out into a beautiful evening towards Sorrento.

This evening’s entertainment, before dinner at 6pm, started with a sail away serenade out on the open decks with the Rivoli String Quartet. After dinner, the fantastic talent of comedian Gerry Graham took to the stage to deliver yet another night of laughs onboard. This time he combined it with his special ‘Diabolical Children’s Favourites Quiz’ in the discovery lounge. The evening’s entertainment then continued with international operatic sensation, Rachael Russell.

For those who were not ready to retire to bed, they could join the cruise staff out on the open decks for another evening of dancing under the stars.