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 Friday, 16 May 2008 |
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Saga Rose: Over 50s Cruising |
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Written by David Ellis
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Wednesday, 21 March 2007 |
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OVER-50s CRUISERS REPUTATION’S A FRAME-UPby David Ellis
“Don’t trip over any walking frames, dear,” my wife chortled. “Don’t want you on one yourself.”
Cause for her mirth was my cruising with some fellow scribes on the British liner Saga Rose, a cocoon of classic ocean-going yesteryear elegance for just 580 of we over-50s.
I board in Sydney for Brisbane, Hamilton Island and Cairns, a mere blink on Saga Rose’s annual 108-night Round World circumnavigation from Southampton via South America, Antarctica, the South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, South East Asia, Middle East and Mediterranean.
Our steward Rocky, whom we dub “Perpetual Smile Man,” shows us to our cabin: they’re spacious with two beds, double portholes, ensuite, bath and shower, plenty of toiletries, a basket of fruit, and wardrobes made for long-distance cruising.
After unpacking I head for the poolside bar that’s bubbling with conversations; our sister-ship, Saga Ruby is also in Sydney and we move line-astern off the Opera House for a spectacular fireworks display to mark this historic first-ever meeting of the “Saga Sisters” in Sydney.
So far there’s not been a walking frame in sight.
A shipboard exploration reveals under-stated style from another-era: polished timber and buffed brasswork, chandeliers, deep-pile carpets, a promenade deck for morning exercise classes and hearty walks, a sunny pool, rooms for cards, lectures, quizzes and computer learning, a ballroom for dancing (including free lessons,) West End-style shows and our kind of movies…
Our first night dinner’s a choice between a casual buffet on deck as we head down Sydney Harbour, or indoors in the main Dining Room. We opt for the diversified buffet, and next night go more formal at the Captain’s Welcome Dinner at which the ladies’ baubles flash lightning strikes around the Room.
Dinners in the Dining Room are 5-course affairs: this night I over-indulge on Chicken and Duck Salad with a fresh Strawberry and Mango Sauce, Oxtail and Madeira Consommé, Australian Turbot under a Tomato Cream and layered atop a Caper, Orange and Fennel Mash, with accompanying vegetables. I finish with an easy dessert: three flavoured ice-creams – followed by cheese and crackers.
Wines come from Europe, Californian, South American, South African, New Zealand and Australia: we choose an Italian Trentino Pino Grigio and a McGuigan Hunter Valley Shiraz.
Then nightcaps in the North Cape Bar and finally a show by an illusionist. I make a note to email my wife later: Still No Walking Frames.
As we roll gently north next morning, nimble 50- to 80-somethings are interspersing speed deck-walks with push-ups, leg-stretches and touching toes.
I’m loitering instead at the indoor/outdoor Lido Cafés groan-board buffet: fruit, cereals, cold cuts, cheeses, fish, sausages, bacon, chops, eggs all ways, croissants, muffins…
Afterwards at a talk by a former Concorde test pilot we discover our fellow passenger’s insatiable appetites for learning and making new friendships. “You’ll get younger on Saga Rose, not older,” confides one sprightly 85-year old… who is then off to Line Dancing, a quiz and carpet bowls.
We take drinks poolside before the lunch choice of soup, salads, roasts, seafoods, cold meats, old-fashioned bread and butter pudding, cheese and fruit… and ice-cream from a wicked round-the-clock self-serve dispenser.
And so life is indulged over five grand nights as Cairns comes too quickly: we’ve still other lectures we’d like to attend, shows and movies to see, British Afternoon Teas with the most-luscious scones, fruit tarts and slices, cream cakes and cookies at sea, and Midnight Snacks we never quite got to…
I email my wife: Still No Walking Frames – or Kids or Hard-Partying Desperates and Dateless...
Ohhhh yeah…
CRUISECO sells Saga Rose exclusively in Australia. 100-nights Round-world from Southampton on January 5 2008 costs from $22,711pp twin-share including a 40% Early Bird Booking Discount. “Half World” (Southampton-Sydney or v.v.) starts from $10,658pp with Early Bird Discount. Brochures from your nearest Cruiseco cruise agency through 1800 225 656; Early Bird Discounts can be withdrawn any time. Air is additional to cruises.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 05 April 2007 )
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