Ruby 1/15 long review incl chef's table and bon voyage exp

[FireFighter115]

While anxiously waiting for the ****down for our cruise to go from 150+ days down to zero, I read every word written here about both the Ruby Princess and her sister ships and eastern Caribbean itineraries. I appreciate the time that many people put into sharing about their cruises, so I will say thank you to them by sharing my own review of our cruise. Give me a few weeks and be patient as I try to remember and share about our voyage. If you are looking for the short review we had a great time, little to complain about, I will give it a 9 out of 10.

 

A LITTLE ABOUT MY DW AND MYSELF Over the next few days as I work through the review I will change the "handle" of my age from 3 to 4 and I am a few years older than my dw. This is our fourth cruise, two previous 3-day cruises on RCCL and one 4-day Disney cruise with our two daughters, all within the last few years. As I write these first few words it is actually day 5, Thursday morning 3 am and I am sitting in an abandoned Club Fusion (I am a bad sleeper). Today we will visit St. Thomas, tomorrow will be Grant Turk, and the final day will be a sea day as we sail back to Ft. Lauderdale.

 

I am not a photographer, and found that between the boards and YouTube there is enough media to explain what we saw. I will link to various boards and videos as necessary to help paint the picture.

 

We participated the Bon Voyage Experience and Chef's table, and I look forward to reviewing those aspects specifically.

 

PRE CRUISE My dw is not the best traveler and likes to increase savings and spend little. I am a dreamer and am at my best three months away from a vacation in the midst of weighing everything that will be going into the suitcase. I take it to an extreme planning level that is probably not healthy, but that is alot of the fun for me.

 

I booked an early November Ruby eastern caribbean sailing in May of last year. My mom is a travel agent for a large time share company and she booked the trip for us. We probably could have worked with another online agency and received an onboard credit, but mom is mom. Total was $2,200 ish for a balcony room on Baja deck forward.

I immediately joined the boards and chimed in on the thread for our particular sailing. Within a few weeks the thread was abuzz with conversations about a large alternative lifestyle group on that sailing. I appreciated the candor on that thread, and promptly moved our booking to this cruise. Don't really need to spend time on that other than asking a question of Princess and everyone here. Is there a way to have large group information available if asked for? If we had stayed on that sailing we would have had a very different experience, and with the type of money and time that we all invest in cruising, I want to know as much about everything as possible.

 

Just noticed that KMKUB has written a nice review of the same cruise. They also did the bon voyage experience, and they had a different experience with that. Here is the link to their thread. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1554921

 

More later....

[Rockymountainsparky]

Looking forward to the rest of your review. We are sailing on the Ruby in two weeks and can't wait.

[srpilo]

Nice !!

I'll be waiting for your insights..

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks in advance

Srpilo

[BettyCruiser]

Can't wait to read more. I have also changed a cruise booking because of the same group.

[cruisenewbie2012]

I too am waiting patiently - sailing with Ruby in 47 days!!

[Kmkub]

I'm looking forward to reading your review!

 

We boarded at around 11:30. Our guide said there were seven others signed up, but nobody else had checked in yet, so we got escorted on alone. The kids felt like royalty!

 

Can't wait to read about your experiences on board!

[Woobstr112G]

I'm also looking forward to reading your review.....:):):)

 

Bob

[FireFighter115]

The countdown started at 150+ days and through late summer and early fall I was preoccupied with a dream come true backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail, again weighing everything going into my backpack with my postage scale. (6 days 50 miles Davenport Gap to Allen Gap along the NC/TN boarder backpack weight 37 lbs leaf colors a 10 weather a 9 had a blast) Sorry about that, back to the review....

 

Having cuised before we really did not have any newbee questions, but the thread about the secrets that Princess doesn't tell you was helpful. I will link to it here. Read the first 10 pages or so and the last 10 pages and you should get a good overview of some cool things to do to make your cruise the best it can be. Some of the hints are ship related and some of the hints are a little dated.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1260835

 

We live in suburban Chicago and booked AA to Miami for the Saturday before the cruise using miles. The flight home from FLL we paid for. $315 total for air fare for my DW and myself. FLL was not available using miles for the flights down. FYI Miami is about an hours drive from Ft Lauderdale. Renting a car for one day may be cheaper than buying transfers. We rented a convertable for $88 and returned it at FLL the following morning. We used Saturday night to catch up with my parents so renting a car was always in the plans. Another type of car with more luggage space would have been a few dollars cheaper.

