Ruby, California Coastal, cabin questions

I am looking at Ruby for California Coastal for Fall 2016 - yes, I plan ahead! I have searched the board here, but still have several questions.

I plan to go with a balcony cabin. The vote seems to go heavily to Caribe Deck due to the large, half covered, half not covered balcony, which is a B2 Premium for Mid-Aft. Any comments?

I will also consider B4 Aft [various decks] due to the view, but concerned about motion in the Pacific; should I be concerned?

If I go with standard balcony, BB, to save a few $$$, is there a difference between Aloha and Baja decks? Difference in balcony cover?

Does anyone know whether Port or Starboard is better for being docked on the city side for that itinerary?

If I go with standard balcony, BB, to save a few $$$, is there a difference between Aloha and Baja decks? Difference in balcony cover?

 

Does anyone know whether Port or Starboard is better for being docked on the city side for that itinerary?

In the case of the Ruby, I don't think there is any difference between Aloha and Baja balconies. The side of the ship is not important, to me anyway, since no dock has much of a city view anyway. San Francisco, the ship faces the city, more or less. Santa Barbara is usually (?) a tender port and the ship at anchor will drift around. San Diego, again a front view, Catalina, another tender. Ensenada, I guess you might want port side, but that town isn't a thrill to look at, IMO. I agree you should go for the Caribe balcony since the weather will vary a lot, and if there's rain, you're covered. If it's sunny, you can take advantage of that.

................. Ensenada, I guess you might want port side, but that town isn't a thrill to look at, IMO.............

Unless you just want to watch the seals/sea lions competing for the "best" place on the port to get out and rest. Always entertaining.

:cool:

Unless you just want to watch the seals/sea lions competing for the "best" place on the port to get out and rest. Always entertaining.

:cool:

Or watch the giant Mexican flag. :) I neglected to mention Los Angeles. That is a nothing view for sure. San Pedro is working port, far from the lights of the big city.

I am looking at Ruby for California Coastal for Fall 2016 - yes, I plan ahead! I have searched the board here, but still have several questions.

 

I plan to go with a balcony cabin. The vote seems to go heavily to Caribe Deck due to the large, half covered, half not covered balcony, which is a B2 Premium for Mid-Aft. Any comments?

We have been on the Emerald (sister to the Ruby) as well as the Star and Grand which have similar cabin locations and balcony sizes to the Ruby. On these ships we stayed in the cat. BD cabins port and starboard aft on the Caribe deck. These are nice locations, and are the cabins we would recommend.

 

I will also consider B4 Aft [various decks] due to the view, but concerned about motion in the Pacific; should I be concerned?

We were on a CA Coastal this past March and did not have much motion. But, motion can occur any time while on the seas. We did not find the cabins mentioned above to be any better of worst regarding feeling motion. We can't comment on stern facing cabins as we have never stayed in one.

 

If I go with standard balcony, BB, to save a few $$$, is there a difference between Aloha and Baja decks? Difference in balcony cover?

On the Aloha and Baja decks we would also choose the cat. BD cabins in the same location as the Caribe deck. The interiors of all these balcony cat. cabins are the same. Port and starboard side balconies on the Caribe deck are 9'x9' and are half covered. Port and starboard side balconies on the Aloha and Baja decks are 9'x5' and fully covered. While the 9'x9' balcony is nice offering both cover and uncover, the 9'x5' balconies are sufficient in size to allow for comfortable use.

 

Does anyone know whether Port or Starboard is better for being docked on the city side for that itinerary? The view exiting San Pedro is best from the starboard side. In S.F. the we docked at pier 27 with the port side facing the pier and busy side of the Embarcadero with views toward downtown. Also in SF the views from the port side will face the downtown when leaving in the evening. However, it is best to be on the upper deck to experience sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge. It is something not to miss. Santa Barbara is a tender port and there basically isn't any real view. In San Diego while docked it really doesn't matter if you are facing north or south there are views in both directions. Ensenada, no real scenic views.

Please see above.

Taken this cruise several times, and I agree with the others. :)

Patti

We are booked on an October 2016 CA Coastal on the Ruby. This will be our fourth time for this 7 night cruise, and we have done many of the shorter 3 & 4 night cruises out of San Pedro on Princess. The advantage IMO for Baja deck is you have cabins above and below you rather than a club/bar/casino/speciality dining room etc. The disadvantage, again IMO, with the half covered balconies is a lack of privacy from those above you. Because of the way the decks are configured those cabins seem to be deeper, causing the balcony to stick out the extra 4'. Without meaning to "spy" we have gotten quite a show or two from unsuspecting fellow passengers :eek:

We also like to book in the aft area cabins to the rear of the back elevator banks. There seems to be little "sway" (although our adult son complained of a constant tremor in their mini on a recent Alaskan cruise from the engine) and as you sail north against the current it can get choppy and rough in the more forward cabins.

We are booked on the Ruby for 9/25/15, 11/15/15, and again for 10/22/16. I'll touch base after our September if I find any MAJOR drawbacks.

Dian

A Caribe deck room (premium balcony) is nice, especially if you have more than 2 people in your cabin, or have a cruise worthy of spending lots of time on the balcony. We had a Caribe room on our Alaska cruise in 2014, and absolutely loved it!

If you can get a Caribe room at a good sale price, even a better reason to jump on it.

Thanks to all who replied to my post. I did book an Aloha Deck mid-aft Cat BB for Sept 24, 2016. I decided the bigger partly covered [premium] balcony on Caribe was not worth the $$ difference to me. And was able to get a cabin just aft of the aft elevators, with cabins below, above and across.

I would have chosen Baja, but it appears that the most-forward of the mid-aft cabins have been blocked for a tour or TA. Those available are more aft and opposite "blank areas" which indicate crew areas to me.

With your help, I am sure that Aloha mid-aft will be fine and a good choice for me/us.