Live from the Ruby Princess…April 14-30 from Galveston to San Francisco

[JJBhouston]

Enjoying your posts! We were on the Ruby for the San Francisco to Galveston in December and had a great time as well. Feeling nostalgic. 

How is the Cruise Director/staff? They were lots of fun on our cruise and there was lots of participation by staff and officers and passengers.

[sirclean]

Happy to see this post as We are ON THE SHIP too!

The Cruise Critic was hosted on Saturday. All of the ships top officers were there and we had a short introduction by some!

There is also a facebook group specifically formed for this cruise (which I found out about on Saturday, I think!) They have done several things together including a slot pull, pub crawl and shot glass exchange!

 

The trip has been pretty good.  Im surprised that you have been able to upload so much information and so many pictures!

It is 11:39 pm, the ship is at least 1/3 empty.  AS indicated, the average age is ... well ...lets say "retired for some time".  Many I have had meals with are easily in their 70s.  Tonight's table included an 88 year old and his wife.  Lunch had another nearly 80.

All looked spry, but there are very few kids that can be gone for a 16 day repositioning cruise!

 

Still, internet speed is SLOW!!   My current download speed is .4MPS  (see below).

 

 

[PandaBear62]

Wednesday April 19

Patters:

 

 

 

My friends decorated my door for my birthday:

 

Dh was up early to see us go into the locks and take pictures. I was not. Thankfully, I had a good night of sleep (finally) so I got up at 7:45 and was at the Sancturay by 8am as they were opening. Everyone was around the windows until about 9:30, when we started cruising across Gangun Lake. 

 

The progression of the gate at the locks

 

 

 

 

It’s very peaceful up here. While there is some mesh coverings to help protect from the direct sun, it was still quite sunny in the morning. By 11:30 the sun was shining but we weren’t feeling the heat. I planned to pop into the adult pool but it was empty. But I did use the hot tub. 

 

 

 

Lunch was delicious grilled shrimp and white bean salad. In the afternoon I’ve cream was offered. Staff moved our loungers to right up by the windows which kept us in the shade and made a world of difference. 

 

 

We have been offered cool washcloths to cool down, orange water and of course, any drinks we might like. Coincidentally, today is my birthday and this has been such a treat. It couldn’t have been planned better if I tried. 

 

Afternoon tea was served. Small sandwiches, like served in the International Cafe and small cakes and cookies. 

 

We went through the last locks between about 3-4pm.  

 

 

At 4 I left to go to the room as we had 5:30 reservations at Sabatinis for my birthday. 

 

My cabin attendant also had something special for my birthday:

 

We arrived a few minutes early to Sabatinis. We had actually originally had a 7:30 reservation, but changed to 5:30. We arrived an no one was in the restaurant except staff. Throughout our dinner, there was never more than 4 dining groups. Quite a change from our Alaskan cruise last summer, when there were very few or no reservations available. 

 

Dinner was lovely and the service was excellent. It’s really a treat to eat here. We were back in our room about 7:30 ish and went to bed early, as we had to be in the Princess theater at 6am tomorrow for our excursion.

[Olympic Crow]

In retrospect,  do you think it was worth it to pay for the Sanctuary on transit day?

[PandaBear62]

57 minutes ago, Cruising2024 said:

In retrospect,  do you think it was worth it to pay for the Sanctuary on transit day?

For us, yes. Keep in mind we are in an obstructed view room. That is basically considered the highest of inside cabin levels. So price wise, a cheaper room, so $60 a person vs the cost of a balcony is (I think) at least $1000 more per person.
 

 

The view is awesome going through the canal. You are at the front of the ship, at the very top, so the view is fantastic. Early in the morning, people were three deep at the front of the ship. The service is wonderful and the loungers super comfortable. You get a free picture from the ship. I would 100% do it again. 
 

If you want it, reserve for Panama Canal day the day you board the ship. 

[PandaBear62]

Thursday April 20

Patters for today

 

 

As I mentioned, we had to be at the Princess Theater for our excursion at 6am.

