Saga Pearl II Captain's blog

We set sail from Dover ready to embark on what was to be one of our more unique cruises, a non-stop circumnavigation of the British Isles and Ireland. This is now the third year we have operated a cruise like this, I had the pleasure of being onboard the Saga Ruby the first time and knowing what was in store, could not wait to cast off the ropes to take our Passengers around this fascinating coastline of ours.

The plan was to sail anti-clockwise around the UK, heading east from Dover and as I met many of our Guests coming onboard most had great delight in informing me they had booked a port side cabin, obvious forward thinking on their part!

Our first day of scenic cruising took us past the charming seaside town of Cromer in East Anglia, a town I hold dear to me now that I call that beautiful county my home. We then continued North throughout the day towards Flamborough Head, the Yorkshire seaside town of Whitby and finally the Farne Islands off Northumberland. The weather remained on our side and some truly wonderful views were enjoyed by all. The day did not pass without incident; we received a visit from the local coastguard rescue helicopter off Flamborough Head. The pilot came onto the VHF radio saying ‘Good Afternoon Captain, that’s a mighty fine looking vessel you have, mind if I winch a chap onto your deck?’ After such a compliment how could I refuse?

The exercise was completed successfully and gave our Passengers the chance to view the skill, professionalism and indeed bravery of this branch of the emergency services at work. I was also mindful of the fact that the pilot would be contacting his friends at the other stations around the UK knowing now our route and it wouldn’t surprise me if we see at least one more helicopter over these next few days.

On the second morning we passed the north eastern most tip of the British mainland Duncansby Head a full 1.5 miles further east than its famous neighbour John-O-Groats. From Cape Wrath we headed out towards the Butt of Lewis and the weather, although cool, remained clear for our journey.

As the evening approached the weather changed brining some fresh winds and swell. I chose to pass between the high cliffs of Boreray and Stac Lee prior to our sail past of St. Kilda. As a Passenger commented to me the fresh wind and increased swell added to the setting of the harsh terrain we were passing, making it just that bit more dramatic.
The third morning brought us to the Island of Staffa and Fingals Cave. It is believed that this very site inspired Mendelson to write his ‘Hebridian Overture’ we then continued on through the Western Isles cruising the Sounds of Mull and Islay, following a stop off in the scenic harbour of Tobermory. The multi-coloured houses that run along the small harbour now made famous from the children’s programme ‘Balamory’ (it’s my young son that watches it.........honestly!)

The evening brought with it the famous Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. As Murphy’s Law would dictate a fog bank was sitting between us and the Causeway however as I inched the Saga Pearl II closer to the land the fog cleared sufficiently for the Passengers out on deck to enjoy the fabulous views together with an aperitif and my dulcet tones telling the story of the ‘Giant’ from the causeway, the Irish warrior Finn McCool.

The next day started with a sail past of the Calf of Man, located on the Southern side of the Isle of Man before we headed off towards the South Stack close by the port of Holyhead. Knowing the area well, having sailed as Trainee Master on a ferry conducting the Dublin to Holyhead route, I almost second guessed the fact that we would be visited by an RAF search and rescue helicopter being that RAF Valley was in close proximity. Right on queue I heard the rotor blades buzzing overhead and is was not long before the pilot was calling on the VHF requesting to winch one of his chaps on deck. Knowing that HRH Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge is stationed at RAF Valley I asked my Staff Captain Kris to check with the winchman if His Royal Highness was onboard the helicopter. We were told that he’d been out on exercises earlier in the morning and he’d just finished his shift and was heading home; I must remember this for next year and try to get there earlier!

The afternoon continued with a trip along the stunning Lleyn Peninsula, showing off the Welsh coast at its most beautiful before a trip over to the anchorage at Dublin Bay so that our Passengers postcards can be landed ashore and also the chance to pick up a bottle of fine Irish whiskey to be raffled off for charity among our Guests.

Our final day was truly something special. I’d amended the itinerary slightly in order to ensure we were following the best of the weather and also to give our Guests a visual feast on their last day, they were not disappointed. The morning started with a trip past Land’s End, then onto the picturesque Penzance Bay and St. Michaels Mount. By lunchtime we were cruising into Falmouth Bay and our West End Opera Star, Anthony Stuart Lloyd conducted an open air concert on our back deck as all who viewed it were bathed in glorious sunshine. We continued east to St. Austell Bay before a trip out to the Eddystone Lighthouse and finally the Start Point.

A spectacular finale to what has been a wonderful cruise. I believe we all know deep down what a truly beautiful and diverse country it is that we call home, we just need to be reminded of it from time to time, and by viewing its stunning coastline from the comfort of the Saga Pearl II, there is no better way to do so!

St Peter Port, the chief town and capital of Guernsey is located on the east coast of the island where a narrow valley reaches the sea between impressive high cliffs. Early in the 13th century, Castle Cornet was built on an offshore tidal islet, reinforced later with La Tour Beauregard on the main shore to protect the roadstead. The Anglo-Gascon wine trade was then developing, and the existence of well-protected anchorage, together with Guernsey’s position on the English Channel near the route of medieval shipping, meant that St. Peter Port was used increasingly as a refuge and port of call.

The first tour to depart this morning by ship’s tender from our anchorage position was the ‘Island Panoramic & Little Chapel’ excursion which took our Guests on a memorable drive to the north of the island. Passing through St. Sampson and Bordeaux harbour they arrived at Pembroke Bay for a short stop to take photographs of the rugged coastline. They then continued through beautiful scenery and made their way to the Guernsey Pearl where our Guests enjoyed tea and coffee and a slice of Guernsey ‘gache’ a type of fruit bread before continuing to the Little Chapel. Like the fabulous buildings designed by Gaudi in Barcelona, the Little Chapel’s exterior has been created from thousands of broken pieces of china, pebbles and glass. After this wonderful 3 hour tour our Guests arrived back to the ship in time for lunch.

The second tour to leave this morning was ‘Fortified Guernsey’ in which our Guests were taken on a fascinating 3 hour tour exploring one of the most frightening chapters in Guernsey’s long history, the German occupation of the Island during World War II.

Another option for our Guests was to take the tour to Sark. This excursion begins with a scenic ferry journey past the small islands of Herm, Jethou and Brecqhou to beautiful Sark. With a population of 600 the island was part of the historic Duchy of Normandy and remains a possession of the British Crown. Our Guests could enjoy a horse and carriage ride around the island stopping at La Coupée and the gardens at La Seigneurie.

All aboard today was 4.30pm and once everyone was back onboard and the last tender hoisted clear of the water, I gave the order to heave anchor and we set sail for our home port of Dover, an approximate distance of 211 nautical miles.

