Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

We returned from the Ruby

Bases5

By Bases5,
in Princess Cruises

 Share

Recommended Posts

  • 8 months later...
lesharona

lesharona

Posted
Posted

My daughter and I are booked on the Ruby in May, our cabin is on the Riviera deck mid aft. My daughter is a smoker and I am wondering if there is smoking allowed on the Lido deck above us? From what I've read, it sounds like she would be able to smoke behind Horizon Court on the port side, is this correct? If so is this a open area or protected from the weather?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
bhopal21

bhopal21

Posted
Posted
My daughter and I are booked on the Ruby in May, our cabin is on the Riviera deck mid aft. My daughter is a smoker and I am wondering if there is smoking allowed on the Lido deck above us? From what I've read, it sounds like she would be able to smoke behind Horizon Court on the port side, is this correct? If so is this a open area or protected from the weather?

 

Not sure about Lido but there is a smoking area starboard on the Sun deck (two decks up) outside the Adagio Lounge.

 

Mike:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
RMM34667

RMM34667

Posted
Posted
My daughter and I are booked on the Ruby in May, our cabin is on the Riviera deck mid aft. My daughter is a smoker and I am wondering if there is smoking allowed on the Lido deck above us? From what I've read, it sounds like she would be able to smoke behind Horizon Court on the port side, is this correct? If so is this a open area or protected from the weather?

 

I too am a smoker. I was on the CB in November and will return in two weeks. You can smoke Port side aft of the Outrigger Bar on the Lido deck (all the way to the end of the Caribe Café); and on the Sun Deck Starboard forward by the bar and on the Promenade but I can't remember which side. And of course in the Casino except on Non Smoking nights. There is a cigar bar Chruchills which you can smoke at anytime.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Shogun

Shogun

Posted
Posted

Hi

 

One thing l like about room service is they give you an idea of time, have called at the wrong time to be told it will be 40 minutes

 

but at least you can decide if thats OK or not

 

last cruise on Ruby wait time was around 10 to 15 minutes

 

yours Shogun

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 3 weeks later...
TXRed

TXRed

Posted
Posted

We are booking the Ruby to Alaska in Sept 2015. This is our first Princess cruise. Was glad to see your post. I have a couple questions.they have probably been asked a zillion times...but here goes...what type of foods are served in the International Cafe? What is a coffee card and where can I get information about it. We are coffee drinkers and I have read several posts that Princess serves awful coffee. Should I bring coffee and a french press?? And how much more did you pay to eat at the Crowne Grill? thanks in advance for answering any of my questions.

 

 

We just returned from the Ruby Princess 5 day cruise Cozumel & Grand Cayman

 

I must say we were overall very impressed with Princess and the Ruby.

I'm not doing a review, Rather some random thoughts and observation,

 

I hate to say we didn't like thing because it sounds like we are complaining. Were not.

This was my 28 cruise, so you will find some like and dislikes .

 

The 24 hour international cafe was awesome. we had a OV on deck 5, I loved just sneaking out and grabbing a snack any time.

 

Thank You for telling us about the coffee card, very nice feature. (We thought the reg coffee was pretty bad. We are black coffee drinkers.

 

We are smokers (shame on us) but there were more than enough places to smoke, I have no issue with the balcony smoking policy. Saves me money not having to get one.

 

Food is very subjective. I thought this was hit or miss. I thought the buffet area was laid out bad, confusing and conjugated.. I really didn't care for the selections offered. My DW thought it was better than past cruises.

 

Dinning room food was ok to good. We had my time dining, We were willing to eat with others, so never had to wait at all. We laugh at the tables for 2 because they were separated by 6 inches. not really private.

I loved the pizza and burgers at the grill plus the ice cream was nice.

Room service was slow slow slow. Tried twice with over a hour wait each time. They could improve this

We ate at the crown grill. This was very good, I loved the fact you could add a lobster tail with your steak at no extra cost.

 

I'm a casino junkie, the casino staff was awesome, they took my money with a smile and was very friendly. I hate to lose, but at least they didn't make me feel as bad as normal.

 

Life boat drill is great. It was nice not going outside in the elements and stand there like cattle.

 

The ship itself was beautiful and elegant. For the most part it was easy to navigate. 2 thumbs up for the rap around promenade

The staff was top notch every where, We actually tipped a little extra to some of the crew.

 

I wish Princess would not sale pre paid gratuities because it's not really pre paid. Other line's actually have PPG. We are cash cruisers so we buy obc and pay as much before hand as possible. It was no big deal as I would just print out my statement and see where we stood.

 

Entertainment, this is where Princess wins hand's down, there was live entertainment every where all the time. Some we didn't care for, but it was there. Not just 1 man bands either.

 

I'm sure there are other things to ramble on about but I will spare you.

So overall How did we like it you ask. We bought 4 FCC's that's the best answer I can give.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Working 2 Cruise

Working 2 Cruise

Posted
Posted
We are booking the Ruby to Alaska in Sept 2015. This is our first Princess cruise. Was glad to see your post. I have a couple questions.they have probably been asked a zillion times...but here goes...what type of foods are served in the International Cafe? What is a coffee card and where can I get information about it. We are coffee drinkers and I have read several posts that Princess serves awful coffee. Should I bring coffee and a french press?? And how much more did you pay to eat at the Crowne Grill? thanks in advance for answering any of my questions.

