Author Topic: Pete Cain's final cruise on Saga Ruby (August / September 2013)  (Read 45471 times)

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Offline June Ingram

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Re: Pete Cain's final cruise on Saga Ruby (August / September 2013)
« Reply #60 on: Nov 13, 2013, 05:04 PM »
Thank you very much to Pete and Isabelle for more wonderful pictures and commentary about Ruby.  Great to have !
QE2 - the ship for all of time, a ship of timeless beauty !

Online Isabelle Prondzynski

Re: Pete Cain's final cruise on Saga Ruby (August / September 2013)
« Reply #61 on: Nov 13, 2013, 09:47 PM »
Thank you very much to Pete and Isabelle for more wonderful pictures and commentary about Ruby.  Great to have !

June, it gives me great pleasure to upload them, bit by bit, and I am so glad that Pete has sent these wonderful pictures my way for this purpose. I am of course reminded of a beautiful Baltic voyage I took on the same ship some years back, and the pictures bring those memories back, as well as showing me parts of the ship I had not paid much attention to at the time. Pete, you did a great job catching her while still going strong, and I shall be happy to upload many more (there are still quite a few coming I have realised!).

Offline June Ingram

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Re: Pete Cain's final cruise on Saga Ruby (August / September 2013)
« Reply #62 on: Nov 14, 2013, 02:35 PM »
June, it gives me great pleasure to upload them, bit by bit, and I am so glad that Pete has sent these wonderful pictures my way for this purpose. I am of course reminded of a beautiful Baltic voyage I took on the same ship some years back, and the pictures bring those memories back, as well as showing me parts of the ship I had not paid much attention to at the time. Pete, you did a great job catching her while still going strong, and I shall be happy to upload many more (there are still quite a few coming I have realised!).

Hi Isabelle - Thank you for your post.  It is great that you also have fine memories of Ruby.  Yes, Pete has done a marvelous job on his cruise catching Ruby's spirit with his photos.  I am very much looking forward to the upcoming postings.

QE2 - the ship for all of time, a ship of timeless beauty !

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Re: Pete Cain's final cruise on Saga Ruby (August / September 2013)
« Reply #63 on: Nov 18, 2013, 11:53 PM »
And now, Pete moves on to the main stairway, which I thought in 2004 was even more beautiful than any of QE2's stairways... but no, Pete, sadly I no longer remember the details, nor did I take photos at the time... yours, on the other hand, are fabulous!

Tried constantly to do justice to Ruby's forward stairway, think you might need a fisheye lens to get it all in. However, looking along the aft face of the stairs on Veranda deck towards Port & the entrance to Britannia Lounge / South Cape Bar.


Looking along the aft face of the stairs by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Looking down from top landing (Sun deck) to Veranda deck, the forward wall of the stairs are decked with marble tiling, really stunning & one of her best places.


Looking down from top landing by petercainqe2, on Flickr

A more detailed look at the forward wall tiling.


A more detailed look at the forward wall tiling by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Top landing again, showing some of Ruby's treasures (first visit plaques & the like), some very nice artifacts here (wonder what will become of them?). The entrance to the best suites are off to the right & directly opposite, also a locked door to the to the bridge I think.


Top landing again by petercainqe2, on Flickr

I don't know if the stairs are original here, maybe Isabelle can tell us, but they are lovely to behold.
« Last Edit: Jan 28, 2014, 09:39 PM by Isabelle Prondzynski »

Offline andy liney

Re: Pete Cain's final cruise on Saga Ruby (August / September 2013)
« Reply #64 on: Nov 19, 2013, 08:38 AM »
Michael Portillo presented one of his Railway Journeys on Sunday night, and Saga Ruby was visible in aerial shots, docked in Copenhagen. The film appeared to have been made during this last summer.

Offline Twynkle

Re: Pete Cain's final cruise on Saga Ruby (August / September 2013)
« Reply #65 on: Nov 19, 2013, 11:13 AM »
Pete - These photos are absolutely magnificent.
Will be on board on Saturday, and will carry my camera, knowing that whatever I take  -it'll be extremely difficult to capture anything like such good shots, as yours - specially regarding the forward staircase!