Tonight at 6.15pm my Officer’s and I welcomed our guests into the Discovery Lounge for the last time with our Farewell Cocktail Party.

At 9pm the night’s entertainment commenced in the Discovery Lounge for the Freya Duo’s second and final concert of the cruise with some more ‘Classical Favourites’. Shortly after at 10pm our Cabaret Showtime was opened by Saul & our production team, followed by a performance from Laureen our lead female vocalist and our guest cabaret star Anthony Stuart Lloyd.

Honfleur is a commune in the Norman department of Calvados in France, located on the southern bank of the estuary of the Seine, very close to the exit of the Pont de Normandie. It is especially know for its old, beautiful picturesque port, characterised by its houses with slate-covered frontages. These were painted many times by artists, including Gustave Courbet, Claude Monet and Johan Jongkind, forming the ecole de Honfleur which contributed to the appearance of the Impressionist movement. The Sainte-Catherine church, which has a bell tower separate from the principal building, is the largest wooden church in France.

This was my first ever call to Honfleur and indeed a maiden call for the Saga Pearl II. The arrival to the berth this morning was made that bit more interesting due to a strong 5 knot current which flows in the river on which the berth is located combined with a fresh offshore breeze. Due to these factors I made the decision to employ the services of one of the local tug boats and with the tug made fast at the after end berthing was completed in a timely manner.

A selection of tours were on offer today; Honfleur Walking Tour & the Eugene Boudin Museum, Fecamp Benedictine Site & Etretat and the Spirit of Normandy. Many of our Guests opted for one of the excursions but for those Guests that did not the charming little town was within each reach, being only a 5 minute stroll away.

Once again for those Passengers that may not have gone ashore today, our duty Cruise Staff member for the day was Resty. He kept the Guests busy throughout the day onboard with games such as Beanbag Bowls, Golf Putting, midday Quiz with a Twist and in the afternoon a game of Shuffleboard and Short Tennis.

All aboard was for 6.30pm and once everyone was safely home and accounted for we slipped our mornings and set sail towards our next call at St Peters Port, Guernsey. At 9pm we welcomed all our Passengers into the Discovery Lounge as the Freya Duo presented their first concert of the cruise with ‘Classical Favourites’. Shortly after at 10pm the Gail Davies Production Company presented their second show of “Musical Memories”, followed by music for dancing with the Saga Pearl ll Orchestra.

For those Guests wishing to stay up late and dance the night away, they were able to join the Cruise Staff out on the open decks for Dancing under the Stars. A lovely end to another perfect day.

Zeebrugge, meaning “Bruges on the Sea”, is a village on the coast of Belgium and a subdivision of Bruges, for which it is the modern port. Zeebrugge serves as both the international port of Bruges-Zeebrugge and a seafront resort with hotels, cafes, a marina and a beach. Located on the coast of the North Sea, the busiest sea in the world, its central location on the Belgian coast, short distance to Great Britain and close vicinity to densely populated industrialized cities making Zeebrugge a crossroads for traffic from all directions.

Today there were many tours on offer for our Passengers to enjoy during our call to Zeebrugge, but the perhaps the most intriguing was the ‘Romantic Bruges’ excursion. This tour gave our Passengers the chance to discover the ‘Venice of the North’ on a walking tour and a canal boat ride through this most magical of cities. A thriving commercial centre throughout the Middle Ages, the city boundaries still coincide with those from medieval times.  Our Guests passed charming domestic buildings with their distinctive gables, tree-lined canals and early bridges and through the bustling marketplace. There was also the option of being able to explore Bruges independently too.

For those Passengers that chose to remain onboard whilst in Zeebrugge, our duty Cruise Staff for the day was Rebecca. Rebecca kept the Passengers entertained throughout the day with games such as Carpet Bowls, Deck Quoits, an afternoon Quiz and some killer darts.

Tonight at 6.15pm I had the pleasure of welcoming all our passengers into the Discovery Lounge for our Welcome Cocktail Party, and also introducing them to my Senior Officers on the stage. The room was abuzz with chatter but soon it was time for everyone to enjoy the culinary treats prepared by our Executive Chef Thomas.

After dinner at 9:15pm Charlotte from our Cruise Staff hosted a Fun Team Trivia Quiz in the Shackleton’s Bar.  This finished just in time for everyone to enjoy the main ShowTime in the Discovery Lounge, with Anthony Stuart Lloyd, The Rolls Royce Voice of the West End and Opera. Followed by, music for dancing with the Saga Pearl ll Orchestra.

This morning the Saga Pearl II slipped gracefully through the Eastern entrance at her home port of Dover, by 8am she was made fast securely on her berth at Cruise Terminal 1 and shortly afterwards our disembarkation process began. Members of our Cruise Staff were on hand at the gangway to say goodbye to everyone we had come to know over the 2 week cruise. Today, as always, was going to be a busy day for everyone especially for the Cabin Stewards and Stewardesses, who had the unenviable task of turning over every cabin ready to welcome our new guests onboard.

At around 1:45pm the Cruise Staff and Housekeeping Department started to welcome our new Passengers onboard as they embarked for the next voyage, our ‘Gallic Getaway’ cruise. As our Guests were welcomed onboard it was a delight to see so many familiar faces and also with it being a ‘mini-cruise’, just 4 days long, we were able to welcome many Guests who were new to Saga Cruising.

Throughout the afternoon the Cruise Staff team met many of our new Guests at the Reception Desk to take them on an informative tour of the ship and help them become accustomed with this fine vessel.

Prior to their first dining experience onboard many of our Guests partook of pre-dinner drinks in Shackleton’s Bar with the accompaniment of our pianist Adam Reece.

At 9:00pm I gave the order to let go our lines and we set sail for our 1st port of call Zeebrugge in Belgium where we are due alongside tomorrow morning. At 9.15pm our Cruise Director Jo Boase gave a verbal tour of the ship and also introduced some of our friendly staff onboard followed by our Gail Davis Production Cast with their first show of the cruise ‘Sailaway’, followed with music for dancing with the Saga Pearl ll Orchestra.

For those Guests who wished to stay up a little later they could enjoy a nightcap accompanied by Adam Reece tinkling the ivories in the Shackleton’s bar.

Ijmuiden is the largest fishing port of the Netherlands. Ijmuiden is a fairly new city in its present form, and only came into existence in the 1870s when the North Sea Canal was dug, connecting the Amsterdam harbours to the open sea. Before the present Ijmuiden was built the area was known as Breesaao; it was a desolate plain where only a handful of farmers strived to make a living.

