Ellaleah

8 hours ago, kruzkraziness said:

We were on the Ruby Princess in November. We had a table for 2 every night, but the tables were soooo close together it was like we were at one large table.  There were open tables but they inevitably put us smack dab next to other people.  It was a little awkward. We are on the Majestic in February, I am hoping for a better experience.  That said, the food was great.

 

I so hope they bring back TD, but that said, I just got off the Ruby today and I know exactly what you are speaking to.  We had a table for 2 that was separate for our 15 days.  We got lucky.  I don’t see how they have the room to have spaced tables of 2.  I understand their dilemma.

Who do I contact?  Also,  maybe an email address to praise certain employees for great customer service.  Your answers might help me avoiding a 2 hour hold.  Thank you.

On 1/29/2022 at 4:38 PM, brisalta said:

 

After your reply I looked a several Drop and Go fares and they all had a $40/pp/day differential between the Saver Fare and the Plus Fare. Even so the Saver Fare is so low the Plus Fare does make a noticeable difference in the total fare.

I think it depends what you are going for.  I wanted my own room and found no SS. On the Drop and Go, but the plus was a huge price jump.

4 hours ago, PurpleHays said:

What do you mean by "paper" masks? Are you referring to surgical masks?

 

Yes

I am on the Ruby now.  We will disembark on Monday after 15 days.  It exceeded all expectations.  Excellent food included a full menu and shows.  Outstanding customer service.  Every employee strived to make you feel special.  I feel confident and hope that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to be on a cruise with such low occupancy.  I wouldn’t miss it if I were you.  As far as the excursions go, Iwoukd not book through Princess.  It is not their business.  You can use the same companies they do and pay less on your own.

19 minutes ago, PurpleHays said:

What do you mean by "paper" masks? Are you referring to surgical masks?

 

Yes.  They keep repeating on TV that you might as well wear no mask as they offer no protection.

l 

I Amon the Ruby now.  We were originally given 2, but they are more than willing to give you more if you need them.  People have been great at masking at all times, but not great about using the proper masks.  Lots of cloth and paper masks.  They lead them to water, but can’t make them drink.  I really don’t get it.

13 hours ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

Masking ( and all covid protocols) can change so fast that unless you are currently sailing any information about what happened is already old news & out of date. 

 

With that understanding I’ll share what happened on the Ruby Jan 6 -16, 2022. As history can be interesting. The crew and entertainers were cycling in and out of isolation constantly either due to a positive test or by being a close contact of a positive case (they are tested, isolated for 24 hours, tested and released if negative). It makes scheduling and staffing challenging to say the least. 

 

For examples, my favorite Club Class waiter came out of isolation on the 5th day of my cruise, the band Grace’s secret came out in dribs and drabs….one person…then a few days in 2 more ….and finally after another couple of days all 5 were back. However almost immediately one had to leave Grace’s Secret for the rest of the cruise and cover for someone in the Princess band in the theater so the headliners could have a full band.  Our CD went into isolation mid cruise and the ED took over. It was definitely crazy! 

 

The crew is tested anywhere from every 2-7 days. On the Jan 6 sailing it was every 2 days for many I spoke to.  

 

Can you imagine doing that?  

 

Can you imagine having to wear a 94 mask for a 10 hour shift with only short breaks?  

 

The more selfish you are about not masking translates at a bare minimum to the crew having to get tested more often as cases rise. And could, at the worst, lead to cancellations and/or another pause like RCI, NCL and others with lax masking compliance. The fact that they’ve had to do that and Princess hasn’t does strongly suggest that what Princess is doing works better. 

 

It is especially important to mask up when enjoying live singers and bands who can’t mask. Even while dancing. Yes it can be done. It is simply rude and so incredibly disrespectful to the performers to do otherwise. 

 

What I’ve noticed on each successive sailing I’ve taken since the restart is that more and more people are masking up. More and more are wearing 94’s or 95’s. More and more are even wearing masks outside.  

 

Crew have always worn masks since the restart (however they started in cloth masks & quickly moved to 94’s & 95’s) 

 

But the rules and passenger compliance rate has changed in my experience. I don’t remember how the wording changed over this period for masking so I’m leaving that out.  Remember this is just what I saw while sailing. 

 

July 25th Majestic no masks required almost none worn. We partied like it was 1999 lol. 

 

Oct 27 Grand     masks required, mostly cloth masks, almost no masks outside, no masks while seated, none worn while dancing 

 

Nov 22 Ruby     masks required, still a lot of cloth cloth masks but more 94’s, some masks while dancing but often times none, sip and cover compliance in venues like theater & explorers was spotty-sometimes high sometimes lower

 

Nov 27 Ruby. Very similar to the previous sailing but even higher compliance of wearing masks while moving around indoors everywhere (even hallways on passenger decks) and while in venues watching shows. We still sat at the bars, in the piazza, at vines & good spirits maskless while seated. 

