Pete Cain's final cruise on Saga Ruby (August / September 2013)

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Thank you very much for all these views, Pete! You take us into all the nooks and crannies that we wanted to see. I wonder whether there were any where you still found the original name Vistafjord?

[June Ingram]

Thank you again very much Pete for taking all of these wonderful photos and adding commentary and for Isabelle posting them.  It is most interesting to see parts of the ship one would not normally see.  The wooden chest is truly beautiful. 

[pete cain]

Isabelle, sorry to report I couldn't find reference to Vistafjord  anywhere on board (not for the lack of trying I might add), was so glad to find the remnants of Caronia on the port bow  posted quite a while ago. I hope Rosie comes back with  something exciting on her return. BTW thanks June.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

And now, the last day dawns, with Pete enjoying every minute while he can :

So here it is, the last day at sea. Feeling sorry for myself, so indulging myself, took a photo of the last morning room service tray.


Photo of the last morning room service tray by petercainqe2, on Flickr

After yet another superb breakfast, took myself to the launderette, anybody familiar with QE2 will recognise these machines, even a TV & copy of the daily bulletin to hand, almost like old times!


Saga Ruby launderette by petercainqe2, on Flickr

OK, there are many images of Ruby's 180 degree lounge, but I had never noticed that there are 2 colour schemes contained  within, a deep mulberry in the inner ring & a light sage green in the outer, this theme is carried seamlessly into the South Cape bar, as maybe noticed in the top right hand corner.


Ruby's 180 degree lounge by petercainqe2, on Flickr

I counted 4 pianos on Ruby & all are firmly anchored to the deck (the piano in the ballroom is moved as required for performances).


Piano firmly anchored to the deck by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Looking aft along the length of the South Cape bar, I found this room had a similar feel to that of QE2's Chart Room.


South Cape bar by petercainqe2, on Flickr

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

More photos taken by Pete during his wanderings on his last day at sea :

Card Room, situated starboard side behind the Brittania lounge, quiet on this occasion.


Card Room, situated starboard side behind the Brittania lounge, quiet on this occasion by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Library was quiet, as was the theatre /cinema, a bit eerie after being so busy for a couple of weeks.


Library was quiet by petercainqe2, on Flickr


Theatre / cinema was quiet by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Ruby's longest corridor? A deck portside looking forward.


Moving forward along this corridor by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Moving forward along this corridor is illustrated the narrowing of the hull toward the bow.


Ruby's longest corridor? by petercainqe2, on Flickr

[Twynkle]

Hi Everyone,
Pete's image above this post was taken outside the cabin we vacated earlier today!
After a lovely time on board, we said our farewells to both new friends, and the wonderful ship, Saga Ruby.
There's more, (probably much more to follow!) both from Pete as well as myself - this is written in haste as just home, and wishing to say thank you again, to both Pete and Isabelle.
Rosie

[June Ingram]

Many thanks to Pete for the wonderful pictures of Ruby and the commentary.  Many thanks to Isabelle for posting all of this wonderful information.  Many thanks to Rosie for your post.  I shall look forward to seeing more !

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Another series of photos taken by Pete on the last day of this voyage :

Mid afternoon, sailing inevitably towards Dover...

Big yellow funnel in daylight :

[i
Big yellow funnel in daylight by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Last afternoon tea :


Last afternoon tea by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Quick look in 'the pre-view ' bar, noting one of Ruby's tied down pianos :


Quick look in 'the pre-view ' bar, noting one of Ruby's tied down pianos by petercainqe2, on Flickr

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

And Pete continues by looking for artwork.

Hanging in the North Cape bar, an image of Vistafjord (very nice) :


Image of Vistafjord in the North Cape Bar by petercainqe2, on Flickr

A more modern view as Saga Ruby, hanging adjacent to the piano  in the same room :


More modern view as Saga Ruby by petercainqe2, on Flickr

The previously posted image of Caronia sited on the spiral staircase :


Picture of the original Caronia by petercainqe2, on Flickr

That's all I could find.

[June Ingram]

Many thanks to Pete for his marvelous photos and commentary and to Isabelle for posting them.  I appreciate very much each additional post.  I do hope there are more.  June

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Pete continues as his last day on this voyage moves into afternoon and evening :

Mid afternoon finds a brief shower & clear decks.


Brief shower and clear decks by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Noticed in the Lido (starboard) bare window framing, the only place on the ship I think.


Bare window framing by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Only 10ft away on the starboard stairway, the (to be expected) decorated window framing.


Decorated window framing by petercainqe2, on Flickr

[June Ingram]

Thank you very much to Pete for sharing and to Isabelle for posting these pictures of Ruby.  The rainbow is great.  It reminds me of a photo of our QE2 taken from a distance.  There is a rainbow and it lands right on QE2 !!  Are there more pictures and commentary ?  I hope ?  Thanks again !  June

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Thank you, June. And yes, I too thought the rainbow was beautiful!

Are there more pictures and commentary ?  I hope ?  Thanks again !  June

More pictures and commentary to follow, but most of them are here now.

You may have noticed that I started a Flickr account for the most recent pictures, so as not to overburden the QE2Story Gallery with non-QE2 pictures -- and so, it will be easy to upload more as time goes on. Bit by bit, I may also transfer the other pictures into this account.

The Flickr account is here, with at present just three pictures, but it is set to grow :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/112597528@N03

The other pictures are here, in the QE2Story Gallery :

https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=105

[June Ingram]

Hi Isabelle - Thank you very much for your post and all the information about the pictures.  The Flickr account is great !  Thanks again for all of your great work !  June

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Pete continues into his final evening :

Ruby's Lido, busy, busy, busy, from 07-00 am till late, I like this café, however didn't get a lot of images because, if it's not being used, it's being cleaned! There are plenty of pictures out there of the Lido, so just took a few.

Forward starboard bulkhead (the one between the bare framed window, in the Lido, & the dressed or finished, what ever it's called on the stairs as shewn previously). A general shot with heavy probably expensive glass plaques to decorate.


Forward starboard bulkhead in the Lido by petercainqe2, on Flickr

Close up, maybe on a photo they don't look too good, but they are a nice touch in the room.


Close-up of the forward glass plaques by petercainqe2, on Flickr

As day inevitably turns to night, the atmosphere changes also, the lighting in here changes ever so slowly, all the colours with some in between I think. Note part of the deckhead is pink/mauve.


Evening lighting in the Lido by petercainqe2, on Flickr

This display is sited towards the forward end of the lido facing the ballroom, you don't notice it during the day but at night it's an attractive feature, changing colour in sympathy with the rest of the lighting. There is a reflection towards the rear glass wall of the lido in this feature only visible when it's lit. Tried to find how these fish were wired for power, not successful, must be magic, ceiling lighting turning green.


Evening display in the Lido by petercainqe2, on Flickr

This room has a quiet about it in the evening, after the constant buzz of the day, we found ourselves here a few evenings for dinner, sharing with the lecturers, performers, ship staff who had visitors & the like, a nice place. Couldn't believe it might be 'dead' so soon.