Today in Ijmuiden we offered 4 tours for our passengers all leaving in the morning. First to leave was ‘Windmills and Edam’. This delightful tour begins with a drive through typical Dutch countryside to the small town of Zaandam, north of Amsterdam, where our passengers could visit Zaanse Schans, a quaint Dutch ‘windmill village’ that has been faithfully restored to re-create an 18 century Zaan community. As the Passengers stroll through the quaint streets watching the craftsmen practising the trades of yesteryear, they were able to have a glimpse of what Dutch life once was. Originally there were once over 500 windmills in the Zaanstreek area, and eight have been preserved at Zaanse Schans. They then had the opportunity to witness the Old Dutch craft of clog making, or simply relax in an outdoor cafe. They continued on to the typical Dutch village of Edam and then strolled along the cobblestone streets, and could see the unique Carillon tower with its bells which play a melody every 15 minutes.  The last stop was at a cheese factory, where local cheese is still made. Here they had the chance to sample some of the products before returning to the ship.

The second tip to leave this morning was the ‘Highlights of Amsterdam and Canal Cruise’.  With 100 bridges and 60 miles of canals lined with picturesque gabled houses, Amsterdam is a unique and fascinating place to explore. The tour started with a short drive to the 17th century Westerkerk (Western Church) were Rembrandt is reputed to be buried and see the small statue of Anne Frank nearby, before visiting the Anne Frank House. Our Passengers were able to see the original diary on show there. They also got to visit the former hiding place, which remains in its original condition, before leaving this moving museum to embark on a one hour tour through the Amsterdam canals aboard a glass topped canal boat. On this hour cruise they were able to enjoy such sites as the baroque Royal Palace at Dam Square, the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), Mint Tower and the 15th century Weepers tower before returning back to the ship.

The third tour to leave was the ‘Panoramic Amsterdam and Canal Cruise’. This tour starts with a revealing coach tour of Amsterdam, passing the Baroque style Royal Palace at Dam Square, this is the Queens residence when visiting the city, the 550 year old Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) where Queen Beatrix was crowned in 1980, and the fascinating Mint Tower built in 1618 over a medieval gate.  After that our Guests continued on to the central railway station which was constructed on an artificial island of wooden piles and the 15th century Weepers Tower, where the wives of sailors watched their husbands depart for sea. Next our Passengers had the chance to discover Amsterdam by canal boat. This one hour tour through the city’s canals, once the hub of Amsterdam’s commercial life, and lined with houses that were originally workshops and stores. They enjoyed the historic landmarks of the city from the water before returning back to the ship.

Our last tour to leave this morning was ‘Amsterdam on your own’. This gave our Guests the chance to enjoy a day of leisure in one of Europe’s great cities. An hour long transfer brings them to Amsterdam; from here the tour escort guided our passengers to Dam Square in the city centre. This gave our Guests many options, they could either spend the day browsing the many museums and art galleries, relaxing in the many canal side cafes or simply explore the delightful city.

Following our departure at 6pm, this evening’s entertainment started with cocktail hour. Here Passengers could enjoy pre-dinner drinks whilst listening to our resident pianist Adam Reece.

Following dinner Cruise Staff Resty challenged our guests to the final general knowledge quiz for this voyage.
The entertainment then continued in the Discovery lounge with Cabaret Showtime ‘Last Night of the Proms’ with guest performances from Stuart Gillies, Piano A Deux, The Covent Garden Consort, The Gail Davies Production Dancers and The Saga Pearl ll Orchestra.

For those who wished to stay up that little bit longer on their final evening could enjoy a cocktail in Shackletons and listen to Adam Reece our cocktail pianist tinkling the ivories until late.

Warmermunde is a suburb of Rostock and is situated on the west bank at the mouth of Die Warnow. Originally a fishing village, then a bathing spa it is now a seaside resort.

We had three tours on offer this morning and the 1st and very early tour to leave was the ‘Best of Berlin’. This 12 hour tour left at 6.30am and took our Passengers to this extraordinary city. The fascinating sights were well worth the long scenic drive from Warnemunde through the lakelands of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. This tour begins in former East Berlin, passing Alexander Platz Square, home of Berlin’s Television Tower. Stopping for photo’s at the Dome of Berlin on Museum Island, then continuing to Brandenburg Gate and Gendarmenmarkt Square for another photo stop. They then drove through historic Nikolaiviertel and boarded a pleasure cruiser for a sedate cruise along the Spree past sights such as Bellevue Palace, Museum Island, the Chancellery and the Reichstag. A three course lunch and drinks were served onboard before they disembarked at Charlottenburg Castle. They had a champagne reception on top of the Reichstag, with its cupola and breathtaking views of the city. Finally, our Guests passed by Potsdam Square to take a look at the notorious Checkpoint Charlie border crossing before returning to Warnemunde.

The second of our morning tours to leave today was ‘Fischland, the Forgotten World’. This scenic excursion begins with a drive east along the coastline, passing woods, fields and beautiful old fishing villages. Our Passengers embarked a boat for a trip into Varpommern Lagoon Area National Park. Here the  shallow coastal waters of the Baltic Sea mix with freshwater from a number of small creeks, creating bodies of water called ‘Bodden’, a habitat unique to this part of Germany.  The Bodden mini-cruise takes you past the Putnitz Peninsula, where the German Navy trained its pilots until 1945, next our Passengers enjoyed a cup of coffee and a piece of German style cake onboard, whilst the Captain told our Passengers interesting facts about the National Park.  Today the peninsula is a recreation area, and swans and seabirds are seen in large numbers. They disembarked in a beautiful little fishing port with traditional thatched cottages, our Passengers were then able to have some free time where they could relax and enjoy the local ambience. They could also sample some of the freshly smoked fish before rejoining the coach for the drive back along the peninsula to Warnemunde.

The last tour to leave in the morning was ‘Rostock and the KGB’.  To start this tour our Passengers enjoyed an hour’s cruise along the River Warnow to Rostock, tea or coffee and cake were offered along the way, before they started their guided walking tour, which takes in the town’s distinctive red-brick architecture and hanseatic ambience. The tour then took them past the university, New Market, the beautiful City Hall, the remnants of the old city walls at Kropliner Gate and Stone Gate, as well as Fischerbastion and the Convent of the Holy Cross, home to the cultural History Museum. There was also the opportunity to visit the Stasi Museum, the interrogation centre of the KGB of East Germany. After this and having enjoyed some free time in Rostock to explore the shops and cafes, our Passengers visited St Mary’s Church at the Goat Market where they were able to take pictures of a unique astronomical clock, one of Rostock’s best known landmarks.

