Coming soon, my first impressions of Saga Sapphire, – I spent two hours crawling over the ship in Southampton this afternoon. But before boarding the newest gem in Saga’s fleet, I had to take a quick look at Saga Pearl II before she was transformed into Quest for Adventure.
Actually, it’s something of an exaggeration to say she has been transformed. Although she has inherited a number of crew from predecessor Spirit of Adventure, little has changed in the fabric of the ship. The new name had been painted on the bow while I was enjoying a chicken curry for lunch in the dining room, but the stern had still to be dealt with by the time I left.
Popular cruise director Neil Horrocks is among those who have transferred, and he is looking forward to finding a steam train when he calls at Douglas in the Isle of Man during this nine-day Castles and Legends cruise to ports in the UK and Ireland.
He has been joined by his indefatigable assistant, Angela Cherry, and the tireless Clive Carrington – cocktail pianist by night and outdoor pursuits organiser by day. And he is looking forward to a summer calling at the sort of out-of-the-way ports which his former ship made its speciality; a new quest in the same spirit as the old . . .
About the Author: John Honeywell
John Honeywell is a travel writer specialising in cruise ships and cruise travel. Winner of CLIA UK's Contribution to Cruise award 2017.
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