Caribbean Princess or Ruby

[lindy sails]

Planning a Christmas cruise- first choice is the Ruby but there is nearly a $500 price difference. If you've cruised on the Caribbean I would love to hear your opinions and feedback about the ship.

Thanks!

Lindy

[Tatka]

Sailed on both.

 

Except for minor differences ships are the same. I actually like aft Terrace pool area a bit more on Caribbean, because of a shadow from the club. As well as Wheelhouse bar.

 

Caribbean is older, but both are very well maintained.

[hubofhockey]

What I have noticed is that Sabatinis is bigger and a nicer venue on the Ruby. The Ruby has Adagio, while Caribbean does not. Caribbean has nicer Skywalkers and larger Vines. But these differences are all minor and I would never make a vacation choice based on them. I don't recall the Ruby missing ports because of mechanical problems. The Caribbean has had its issues. That would concern me more.

[caribill]

Do you know why there is such a price difference if the two cruises are at about the same time?

 

Are the itineraries different?

[Pia1913]

Planning a Christmas cruise- first choice is the Ruby but there is nearly a $500 price difference. If you've cruised on the Caribbean I would love to hear your opinions and feedback about the ship.

Thanks!

Lindy

 

 

Just off three weeks on the CB. Ship is fine. Save your money.

[Cruise a holic]

Planning a Christmas cruise- first choice is the Ruby but there is nearly a $500 price difference. If you've cruised on the Caribbean I would love to hear your opinions and feedback about the ship.

Thanks!

Lindy

 

We sailed on the Caribbean Princess twice and Crown once. I was not happy with the Caribbean even though I sailed on it twice. The problems are is that the ship is probably the most crowded of all ships I have sailed on. They have added extra cabins-but not extra public space. On multiple occassions we couldn't get seat in the theatre if we didn't arrive 45 minutes early. In addition, the pool was so crowded that if you didn't get up early- again- no seats. We opted to go to the Santcuary for the week to sit and not fight the crowds. The service was excellent- but to get a seat for my husband and I was very expensive. The food was probably the poorest of all of our cruises. We had a suite- which was nice- and we had perks including having breakfast in Sabatini's every day. No crowds. You might ask why we sailed on this ship twice, it was because we enjoyed sailing from Brooklyn NY. Since Princess has cut many of it's cruises out of NY, we probably will not sail on it again.

 

The crown princess, a newer ship and I think more like the Ruby wasn't as crowded, so we liked it better. Since my husband and I enjoy cruising- even a mediocre cruise is better then no cruise! Enjoy.

[hubofhockey]

We are on the Caribbean Princess now and the new entertainment schedules, for the most part, seem to have alleviated crowding in theatres. There are now three shows per night and they have eliminated repeating shows on consecutive days, and added additional shows. I haven't noticed any overcrowding problem, nor have we had any problems finding tables at the Horizon or Anytime dining venues. We have now been on the Crown, Ruby, and Caribbean and haven't found a significant difference among the ships. If I had to split hairs, I'd take the Ruby. But I wouldn't spend several $hundred to split those hairs.

[fun_one]

We are sailing at the end of Feb 2013 and I was trying to decide between those two boats and picked the Caribbean because I liked the itinerary better (ports we had not been too) and the fact that it was a Sat/Sat sailing instead of a Sun/Sun. Even though the Ruby is a newer ship, from what I can tell, they look very much the same. I have read good things about the Caribbean recently as well.

 

My 2 cents.

Barbara

[Pia1913]

We are sailing at the end of Feb 2013 and I was trying to decide between those two boats and picked the Caribbean because I liked the itinerary better (ports we had not been too) and the fact that it was a Sat/Sat sailing instead of a Sun/Sun. Even though the Ruby is a newer ship, from what I can tell, they look very much the same. I have read good things about the Caribbean recently as well.

 

My 2 cents.

Barbara

 

And you've read bad things too. Not to worry. Enjoy your chosen itinerary.

[paradiseisaprincessaway]

pick 2 sailings and go on both!!!!

[Cruise a holic]

We are on the Caribbean Princess now and the new entertainment schedules, for the most part, seem to have alleviated crowding in theatres. There are now three shows per night and they have eliminated repeating shows on consecutive days, and added additional shows. I haven't noticed any overcrowding problem, nor have we had any problems finding tables at the Horizon or Anytime dining venues. We have now been on the Crown, Ruby, and Caribbean and haven't found a significant difference among the ships. If I had to split hairs, I'd take the Ruby. But I wouldn't spend several $hundred to split those hairs.

 

 

Glad to hear that they finally did something about the theatre crowds. Perhaps they finally listened to all of the complaints.

 

Enjoy your cruise

[caribill]

Glad to hear that they finally did something about the theatre crowds. Perhaps they finally listened to all of the complaints.

 

Enjoy your cruise

 

Yes, by reducing the amount of entertainers by 2/3rds, they are able to have more performances of the 1/3 that is left.

[caribill]

We sailed on the Caribbean Princess twice and Crown once. I was not happy with the Caribbean even though I sailed on it twice. The problems are is that the ship is probably the most crowded of all ships I have sailed on. They have added extra cabins-but not extra public space.

 

The Crown and the Caribbean have the same number of passengers in the same amount of public space.

[septrack]

Yes, the Carribbean and Crown ships are the same size as is the Ruby (approx) . The only ships that have less people are the original. (Grand, Star, and Golden) All the others have the extra deck (Riviera) . If you want less people stick to those. However I never really had a problem on the larger ships with overcrowding.

 

Happy Sailing!

[rdsqrl]

The Crown and the Caribbean have the same number of passengers in the same amount of public space.

Not to nitpick, but that's not exactly true. The CB lacks Adagio and the open deck space outside it with the nice tables and chairs and fountain.

I would also argue that by virtue of Skywalker's hanging over the Terrace Pool, the CB also has lessened public space by increased crowding around the other pools, because most people don't care to be around or in a pool that's perpetually in shade.

[itzmered]

you can argue that all you want but there were always a lot of people around the terrace pool when we were on her for two weeks last december. I loved the CB and would sail on her again in a heartbeat

[Tatka]

you can argue that all you want but there were always a lot of people around the terrace pool when we were on her for two weeks last december. I loved the CB and would sail on her again in a heartbeat

 

Yes! We loved a bit of a shade. Terrace pool was very popular during our three cruises. I am a bit sad they removed mini-golf from the aft area... it was in better location then on younger sisters.

[kendon]

I'd go on the Ruby. I've sailed several times on each and think the Ruby is much better maintained.

[caribill]

Not to nitpick, but that's not exactly true. The CB lacks Adagio and the open deck space outside it with the nice tables and chairs and fountain.

 

I would also argue that by virtue of Skywalker's hanging over the Terrace Pool, the CB also has lessened public space by increased crowding around the other pools, because most people don't care to be around or in a pool that's perpetually in shade.

 

Yes, the public space is built up with different venues such as Adagio on one ship and not on another. But the amount of public space is the same on these two ships.

[Carolyn R]

I have been on both ships several times and have no preference. There are very few differences between the two. Weigh the itinerary and the price and then decide.