Saga Ruby - World Cruise 2013

[Twynkle]

Saga Ruby was due to leave for her final world cruise from Southampton on Monday (last) 7th January.
Unfortunately her stbd engine is causing concern - she is still alongside in Soton, with passengers standing by....
There are various possibilities being considered by the company, and we will 'know more by Friday'.

As some friends already know, The Ruby is our next 'excitement' - joining in BA  and sailing to Sydney, first east via the Falklands, round Cape Horn, up the coast, then on to Easter Island, with yet another attempt to reach Christchurch, NZ. 40 nights and no WiFi on board, hoping to keep in touch...? It's a segment of her final worldie - something we regard as special as well as important
Heading off to buy torches...
(So it's not only hopes for QE2, hopes for the Ice-Team - now it's hopes for The Ruby and her crew and  passengers, too!
Rosie

[tdickson]

I was working on the "Ruby" both on Monday (What a day of Chaos) and also yesterday until just after 2.00pm when she cast of her lines and was towed by 2 tugs from berth 101 City Terminal, around to berth 40 where Saga expect her to stay for 7/10 days whilst repairs take place.
Back to Monday: We started to Dis-Embark pax from just after 9.00am until about 11.45am as per usual.
All Embarking passengers that arrived before 4.00pm where asked to drop off luggage and were then escorted to the "De Vere" hotel, presumably for lunch, this was due to a "Deep Clean" at this stage nothing had been announced regarding her not sailing.
At about 13.00hrs we were all summoned to a "Brief" as follows, we were to accept luggage etc.. as per normal but NOT to mention to pax that the ship was not going to sail, passengers then proceeded to check in to be given "2" Options.
Option 1: To be returned back home via their chauffeur driven transport, after collecting their luggage from the baggage hall, where it had been laid out alphabetically rather than transferred to ship.
Option 2: To stay on board the ship for the evening & overnight and then taken home the following morning,hence we were there yesterday
All things considered and 2 days of chaos, the majority of passengers were quite calm and understanding and now await confirmation as of when their "World Cruise" will commence

[tdickson]

More on this story available on "Cruise Critic" News.

Oh I feel really sorry for two (2) passengers, father and son travelling together, they were going to do the first leg of "Ruby"s voyage down to Tenerife and stay in a hotel for 7 nights before returning home. Apparently this was an alternative cruise that was offered to them as compensation from Saga Ruby for the "Christmas Markets" cruise which cancelled on the 14th December 2012. What dreadfull luck. I got the impression that they wont bother again !!

[Twynkle]

No news of a sailing date, just yet
http://www.seatrade-insider.com/News/News-Headlines/Saga-Rubys-delayed-world-voyage-Engineers-working-round-the-clock-on-crankshaft-repairs.html

Some lovely images of her in SOTON
http://vmf-cruiseshipsandliners.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/saga-ruby-at-southampton.html

[Twynkle]

"To be confirmed tomorrow"
Saga Ruby will be starting her final "worldie" on Feb 20th.
She will not be crossing the Pacific Ocean.
"This is not a rumour" Saga said this evening.

[Rob Lightbody]

"To be confirmed tomorrow"
Saga Ruby will be starting her final "worldie" on Feb 20th.
She will not be crossing the Pacific Ocean.
"This is not a rumour" Saga said this evening.

Ouch. What a shame for her passengers who would have been looking forward to it so much.

Glad they'll manage to fix her though...

[Twynkle]

Saga were telephoning all full world pax today, and tomorrow, it will be the turn of the segment pax to discover what is proposed.

http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/captain-greybeard/2013/01/engine-room-repairs-cut-saga-r.html

[tdickson]

I heard the same news earlier today regarding the new departure date of 20th FEB 2013, in addition to that all  crew members have been offered the chance to go home for the next month or so if they so desire (@ there own expense I believe) & then re-join the ship mid Feb when required by Saga (@Saga"s expense) New sailing  schedule is expected to be announced tomorrow, but will now only be 66 Days 

[pete cain]

latest update   issued about 6hrs ago apparently 
 
    http://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/news.cfm?ID=5163,  poor Ruby.

[tdickson]

For anybody that maybe interested, "Ruby" has moved back to City Terminal " berth 101 where she will now stay until she sails on the 20th February 2013 on her revised "Worldie" other than sea trials once repairs are completed, most parts for her repair have now arrived from Holland, the rest  of the re-machined parts expected over the course of this weekend.
She looks good especially all lit up in the evenings on the waterfront here in Southampton

[pete cain]

Regarding reply#9 above , any chance of posting a photo for us to look see , would be nice.....

[Mauretania1907]

I hope to be able to see her when she arrives in Auckland on Feb 28th (for last time  ) and remember the other times I saw her as Vistafjord.

[tdickson]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news for you "Mauretania 1907" but Saga Ruby is still here in Southampton, her last world cruise, due to sail on the 7th January, was cancelled and she has been here ever since, her new departure date is next week 20th February 2013. Her voyage reduced from 109 days down to 66 days and I do not she is heading into the pacific at all.
More info on another thread Saga Ruby world Cruise 2013 

[Twynkle]

I hope to be able to see her when she arrives in Auckland on Feb 28th (for last time  ) and remember the other times I saw her as Vistafjord.

Hi Ellen,
Hoping you are keeping well.
About the call to Auckland- I was all ready to have another attempt at suggesting a meet-up when we got news from Saga that The Ruby had a broken crankshaft (found on routine examination) and so for the second time, our hopes to return to ChCh have been thwarted, together with our much looked forward to passage across the Pacific segment on the lovely ship.

All the very best - and enjoy the remains of summer!
Rosie

[pete cain]

 Going by this things look a bit better for Ruby , hope all goes well when she has her trials , and subsequent cruises this year (maybe mr Saga might keep her a wee while longer & get some of his money back , she has as good a following as QE2 had).

      http://travel.saga.co.uk/holidays/ocean-cruises/saga-ruby/captains-blog.aspx