LIVE from the Ruby Princess: April 2-9, 2023 Western Caribbean from Galveston

[satxdiver]

Just looked at the map Alure OTS and NCL Dawn are in port at Coxen Hole.  Mardi Gras is in port at Mohagany Bay and the Ruby is on a slow path to Costa Maya where the Alure OTS and Caribbean Princess will join us.  I think the captain gave up too quickly.  We have been to Roatan many times both to Coxen Hole and Mohagany Bay so sad we missed this port.  The entrance to this port which must be done in reverse is a very narrow channel and wind has canceled it before.  Tugboats are not available and cannot be used due to the narrow channel so if we ran aground it would be disastrous. 

[talkorpi]

Just now, satxdiver said:

Just looked at the map Alure OTS and NCL Dawn are in port at Coxen Hole.  Mardi Gras is in port at Mohagany Bay and the Ruby is on a slow path to Costa Maya where the Alure OTS and Caribbean Princess will join us.  I think the captain gave up too quickly.  We have been to Roatan many times both to Coxen Hole and Mohagany Bay so sad we missed this port.  The entrance to this port which must be done in reverse is a very narrow channel and wind has canceled it before.  Tugboats are not available and cannot be used due to the narrow channel so if we ran aground it would be disastrous. 

Thanks for explaining it better than I could. I do agree that I think we gave up too early. I have a hard time believing that three other larger ships could dock but we couldn’t. 
 

This stinks as MB is by far the best port on this itinerary IMHO. Also means I probably won’t be getting a beach day anymore since all the Cozumel clubs are likely sold out. 
 

Huge bummer

[satxdiver]

Princess will refund the port tax and usually give a small OBC as a token of their apology for missing the port.  While Mahogany Bay is a really nice port that Carnival Corp built for Carnival's family of cruise ships (9), it is a very treacherous port to get into due to the lengthy narrow entrance with no tugboat assistance available.  

[KKB]

10 hours ago, talkorpi said:

Okay, I know that was a lot of posts in a row about food but I just wanted to express how incredible our dinner was tonight. Again, huge thank you to Milos and the entire chef’s team at Sabatini’s for producing such an incredible meal. The service lasted about 2 1/2 hours but I was completely fine with that. Truly magnifico!

I heard SEVERAL people RAVE about Sabatini's last week (and also how FULL they were). 

Wish I had tried it!

[FrankieJayIII]

my pro tip is to book your specialty restaurants for ad early as you can handle bc they tend to last longer and you still get evenings.   i have 2 booked on sea days at 5:30...  strangely won't get out of there until 7:30-8...    my other dinners we do 7 or 8 depending on the port or day in MDR...  beats the early crowd but you can still catch the late show...   and have evening cocktails and relaxation 

[CC Rider 69]

1 hour ago, talkorpi said:

Thanks for explaining it better than I could. I do agree that I think we gave up too early. I have a hard time believing that three other larger ships could dock but we couldn’t. 
 

This stinks as MB is by far the best port on this itinerary IMHO. Also means I probably won’t be getting a beach day anymore since all the Cozumel clubs are likely sold out. 
 

Huge bummer

Try Del Mar Latino Cozumel, it's either a short walk towards town (1/2 mi) or an $8 cab ride. It's small and the service is good. If you can get a reservation, get there early to insure a prime spot. It's $39 pp all inclusive, but it does have a small beach area that is not on the coast. However, you do have steps down to the waters edge.

[Woosgirl]

Hey there! I’ll be on the Ruby next month, and wondering if they have a smoothie juice bar?  Have you seen one?

[talkorpi]

Just now, Woosgirl said:

Hey there! I’ll be on the Ruby next month, and wondering if they have a smoothie juice bar?  Have you seen one?

I haven’t found one but they do have premade smoothies in the buffet for breakfast as well as in the international cafe. 

[talkorpi]

Here’s todays new patter. They didn’t really add anything to the schedule to make up for skipping the port of call.

[PescadoAmarillo]

15 minutes ago, Woosgirl said:

Hey there! I’ll be on the Ruby next month, and wondering if they have a smoothie juice bar?  Have you seen one?

The calypso bar under the big screen, only during morning hours. 

[talkorpi]

Drinking the pain of missing Mahogany Bay away 😂

[phatlad]

2 hours ago, satxdiver said:

Princess will refund the port tax and usually give a small OBC as a token of their apology for missing the port.  While Mahogany Bay is a really nice port that Carnival Corp built for Carnival's family of cruise ships (9), it is a very treacherous port to get into due to the lengthy narrow entrance with no tugboat assistance available.  

They are not giving any OBC. Refunding port fees and any excursions booked through the ship. This is my first princess cruise and to say I’m underwhelmed compared to other lines is an understatement. (Not because of the missed port; totally understand that. Safety first. But because of many other comparative reasons). 

[talkorpi]

Just now, phatlad said:

They are not giving any OBC. Refunding port fees and any excursions booked through the ship. This is my first princess cruise and to say I’m underwhelmed compared to other lines is an understatement. (Not because of the missed port; totally understand that. Safety first. But because of many other comparative reasons). 

I’m sorry that you aren’t having a good time. I will definitely say that Princess is a very traditional cruising experience. I have generally really enjoyed everything so far. I find the food, service, and ship much better than my time on Carnival. The entertainment is a mixed bag - main production shows aren’t as good but I do enjoy the game shows. 
 

