Knickearth

We were recently in your shoes. We reserved and stayed in a full suite and our traveling companions had a balcony. Since they live on the east coast and we are west coast, we passed up the free specialty dinner the first night to eat with them. We did get one special suite breakfast and altho good wasn’t as great as we were lead to believe and once again friends couldn’t join us. In the end the perks were a bouquet of flowers, two glasses of champagne, canapés in the cabin to greet us. So now I am bypassing full suites unless traveling alone. Just my opinion.

We have been on both ships. I personally have preferred the Ruby, but have no specific reason. that said, we got off the Ruby in august and I can tell you it had the happiest crew I have seen in my years of cruising. They were also the most accommodating crew as well. It made a huge difference in our enjoyment.

Sorry, but we always went to the vines before dinner and had drinks. We could get tapas or sushi with no charge. Both items are gone and have been replaced and called casual dining.

Thanks so much for letting me know. We did call a few times and never managed to connect. I will try later today. Please let her know we still love her. so sorry to learn she has had more strokes.

I agree 4 cats. Princess is nickel and dimming us. how’s your mom? We called her but she doesn’t answer or ever call back. hope you r well.

Pls stop, the memories are making me cry. Lol

Ok we got princess plus on our very recent cruise. Nice not being concerned with charges for drinks, specialty coffees, crew appreciation and Wi-Fi. We have a cruise in 2024 where they have given the two of us 900. In obc and we get another 250. For stock. So we will take std package. We only have a glass of wine a day at the most. I was interested in knowing on std package can we remove still the crew appreciation amount? we use to tip the waiter and the assistant as well as the cabin steward. Others only if we felt they would go above and beyond. I hear rumors that the crew appreciation is given out fleet wide, not to just the ship I am on. Anyone know if this is true or not?

I think with the casual dining included the vines, more people will attend pes

Our recent cruise, one waiter went around the room nightly to ensure pes people were there at 5. We watched him request non pes people to leave.

Just off a ship. Sorry the platinum, elite and suite happy hour had no “specials”. At least no discounted pricing if you don’t have the drink package. We loved going to the vines and getting either tapas or sushi with our wine. It did not spoil our dinner. The pes has more food to offer buffet style and so we eat more. But the vines has lost its loving feeling.

When they made the change to lavazza on the Ruby and we noticed it immediately - our waiter actually pulled out a bag of the lavazza they use to make the coffee. Definitely no syrup.

Sorry, not good coffee - but great coffee. Recently we were in buffet on Ruby, and without any notification one morning during breakfast I asked for a cup of coffee and one small taste I turned to table mates and said - this is great coffee. I mentioned this to the waiter and he said, five mins ago they switched to the new coffee. Thank goodness no more syrup undrinkable coffee.

Have been on Grand tons of times and love the old boat. Please enjoy your anniversary cruise.

We recently got off the Ruby. We celebrated our 50th anniversary and splurged on the owners suite. If you have not read my previous postings after many trips on princess ships, this was the happiest crew and most accommodating crew ever. So it was a wonderful cruise.

As someone who recently disembarked on the Ruby, the ship looked fine - I have seen other ships with ripped furniture and overly worn carpeting. Further, you could only wish for a staff as great as on the Ruby. For the almost 20 yrs of traveling on princess, this was the best crew ever. This crew was also the happiest we have ever seen.

Just got off the Ruby, with the exception of the first night, no real lines in Michelangelo dining room.

We have taken several transatlantic cruises in November to NY or Fla. and was thrilled all were smooth sailings with wonderful weather. This was from 2000 to 2018. We were on H-A and Princess. We are look into 2024 now for a transatlantic.

To be honest I have no idea how they are doing this

I agree, the Ruby is in fine shape and I can’t imagine what they will do in dry dock.

The former owners suite which is becoming the family suite on the Ruby, had a dining table with 4 chairs and two more chairs elsewhere, at rear of room there were two armchairs and a couch. Other side of room had tv, large mirror and a wet bar. The bedroom was separate with a wonderful king size bed. The bathroom was two rooms. One with large shower with glass door and a large jacuzzi tub. The other room had a toilet and sink area.

We were just on the Ruby and they are pairing up the owners suite with an inside cabin to form the family suite. So it doesn’t look like any of the pics shown here. You have to call princess to reserve the family suite.

Was surprised no more drink specialties or reduced price drinks anymore.

Ok. Always nuts, cheese and crackers,raw veggies,fruit cup, then other would change daily. We had tuna in tomato, mini quiche, samosas, shrimp

Remembered another item. we arrived at ship about 11:45 am. Walked in and immediately got medallion, no lines. Walked toward ship entrance and again no line, no wait. Was fabulous. third night onboard we requested to have same table nightly and we got it. The waitress and her asst. we’re incredible throughout cruise. Friendly, smiling etc. but most impressive was that no matter what we all ordered, if she thought there was a dish we should try, she brought it out to center of table. whenfried calamari was a starter on the menu, she heard us discussing that we like it crispy etc. so she got a plate and again put it in middle of table so we could determine if we liked how it was prepared. Yes we did like it. don’t know if this is good news or not, but because of having the drink package we consumed more alcohol than we usually do. We use to go to the vines before dinner and purchase a bottle of wine and have tapas. No more tapas and now we ordered the individual drinks. We went to platinum and elite lounge nightly.

I am presently on the Ruby. I am an elite level. All that said in my many cruises over 20 yrs the staff is the happiest and most helpful I have ever encountered on a ship. This of course has made the cruise wonderful. on the second day out they started using lavazza coffee in the lido. No more syrup coffee or unknown brand. I am loving the coffee. the trivia games are now strictly for fun with just old prizes being given out. They don’t have rules. No requirement mentioned of 6 or less to a team and when all 20 questions are asked there is no trading of papers.