21 Night World Cruise sector sailing from Cape Town to Southampton aboard Saga Ruby.

Following her £17 million refit, Saga Ruby is already proving herself a success with the Saga passengers who have cruised aboard her. We believe this is because she shares many of her much-admired qualities with her sister ship, Saga Rose, and her wide-open decks and spacious interior complement the exceptional service, delicious cuisine and excellent facilities.

Highlights of this cruise sector:

Cape Town
Sail into Cape Town, which has a spectacular setting dominated by flat-topped Table Mountain.

Spend the day exploring this magnificent capital of the Western Cape. If the weather's fine, why not take the cable car ride to the summit of Table Mountain for unrivalled views, enjoy a boat trip over to poignant Robben Island, or join a tour through the heart of the city?

Then enjoy an evening out in the city, perhaps at one of the fine restaurants surrounding the famous Victoria and Alfred Waterfront before Saga Ruby sails away late in the evening.

Takoradi
Takoradi is the sister city to Sekondi. Together they form the oldest twin city and fourth largest city in Ghana. It was dominated by the British and Dutch during the colonial era and this is reflected in the colonial architecture.

Sekondi-Takoradi is also the capital of the Western region of Ghana, with Sekondi being the administrative capital and Takoradi the commercial and industrial hub. This region is noted for its lush vegetation, 75% of which is within the high forest zone of Ghana.

Funchal
Formed by a volcanic eruption, Madeira lies in the Gulf Stream, about 500 miles due west of Casablanca. Discovered by Portuguese explorer João Gonçalves Zarco in 1419, this beautiful island became part of Portugal's vast empire and was named for the dense forest which cloaked it ('Madeira' means 'wood' in Portuguese).

Sugar plantations first brought wealth here and when King Charles II of England granted an exclusive franchise to sell wine to England and its colonies, many British emigrants were drawn to the capital, Funchal.

Today's travellers come to Madeira for the varied and luxuriant scenery, from mountain slopes covered with vines to picturesque villages and a profusion of wildflowers. The natural beauty of the island has earned it many pseudonyms such as 'The Floating Garden of the Atlantic', 'The Island of Eternal Springtime' and 'God's Botanical Gardens' and our selection of excursions aim to show you why.

Southampton
Lying near the head of Southampton Water, a peninsula between the estuaries of the Rivers Test and Itchen, Southampton is Britain's largest cruise port.

It has been one of England's major ports since the Middle Ages, when it exported wool and hides from the hinterland and imported wine from Bordeaux. The city suffered heavy damage during World War Two and as a result the city centre has been extensively rebuilt.