After touring Saga Sapphire back in October, we arranged to visit Saga’s other, slightly smaller vessel, Saga Pearl II in Southampton on 8th December.
Built in 1981, this little gem joined the Saga fleet in 2010 and has a near identical, sister ship, Astor, currently operating for Cruise & Maritime Voyages.
We boarded shortly before 11am on a sunny, yet cold December Monday morning. Once on board, we headed to the reception desk where we would be shown around the vessel by Alice, part of the entertainment team. Also located next to guest services is the shore excursions desk.
We began our tour of Saga Pearl II on C Deck. This is where the spa and gym is located on board. The spa is quite spacious, considering the size of the ship, with multiple treatment rooms and a sauna.
After seeing the spa, we checked out B deck. Besides cabins, this is where you’ll find the cinema and beauty salon. Unfortunately, the salon area was closed when we were touring, which prevented us from going in and taking photos. The cinema presents daily films and lectures, which are then shown on the in-cabin televisions a day later. Some of the chairs can be moved, to make way for dance and fitness class lessons.
Moving on up to the main Promenade Deck, we toured the Discovery Lounge, the show lounge on board Saga Pearl II. This is a lovely place to sit and relax during the day time, enjoying the sea views. During the evening, spectacular production shows by the singers and dancers as well as live music acts, entertain guests through the night. The Discovery Lounge is also home to the exquisite daily afternoon tea.
Situated not far from the Discovery Lounge, is Shackleton’s. If you’re looking for great live music and a few drinks after a sumptuous evening meal, then this is the place to head for. Located mid-ship on Promenade deck, it’s also a great place to socialise with fellow guests in the daytime and relax with a good book from the library, which is also close by.
Just around the corner from Shackleton’s is the Card Room, Photo Gallery and Library. The library features an array of books and magazines, perfect for reading in a lounge or out on deck.
As we moved toward the aft of the vessel, Alice lead us into a small room, called the Chart Room, which was located just next to the dining room. Inside was a large round table, which seated 10 diners. This is where the Captain dines each night along with some of his lucky guests!
Located next to the Chart Room, is the main dining room on board. As Saga Pearl II is a very intimate ship, there is only one dining time. Guests can choose to have their evening meal anytime between 7 and 9pm in the main a la carte restaurant or the Verandah buffet restaurant, located on Boat Deck.
After touring the Promenade Deck, we visited the Boat Deck. The majority of the deck consists of suites, however the outdoor pool and Verandah restaurant can be found towards the aft.
The Bridge Deck is home to some of the largest cabins available, as well as the Sundowner Bar. This small bar is a great little hideaway, which leads directly onto the tiered decks at the aft of the ship.
To complete our tour of Saga Pearl II, we ventured onto the Sun Deck, which includes the sports court, shuffleboard and table tennis.
After a pleasant tour, we ventured back inside for lunch in the main dining room. To begin, I had a delicious beef and tomato consommé, which was served with a tasty cheese stick. After a delicious appetiser, I enjoyed an equally delicious pepper crusted sirloin steak, which was served with a jacket potato, onion ring and seasonal vegetables. The steak was also smothered in a mouthwatering Choron sauce. Yummy, right!?
And if those images haven’t made you hungry, then the heavenly chocolate hazelnut pudding served with a creamy vanilla sauce will!
After our amazing lunch, it was unfortunately time to disembark the vessel. A huge thanks to Alice for showing us around the intimate and splendid Saga Pearl II and to Naomi for making this trip possible for us.