Ruby Princess E. Caribbean photo and video review

[bonship]

. . .still following along and enjoying every word and photo, Norris. I'm a former photojournalism and journalism teacher and can't decide which I like better--your narrative or your wonderful photos. You have an A+ in both categories right now, so keep up the good work. I can be a harsh critic when writers rush to the finish! We board the Ruby in six days in Buenos Aires. Your review is making me practically have palpitations I'm so excited.

[jlf1]

Hi Judy-we get off the Emerald in Barcelona on Oct 3.We get on Sept 26 in Rome.

 

Norris

 

Norris,

 

No chance of you and Carol staying on for the TA? Would love to meet you.

 

Judy

[tamsno]

Just joining the thank yous for your wonderful commentary and beautiful pics. The ports are some of my favorites and it's always fun to "visit" again. I'm so looking foward to first time on the Emerald for 4 weeks Barcelona to Barcelona in May, and first time Ruby to Alaska in August with grandkids first cruise so we're all enjoying seeing the ship. Safe and happy travels to you!

[Bimmer09]

 

P.S.S. If you ever get the chance to go back to St.Maarten, there is a little place called Sarafina's in Marigot, that is a must go to for anyone that remotely calls themselves a "foodie". The pastries are to die for, and the sandwiches are out of this world. It's a busy place frequented by both tourists and locals alike. The chocolate eclair and the French macaroons were just heaven in my mouth!

 

We had heard good things regarding Sarafina's from a tour guide and went there on our first Marigot visit when we had a short bus rest but the line was too much for us-which of course says something for it's popularity. I forgot about it this time around but won't make that mistake again, following your glowing opinion. Next time!

 

Glad to see you here!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Norris, I loved the pictures of the Eclipse. She's a real beauty! Sure wish I could afford a ship of my own just like that. :sigh:

 

The food porn from Crown Grill made me hungry. I'm not sure why we didn't go there on our CB cruise this past Oct. :confused:

 

One of these trips I will manage to ride the tram to Paradise Point in St Thomas. The view from there really is beautiful. So far though we have docked in Crown Bay and a trip to Paradise Point simply hasn't fit into our schedule. I guess that's a good reason to go back to St Thomas! :p

 

I didn't know until that morning that we'd be berthed at Havensight so I had to jump at the opportunity to go up to P.Point. If I had been at Crown Bay I wouldn't have made the trip.

 

Crown Grill is a must-do for us. We don't go out for steaks in Chicago anymore as it is so costly and we do a good job with them at home in winter and in summer we BBQ steaks a lot, usually ribeye and NY Strip cuts. On the ship though-for $25 a head- it is a tremendous deal and a nice break from the MDR.

 

Norris

[OhioDogLover]

Norris,

Love your review. I don't know how I missed the other reviews you have posted. I guess that I will now have to read them all! Tough duty.

 

Ohiodoglover

[Bimmer09]

. . .still following along and enjoying every word and photo, Norris. I'm a former photojournalism and journalism teacher and can't decide which I like better--your narrative or your wonderful photos. You have an A+ in both categories right now, so keep up the good work. I can be a harsh critic when writers rush to the finish! We board the Ruby in six days in Buenos Aires. Your review is making me practically have palpitations I'm so excited.

 

Bonship- the chances of me rushing to the finish (or rushing anywhere) are slight, so no worries there.

 

Thanks for the A+ rating!

 

I know everyone has a ton of stuff to read on the boards and limited amounts of time to devote to it so I can understand people shying away from Epics when they'd prefer a thumbnail sketch that validates their hopes or expectations of a particular ship/itinerary.

 

The quick reviews without photos I read but am always wishing to read more.

What made the food rate good or bad for you? What was wrong with the service? etc etc.

 

I'm happy to do the "work" and really appreciate it when people follow along and let me know they are "out there" by responding. Thanks to all who do!

 

The epic reviews I think are especially helpful to people who don't know the ship or Princess (or cruising in general) or the ports and excursions available hence my attempts to fill in as many blanks as I can.

 

Thanks for continuing along with me.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Norris,

Love your review. I don't know how I missed the other reviews you have posted. I guess that I will now have to read them all! Tough duty.

 

Ohiodoglover

 

Well, better late than never!

