Alimariecruisin

Thank you! Have you ever sailed her?

I have sailed her a few times and she's a sweet ship but good that she's going into dry dock for refurb...you'll enjoy her!

Grand Caribe deck have extra large decks, half covered, half open...love that deck!

Yep, that is what a good move over offers!!! We've taken a few and it was always worth it! Good for you! Enjoy your next almost free cruise, lol!!!!!

I would suggest you go to the Princess site and do a "mock" booking on the Ruby. It doesn't have to be your exact booking but I would do that first to see which cabins actually exist. This will allow you to explore the ships cabins and locations. You don't have to pay anything until you decide to actually say yes to a booking way after exploring and choosing a cabin. You'll also see how much the cabins cost and will see if your costs thus far are better or worse, etc. Just go to the Princess site, click on "Plan a Cruise" and go from there...

Keep the ship in good condition, we board on Saturday. If you went to San Francisco and Monterrey what was the weather like? Thanks

We also board Saturday...San Francisco might be a little bit rainy on Monday am, temps in the low 60's, Monterrey looks like it will be clear but that might change due to the same storm coming into San Francisco, San Diego looks clear at this time, temps in the mid 60's. The weather channel has 10 day forecasts for all these cities that are fairly accurate.

Just off yesterday.

Despite PJ the cruise director saying a couple of times this was the "Party Cruise to Cabo" we did not find any problems with the smoking or the drinking reported previously BUT we did not go up to Skywalkers.

 

I can say we were very, very disappointed in this cruise as were other Elite passengers. The food in the dining room - the quality and preparation of the beef and chicken especially- was the worst we have seen. The Anytime dining started at 4:30 and by 7:00 there were long lines especially the first night. Dining staff hardly ever had a smile and many had a real "attitude". It was obvious that on the Ruby Princess they were driving many long time cruisers away from Princess and just looking for the "younger" party people where they figure their best chance of selling more liquor is the greatest. It was not like this on the Island Princess in December and Princess should seriously take a look at where this ship is falling down. Back to back passengers said it was the same the previous cruise.:(:mad:

We are leaving Saturday on the Ruby for a California Coastal cruise so to hear how the quality of the food has decreased in the dining room (again) is depressing. We felt the same on the Emerald last November but were hopeful the experience would be better on the Ruby (We've sailed the Ruby before and her food was the best). What is it gonna take before Princess gets a clue about all these issues...

OP, like Sea Hag, I checked the deck plan for the Caribbean Princess's Lido Deck and agree that Cabins L103-104 looked just like the ones on the other Grand ships. We were in L102 on the Crown Princess for Xmas. Because we bought the cruise after final payment, the only Lido obstructed view cabin left was L102, the "little" one. We were pleasantly surprised with the cabin's layout and size, and will look for it when booking future cruises. We liked the big window. Never saw anyone on the deck in front of our cabin. It was not a bumpy ride and we did not feel the vibrations we felt while having dinner on the aft of the ship. Regarding noise, the cabins are right below the treadmills. The gym staff on the Crown was very good about enforcing the 8am-8pm schedule, so we never heard or felt anyone running on a treadmill above our heads outside those hours. Because the cabins are at the front end of the ship, no one who didn't have a cabin around there would walk by, so no noise from the hallway. The best part of L102 and its neighbors is the location: the pools, grill, ice cream and pizza, bars, and buffet are only steps away. Could not be more convenient.

I agree with all stated and if we'd experienced a staff who enforced the 8am start time on the treadmills we'd been sooooooooo happy with L103...it really is a wonderful location!!

We are Sanctuary junkies. On several occasions, we have been completely alone or with just a few other couples (Baltic and South America cruise). Like having a suite for 1/10th the cost !

My practice is to immediately don my noise muffling headphones and plunge into a book, emerging only for lunch and afternoon tea. My outbursts of laughter at one of the funniest books I have ever read got me a look or two!

I think if there were sustained raucousness, I might quietly ask a steward or even send a note to the cruise director to empower the stewards to respectfully keep the peace. Or, if I were feeling brave, politely ask the raucous revelers to tone it down. But I appreciate people having a good time.

I think this a brand promise issue for Sanctuary which IS described in seductively quiet, restful terms. There are SO many other places on board to party-hardy.

 

 

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ditto, except I would expect the staff to suggest those happy and loud cruisers to relocate to a better situated location for their needs...am sure they aren't trying to annoy us all who paid for a quiet and special area to relax and just be...but they are...

I believe that Carnivals' Faster to the Fun works because there was no established "levels of loyal traveler's rewards"...but to change gears on Princess' Captain Circle rewards (Elite and Platinum) will undermine many of us who value this perk of boarding early (then to start charging money for early boarding for all else).

