Experiences

Our 40-something companion cruiser, Liz, has helped show us what life is like on board our all-inclusive ocean ship, Spirit of Discovery. You can read all of her blog entries below:

Let me introduce myself…

I’m Liz, a 45-year-old nurse, working in the NHS since the age of 17. I have a huge passion for travel, particularly cruising. Stepping on board I’m always in a hurry to complete the muster, then the holiday truly begins, and I’m ready for a new adventure. I’d describe cruising as a world unlike any other form of travel. For the duration of the cruise, my world exists out there in the ocean — a floating hotel — that moves to different countries each day. Increasing numbers of people under the age of 50 are cruising, and many may have assumed they can’t travel with Saga. With this in mind, I wanted to share my experience as a 40-something single traveller holidaying with my parents. This is our very first cruise with Saga. I have booked a single cabin a few doors down from my parents on board Spirit of Discovery. Cruising as a multi-generational group brings benefits, as we can choose to do as much or as little together as we wish. Also, I find that there is always something for each of us on the same ship. So, I mentioned mum and dad: Mum is 74 and dad is 77, they both enjoy exploring new cultures at the various ports we travel to. They showcase photographs of their day each evening when we meet for a pre-dinner drink; I love seeing and hearing about their wonderful memories and experiences, and I’d love to share them with you too. I will try to unpack some common myths about cruise holidays — dressing for a cruise and the pros of cruising in your 40s – and hopefully, I will provide some inspiration, whatever the age. So in the true spirit of discovery, (!) perhaps I can persuade you to come cruising as a family too.

First impressions

We were awake and at breakfast at 8am, Mum and I opted for Eggs Benedict and Dad had a full English breakfast. We wandered around the ship, familiarising ourselves with our surroundings, and we spent time relaxing in the living room for a while watching the world go by with a cappuccino. It's a lively area with and a good opportunity to meet and mingle with fellow passengers. Pre-dinner drinks at 6pm in the South Cape bar — passion fruit Martini for me and a malt whisky for Dad. For our evening meal, we opted for the Grand dining room. This is a lovely area with plenty of space between tables. The waiters and waitresses are so attentive and there are plenty of menu choices. There's definitely something for everyone.

Champagne breakfast

This morning started with a champagne breakfast — what a perfect way to start the day! This is our third day at sea and the ocean is a little calmer this morning and the sun is starting to shine through the cloudy skies. We are currently relaxing on deck six by the South Cape Bar, where there's a lovely seating area. It's the perfect space to watch the world go by and look out to the ocean. We had a swift walk around the promenade deck and managed four laps — apparently, 3.9 laps equates to a mile-long walk. This blew the cobwebs away! The views out to the Atlantic Ocean are magic. The warmer air is also noticeable. We are looking forward to warmer climes when we arrive in Madeira. Edgar is my cabin steward. What an amazing job the cabin stewards and all the Saga staff do. Nothing is too much trouble. Edgar keeps my cabin spick and span. Thank you, Edgar! We have decided to dine in The Grand Dining Room for lunch today and tonight is our first formal evening. I wonder what delicacies await us….? I will keep you posted. Bye for now, we're off to enjoy the rest of our day.

Formal evening

Formal evening! My parents and I decided on a blue theme for the evening: Dad wore his blue dicky bow, and mum and I opted for blue evening dresses. Mum came to my cabin to help me with my hair and the bun style that I wanted. Thank goodness for my mum, my very own mobile hairdresser, that travels with me. A little more about the dress code: Formal evenings on board Saga are a real chance to dress to impress. For ladies, formal nights are a chance to showcase a cocktail dress, evening gown or elegant separates. For gentleman, a tuxedo. Everyone we saw on board really made an effort for our first formal evening and there was lots of sparkle, glitz and glam amongst the ladies. All the gentlemen looked dapper in their tuxedos. The perfect first formal evening. What a grand affair the formal evening is. Everyone looked so elegant in their evening wear. It was lovely to see everyone dressed up, and it makes for a real sense of occasion. My parents and I were so busy chatting with fellow passengers and enjoying pre-dinner drinks in the South Cape Bar that we missed the Captain’s speech – sorry Captain, I hope you can forgive us. The evening meal in The Grand Dining Room was divine. I opted for haggis (with a wee dram) and the châteaubriand, which I requested medium — it was cooked to perfection and cut like butter. We were so tired after a busy day exploring the ship that we retired to the cabin after our meal and enjoyed a malt whisky from room service in mum and dad's cabin. I then left them in peace and retired to my cabin, and I was soon off to the land of nod.

