suekel

20 minutes ago, Astro Flyer said:

If you’re asking about the Lahaina Cannery Mall Safeway…it is open.

 

The mall was not damaged nor was the Lahaina Gateway center. Businesses makai of LCM also survived including the Old Lahaina Luau which has reopened. The Feast at Lele (505 Front Street) owned by the same company was destroyed by the firestorm.

 

5 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Makai = Ocean side (toward the ocean).

 

There is a Whole Foods and CVS/Longs at the Maui Mall.  You can catch a city bus to a Foodland not far away (about a mile if you want to walk it).

 

My story about the people of the Maui:

 

I walked across the street to the Maui Mall for my Guri Guri fix.  Could not find big bags of Maui Potato Chips so called the factory to find out where I could purchase them (not at Longs or Whole Foods).

 

Nice person/owner? on the other end of the call asked me how many bags I wanted.  If I waited at the mall....she would deliver them in a few minutes.

 

I tried to give her more for her troubles...she declined and gave me back exact change. 

thanks

3 hours ago, azbirdmom said:

 

I rarely watch YouTube videos but oddly I watched the first one last Saturday.  It started out in a lovely community that we have visited in the past - Puamana - and from there the gut punch continues.  We've actually visited Maui twice since the fires, the first time staying down in Kihei and the second up in Napili north of the devastation area but you can definitely see some of the damage from the bypass.  It's rough to see and I'm not usually emotional but I was every single time we had to drive through that section.  And the scope of the devastation is just beyond comprehension.  I pray every day for those who lost everything as they start the very long process of rebuilding.  The residents need to be taken care of first and then long after that the rest will come.

Do you know if the Safeway is open and accessible?

1 hour ago, Dani24 said:

We're in a suite on our next cruise, so definitely taking advantage of the Reserve dining. On our prior suite cruise we had a section of a dining room with regular anytime diners in the other part. Just curious if they'll pair the Reserve section with traditional, reservation or walk-ins. I don't know that I care where they place us, just curious about the logistics of it all. 🙂

I don't think they'll change the reserve dining area out of the midship on 6.

48 minutes ago, Dani24 said:

Curious where the Reserve/Suite dining will be among these three rooms? Or will they adjust based on the popularity of any particular option?

 

Which also leads me to wonder if there are caps on any of these choices. Will you need to preselect if you want traditional, reservations, or walk-in? And if the demand for one of those options on a given cruise is more than what that particular dining room will handle, do you get forced into another category?

Reserve/Suite should not be affected by this in any way.  Of course there will be caps on traditional.  2 seatings, set number of tables. 

6 hours ago, Jose Zalfadilla said:

Perhaps a cheaper way to get some of the benefits associated with Club Class (or whatever it's called now)?  Other than special menu of 2 or 3 additional entrees, one may walk in anytime, perhaps have the same wait staff, shared or private table? I don't know, it's worth trying.

This has nothing to do with club class. One DR has traditional dining,  one has reservations that change and one has walk in... take your chances that there is no line

Elite in a Suite and no invite.  

The Caribbean Princess is old and needs work. That being said.  I'd always choose a smaller ship.  And a Vista Suite is wonderful.  The signature suite on the sun is like a Mini suite on the CB.  Perks are the same.  

2 hours ago, Piperpals said:

We are getting on Ruby in two weeks, wondering who the performer in Crooners is (or will be). Also the bartenders. Love running into staff from previous cruises.

The bartenders in Crooners are Saly and James. The piano player now is Daniel Oliver and occasionally there is a guitar player named Elizabeth Mora. There is less piazza entertainment on this cruise. Sometimes it's totally quiet.

1 hour ago, Nily D said:

Thanks for posting this! We will be sailing on Ruby in June to Alaska. It will be our first cruise ever.

 

Question: how do you book the Chef's Table dinner? And is Sabatini always open for breakfast?

To book the Chef's table, ask a headwaiter in a dining room or call the dine line. Sabatinis breakfast is only for full suites. It's one of the perks.

Quick update.  I always order a club sandwich at some point.  Best one ever.  Bartenders at Crooners are awesome. 

Was invited to the most traveled passenger lunch yesterday and it was phenomenal.  Wifi is good enough to stream NCAA tournament. 

We've been so busy with specialty dining,  chef's table and basketball,  it was nice to go back into the MDR tonight. 

9 minutes ago, molly1995 said:

We booked for an Alaskan cryis in June in a mini suite and keep reading aweful things.   How is the food, service and entertainment.  Also have an 11 year old who loves ping pong and pickle ball.

I don't know what awful things you're hearing.  It's been great.  Food and service are excellent.  We don't do much with entertainment but enjoy the performer in Crooners. They have both ping pong and pickleball.

Today we're still in Panama.  Went out to sea last night then came back for a port day.  It's so hot.. only managed 2 hours at the pool. 

Did the charcuterie in Vines last night.  It was just ok. 2 cheeses, 4 meats, olives and pickled onion. No bread,  no crackers.  Served with what tasted like soy sauce. Splitting one is an ok snack. If I paid $15 for this,  I wouldn't be happy. Great server though. 