There is also to be a Fancy Dress Ball (complete with 170 ex-seafarers and their followers ;)  )
David Hutchings is one of the Lecturers and there is now WiFi throughout the ship!
(Had strong hopes that Captain Rentell might have been i/c. Since being i/c of QE2 he has spent many happy years on board the SR, however this may not be the case this time :(  ).

So sorry to miss you - I will leave the Book with hopefully more of the You-Know-Whats in the Pursers Office!
Very best regards to you and Mrs Pete,
Rosie xx


« Last Edit: Nov 19, 2013, 11:44 AM by Twynkle »

Offline June Ingram

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Re: Pete Cain's final cruise on Saga Ruby (August / September 2013)
« Reply #66 on: Nov 19, 2013, 05:32 PM »
Marvelous pictures, Pete !  Thank you, Isabelle, for posting them !  Rosie, please be sure to post the pictures you get.
QE2 - the ship for all of time, a ship of timeless beauty !

Offline pete cain

Re: Pete Cain's final cruise on Saga Ruby (August / September 2013)
« Reply #67 on: Nov 19, 2013, 07:40 PM »
Thanks again June, sadly coming to an end soon, not that many more to send Isabelle, (although she has a few in hand).  Rosie, if you catch this post, don't try laying down on the deck, looking up to get a deckhead view of fwd staircase lighting , unless you want to attract a crowd!!!!, and I was unsuccessful trying.

Offline June Ingram

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Re: Pete Cain's final cruise on Saga Ruby (August / September 2013)
« Reply #68 on: Nov 21, 2013, 06:01 PM »
Hi Pete - Thanks for your post and delighted that there are more pictures forthcoming.  Your documentary is amazing and many thanks to Isabelle for making it possible on the forum.  Any word on Ruby's future ?
QE2 - the ship for all of time, a ship of timeless beauty !

Offline Twynkle

Re: Pete Cain's final cruise on Saga Ruby (August / September 2013)
« Reply #69 on: Nov 21, 2013, 07:37 PM »
Thanks again June, sadly coming to an end soon, not that many more to send Isabelle, (although she has a few in hand).  Rosie, if you catch this post, don't try laying down on the deck, looking up to get a deckhead view of fwd staircase lighting , unless you want to attract a crowd!!!!, and I was unsuccessful trying.

Pete - Did you notice how every inch of that carpet on the landings is put to good use during the day time...quizzes, deck games etc as well as forming part of the ship's tour - it's space is used on all deck levels rather like Thomas Q's Heritage trail  on QE2!
Thinking of lying down - moi?  S'pose now you have mentioned it, I'll have to give it a go!
(A reminder of the time when Isabelle was photographed taking a great shot of QE2's QR ceiling!)
Very best to you and Mrs Pete,
Rosie

Online Isabelle Prondzynski

Re: Pete Cain's final cruise on Saga Ruby (August / September 2013)
« Reply #70 on: Nov 24, 2013, 10:13 PM »
Pete continues his days at sea southbound :

The deckhead of the forward staircase has an ovaloid recessed lighting detail similar to that above the pursers' desk & lobby outside the cinema / theatre, these are a theme & have to be original. I tried to catch the forward ceiling detail by lying on my back & looking up 3 decks, taking a shot, couldn't do it justice (have since found out that my camera has a fish eye app), much to the enjoyment of let's say older folk who had been thinking me odd for more than a week or so.

Moral here is don't buy a new camera days before you need to use it in earnest!

Said ceiling lighting above pursers' desk :


Ceiling lighting above pursers' desk by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Moving to midships stairs view, looking to starboard from Veranda deck, the stairs on the left hand side mid shot, going up to pursers' desk :


Midships stairs view, looking to starboard from Veranda deck by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Looking down, with pursers' desk behind :


Looking down, with pursers' desk behind by petercainqe2, on Flickr

This mini spiral staircase situated on the starboard side of Veranda deck gives a nice short cut to promenade deck (used this many times to avoid the inevitable crush on midships staircase).


