LIVE - Ruby Princess, Nov 6 - 20, 14-day Circle Caribbean

[cltnccruisers]

24 minutes ago, aring75 said:

Spent an hour and a half (+/-) in the casino this morning. We didn’t come out ahead, but after 90 minutes we are only $40 behind, so we’ll try our luck again later.

 

We are very casual casino players, so don’t usually win big. But we’ve “earned” about 20 cruises across the various lines, so we will be interested to see how the Princess player’s club compares with casino offers. 

A few years ago, we started getting Player's Club comp offers.  Basically, a free cruise with a few hundred casino credits added.  We just pay the taxes and port fees for a deluxe balcony.  We kick in a few hundred dollars to bump us up to a min-suite for anything longer than 7 days.  Total cost for our 2025 Circle Caribbean is $1,980 with the bump up, gratuities and drink package. It's a great way to keep cruising as we go into retirement.

Edited November 7, 2023 by cltnccruisers

[aring75]

I like how Princess gives you liquid hand soap in your cabin instead of those little bars.

 

[aring75]

Lunch was in Cafe Caribe. Nice selection. CC seems slightly less hectic than Horizon Court, but I don’t really like the layout of either. I think it makes it feel even more crowded than it actually is. 
 

Mark started off with a salad. Then went back for heartier fare (I missed that pic).
 

 

 

I was feeling peckish so I started off just getting a little of this and a little of that. It turned into quite a big plate of food!

 

 

 

Everything was good except for the Salisbury steak pieces in the center. Very salty. The Chicken Chana Masala was pretty great though. And that griddled ham and cheese at the top was also nice. 
 

No room for dessert. Sigh. I’m going to have to work on my priorities. 

[aring75]

If you are traveling with small children, I thought this was interesting to note. I watched as they sprayed and wiped down these high chairs and then covered the trays with plastic wrap. It might be the same on all the lines, but this is the first time I’ve noticed it. 
 

[cltnccruisers]

4 minutes ago, aring75 said:

Lunch was in Cafe Caribe. Nice selection. CC seems slightly less hectic than Horizon Court, but I don’t really like the layout of either. I think it makes it feel even more crowded than it actually is. 
 

Mark started off with a salad. Then went back for heartier fare (I missed that pic).
 

 

 

I was feeling peckish so I started off just getting a little of this and a little of that. It turned into quite a big plate of food!

 

 

 

Everything was good except for the Salisbury steak pieces in the center. Very salty. The Chicken Chana Masala was pretty great though. And that griddled ham and cheese at the top was also nice. 
 

No room for dessert. Sigh. I’m going to have to work on my priorities. 

I probably just missed it, but what level cabin/suite are you?  Love the meal pics, but it doesn't seem like you've hit the MDR yet. Maybe you won't.  😀

[LidoLiz]

The PES lounge is being held in Club Fusion….when did they move it away from Skywalkers? (Sigh)
 

[aring75]

1 hour ago, cltnccruisers said:

I probably just missed it, but what level cabin/suite are you?  Love the meal pics, but it doesn't seem like you've hit the MDR yet. Maybe you won't.  😀

Lunch and Dinner yesterday were in the MDR. We’ll eat there tonight too. Sabatini’s tomorrow night. Gotta try everything!

 

You know for research purposes. 

[aring75]

1 hour ago, cltnccruisers said:

I probably just missed it, but what level cabin/suite are you?

Oh. And we have a Caribe Deck balcony. Port side. 

[aring75]

Saw an enrichment presentation at 1:00. It was kind of like watching a live version of the History Channel. IYKYK. 
 

[aring75]

I’m pretty sure the carpet in the cabin is new. And I’ve seen areas throughout the ship where it looks to have been replaced as well. 
 

 

[aring75]

On 11/5/2023 at 12:25 PM, skynight said:

I'll be watching your posts. I'm booked on the Ruby Feb 28th for a 10 day followed b2b by the same Circle the Caribbean itinerary as you on March 9th. During this dry dock Princess has changed the former cigar lounge off of the casino into a game room. If you can please post where the new cigar smoking area is located. It probably will be mentioned in the hard copy list of daily activities on the first or second day. Why? I want to avoid that area.  