 

We drove up from South Beach to Ft. Lauderdale on A1A and enjoyed the balmy 64 degrees with the top down, heat on, and windows up. Typical tourists.

 

Returing the Alamo rental car was fairly simple, and their bus transfer from FLL to the port takes 15 minutes or so, is free, and runs all day from very early (I thought they said 6am) to quite late after all the ships are gone. After the car is returned, finding the busses to the port was a little difficult walking through the garage, up an elevator and around a few corners. The busses were fairly busy, just make sure that your bus handles your rental car companies customers, and I believe they make stops at all the ships. Ruby Princess was at dock 2 and that was the first stop.

[gelo7]

Nice review.

[Eileen G]

Great review can't wait to read more:D

[big_schots]

Returing the Alamo rental car was fairly simple, and their bus transfer from FLL to the port takes 15 minutes or so, is free, and runs all day from very early (I thought they said 6am) to quite late after all the ships are gone. After the car is returned, finding the busses to the port was a little difficult walking through the garage, up an elevator and around a few corners. The busses were fairly busy, just make sure that your bus handles your rental car companies customers, and I believe they make stops at all the ships. Ruby Princess was at dock 2 and that was the first stop.

 

Excellent review so far. I leave for the Ruby Princess in 11 days and also am renting a car from Alamo for a day. What time did you return the car ? Was the Alamo lot a madhouse and how long did it take to check the car back in ? You now have me a bit concerned about dragging the luggage from the car to the port shuttle bus. It shouldn't be a problem, since we are very mobile. But, now I have visions of a bad sitcom, where I'm the limo driver for a European princess (my wife) having to pile up and drag her 20 heavy "designer" bags through an airport. :D Keep up the good work and I look forward to future installments.

[FireFighter115]

Excellent review so far. I leave for the Ruby Princess in 11 days and also am renting a car from Alamo for a day. What time did you return the car ? Was the Alamo lot a madhouse and how long did it take to check the car back in ? You now have me a bit concerned about dragging the luggage from the car to the port shuttle bus. It shouldn't be a problem, since we are very mobile. But, now I have visions of a bad sitcom, where I'm the limo driver for a European princess (my wife) having to pile up and drag her 20 heavy "designer" bags through an airport. :D Keep up the good work and I look forward to future installments.

 

FLL Alamo rental car return specific instructions....

 

When arriving at FLL follow the signs arrivals/rental car returns.

There will be a left hand turn into the rental car return garage. (FYI The busses that you will eventually take to the port load about 50 yards past this turn.)

 

The walk from car return area to the elevator is about 100 yards. Go up one level. Leave elevators and take two rights to the curb.

 

Actually not so bad, but not well marked. Get good instructions from the Alamo personel before walking away from the car and you will be good to go.

 

From entering the parking garage/return area to arriving at the port via the bus less than 30 minutes at 10:15 am.

 

Hope that helps.

[big_schots]

FLL Alamo rental car return specific instructions....

 

When arriving at FLL follow the signs arrivals/rental car returns.

There will be a left hand turn into the rental car return garage. (FYI The busses that you will eventually take to the port load about 50 yards past this turn.)

 

The walk from car return area to the elevator is about 100 yards. Go up one level. Leave elevators and take two rights to the curb.

 

Actually not so bad, but not well marked. Get good instructions from the Alamo personel before walking away from the car and you will be good to go.

 

From entering the parking garage/return area to arriving at the port via the bus less than 30 minutes at 10:15 am.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Big help. Thank you very much. We are planning on getting back to the airport around 10:30. I'm not great with the "unknown", when it comes to traveling. Your information gives me an idea what to expect. Thanks agian.

[FireFighter115]

The Ruby is by far the largest cruise ship that I have been on, and I had no idea that stateroom choice is so important. We happened upon about the best location as far as I am concerned. My insight will take cost out of the equation and only consider balcony staterooms. We were in B234.

