Ruby 4-day Review (March 20 sail date)

[Kmkub]

We had a wonderful time on our first 4-day cruise. We really like the format, especially since we now know the Caribbean so well. (It's cheaper for us to sail out of FLL.) It's a good getaway without being too long.

 

We were just on the Crown in January, also the Caribbean, so we had a very recent 7-day cruise to compare against.

 

Note that many things would have to go dramatically wrong in order for us to consider a cruise ruined. All the negative comments below are just observations. Our cruise was highly enjoyable and we had a very relaxing and fabulous time. Rather than a day-by-day, I'm just grouping comments into categories.

 

Ultimate Drink Package. We both got this and found it highly convenient in terms of not having to worry about constant add ons to our bill.

 

Everything was covered as promised and we also got 40% discount on our bottle of Oberon Merlot. (We were told that it also covered gelato in the IC, but it did not.) The downside - not very convenient for having a few beers on the balcony during an afternoon; especially being so far from any bar. Also, more often than not, we each needed to sign for our own beer or drink, rather than just putting the two drinks on one card when we pay as we go.

 

The bar crew seemed less eager to bring us more drinks while on the Lido or in the casino. In the past, crew was always running around looking for people to serve. This cruise, I had to leave my slot machine a couple of times to go get another beer. Same on the Lido deck while watching MUTS. Servers never seemed to be around. They may be put off by the one-stop bar shopping. There is no extra incentive for them to hustle around.

 

We'll have to weigh the pros and cons before the next cruise. We probably were right in the break even range.

 

Crooners entertainment - Tommy McPhee. We love that Crooners has always been a piano bar. Tommy McPhee doesn't provide that sort of entertainment. He's more a kereoke style singer, complete with his own kereoke machine. His voice is pleasant enough, but the voice isn't why we love Crooners. We love the interactive, often cheesy, comedic piano/lounge singer format. We spent less time at Crooners than usual.

 

Crooners Staff staff wasn't hopping like they used to; perhaps for the same reason listed about the casino & Lido deck with drinks.) Our martinis were sometimes delivered already poured, which we had never seen before. When they did do the martini shake dance, it was without flair; no entertainment value. (Staff going through the motions.)

 

The food. Ugh. Worst food I've had on Princess with a couple of delicious exceptions. The highly prized Sabatini's for breakfast was not worth

getting up for on the 2nd and 3rd day, so we didn't. While a highly enjoyable atmosphere for eating breakfast, the food was just "meh." My eggs Benedict was not the worst I've ever had (it's my favorite breakfast,) but it wasn't near the top, either. It was slightly better than what I get at IHOP, though the hollandaise was almost as thick (like pudding.) My husband had to hunt a waiter down to get a water refill and also for extra syrup for his French toast. (The French toast was quite good and I wish I had ordered that.)

 

We tried another lunch in the MDR (we usually skip because it's always been bad.) The fish tacos brought to me were presented beautifully. The fish was cooked perfectly and the texture was spot on. It had absolutely no flavor. No salt or pepper, no citrus, no spice... it was completely bland. My husband ordered a strawberry sponge cake for desert and it was jello over sponge cake soup. It was truly a disgusting pink liquid mess. Another at our table ordered that and she had it taken away immediately. (The chocolate cake at this lunch was fantastic.)

 

We did not eat dinner at the MDR during this cruise. We ate at the Crown Grill (delicious as always) and had MDR dinner on "Dress to Impress" night delivered to our suite. We ordered all the appetizers and no main course. It was good food and a super fun way to eat dinner.

 

Third night we checked the MDR menu and the HC and neither interested us, so we ate a piece of pizza. Much later that night, we ordered a hot dog from room service. It took about an hour and came ice cold, like it had been in a fridge. Even the mustard seemed off - it was lumpy. We didn't eat it and walked down to the IC for a chicken panini. We asked for toasted and the bun was crisp but the chicken was very cold. Disappointing meal day.

 

At the pub lunch, the fish and chips were okay. The fish was cooked perfectly but the breading was off. It was almost a neon yellow color. I skipped the breading and ate the fish. It was good. Last night I just ate a piece of pizza and some gelato for dinner.

 

Art - We noticed a difference since the changeover. We usually like to just stroll through and look at the art, but after one try, we avoided it. We were followed around and if we paused to look at a piece, the staff was on us like used car salesmen. No thanks.

 

MUTS - the screen is starting to look dated. It is what it is; technology is growing so fast that it would be impossible to keep up. It's starting to look very pixelated. We were looking forward to seeing a concert (Mumford & Sons) but after two songs, we left. The sound was weird and it looked funny. We were planning to see Gravity last night, but opted out. MUTS doesn't have the charm it did in 2008.

 

Lee Childers - he was the CD, even though our email said it would be someone else. I see what everyone means about him. Our 19 year old was excited about a wacky wild wet pool game activity posted in the patter. It didn't happen.

 

Suite Life - Sweet. Loved the extra attention, loved the extras in the room; loved everything about it. We each took a bath. I haven't had a tub

in about 10 years. Ahhhh, that was wonderful. Those robes are amazing and now I may need to buy one. :-)

 

Wind on D106 balcony - not bad at all. We had very calm seas so we were able to be out there quite often. We stayed up late last night watching as we passed the keys and it was lovely out there. Love the extra space.

 

--

 

I have all my patters and other paperwork. Feel free to ask me questions about the 4-day or the drink package. Again, we had a fantastic time.

 

Lots of kids for our kids to hang around with and we hardly saw them. Several factors could make for the difference - perhaps service is toned down during spring break since it's not the usual crowd, perhaps the staff doesn't like 4-day cruises, perhaps the new drink package has annoyed the staff. There's too many variables so it's hard to know. This certainly won't turn us off of Princess, nor cruising, nor the 4-day. We make our own fun and had a blast.

[Pam in CA]

Thanks for the review. The drink package is very new so it is probably going to take time for the staff to get used to it. As for charging each of you, I'm glad to see that (even though it annoyed you) as it means they are controlling it. On the Sapphire a couple of weeks ago, my sister saw one guy at a table for six people in the bar area go up to the bar six times in a row to order drinks for everyone at the table. :( There's going to be abuse, unfortunately, which will affect everyone who buys the package.

 

Having taken the 4-day cruise on the Sapphire in January, I think the shorter cruises are very hard on the staff, all of them. They have no time to get into a rhythm, get to know the passengers, etc. We found the service on our 4-day cruise on the Sapphire very different from the 10-day cruise.

 

Food and prep is up to the Head Chef... and can vary tremendously. The first couple of nights on the Sapphire, the entrees at our table for eight were served room temperature or cold. Several people said something and from then on, the plates and food were piping hot.

 

Sorry to see that Lee is up to the same old, same old. :(

Edited March 24, 2014 by Pam in CA

[gator582]

Thanks for your review. Sounds like there are more cons than pros. I sure hope that things aren't the same on our cruise. If they are, I won't be too happy. Not what I would want for our 25th anniversary. Bad food, bad service at the bars, lounges, etc. doesn't sound very good.

 

We will just have to make the best of it. I'm sure it will be just fine.

[geoherb]

Thanks for posting your review. We were getting off the ship as you were getting on. I was jealous that so many of the people we met were getting to stay on that cruise. I even checked out doing so myself (and letting DH fly home by himself since he had to go to work today), but your cruise was fully booked according to the website.

 

Did you check out Skywalkers for the evening event for Platinum/Elite/Suite passengers? It was one of the highlights from our cruise. I especially liked it on sushi night.

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks for the review.

[Kmkub]

Pam - we weren't annoyed. We know the program is new and are happy to be guinee pigs to help smooth out the bumps. I think the extra swipes and signing slow down the service - the bartenders were in a constant state of hustle since they were swiping twice as often when, in the past, one swipe was enough for a couple. I'm hoping they will find a way around that. The later in the cruise we got, the more often the bartender would just put both drinks on one card as long as we showed both cards were eligible. That seems a fair compromise - tie the packages in the same room together and run totals as a room, rather than per individual. I also hope they find a way to allow "bucket of beer" style packages for the room. Sometimes, you just want to spend the day on the balcony. This may be a deal breaker for us.

 

Gator - I wouldn't say more cons than pros. It was a cruise! We planned this to be more relaxing/reading time than most cruises, so we spent a lot of time in our cabin, doing what we like to call, "hotel-ing it up!" The food was unusually bad and on our Crown cruise in January, the food was extraordinarily spectacular. It could very well be that it set our expectations way too high.

 

Geoherb - I read your live review in anticipation! As we were walking on, I was watching all the walkers-off and wondering if any of them were you. :-) We missed out on that suite perk - we intended to go, but relaxation got in the way. Our daily lives are a constant state of being on a schedule, so we avoid it like crazy on a cruise. We have been avoiding traditional dining on all of our cruises for the same reason. We get busy relaxing and poof, we miss something. We thoroughly enjoyed the canapes in our suite, though. They were wonderful. Those salmon mousse on bread canapes were delicious and we all fought over the chocolate covered strawberries.

[gator582]

We will just relax on this cruise, too. Too much hustle and bustle in our work life since we own a business. Will be good to just chill. Might be spending some time on the balcony, too.

 

Any recommendations for a good bar with a good bartender? We had a couple of favorites on the Coral last year. Thanks.

[Luvmyrotti]

I'm sorry to hear that the bar service, food and entertainment were all a bit "off" from standard. We're doing a 4 & 5 day B2B on the CB in September, so I hope they get the short cruises sorted out a bit better before then.

 

What was the "dress to impress" night like? Were people dressed up? Did they do anything special?

[Kmkub]

Any recommendations for a good bar with a good bartender? We had a couple of favorites on the Coral last year. Thanks.

 

This was our fifth cruise and the first time we weren't on a first name basis with at least one bartender by the end of the first night. We usually have at least two bartenders and one dining room crew member to tip at the end of the cruise. We actually love walking around the last day handing out those tips.