 

 

Unfortunately, due to some delays we didn’t leave until 7am. While I’m not necessarily a late sleep (under normal circumstances), waking up at 5 was early for me.

 

I was a little concerned, as our ticket said there wouldn’t be access to a bathroom for 4 hours. And while I should have read our ticket more carefully, it was never mentioned in the tour description. I have some intestinal issues as well as “tb” (tiny bladder) so I was kind of panicking. I thought about just bailing at the last minute and sending dh. I then decided I wouldn’t eat or drink for the entire tour (8 hours) and dumped my morning coffee. 

 

We loaded a bus for a very short (maybe 5 minutes) trip to get on to our boat.  Once we boarded the boat it was announced there was a toilet on the lower level. Whew!

 

We had a little delay as we waited for the canal pilot to board.

 

 

 

 We have a tour guide per bus (for the way there and back) and a guide on the boat who essentially narrates the entire trip.

 

This trip is through the old locks, which is really a great comparison to sailing through the new locks. You can really see being in a small boat.

 

When we entered the old locks, we were so low with the canal edges so high, it was quite hot. You could really tell as we rose, because the breeze came back.

 

 

 

 

 

If you look at the pictures above, look at the line where the red and black on the boat meet. You can really tell how much we rose that way. 

 

There are little cars on tracks like railroad tracks. They attach to large ships going through the old canal and keep the boat straight. 

 

 

 

We’re currently sailing through Miraflores Lake. The photo below helps show the new and old canals. 

 

 

More later

[travelin.sisters]

14 hours ago, PandaBear62 said:

Wednesday April 19

Patters:

 

 

 

My friends decorated my door for my birthday:

 

Dh was up early to see us go into the locks and take pictures. I was not. Thankfully, I had a good night of sleep (finally) so I got up at 7:45 and was at the Sancturay by 8am as they were opening. Everyone was around the windows until about 9:30, when we started cruising across Gangun Lake. 

 

The progression of the gate at the locks

 

 

 

 

It’s very peaceful up here. While there is some mesh coverings to help protect from the direct sun, it was still quite sunny in the morning. By 11:30 the sun was shining but we weren’t feeling the heat. I planned to pop into the adult pool but it was empty. But I did use the hot tub. 

 

 

 

Lunch was delicious grilled shrimp and white bean salad. In the afternoon I’ve cream was offered. Staff moved our loungers to right up by the windows which kept us in the shade and made a world of difference. 

 

 

We have been offered cool washcloths to cool down, orange water and of course, any drinks we might like. Coincidentally, today is my birthday and this has been such a treat. It couldn’t have been planned better if I tried. 

 

Afternoon tea was served. Small sandwiches, like served in the International Cafe and small cakes and cookies. 

 

We went through the last locks between about 3-4pm.  

 

 

At 4 I left to go to the room as we had 5:30 reservations at Sabatinis for my birthday. 

 

My cabin attendant also had something special for my birthday:

 

We arrived a few minutes early to Sabatinis. We had actually originally had a 7:30 reservation, but changed to 5:30. We arrived an no one was in the restaurant except staff. Throughout our dinner, there was never more than 4 dining groups. Quite a change from our Alaskan cruise last summer, when there were very few or no reservations available. 

 

Dinner was lovely and the service was excellent. It’s really a treat to eat here. We were back in our room about 7:30 ish and went to bed early, as we had to be in the Princess theater at 6am tomorrow for our excursion.

happy birthday!!!

 

[nini]

Thank you @PandaBear62 for sharing your journey with us. We have not been on the Ruby, but we enjoyed a full PC transit on the Coral in January of 2018.

It was hot and humid even then. When I would go out on our balcony, my camera lens would fog up. At first, I thought that there was something wrong with my lens.

 

Since the Coral is an older ship, we were able to go through the old locks. We were able to touch the walls from our balcony.

 

Enjoy your journey!

[PandaBear62]

This part of the excursion (the boat ride through the locks) was fantastic. The guide for this essentially talked about the canal, Panama, etc for the 3 hours we were in the boat. It was amazing. 