 

Port side or Starboard side? Port side is great from Ft. Lauderdale as you get wished bon voyage from the condo buildings along the north side of the inslet. My mom shot this video from their balcony as we sailed past. Port side is also nice on this cruise as you get sun on your balcony all day on Saturday, the sea day back to Ft. Lauderdale.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkTx-...ature=youtu.be

 

Which Deck? The balconies on decks 9 (dolphin) and 10 (Caribe) jut out over the side of the ship. Everyone above those decks look directly down on into their balconies. Even being one deck above them made me feel uncomfortable like I was spying when someone would be on their balcony. Saw some jammies out there, not nice for me or for them.

 

Also, on deck 15 there are a number of cabins that everyone walks past to get to the pools and buffett if they are taking the forward elevators. Lots of traffic past Lido deck #301 and higher on both port and starboard sides. There is also a smoking section near those staterooms, and on windy days you could smell it all the way to the elevators.

 

Perfect choice is decks 11-14 IMHO.

 

Forward or aft? We experienced some considerable seas during the first sea day and the promenade deck was closed during much of the first few days of the cruise. As the ship would plow through the waves, spray would extend from the bow all the way up to the 11th deck and beyond. This spray made it uncomfortable to even be outside for MUTS. Being forward, we would not get the spray on our balcony that everyone got on their balconies behind us.

 

Another thing that I noticed was the vibration from the engines as the ship would plow through the largest of waves. This would have kept me awake at night near the back of the ship, but being as far forward as we were it was not noticed.

 

Some people think that the being near the bow you will notice more movement in your stateroom. Could be true, but would prefer that over vibration. Most of the movement problems people face on ships is more related to side to side and diagonal rotation verses a single axis movement of bow up and down. To minimize the side to side motion, pick the lowest deck possible to be nearer the waterline. Think of this as the top of a sailboat mast moves much farther back an forth than the deck as the sailboat goes through waves. We do not deal with motion sickness so this really is a non-issue for us.

 

Sorry for being strong on the opinions here, but in all the threads I have read, very little stateroom choice observations.

[5326jan]

The Ruby is by far the largest cruise ship that I have been on, and I had no idea that stateroom choice is so important. We happened upon about the best location as far as I am concerned. My insight will take cost out of the equation and only consider balcony staterooms. We were in B234.

 

Port side or Starboard side? Port side is great from Ft. Lauderdale as you get wished bon voyage from the condo buildings along the north side of the inslet. My mom shot this video from their balcony as we sailed past. Port side is also nice on this cruise as you get sun on your balcony all day on Saturday, the sea day back to Ft. Lauderdale.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkTx-...ature=youtu.be

 

Which Deck? The balconies on decks 9 (dolphin) and 10 (Caribe) jut out over the side of the ship. Everyone above those decks look directly down on into their balconies. Even being one deck above them made me feel uncomfortable like I was spying when someone would be on their balcony. Saw some jammies out there, not nice for me or for them.

 

Also, on deck 15 there are a number of cabins that everyone walks past to get to the pools and buffett if they are taking the forward elevators. Lots of traffic past Lido deck #301 and higher on both port and starboard sides. There is also a smoking section near those staterooms, and on windy days you could smell it all the way to the elevators.

 

Perfect choice is decks 11-14 IMHO.

 

Forward or aft? We experienced some considerable seas during the first sea day and the promenade deck was closed during much of the first few days of the cruise. As the ship would plow through the waves, spray would extend from the bow all the way up to the 11th deck and beyond. This spray made it uncomfortable to even be outside for MUTS. Being forward, we would not get the spray on our balcony that everyone got on their balconies behind us.

 

Another thing that I noticed was the vibration from the engines as the ship would plow through the largest of waves. This would have kept me awake at night near the back of the ship, but being as far forward as we were it was not noticed.

 

Some people think that the being near the bow you will notice more movement in your stateroom. Could be true, but would prefer that over vibration. Most of the movement problems people face on ships is more related to side to side and diagonal rotation verses a single axis movement of bow up and down. To minimize the side to side motion, pick the lowest deck possible to be nearer the waterline. Think of this as the top of a sailboat mast moves much farther back an forth than the deck as the sailboat goes through waves. We do not deal with motion sickness so this really is a non-issue for us.

 

Sorry for being strong on the opinions here, but in all the threads I have read, very little stateroom choice observations.