Mini spiral staircase situated on the starboard side of Veranda deck by petercainqe2, on Flickr

At the top of the spiral staircase is a huge black & white photo of the original Caronia, maybe put there by Cunard during a refit, anyway it looks good, this doesn't do it justice.


Black and white photo of the original Caronia by petercainqe2, on Flickr
« Last Edit: Jan 28, 2014, 09:45 PM by Isabelle Prondzynski »

Online Isabelle Prondzynski

Re: Pete Cain's final cruise on Saga Ruby (August / September 2013)
« Reply #71 on: Nov 27, 2013, 11:33 PM »
Pete continues his North Sea southbound voyage on Saga Ruby and gets a bit of a look behind the scenes :

Perhaps many refits have robbed Ruby of many of her original features, certainly in the public areas -- I was always on the lookout for any opportunity which presented itself.

Computer Centre.  Readily available image anywhere, but behind the closed door is a conference room as shown in the next image.


Computer Centre by petercainqe2, on Flickr


Behind the closed door of the Computer Centre is a conference room by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Behind the scenes of the pursers' desk.


Behind the scenes of the pursers' desk by petercainqe2, on Flickr

In the rear port corner of the Ballroom is situated the bar, also a door for staff entry into Lido kitchen. On the wall adjacent is this little workstation showing the patches in the room as worked by table waiters.  I noticed that as a matter of routine, staff starting duty would always look on this noticeboard for ''to do's'' for the day.


Notices with the "To Do's" for the day by petercainqe2, on Flickr


Lido kitchen notice board by petercainqe2, on Flickr
« Last Edit: Feb 04, 2014, 10:46 PM by Isabelle Prondzynski »

Online Isabelle Prondzynski

Re: Pete Cain's final cruise on Saga Ruby (August / September 2013)
« Reply #72 on: Nov 27, 2013, 11:55 PM »
More pictures taken by Pete as he continues southbound -- love all these working areas!

Lifeboat launching station midships portside, looking aft.


Lifeboat launching station by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Daylight shot of similar on opposite side.


Lifeboat launching station by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Leaned as far as possible into the stern docking area, looking to port & looking aft.


Stern docking area by petercainqe2, on Flickr


Stern docking area by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Stewards' pantry tucked away on Promenade deck port, serving the B class cabins.


Stewards pantry tucked away on Prom deck port by petercainqe2, on Flickr
« Last Edit: Feb 04, 2014, 10:50 PM by Isabelle Prondzynski »

Offline June Ingram

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Re: Pete Cain's final cruise on Saga Ruby (August / September 2013)
« Reply #73 on: Nov 29, 2013, 03:04 PM »
Thank you very much, Pete, for the new photos added and the commentary.  Thank you very much, Isabelle, for posting them.  They are truly a fitting tribute to Ruby's legacy !
QE2 - the ship for all of time, a ship of timeless beauty !

Online Isabelle Prondzynski

Re: Pete Cain's final cruise on Saga Ruby (August / September 2013)
« Reply #74 on: Nov 29, 2013, 11:50 PM »
Pete continues his exploration of the ship and brings us more pictures that no one may have taken before him :

It looks like this view (port amidships) is more or less original, note the windows.


It looks like this view (port amidships) is more or less original, note the windows by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Section aft  of the previous & major works have been carried out to windows in some previous refit, I would guess (prefer the original myself).


Section aft of the previous & major works have been carried out to windows by petercainqe2, on Flickr

This beautiful chest is in the background of image1 above, so well looked after & on lifting the lid, found it contains cones, hose pipes, warning notices (re slippy deck ) & general paraphernalia, it's got to go somewhere I guess. I'd give it a good home!.


Beautiful chest filled with various paraphernalia by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Took the liberty of opening these two simple metal lockers, on starboard side, contents similar to the pristine chest on the opposite side of the ship.


Simple metal locker, on starboard side by petercainqe2, on Flickr


Simple metal locker, on starboard side by petercainqe2, on Flickr
« Last Edit: Feb 04, 2014, 10:53 PM by Isabelle Prondzynski »