Ruby 12/30- 1/5 and Blue

[Justprettynpink]

I got up early and after seeing how crowded the beach was yesterday at the beach. I decided that I would get us a spot at the Sanctuary (to surprise my hubby since it was our anniversary)

 

I arrived up at the Sanctuary at 6:45. There was no line and I asked one of the workers when I could reserved a spot and he replied 745. So I almost made the biggest mistake of the cruise....I decided to go and grab something to eat since in my mind I had time....wrong...I returned at 715 to find a line :eek: . I was fifth in line so I felt my chances were good but I was beating myself up for leaving.

 

At 8 am I got the last bed in the shade and it was a double. I learned that doubles go last and folks were permitted to get more than two beds. One person got 6 beds.....so if you happen to get in a line and you are more than 7 people back...don't hold your breathe...

 

Got hubby up and told him about his surprise, he wasn't too excited. He finally came to the Sanctuary about 10 and we ordered from their special menu. We got a fruit kaboba, chicken caesar wrap (yummmmmy) and tortilla chips with some kind of dip. There is a $3 delivery charge per person but looking over my charges they only charged $3 total.

 

DH used the Bose headsets and enjoyed them. They do have a limited supply so if you want one ask for early.

 

Our bed was in site of the entrance so DH got to see how many people were turned away and after walking around he could see that every lounger on the ship was taken. He changed his mind about the Sanctuary.

 

We went to the spa late in the afternoon to do our Rasul time( see post above) and DH decided that he wanted a massage. (we have one book for the next day on GT) He told me I could pick a treatment. I decided to try acupuncture. We both enjoyed our treatments and got ready for our dinner in the Crown Grill.

 

Dinner tasted great but service was lacking. My wine glasses was never refilled and we sat there for a while with dirty dishes on our table. I guess we just had higher expectations since it was a specialty restaurant.

 

Edited January 12, 2014 by Justprettynpink

[Justprettynpink]

[Justprettynpink]

 

We had a leisure breakfast in the dining room and we got off the ship to go to our massage appointment on the beach. (OceanScapes Spa)

 

 

View from the massage area

 

 

After the wonderful massage we shopped for a while and then returned to relax on the ship.

 

 

[Justprettynpink]

 

[Justprettynpink]

DH wanted the Sanctuary again (surprise) so we decided to get 1/2 day in the afternoon.

 

I got up and went to get in line at 0640 and I was 5th in line again. The line got even longer. (lots of disappointed people that day)

 

We got the same double bed which was the last bed available again.

 

DH eventually got up and we went to the dining room for breakfast and then down to the casino.

 

I asked about comp points and you need to have 1000 to get a drink comped. Decided that I wasn't going to get that many and not care....DH enjoyed the video poker but he never acquired any comp points playing.

 

The Captain announce the weather and stated there was a cold front coming off of Florida but it shouldn't affect us...he should have stated it wouldn't affect the ship...as we went up to the Sanctuary and almost got blown off the ship. It was comically to watch the workers try to put towels on the beds...they were just getting blown off...we sat down for 5 minutes and said forget it.... We ate lunch Horizon Court and we went back to the casino then a nap.

 

Dinner was in Sabatini's. Everything was wonderful there :)

 

[Justprettynpink]

[Justprettynpink]

We had gotten a paper to request how and when we wanted to get off the ship. We forgot to turn it in so when we got a 710 departure time :eek: we went to guest services and got it changed. Below is the Disembarkation Groups

 

 

We ate breakfast in the Dining Room before we went to our area to wait to be called to disembark. We were called about 30 minutes after our time to leave. We had our luggage taken off for us, so we quickly found it and were waiting for the park n go shuttle about 20 minutes later.

 

It was a great cruise and we enjoyed it so much that we are sailing on her again in 2015.

 

We are no longer "Blue" we are now "Gold"...

 

Thank you for reading my extra long review. May this help some one like all the reviews and post I read before I went on my first Princess Cruise. :D

[plunker]

Loved your review. How do you go about starting the scavenger hunt? My wife and i are taking our 2 kids on the Ruby in Feb and think this will be a fun activity to start the cruise.

[Justprettynpink]

Loved your review. How do you go about starting the scavenger hunt? My wife and i are taking our 2 kids on the Ruby in Feb and think this will be a fun activity to start the cruise.

 

When we first boarded they were passing out cards that need to get stamped. It was great way to find venues around the ship.

[Mrsdigi]

Hi, are there any spa specials? I am debating scheduling something now or waiting until we board in a little over a month. Thanks. :)

[zetaome]

Thank you for taking time to post!

 

I'm going on my first Princess cruise in less than one month and it will be on the Ruby! I look forward to seeing it first hand now!!

[Justprettynpink]

Hi, are there any spa specials? I am debating scheduling something now or waiting until we board in a little over a month. Thanks. :)

 

 

There were cruise specials but we were on a full ship and a lot of the times were already book.

[marazad16]

Thank you for your review. Lots of great detailed info! We sail Princess and The Ruby for the first time tomorrow. Very excited. :)

[lynwar]

The Ruby Princess is a great ship. We've sailed on her twice. I think you will enjoy it. Enjoy your cruise this week. :)

 

Lynne

 

Good review and photos, Justprettynpink. Thank you!

[rdh rules]

DH wanted the Sanctuary again (surprise) so we decided to get 1/2 day in the afternoon.

 

I got up and went to get in line at 0640 and I was 5th in line again. The line got even longer. (lots of disappointed people that day)

 

We got the same double bed which was the last bed available again.

 

Justprettynpink, thanks so much for your review. I thought I've read all the recent reviews, but found yours thru another post that gave your link for the patters. We're going 4/17-22 and have been on the Crown 3 yrs ago. BTW, I'm in NC too:) I saw in the patters that they only offered the Pub lunch (fish n chips) in the Wheelhouse Bar on the 2nd sea day. That's a shame, it is sooo good. I was looking forward to it on both days. Next time you should try it. That is if you like Scottish food. They have Shepherd's pie and scottish egg too.

Another note, I wondered about the double bed in the santuary. I'm assuming they charge for 2 people for that chair in the santuary? My husband wants to get the santuary for the whole week. We had an inspection last time on Princess and didn't board until 2 even though we got there at 11. So by the time we got there, it was booked except for the dailys. He tried 2x at 730am and it was all booked again. So you were lucky;)

[Justprettynpink]

Another note, I wondered about the double bed in the santuary. I'm assuming they charge for 2 people for that chair in the santuary? My husband wants to get the santuary for the whole week. We had an inspection last time on Princess and didn't board until 2 even though we got there at 11. So by the time we got there, it was booked except for the dailys. He tried 2x at 730am and it was all booked again. So you were lucky;)

 

Yes they charge for two people for a double bed.

 

We will be sailing on the Ruby again in 2015 and will have to check out the Pub Lunch!

[hollon]

Thanks for the review, can anyone help with comparing RCCL to the Ruby. I've heard Ruby may be in Alaska for 2015 and don't know whether to choose Coral, Crown or Ruby for Alaska. I love RCCL ship, but of course they don't go to Glacier Bay. Has anyone been on Radiance RCCL who can compare or just give me your advice on the other Princess ships for Alaska - thanks so much, I'm fretting over this too much. I have been on the Diamond.