Changes to Ruby Princess

[cruzn fun]

What changes were made to Ruby Princess in Dec 2015? Do they still offer Crab Shack?

[LidoLiz]

We just left the Ruby last week after a great 10-day cruise. A few changes I noticed since we cruised with Princess last year....(more details provided in other posts if you do a search):

 

Sabatini's has been replaced by SHARE (alas). A portion of the Wheelhouse Bar has been converted to the Gastropub. It was a bit of an odd combination having a classical pianist in the Wheelhouse section right next to a supposed "pub" atmosphere! Crab Shack was available as usual.

 

While I had seen a few posts about the Curtis Stone items in the main dining room, they were definitely not a factor during this cruise. The regular "always available" items, including the salmon, were there as usual. We only missed two nights in the dining room, but on the other nights, only one Stone item was offered-- a seafood chowder. And while there were posters of Curtis around the ship advertising the new restaurant, not a single server or crew member asked us if we wanted to book a reservation there. (We didn't, it wasn't in our budget.)

 

The swim-against-the-current machine in the Lotus Pool has been removed.

 

There are a few pixels missing on the MUTS screen, but not enough to impact the viewing experience.

 

Otherwise, we didn't notice anything different from when we sailed on Ruby a couple of years ago. Crew seemed happy, service levels were good and the food was uniformly tasty and well presented.

 

Only thing amiss was that we signed up for Early Traditional dining at 6 pm, and once onboard discovered they had moved it to 5:30--- too early for us, so we switched to Anytime. There were the usual lineups around 7 pm, but we were happy to accept a buzzer and wait in VINES. (Where the service was particularly excellent.)

 

LidoLiz

Edited March 28, 2016 by LidoLiz

[MoyCoy]

What is The Crab Shack

[lois1112]

What is The Crab Shack

 

the crab shack is a specialty restaurant that serves crab........if you love crab do this (it was held in cafe caribe in January and was $20 per person- I think)

[cruzn fun]

Thank you. We were on Ruby last September. We did the Crab Shack and enjoyed it. Non of those changes should affect us. We are on anytime dining. Looking forward to trying the Gastropub as well.

 

We just left the Ruby last week after a great 10-day cruise. A few changes I noticed since we cruised with Princess last year....(more details provided in other posts if you do a search):

 

Sabatini's has been replaced by SHARE (alas). A portion of the Wheelhouse Bar has been converted to the Gastropub. It was a bit of an odd combination having a classical pianist in the Wheelhouse section right next to a supposed "pub" atmosphere! Crab Shack was available as usual.

 

While I had seen a few posts about the Curtis Stone items in the main dining room, they were definitely not a factor during this cruise. The regular "always available" items, including the salmon, were there as usual. We only missed two nights in the dining room, but on the other nights, only one Stone item was offered-- a seafood chowder. And while there were posters of Curtis around the ship advertising the new restaurant, not a single server or crew member asked us if we wanted to book a reservation there. (We didn't, it wasn't in our budget.)

 

The swim-against-the-current machine in the Lotus Pool has been removed.

 

There are a few pixels missing on the MUTS screen, but not enough to impact the viewing experience.

 

Otherwise, we didn't notice anything different from when we sailed on Ruby a couple of years ago. Crew seemed happy, service levels were good and the food was uniformly tasty and well presented.

 

Only thing amiss was that we signed up for Early Traditional dining at 6 pm, and once onboard discovered they had moved it to 5:30--- too early for us, so we switched to Anytime. There were the usual lineups around 7 pm, but we were happy to accept a buzzer and wait in VINES. (Where the service was particularly excellent.)

 

LidoLiz

[peety3]

What is The Crab Shack

To elaborate on what others have said, it's a "pop-up" restaurant, in a section of the Horizon Court. We've seen similar with Sterling Steakhouse on the Sapphire...it's in the starboard aft section of HC...they roll out a host-station podium for dinner, and ta-da there's a steakhouse.

 

Think of it as an almost specialty restaurant, or a "Crown Grill/Sabatinis/SHARE/etc." without the ambiance. If the menu talks to you, go for it.

[cruisen JJ]

We just got off the Ruby also. The new beds are great - wanted to bring it home with me! Also couldn't believe how fast we were off the ship. Under 10 minutes from ship to car.

[Micahs Grandad]

We were on the second sailing after the drydock and thought it was in excellent shape.

 

Met a number of people who had done SHARE and most were not impressed. We looked at the menu and knew very quickly this was not for us.

 

Did have excellent dinner at the Crown Grill.

 

Service all over the ship was outstanding.

[easyboy]

What is The Crab Shack

Link is a blog on what it is, served similarly on most ships.

http://www.travelingwiththejones.com/2014/11/06/dining-at-the-crab-shack-on-the-star-princess-cruise-ship/

[Jemnibabe]

Have they replaced the smaller TVs with the big screen TVs yet? The ones that are on Regal and Royal are awesome.

 

Judy from SW Florida :D

[nukesubsailor]

Have they replaced the smaller TVs with the big screen TVs yet? The ones that are on Regal and Royal are awesome.

 

Judy from SW Florida :D

 

The TV's in our suite were flat screen but not as large as on the Regal and Royal. They did not have the "On Demand" programing.