Saga Ruby (ex-Caronia and ex-Vistafjord)

[Stowaway2k]

ex-Vistafjjord, now Saga Ruby

my 12-minute video slideshow tribute to the third Cunard ship to carry the name CARONIA

http://www.vimeo.com/3136084
from a May 2004 Med cruise

enjoy  

[singlemalt]

Beautiful ship Kyle - did you enjoy travelling on her?

I had the pleasure of being in port with Saga Ruby twice while away this Christmas / New Year on a cruise.
The ship I was on wasn't that fabulous and if I'm being honest, seeing Saga Ruby is probably one of the highlights of the whole God forsaken 2 weeks!
I was up on deck very early to sail in behind her and out watching her as we departed. Had a lovely day in Gran Canaria where we were berthed behind her and I got some great shots from the quayside in bright sunshine...then some not so good ones in driving rain in Lanzarote!

Rob got lucky (?!) with some very early morning photo messages - she looked very beautiful in semi darkness with all her lights on; just like a mini QE2  I shed a few tears and did slightly wish I was 50 so I would be allowed to travel on her.

Will post a link when I've uploaded pictures to flickr so you can see what she is looking like now!

Ali

[Waverley]

Ali,
    I am sure that you could have travelled on this ship. I think that the rules are -  as long as you are travelling with someone who is 50+  you are OK.  Except if you are a child , a big NO

Kyle, I enjoyed the video slideshow

Robert

[Stowaway2k]

Beautiful ship Kyle - did you enjoy travelling on her?

Positively
I would rate her as an equal to QE2, in terms of style and beauty.
She's just smaller...

Her passenger load seemed to be a bit more towards the OAPs than QE2, but that has nothing to do with whether or not I'm going to enjoy a ship.

She's a gorgeous ship and was meticulously maintaned.

Cunard's decision to be rid of her signalled a confirmation of their shift from luxury niche to more mass-market.

Saga has made a great success of Saga Ruby, even improved upon her, so it's a mystery as to why Cunard felt she was no longer "Cunard" enough...

Just look at what has followed.   

[Mauretania1907]

Saga Rose is coming to Auckland for I believe the last time in about 10 days time. I hope to be down at Princes Wharf to take a few pix before going to work. I saw her last as Sagafjord and I think I have pix, but would have to get a print to scan. Sorry I have an old-style camera, cannot do Flicker or whatever. How lucky we are that people can do all this so we can share memories. I am so grateful to everyone.

[singlemalt]

Just uploaded a set to flickr - taken at the end of December.

For anyone who wants to see what she looks like now.... 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/singlemalt_ali/sets/72157614114435393/

[pete cain]

Dear Singlemalt, fantasitic shots, you've just got to ask yourself what do people want nowadays?? these (non sexist) ladies have so much class , I wished I looked so well!. It happened with Norway & I'm afraid it might happen  with our girl,life isn't all about balconies!     (put up another parking lot!!!)

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Beautiful pics, Ali! Yes, it was well worth travelling to Gran Canaria to see her    !

My Mum, a family friend and I took a cruise to the Baltic on Caronia, just a few months before her handover to Saga in 2004. Here are some of the pics I took at the time (it was my very first year with a digital camera...) :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/sets/72157603740290159/

The atmosphere on board was so similar to QE2 that we sometimes mix up the two ships when reminiscing about our travels -- but of course she did not have the speed! I loved my cabin, which must have been quite close to the engine room... I enjoyed listening to the engine sounds, it was almost like hearing the ship speak to me 

If she were still Caronia, I would definitely go back, now that QE2 is not available this year... 

[Andrew Collier]

Wow, is it really possible that you don't have to be over 50 to take a trip on Saga Ruby?

I had often though how she must be second best to QE2 as far as classic liners left in service go, I'd love to take a trip....

Gonna go look up Saga's Rules now! 

[Waverley]

Singlemalt,
              Had a quick look at your photos of the ex Caronia on your Flickr site.  Then I kept going and viewed your QE2 photos. Now the photo of you with the QE2 in the background in Norway is absolutely stunning.  What a picture.

[Kindlychap]

You may accompany a over 50 on Saga providing that you are over 40. In cases of medical assistance or the like, that can be waived.

I'm not sure how all that sits with anti ageist legislation!

Matthew

[Andrew Collier]

Thanks Matthew for the info, those of us at 30 don't stand a chance then :-(

Maybe i'll have to join the crew....

[Bob C.]

Great photos Singlemalt!  I visited Sagafjord, Rotterdam and a few other cruise ships one Saturday in the early/mid-70's when a large number of cruise ships were in on the same day.  The event had a name but I can't remember it. 

I always thought Caronia (III) was the perfect cruising partner for QE2 as both had that certain elegance previous posts have mentioned.  I was sad to see her struck from the Cunard (Carnivore) roles.   I love the classic lines of the camber (deck curving up at the bow and stern) built in to her plus her white superstructure, dark blue hull, thin white stripe and red boot topping is still remiscent of her Cunard days.

[singlemalt]

Thanks Matthew for the info, those of us at 30 don't stand a chance then :-(

Maybe i'll have to join the crew....

Looks like we're in the same boat Andy - or rather we won't be for a good few years yet 

Thanks for the comments about the pictures everyone.
Isabelle - i really enjoyed wandering through your photos and seeing her as she was.
Robert - feel free to wander through my flickr QE2 stuff anytime. There is more to come when I get around to it.

She really looked like such a beautiful ship and ever so familiar lines - at least from the quayside 

Although I think my camera girl geekiness got spotted by crew from the ship (Black Prince) I was on at the time.
I did have one of the blokes with gold stripes and a funny accent asking "So many pictures of Saga Ruby. And what is wrong with my beautiful old ship that you are not taking as many pictures of her instead?"
No teak decks and old school glamour mate!

(Isabelle - these have been flickred but I'm still tagging them so currently set as private. Will let you know when done so you can get a sneak preview before you head off on her for yourself!)

[cunardqueen]

Saga Ruby/Rose for what its worth, if you know anybody onboard as a passenger, all they need to do is write a note to the Captain and usually a visitor permit can be arranged.
On a cruise down to the Canaries we docked behind Sagafjord and it was no problem to pop onboard for a look round
 Away back in the 80s when Vistafjord was calling into the Orkneys l got in touch with the local shipping agent and asked what the chances were of visiting onboard, mentioning l had just returned from a QE2 and was booked on her new Maiden Voyage, there was surprise that anybody would want to visit, but they would ask anyway, back came word send him down to the pier for 10am.

So down l trotted on the day, and there was a tender waiting, said who l was and off we went, met at the gangway by Perr the Restaurant Manager, never did forget his name, and off l was taken on a indepth tour including  into the kitchens as well and up to the bridge, l thought that would be the end of it then we went into the restaurant and presented with a menu l was being fed as well...babbled away about my QE2, and his family the job etc etc out came the wine after what seemed like 5 mins we had gone through soup, mains pudding and coffee and then time to leave again by tender and before leaving he presented me with a Vistafjord T shirt and fish plate and other odds and ends in a beautiful Cunard/NAC plastic bag and off l went happy as could be!!!

Fast forward 20 years and lm on the Hotel Managers Table and the host is The Purser, during the evening the above tale was recounted and it turns out He used to work with Perr many moons ago, and sadly he was very ill with a terminal illness and wasnt expected to last much longer.
 Managed to visit a few other ships when they called, the shipping agent thought l was nuts for wanting to visit a boat!!, But rest assured with varying degrees of visits and ship tours, Nobody looks after a visitor like Cunard