Shogun Live From Ruby 24th April to 16th May

[Shogun]

Hi All

 

where to start, well thank you to you all for reading my rantings, would be no point in doing this if no one read it. 12,000 readings so need to to say thank you to Mrs Shogun for logging on so many times.

 

And to the gentleman that likes a bottle of Red Wine,

 

Just back from the doctor the hip is fine but have muscle damage, the type you can only do by putting both legs behind your neck and crossing your legs, doc as no idea how I have done this damage, but I am to rest for a few weeks and go back and see him, so no work for a few weeks, just need a room steward, a waiter and I will be fine.

 

This cruise was an odd one, very nice and will post about the cruise in detail later.

 

So the odd stuff first,

 

Walking about the ship with folks shouting out Shogun and waving you get other passengers asking you, who are you, when they start asking for your photo, even more questions, now i do not mind an odd photo when its formal night and I am wearing the kilt, but I can not tell you how many folks took my photo, when officers come up and kiss my wife and give me hugs even more questions. Then some one said hes an undercover Princess agent, no I am not, do you think the officers would chat to me in public if I was. I like to chat to people about cruising and who best to ask than the professionals.

 

Next odd thing we had 3000 folk on the ship where did they go at 10.00pm, the ship died, never known such a quite cruise, spent some nice nights in bars with one or two other couples and that was it, there was more staff than passengers.

 

My fellow passengers what a mix, we had all types apart from teens, so I would have thought the ship would have been jumping at night but not so.

 

Rant Time.

Fights over seats, zimmer frames at dawn, passengers say Captain put the bloke of the ship crew say Captain did not so take your pick.

 

Could not find out any more details about the soda being thrown in the face of the crew member in Horizon, but something did happen.

 

Then those fellow passengers, complaining about black bananas in her cabin, just ask for some new ones this is not a front desk item, or the lady with statement in hand telling the bar man she had lost her coffee card

on day 12 so 1 cup a day Princess owes her 3 free cups, poor bar man took all sorts of abuse from her.

 

 

Then my fellow cruise critics what a great bunch apart from three who for a second did not put their brains in gear before asking

 

do you know where the submarine is going, the ships officer replied so quickly, under the water, like the US Navy posts in the local FT L news paper where it sends it subs.

 

why does it take so long to get to our first port of call, the Captains reply because its so far away, every looked at a map the Atlantic is quite wide.

 

and the all time best, why is the ship moving so much, because its a near gale out side with waves spraying up onto deck 7, 30 years ago if you had been on a cruise ship then you would have been bouncing of the walls, all land lovers should go to a hotel instead of crossing the worlds seas.

 

 

I just wish for a bit of fun the captain would stop ballasting the ship take in the stabilisers, switch the engines of and just leave us to bob up and down like a toy boat, keel over in the slightest breeze, and watch as half of the passengers see their evening meal for the second time that evening.

 

Stop complaing about movement on ships is what they do.

 

More to come tomorrow

 

yours Shogun

[User Error]

Bring It Shogun

 

Love reading your posts......

[Shogun]

Hi All

Cruise Critic

We had a great group, our first meeting had almost every senior ships officer present,

All were so impressed by this thank you captain and Princess for this, almost our full roll call attended, so around 80 people the gift swap was the biggest I have ever seen, as to the slot pull $20 for an hour in the casino was not a bad deal, the jackpot was around $180,000 we had 4 or 5 goes each so with about 4 pulls each go which means we all got more pulls than we had if we just put $20 in. The CC lunch was a great success and again around 80 folks attended. So nice that the ship allowed this and held it in the closed dining room. Or 2nd meet was just before our ports was mainly for getting tour details worked out.

Now on the morning of my first private tour a few minutes before we were due to meet I got a call one couple had cancelled, now if they had offered to still pay no problem, so I was left to run around and find another couple, if I had not found one I would have had to go to their cabin that night and demand E200. Its was a Tuscany tour with food and wine.

My 2nd group tour in Monte Carlo was a great success we got off the ship as a group of 14 by tender with no wait at 7.15, our mini van arrived early with a Shogun sign in the window, we went to Eze, the Palace, and the Casino, we had a drive about the F1 areas.

There were many cc group tours some very large as many as 35

I think it is safe to say that members of this cruises cc group will have become life long friends due to cruise critic.

Now be in no doubt what we write is read, so please folks post the truth, even if it is bad, remember

If folks do not know something is broken they cannot fix it.

Dining

I ate at some point in every place in the ship, service was good to outstanding, food quality the normal Princess standard not outstanding but very good for what is mass produced food.

Food at the top end was the Crown Grill and Chefs Table, Sabatinis food appeared to be much lighter than I recall and was greatly enjoyed by all. Room service was fast food hot and as ordered, pizza and trident grill as normal friendly staff. Now on my last week I ate almost everywhere but at my fixed dining table as so many people invited me to join them, but the highlight for me was the Captain joining me for diner in the Crown grill along with the ship s doctor, I had invited my whole table of 8 to eat together in the Crown and invited two officers to join it was a great honour that the captain attended instead .

I ate in anytime one night along with a Princess employee and found service quicker than fixed but the waiters and overall service just as good as fixed.