 

For the second set of locks, we stayed in the back of the boat, to see the gates close (we couldn’t see in front because of the large freighter)

 

 

 

 

We transferred to the busses that brought us and it took us about two hours to return (this included about 20 plus minutes by the pier waiting). The city “tour” was essentially nothing for me. I’m not sure if it actually added time back or not. We were walking on the ship about 2:30. 

 

We went back to our cabin and took a nap before dinner. Between the early rising and the humidity, I was exhausted. 

 

We joined our friends for dinner

 

Menus:

 

 

 

 

I had the scallops which were reasonably good and the orange and fennel salad, which I really liked. Dessert: the cherries jubilee which was also good because the cherries weren’t too sweet. 

 

After dinner we went to the Colors of the World production and I thought it was significantly better than the Stardust show.

 

We then went to the Crooners  Lounge, which we have not been to before. The music was nice and a good volume…some of the music has been SO loud. We stayed until about 11 and headed back to our cabin. 

 

[CalLuvsCrusingToo]

Enjoying reading your TR. 

Looks like you took a small boat tour thru the old locks.

Did Ruby go thru old or new?

 

Also wondering if any of you have been in casino, and how smokey is it?

 

[PandaBear62]

7 minutes ago, CalLuvsCrusingToo said:

Enjoying reading your TR. 

Looks like you took a small boat tour thru the old locks.

Did Ruby go thru old or new?

 

Also wondering if any of you have been in casino, and how smokey is it?

 

 Our cruise went through the new locks and our boat tour through the old. A great combination. 
 

We actually planned to go to the casino last night (even had cash to do so) but then decided to go to Crooners instead. 
 

We’ve been through the casino a couple of times and it wasn’t too smoky, but haven’t been at night. I’ll let you know!

[sirclean]

Sea Day.

Great education lectures!  In the 'olden days' we would go to the port lectures and they were essentially sales pitches for all of the shops to see.  On this trip (and it may be the ports we are visiting) the lecturer was a cruise director for decades and his lectures include the history of the area and pictures of a lot of the sites, including some from his early, middle and recent visits! (Today he showed 3 pictures of him holding a sloth and noted 'how old that sloth has gotten'!) 

 

These lectures include pictures of a lot of sights and HAD I seen these lectures before joining the ship (IF Princess would add them to the booking pages), I would have been so much more tempted and torn in picking shore excursions!  He has done a great job! 

 

A drawback, not of this voyage, but of Princess in general these day is the internet speed.  (I will include a speed test below).  I am so impressed by the pictures that PandaBear has been able to upload and the content!  (S)/he must have a lot of patience to type the messages (which are great!) and load all of the pictures, INcluding the pictures of the ship going through the canal!

(How were you able to get those 'live action' shots?)

 

Enjoying the cruise and reading about it live!!

 

[PandaBear62]

2 hours ago, sirclean said:

 

A drawback, not of this voyage, but of Princess in general these day is the internet speed.  (I will include a speed test below).  I am so impressed by the pictures that PandaBear has been able to upload and the content!  (S)/he must have a lot of patience to type the messages (which are great!) and load all of the pictures, INcluding the pictures of the ship going through the canal!

(How were you able to get those 'live action' shots?)

 

Enjoying the cruise and reading about it live!!

 

The commentator during the Panama Canal cruise day announced the web page you could send to friends and family that showed ships going through different locks.

 

I just went to the page myself and screen shot it.

[FrankieJayIII]

hey @PandaBear62  did you happen to try to book the Chef's Table?   Do you know what night they are being held?  What about the wine makers dinner? 

[PandaBear62]

Friday April 21

Patters:

 

I slept until 9:45 today after falling asleep a little after midnight last night. I have not slept like that since we boarded the cruise so I am feeling great. I was sure dh was by the International Cafe reading and I was correct. On the way I was stopped by someone from the art gallery to guess the price of a painting. The artist was Peter Max. The “hint” was it was between 80-140k! Good grief! I was stunned. I guessed 111k and went to find dh who was in Vines. I checked in with him and then returned to the room to change for the thermal spa. When I got there it was empty, but another couple joined shortly after. I love the ceramic loungers. It’s warm without being too hot. So I read and just relaxed.

