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Friday; 29 Oct'10

Count down to 5 Nov!

Had final jab this morning - flu include swine flu and this afternoon went over to hearing specialist to get batteries for Glenys's hearing aids to last the trip, also tweaked them to provide a 'cruise' mode whereby background noise in dining room is kept to a minimum.

So now ready for the off and will start packing on Monday

Wednesday; 3 Nov'10

OK 2 days to go!

Today has been a day of trying to get the packing done! Not something I've been looking forward to because how do you get it all in....? We have to cater for daytime excursion, evening wear comprising formal, informal and casual days as well as general wear when we're 'at sea' between ports.

Well the first rule is to make a list of the clothes you think you need to take and then.... halve it! Or at least when it comes to shirts, socks and underwear as there is a laundry on board. So for this 30 day cruise we're working on enough for 7 days plus a couple and we'll do a weekly wash. So that's reduced the pile laid out on my bed but then there are trousers, jackets and shoes plus a warm coat ( for those cool evenings, they say!).

After a few hours of folding up short and long sleeved shirts, pyjamas ( yes I will be wearing them...those mossies can get every where ;-)) etc I've now packed them into my main case along with trousers. Wow the weight of the case is massive..but then we've no weight limit so that's OK. Another case is filled with shoes and various cables, adapters etc.

That just (!) leaves 3 jackets so they are in a M&S suit cover which will do nicely

Glenys has also filled a couple of cases and we're nearly there, I just hope the car picking us up has a big enough boot..!

We now have all of Thursday to change anything around, add to it (?) and finalize everything, labels are attached, paperwork checked, passports ( yellow fever certificates) plus cruise tickets placed into my computer bag..did I mention I'm ONLY taking my iPad as there isn't any reliable wifi on board and I can do everything I need with it.

So, stand by our beds..we're ready to go.................!

Friday; 5 Nov'10

Picked up by private car earlier than expected which was good as we want to be on our way. M3 fine until we get to Hook junction where traffic at a stand still! managed to get off and diverted via road to Alton and rejoined at Basinstoke, rest of journey uneventful.

Arrived at Southampton Docks and luggage taken away so made our way to ticket desk where we're issued with our onboard swipe card then over to have photo taken for ID purposes. Thereafter made our way on board and to our cabin (10). Luggage already all there. Left our hand luggage and made our way downstairs to Ballroom where tea and cakes/sandwiches served..great!

On return to cabin finished unpacking and at 4:30 put on our life jackets and made our way to the appropriate life boat station for instructions on what to do if it ever happens!!

Back to cabin, finished unpacking and relaxed until at 7:00 went to dinner. Joined the other 2 couples on our table, introductions made ( names forgotten at the moment!) but they seem fine. One couple is in next cabin to us & the other couple are first timers to Saga but been cruising for years with Princess Lines. Chatted during the meal which was, as always, very good ( I had the roast beef..great) and finished about 9:15 when we made our way to the ballroom to watch the oldies waltzing away.....too much for me so we retired.

So now finished this update and to bed, ship rolling a bit so taken a pill just in case.....

Sunday; 7 Nov'10

Since embarking on Friday we've now been at see for 2 days and are most of the way down to Madeira, in fact we're now due to arrive at Funchal some 12 hours early. This is due to Captain Rentell deciding to motor on at a brisk pace in order to avoid a weather front making it's way across to UK and if we had got caught then the Bay of Biscay would have been hell! Instead of which it was relatively calm with a light swell.

Tonight it's a formal dress code for dinner so we're all dolled up in our best and very nice we look too!

The other 2 couples on our table are Josephine & Victor, Diane & Paul whom we're gradually getting to know but seem a nice lot! The meals as usual have been quite superb and this time the wine is complimentary..which is great as the quality is very acceptable ;-)

Can't say the same for the evenings entertainment though from looking at the program, so I've not attended any to date.

Missed the cream teas for the last 2 days as it clashed with the F1 motor racing but I'll make up for it no doubt in the coming days!.

Monday; 8th Nov'10

After 2 days at sea since leaving Southampton we have now reached Funchal, Madeira. The weather yesterday changed from dull and coldish to a pleasant sunny day albeit with a cool wind. We actually arrived 12 hrs early at 7pm as Captain Rentell decide to sail at full speed (19knots) to get ahead of the nasty trough of low pressure that was making it's way across to the UK. This he has achieved and the only effect we had was a swell of a couple of metres high! So we now have a bit of free time ashore tonight before tomorrow's excursion starts.

Am lying here on our bed looking through our panoramic windows at Madeira port/town all lit up with its night time lighting! Temp outside is coolish but nice to walk about in. We'd finished our evening dinner and decided to have a stroll into the town itself. However it was quite a long stroll as the only way there was by going round the houses in the port, reconstruction going on all over the port. Sat for a while in the main eating places area and watched the world go by...mostly teenagers meeting up and wandering about.

Returned to the ship and as we're now somewhat tired out have decided to avoid the evening show...stand up comic by the name of Stan Johns..no we haven't heard of him either!

Not a lot happened during the day while on the way here..apart from eating & drinking!

So time to turn in, tomorrow we're off at 9 am on our walk on the wild side ;-) more then

Tuesday; Funchal, Madeira - 9th Nov'10

Woke early as we're off on a walk this morning, breakfast in cabin..just tea and toast...

Coach drove us up to the top of the mountain ridge where we began the walk...along 'lavadas' which are water channels that were used to bring water from springs down to the coastal region where Funchal is located. Underfoot is damp and ground reddish clay which is a bit slippery but the going was quite easy for the first hour. Arrived at cafe for coffee and cake then onward over slightly rougher ground but nothing we can't handle! Then on coach back to boat...light lunch and relax until 4:30pm when ship sails away to Dakar...!