Not having much luck in the casino.  It's a Prestige Cruise so unless you're a part of that,  the casino hosts basically ignore you. 

Back to the Crown Grill tonight. I absolutely love the restaurant managers and head waiters at all the venues. 

Tomorrow is the MTP luncheon. Only my second invite. 

Nap time so I can stay up and watch Iowa State and Illinois tonight. 

7 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

Do you have a medical emergency?  Otherwise, why are you heading back to Panama?  You are supposed to be halfway to Puntarenas…

 

No, we actually have a port day here before we head north. We went out to sea last night and then came back this morning 

6 hours ago, Piperpals said:

HI, we are on the Ruby in a couple of weeks, have done many cruises but never on the Ruby.  What is the 'Adagio'?  Deck plan shows it on the Sun deck next to Sabatini's.  Just wondering if you know if it is a restaurant or lounge?

 

Thanks

It's a lovely little bar.  Very quiet. They had the suite get together up there and then meeting for the Chef's table last night. 

Chef's table last night was excellent.  Great food and company.  It's held in Sabatinis on this ship. I really like the location of Sabatinis on this ship... great for breakfast.  We'll eat dinner there next week.  Today we did the full transit mainly from our aft balcony.  We've done it before so wanted a different vantage point. We got up at 6:30 as we entered the canal so tonight we're just going to do the casual dining at Vines and drink some good wine. It's really hot here. 

9 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

You look to be having great weather for transit day.  Are you above the bridge, or down around the bow?  

 

We spent most of the day on our Aft balcony. Wandered a bit but mostly just used our loungers.

5 hours ago, KLM3164 said:

Were they able to see that you had prepaid or did you have documentation to show them how much you paid? 

They saw it so I didn't need to show them anything

On 3/17/2024 at 7:54 PM, socmft said:

If you don’t mind, please come back and let us know how this went. We cruise in 3 weeks and in the same situation. 

Guest services happily gave me on board credit for what I had paid.  Easy!

6 hours ago, johnkylie said:

Are you able to let me know what the casual dining options are on Ruby? I don't  think they have Alfredo's and we have two free meals with our plus package. 

Hope you are enjoying your cruise. 

Only Vines and Salty Dog Gastropub. To me Vines is more of a share an appetizer than an actual meal. They will on various sea days open up  Planks and Steamers. They get busy!

8 hours ago, axd said:

I am in a process to book dinning time for upcoming cruise on Ruby. By any chance do you know which MDR to consider? Our cabin is on deck 11. I try to figure out which one of the three of them to choose. Thanks and enjoy your trip

They are really all the same,  just depends on location.  For dinner I think Botticelli is less crowded...DaVinci is more centrally located.

47 minutes ago, mamafun said:

What is the Super Tuscan lunch?

 

And thanks for doing this. We're will be on the Ruby in November!

It's an Italian lunch with wine pairings. I don't think I've ever seen it advertised...evidently you're just supposed to know. We asked the head waiter at the embarkation lunch. $60 per person, held in Sabatinis. 

I don't do live from posts but usually do a review when I get home.  That being said,  I am currently on the Ruby and having a wonderful time.  We got the invite to the Chef's Table,  signed up for the Super Tuscan lunch and my husband won $25 in Princess prizes. If you have any questions about the ship,  I'm happy to answer.

6 minutes ago, resordanis said:

Hi all,

Anyone been in E728 on Royal recently? Any noise from the Vista Lounge. Unfortunately I am a light sleeper.

Thanks

Depends what time you go to bed.  Unfortunately, you are on the side with the stage,  I stayed on the other side last year and didn't hear a thing.  

2 hours ago, Globaler said:

Looking at cruises for next year, it appears costs are up, ships are filling up with minimum deposits, and my offers are not as good as 2024. The issue with casino offers is you have to pay in full. If I wait to book then the cabin location may not be available. Will offers improve, will costs go down, will people cancel? I guess I could book with insurance and if I need to cancel either get my money back or get a future credit.

I board Saturday.  I plan on introducing myself to the casino host and see if I can get any information on casino cruises. I used to get hearts offers all the time,  even did a prestige cruise once,  I'm gambling the same and nada. Luckily I got 3 booked when I had offers.

22 minutes ago, nwualum said:

I want to respond to those of you who say we want something for nothing.  This was not a  hurricane or something out of their control.  This was totally something that should have been responded to immediately and they failed to do so.

 

I am not exaggerating-- these booming noises were occurring several hundred times for the first six nights, sometimes as often as three of them in a five second span.  Every time we would about dose off to sleep they would start up.  They were loud enough they would shake our door and wall.  We were walking zombies throughout the excursion, and no one bothered to check it out until night #6.  Once they did and found it, they profusely apologized for what they put us through.  This was not some ordinary noise or issue.  Again,we've been on 16 cruises and no cruise is perfect.  This was a completely different matter and completely within their control.  I'm going to put it behind me but was looking for advice, not condemnation.  

I've heard stories of people going to Guest Services in their PJ's and not leaving until something was done.  I'm sorry you had such a bad experience.