The final tour to leave departed in the afternoon and was ‘The Molli and the Minster’. Starting by driving through the countryside of former East Germany, our Passengers stopped in Bad Doberan at the 700 year old Minster, a red brick church surrounded by beautiful parkland and houses with relics dating back as far as the 14th and 15th centuries. Following this they left Bad Doberan on board the Molli narrow gauge steam train and enjoyed a 30 minute journey to the beach resort of Kuhlungsborn on this vintage locomotive. Having arrived at their destination our Guests were able to relax with coffee and cake before exploring the romantic beach promenade and enjoying a stroll along the seafront.

As we welcomed our passengers back onboard for 7.30pm we then set sail for Ijmuiden, Netherlands via of course the Kiel Canal once more.

To begin this evening’s entertainment our guests could join Charlotte from our Cruise Staff in Shackletons with a fun general knowledge quiz. Following dinner we invited the Covent Garden Consort back to the Discovery Lounge for another wonderful Classical concert. As the evening progressed towards Cabaret Showtime our guests enjoyed The Gail Davies Production Company’s performance of Love Sweet Love.

For those who wished to stay up a little later they could join Stuart Gillies our guest vocalist for an informal performance, followed by a nightcap with Adam Reece as he entertained until the early hours.

Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark. It is a major centre for culture, business, media, and science. This is due to its strategic location and excellent infrastructure. Copenhagen has repeatedly been recognized as one of the cities with the best quality of life. It is also considered one of the world’s most environmentally friendly cities.

The first tour to leave this morning was the ‘City Tour & Harbour Cruise’. The Passengers travelled to Gammel Strand, the fish marker, where they embarked a canal boat for a memorable 50 minute cruise along the city’s waterways and through the harbour. They took in the views as they sailed down the narrow canals past Christiansborg Palace, the Nyhavn canal area, into open harbour and on to the Langelinie area, to see the Little Mermaid, and the brand new Opera House that opened at the beginning of 2005. The tour then continued by coach to the sights unreachable by boat, travelling past the Nyhavn canal district, Christiansborg Palace, the busy pedestrian area of Stroget, the Botanical Gardens and the 17th century citadel of Kastellet.

Our last morning tour to leave today was ‘Copenhagen by Foot’. This tour gave our Passengers the chance to experience the delights of Copenhagen on foot, starting with a walk along the waterfront where they found the enchanting Little Mermaid, which has been a symbol of Copenhagen for decades. They continued through Churchill Park with the Anglican Episcopalian Church, the Resistance Museum and the beautiful Gefion Fountain. Next they followed the shore down to Amalie Garden and the Amalienborg Palace, residence of the Royal Family. They crossed Palace Square and continued to Nyhavn, they charming quayside area where Hans Christian Andersen lived. After a quick refreshment stop our Guests headed down to the centre of Copenhagen and King’s New Square where they found the Royal Theatre.

Our 3rd and final tour left in the afternoon, its destination was the ‘Seaside Town of Dragoer’. This scenic tour took our Guests to Dragoer, one of Denmark’s oldest and quaintest fishing villages, set on Amager Island and lapped by blue waters of the Oresund. Full of character, the state of Dragoer is well preserved due to the fact that conservation work was started very early – in 1934. The guide took our Guests on a leisurely stroll through the cobblestoned backstreets of this historic village to the bustling harbour. There was the free time for the guests to explore, maybe visit the village and some of the small handicraft shops that line the main street or admire views of Oresund Bridge, which has connected Copenhagen with Swedish town Malmo since 2000. Before heading back to the ship, tea, coffee and a Danish pastry was served at a harbour front hotel.

Following our departure at 6pm the entertainment started with Kayleigh hosting a challenging team trivia quiz in Shackleton’s followed by the Gail Davies Production Company opening the Cabaret Showtime for the fabulous Piano a Deux in the Discovery Lounge.

During a turbulent history, the people of Tallinn frequently united to face a common threat. First it was the Danes who took the settlement in the 13th century. Tallinn became a flourishing trading centre as a member of the Hanseatic League and went on to serve many masters. Swedish, German and Russian occupiers all left their mark. Finally, at the end of World War l, an Estonian state was established with Tallinn as the Capital. After World War ll it became a reluctant member of the Soviet Union, until independence was declared in 1991.

With three tours on offer for our passengers today many chose to make an early start on the ‘Tallinn Old Town’ excursion. Throughout this tour our passengers were able to discover the highlights of Tallinn Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on foot. They then made their way into the Upper Old Town to see the castle, Russian Orthodox Church of Alexander Nevsky and the 13th century Gothic Dome Church. From the terraces of the Upper Town, there are some magnificent views across the gable rooftops and soaring spires. From here they strolled along Long and Short Leg Streets to the 15th century Blackheads Fraternity House to watch a traditional folk show and were offered refreshments such as tea and cake.

The second tour to leave this morning was ‘Tallinn Highlights’. Our passengers travelled through the cultural centre of Tallinn and along the medieval city walls that encompass the Old Town. They then disembarked the coach at Nun’s Gate and could walk past the Transfiguration Church to the 15th century Blackheads Fraternity House to see an Estonian folk show and enjoy refreshments. The walking tour then continued past Pikk Street and across Town Hall Square, where you can view the most important sites of the Old Town and visit St Catherine’s arts and crafts centre. After our Guests boarded the coach they continued along the main thoroughfare towards the central park of Kadriorg, which was founded by Peter the Great and is the setting for the baroque palace of Catherine.

Our last tour to leave today was ‘Panoramic Tallinn. This 3 hour tour took our Passengers right into the heart of the city towards Cathedral Hill, stopping at the Tall Herman Tower, one of the three remaining towers of the Knights of the Sword Castle. From nearby Cannon Tower they could admire the panoramic view of Tallinn’s Upper Town, with its numerous churches and spires. The tour then continued towards Kadriorg Park and the baroque place designed as a summer residence for Peter the Great. As they drove through the park, they paused at the Song Festival grounds, a natural amphitheatre with a capacity for 15,000 people, making it a perfect venue for Estonia’s national song festivals. After stopping at the seaside restaurant for refreshments and folk music, the tour continued on to St Birgits’s Convent to see the best example of local limestone architecture.

Following a smooth departure, tonight’s entertainment commenced with a cocktail party in the Discovery Lounge for all our newcomers to Saga cruising, giving us the chance to meet all the new friendly faces joining us onboard for the first time.

After a delicious dinner the entertainment continued with a Classical Concert by The Covent Garden Consort followed by Cabaret Showtime and our talented Gail Davies Production Company in ‘Big Top’. The entertainment didn’t end there; Cruise Director Jo, Assistant Cruise Director Kayleigh and Cruise Staff Resty went under the spot light in Shackletons to showcase some of the hidden talent on board singing songs from past to present.

We made our approach at 0830 this morning towards the port which was for many of our Passengers was to be the highlight of the cruise, St. Petersburg in Russia. We will be remaining alongside for three days, giving our Guests the time to explore St Petersburg to the full and really experience all this fabulous city has to offer.

