MrSchwump

1 hour ago, roomba920 said:

I don't believe the Caribbean is a sister ship to the Ruby. I think Emerald and Crown are her sister ships.

They’re at least 1st cousins. 

6 hours ago, secretcastle said:

Thank you for your review:) Glad you had a nice cruise.

Is the deck above the bridge only for Panama viewing or perhaps glaciers as well ? If so, how would we access this? 
Thanks 😊

No, you can look at anything you want from

up there. It was closed a couple of times due to wind and rough seas. 

13 hours ago, 57eric said:

Disappointing that Ruby would be looking shopworn after having just undergone renovation a few months ago.

It was small things, like dings and dents on corners, nicks and worn spots on baseboard molding. 
As the other post said, most of the fixes were ADA focused and on noticeable big impact things, carpet, etc. 

Still a lovely ship and a great cruise. But my god, that iced tea!!!!

We got off the Ruby this past Monday, 1/29.  Here are some observations about the ship and the cruise.

Our first Princess cruise was in 2006 about the Ruby’s sister ship, the Caribbean Princess so we were familiar with the general layout. Our most recent cruises have been on the Regal, Royal and Enchanted Princess.  I liked the smaller size of the Ruby in many ways.  I thought it was easier to move about the Ruby than the larger vessels.  I loved the Promenade deck that went all the way around the vessel. This was great for walking!

It seemed like there were lots of smaller spaces for people to lounge.  There were plenty of lounge chairs and I never saw any chair hogging activity, unlike on the bigger boats. I really enjoyed the “secret deck” above the bridge.  This was a great spot to watch our canal transit from!

A special and unexpected highlight of the cruise was juggler Victor Rubilar.  He was very funny and engaging.  He always had a packed house in the Piazza.  Do not miss his act if you get the chance.  The house band, Pinnacle, was also excellent.  They did reggae, R&B, country and jazz.  Very talented players!

There were a few downsides to an older, smaller ship. She was a little shopworn, with some minor dings here and there, but overall she was in great shape.  The buffet was a little small especially compared to the Royal class ships.  As such, I felt like the choices were limited.  Food was still good, just not as many options. The outdoor smoking section wasn’t nearly as nice as on the bigger ship either.

My biggest complaint was the lack of AC power outlets in the staterooms.  With all the devices that people carry now and the charging needs these devices have there really needs to be more power outlets! I saw a lot of geezers like me who carried a CPAP on board and I had a heck of a time getting electricity for it.  Our steward came up with a heavy extension cord but it was somewhat inconvenient having to run it across the floor. This is something Princess really needs to address.

My wife complained that the hair dryer was too weak.

The food was generally good.  My only complaints were the size of the Yankee Pot Roast serving.  It was ridiculously small.  The worst thing was the liquid concoction that they were passing off as iced tea.  It was the color of weak chocolate milk and tasted vile.  Every other drink was fine but this was gawd-awful!

All, told it was a very nice cruise and I would recommend the Ruby and the Panama Canal itinerary!

Caybrew is the worst beer I’ve ever had. The only beer I’ve ever thrown away!

Where can you rent a chair and umbrella for the day on SMB?

I’m going with the Retreat Bar as I spent most of my time at the Retreat Pool. It was never as crowded as the bar adjacent to the midship pool. 

10 minutes ago, CRLess said:

This is NOT a Live From thread...he got COVID symptoms after he got home

See above. Mea culpa!

…never mind 

There are a lot of glitches, hiccups and technical bugs lately. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. 

Did you stop in Ocho Rios? We’re doing the same cruise in a couple of weeks and we’re due to stop in Falmouth. Was that a last minute change?

I know Platinum members can get a discount on WiFi. Can we sign up for that after we board? 
I read that the deal is for 1 device. Is that 1 device at a time? Can my wife and I alternate between who uses it or will it only work on 1 device for the entire cruise?

1 hour ago, KreinKrunker said:

Write your name in.

That’s Plan B, Chief. 

Has anyone had this issue printing luggage tags? My name and room # will not print. All the info is on screen and everything prints except my name and room#.

Any suggestions?

I’ve brought a triple flame torch lighter for the last 5 or 6 cruises. I put it in a zipper pocket in my suitcase. I also smoke on the aft deck where you need a robust lighter!

I’ve never understood table tennis on the open deck of a ship at sea. Why not try to fly a kite in a gymnasium?

I know whatcha mean. That is a lot of water!😀

My favorite cocktail is bourbon, ice and a droplet of water. They make it right every time!

I’ve seen both at most bars onboard. 

I like it when the ship makes a right turn leaving Ft Liquordale!

I just want to meet that Empenada sniffing dog!

I enjoy a be premium cigar whilst out on the high seas but only in designated outdoor areas. And I agree, cigarettes stink!

That’s good about the nightlight. I always brought a magnetic one from home and stuck it low on the wall. One less thing to pack in January. Thanks Princess!

Strictly speaking, Jack Daniels isn’t Bourbon. 

At least in the US, the post-pandemic tipping culture has gone off the rails. Seems like everyone expects a tip now. I think Princess is just hopping on that bandwagon. 
As a traditionalist, I choose to resist.