From my Princess itinerary: "To help facilitate a smooth start to your voyage we have implemented a progressive cruise check-in schedule. Please arrive at your time check-in time listed below. ... Please do not arrive prior to the start of cruise check-in as your cabin will not be ready."

Other posts here on CC suggest that if you arrive before your staggered check in half hour, they will not check you in and you will have to cool your heels. If you arrive AFTER your assigned half hour, fine and dandy, welcome aboard.

So, confusion seems to abound.

Actually no confusion for those of us who have cruised Princess many times...we just ignore that email, it really isn't true...only new cruisers seem to believe it...like I did the first time we got it! lol So, no worries, go when it fits for you...

Cruise lines require government issued photo ID. No exceptions.

 

 

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Yep, which was his problem!..But all is good now...:cool:

Great news! Whew! Did you also get yours at the same time? I would not get off the ship in Ensenada without one.

I did not get mine at same time because I did not have an emergency which was required for an immediate appointment. I will get mine on a regular schedule (and fee...emergency passports costs more). I'd rather have a normal time period to do what is required...it was difficult enough for just one of us dealing with it all. Thank you!

It's never been enforced on any of our cruises. We go when we want around 10:30-11am and are on board before noon.

We enjoyed his out going personality and wise leadership while sailing on the Ruby! He will be missed!

Have stayed in L103 on the Emerald...Loved the room, the shape with extra space, enjoyed being so close to all pools etc. The only problem we experienced with the room, which was a HUGE PROBLEM, was the exercise equipment right above the room in the spa area...The rules say that equipment is not to be used until after 8am HOWEVER EVERY morning we awoke to the thump-thump sounds of the treadmills by 6am. Complaining didn't do anything for all 5 days. Would never book any of those rooms again just because of that fact.

Just a quick note to all that my husband was finally able to get a passport...was a difficult journey because we had to drive up to San Francisco two days in a row (8 hour round trip just for driving) but it's over now with 8 days to go till cruise.

No' date=' the temporary license (really a receipt) does not have a photo on it.

They've solved the problem; they have an appointment for a rush passport which is available "same day."[/quote']

 

Yes, this is correct! Thank you moki'smommy!!! Love your posts, you get it...:cool:

Not in California. The temporary license (paper) does have a photo, but it also says NOT A VERIFIED IDENTIFICATION right on the front of it.

Temp Dr. Lic does NOT have photo in California...it's just paper proof...photo on new license will arrive in 2 to 3 weeks via mail.

We have the pre-paid gratuities on an upcoming cruise. They show in my personalizer where you could normally pay the gratuities prior to the trip. It shows "paid" in that section.

Yes, ours also shows paid and a balance of 0 owed in the Personalizer. And it's never been posted on our onboard account if prepaid my the cruise ship or ourselves...

Oh my, good point! I'd be upset too but the weather tends to do it's own thing...

Californian here too. Rather than wait for the mail (too long) from an online request, I wonder if the DMV headquarters in Sacramento can expedite under the circumstances. You may actually have to go there, but worth it.

 

Another thought, call your state assembly person. They may have an in that a regular citizen does not. As a comparison (and admittedly on a federal issue), years ago, I need to expedite an approval from the ICE for an international adoption. Once my congressman got involved, what was promised to be a 3-month processed turned into a 2-day turn-around.

 

Another option is to involve your (federal) congressman to see if the State Department will bend the rules for an epedited passport (someone above in this thread wrote that a walked-through passport was for emergencies only, not just for vacation).

 

Good luck!

 

DERP! Just saw that this was resolved in a later post to the same thread. Fantastic.

Awwe..no worry...I appreciate your suggestions! And you can get an emergency appointment for a passport if you are traveling on a cruise within 2 weeks (have to show proof of voyage).

Looks like a wonderful show, happy to see pics! Hope it comes to the Ruby soon!

...because that's the way cruise critic works?

 

My favorites are things like:

Question: does princess allow something...

Answer: when I was on a different cruiseline 5 years ago, it was allowed...

 

Personally, I would prefer that all people who disagree with me refrain from posting,

but I don't see it happening.

Hey guys, this could happen to anyone in any state so best to know what your back up plans are in case it happens to you...cruise critic exists for all of us to share our experiences and our suggestions/views without others being mean...or inappropriate. I appreciate all posters who express their views respectively even if I don't agree with their opinions.

Yay!!! We were all worried. Glad the passport will come in time.:D

Awe you are too sweet! My husband has been stressed bout it...so thank you.:cool:

I would be very disappointed in Princess if they eliminated happy hour fleet wide. That's something my wife and I enjoyed in the afternoon from 3 to 4 PM. I know many of us from our roll call for the March 10th cruise on the Ruby Princess are hoping it's not true.

 

Cheers - Ken & Darlene

Ditto from Steve and Alice