Quality time

The past three days we have visited the islands of La Palma, Las Palmas and Tenerife. Mum and dad bring back tales of their day exploring and lots of pictures, which I love to see in the evening when we meet for pre-dinner drinks. Having visited the Islands previously, I have spent the majority of my time on the ship. I love being onboard — there's so much to explore, see and do. Also, there are independent travellers' meet-ups and solo meetups for single passengers who wish to mingle. These are well advertised in the daily Today paper. Reflecting on my holiday so far, I've really enjoyed being onboard and mingling with other passengers — being younger than most has been no issue for me. There's always plenty to chat about, and I find fellow passengers have so much knowledge and wisdom and there's a lot I can learn — especially hearing about other passengers' travel experiences and the places I have yet to travel to. There's so much to do onboard, I certainly haven't been stuck for things to do. The Today paper offers a wide range of varied activities such as deck quoits, table tennis and even a basketball court! There's also golf putting, where we can practice our putting skills with fellow guests. When I'm feeling less active, there are themed quizzes and music to relax to. The music tends to be themed around jazz sounds, ballroom and classical melodies. I particularly enjoy the relaxing sounds of the pianist. In cabin, I can access more modern music, which I enjoy listening to whilst getting ready for my evening. Being on holiday with my parents is fantastic. It is a real pleasure to spend quality time together, away from the hustle, bustle, and distractions of 'real life'. Having our own cabins just a few doors away from one another is perfect. We all have our own space, and we also have each other at the dial of the phone, or we are only ever a few footsteps away. I have really enjoyed the time with my parents and would recommend this experience to fellow travellers my age. It's a chance to spend quality time together and make unforgettable memories.

Anyone for lobster?

Time together is precious and eating with my parents in the evening is the perfect opportunity to catch up, exchange tales of our days and look through each other’s photos. There are plenty of options for solo travellers and families. Solo travellers can opt to share a table with other solo travellers at any of the eateries. There are also solo travellers' social meet-ups in the Britannia bar each evening, hosted by a Saga member of staff. There are so many dining options onboard Spirit of Discovery. Yesterday evening, my parents and I dined in Coast to Coast, a speciality seafood restaurant. The decor is light and airy and our table was large with comfortable seating. There was a large array of menu choices. I opted for the prawn starter and lobster main. We have been lucky enough to be invited to join the Staff Chief Engineer, Petar Velikov, tomorrow evening in the Grand Dining Room for our final formal evening. We very much look forward to meeting Saga staff and fellow guests. Now, I just need to plan which outfit to wear!

Reflections

What a holiday! My parents and I thoroughly enjoyed our time aboard Spirit of Discovery during the Capitals of Canary Islands cruise. Highlights include two champagne breakfasts and dining in the speciality restaurants — the Club was a particular favourite of ours. Our walks around the promenade deck were perfect and I loved the outdoor balcony space. In the mornings, it was so relaxing to order a pot of coffee from room service and enjoy the views from my very own balcony, enjoying my very own private space. I feel the Saga experience is perfect for younger travellers travelling with parents or as a companion. Our multi-generational cruise allowed us time together to visit multiple destinations without the hassle of packing and unpacking — which is unique. We enjoyed quality time together and treasured the Saga experience. We do have plans to travel again — with Saga — next year on board the beautiful Spirit of Discovery. We look forward to continuing our Saga cruise adventures together in 2025.

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