 

Please don't skimp on the opinions! It's your review... your opinion! Thank you for the detail! :D

[CRLess]

Another thing that I noticed was the vibration from the engines as the ship would plow through the largest of waves. This would have kept me awake at night near the back of the ship, but being as far forward as we were it was not noticed.

 

This vibration is not the engines. It is actually the ship cavitating due to the up and down movement. It happens on most large ships, especially the faster they go. As the bow dips, the stern rises causing the cavitation.

 

Keep the review coming. We were on the Ruby a few years back and will be back on her again in April.

[Cupcrazy]

Thanks for your review. Like you did, I'm trying to read every review on the Ruby before I step aboard her.

[FireFighter115]

This vibration is not the engines. It is actually the ship cavitating due to the up and down movement. It happens on most large ships, especially the faster they go. As the bow dips, the stern rises causing the cavitation.

 

Keep the review coming. We were on the Ruby a few years back and will be back on her again in April.

 

Figured there would be a more in depth explanation of this phenomenon.

[FireFighter115]

If you want to take it to another level read "Cruise Confidential" by Brian David Burns and "The Truth About Cruise Ships" by Jay Herring. WARNING adult content be prepared for salacious details of life behind the scenes. I read Herring's book this week on the ship and it was a neat way to open my eyes as to what is really happening right now just decks below me.

 

I downloaded an app for my phone so that at a moments notice I could consult a deck plan or a bridge cam. Neurotic I know, if you are following this thread, you probably get it.

[boca7]

I say the engine vibration also plays a lage part of annoyance in the rear. I was also on this sailing & the captain blamed the headwinds we were sailing into for the rough sailing the 1st. 2 days. My choice for best deck is caribe, a larger cabin in balcony than on the dolphin deck & part of the veranda is covered on caribe.

[Kmkub]

So interesting how we're all so different.

 

What you call annoying in the back, we call wonderful vibration, rocking us to sleep. I slept best on those first couple of days, truthfully.

 

(Though not as much fun trying to walk around during the day... lol)

 

We were about as far back as you can go, on the Dolphin deck.

[ALB0711]

Looking forward to your Chefs table review - very interested in day of week for the dinner. We are on the Ruby 3/25 sailing and are dealing with the **** count down blues! :)

[Mrtwo]

We have some very good frieinds that were on this cruise, this was their first. The weather and rough seas they talked about, but they also mentioned that while on deck there was a distinct smell of garbage / sewage; did you happen to notice any?

 

DW and I are booked on the Ruby 10/28 which will be our third cruise with Princess

[2Canucks]

Firefighter115...

 

We are boarding the Emerald Princess for a B2B on Feb6/12 and would like some detailed info on the "Bon Voyage Experience"[/SIZE]

 

We'd like to invite and treat a friend from Ft Lauderdale to take part in a BVE.

 

I understand we can register him and link him to our booking through our travel agent... but the problem is...How do we all board together? :confused:

 

Do we board the usual way to receive our Seapass's? I understand BVE people have "priority boarding" ... is there anyway we can board together? We are not in a suite this trip and not Elite so no priority boarding for us. If the BVE person is linked to our booking will we then have "priority boarding"?

 

We'd like to try this but are a little hesitate... we don't want to get involved in a total fiasco when boarding. The BVE Group is taken on a tour which we'd like to do with our friend but if we get separated at boarding... how to we find them? I'm not sure how this all works....could you please explain.

 

Is the Captain Circle Hostess/Host involved and if so ...How can I get in touch with her/him?

 

Thanks in advance for any BVE info you can share with us.

 

Pat :)

[Kmkub]

 

Thanks in advance for any BVE info you can share with us.

 

Pat :)

 

There's a thread with all the answers, here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1556440

 

Basically, You will all wait & board together. We were put in the elite lounge in a separate row of chairs. We all boarded, together, before the elites.

 

You can absolutely take the tour together or you do not have to. It's your choice.

 

The Circle host was not involved, as far as I could tell.

 

Don't hesitate, it's a wonderful experience. When we got to the waiting area, we just explained we were having that experience and they directed us to the elite lounge and we found a Princess staff member with a BVE sticker on their jacket, so he was very easy to spot.

 

Once you show up, they'll help you ever step along the way.

 

We loved it and hope we can do it again!