Just wanted to let you know that I haven’t forgotten your request, I just haven’t seen anything yet. I will try to remember to ask. I’ve posted copies of the Patters and I haven’t seen anything there either. 

[canadarocks]

8 minutes ago, aring75 said:

Lunch and Dinner yesterday were in the MDR. We’ll eat there tonight too. Sabatini’s tomorrow night. Gotta try everything!

 

You know for research purposes. 

If you get a chance tomorrow can you snap a photo of the MDR dinner menu? Pretty sure it's the first "Formal" night. Thanks!

[aring75]

8 minutes ago, canadarocks said:

If you get a chance tomorrow can you snap a photo of the MDR dinner menu? Pretty sure it's the first "Formal" night. Thanks!

Sure! They usually post them outside of the entrance to the dining room, so for any night we don’t get to the MDR, I’ll still try to post the menu. 

[canadarocks]

1 minute ago, aring75 said:

Sure! They usually post them outside of the entrance to the dining room, so for any night we don’t get to the MDR, I’ll still try to post the menu. 

Thanks so much. Enjoy the MDR tonight and Sabatini's tomorrow. We have dinner at Sabatini's booked twice next year, because we enjoyed it so much on the Sky in February. 

[aring75]

This is the lunch menu for the MDR as posted in the app for today. 
 

 

 

 

Does it ever change? Or is it just a standard lunch menu for sea days. Seems like a pretty good selection. 

[aring75]

One thing better about Princess vs. Royal Caribbean. The hallways are generally clear by 1:30-2:00 pm. There are carts out practically all day on RCL. 
 

Edited November 7, 2023 by aring75
Fat fingers

[canadarocks]

7 minutes ago, aring75 said:

This is the lunch menu for the MDR as posted in the app for today. 
Does it ever change? Or is it just a standard lunch menu for sea days. Seems like a pretty good selection. 

 

 

 

It does change which is so much better than HAL where the lunch menu is the same every day.

[cltnccruisers]

25 minutes ago, canadarocks said:

It does change which is so much better than HAL where the lunch menu is the same every day.

Is it the charged items such as indulgences that change?  But the rest is pretty stable?  That's what I recall from previous Princess cruises.

[canadarocks]

I'm fairly certain some of the bites and mains change. I remember DH being very happy with the Cobb Salad and it not being there every time. To be honest, I never noticed the "uncharge" items before. 

[memoak]

1 hour ago, aring75 said:

Sure! They usually post them outside of the entrance to the dining room, so for any night we don’t get to the MDR, I’ll still try to post the menu. 

They are also on your app and TV

[cltnccruisers]

15 minutes ago, canadarocks said:

I'm fairly certain some of the bites and mains change. I remember DH being very happy with the Cobb Salad and it not being there every time. To be honest, I never noticed the "uncharge" items before. 

The Cobb Salad is often my fall back if nothing else tickles my fancy.  Simple ingredients, easy to put together, no surprises.

[memoak]

25 minutes ago, cltnccruisers said:

Is it the charged items such as indulgences that change?  But the rest is pretty stable?  That's what I recall from previous Princess cruises.

We were just on the Crown a month ago and there was a different menu each day

[aring75]

Visited the port presentation today. We have a tour planned for St. Kitts, but nothing for Guadeloupe. I looked and looked, but nothing really appealed to me except one that was already sold out (of course). We’ll see what happens.
 

 

We have another day at sea before we even have to think about excursions.

 

I’m never more excited to do absolutely nothing than when I’m on a cruise. 😊

[cltnccruisers]

2 minutes ago, aring75 said:

Visited the port presentation today. We have a tour planned for St. Kitts, but nothing for Guadeloupe. I looked and looked, but nothing really appealed to me except one that was already sold out (of course). We’ll see what happens.
 

 

We have another day at sea before we even have to think about excursions.

 

I’m never more excited to do absolutely nothing than when I’m on a cruise. 😊

Guadaloupe is where Death in Paradise is filmed.  Pretty sure there are several excursions based on that.

[canadarocks]

We have a stop in Guadaloupe next year on our Emerald Circle Caribbean. At this point, only 8 excursions offered and none of them have very good reviews. And not a single Death in Paradise one. How many do you have to choose from on the Ruby?