Thursday; 11th Nov'10

Am sitting on our balcony at 4:30pm looking out across the vast expanse of the sea in a nice warm breeze, blue sky...! a short way from Dakar, Senegal which we will reach tomorrow morning.

Today has been quite hot and one needed to be careful about sunbathing, others seem to not care, and there are some strange sights lying around! Attended the morning lecture re Ivory Coast (Cote d'ivoire) which we reach next Tuesday at the port of San Pedro. Lunch was a choice of various currie's together with a glass of white wine...bliss!

After an hour or so Glenys insisted we went downstairs and have a swim, the water was quite warm and salty?

Tonight is a formal one again and we have invited the others on our table to our cabin for a pre dinner drink plus some canapes, seems a civilised way to do things ;-)

[post script] pre-diner drinks was a success even though the butler brought 6 Pina Coladas instead of just the one! Dinner was great with grilled giant prawns as main dish, very good and quite filling....

Have to be up early for 8:30am excursion tomorrow so breakfast in cabin.

Must remember insect repellant applied first then sun cream..

Friday; SENEGAL, Dakar - 12th Nov' 10

Sunday; SIERRA LEONE, Freetown - 14th Nov'10

Tuesday; IVORY COAST, SanPedro - 16th Nov'10

Friday; CAMEROON, Limbe - 19th Nov'10

Saturday; SAO TOME & PRINCIPE, Sao Tome - 20th Nov'10

Monday; BENIN, Contonou - 22nd Nov'10

Tuesday; TOGO, Lome - 23rd Nov'10

Thursday; GHANA, Tems (for Accra) - 24th Nov'10

Thursday; GHANA, Takoradi - 25th Nov'10

Typical Day at Sea - Mysteries of West Africa Saga Cruise

Of the 31 days we're away on this cruise there are 19 days (!) that are spent sailing between ports which comes as a bit of a surprise. When looking at the map one doesn't quite get the scale of the distances being covered and at an average of approximate 18 knots it still takes time to get from A to B.

Consequently these 'sea days' mean that you have to make the most of whatever is on offer by the ships personnel. I in particular find it always a bit of a strain since I'm not into deck quoits, shuffle board, darts, beginners bridge, line dancing, beanbag boules and tap dancing to mention but a few!......

Lectures however can be of some interest and on this cruise there have been a couple that have been worth attending;

Destination Lecture (in Ballroom) by Richard Grainger in particular have been very informative as, some days ahead of arriving there, he gives a potted summary using a slide projector of each port we visit. His delivery is very clear, concise and above all interesting in just 3/4hr. These are immediately followed by Cassie, Shore Excursion Manager, who provides details of what that particular country/port is all about including info re sites, currency, state of roads, toilets etc as well as corruption ( usually quite bad). Each specific excursion taking place from that port is then gone through in excruciating detail down to the exact number of steps that will be included (!) but then they do have to cater for all kinds of passenger abilities which are many and varied.

Photographers Lecture (in Cinema Theatre) by Dr Philip Lawson are a series of talks aiming to improve the passenger's competence with his camera. Each lecture takes a particular of photography whether relating to the camera's settings or to the actual best way of getting an interesting picture using various techniques i.e 2/3rds rule, light (dawn, sunset, position of the sun etc) and composition in general. Some useful tips were given about camera settings that one wasn't aware were available!

In addition he 'collects' passengers photos after each trip ashore either by downloading to his computer from their memory card or straight from the camera itself. He then sorts through them over the next 24hrs and after perhaps some post picture-processing prints the best 5 or so onto A3 photo paper and they are pinned up in the Brittania Lounge for all to see. Also a Digital Photo Frame nearby provides a slideshow of passengers pictures.

Other lecturers give the History of Africa in general and the countries we visit in particular

Bear in mind that the day is also interspersed with 'meal times' ;

Breakfast including from a Full English to just cereals, tea and toast!!

Mid-morning coffee and croissants ;-)

Lunch which can be either formal (in the dining room) or in the Lido Cafe and will consist of various hot and cold dishes often with a specific type i.e chili, Sunday Roast and BBQs ( in Lido only) followed by mouthwatering but waist expanding sweet dishes!!!

Afternoon tea which might have a theme such as Victorian, Viennese or Chocolate!

Evening Dinner mainly in the Dining Room but also a limited version in the Lido Cafe, where it is a 4 course meal of top restaurant food perfectly cooked to your liking. Once again there may be a theme; African, Captains Dinner, Oriental, French, Chef's Dinner, International and not forgetting the Gala Dinner as well or a dish that you might want specifically.

All this with complimentary drinks from G&Ts, Red & White Wine as well as exotic Pena Coladas etc ! You never need to be sober...!!

Post evening Dinner has entertainment provided in the form of a short Classical Concert followed by a proper Production Showtime where either the in-house Gail Davies singers and dancers perform or a Cabaret Showtime with a guest performer who will have joined the ship at one of the ports on the cruise. In general terms these performers may be persons who used to be in main line entertainment in the UK but have now 'retired' to do the cruises as they are no longer quite up to their younger selves! Or they may be persons who have never been heard of before....some performers are passable but often they are not and definitely not when they forget their audience has an average age of 72!!

By the end of the entertainment it's nearing 10pm and mostly we are all too tired to do much else although there is further music from the piano or the Starlight Trio in the various bars until gone midnight. So retire to the cabin, sleep and do it all again tomorrow unless we arrive at a port and go out on an excursion.

Monday; CAPE VERDE ISLANDS, Porto Grande - 29th Nov'10

Thursday; TENERIFE, Santa Cruz - 2nd Dec'10

Monday; SOUTHAMPTON - 6th Dec'10