LIVE from the RUBY PRINCESS Feb 1-10, 2014

[bhopal21]

Checked prices again this morning and they had dropped so I booked the Feb 10th sailing. All before 8am. We will be waving to you in passing.

 

Hope you all are having fun. Enjoying reading along.

 

-a

 

Great!

 

We are having a very good cruise actually. I have been pleasantly surprised that we have not encountered crowds anywhere even though the ship is at capacity. This is only our second cruise on the larger babies because our first, on the Emerald was crowded, crowded, crowded. I can't explain the difference ship the ships are the same and both were warm weather cruises.;)

 

Went to the Calypso bar for a bloody Caesar this morning and there were two people in the pool. I went over and dipped my hand into the water and it was just plain cold. I can't understand the reason for this.

 

Tomorrow is turn around day and we are doing a las Olas blvd coastal cruise before reboarding in the afternoon.

 

Mike:)

[bhopal21]

Stalking your thread, on the Ruby March 1-6, Carolina Panthers Fan Cruise. Sailing in a mini suite, does that have perks? Where is this cooking bar you speak of? Bath amenities crappy - bring my own stuff? Decent running track on board? Any other tips will read along! Can't wait!!!

 

No real perks for the mini other than the extra room and a tub/shower combo. Yes bring your own shampoo/conditioner if you are the least bit fussy as the supplied products are the pits. The promenade deck encircles the ship however the very front section is frequently closed in the evening but there is still plenty of room to walk.

 

I am headed to the casino to try and give back some of my last evening's winnings.:D

 

Mike:)

[bhopal21]

I will keep that in mind about Landon. :rolleyes:

 

Have a Mimosa for Moi! :D

 

I had a Bloody Caesar instead, hope that is okay.:D

 

We are happy there are just no crowds on this ship even though it is full.

 

Headed to turn in my bar cards for the drawing this afternoon which awards some lucky person their complete bar bill free. Wish me luck!

 

Mike:)

[Colo Cruiser]

Where is this cooking bar you speak of?

 

 

The Crown Grill. :)

[Colo Cruiser]

I had a Bloody Caesar instead, hope that is okay.:D

 

We are happy there are just no crowds on this ship even though it is full.

 

Headed to turn in my bar cards for the drawing this afternoon which awards some lucky person their complete bar bill free. Wish me luck!

 

Mike:)

 

Have a great day its -18F here this morning! :eek:

[Host CJSKIDS]

Did you request the cooking bar when you booked, we will be onboard in 2 weeks and if we go to CG sitting at the bar will be different as we have always had tables:D

 

Yes, we did when we made the reservations. The first time it was made up and ready for us, the second time they quickly had to make it. AFter we told someone about it, then they also ate up there and loved it.

[Host CJSKIDS]

I had a Bloody Caesar instead, hope that is okay.:D

 

We are happy there are just no crowds on this ship even though it is full.

 

Headed to turn in my bar cards for the drawing this afternoon which awards some lucky person their complete bar bill free. Wish me luck!

 

Mike:)

 

Good luck. No matter how hard I worked at filling many cards, my card was never drawn and the bar tab remained mine!

On our first sailing I did hear that the young guy who won had a $1,200 bar tab! No wonder he started jumping up and down when they called his name.

[caribill]

Good luck. No matter how hard I worked at filling many cards, my card was never drawn and the bar tab remained mine!

On our first sailing I did hear that the young guy who won had a $1,200 bar tab! No wonder he started jumping up and down when they called his name.

 

And the winner's tab is paid only until the time of the drawing. Some winners have run up big tabs after that not knowing the prize did not cover it.

[Eileen G]

There is a jogging track on deck 19 that goes around the mini golf. It is 16 times around to make a mile. You do get a great view from up there. On the promenade deck there are many walkers to bypass and you need to go up a flight of stairs at the front of the ship. This leads you to the very front of the ship which is real cool but if it is too windy or rough it may be closed off. Most ships we have been on keep these stairs closed while out to sea but on the Ruby last week they were open during the day at sea.

[bhopal21]

-18F????

 

YIKES!!!!!!!!!!

 

Between that and being a Navy man you will probably think the pools are spas.:D

 

Man you need a break from that weather, "Ain't Nobody Got Time for Dat"

 

Mike:)

[plunker]

I'm surprised nobody complains about the pools being so cold. Or if people are complaining they must be ignoring the complaints.