 

After the thermal spa I decided to try the buffet (I hadn’t eaten there yet). The buffet on the Ruby is very small. I had a salad from the salad bar and that was small. I was not impressed and don’t plan to go back. I ended up walking out to the pool area and had a slice of pizza. 

 

I met up with dh and we read a bit in the room and then met up with friends to play cards. They brought a new game for me: Skipbo. We played up in the Adiago Lounge until it was time to get ready for dinner. Our friends went to the Crown Grill but dh and I chose not to. We went to the dining room and it was another formal night. Once again, not a lot of people were dressed up really formal. 

 

I didn’t care for many of the dinner choices. Menu:

 

 

 

The beef satay wasn’t bad and I liked the peanut sauce better tonight (more flavor). The salad was a salad, nothing special. I had the lentil cakes and they were okay. I did forget to snap the dessert menu, but I had key lime pie and it was excellent. 

 

Dh and I went to the room to change and get his kindle and went back to Adiago to read. Our friends joined us and we played cards (We didn’t care for the evening activities and we live to play cards)

 

We played cards and then left to go to bed. We had to be at the aprincess Theater at 7:20, but were happy to be gaining an hour

[CruisinCadie]

On 4/19/2023 at 12:30 PM, PandaBear62 said:

I believe you can just ask for a coffee over ice. 

Thanks, Panda Bear.  I know we got iced coffee on our Thanksgiving cruise on the Enchanted Princess in 2021, but I seem to recall it being listed separately on the menu.

 

Kathy

[startedwithamouse]

You had Naathan Phan, the Magician, in the Princess Theater - he is delightful. 

 

Best of both worlds, we did the full transit Panama Canal on the Emerald earlier this year, and took the tour through the old locks. 

 

 

 

 

[nemaihne]

OMG, Panda! They served Cioppino on a formal night? 🤣
I hope they at least cracked the crab.

Thanks again for your travelogue. It's so fun playing the home game along with you.

[JoJo1008]

On 4/21/2023 at 8:08 PM, FrankieJayIII said:

hey @PandaBear62  did you happen to try to book the Chef's Table?   Do you know what night they are being held?  What about the wine makers dinner? 

I don’t mean to barge in on Panda’s thread but we’re on right now and we attended the Chef’s Table night before last. We were the second Chef’s Table they’ve held so far. 

[FrankieJayIII]

1 hour ago, JoJo1008 said:

I don’t mean to barge in on Panda’s thread but we’re on right now and we attended the Chef’s Table night before last. We were the second Chef’s Table they’ve held so far. 

what was the cost?  how did you book it/sign up for it?  did you take any pictures of menu?

[JoJo1008]

35 minutes ago, FrankieJayIII said:

what was the cost?  how did you book it/sign up for it?  did you take any pictures of menu?

I believe the cost is $100. I haven’t checked my balance in a few days. As soon as we got on the ship we went to guest services and called the dine line. They will take your information but you’re not guaranteed a spot. Within a few days we had an invitation in our room giving us the date and time for our Chef’s Table. 

[PandaBear62]

Saturday April 22

We had an extra hour of sleep, but our phones didn’t change on the ships internet. So between the engines of the ship and making sure we didn’t oversleep our excursion, we were up early.

 

Remember when I said there were app problems at the beginning of the trip? We changed todays excursion but our friends excursion was wrong. We had gone up together to make sure there were no issues. Unfortunately, she didn’t check the tickets when the arrived. So do so! This tour was sold out, but in waiting until the very last minute, she got on this excursion.  

 

No delays today in taking off and we drive to the first stop, the sloth sanctuary. This is someplace I really wanted to see. 

 

We arrived after about 1 ¾ hours. Groups of 16-18 were sent with a volunteer to tour the sanctuary. I LOVED it!

