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Emerald versus Ruby


Carla3
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I have sailed on both. And if you drove me to the port blindfolded and escorted me onto either ship I doubt I could distinguish between the two. (Until I looked at the Patter or the Princess at Sea on my phone)

 

Now that we have settled that part...are you sure the itineraries are the same? Both sail round-trip Seattle, but Ruby via Glacier Bay vs. Emerald via Tracy Arm Fjord. You did say you were looking at the fall (2018 I assume) but I don't see any one-off Alaska sailings from Seattle at the end of the season that would match each other.

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Staff on Ruby always seems friendlier and the food on Ruby was better prepared. Cruise director on Emerald was never around, Ruby always saw him...same layout, same routines. I like Ruby much better overall.

 

When did you cruise them both? The CD's could have changed in the interim. What if they happened to swap?

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When did you cruise them both? The CD's could have changed in the interim. What if they happened to swap?

 

I've cruised Ruby 3 times and Emerald 2...actually was a different cruise director on all due to their time off or swapping. But still came away with Ruby's CD always being memorable and Emerald's not, Was on Emerald at Thanksgiving...never saw CD once...not even at sailaway. Seemed like everyone was just on their own...whereas on Ruby the CD was in full sight, with microphone, full of energy, etc. But it was an extremely over populated cruise with way too many kids so he could of been lost in a sea of cruisers.

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The only difference I found between the two is that the Ruby shows a little newer but otherwise they are the same beautiful ship

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

This was our experience also. Although both ships are nice, if all things were equal, I would pick the Ruby.

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I've cruised Ruby 3 times and Emerald 2...actually was a different cruise director on all due to their time off or swapping. But still came away with Ruby's CD always being memorable and Emerald's not, Was on Emerald at Thanksgiving...never saw CD once...not even at sailaway. Seemed like everyone was just on their own...whereas on Ruby the CD was in full sight, with microphone, full of energy, etc. But it was an extremely over populated cruise with way too many kids so he could of been lost in a sea of cruisers.

 

Love the debate over CDs. My Thanksgiving 2014 cruise on Ruby ranks near the top of my list of all cruises on all lines. Best service on all my Princess cruises for sure. Yet the CD was one that is near-unanimously disliked here on Cruise Critic as all-but-invisible and when visible having the personality of a rotting carp. (Accurate on both counts).

 

Forward to Emerald's final (to this point) Caribbean cruise in 2016: the CD was one of the most well known ones with a (deserved) reputation for being effusive and gregarious. And made not one whit of difference to me.

 

I will let you guess the names. And will also add that in 2009 and 2011 I also sailed with two different CDs that were well criticized on this board at the time--yet I thought the activities and entertainment were better run than usual. So to each our own I guess.

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And we just recently sailed on the Emerald 28 day LA-Tahiti cruise with Dave Clark, who is BY FAR the VERY best CD we've had in our almost 50 cruises!!!

The crew were attentive and seemed happy. I think they respond to management's attitude.

 

I'd go by itinerary - the ships are virtually the same.

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And we just recently sailed on the Emerald 28 day LA-Tahiti cruise with Dave Clark, who is BY FAR the VERY best CD we've had in our almost 50 cruises!!!

The crew were attentive and seemed happy. I think they respond to management's attitude.

 

I'd go by itinerary - the ships are virtually the same.

 

LOVED Dave Clark too!!!!

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I've only been on the Emerald for a one-nighter at the beginning or end of the season. Agree that it's quite identical to the Ruby, and would be surprised to hear that any one ship is considered a "training" ship.

 

That said, I also agree that the Seattle-Alaska round-trip itineraries are quite different. We've sailed both, twice to TA and once to GB. I somewhat prefer the GB loop, as the timing is more "comfortable" (ports and glaciers spread out over four days, and a more comfortable pace as a result). The TA loop feels relaxed (36 hours to Ketchikan) then rushed (three ports and glacier viewing, which can mean four excursions or more if you're really good, in less than 60 hours), then relaxed (49 hours at sea to Victoria), then rushed (you've packed, early dinner then rush through Victoria, then have to get up early for disembarkation). Granted, I like the price of TA a little better...though GB provides more time in Skagway and Juneau.

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