MrJulius

OK...how about this.

Can I make a deposit that is more than the minimum and get the immediate OBC?

If I put down a deposit of $1000 can I get an OBC for my current cruise of equal value? Anyone try that yet?

Thanks,

MrJulius

I hear X are planning an exciting attraction on new builds which is designed specifically for those over 30. It's called "Carousel" and they promise that it will leave everyone over 30 feeling "renewed".

 

 

 

Here's a concept video:

 

 

 

If you don't like this option you can always go over to Princess...they do offer "Sanctuary". You just have to get passed Roscoe Lee Browne. ;)

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Thanks for the quick replies. I appreciate the info.

Yeah, the search tool can bring up some oldies.

As my wife says...milk used to be a nickel too.

I guess that I'll have to "up my game" a bit to make sure that I get over the break even point. Somehow I don't think it will be a problem even with the price increase :D

MrJulius

Nice to see this thread with some recent posts.

I started this thread awhile ago to help those trying to decide whether to book these cabins or not. Back then there was little information about these cabins. It was fun trying to figure out just what this new deck 11 would be like. I remember that I got 1138 for less than a regular balcony back when it was sight unseen and not even built yet.

I GUESS THE SECRET GOT OUT :p

Those afts on 11 seem to go first, and at a premium now.

Yesterday, on a whim, we decided to revisit the Summit on it's August 24th sail to Bermuda. Of course being only one month until cruise time I didn't expect to get one of the sweet afts. I did get one of the A1's near the afts. I just loved those stairs down to the Sunset bar...22 seconds as I recall.

Looking forward to sailing with the Summit again.

MrJulius

I went to book the Premium Drink Package on X's website and it listed a price of $59 PP per day up to $13 per drink. Everything that I read on the boards yesterday was $55 PP per day up to $12 per drink.

Is this a recent increase?

Our last cruise with X was in April, 2012 and it was...I believe...$49 PP per day.

PS, I did use the search function and couldn't find an answer.

Thanks,

MrJulius

We got a bungalow on our last two cruises to Princess Cays. You will get four priority tender tickets in your cabin. When you get to the Cays just go down to the announced location. They will try to give you a group number at the door. Just show them your priority tickets and walk straight to whatever line may have formed. Get on an early tender and enjoy your day.

MrJulius

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I wrote a jacks shack review that can't be too far from this post. We were there a couple of weeks ago. Some right on comments followed.

MrJulius

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We went there a couple of weeks ago. The shells seemed to have been there a l-o-n-g time. Very slim pickins. We had no intention of bringing one back anyway. We were walkon/walkoff for the first time and packed right to the limit with one suitcase each.

If you get off of the ship and walk down the beach to the left you will find a couple of guys on the sand with very pretty conch shells for sale. All pink and shiny, ready to go. I have no idea what they were asking for them.

MrJulius

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Had a great time on the Ruby in late April. We have been on 7 and 10 day cruises before. It was our first 5 day cruise. There seemed to be a lot of 4 and 5 day cruises in the Caribbean in March and April of this year.

I was going to book it again, or something like it, for next year and the pickins' are pretty slim.

I'm only seeing a 3 day on the Regal, and a 4 or 5 day on the CB.

???

Thanks,

MrJulius

Speaking of the infectious spread...those crew pens that everybody signs their booze chits with really got me thinking. I don't think I touched a single railing, elevator button, or much else with my hands. But those pens are everywhere and touched by everyone. Hmmmmm.

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Colo Cruiser,

If I make a complaint, which is pretty rare, I make it at the corporate level and trust that it trickles down the right channels. There is just too much motive to kill something at the "local" level and corporate never knows.

Right or wrong that's the road I chose in this situation.

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Cruzsnooze,

If we weren't getting served no one else was either. The bungalows on either side of us were right there for the conversation. They made comments right then and there. I can only assume that the others were told that they weren't getting served either.

Any other inference is just silly.

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On the Ruby last week. The hot tub above the aft pool was hot hot hot and the view was spectacular from that high up. The tubs by the main pool always looked like people soup. Never went into those cauldrons.

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Before we went on our cruise last week I had posted a few questions here. I am going to post my experience so that others can make an informed decision.

We had a Sanctuary bungalow last year and absolutely loved it.

This year we loved it as well. Right up to 1:00 PM.