 

Most of your questions can be answered by checking the Princess website.

 

International Cafe serves pastries, salads and desserts for free. Gelato has a fee.

 

Crown Grill is $25 per person.

 

Not sure if you're allowed to bring a French press onboard.

 

Coffee card information can be found by searching this forum or the Princess website.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
JF - retired RRT

JF - retired RRT

Posted
Posted
what type of foods are served in the International Cafe? As above, soup, salads, sandwiches, panini, doughnuts, desserts

What is a coffee card and where can I get information about it. Coffee is like many things...subjective. It costs $31 to order before sailing. $33 or so if bought on the ship.

And how much more did you pay to eat at the Crowne Grill? $25/pp

Also for the Crowne Grill, reservations are not necessarily needed. We have walked up and got seated immediately.

Bring your appetite!!! There is more food than a normal person can/should eat. Not that we haven't seen clean plates :rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
rdh rules

rdh rules

Posted
Posted
We are booking the Ruby to Alaska in Sept 2015. This is our first Princess cruise. Was glad to see your post. I have a couple questions.they have probably been asked a zillion times...but here goes...what type of foods are served in the International Cafe? What is a coffee card and where can I get information about it. We are coffee drinkers and I have read several posts that Princess serves awful coffee. Should I bring coffee and a french press?? And how much more did you pay to eat at the Crowne Grill? thanks in advance for answering any of my questions.

 

Same foods as posted plus awesome shrimp salad I had daily :) The coffee card is 15 punches of speciality coffees for $31. As long as you have one punch left you can get free brewed coffee at coffee bar which is better than at dining room or buffet. Also you can great hot chocolate free with the card as long as you have a free punch. I drank lots of hot chocolate while my husband enjoys coffee. The crown grill is AWESOME!!! $25 is worth it. I had the ribeye and they brought 7 lobster tails to start with. They were grilled and cooked to perfection!!! Have a great time!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
caribill

caribill

Posted
Posted
The coffee card is 15 punches of speciality coffees for $31. As long as you have one punch left you can get free brewed coffee at coffee bar which is better than at dining room or buffet. Also you can great hot chocolate free with the card as long as you have a free punch.

 

 

The "one punch left" thing was associated with the old coffee cards which were discontinued two years ago. That is when the cards could be used perpetually until that last punch was used.

 

The current coffee card is good for unlimited coffee (and hot chocolate) on the voyage it is sold on, even if all the punches are used. Any unused punches can be used on later voyages.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TXRed

TXRed

Posted
Posted
Most of your questions can be answered by checking the Princess website.

 

International Cafe serves pastries, salads and desserts for free. Gelato has a fee.

 

Crown Grill is $25 per person.

 

Not sure if you're allowed to bring a French press onboard.

 

Coffee card information can be found by searching this forum or the Princess website.

 

Thank you

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TXRed

TXRed

Posted
Posted
Also for the Crowne Grill, reservations are not necessarily needed. We have walked up and got seated immediately.

Bring your appetite!!! There is more food than a normal person can/should eat. Not that we haven't seen clean plates :rolleyes:

 

 

Thank you...I love lobster and this seems like the place to go to get it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TXRed

TXRed

Posted
Posted
Same foods as posted plus awesome shrimp salad I had daily :) The coffee card is 15 punches of speciality coffees for $31. As long as you have one punch left you can get free brewed coffee at coffee bar which is better than at dining room or buffet. Also you can great hot chocolate free with the card as long as you have a free punch. I drank lots of hot chocolate while my husband enjoys coffee. The crown grill is AWESOME!!! $25 is worth it. I had the ribeye and they brought 7 lobster tails to start with. They were grilled and cooked to perfection!!! Have a great time!

 

Sounds like the coffee card is worth the price. And thanks for the heads up on the shrimp salad. We are not big eaters but we do eat small amount often.. and I love lobster....I know we are going to have a wonderful time...we are working on our bucket list ..so we will be able to scratch Alaska off!! And hopefully another...seeing the whales!! Thank you

Link to comment
Share on other sites
TXRed

TXRed

Posted
Posted
The "one punch left" thing was associated with the old coffee cards which were discontinued two years ago. That is when the cards could be used perpetually until that last punch was used.

 

The current coffee card is good for unlimited coffee (and hot chocolate) on the voyage it is sold on, even if all the punches are used. Any unused punches can be used on later voyages.

 

Oh that is even better...I may just leave the press at home then. Thank you for the update on the coffee card.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Lovetocruiseprincess

Lovetocruiseprincess

Posted
Posted
The "one punch left" thing was associated with the old coffee cards which were discontinued two years ago. That is when the cards could be used perpetually until that last punch was used.

 

The current coffee card is good for unlimited coffee (and hot chocolate) on the voyage it is sold on, even if all the punches are used. Any unused punches can be used on later voyages.[/quote]

 

With better coffee & hot chocolate available at the buffet on the Royal and Regal even this limitation is becoming less important as it used to be. I found very little difference between the IC dripped coffee & that in the Horizon - both being very strong that I added water to each one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...