[marazad16]

I'm surprised nobody complains about the pools being so cold. Or if people are complaining they must be ignoring the complaints.

 

I agree. Wish the pools were more comfortable and I did put the request in my survey.

[Host CJSKIDS]

And the winner's tab is paid only until the time of the drawing. Some winners have run up big tabs after that not knowing the prize did not cover it.

 

That's what they said. It now has that in the patter and on the tickets themselves. They also announce it when they draw it. Guess that was his tab by 3 pm that afternoon. Nice surprise and way to end the cruise.

[minniem]

This is my first time on Princess. How do you get to be part of the bar tab raffle? Do you buy a ticket?

[bhopal21]

Good luck. No matter how hard I worked at filling many cards, my card was never drawn and the bar tab remained mine!

On our first sailing I did hear that the young guy who won had a $1,200 bar tab! No wonder he started jumping up and down when they called his name.

 

I am surprised that he realized that he won.:eek:

 

Mike:)

[geoherb]

This is my first time on Princess. How do you get to be part of the bar tab raffle? Do you buy a ticket?

It's done with a free punch card. Ask at any bar the first time you buy a drink. Different types of drinks had different values. I think it was one punch for beer and two for cocktails and six for a bottle of wine. I think it is 30 punches total to fill the card. We did not win on the Ruby in December, but we only had one card filled. It would have been nice to win, but our total bar bill wasn't very much. I'm hoping the woman who won got more than we would have. Edited February 5, 2014 by geoherb

[marazad16]

We were handed them at the bar a few times so of course I had to fill them all. We were at the drawing on the day before the lat. It was at 2:45 in club fusion on the ruby. The little wine glass stampers as well as coffee cup ones were cute!

 

No luck for us but it as fun! :)

 

[Textile Man]

I was on Ruby this past weekend 1/23-27. The pools were frigid…especially the aft Terrace Pool. The ones who dared to step in…stepped right back out. The looks on their faces were priceless! :)

 

We were on the 5 night 6 day cruise to Princess Cay and Grand Turk from 1/27 until 2/1. The pool water was really too cold to get in although several people did. Guessing they were either from Canada or the blustery northeast.

 

Our last Princess cruise was several years ago to Alaska. We were a group of six couples seasoned cruisers all of whom sailed Princess before. We enjoyed the ship which is in great condition but were disappointed with the food

[Warm Breezes]

It's done with a free punch card. Ask at any bar the first time you buy a drink. Different types of drinks had different values. I think it was one punch for beer and two for cocktails and six for a bottle of wine. I think it is 30 punches total to fill the card. We did not win on the Ruby in December, but we only had one card filled. It would have been nice to win, but our total bar bill wasn't very much. I'm hoping the woman who won got more than we would have.

 

Well that leaves us out....we would never be able to drink enough to fill a card :(:D

[Warm Breezes]

We were on the 5 night 6 day cruise to Princess Cay and Grand Turk from 1/27 until 2/1. The pool water was really too cold to get in although several people did. Guessing they were either from Canada or the blustery northeast.

 

Our last Princess cruise was several years ago to Alaska. We were a group of six couples seasoned cruisers all of whom sailed Princess before. We enjoyed the ship which is in great condition but were disappointed with the food

 

I usually don't do the pools but do enjoy the hot tubs once in a while. How were they temperaturewise.

[bhopal21]

The hot tubs are quite warm this week. I haven't been in them but did put my hand in one just to check it out.

 

They are not the standard 104 degrees of course; but they are good and warm.

 

Mike:)

[Host CJSKIDS]

Mike,

 

How is Crooner's going? Always one of my favorite bars!

 

Hope you enjoy the rest of your cruise.

[caribill]

Well that leaves us out....we would never be able to drink enough to fill a card :(:D

 

Then you would not have much of a bar bill to wipe out.

[Julia’s Journey’s]

It would be a little hard with a big group. I usually just see people getting drinks there before going to a table. At least thats what we do.

It would be good to eat there though I think. :)

 

That's why I think we will try it with just the 2 of us going:D

I guess its kinda like sitting at the sushi bar, not good for a group but nice to watch the going ons:D

[Julia’s Journey’s]

Yes, we did when we made the reservations. The first time it was made up and ready for us, the second time they quickly had to make it. AFter we told someone about it, then they also ate up there and loved it.

 

Thanks, I will request it when I book, have the specialty restaurants been pretty full and busy on the short cruises?