Today’s missed port and the lack of activities scheduled to make that up has been the first and only disappointment so far in my eyes. Of course any day at sea is still better than a day in the office so I’m still having a great time! Just trying to ignore the live threads of the ships that were able to dock today 😂

Edited April 5, 2023 by talkorpi

[talkorpi]

MDR lunch menu today

[telecheck]

34 minutes ago, talkorpi said:

I’m sorry that you aren’t having a good time. I will definitely say that Princess is a very traditional cruising experience. I have generally really enjoyed everything so far. I find the food, service, and ship much better than my time on Carnival. The entertainment is a mixed bag - main production shows aren’t as good but I do enjoy the game shows. 
 

Today’s missed port and the lack of activities scheduled to make that up has been the first and only disappointment so far in my eyes. Of course any day at sea is still better than a day in the office so I’m still having a great time! Just trying to ignore the live threads of the ships that were able to dock today 😂

 

Sorry that you missed the port today.

 

I was almost in the same situation last week on Discovery when we were trying to dock in San Francisco. The wind of 40mph+ was expected to pick up at 7am which was the time that we were scheduled to dock, so the captain made a decision to speed up the ship in the previous evening to let us sail under the Golden Gate Bridge and get into the SF Bay ahead of the wind storm. By 4am we were already docked in SF although the gangways would not open until the original arrival time of 7am.

 

I need to give a shout out to the captain. If not his careful calculation we would have missed the port of San Francisco, which was the highlight of this cruise.

[parytimeson]

On 4/4/2023 at 9:31 AM, talkorpi said:

Next sailing (5-day 80’s cruise) will have 3,144 pax

 

Hi! I like to thank you for the help with the prune juice situation.

 

Is this just the number of guest passengers or does it include crew? I had read that the max guest passenger capacity is 3080. Can it actually go over?

 

thanks!

 

 

 

[talkorpi]

Just now, parytimeson said:

 

Hi! I like to thank you for the help with the prune juice situation.

 

Is this just the number of guest passengers or does it include crew? I had read that the max guest passenger capacity is 3080. Can it actually go over?

 

thanks!

 

 

 

That’s the passenger count. The 3080 maximum capacity is assuming every room is booked with two guest in it. It can go over as you add 3rd and 4th passengers to rooms. Sounds like the next cruise will be pretty full!

[satxdiver]

45 minutes ago, parytimeson said:

 

Hi! I like to thank you for the help with the prune juice situation.

 

Is this just the number of guest passengers or does it include crew? I had read that the max guest passenger capacity is 3080. Can it actually go over?

 

thanks!

 

 

 

the 3080 is what they call bottom berths.  However, many rooms can accommodate more such as 3 or 4 with drop down beds and couches for those rooms that have it.  I asked this morning and was told there are 360 children aboard who most likely are staying in their parents' cabin.  That is the most I have ever seen in my over 30 Princess cruises.  No, it never includes the crew.

Edited April 5, 2023 by satxdiver

[satxdiver]

2 hours ago, phatlad said:

They are not giving any OBC. Refunding port fees and any excursions booked through the ship. This is my first princess cruise and to say I’m underwhelmed compared to other lines is an understatement. (Not because of the missed port; totally understand that. Safety first. But because of many other comparative reasons). 

Give them time to post the refunds to you folio and to add any goodwill OBC after the HQ approves it. In all my Princess cruises (30+) they have given the goodwill OBC.

Edited April 5, 2023 by satxdiver

[FrankieJayIII]

3 hours ago, talkorpi said:

Here’s todays new patter. They didn’t really add anything to the schedule to make up for skipping the port of call.

These patters seem uneventful to me. 

[talkorpi]

Just now, FrankieJayIII said:

These patters seem uneventful to me. 

I think they had a hard time filling the time that we were supposed to be in port today. The only thing that isn’t live music, spa, art, shopping, or designed for children in between 11 AM and 5 PM today is the arts and crafts and AA 🫠 Would’ve been nice to throw in some more trivias, an enrichment lecture, or an extra arts and crafts somewhere. 
 

 

[talkorpi]

I read this letter as “we are sorry that we lost out on all of your shore excursion money, please come donate it to us in the casino or spa instead”

 

😂😂🤔

[talkorpi]

Lunch. Pizza line was LONG. Well worth the wait though - tasted great and I did enjoy it better than CCL lido pizza. The ultimate mai tai is one of the best drinks I have had so far, too.
 

The ship did not feel very crowded on day one but lido was absolutely overflowing this afternoon. People were waiting in line in the hallway near the Horizon Court just to try to snag an empty table! I guess losing the free beach port left people wanting to get some sun & enjoy the pools. For me it’s just not the same but the point is the top decks are very crowded today. 
 

Edited April 5, 2023 by talkorpi

[talkorpi]

Well I didn’t get to go to the arts and crafts session because there were no seats left. It was one of the only non- spa or shopping activities all afternoon but for some reason they decided to have it in (half of) Crown Grill. I got there a couple minutes before it started and there were no open seats! Dang it.
 

Today is just not working for me luck-wise. First a missed port, then a bunch of busts in the casino with no wins, and now this! Hoping this evening gets better 😅

[CC Rider 69]

It will tomorrow when you deck in Costa Maya. Malecon 21 is a beach club in town. We go there every time when can. Usually you need reservations, but maybe you could snag a lounge. They do have a website, and it's an interesting ride to town.