The reviews usually hang out on page 1 of CC for a month as I write and then they sink into obscurity but thanks to the Signature they are available years after the event. We have only been cruising since August 2011 but there are 7 cruises or two a year and I don't see that number increasing. Too much World-too little time.

 

I'm glad you could join us on this one.

 

I'm salivating over the next one in September....

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Norris,

 

No chance of you and Carol staying on for the TA? Would love to meet you.

 

Judy

 

Alas Judy, no T/A for us as we can only take short cruises. We'll have a couple of days renewing our love of Rome and then a couple to see Barcelona. We already have a hotel picked out there but the name escapes me right now. I'll have to pop over to Tripadvisor to find it again. Where are you staying before the cruise?

 

For Rome it will be Albergo del Senato again...if it ain't broke...

 

Of course if we get tickets for this August's Bayreuth Wagner Festival the cruise will be canceled. We will know by end March if we have tickets.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Just joining the thank yous for your wonderful commentary and beautiful pics. The ports are some of my favorites and it's always fun to "visit" again. I'm so looking foward to first time on the Emerald for 4 weeks Barcelona to Barcelona in May, and first time Ruby to Alaska in August with grandkids first cruise so we're all enjoying seeing the ship. Safe and happy travels to you!

 

Wow-a month on the Emerald cruising the Med! Sounds fantastic. We only have a week on her Sept 26 to Oct 3.

 

Thanks for the kind comments and best wishes.

 

And safe travels to you too!

 

Norris

[4x4bob]

Norris;

 

I have just finished looking at your photos for the 2 or 3 or 4 time, lost count. They are outstanding.

 

My Camera in going out on the Crown this Saturday and lucky for me it is taking me with it. I was studying your photo's for ideas of what pictures to take myself.

 

Must check camera bag to make sure I have enough memory sticks.:D

 

Bob

[Bimmer09]

Norris;

 

I have just finished looking at your photos for the 2 or 3 or 4 time, lost count. They are outstanding.

 

My Camera in going out on the Crown this Saturday and lucky for me it is taking me with it. I was studying your photo's for ideas of what pictures to take myself.

 

Must check camera bag to make sure I have enough memory sticks.:D

 

Bob

 

Bob- I am afraid I still have a deluge of photos to come. Many interiors of rooms I haven't mentioned yet and some sunsets/sunrises. Oh- and the ship at night.

 

I have 7 months before my next cruise and will be spending time looking at youtube video courses on how to use my camera more in manual mode and I'm working my way through Eos Rebel for Dummies.

 

I was using a 32GB memory card in each camera but the video uses them up much more rapidly. One was running out while I was taping a long Estonian show so I dipped into my bag for another but that clamshell packaging was impossible to open without scissors. I couldn't tear it open or eat it off with my teeth so I had to use the camcorder's hard drive instead.

 

Note to self- remove the packaging before leaving home

 

Thanks for joining us in this thread and have a great time photographing the Crown! I appreciate the kind comments re the photos and will pass them on to my Canon.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

We got off the ship at Havensight and found the tour guide holding our tour number aloft. No march to a bus today.

 

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We just had to walk down the pier to a boat called the Island Girl moored at the end. The walk was whatever the length of Norwegian Getaway is.

I know in the USA we use feet, inches and Football Fields as measurements so I'd say 3.5 Football Fields.

 

 

The boat had two decks with a large enclosed cabin on the lower one and an open deck on top where the wheelhouse was. It could probably hold 150 people or so.

There was a gangway at the bow where our tickets were taken and a yellow wristband was issued. Some were given red bands as they were taking a different tour once on St John's. Many folks had all ready taken up positions outside on the lower deck facing starboard or port and we tiptoed past their knees to the back of the boat where there were steps to the top deck as we wanted a good view. It would be boiling hot up there though and a sunburn hazard so we went to the front by the wheelhouse where there was some shade from the wheelhouse overhang. No one could sit any further forward than us and they'd probably not enjoy the wind there if they could. So we were just out of the wind and in the shade. Score!

 

The Princess Personalizer had talked of a 45 minute trip to St John's. Remember that.

 

Drinks were for sale on the boat but we didn't need any right now, having just left the ship with a bottle or water in hand. There was a restroom on board too.

 

We left 10 minutes late was we were waiting for a poor old lady with bad legs to walk 3.5 football fields. I wish someone on shore had seen her struggle and send a little golf cart to give her a ride. She was traveling on the excursion alone.

 

10 minutes late- I can live with that.

 

We cast off and backed away from the dock. To St. John's with all speed!!

 

Er, not exactly.

 

 

 



 

 



 

 

 

We headed across the harbor and as the Regal Princess and Carnival Glory got bigger in my viewfinder I realized we were making a detour to pick up passengers from those ships. This added at least 30 minutes to the excursion. Doh!! Not "as advertised" folks.

[Bimmer09]

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A handsome looking ship, the Regal. As you know though I am not aching to sail on her but am sure that people with different needs on board are more than happy. Maybe someday we'll give her a try. So many more appealing ships out there for me, though.

[Bimmer09]

While we were stopped for 15 minutes or so embarking new passengers I took a few photos of our surroundings far and near.

 

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[Bimmer09]

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Meanwhile on shore

 

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Iguanas hang out on the dock here so photo opportunities abound

 

Time to leave and head to St John's...

 

 



 



 

[jlf1]

Alas Judy, no T/A for us as we can only take short cruises. We'll have a couple of days renewing our love of Rome and then a couple to see Barcelona. We already have a hotel picked out there but the name escapes me right now. I'll have to pop over to Tripadvisor to find it again. Where are you staying before the cruise?

 

For Rome it will be Albergo del Senato again...if it ain't broke...

 

Of course if we get tickets for this August's Bayreuth Wagner Festival the cruise will be canceled. We will know by end March if we have tickets.

 

Norris

 

Norris,

 

We are staying at Hotel Principal, just a couple of minutes off Las Ramblas. We stayed there in 2007 before our Med cruise to Venice. Excellent breakfast.

 

Supposedly all the rooms have been renovated. we have booked the top level room with a private deck. I would class this hotel as 3 stars.

 

Hotel seems to be a bunch of old buildings combined into this hotel. Very small lifts. Free WIFI.

 

Here is the link if you are interested. http://www.hotelprincipal.es/en/

 

Judy

[Bimmer09]

Judy the Majestic Hotel and Spa is the one we had picked out before.

 

I'll take a look at your choice.

 

http://www.hotelmajestic.es

 

Thanks for the info!

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

Back the way we came..

 

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There's the Ruby where we were over 35 minutes ago!

 



 



 

Heading for St John's without further delay!

 

 

Out in the open sea it was windy and so the sea was choppy and we were ploughing through it, sending big sheets of spray to either side.

 

Let me introduce you now to "stoned surfer dude" who was the member of the crew collecting tickets at the gangway. Long blond curls-think Sammy Hagar of Van Halen or Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin from 45 years ago. Used to the island lifestyle by now and maybe a little bit lonely once the cruiseships sail away.

 

He got on the PA to warn those downstairs sitting outdoors that they might get wet as we bounced our way through the waves. I am sure they did as one wave even hit us lightly up top and I had to wipe the cameras down. While he had the mic in his hand someone asked him a question....and off this guy went for the next 35 minutes or so, just babbling after he'd answered the question. I couldn't find the plug to the PA speakers within my zone and the Bose Noise-canceling headphones were in our cabin.

 

Just as one of those bobbing-head dolls in your back window can't help bobbing as you drive, this doofus just had to blabber once he heard his voice through the speakers. I am all for commentary where a guide points out something of genuine interest and then remains quiet while you digest the information.

 

But babble is babble. So Johnny Depp comes down here in a yacht some times but hangs out with his friends instead of coming ashore and seeking out a brotherhood with this babbling guy, who uses words like "dude" and "awesome" the way you or I use " the" or "and". He's disappointed that Jack Sparrow won't hang out with him and chill, he tells us.

 

Hey there's that seagull I see out here all the time folks. I call him Sammy as he looks so cool and awesome. WOW nice wave. Awesome! Looks like you'll get some sun today! Hey I like your sneakers dude!

Hey-remember on Charlie's Angels when the Angels used to walk down some steps and get in a boat?-they filmed that around here!

 

It was just annoying-like that guy who makes a new friend in the seat behind you on a long flight at night-you know the one where you are planning on sleeping most of the way and this guy has just had a quad espresso before boarding and now wants to tell his life story in a clear loud Powerpoint-Presentation voice.

