romancing_the_sea

We're on the Miracle now (second time on this ship.) Love this ship and the food and service has been really top notch. Shows aren't what they once were but we're finding plenty of things to do. Nice group of people - no complainers.

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my problem with the mini, is the shower over the tub.

 

With mobility issues getting in and out of the tub is a real problem.

 

I'm over 6' and not so slim, but take the small balcony shower over trying to get into the tub, every time.

Good point! We don't like tub/shower combos either. We had one with a very low ceiling and hubby had to scrunch down. Well, we'll just hope for the best. :)

Kathy thanks for coming over to take a look at the comparison.

 

I am sure you will be happy sailing Princess again.

 

A mini suite is a good cabin for space and a better shower experience.

 

Cheers,

 

Norris

Oh my goodness - you are so right. We were in a regular balcony cabin on the Ruby last September and hubby said never again if he had to squeeze into that tiny shower - and he's a slim 6 feet. So, mini-suite it had to be, although we are a bit concerned about the uncovered balcony. Hoping for the best. Thanks! :)

As I've said in this thread-WOW is the only word to describe much of the S Class ships, the MDR in particular. You feel special walking into it.

Norris

I popped in briefly on your Silhouette review and you invited me to join in here so here I am. :)

Hubby and I first cruised together on the Celebrity Century in '97, about 7 months after our wedding. I'd cruised 3 times before but this was his first. He got one of those cruise travel books and researched thoroughly and decided Celebrity was "simply the best."

They disappointed us in so many ways, we almost never cruised again. When I got sick after eating duck on the first formal night, there was almost no way hubby could get anything to eat outside of the dining room. And when I requested broth or something like it, they said they didn't have anything. I just wasn't up to the dining room and so hubby had to wait until 10 pm to get some pizza they were experimenting with - that was the only option back then. Thankfully, cruise lines have added many more dining options so that wouldn't happen again.

I will also say that the "wow" ship factor is what Celebrity does best. I mean, I'd never seen such a fabulous cabin - it was like being on a yacht. But the service was so cold and unaccommodating - at least on that cruise. If Celebrity cruised the Mexican Riviera or we find ourselves cruising the Caribbean again, we might give them another chance. I'd love to try some of their restaurants - we've been "gobbling" up your videos and loving them.

We've cruised on most of the mainstream lines and not particularly loyal to any one line because we think there are pros and cons about every cruise line, comparing them, wishing we could gather our favorite things on one ship - lol!

And, of course, it's different for everyone. Ironically, our best meals in the MDR have been in a single-story room (loved the old Westerdam) and not the big 2-story "wow" dining rooms, and we have no use for a lawn at sea. :)

Norris, I've totally enjoyed this comparison, feeling you're spot on. If anything, your comparison reaffirms our decision to cruise Princess again, which will be our third (Grand, Ruby, Crown) but first time in a mini-suite - woo hoo!

And now I must catch up with your Ruby and Crown cruises! Thank you so much for sharing.

Kathy

Just started your review - found you on the Princess board on your Celebrity/Princess comparison. We cruised Celebrity in '97 and had such a terrible experience, we haven't sailed her since. But we're definitely ready to give her another try. Back to your review after we watch more of your videos. And then we'll have to catch up with your other reviews. What a find!

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Is the Cabana option available on the Crown?

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No the TV's on the walls are still there.

Not quite the same atmosphere in the Alchemy Bar as on the Miracle - especially with TVs - yikes! Thanks so much for posting - we've been so curious!

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Many first time cruisers are really surprised when they find out that the Drink of the Day that the waiters are offering on the top decks during sail away are not free.

 

Story from a few years ago. A passenger stopped two waiters and handed out all of the drinks that they were carrying to his group. When waiters asked for his card to charge the drinks to his account it was too late to give them back.:eek:

 

Bob

I remember when the "Welcome Aboard" drink was free on Carnival in one of the lounges. Good luck getting one - lol - it was a madhouse!

Thanks for letting us CC members to indulge you with this excellent topic. As an adult, embarkation day is much more exciting than Christmas ever was as a kid. My two cents & my apologies for repeating what others may have said before me.