The first set of attendants worked from 8:00 to 12:30. They were fantastic. They couldn't do enough for everyone that had a bungalow. The guys were really working hard for all of us. We tipped them well for their above and beyond service. They told us that another set of crew members would take over at 12:30.

The new guys came and were hard to find. At 1:00 one of them walked by and my wife asked him for a cocktail. He said no and that the bars were closed. My wife asked him if all of the bars were closed and he said yes. She asked him if there was anywhere that she could get some water. He told her no because all of the bars were closed. He walked away.

The people that were in bungalows on either side of us, upon hearing this news, decided to pack up and leave. Within 15 minutes we were the only bungalow left. The two new attendants were clearing out the rest of the bungalows at breakneck speed. Then they left. I mean left for good. They dropped the chain that has the reserved area sign on it and we never saw them again.

It wasn't even 1:30 yet. The last tender wasn't leaving for another two hours.

With no attendant at the entrance and no sign and chain indicating otherwise, people started wandering down the path and into the Sanctuary area. This was no fault of their own, but it was like a scene from the Walking Dead when a section of fence comes down.

The fun part of the story is when my wife and I went to the swimming area after all of this, swam for a while, then went up to the bar nearest the swimming area and had plenty of whatever we wanted. The bar was not closed and the bartenders were happy to serve anyone that walked up.

The reason that I bring this up is because you expect a certain level of service paying $$$ for the Sanctuary bungalows that come with attendants. Imagine if the Sanctuary attendants did this on the ships Sanctuary. They would be set adrift.

The same would apply if the waiters in the Crown Grill disappeared before the end of your meal or the masseuse walked out of the room with 15 minutes left on your massage time and other people wandered into your room to look around while you are still laying on the table.

This was just not acceptable.

The end of cruise survey email came to me today and I filled it out accordingly.

It didn't ruin my cruise. It didn't ruin my day. It didn't even ruin my afternoon. I don't want compensation. I don't expect anything but an apology.

I hope that Princess reads my survey and maybe even reads this so that in the future they keep the "A" team on at all times. It does matter.

MrJulius

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A little side note for anyone concerned about the spread of bacteria, viruses, and other little nasties...and for anyone who saw Ducky floating in my cocktails:

Ducky was routinely wiped down with Clorox towelettes brought along just for this purpose :)

This is the last one...because I gotta go !!!

MrJulius

Tonight's special is...OH NO !!!

Sweeeeet !!!

To heck with flying.

Who do you gotta know to get into Skywalkers?

Hey ladies, come back. It was the bubbles in the hot tub, I swear.

MrJulius

That duck looks like he had a great cruise on the Ruby Princess. Love to see more of your photos if you don't mind posting them.

I have a bunch...

The Duck caught some chair hogs one morning.

I liked the "Muscle" shirts. Scare 'em away.

Nothing like the All Inclusive Beverage Package to keep you cool.

There's something about those breadsticks.

Momma? is that you?

The view isn't as good as I had heard.

Nothing like a stroll around the Promenade.

MrJulius

Cute. ;) Looks like he had a great time. We did that with a Paddington Bear in London that my husband won out of one of those crane games at Game Works by the Thames. My kids were dying of embarrassment though. lol

It was a lot of fun...not too embarrassing...mostly :D

Ruby cruise April 22nd, 2014

Had a great time on that cruise. Thanks to everyone onboard for putting up with my friend, the duck. I am going to make a photo book for my mother that took care of our house and 3 dogs making it possible for me and my wife to get away for a few days.

MrJulius

On the Ruby...

We did notice it/them as we walked the promenade. I only recall one on one side and it seemed pretty far forward. Maybe there was one on the other side but by then it wasn't anything noticeable. It was big though.

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Had the brisket on the Ruby the other day. Chewy and way too salty. :(

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I object 2,

Get a regular bungalow not a "sanctuary" bungalow. The regular ones are family friendly and very close to the swim area. When you get on board I would go to the excursion desk and request a bungalow with a low number. They start at 1 and go up as you get further from the swim area. The Sanctuary bungalows start at #19.

You can't beat the AC, especially if someone does not take well to the heat. It can get very hot on Princes Cays.

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The sanctuary is adults only and is at the far left as you get off of the tenders. Thereo are bungalows but no clamshells. You have to get a bungalow to gain access...we'll mostly. I'll add a thread for that one.

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It's the PENS.

I just got off of the Ruby a half hour ago. We had the Ultimate drink package. We must have signed a hundred chits using staff pens. How many hands are on those pens? All of them.

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