That guy?

 

it was just annoying until he started to tell the 150 or so captives about the rooms he has to rent for only $89 a night if you want to come back to the island and stay awhile. Just see him. Seriously- a sales pitch. I mentioned it in my excursion critique to Princess as I thought it inappropriate to say the least.

 

OK, that's enough of him for now...

 

 

[rdsqrl]

Excursion to St John

Formal Night #2

Sunsets

Sunrises

Food Porn- someone alert Annie

Hundreds of interior shots of the Ruby

Grand Turk tour

Last sea day

Disembarkation

Observing the loading process

Ft lauderdale stay in the Ritz Carlton-Hotel Porn

Dinner by appointment

Norris has an accident

Landing in Chicago where 1400 flights cancelled- Super Bowl Sunday blizzard

Summing up

Annie duly alerted!

I'm not really a steak person, but I'm still salivating over your Crown Grill photos.

 

Sorry to interrupt the Saga of St. Thomas Slacker Dude. Carry on.

[Bimmer09]

Annie duly alerted!

I'm not really a steak person, but I'm still salivating over your Crown Grill photos.

 

Sorry to interrupt the Saga of St. Thomas Slacker Dude. Carry on.

 

Annie- we were just calling your cabin number and asking you to dial 6000 immediately.

 

OK- carrying on....

[Bimmer09]

Getting closer

 

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Looks prosperous and orderly

 



 



 



 



 

We are docking

 

[ar1950]

Back the way we came...........

 

Let me introduce you now to "stoned surfer dude" .......

 

 

Hmm, I think we had that guy on our canoe excursion to Mendenhall Glacier on our Alaska cruise. I could say more, but, we are now in the Caribbean and not in Alaska. So, 'nuff said. :cool:

 

Thanks again for the review Bimmer!

Edited February 16, 2015 by ar1950

[perfect match]

Norris, I was thinking of you today as DH and I were running around Port Canaveral acting like total ship nerds! I heard there would be 6 ships in port, so we decided to make a Port Excursion! While I am in no way the photographer you are, I nonetheless spent the afternoon running around with my point and shoot taking as many ship pictures as I could. I was inspired by your early morning walk down the beach at the start of this review so you could photograph the ships sailing in to port. I was surprised to see how close we were able to get to Quantum of the Seas. We also saw Freedom and Grandeur OTS, Disney Magic, Carnival Liberty and Carnival Sunshine. It's fun being a ship nerd!

 

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming. While I am sorry to hear that your trip going to St John didn't go exactly as planned, it did give you a chance to get some beautiful ship pictures! I am anxious to see the rest of your day on St John, and I hope you had a quiet ride back to the Ruby!

[Bimmer09]

Norris, I was thinking of you today as DH and I were running around Port Canaveral acting like total ship nerds! I heard there would be 6 ships in port, so we decided to make a Port Excursion! While I am in no way the photographer you are, I nonetheless spent the afternoon running around with my point and shoot taking as many ship pictures as I could. I was inspired by your early morning walk down the beach at the start of this review so you could photograph the ships sailing in to port. I was surprised to see how close we were able to get to Quantum of the Seas. We also saw Freedom and Grandeur OTS, Disney Magic, Carnival Liberty and Carnival Sunshine. It's fun being a ship nerd!

!

 

That sounds like fun to me! I have only seen one of those ships listed and it comes later in my review. To me it's always good to see some of these ships up close. I know I am only looking at the outside but that can tell you plenty. I always check for a long promenade deck first and then look up top to the pool decks. Waterparks and rope climbing course structures let me know it's not a ship I want to sail on. I'm looking for multiple pools and an atmosphere of relaxation up there, not activity. At the stern I am looking for cabins/suites with some privacy above and no obstructions to the view- e.g. Freedom class ships have the cabins recessed with big white metal beams in your line of sight.

 

For interiors I check Beyondships or photo reviews on the boards. Youtube videos are also a great resource.

 

There's usually 1,000 people viewing the PE webcam on the sail away days so we are not the only ship nerds and I imagine everyone of the 1,000 would like to be on one of those ships waving.

 

I'm glad you got out there with the camera and had fun!

 

Norris