PORTSMOUTH

After a bit of a lie-in, a relaxing breakfast stop and a 30-minute scenic drive, we arrived at Portsmouth in good time. I’d been informed that embarkation would be from 1pm until 3pm. When we pulled up at 12:20, however, we were not the first to arrive.

Saga seem to have the whole getting on board thing well sewn-up, and the experience for incoming passengers is generally swift and seamless. At the first stop, we off-loaded our luggage, and at the second stop, we handed over the car to a valet who would park it for us. Once inside the terminal building, we were checked-in with our passports and Covid vaccination information, scanned through security, and transferred by a bus to the Spirit of Discovery’s gangway.

Once on board, a porter showed us to our cabin… and that was it. We were on… and nobody, so far, had tapped us on the shoulder to tell us that there had been a terrible mistake and that we should collect our belongings and sling our hook.

The adventure had finally begun.

Last year, we were on the Spirit of Adventure, and I have to say that this time it all felt a little bit like deja vu, because both vessels, being sister ships, are almost identical in every way. That little bit of familiarity was welcome; our cabin felt like we’d been there before even though we hadn’t, and walking around the ship for the first time also felt intuitive and not like the first time on a strange ship at all.

Lunch in ‘The Grill’ – for me – was Sunday Roast, accompanied by Minestrone soup and a refreshing glass of rose wine. Which brings me to some of the most notable perks of being on a Saga ship, of which there are many.

Drinks being inclusive is not something that I’ve encountered on any previous cruise line, but with Saga it’s all part of the package. Wi-fi is also not only free, but available throughout the ship, including in the cabin. In the past, I’ve spent a fortune trying to stay connected when working at sea, usually on wi-fi that is not only expensive, but also notoriously flaky and unstable, and available in only a limited number of places on board ship. To be able to check my emails for free from the comfort of our own cabin is still something of a novelty.

A pickup service for passengers within 250 miles of the port is convenient for many, and having gratuities included also makes it easier for folks to budget for their holiday. Having a clutch of inclusive shore excurions is also a bonus I would say… what’s not to like?… (Speaking of ‘clutch’, the car was absolutely fine this morning).

Even the obligatory emergency drill is handled in true, unintrusive fashion. All passengers are required to watch the safety video in their room before the sounding of the alarm (7 short blasts followed by one long one). Once the alarm has been sounded, we all had to attend our muster station, but only briefly to be checked-in, and even the wearing of lifebelts wasn’t required.

After the drill, our attendance was requested in the Chart Room for a neeting of all the entertainments team. This is also where I was given a copy of the cruise planner telling me that I will be giving two classes every sea day (one in the morning and one in the afternoon), in the Coast to Coast restaurant. It will mean carrying all the class gear from one end of the ship to the other every day, but I’m satisfied with the space I will be expected to work in, and the staff member – Bradley – who is assigned to making sure everything is right for me is not only enthusiastic and efficient, but he’s also a nice guy, who we’ve met before on CMV ships in the past (he was on the Marco Polo with us when we sailed around South America).

Everything is set then. I’ll be giving mmy first class in the morning at 9:30am. Signup is from 9am, so it’ll be interesting to see how many folks turn up.

After a very pleasant dinner this evening, we returned to the cabin, where I’ve spent the evening cutting up sheets of watercolour paper in preparation… bring it on…