 

1) Arrive the day before - avoids bad scheduling/mis connects by the airlines. You will be fully rested the night before, which will keep you in a better mind frame.

 

2) Eat a breakfast that contains protein and fruit, even if you're not hungry. This helps regulate blood sugar and makes you less likely to get a headache (surprisingly common on embarkation day.) When you get to the pier you won't be obsessed with getting on the ship and immediately having to eat like a feral animal.

 

3) Dress UP, in a classy comfortably casual way - not down. The best way to describe it is to pretend that you're boarding the ship in Italy, lol. Remember that boarding a cruise ship is a grand occasion, dressing up sets the tone of pomp & circumstance ! You will stand out to your fellow passengers and make a great first impression to your crew. These days so many people dress on embarkation day as if they're just going to the corner store for tomorrow's breakfast milk. Don't fall into that trap.

 

4) In the taxi from the hotel I say a little prayer to the powers that be - in gratitude for the ability to afford such a wonderful vacation and for the wellness of my fellow passengers and crew.

 

5) At the pier, make a point of smiling and saying hello to others when appropriate. This mornings stranger might just be tonights new best friend.

 

6) By all means, lunch in the MDR is a must ! It's much more relaxing than all the noise and crowds of the buffet.

 

7) Once the cabins are ready, go to yours and do a complete check for general cleanliness and working condition of hardware and plumbing. Little cleaning details can often be overlooked by room stewards on these busy "turnaround" days. As soon as you are able, introduce yourself to your room steward(s) and let them know of your needs. Communication is key in taking responsibility for the enjoyment of your experience with your crew.

 

8) As soon as you find that your luggage is at your cabin, unpack - then that chore is over and done with.

 

9) Muster Drill is required.

 

10) On sail away head up to one of the foreword most outer decks. It's much more enjoyable than being at the "sail away" party full of crowds, tacky band music, & pushy alcohol sales.

 

I hope this helps. Have a wonderful cruise & Bon Voyage !

What a lovely post - excellent tips and I really appreciated the prayer suggestion.

We had Funch on the Ruby in September. Loved him! Wondered where he was now.

Yes, thank you for your live report and Patters! Enjoy your cruise - we love Ensenada!

MDR isn't open for lunch today due to the deep cleaning, so off to my favourite place, Crooners, and a martini!

 

 

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Loved Crooner's on the Ruby! We'll be on the Crown in April - can you tell us who the entertainer in Crooner's is? We had Funch on the Ruby and he was excellent!

Not in September. In fact, the bed was very uncomfortable. The TV was a flat screen but I wouldn't call it large.

Following along, too! Bon Voyage!

Thank you for the fun carols. Now we must book another HAL cruise. Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas from Las Vegas!

Thank you for such an awesome review! We're booked on the Jewel for April and can't wait. Our last 2 cruises were on the Miracle and the Ruby and we're looking forward to sailing NCL again.

We'll be on in a couple of weeks. We do enjoy Ensenada and this class of ship. Nice getaway. Thanks for posting.

Loved the old pizza and was so disappointed on the Miracle when the pizza wasn't very good. We like thin crust but this was more like a cracker.

We had Funch on the Ruby in September. Really enjoyed him. Anybody know who will be on the Crown next spring?

We really felt the crowds on Ruby compared to the Grand and this is the one thing that might deter us from booking Princess next time, although we loved many things about her. Would love to have a different Princess choice from LA.

We were told the same thing before our 4-night Ruby cruise in an email from Princess but surprise surprise-there was a formal night called "dress to impress." Don't think we impressed anyone but we weren't alone in our smart casual attire in Sabatinis so it turned out okay.

We'd read so many good things about the IC here before our recent cruise on the Ruby that we had to try it and we loved it. Hooked now and may book Princess again just for that.

I watch so many cooking shows that I forget not everybody does but, yes, pork belly was the new trendy thing a few years back and is now pretty mainstream in many restaurants.

So disappointed. We just booked the Solstice after not sailing with Celebrity for 18 years! Is this just for the M class? My problem with MUTS is that on the Ruby Princess we could hear Monday night football from our balcony, which is where we go for quiet and relaxation.