by Lesley Bellew

There's a rather beautiful menage a trois going on aboard one of Saga's luxury cruise ships.

Captain David Warden-Owen romances with two special ladies at sea: First and foremost his wife Beverley, who can now travel with her husband after so many years of staying at home with the children - and a pretty close second is Rose, Capt Warden-Owen's beloved ship of 12 years, who he insists is 'the finest vessel' he has ever captained being 'safe, comfortable and particularly glamorous'.

But the Captain knows this love affair must end this autumn when Rose, or more officially Saga Rose, will be taken out of service.

Capt Warden-Owen, who worked at Cunard for decades before being lured to Saga by its charm and ethos, says the final voyage will be 'the end of a beautiful relationship'.

"She has been good to me and we have been through some of the most difficult storms together," said Capt Warden-Owen. "She has been so steady and has never let me down, a real friend."

He will not be the only one to mourn the passing of Rose's hospitality.
Her beauty lies in being much more country mansion and wood polish than an upmarket trendy hotel. Rose is quintessentially British and offers afternoon tea, with decent jam and cream, a proper library with panelling and brass fittings, wooden steamer chairs and deck furniture - and never a plastic lounger!

Rose is classy and mature much like the passengers who also succumb to her charms year in, year out. (Saga cruises are for people aged 50 and over but a travelling companion may be aged 40 or over).
"We only travel with five to six hundred passengers, so during the voyage it is possible to get to know our guests," said Capt Warden-Owen.
"It really is just like a family."

With many cruise liners packing in 1,000 or more passengers, Rose attracts over-50s looking for a more genteel holiday. There's not a climbing wall in sight, although she does accommodate a spa, gym and open-air pool.

Saga Rose's final voyage, from October 30 to December 6, will be an emotional tour, not only for the devoted Captain and crew but the regular passengers who have built something of a club atmosphere on board.

According to Saga representatives, some guests book two or three cruises ahead and claim it can be more economical than a holiday to Spain, without the hassle of catching a flight. Other guests consider it more financially competitive than living in a nursing home because there is such excellent care and medical facilities, plenty of company and three meals (at least!) a day.

Now, let's start planning that retirement..!

FactFile

There are still berths available for the Saga Rose's farewell voyage that will see Captain Warden-Owen take his special lady to the Mediterranean, departing from Southampton in spectacular style.
The 37-night cruise will include such highlights as Barcelona, Venice, Corfu, Malta and Casablanca.
For further details visit www.saga.co.uk or call 0800 056 5880.
Price includes:

• Insurance and cancellation cover
• Cabin accommodation and all meals
• Entertainment and activities
• All gratuities on board
• All port taxes and porterage of luggage from departure point
• Included private car service up to 75 miles of the port, or a shared car service if you live between 76 and 250 miles of the port.
• Or, return standard class rail or coach travel to your departure port.
• Or, return domestic UK flights to Southampton, from selected airports, subject to availability.
• Porterage of luggage at port
• All visas for full British citizens resident in the UK