ighten

32 minutes ago, lincslady said:

Great news on the testing and negatives.  Is it Bordeaux next?  

Yes.. Captain has just informed us we will enter the river Gironde sometime after 5.00am for the slow journey south to Bordeaux.  Twilight is 5.00am and sunrise 7.00am should you wish to watch the journey down. We Dock at 10.00am

Lovely sail away.. a nice little crowd gathered as we're the first cruise of the year.  Just a pity we couldn't return the favour by spending our money in the shops restaurants and bars..

Nice view of the transporter bridge as we left.

Arrived into Getxo this morning and had breakfast in the room .. Its an early start as we head out for a coastal hike.

We we're lucky enough to see Bilbao and the guggenheim museum in Dec on a Fred Olsen.

Quite a few disappointed that Saga are not allowing that tour to go ahead but tbf I can understand this decision as when we were there even when it wasn't super busy our guide could not even speak to us in the rooms and we had a bit of a disjointed experience where he would tell us what we would see in the next room then expect us to find it. I imagine it may be busier on a bank holiday.

Our hike was lovely starting in a cove before climbing the cliffs to a lighthouse then a rocky path to the lighthouse.

Back for testing and just had the update from the captain 100% negative  for test and crew.... And....no more testing for the rest of the cruise.

Off to watch the sail away. 

Quick update after 2 days of 100% pass rate staff and pax we had 2 pax yesterday.

It was however then mentioned that tonight would be the last night of testing.

Hard to find any logic then in why we can't do our own thing as yet again today some guests decided the hike was a little tougher than they thought so we're just allowed to wander back to the town to find a coffee bar.

Ironically from tomorrow Spain relaxes all mask rules. TBF the trips on this cruise at the moment feel less restricted than the trips we had on Cunard in Jan as masks were mandatory even outside at all time. Here for most people it's masks off as soon as you leave the ship or bus (or go inside a building) which is probably a good thing as it has been warm at times.

Returning to the evening Khukuri was very good. Not exceptional enough for us to want to return (A Little underspiced for myself) but obviously very popular as it was full to the limit.

The prawns though were exceptional. Think I would order that dish a main in future. 

Mid way through the meal we set sail for Getxo. Captain announces another 100% pass rate for the crew but we have 2 cases for pax. Tomorrow though he is pleased to announce will be the last day for testing. So I feel for the cpl who showed today because by this logic if they develop it in 36hrs it doesn't matter.  From Tuesday Spain also relaxes all mask rules. Not sure why we're being told this as Tuesday is the first day in France.

Ventured back to the theatre tonight for the west end show which is excellent.. trick seems to be sit near the front as it sounds a lot better. 

Some other  random pics from the library whose carpet makes you feel like the wine was stronger than you thought. And I managed to get a first washing load done.. how exciting 😉

4 hours ago, Kohima said:

On our October cruise with no independent exploration, we spent a similar enjoyable day in Santander. The differences were that no morning coffee was allowed anywhere and we had to pay for the afternoon trip. Incidentally, was there any track and trace of where and with whom people were sitting for the morning coffees?

No.. pretty much pointed in the direction of the bar or shopping street and given a return meeting spot time

This morning we have a fantastic sail into Santander. It's another 2 trip day. I get the impression everyone is doing 2 trips a day due to the extra freebies.

SAGA have extras for breakfast available as it's Easter Sunday. 

First trip was a free panoramic through the town  and then up for a walk around the Royal Palace on Magdalena Island.

We then drove out to the peninsula to see the light house and had a little free time for morning coffees and brandys. Quite why this venue/bar is any different to others where the trip has been cancelled due to Saga having no control of the bars policy will forevermore be a mystery. 

After lunch we headed out to the beautiful town of Santillana for a guided tour of the cobbled streets and palaces.

Back in time for a covid test.. passed.. now waiting for a local band to play for us from the Quay for sail away.. then dinner at Khukuri House

He also mentioned Easter bunny's are doing mysterious things which washed over me as we have dinner.. crew also announced as 100% in testing today.

So dinner.. An Angus Beef terrine and a

beautiful Halibut dish.

Then another superb night dancing in the Brittania lounge to the Brittania band and a cabaret performance from one of the female vocalists from the performance team.  Flaking out as we get past 11.30pm but the mysterious Easter bunny's have been at work in the cabin 

Just to add on the current SoA cruise now they have added more and more excursions after departure. And also made some of the pay ones free.. its actually reached a point where we are off the ship more than we normally would be. Last 2 days have been full days .. Today's tbh didn't feel much different than normal times as we were allowed to wander shops, markets, bars on our own anyway..  the irony though is they canceled a cpl of our trips and replaced them with an alternative because they couldn't guarantee the covid policy's of the venue. Yet then they are giving you free time and directing you to the bars to try the Austurian cider. Granted at 11.00am your likely to be the only person in a Spanish bar but it does seem odd.

Arrived into a grey Gijon but by the time our trip reached Oviedo ghis morning it was another beautiful day as Bono would sing.

We arrived early and things feel nice and relaxed.