 

 

 

 

 

The sanctuary utilized many volunteers and take in animals that are abused or were pets whose owners can no longer care for them. Some are orphans. Most of the animals cannot be rehabilitated to live in the wild. Some of the animals can roam free. Others need to be in enclosures because they can be aggressive towards humans (especially those that were abused)

 

Now my rant…..we are in a big bus and I HATE big bus tours. We’ve now been on the bus for 20 minutes waiting for a group of people who haven’t bothered to return. Dh likes the security of a ships tour and I am more adventurous. So I am sitting here fuming. 

 

Okay, we’ve now left 25 minutes after the other bus, and my rant is over and my attitude back where it should be.

 

We drove to the Arial Tram (90 minutes). It took more time because we got stuck behind a tow truck pulling a big rig cab. 

 

We had lunch here and it was quite good. Chicken or beef, rice and beans, cabbage with salsa (unusual but good). Dh and I bought a local beer. We then took a “nature walk” with a guide and she was very informative.

 

 

 

 

 

a March of ants carrying leaves to their destination…..I wish I could share the video!

 

They have a small butterfly solarium and we were told that the butterflies in there live about 14 days. In the wild, maybe 1-2 days because so many animals will eat them. 

 

We then took the arial tram. It really was beautiful views.

 

 

 

We even saw a toucan high up in a tree!

 

 

We then boarded the bus after a quick bathroom break and buying some cold water. (As an aside, the bathrooms were very clean here!)

 

It started to rain on the way back….so glad it wasn’t while we were on the tour! A little excitement on the way back to the pier…..a car just stopped on the road.  Our bus driver honked, hit the brakes and we slowed to a stop to avoid hitting the car. Thank goodness we had such an observant driver or things could have been very bad. 

 

Back to the ship, we met friends for dinner at the buffet. I’m not typically a big buffet person, but I made an eclectic plate of green beans with onions, mashed potatoes, German potato salad (although it had a mustard vinaigrette, which is not at all German style but it was good) and black bean salad. Being a CA girl, I always loved going to Cracker Barrel when we visit the south. My plate was like a cracker barrel vegetable plate!  (I don’t really care for most meats in gravy or sauces, which are often of buffets).

 

Then I indulged in bread pudding for dessert, which I love.

 

Here is the menu from the dining room:

 

 

 

 

 

We went up to the Explorers Lounge to play music trivia and it was country music. We didn’t do too bad, with 19 out of 30. We then got a little punchy and started our own music trivia game, playing songs from our phones until the band there returned. 

 

My friends went to their rooms and dh and I went to Crooners again, since the pianist started at 9. We met another couple (Bruce and Nancy) and enjoyed chatting with them until we went up to our room at 11.

 

[nini]

Hmmm... What is with the French Onion Soup with chickpeas and Caesar dressing? Good grief.

[BabsinTX]

On 4/21/2023 at 8:08 PM, FrankieJayIII said:

hey @PandaBear62  did you happen to try to book the Chef's Table?   Do you know what night they are being held?  What about the wine makers dinner? 

 

26 minutes ago, JoJo1008 said:

I believe the cost is $100. I haven’t checked my balance in a few days. As soon as we got on the ship we went to guest services and called the dine line. They will take your information but you’re not guaranteed a spot. Within a few days we had an invitation in our room giving us the date and time for our Chef’s Table. 

We went to the first Chef's Table, which had a different menu than the one above.  It was held in Sabatini's in a alcove off the main room.  Be sure to call the dine line ASAP once you're on board to put your name on the list.  It's well worth the $$$.

[PandaBear62]

On 4/19/2023 at 6:37 PM, JJBhouston said:

Enjoying your posts! We were on the Ruby for the San Francisco to Galveston in December and had a great time as well. Feeling nostalgic. 

How is the Cruise Director/staff? They were lots of fun on our cruise and there was lots of participation by staff and officers and passengers.

Somehow I missed this post! Cole is our cruise director and he is adorable. Only 26, the youngest in the fleet. I think the activities staff is excellent. 

 

here is the crew: