SAGA RUBY Tour Part One
SAGA RUBY (ex VISTAFJORD, CARONIA)
Owners: Saga Holidays, U.K.
Built by Swan, Hunter, Wigham, Richardson at Wallsend
Yard no: 39
Various refits /last major refurbishment at Malta in 2005
25,000 gt
627 feet by 82 feet/ 191.1 x 25 meters
27 foot draft
Two nine cylinder Sulzer Brothers diesels; Twin screw; 24,000 bhp; 20 knots
Passengers: 655
The SAGA RUBY during her maiden visit to Los Angeles, California on 26 March 2005. Photo by Mike Masino, copyright P.K. Productions 2006.
The SAGA RUBY has nine passenger decks, from top to bottom: Bridge deck (Upper), Bridge deck (Lower), Sun deck, Promenade deck, Veranda deck, Upper deck, Main deck, A deck, and C deck.
As VISTAFJORD, the ship was originally fitted with elegant Norwegian decor including polished woodwork and modern brass and crystal fittings.
Over the years, Cunard tampered with the winning formula in an attempt to make the interior of the ship look more like her yacht-inspired Seabourn and Crystal competition. Rich woods were replaced with imitation panels while valuable furnishings and light fixtures designed by Kay K¿rbing were switched for pseudo-deco facsimiles. Over time, even the modernizations were modernized, giving the still lovely VISTAFJORD a confusing pastiche of style and elements. I recall walking through her in 1995 after the magnificent Garden Lounge was redone in mint green and white, its wooden cornices, Orrefors crystal lighting, and slatted screens presumably vanquished to some Maltese shipyard dumpster. Contrary to my take on the matter, the group of local travel agents I was with were purring about the "new look", especially loving the pink striated marble paneling that had now become part of her sweeping forward stairtower. But was she Regency Modern, Italian Villa, Norwegian Yacht, Retro Deco, or British? It didn't matter, I guess, because at the end of the day, she was still the VISTAFJORD.
Today, as SAGA RUBY, there is a cohesive, well-defined, modern British look and feel to the ship. Here and there, traces of her original Norwegian character appear, but now she is to be regarded as a classically sized and proportioned vessel with a cutting edge sensibility. The key is that the ship functions in a manner that suits her clientele, and, from what I was able to glean from her friendly passengers, Saga has accomplished this quite splendidly.
In her conversion to SAGA RUBY, the aft superstructure was slightly expanded with housing for a new gym on port Bridge (Upper) deck and the Lido was enlarged on Veranda deck, necessitating the extension of the Promenade deck above and the replacement of the original outdoor Veranda deck pool with a new basin farther aft.
Internally, this attractive lady got a whole new look!
So, let's take an informal tour, beginning at the top...
The SAGA RUBY's 2005 transformation saw the addition of a full-sized gym and exercise room on Bridge deck (Upper) just aft of the top levels of the two deluxe suites. This facility, shown in a port-facing view, replaced a smaller gym adjacent to the indoor pool on C deck, which has been transformed into a spa and salon. A golf simulator was added next to the gym on the starboard side. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
There is a nice wooden shuffleboard court on the sliver of aft Bridge deck (Upper). From here the view over the RUBY's stern shows the expanded Promenade deck terrace and the new pool area on aft Veranda deck. The balustrade was fashioned from the original balustrade, but cut into sections, the center portion inserted in reverse, for the concave/convex/concave alignment. Photo by Mike Masino, copyright P.K. Productions 2006.
Bridge deck (Lower) contains the wheelhouse and suites (including lower levels of the deluxe suites). Sun deck features some of the higher grade cabins and the top level of the sweeping athwartships forward stairtower. This view is looking down to the spectacularly backlit stairs from the vestibule on Sun deck. Similar crescent-shaped stairtowers were found on the Soviet IVAN FRANKO quintet, whose design borrowed a bit from the trendsetting SAGAFJORD (now SAGA ROSE) of 1965.
Perched on a balcony overlooking the Preview Nightclub, the reservations-only View Restaurant has replaced what was once the VISTAFJORD's extra-tariff Tivoli Restaurant. The stark white bulkheads, chairs and linens, along with a new balustrade are noted improvements and give a feeling of spaciousness to the intimate venue, as seen here, facing port. Photo by Michael Masino, copyright P.K. Productions 2006.
Promenade deck begins with an arc of an observation platform overlooking the bow. From here, sheltered by a windscreen, the promenades continue under a canopy of unique davits (similar ones can be found on the SAGA ROSE and even the late AUREOL) to a stern platform that completes a full circuit. This is a view of the port promenade, facing aft. Photo by Mike Masino, copyright P.K. Productions 2006.Ê
Aft of the many deluxe cabins on Promenade deck, we find the Preview lounge. A sophisticated nightclub, the room has been significantly warmed up and improved since its Cunard incarnation. The dance floor is now circular, giving the room a focal point. Facing port by Mike Masino, copyright P.K. Productions 2006.
Veranda deck begins with another crescent of an observation platform accessed via the lovely, richly sheered Britannia Lounge. Originally the VISTAFJORD's Garden Lounge, this very traditional space was once bedecked in original K¿rbing furniture, warm woods, and Orrefors crystal light fixtures. Over the years, Cunard did away with the room's original features and in 1995, turned it into a mint green and white winter garden. The room's new look is the best it has had in years, retaining its circular feel with sunken center underneath a corresponding brass ceiling fixture. The color scheme is harmonious with burgundy, beige, and magenta soft fittings. Similar rooms were to be found on many recent liners with Scandinavian ties such as KUNGSHOLM '53, GRIPSHOLM, SAGAFJORD, BLACK PRINCE and BLACK WATCH.
Just aft of the Britannia Lounge, we return momentarily to the still magnificent grand staircase. The forward vestibule, shown this time facing port from Veranda deck. Photo by Mike Masino, copyright P.K. Productions 2006.
Heading aft on the port side of the Britannia Lounge, we find the South Cape Bar, another traditional space descended from similar venues on SAGAFJORD, KUNGSHOLM '66, ROTTERDAM '59 and other classic liners. This room has a panorama of large windows overlooking the sea on its outboard flanks and has been restyled in the same colors as the Britannia Lounge. A handsome gallery of seating is just aft of the bar, as seen in this aft-facing view. Photo by Mike Masino, copyright P.K. Productions 2006.
The Card Room, shown facing forward, continues aft from the starboard side of the Britannia Lounge, with a span of large windows on its outboard side. The portals are new, perhaps left from the ship's CARONIA incarnation when this space was transformed into a shopping gallery. It is nice to have it back to its original function, and is the perfect, quiet place to read and watch the sea from. Photo by Mike Masino, copyright P.K. Productions 2006.
The cozy Library, facing aft, has changed little from its latter Cunard days, save for soft fittings that now correspond with those of the adjacent Card Room and Britannia Lounge. Photo by Mike Masino, copyright Peter Knego 2006.
The SAGA RUBY's lovely, dedicated cinema (a rare shipboard feature these days) is sandwiched between the Card Room and the South Cape Bar, just forward of the midships Veranda deck vestibule. It has changed little over the years and still sports its circular ceiling light arrangement (with original Orrefors crystal fixtures), raised proscenium, and lovely wood paneling and doors. This is a forward/port view. Photo and copyright Peter Knego 2006.
Click to continue to SAGA RUBY - Part Two
