Ruby Drydock, will it impact my cruise?

[goldensrule]

We are sailing on the Ruby Princess Dec. 4, 2011, which is the cruise just before a drydock scheduled for Dec. 11th. Since it a fairly new ship, how do you think this will impact our cruise?

[Toto2Kansas]

It all depends on what they plan to do while the ship is in drydock. If the scheduled maintenance is for mechanical reasons, you should not have a problem. If it is to also re-do some cosmetic refurb to the interrior of the ship, they sometimes begin things while the final cruise before dry dock is still sailing. Closing off areas of the ship, extra maintenance workers around, along with rolls of carpet and other items being put in place ready for replacement.

 

Personally, I would not book a cruise that was the last one before the ship goes into dry dock, but you never know if things will started early or not. It is just the chance you take. ;) Good Luck!

[D&N LUV 2 TRAVEL]

Take TOTO's advice. We went on the CB after its latest drydock but the people on the last cruise complained of areas out of commission as they were prepping for the dry dock already at the passengers expense. Not worth the aggravation. Pick another time just to be safe.

[BobT172]

OMG..time flies... I cannot imagine why the Ruby needs to go into drydock at such a young age...she has become our favorite and we can't wait to sail her again...

 

I would think any such need is minor for sure and maybe just planned maintenance stuff which has kept all the Princess ships in tiptop shape... .... we have been on her 3 times and can't think of anything significant...

 

do not ye carry a heavy burden... go ye forth and CRUISE....

[BARBYDOLL]

Take TOTO's advice. We went on the CB after its latest drydock but the people on the last cruise complained of areas out of commission as they were prepping for the dry dock already at the passengers expense. Not worth the aggravation. Pick another time just to be safe.

 

I agree. We went on the Coral Princess just before it went into dry dock last October and there were many problems (albeit, mainly minor) - such as trying to get the air conditioning to work properly and lots of calls to maintenance. Lots of things going on on the last couple of sea days, as they prepared. It was, however, very interesting to watch the photos posted on the Princess web site - a day to day diary of what was being done in the dry dock, especially as we had just disembarked. There seemed to be lots of staff coming and going at various ports as well. I looked very carefully to make sure that Diamond was well out of dry dock before booking our next cruise.

[cbpanda]

Is there a schedule posted somewhere that lists which ships are going into dry dock and when? I just wondered how one would know whether or not you are booking a cruise just before dry dock? I was just curious.

[-Lew-]

 

Is there a schedule posted somewhere that lists which ships are going into dry dock and when?

This list was posted here awhile ago.

 

Lew

[Iceberg2]

Do I have to worry about the ship being in drydock the day before our cruise. Could that have been the reason when I booked, the cruise was pretty wide open - but I guess it will fill up more as we get closer to departure.

[PhotoFlo]

I have a cruise which is the first sailing after a drydock - should I change that or will everything be back to "normal"? Thanks!!

[D&N LUV 2 TRAVEL]

There are never any guarantees. They are very well organized from a time standpoint and work very efficiently because they know what is at risk. You never know when they may come accross the unexpected which could impact your cruise if everything is not up and running the way it should be. You would hate to spend those kind of dollars for sub par conditions. IMHO if it were me I would pick a different time.

 

I have a cruise which is the first sailing after a drydock - should I change that or will everything be back to "normal"? Thanks!!

[goldensrule]

Thanks for the advice. I think you all had my thoughts but I had to read them to react. My initial reservation in switching my cruise was that I had "my" aft cabin (c752), and was reluctant to give it up. I was, however, able to book C753 on another ship at the same time.

 

Incidentally, Princess told me at first that I could not have an aft cabin because they were reserved for 14 day passengers! bizarre! I reserved the cabin online and then called Princess to switch the booking (FCC). No problem!

 

I look forward to sailing on the Ruby another time!

[bacm]

Does anyone know why such a new ship is going into drydock so soon?

[lovevacadays]

I'm booked for that sailing (Dec 4, 2011) as well. I'm going to cancel and change to another sailing - or ship. Would rather not have the worry of any area of the ship being closed off or extra workers, etc. FYI - I'm cancelling cabin E731 tomorrow for anyone who might want to try and snag it and isnt concerned about the drydock situation

[Colo Cruiser]

We also would not book at least 2 weeks before or after a drydock.

[caribill]

Does anyone know why such a new ship is going into drydock so soon?

 

Some drydocks include major inside work as when the Caribbean Princess had the casino moved, window suites added, etc.

 

Some drydocks are basically to inspect the hull, repaint it, and do other external work that can only be done in drydock conditions.

 

I suspect the Ruby drydock is mainly for the external work.

[hubofhockey]

Does anyone know why such a new ship is going into drydock so soon?

 

I asked a crew member this on my Ruby cruise this summer. The response was that Princess drydocks ALL of their ships on a schedule and they do this earlier and more often than most lines and it is about quality control.

[FolsomMike]

What is the concern about booking a cruse AFTER a dry dock; shouldn't the ship be in tip top shape then? I see the Ruby is set to come out just before the Xmas cruise. Would they risk messing up their busiest season?

[caribill]

What is the concern about booking a cruse AFTER a dry dock; shouldn't the ship be in tip top shape then? I see the Ruby is set to come out just before the Xmas cruise. Would they risk messing up their busiest season?

 

The concern is that the work was not finished during the time alotted for drydock and that it continues on the post-drydock voyage.

 

Worst example was the CB a couple of years ago when at least one of the specialty restaurants and the casino were closed most of the voyage while work continued. There was also a lot of constrution dust around and passageways blocked to allow the work to take place.

 

This problem should not exist for drydocks that are primarily for under-the-waterline work on the outside.

[Pam in CA]

Even with a "new" ship, dry docks are scheduled every two years to do maintenance that can't be done when passengers are on the ship. Usually, the hull is scraped and re-painted, thrusters and stabilizers inspected, carpeting on lounges replaced, etc. Anyone who has a boat, whether a motorboat or sailboat, does regular maintenance to scrape and paint, reseal teak, etc. This is pretty standard to maintain the boat. It'll sail much better with a freshly scraped and painted hull.

 

Over the past year or so, some ships have had extended dry docks or a combination of dry and wet docks when major updates are done, such as installing MUTS, redoing the buffet, redoing lounges, etc. These are the most disruptive types of dry docks to passengers before or after the dry dock. The 7-day drydock when they inspect, repaint the hull, etc. are the least disruptive.

[I Love NC]

I USED to have a dry dock schedule.....cannot find it......can anyone help????

 

Thank you in advance!

[califgary]

The concern is that the work was not finished during the time alotted for drydock and that it continues on the post-drydock voyage.

 

Worst example was the CB a couple of years ago when at least one of the specialty restaurants and the casino were closed most of the voyage while work continued. There was also a lot of constrution dust around and passageways blocked to allow the work to take place.

 

This problem should not exist for drydocks that are primarily for under-the-waterline work on the outside.

 

 

Sapphire is going to drydock Jan 2012 we had reserved a 14 day hawaii 2 weeks after the drydock - but luckily Golden also goes to hawaii during this time so we switched just in case they would still be doing some work afterwards.

[FolsomMike]

Guess I'm lucky my cruise is the SECOND one after the dry dock. ;)

[califgary]

Guess I'm lucky my cruise is the SECOND one after the dry dock. ;)

 

Ive been told to avoid post-dry-docks for month just to be sure! I know that sounds like thats pushing it, but with all the new things and the international cafe being put on the Sapphire I want to make sure the crew knows what they are doing! So its the Golden for us to hawaii!

[trixiee]

and mine is the third one! please keep things neat and tidy for me! ;-)