Ruby - "Bad" Mini-suites or Suites?

I've just booked a 3-day Pacific Coastal on the Ruby. We are currently booked in a B1 Premium Balcony cabin. I normally don't have my reservation marked for automatic upgrade, but I decided to give it a try this time, as it's only a 3-day cruise.

Since we're already in the highest balcony category, I figure the worst we could do if upgraded is the least-desireable mini-suite. My question is this: Are there any truly "bad" mini-suites or suites on the Ruby? I understand that I could end up with one at the very front or back of the ship, and I'm willing to take that risk. That aside, are there any mini-suites or suites that you would not want to sail in on the Ruby Princess?

Thanks for your feedback!

Beverly

I have never been in a suite or mini-suite on Ruby Princess, but I have peeked into cabins...I have not seen a bad cabin, although any cabin on the Ruby is a good cabin to me.

We will be on the 3 day coastal Dec 15th? Same voyage?

I've just booked a 3-day Pacific Coastal on the Ruby. We are currently booked in a B1 Premium Balcony cabin. I normally don't have my reservation marked for automatic upgrade, but I decided to give it a try this time, as it's only a 3-day cruise.

 

Since we're already in the highest balcony category, I figure the worst we could do if upgraded is the least-desireable mini-suite. My question is this: Are there any truly "bad" mini-suites or suites on the Ruby? I understand that I could end up with one at the very front or back of the ship, and I'm willing to take that risk. That aside, are there any mini-suites or suites that you would not want to sail in on the Ruby Princess?

Mini-suites are pretty much all alike. Same cabin configuration, same balcony. Only differences are location and depending on the deck, whether it's covered or uncovered. Dolphin deck mini-suite balconies are completely uncovered so that anyone above can see the entire balcony; Emerald deck mini-suite balconies are fully covered and private although some people dislike these because they feel they don't get enough light.

Full suites to avoid are those beneath public deck. Some are downright awful when it comes to noise from above.

Not really any bad mini-suites on the Ruby, just covered balconies on Emerald deck and uncovered balconies on Dolphin deck. On earlier Grand class ships the last mini on either side on Dolphin deck has an accessible bathroom, two chairs rather than a sofa and only a two single bed orientation. To make up for those potential issues, the balcony is extended aft and almost twice the size of other mini suite balconies.

Love the end mini-suites on the Grand class. Especially on the Emerald deck.We would rather have some cover from the sun.

Robinsoncruiseso – That’s pretty much what I figured! I don’t think we can really go wrong with an upgrade from a B1 balcony. We did the same cruise last year on the Grand. We enjoyed it but are looking forward to the Ruby, which I’ve heard is a beautiful ship. We are on the last cruise before the dry-dock: November 30. She should be bright & shiny for your cruise on December 15.

Pam – Yes, I realize that free upgrades are unfortunately hard to come by these days. We did the same cruise last year on the Grand, and were offered & accepted a paid upgrade from a mini-suite to a penthouse suite. It was a decent value, but I don’t think we’d pay for such an upgrade again. Thanks for differentiating between the mini-suites on the dolphin vs. the emerald deck. Since our cruise is only a 3-day in Nov/Dec, either would be fine. I don’t expect to have much opportunity to use the balcony!

IECalCruiser & Jules59 – Thanks for your feedback. After hearing from all of you, I think we’ll be fine to leave ourselves earmarked for a free upgrade, should one become available.

Beverly

The only possible issue with a suite or mini-suit could be the aft, port side Emerald deck. Those cabins are right over the stage of Club Fusion just below them.

We were upgraded from a regular balcony to E728 on the Star on our Hawaii cruise a couple of years ago. That cabin is right over the stage of the Vista Lounge. When there were activities, music, etc. you could always hear it. Fortunately it only happened a couple of times in the late evening so we weren't that bothered by it.

Thanks for the reply, ar1950. Very good to know. As long as the activities & music aren't really late at night or early in the morning, I think we could deal with that.

E730 is a nice mini-suite with an extended balcony giving you a partial aft view along with a full port side view. The sound from the club below (stage is directly below) is not bad and often resembles engine noise. Do be aware that while the entire ship seems to shimmy and shudder while underway the feeling is intensified in this cabin and is constant. If you plan to be asleep when pulling into port, prepare to have those plans changed. The shuddering is intense while the stern thrusters are used to maneuver to against the dock.

E730 is a nice mini-suite with an extended balcony giving you a partial aft view along with a full port side view. The sound from the club below (stage is directly below) is not bad and often resembles engine noise. Do be aware that while the entire ship seems to shimmy and shudder while underway the feeling is intensified in this cabin and is constant. If you plan to be asleep when pulling into port, prepare to have those plans changed. The shuddering is intense while the stern thrusters are used to maneuver to against the dock.

Everyone is affected differently by vibration. We had E731 on the other side in the Ruby's sister, the Crown, and we were not impacted by the vibration.

I would agree except that in this instance the vibrations were strong enough to move the balcony furniture along the balcony, I watched it as I was already standing on the balcony as we arrived Ensenada. I am not sure if it is true of the Crown, but the Ruby seems to disperse the vibrations across the entire ship as it could be felt mid ships on the lido deck, forward in the casino and promenade and of course in the stern. It was not a wholly unpleasant sensation, but it is highly noticeable in the stern and will be a nuisance in the early hours if making a port.

Everyone is affected differently by vibration. We had E731 on the other side in the Ruby's sister, the Crown, and we were not impacted by the vibration.

Just tried our first aft suite on the Diamond. C750. NEVER again. Seas were smooth all the way from Singapore to Sydney. However the constant movement felt in the cabin was not nice. Felt it worst of all in bed. One night at 0300 the glass light fitting above the bed was vibrating so badly we had to call and some guys had to come and remove it. It sound like the glass was actually going to break.

This is also one of the suites with "the beam". That didn't bother us but if there was only one lounger on the balcony instead of 2 it would have felt roomier.

Back to mid ships for us :D

Just off the Ruby 4 day ending last Tuesday. A family cruise with the "coveted" Emerald deck Minis (4 in a row on the port side). NEVER again for an lower aft on a grand class. The aft thruster vibration WILL wake you up coming into port (unless the Ruby has a problem with it's thrusters :eek:). Yes there was a slight noise from the lounge below at night.

As a side note, 3 of the cabins had non-working toilets for most of the first 2 days including a viewing of a "surprise" in 2 rooms on embarkation. Passenger service phone line was so busy they did not answer on many occasions. Eventually became friends with Ferdinand at the passenger services desk trying to get the issues resolved. Ended up with comp'd Sabatini's for 9 and $300 OBC.

On a 3 or 4 day cruise, a mini is not worth it. Go for the location.

There aren't any mini-suites on Ruby that are actually bad. :)

We like the mid-ship ones on Dolphin Deck ... but would be OK with any of them.

LuLu

We were just on the Ruby a few weeks ago and got an upsell offer for a penthouse suite, R404. We could hear footsteps above us a few times but nothing too disruptive. I was disappointed in the width of the balcony. It felt very narrow and we had to adjust seating arrangements quite often.

Don't get me wrong. The suite was lovely and would love to travel in one again but I'm not sure I would pay the full price for one.

We were just on the Ruby a few weeks ago and got an upsell offer for a penthouse suite, R404. We could hear footsteps above us a few times but nothing too disruptive. I was disappointed in the width of the balcony. It felt very narrow and we had to adjust seating arrangements quite often.

 

 

 

Don't get me wrong. The suite was lovely and would love to travel in one again but I'm not sure I would pay the full price for one.

Princess made a major mistake when they moved the Penthouse suites from the Caribe deck to the Riviera deck [emoji32][emoji32] The balconies went from 9' deep to 5' deep. I would never pay full price for one of those suites. We did have R405 on a upsell from a mini-suite for only $299/person on our 11 day Baltic cruise. Balconies were too narrow to fully enjoy but we did have great views of the Stockholm Archipelago and leaving St. Petersburg.