Questions for those who have recently cruised on the Ruby

[bestdogever]

Hello! We will be sailing on the Ruby soon to Alaska and am hoping that those who have been on the ship recently will be willing and able to answer some questions. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

* is the Crown Grill open for lunch on embarkation day and if so, is there a change, or is the charge only for dinner?

 

 

* What time is the muster drill held? Is the location given to you upon boarding or is the information in your cabin upon arrival?

 

 

*. What are the formal nights?

 

 

*. Is the casino smoke-free or is it one of the areas of the ship where smoking is allowed?

 

*. Is there a 'special' chocolate or dessert buffet held at a random time during the cruise?

 

*. What day/time were the husky puppies brought on board?

 

*. What is your recommended 'not to miss' activity on the Ruby?

 

Happy cruising!

[peety3]

Crown Grill is dinner only. Muster drill is typically 3:30 for Seattle/Alaska, but double-check your patter AND listen for announcements as it can be delayed. The location is not given during boarding as it is essentially cabin-specific; your life jackets will have the letter of your Muster Station on it, and you'll follow signs to that station (your cabin will tell you what venue it is).

 

Formal nights are listed in your Patter. For the Ruby this season in Alaska, I believe it's Sunday night (at sea) and Thursday night (after Ketchikan). Casino is usually smoking-allowed, though some nights are "smoke-free" (but it's still fragrant).

[PoohUnderstands]

To continue with your questions.

 

We had no chocolate buffet per se; some special chocolate offerings at MDR.

 

Huskies were scheduled on our cruise for late afternoon around 4:30 p.m. However due to bad weather in the area they could not make it so we missed out on that!

 

Not to miss on the Ruby? On our cruise, they only offered the Pub lunch once. Do not miss it. The entrée selections and limited and are good enough, but the bread pudding type dessert was to die for!! I ordered two even though my husband didn't want dessert and wished I could have ordered two more!!!

 

Pooh

[skynight]

Hello! We will be sailing on the Ruby soon to Alaska and am hoping that those who have been on the ship recently will be willing and able to answer some questions. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

* is the Crown Grill open for lunch on embarkation day and if so, is there a change, or is the charge only for dinner?

No, open for dinner only. One DR is open for lunch from noon to 1:30

* What time is the muster drill held? Is the location given to you upon boarding or is the information in your cabin upon arrival?

Around 3:30, the time is in the Princess Patter that is in your cabin when you board and ship wide announcements are made starting about 1/2 hour before the drill. Also arrive at your muster station 15 or so mins early if you want a seat. You muster station is shown on the inside of you stateroom door and is also printed on your life vest. For information you cabnin is ready when you board.

 

*. What are the formal nights?

 

 

*. Is the casino smoke-free or is it one of the areas of the ship where smoking is allowed?

Smoking is allowed in the casino. Some areas are non-smoking. The casino does have smoke free nights, usually the formal nights.

 

*. Is there a 'special' chocolate or dessert buffet held at a random time during the cruise?

Not really

*. What day/time were the husky puppies brought on board?

 

*. What is your recommended 'not to miss' activity on the Ruby?

 

Happy cruising!

Some answers are above

[firerunner]

What is the Pub Lunch?

[reedprincess]

What is the Pub Lunch?

British style lunch with fish and chips or bangers and mash, sticky toffee pudding, etc. Free, usually held on a sea day, limited hours and sometimes in Wheelhouse and sometimes in Crown Grill. Check your Patter for details.

[bestdogever]

Thanks so much for your responses. We are looking forward to exploring the Ruby....and Alaska too! :-). :-)

[Colo Cruiser]

Head up to Adagio one evening.

[Cinerama]

Head up to Adagio one evening.

 

Do you need dinner reservations at Sabatini's to go to this bar?

[peety3]

Do you need dinner reservations at Sabatini's to go to this bar?

Not whatsoever. It's also (usually) open to the public (though unserved) prior to 5PM, unless it's booked for a private event - a wonderful quiet place to sit and watch the world go by.

[satxdiver]

Do you need dinner reservations at Sabatini's to go to this bar?

 

On the Ruby (and Emerald and Crown) Sabatini's was converted to SHARE with a totally different menu and a $39 cover charge/person.

 

CG had special added selections for AK such as salmon.

 

Saturday, the day we boarded, lunch was from 12:00 to 1:30 in the Da Vinci MDR on deck 6 mid.

 

Formal nights were the first day, Sunday, while at sea and Thursday after the port call of Ketchikan. We left Ketchikan at 1 PM so there was plenty of time to get ready for formal night although on AK cruises formal is not generally observed.

 

There were at least two nights in the Casino when smoking was not allowed. We had to walk through the Casino to get to the theater and the smoking was almost not there. We like to enter/leave the theater on deck 6 lower theater entrance. On our cruise it did not seem to have a lot of gamblers aboard.

 

Two "husky" pups were brought aboard in Juneau on Monday. The temperature in all ports and Glacier Bay was warm and dry. Cold clothing and raingear were never needed. Your results however are dependent on Mother Nature and your mileage may differ. We were on the Ruby last week.

 

BTW it was announced that over 2700 pax were on Princess for the first time. There were a lot of families and over 200 kids aboard.

[bestdogever]

Has anyone been to The Sanctuary or had a massage at the spa? If so, how was your experience?

[satxdiver]

Has anyone been to The Sanctuary or had a massage at the spa? If so, how was your experience?

 

There is only one full sea day plus the afternoon of the Ketchikan port and most of the day of the Victoria port. Ketchikan is the night of the second formal night with the first formal night being the at sea day Sunday. The other two ports have long shore times. Glacier Bay is all day on the ship but most pax are up on deck watching the glaciers. So it depends on how much time you can find.

[tioalmsp]

Head up to Adagio one evening.

 

 

Yes, this is a must do. We went up during a jazz performance by the ships orchestra. Loved it.

[Colo Cruiser]

Do you need dinner reservations at Sabatini's to go to this bar?

 

 

Is not connected to or have anything to do with Sabatinis. :)