St Petersburg is located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. The city was originally called Petrograd from 1914 to 1924 and Leningrad from 1924 to 1991. It is often referred to as Petersburg and is informally known as Piter. This relatively young city has packed a lot into its 300 years, and is brimming with historic treasures including ornate palaces, beautiful gardens and world-renowned museums. The city is often referred to as the ‘Venice of the North’ as it has many bridges over the River Neva, an important part of the city.

With three days to explore the wonders of St. Petersburg our passengers could choose from 18 tours as well as the option of an exclusive bespoke car service which was a perfect way for our independent travellers not taking part in a tour to see the sights.  Some of the most popular tours were the all day and evening tours which really gave our guests the chance to experience St Petersburg and Russia at its finest.

One of the most spectacular tours was the ‘Splendours of St. Petersburg’. This a 9 hour full day Panoramic guided tour starting with a short drive to the historical centre of the city. A slow drive along the embankment which took our Guests to Decembrists’ Square, dominated by the ‘Bronze Horseman’ monument to Peter the Great. A photo stop at St Isaac’s Cathedral brought our Passengers to Palace Square and past the Winter Palace.  After, there was a photo stop at the Rostral Columns to photograph the beautiful panorama of the Neva River and Peter and Paul Fortress. The next stop on the tour was at Peter and Pauls Fortress, the prison which was home to a roll-call of Revolutionists from Dostoevsky to Trotsky, and within the wall on the fortress is the Cathedral of Peter and Paul. Next, as they drove along the Nevsky Prospect Boulevard, they could really feel the city’s contemporary pulse. For lunch they stopped at one of the best downtown restaurants, it included a glass of Russian Champagne and a great lunch. After lunch they then spent the rest of the afternoon wondering around and exploring the magnificent halls and staterooms of the Winter Palace on a guided tour.

Something  a little different for our passengers was the ‘Gulf of Finland Panoramic Drive’ This panoramic tour took our passengers off the beaten track, and introduced them to one of the most picturesque areas outside St. Petersburg: the Resort District. This is located on the Karelian Isthmus along the northern shore of the Gulf of Finland. The first part of the tour took our Passengers on a journey through St. Petersburg towards its north western boundary on the Lower Highway that lies along the Gulf coast. They passed through the resort areas of Sestroretsk, Solnechnoye, Komarovo, Repino and Zelenogorsk. Before 1917 this whole area was part of the Grand Duchy of Finland, ruled by the Grand Dukes. Even though Finland was at the time part of the Russian Empire, there was a state boarder and a valid passport was needed to cross.  One of the highlights of Zelenogorsk was the beautiful Cathedral of the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan; a photo stop was made here before a relaxing drive back to the Saga Pearl II.

We also offered a variety of half day tours, such as Peterhof Parks & Fountains, Spilled Blood Cathedral, Shopping & Canal Cruise and Peter & Paul Fortress & Canal Cruise.

On the first night our guests were able to enjoy ‘An Evening of Ballet’ which was the most popular of the two evening tours. Recognised around the world, the Russian Classical Ballet was able to be enjoyed by our Passengers on this mesmerising tour. Our Guests made their way to the Aurora Hall, a well equipped and comfortable theatre with excellent views for every spectator. Accompanied by the State Symphony Orchestra, the dancers wowed our Passengers and impressed with their skill, poise and talent during the course of an unforgettable evening.

On the second evening our Guests were able to enjoy ‘An Evening of Folklore’. They travelled to the Carnival Concert Hall in the heart of St Petersburg to enjoy a wonderful evening of lively Russian folkloric song and dance. The magnificent performance was made up from traditional songs and dances used during celebrations from all over Russia, combined with classical aspects of ballet and modern dance. During the interval our Guests were treated to champagne, vodka and snacks to help make this an evening to remember.

Even during our stay in St Petersburg there was of course a full program of activities during the daytimes and evenings for those passengers who had decided not to go ashore or who had returned from their tours. All in all I’m quite sure our extended stay in this beautiful city is one that our Passengers will remember for a long time to come.

Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the southern part on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, by the Baltic Sea. The municipality of Helsinki forms the heart of the Helsinki metropolitan area and Greater Helsinki area. Over one million people live in the Helsinki metropolitan area, which includes the city of Helsinki and three other cities. Helsinki is Finland’s major political, educational, financial, cultural and research centre.

As we made our approach to the Pilot Station off the coast of Helsinki this morning we were greeted with several large fog banks, reducing the visibility on the Bridge to less than one ship’s length. An arrival into port is always made that bit more interesting when you can’t see where you’re going, but by making use of the Radars and our extremely accurate Electronic Navigational Chart displays combined with well trained procedures for navigating in fog we were able to safely guide the Saga Pearl II towards her berth right in the heart of Helsinki.

The First tour to depart this afternoon was the ‘Sibelius Experience’. This tour combined the highlights of Finland’s beautiful capitals with a visit to the home of the country’s most famous composer. It gave our guests an introductory tour of the city where they could see lively Market Square, the old Church and the Theatre, marvel at the impressive Parliament Building, and the National Museum. As they drove through Hesperia Park and Toololahti Bay they caught a glimpse of the Olympic Stadium. They then continued to Ainola where they took a tour of Jean Sibelius home. After the tour of the house they took a short drive to see the landscapes that inspired the great composer. Before heading back to the ship they had a 30minute performance of some of his greatest work.

The second tour on offer today was the ‘Helsinki Highlights’. Our passengers were able to discover the unique and beautiful sights of Helsinki on this interesting city tour. The first stop on this tour took our passengers to the Carl Ludvig Engel’s neo-classical Senate Square built in the 19th century. They were able to see the Cathedral and the Sederholm Residence, from here they continued on foot to the open Market Place located on the waterfront, where they had some free time and could visit the Market Hall, in order to view the wonderful stalls of cheese, fish and other delicacies. From here they continued back on the coach past the largest Orthodox Church in Scandinavia, Uspenski Cathedral and the Presidential Palace. The journey took the passengers along the South Harbour to Kaivopuisto, one of the prettiest parks in Helsinki. On the way back to the city they pasted the old Church near the Swedish Theatre. Finally the last stop was Sibelius Park where they could view the monument to composer Jean Sibelius before heading back to the ship.

Following our departure this evening’s entertainment commenced with many of our Guests joining Scientist and Traveller Dr. Andrew Baxter in the Discovery lounge for his lecture ‘Best Selling Medicines – How do they work?’
After dinner our Guests were divided into teams for our comedian Gerry Graham’s ‘Diabolical Musicals Quiz’ in Shackletons bar, having fun remembering musicals from past and present. Cabaret Showtime duly followed with the Gail Davies Production Company as the presented “Musical Memories”.
To round off the evening there was music for dancing in the Discovery Lounge with the Saga Pearl II Orchestra, or our passengers could join Adam Reece for some late night Cabaret and Cocktails in the Shackleton’s bar.

Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden. It is the site of the national Swedish government, the Riksdag (Parliament), and the official residence of the Swedish monarch as well as the Prime Minister. Since 1980, the Monarch has resided at Drottningholm Palace outside of Stockholm and uses the Royal Palace of Stockholm as his workplace and official residence.

Stockholm is known for its beauty, its buildings and architecture, not to mention its abundance of clean open water and many parks. This beautiful city is often referred to as the Venice of the North, and for those of our Guests who were up on deck early to watch our sail through the archipelago it was easy to understand why.   

We made our approach to the pilot station shortly before 0800 and were greeted with a somewhat cloudy but nevertheless dry morning. The stunning sail through the archipelago takes around 4 hours or so and by noon the Saga Pearl II was approaching her berth in the heart of Stockholm’s centre.

The first tour to leave the ship this afternoon was the ‘City Hall and Vasa Museum’.  This tour begins with a drive through the city and across the Western Bridge to the island of Kungsholmen for a visit to the distinctive red-brick City Hall. Built between 1911 and 1923, in the National Romantic style of Ragnar Ostber. City Hall is renowned for its architecture, mosaics and for housing the Nobel Prize banquet. The Island of Djurgarden is the next destination, where our guests visited the Vasa Museum on the waterfront to see the amazing restoration of the magnificent Vasa warship, which sank in Stockholm harbour after being launched on her maiden tour in 1628.

The second tour to leave us this afternoon was the ‘Stockholm Panoramic Tour’ Spread across 14 islands Stockholm is truly a wonderful city to explore, with its immaculately-preserved buildings, picturesque waterfront and many attractive parks, this panoramic coach tour took our guests to Fjallgatan, which is a widely regarded as the best viewpoint of which to take photographs of the city. Along the way our guests got to take in some of the city’s best known sights including the Royal Park of Djurgarden, known as the ‘green lungs’ of Stockholm. Another photo opportunity at Riddarholm, gave our passengers an impressive view of City Hall and Lake Marlaren, before heading back to the ship.

Our final excursion this afternoon was ‘The Waterways of Stockholm’.  One of the best ways to see the splendours of Stockholm is by the waterways, the waterways of Stockholm understandably plays an important part in city life. With water accounting for one third of Stockholm’s total surface area and parks and woodland adding another third, you can imagine Stockholm is a very unique and attractive capital city. The city is strategically placed where freshwater Lake Malaren meets with Saltsjon (the Baltic). Sailing boats make full use of the larger channels and as our guests sailed along the picturesque waterways they had the chance to enjoy the city from a different perspective.

This evening’s entertainment commenced with a lecture from Advertising Poster Expert Charles Harris entitled ‘The Great Age of the Poster’
After another sumptuous dinner many guests joined us in the Discovery Lounge for a Classical Concert from The Covent Garden Consort, as they presented Schubert’s String trio in B Flat Major & Beethoven’s Piano Quartet in E Flat Major. Alternatively our guests had the option to join Resty, one of our Cruise staff members, for a fun light hearted quiz in the Shackleton’s Bar at 9pm.

For Cabaret Showtime tonight we had the pleasure of introducing International Funny Man ‘Gerry Graham’ to the stage with the Gail Davies Production Company opening the show. Following this there was another chance to enjoy the sounds of the Saga Pearl II Orchestra and partake in a dance with our gentlemen hosts, or perhaps try a late evening cocktail in the Shackleton’s Bar, some even ventured upstairs to the Sundowners Bar to enjoy a nightcap in the cool evening air on the open decks as we continue East across the Baltic sea towards Helsinki, Finland.

Although there was no port visit today as such, our ‘Best of the Baltic’ cruise commenced with a transit through the famous Kiel Canal. Following a favourable crossing from Dover we made our approach towards the locks at the Western end of the Canal, close to the town of Brunsbuttel, for 4pm. Delays had been forecast due to the fact that only one set of locks was in operation, the other having to undergo necessary maintenance, but by 5pm the Saga Pearl II glided gracefully into the lock whilst many of our Guests were on the Open Deck with our Cruise staff, taking in the views and history of the Kiel Canal whilst bathed in glorious sunshine.

For more than five centuries about 140 different plans had been discussed on how to connect the Baltic Sea with the North Sea thus avoiding a voyage of up to 350 nautical miles via Skagen to English ports and the European west cast.

In 1886 a law to allow the construction on the canal was granted, and building of the canal commenced in 1887 taking eight years to complete.
The canal finally opened in 1895 by Kaiser Wilhelm II on board his yacht, cutting a black-red-white ribbon stretched between the canal banks. A parade of 22 ships from different countries followed the Kaiser’s yacht through the canal to Kiel. During the passage of the ships a soldier in dress uniform was posted every 100 meters at both sides of the canal.

The width of the canal was 66.7 meters and the depth 9 metres; it was originally built to serve German military needs. Soon merchant ships were the most frequent users and with the steadily growing ship sizes the canal turned out to be too narrow. So it was enlarged between 1907 and 1914 to a width of 102 meters and its depth increased to 11 metres to accommodate the larger ships.

After the Second World War the canal was in a serious condition. The banks had slid into the water and at some places they threatened to burst. After extensive investigations, the canal was ‘redesigned’ to a width of 162metres. Restoration work started in 1965. Protective measures had to be taken for strengthening the banks and canal bed which were deteriorating due to the destructive effects of wave and water movement caused by passing ships.

A canal radio service operates giving half hourly traffic reports to ships, linking each ship to the control centres. The canal also has a system of classification of vessels, placing the ships transiting the canal in one of six categories according to size, length, width, draught and to the potential hazard of the cargo it carries.

Each end of the canal is protected from the changing water levels of the River Elbe and of the Baltic by a system of four locks. Ferries cross the canal at 13 points. There is a road tunnel under the canal at Rendsburg as well as a pedestrian tunnel. Besides this, there are two motorway bridges over the canal; two railway bridges at Rendsburg and Hachdann and four road bridges.

The canal remains an important route for Baltic shipping. It constitutes the most convenient, shortest, safest, and cost efficient shipping route between the two seas.

As the evening progressed our guests enjoyed pre-dinner dancing with Saga Pearl ll Orchestra and our gentlemen hosts with the views of the Kiel Canal passing them by in the Discovery lounge.

This evening’s entertainment commenced with a Classical concert from the ‘The Covent Garden Consort’ as they presented Mozart’s Piano Quartet in g minor. We then continued the evening with tonight’s Cabaret Showtime and The Gail Davies Production Company in ‘Sail Away’ featuring ‘River Dance’ and the ‘Can Can’. The perfect way to round of the day as we enter the Baltic Sea towards our first port of call Stockholm.

Leith is the gateway to Scotland’s magnificent capital, Edinburgh, a city that is renowned for its dramatic beauty and rich history. The city centre is dominated by the volcanic Castle Rock, a natural defensive position which probably attracted the first settlers to this region in about 850BC. The city is divided into two distinct areas: the Old Town, with its tall medieval tenements, castle and historic churches; and the New Town, noted for its elegant Georgian terraces and squares. Both are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Between the Old Town and New Town is a valley occupied by Princes Street Gardens, which were laid out on the site of the former Nor Loch, drained in 1759. Today Edinburgh is the home of the Scottish Parliament, Scotland’s newest major piece of architecture, which was officially opened by the Queen in 2004.

After encountering somewhat heavy seas following our trip across from Halmstad I’m quite sure many of our passengers were grateful when the Saga Pearl II made her approach into the shelter of the Firth of Forth. The entry into Leith’s Western Harbour is a tricky one in that you must first navigate through a narrow approach channel into a set of locks which allow you access to the Cruise Terminal berth, right next to the Royal Yacht Britannia. The manoeuvre, although tricky, was completed in a timely manner and thanks must go to our Harbour pilot who it turns out had been a Cadet with my colleague Captain Alistair McLundie – small world!

Our tours did not leave until the afternoon and the excursion to ‘Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament’ was first to leave. This tour gave our passengers the opportunity to explore the Queen’s official Scottish residence. It followed with a short panoramic drive through the city which took our passengers along the famous Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace. They toured the sumptuous Royal Apartments, which are magnificently adorned with antique furnishings and Flemish tapestries. They then strolled along the Grand Gallery and admired the portraits of over 100 kings and queens. They also got the chance to visit the beautiful grounds and the personal bedchamber of Mary Queen of Scots, reached by a narrow spiral staircase with 25 steps. Next our passengers visited the Scottish Parliament, a contemporary structure opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004. This guided tour took in the impressive exterior of the building, as well as free time to explore the public areas including the foyer and debating chamber.
In the evening 325 of our passengers left to go and see the ‘Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’ which was to be the highlight of the cruise for many of our guests. This captured a taste of Scottish pageantry at its best on this exhilarating excursion. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo presented a colourful kaleidoscope of music and dance set against the world-famous backdrop of Edinburgh castle. Annually, this patriotic extravaganza sells around 200,000 tickets and is televised to 50 million people worldwide. This action packed evening featured exciting contributions from the Massed Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, Highland Dancing, the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and the stirring music of the world-famous Massed Pipes and Drums. A Dutch Mounted Bicycle Band and South Africa’s Navy Band will add an international flavour. A huge favourite of the night was the famous Lone Piper, stood high on the Castle ramparts playing the haunting lament, before the colour – a wonderful way to end a fantastic evening.
For those who chose to stay onboard this evening there was  lighter entertainment provided with Grant Sav our pianist playing some essential easy listening tunes in Shackletons followed by ‘Name that tune’ with our Assistant Cruise Director, Kayleigh. As our passengers made their way back from the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo they could enjoy a nightcap with a Special Late night buffet in the Dining Room before retiring for the evening.

On our second day in Leith the first tour to depart was the ‘Falkirk Wheel and Historic Stirling’ excursion. The Falkirk Wheel is the spectacular centrepiece of the £84.5 million ‘Millennium Link’, the UK’s largest canal restoration project, which re-established the waterway that links the east and west coasts of Scotland. As the world’s first and only rotating boat lift, the Falkirk Wheel is unique. Linking two canals with water levels 115 feet apart, it is an innovative and dynamic solution to the age-old problem of transferring boats between levels that traditionally required a long flight of locks. Our guests enjoyed a magnificent view of the specially designed boats sailing into the bottom gondola of the Wheel. Once the boat is in position, the Wheel makes a graceful sweep, lifting the boat up to join the Union Canal. The ascent takes about 15 minutes, allowing plenty of time to enjoy stunning views of the spectacular surrounding scenery.  Once lifted, the boat sails smoothly from the Wheel onto the canal, passing along an aqueduct and through the new 590-foot Roughcastle Tunnel that takes the canal under the historic Antonine Wall. The boat then returns for an effortless decent on the Wheel that gently carries it back down to the Visitors’ Centre. After this exciting one hour trip, our passengers rejoined the coach and headed to the historic town of Stirling. A short panoramic tour shows you this pretty town with its ancient castle, dating back to the 12th century, and the impressive, towering Wallace Monument, erected in 1869 to commemorate Sir William Wallace, the 13th century Scottish hero.

Our second and most popular tour of the day was to the ‘Royal Yacht Britannia’. This gave our passengers the opportunity to step aboard the magnificent Royal Yacht Britannia for an audio handset tour and learn about life on board for the Royal Family. Launched in 1953, the Royal Yacht Britannia was in service for 44 year years, carrying the Queen and Royal Family on over 900 official voyages. Following Britannia’s decommissioning in 1997, Edinburgh won the bid to become her permanent home.

To begin this evening’s entertainment in true Scottish style we were joined by Piper Steve Dewar who proceeded through the dining room and open decks for the listening pleasure of our guests. As we said goodbye to Steve we set sail at 7.30pm to return home to Dover, a full night’s entertainment ensued with The Marylebone Trio playing another wonderful concert in the Discovery Lounge followed by this evenings Show, Steve Galler ‘The International Banjo Entertainer’ opened by The Gail Davies Production Company, followed by music for dancing from the Saga Pearl II Orchestra. Our guests could then enjoy listening to Laureen Niamesny our Lead female vocalist from the Gail Davies Production Company in an informal performance at the piano.

The air was filled with excitement as we made our approach to the small inner harbour in Halmstad, Sweden. It was to be the first time I’d visited this small, mainly industrial port, on Sweden’s west coast and indeed it was the maiden call for the Saga Pearl II.

Although a pretty town in its own right the main purpose of our visit was to allow our guests the chance to remain in port overnight with the fabulous Tallships, having all completed the last leg of their race down from Stavanger. The sight of the Tallships all moored within the confines of the narrow harbour really was magical and I know many of our guests were itching to proceed ashore in order to soak up the atmosphere of the festivities that were being laid on close to where the Tallships were berthed.

As our final mooring lines were being tended and the gangway placed in position we received an unexpected visit from the local Navy Cadet Brass band who were on hand to play a medley of tunes as our passengers disembarked on their tours, including a rendition the famous Swedish pop group ABBA’s hit Dancing Queen!