As to the international café the only problem is two many folk know about it now.

Horizon and Café Caribe normal Princess fare and service levels how everyit is nice to run into Princess staff from other areas doing a shift there, these guys work hard

[Caribensun]

Thank you for doing a live Shogun. Been under the weather so just reading. What suite were you in, the noise may have been from the aft pool, it was so loud in our suite in Feb we had to be moved for a night until they could decide what to do. Will be addressed in drydock. Did you see Generoso? We always take him a bottle of red wine-his favorite.

Love your post, sorry about your injury, get well soon, we need you on another cruise!

[Shogun]

Hi All

 

Generoso is on leave returns in a few months, Commodore will take over from Captain Tony so he can have leave.

 

For those that asked I just got up one morning and my hip gave way , one the first week of the cruise, so limited me for walking about ashore,docs have told me its not the joint but some strange muscle that is impoosible to strain, but I have so need two weeks of the legs and go back and see them.

 

yours Shogun

[Shogun]

Hi All

Some stuff for you

Complaints from fellow passengers,

One lady I met had toilet issues and in the middle of the night it packed up, she phoned the front desk and complained, she requested another cabin for the night as smell was so bad not a problem and was relocated until issue fixed.

Another couple were placed in a cabin with those over head bunk beds, but there bed was set up as a Queen which meant when they got out of bed they hit there heads on the bunk beds. Now I have had this type of cabin before and was told that beds could not be moved for this very reason, they also were moved to another cabin.

Odd one, the lady wanted moved because her inside cabin had no bath, I am not a wear of any inside having a bath, but she must have been told by some one that she would get one,as she was most upset at not having one, not sure how this ended.

Tendering into Alghero all tenders in use 6 of them, but the run in was quite a distance may be 20 minutes, also harbour speed was dead slow, local port rules, result hour long wait for tenders, many folks complaining, now as elite we could just walk off, but even I knew that this port would be crazy so had late breakfast had a game of putting so I could watch the tenders,, when I saw three coming back in just walked down and straight onto tender no problems.

Coming out of Monte Carlo sea conditions changed and a large swell appeared from no where so tendering back became a bit more fun, getting off the tender was a bit more of an issue as tender just would not stay still, however Princess got us all safely the poor guys on the landing deck got soaked time and time again as the tender pushed waves of water over them but they stood their ground and helped us all of one by one. Again a few complaints about how rough the sea was and the scary jump getting of the tender but this is all part of cruising.

A few younger couples I spoke to complained about the onboard events and the ship itself, now if your first cruise was to the Caribbean on a Carnival or a Large RCI ship I can see why this cruise was a bit of a let down, they did not expect so many older people, lack of pool games, things to do on the ship, disco not jumping etc. I would not blame Princess the patter was full of things to do I was able to find things to do on my sea days. However there were a few things that Princess could have done

They could have had a few Wii competitions, they could have told us about the video games in the teens area was not used, as we were going to Monte Carlo we could have a had a go with the driving game . Overall I thought the CD Sam did a good job. Most of us here no what to expect, its just a pity that a lot of UK Tas have not got a clue and are unable to offer meaning full advise to their clients.

yours shogun

PS Mrs Shogun set ships record for the Wii bowling think it was 7 strikes

[Shogun]

Hi All

Last bit about my time on the Ruby. The Crew

We found the Ruby to have an excellent crew, our room steward one of the best we have had, Rennie ,we did meet one person on their first contract, who shall we say might want to find another career, they did not say anything against Princess, but life at sea is not for everyone. Now we had two Maître D’s both very good in there own ways but very different, Elia Tinonin was very business like, we did the Chefs Table with him, I would be very happy to have him as a Maitre D on any future cruise, Generoso Mazzone who we have cruised with before has a style all of his own, some might not like it but we love it as well as many others, both men could be found all over the place, which I like to see, our Cruise Director was Sam Hawker Thomas again she could be found out and about the ship she has some very good people in her department. From what I was told Sam does not have a ship but fills in for other CD’s lets hope Princess give her a ship soon, when we asked anything of her it was not a problem, she came to our meets, well so did most of the ship. I found the ships crew to be a happy one, Ok they work long hours and would all like more time off and more money, but so would most of use that still work. But to come across people with 30 years service means Princess must be doing something right. I did not come across any rude staff, infact some where very funny, and it was a pleasure to see them about the ship. Three come to mind but there were plenty of others, Edwin the singing waiter in International Café such a nice person you would always go away happy having spent time with him, Marco our head waiter, never missed a trick a Matire D of the future, took great care of use, but more than that was concerned when I got hurt. August who is behind the scenes at the front desk and only comes out when the desk agents can not resolve an issue, he takes so much flak for Princess from unhappy passengers, fine if the complaint is genuine, but so many are a storm in a tea cup, but he is so calm and polite. Or Hotel General Manager was Guenther Kopf again he took great care of us, was a star at our CC meetings doing most of the talking and taking questions, he has a style and wit which means all that have dealings with him love him, again he would never walk past without a wave or saying hello, on our last day he spotted us and came over to us to chat and say good bye, again he help set up the CC lunch which was a great success. The last person was our Captain Tony Yeomans he came along to both our meets, could be found almost everywhere on the ship, would never walk past a passenger who wanted to talk to him our have a photo taken, now wearing the kilt means you stand out a little more than other passengers as such I talked to the captain many times throughout our cruise again doing b2b helps as you get spotted on cruise two as an old face, what I do like about him as a Captain is he explains more than some what is going to happen, what we might see , he also has a style which comes from many years at sea he has seen it all, been there and done that, while I am sure Tony would love to be at sea for many more years I would guess that the golf course and his family are calling him, so if you get the chance to cruise with him on his baby the Ruby take it before its to late.

