Ruby - Christmas Cruise 12.22-12.26 Review/Thoughts w/Photos

[LollyMoz]

Had a spotty night's sleep with weird dreams. On the balcony at 4:30 and seeing the lights of Ft. Lauderdale in the distance. Hubby snoring away until about 6:15 when we got up and dressed to watch the ship come in to the harbor and dock. I went up to HC and even at 6:30 there was not one open table. Grabbed a quick piece of sausage and a cup of tea; made hubby a cup of coffee and headed back to the cabin. Finished up packing toiletries, etc. and sat on the balcony for a moment to say goodbye... :( We were on walkoff group 9 and headed down to the gathering point at our appointed hour of 8:15. They were just calling group 8, so we walked off with them. The line at immigration was long, but it moved. We were in our shuttle van by 8:49 and at the hotel picking up our car moments later. We stopped for gas, had a nice bite to eat in Ft. Myers at the Keys Bar and Grille, and were home by 3:15. It is always wonderful to go away...great to vacation/cruise, but it is also really nice to come home. We did the Christmas Cruise thing... don't know that we would do it again, not because there was anything at all wrong with the experience, just thinking we will stay home with the family. BUUUTTTT, can not wait until our next cruise, somewhere in the future. We filled out our FCC and now just have the burden of figuring out where our next venture will take us.

 

Thank you to the three people that have been following my journey. Please don't hesitate to ask questions - I'm happy to answer.

 

Happy new year!!!

 

PC260172 by lollymoz, on Flickr

Preparing to Dock - 6:30 a.m. 12.26.13 by lollymoz, on Flickr

[scottsgal]

Thanks so much for posting your wonderful review! You said you had the Patters? I'd love to see them if you can post them - we're sailing on the Jan 9th 4 night to Princess Cay.

[bhopal21]

Thanks, we can't wait to board on February 1st.

 

Mike:)

[LollyMoz]

Thanks so much for posting your wonderful review! You said you had the Patters? I'd love to see them if you can post them - we're sailing on the Jan 9th 4 night to Princess Cay.

 

Here are a few to get you started:

 

PC220033 by lollymoz, on Flickr

PC220029 by lollymoz, on Flickr

PC220028 by lollymoz, on Flickr

PC220027 by lollymoz, on Flickr

PC220026 by lollymoz, on Flickr

[Guest arowe6]

LOVING all your pictures.

 

Thanks for sharing.

-Andrew :)

 

Edit-- Small world. Just saw you're from PH. We live in Trinity. 20 minutes north...

Edited December 29, 2013 by arowe6

[Pia1913]

LollyMoz, I don't think we met, but I did see a photo of myself in one of your pix. :)

[kpkcruiser]

Thanks for your review and photos - it was awesome!!! Makes me want to hop on the Ruby right this minute!!!!!! Thank you!!!!!

[LollyMoz]

LollyMoz, I don't think we met, but I did see a photo of myself in one of your pix. :)

 

Darn! Which one? I would have loved to have chatted with you... one of the gurus of the cruising world! I hope you enjoyed your Christmas and wish you and yours a wonderful 2014!

[Fla Mike]

Lolly

 

Thanks so much for your review and photos...loving it!!!

 

One question which night was the dress to impress?

 

Again, thanks

[Posaune]

Thanks for the great review and pictures. Looking forward to being onboard in a little over a week!

[Tak8]

Great photos. Enjoyed your review.

[Pia1913]

Darn! Which one? I would have loved to have chatted with you... one of the gurus of the cruising world! I hope you enjoyed your Christmas and wish you and yours a wonderful 2014!

 

Enjoyed it all and I'm still remaining incognito. :D Happy New Year.

Edited December 30, 2013 by Pia1913

[stunnedinva]

Please don't hesitate to ask questions - I'm happy to answer.

 

 

I haven't seen any posts from these short cruises on the Ruby about the beds. Did you hear any complaints about rock-hard mattresses, or did everybody seem to be sleeping like babies?

Thanks!

[Pia1913]

Please don't hesitate to ask questions - I'm happy to answer.

 

 

I haven't seen any posts from these short cruises on the Ruby about the beds. Did you hear any complaints about rock-hard mattresses, or did everybody seem to be sleeping like babies?

Thanks!

 

This is one baby who slept very well. :D

[stay_or_go]

Great review, cant wait to be back on the ocean n March!

[cormike1]

Enjoyed your review and loved the pictures...thanks!

[yoyosma]

Thanks for the detailed review, I really enjoyed reading it. And will be looking at all the patters, too. I am on the Jan23rd sailing, but it goes to Cozumel rather than Princess Cays. Shouldn't be too different.

[New York Nana]

Appreciate you sharing your experience with us! We are very excited to be on the Ruby on Jan 9 for our 1st B2B!
Did you happen to check out the Sanctuary? We've never gone before and thought we'd try this time around. Do you have any idea if it offered 'whole cruse' reservations or just day-to-day? I saw on the Patter that it was open on Embark day.
Wishing you and your family a very happy New Year!

[LollyMoz]

Both times we've been on the Ruby we've had great mattresses. Slept very well - no complaints from us and never heard any from anyone else. No eggcrate needed. The pillows were hit or miss and we did request two additional pillows from our cabin steward, which were promptly delivered along with our robes.

[greenie082756]

Thank you for taking the time to do your review and to post the photos along with it. Very enjoyable and I am excited even more to be on the Ruby next November. :)

[LollyMoz]

I was so busy posting photos and forgot to post one of our Christmas door décor! Did anyone else decorate their door for the holidays? I saw a couple on Dolphin Deck, but not many at all!

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/111777345@N07/11608512316/][img]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3787/11608512316_811d0b9a52.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/111777345@N07/11608512316/]PC220038[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/111777345@N07/]lollymoz[/url], on Flickr

[LollyMoz]

[quote name='New York Nana']Appreciate you sharing your experience with us! We are very excited to be on the Ruby on Jan 9 for our 1st B2B!
Did you happen to check out the Sanctuary? We've never gone before and thought we'd try this time around. Do you have any idea if it offered 'whole cruse' reservations or just day-to-day? I saw on the Patter that it was open on Embark day.
Wishing you and your family a very happy New Year![/quote]

You know, other than taking a photo or two of the Sanctuary, we didn't really check it out. The few times I was in the vicinity, it did not look full. Sorry I can't answer your questions, but I'm guessing Pia could... I'm sure you'll enjoy your b2b and the lovely Ruby! :)

[LollyMoz]

Silly me forgot to bring the Patters in to work this morning to scan in, so I'll take photos of them and post in a new thread at some point over the next day or two. Tomorrow, I have to get ready for new year's eve down at the dock where we keep our boat and cook several dishes, so not sure how much time I'll have. But, they'll be coming along - I promise!

[lynwar]

This is such a neat review. We loved the Ruby Princess both times we sailed aboard her. It sounds like you had a fabulous time. And, I've been enjoying your photos, too.

Lynne

[Pia1913]

[quote name='LollyMoz']I was so busy posting photos and forgot to post one of our Christmas door décor! Did anyone else decorate their door for the holidays? I saw a couple on Dolphin Deck, but not many at all!

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/111777345@N07/11608512316/][img]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3787/11608512316_811d0b9a52.jpg[/img][/url]
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/111777345@N07/11608512316/]PC220038[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/111777345@N07/]lollymoz[/url], on Flickr[/QUOTE]

We did too. Our door had Santa and some candy canes. Very few doors were decorated which I believe is due to the fact that the majority of the ship had first time cruisers. They just didn't know they could do that.