Over the two days in Halmstad we had plenty of tours to keep our passengers entertained, the first being the ‘Halmstad City Tour’ which passed by many of the city’s highlights such as the Halmstad College, the new city library stretching into the river of Nissan, Central Station, Big Square (featuring the fountain Europe and the bull created by world famous sculptor Carl Milles), the HMS Najaden – one of the world’s smallest full rigged ships and Halmstad Castle. ‘Halmstad & Hallandsgarden’ offered the same city highlights plus a chance to visit St Nicolai Church; this Church was one of the very few buildings which was not destroyed in the big fire of 1619.

The ‘Tall Ship Sailing Experience’ for obvious reasons, was by far the most popular tour over our two day stay. Our guests were offered the unique opportunity to experience the thrill of sailing onboard the 50 meter Dutch three-masted tall ship Oosterschelde. Launched in 1918 she is now the largest restored vessel remaining from the extensive fleet of schooners that sailed under Dutch flag at the beginning of the 20th century.

Should they so wish, our passengers were able to help sail the vessel or simply relax watching others do the hard work! Stepping aboard the Oosterschelde took our passengers back to the time of the classic Tallships and enabled them to enjoy firsthand the unique atmosphere of this major sailing event.

Another popular tour was the ‘Hallandsgarden & Wapno Dairy Farm’. This tour began with a drive to Gallows Hill and the Hallansdsgarden outdoor Museum. Sometimes referred to as “miniature Skansen” the museum was established in 1925 and features several buildings gathered from the region of Halland dating back to the 16th and 17th century.

After our guests visited Hallandsgarden they continued to Wapno dairy farm, famous for its company policy to make sure that everything is locally produced and to maintain the same taste milk one experienced “back in the good old days”. Everything takes place at the Wapno Farm and Dairy, the cows (1110 of them) are free to roam and eat the grass at the farm, are milked and then all the produce is packaged on site.

Often the whole process is so efficient that the cows are milked at 09:00, then their produce is packaged and in the store coolers two hours later! They experienced a guided tour of the farm before enjoying coffee or tea and a waffle with whipped cream directly from the dairy.

By 5.30pm on the second day of our call all our guests were back onboard in timely fashion and I gave the order to slip the ropes as we proceeded out through the narrow entrance towards the open sea and towards what was sure to be another fabulous highlight; the port of Leith for Edinburgh where we would again be remaining overnight to allow our guests the chance to enjoy a night at the wonderful spectacle that is the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Kristiansand (formerly “Christianssand”) is a city, municipality and the county capital of Vest-Agder County in Southern Norway. The city was named after its founder King Christian IV in 1641.

Following what was a somewhat ‘damp’ arrival the first tour of the day to leave was the ‘Odderoya Hike’. Starting from the quayside on foot our passengers first passed Kilden, the new performing arts centre on their way to Odderoya. This island has a very interesting military history, having once been a naval base and remnants of the ramparts, a gunpowder store, an old quarantine hospital and other 18th century buildings can still be seen.

They took in the views of the eastern harbour, Christiansholm Fortress and the leisure boat marinas as they negotiated the somewhat undulating Kjaerlighetsstien (lovers track) around the island stopping for refreshments en-route. The cafeteria housed in the former residence of the garrison engineer, located on the southern tip of the island, offered a fantastic view of the fjord and two lighthouses. Suitably refreshed, our guests continued past the remains of Odderoya Fortress and made a leisurely trip back to the ship.

The second tour to leave today was the ‘City and Surroundings’ excursion. This tour begins with a coach tour of the city centre and an opportunity for our passengers to see the typical wooden houses contained within the modern parts of the city. Leaving Kristiansand behind, they travelled to the Vest Agder County Museum to begin a journey of discovery through the architectural and social history of the area.

Divided into four sections to reflect each of the different county districts, 30 houses have been moved and re-erected in the museum and date from the mid 17th century to the 1930’s.  On the return to Kristiansand they enjoyed refreshments and traditional music in the splendid surroundings of the Ravnedalen Scenic Park.

‘Renaissance Kristiansand’ was our third tour to leave this morning. Founded by King Christian IV of Denmark in 1641 the central part of the city, the Quadrature, covers an area of one square kilometre and is made up of a series of rectangular blocks which our guests discovered on their guided walking tour.

Starting from the pier the passengers walked first to the sophisticated new Fish Market where they paused to sample a local speciality before continuing to the delightful Otterdals Park to admire the granite fountains created by sculptor Kjell Nupen. Close to the park is one of the city’s many marinas with restaurants and berths for visiting yachts overlooking Kristiansand’s fortress built in 1672 as well as the popular town beach.

Finally they headed to the old town and the area known locally as ‘Posebyen’ which comprises of the largest collection of low continuous wooden houses in northern Europe and as such are subject to preservation orders for their historical and architectural value. After having see the colourful stalls in the market square and some of the many green lawns and cheerful in the flowerbeds spreads throughout the city centre, our passengers began to understand why the city is often referred to as ‘Norway’s Floral City’.

‘Setesdal Steam Train’ was perhaps the most popular tour on offer today and this tour left a little later in the afternoon. Our passengers stepped back in time as they boarded a vintage train, powered by a 100 year old steam engine, and travelled along the picturesque Setesdal railway.

Built to link the city of Kristiansand to the Setesdal Valley, the railway was opened in 1896 and closed some 66 years later in 1962. Fortunately just over three miles of the line from Grovane was subsequently re-opened as a veteran railroad. Our passengers started the tour with a coach ride inland, passing forests and lakes, the industrial town of Vennelsa and the lake of Venneslafjord, and arrived at Grovane from where they joined the train.

A scenic journey then unfolded as they travelled along the narrow gauge railway enjoying the period atmosphere. They passed alongside the Otra River, over bridges and dams, through tunnels and avalanche shelters, to arrive at Royknes.  A hop onto the coach for a scenic drive back to the Saga Pearl II was the perfect way to round of this wonderful tour.

As all of our passengers were onboard by 5.30pm we set sail shortly afterwards towards Halmstad in Sweden where we will remain in port overnight with the fabulous Tallships.

Following a sumptuous dinner our passengers could either join Resty, one of our Cruise Staff, for his fun Team Trivia Quiz in the Shackleton’s bar or there was a chance to dance with the Saga Pearl II Orchestra, in the Discovery Lounge.  Guests could then enjoy our Cabaret Showtime this evening with The Gail Davies Production Company and ‘Musical Memories’.

As a special treat this evening after Cabaret Showtime lots of our passengers joined International Banjo Entertainer, Steve Galler  “Down at the Old Bull & Bush” in the Shackleton’s bar for an informal performance and sing-a-long before retiring for the evening.