One final point about the crew we found some crew that made little errors but were just such nice people you did not mind, eg you ordered a coffee they brought you tea, no big deal they would replace it within a second saying sorry so many times, while we had others you did not put a foot wrong, would smile chat a little but did not become friends, so a question what type of person would you want to meet on the ship. For me I like crew that become friends even if they make like mistakes.

yours Shogun

[triviafan]

I must confess that I was the one who asked the question about the submarine's departure from Ft. Lauderdale. My phrasing was a bit odd, I presume, but since we had only recently heard about Bin Laden, I was wondering if we were to be on a special alert and perhaps the sub was hustling forth also on alert. Of course, I know that the U.S. Intelligence folks would not reveal the details. Right after my question, another CC member also asked about special alerts.

Fortunately for all of us, the cruise and land arrangements all went well; we arrived and departed safely, had a wonderful time,received great service, met new friends and can't wait until we sail again.

Beth

[Shogun]

Hi Beth,

 

Sorry we all made fun of you but the officers reply was so quick under the water, it was just so funny.

 

As to the question the other cc person asked about are we safe, I thought it was the wrong time and place to ask such a question,

 

I prefer to my trust in Princess and if they think we need to miss a port or take special measures. Then I will follow there lead.

 

yours Shogun

[Mapu]

I must confess that I was the one who asked the question about the submarine's departure from Ft. Lauderdale. My phrasing was a bit odd, I presume, but since we had only recently heard about Bin Laden, I was wondering if we were to be on a special alert and perhaps the sub was hustling forth also on alert. Of course, I know that the U.S. Intelligence folks would not reveal the details. Right after my question, another CC member also asked about special alerts.

Fortunately for all of us, the cruise and land arrangements all went well; we arrived and departed safely, had a wonderful time,received great service, met new friends and can't wait until we sail again.

Beth

 

I think we were all wondering about the submarine and many of us had the same questions. How often have we been told to "be on alert"? I have never sailed out of Port Everglades with a submarine visible before. We have been in ports with heightened security alerts and security boats circling the ship. So that all would feel secure we were informed about it ahead of time. So, I do not think it was unreasonable to ask the question.

[Shogun]

Hi All

 

we had a great meet, about 80 of us and 9 officers, if you have photos please post.

 

 

 

 

yours Shogun

[Shogun]

Hi All

 

We almost got stuck in Cadiz we needed 4 tugs to get of the quay, due to strength of the wind

 

 

two forward to aft

 

 

our little helpers leaving us, we almost did not make it at one point we thought we were drifting back in again it was quite a battle and great to see.

 

yours Shogun

[Shogun]

 

only another 1000 to go

 

 

yours Shogun

[Shogun]

 

Cake to mark 100 ships in the fleet, great party as well

 

 

yours Shogun

[Shogun]

 

Sam Cruise Director and Steve Customer Services Director at CC meet

[Shogun]

 

 

 

 

 

From the Ruby

 

 

yours Shogun

[Cruzanfan]

DH and I were on the Ruby last Easter and they had the same wonderful display of eggs in the piazza. Also, the Easter Bunny made an appearance in the early afternoon. It was beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

[RoRothman]

a few photos of the the Ruby Gems... just some random shots.. I have so manhy!

[Shogun]

Hi RoRothman

 

Thanks for posting the pics, do you have any of the CC meet,

 

do you have Kerso;s e mail we lost it,

 

yours Shogun

[Mapu]

a few photos of the the Ruby Gems... just some random shots.. I have so manhy!

 

Thank you for the pictures!

[RoRothman]

shogun.. I think you heard from Ian.. right? Where did he upload some photos?

[Shogun]

Hi RoRothman,

 

Ian has mot posted yet but said he would, if you want diner with the captain again on your next cruise drop me a note and I will see what I can do,

 

 

yours Shogun

[kerso]

HI Rona & Shogun, I will try to upload photos this week. Regards Ian.

Hi RoRothman,

 

Ian has mot posted yet but said he would, if you want diner with the captain again on your next cruise drop me a note and I will see what I can do,

 

 

yours Shogun

[RoRothman]

Hi RoRothman,

 

Ian has mot posted yet but said he would, if you want diner with the captain again on your next cruise drop me a note and I will see what I can do,

 

 

yours Shogun

 

I would love dinner with the captain.. but first I have to book another cruise.. we haven't decided our next cruise but when we do I will be sure to tell you!.. btw.. I dn't have your email.. is this the only way to reach you?