Another excellent guide. Only disappointment is not be able ho enter hge Cathedral due to the Easter celebrations combined with the covid policy but we fo get to see some of the wonderful  parades.

we also get some freedom in the markets and bars to buy local paprika and try the famous cider.

Back to the ship by 1pm where we just have time for lunch before being whisked on another tour of  Gijon. A stunning port to visit.

just arrived back at the ship in time for a covid test which we are cleared negative for by the time we get back to the cabin. Entertainment for sail away is two fold. A local traditional celtic bagpipe troop and then the band on the lido.

Quick update as I write. Captain Jason just announced another day of 100% covid clear success and as the winds are light he will be allowing the trainee helmsman to take her out to sea.

Still all that dancing should take a few calories from the superb cornish yarg and the foie gras starter from dinner.

Tomorrow is another day of two trips am and then mid afternoon, again due to Saga rearranging certain trips or making paid ones free and adding extra afternoon activities. 

Great evening in thd Brittania lounge. As the light faded the dancing started I'm exhausted but still going.

Slipped into A Coruna his morning. It's the third time in three months and for the first time we are actually taking a more detailed tour of the town having visited Santiago and Lugo previously. First trip is a walking hour around the old quarter visiting the churches and monasteries.

We get  the same excellent guide we had in Lugo in December. Most enjoyable and we actually got to enter every church. (There has been some concerns that Sagas policy's will not allow this and a few trips have been changed) Here( as these are small churches) the guide checks the church is empty before we get to go in. The Santiago trip today had its entry to the Cathedral officially cancelled though. Numbers are too high being good Friday 

Walked all the way back to the ship for lunch. Then back out on another trip .As I mentioned before some pay trips have become free and some extra trips have been added to the afternoon. This time a coastal drive with walking stops.

then back just now for the covid test..  2nd one now. Yesterday caught 1pax and we had 1 pax whose 2nd more detailed test on boarding had failed. Today we had a 100% pass rate. 

Setting off now time to get ready for dinner. 

Beautiful evening.. we both had the Dover sole which was perfect. Nice to see a 100% turn out for formal night.

We then spent a full evening in the Brittania lounge which started with a solo session from one of the theatre singers (Excellent culminating in a perfect renditions of Stars from les Mis). The band then returned with the singer and the evening was spent dancing with the girls from the production team.

now just pulling into A Coruna with breakfast in the room. Clocks went forward but slept well as we got rid of the quilt and had it changed for sheets so not too hot. 

Covid test was painless with little queueing.  By the time we got back to the cabin they had rung to give an all clear.

Formal night tonight as we cross theBay of Biscay. It looks calm and quiet. Last 2 times we were crossing  (Dec21,Feb22) on Freds Borealis and Queen Elizabeth it was a different story.l

So first day of testing.. seems to be going smoothly. Assigned time to Brittania lounge then go to cabin await phone call for result.

I forgot to mention a few of the paid excursions have been turned into free excursions. What's a little confusing is because saga do the same excursions several times a day but for some unknown reason don't put the time on your tkt it's a little  confusing trying to squeeze the free new ones around your already booked plans.. this did cause a bit of chaos yesterday at the excursions and guest service desk which tends to result in the opposite to social distancing that saga are trying for.  Simple solution put the time on the tkt.

Awoke to the fog horn blasting in the misty channel.

By the time we had an breakfast and coffee it had turned to this.

Only disappointment last night was the show.. my pet hate is backing taped music in shows; strips the dynamics and left it sounding flat. Think we,ll stick to the excellent band in Brittania lounge

On SoA last night we had a letter to say the first 5 days (all the Spanish days) we will be daily tested. Still feels like Saga are looking for the problem unless of course this is being forced on them. 

We shall  see how it goes.. but so far all good.

Managed to get a quick Norwegian fjord triple with the 35% off just before we set off for SoA.. so happy with that for now. 

Dinner on the first night is now pre allocated.. though for some reason our info never made it to the cabin.. anyway a lovely meal in the supper club..

"she'll have the lamb... bloody" Place the quote?

4 minutes ago, Truro001 said:

Bon Voyage. Hope you have a great cruise. You are off to a good start - the sun is shining!

It's a lovely evening on the  solent

Cast off 6pm

As usual I will at some point add a lot more detail and photos to the blog but we arrived via a rather circular route the Saga driver had decided on. Can't decide if he didn't want to pay the toll or fancied a tour of Cheltenham but we were on board after being tested efficiently in car by 1.45pm.

First impressions are excellent from the immediate greeting and personal service from boarding to your cabin to the beautiful interior and overwhelming sense of space.

Ship is around 70 to 75% capacity and according to one waiter has a much younger age group than the norm.

Muster complete so it's time to get ready for dinner and decide where to eat. Only disappointment so far is one tour of the lakes cancelled due to Saga having no control over the covid policy of the restaurant they were going to use. I still find this a little bizarre as a lot of our Saga trips still indicate we will be given our own free time.

Made it.. actually quite well organised and not as bad as I feared. Will add anything else to a new thread unless it becomes relevant to this.

Made it.. actually quite well organised and not as bad as I feared. Will add anything else to a new thread unless it becomes relevant to this.