 

Jan 6 Ruby      a very big noticeable increase in the number of surgical masks, 94’s & 95’s.  All but 2 oddballs stayed masked while dancing in front of Graces Secret and in the disco during the times I was dancing. Very respectful as she just came out of isolation.  Much higher compliance with sip and cover in explorers and the theater. Those that broke the rules were by far outnumbered by those who complied. Even while sitting in the piazza, vines, good spirits or crooners (but not at the bar itself) very high compliance with sip and cover. However we could still pull up a bar stool at any of these bars and take off our masks. Even outside I was surprised by how many people chose to stay masked while walking and sitting. Even though it wasn’t required if physically distanced. 

 

When I board on Monday for the Jan 31 sailing on Ruby I’ll expect things to be different again. Maybe no barstools? Maybe sip and cover at the bar? IDK and IDC. 

 

Respect the crew and wear your mask. 

I am on the Ruby now.  I will depart on 1/31 just before you embark.  I agree with pretty much all that you wrote.  It was rare to see a passenger without a mask up until today when we attended a trivia and I saw 4 men sitting maskless.  We were always allowed to sit at bars.  It was sip and over, but it really evolved into “if you were seated in the dining room or a bar and had a drink or food” people left the mask off until they had no rational to unmask.  I felt very safe.  All seemed respectful.  It may have been my best cruise of my 10 as we had great food, entertainment, and customer service.  Hopefully, I will not ever have the opportunity to cruise again with45% occupancy.  It was unique.  The employees were outstanding and all seemed truly happy to be back.

I am on the Ruby now.  I booked 4 tours thru them and will try to avoid it in the future.  The tours were very good, but I could have booked the same tour on my own for a lot less $.

I am on the Ruby now and I guess I’m really glad I’m not on one of those cruises mentioned where people don’t wear masks.  We have just about 100% compliance when walking around, but I admit that it is much more relaxed at bars.  I have been very pleased with the masking and do we really have to have the threat of ventilators to comply.  Wear the mask or stay home!

2 hours ago, Potstech said:

3 hours ago, Ellaleah said:

 

So why are you amazed people wear the others when the "experts" have said they have been effective for the last 18-24 months?

Things change and Omicron was a game changer.  Try to keep up!

15 minutes ago, Milaandra said:

I just stumbled across something on the Princess site that said passengers would not be allowed to leave the ship in port unless they were on a ship excursion...say it ain't so!! Has that been happening?

NO!

1 hour ago, donswife said:

work in a skilled nursing rehab facility,  and we are not allowed to wear kn95. We wear surgical masks or fit tested N95 masks. 

Maybe that’s why they have all those outbreaks in nursing  homes.

12 hours ago, Potstech said:

Why?

Beats me!  The masks they supply are good and allow to breathe as well as with paper.

I’m on the Ruby now.  All bars are open.

I am on the Ruby now.  There is nightly entertainment in all the venues.  The big change are the masks.  Passengers are amazingly compliant.  It seems to me that Princess is evolving with it’s restrictions and that we are safer on here than the first Hawaii on the Grand.  I’m not aware that there are any cases on here, but I will try to ask.  It’s been a great cruise so far.

FaceTime works great!

I am on the Ruby now.  They do supply the N95 masks.  It is clear that Princess is doing everything they can to eliminate disease spread and keep passengers safe.  It is, however, amazing that people wear cloth or paper instead!

Thank you very much for your effort!  It’s very helpful.

I am on the Ruby on 1/16, it’s first Hawaii cruise.  I was wondering if you might have heard anything about how many people will be on that sailing.  Thank you.

I live in Arizona and I can’t wait to get on safely because I know it will be safer than going to Costco or the grocery store here .  Maybe 50% of people are masked,  no mandates.  I heard a Dr (pretty sure it was local) on TV say that if you leave your house, you will probably get Covid.  My family has had it twice.  I know the ship will be safer!

Does anyone know if they will let you rebook the same cruise on a different date using the same specific deal that you had?  I booked with no solo supplement.

thanks

1 hour ago, wen_c82 said:

Does anyone know if persons booked in separate cabin can use a couple pass or does it only apply to the same cabin. Thanks

I asked and was told that it is ok.  I bought one for myself and my sister.  I hope I received the correct answer.

I was in San Juan 2/19 and there were several tour guides at the port.  I’m not sure how appealing this is to you or if they are there now.  Very inexpensive!

No vaccination, no cruise!  It is not a God given right.  Many people have things that they cannot do because of their condition.  There are many excursions for which that I might not qualify.  I don’t want to be on a ship with unvaccinated and I don’t think that is at all unreasonable with present conditions.  3 shots should be a qualifier!