 

It could be spring break week, the new liquor package or the 4-day itinerary, or a combination of any of those, but the staff was generally uninterested this cruise. We didn't find our usual go-to bartender(s).

[Kmkub]

What was the "dress to impress" night like? Were people dressed up? Did they do anything special?

 

Yes, some went very fancy, but most just stepped it up a bit. We didn't bring anything fancy, so we ate in our room. They did have the formal night photographers and the balloon drop with the captain. I think it was also a champagne waterfall, but I'm not positive about that. I'll double check my patter and post back later.

 

They didn't consider it a full formal night. A suite perk on formal night is a corsage to the room - we didn't get that. (Not a complaint!) They did have the escargot on the menu that night, though. It was delicious as always.

[Griff4AU]

We just got off the Ruby too. It was tough making the 20 minute drive to the office after such a wonderful 4 days.

 

I agree with your overall assessment. I think you touched on some of the "downers" more than the positives, but I think you were bang on.

 

As for the drink package, we loved it. This was only the 4th (or 3rd) sailing on the Ruby with the package, so they are learning.

 

Agree with having to find servers anywhere other than a pool area. Completely agree about Crooners... Good voice.. poor service.. good martinis... Too bad they just can't clone Bert on all of their ships...

 

Don't agree about the food, but then again it's been 7 years since I have been on Princess having mainly sailed NCL (friend who is in sales for them) and compared to NCL we thought the food was very good. 100% all the time? No, but at no point did we not find something that didn't wow us (in a good way)... We loved getting small sushi / tapas at Vines since we had the drink package.

 

As for the Art, can't agree any more... Significant dropoff with bringing in Park West. Significant... We were looking for some Britto's and are pretty familiar with his pricing considering he has a pretty large gallery in Miami... Every piece was priced (minimum bid) noticeably more than we could get it directly from the gallery. As many others have said, Park West simply sucks... We left the 1st auction early and skipped the 2nd.. we NEVER do that.....

 

 

MUTS... Love it.. but the screen and speakers need a refurb...

 

 

Again, your summary was pretty much on the spot... but honestly we had an extremely enjoyable 4 days... I was hoping the Ruby would be strong enough to sway the GF's preference for RCCL (we are so DONE with NCL), but it wasn't to be. While the Ruby was VERY good, I wouldn't put it as great... short sailings are just so hard to judge... and maybe our May sailing of the CB will help convert her some more.

[Griff4AU]

Any recommendations for a good bar with a good bartender? We had a couple of favorites on the Coral last year. Thanks.

 

This is Kmkub'sa thread, so I don't want to steal their thunder... but for my Two Abe's (two cents) worth:

 

Atin from India as the bartender up at the pool/Calypso bar was the best...

 

 

Nemo from Serbia as the bar server for the theater / Wheelhouse... get to know him and you'll never wait for a drink again (if you're nice)....

 

 

"Joe", the waiter from the Philippines who was in the Michangelo (anytime dining) was exceptional and worth asking for his station (and even waiting for it)....

[Colo Cruiser]

We just got off the Ruby too. It was tough making the 20 minute drive to the office after such a wonderful 4 days.

 

I agree with your overall assessment. I think you touched on some of the "downers" more than the positives, but I think you were bang on.

 

As for the drink package, we loved it. This was only the 4th (or 3rd) sailing on the Ruby with the package, so they are learning.

 

Agree with having to find servers anywhere other than a pool area. Completely agree about Crooners... Good voice.. poor service.. good martinis... Too bad they just can't clone Bert on all of their ships...

 

Don't agree about the food, but then again it's been 7 years since I have been on Princess having mainly sailed NCL (friend who is in sales for them) and compared to NCL we thought the food was very good. 100% all the time? No, but at no point did we not find something that didn't wow us (in a good way)... We loved getting small sushi / tapas at Vines since we had the drink package.

 

As for the Art, can't agree any more... Significant dropoff with bringing in Park West. Significant... We were looking for some Britto's and are pretty familiar with his pricing considering he has a pretty large gallery in Miami... Every piece was priced (minimum bid) noticeably more than we could get it directly from the gallery. As many others have said, Park West simply sucks... We left the 1st auction early and skipped the 2nd.. we NEVER do that.....

 

 

MUTS... Love it.. but the screen and speakers need a refurb...

 

 

Again, your summary was pretty much on the spot... but honestly we had an extremely enjoyable 4 days... I was hoping the Ruby would be strong enough to sway the GF's preference for RCCL (we are so DONE with NCL), but it wasn't to be. While the Ruby was VERY good, I wouldn't put it as great... short sailings are just so hard to judge... and maybe our May sailing of the CB will help convert her some more.

 

Wow I really feel for you and your 20 minute drive home. :rolleyes: ;) :)

 

If I lived as close I would be in trouble.

Edited March 24, 2014 by Colo Cruiser

[Kmkub]

I think you touched on some of the "downers" more than the positives, but I think you were bang on.

 

That's fair. If I included all the things I loved, it would be a novel. This was a GREAT cruise and there were a few food highlights, but it is not the quality I've come to expect from Princess. (And as I said, our food on the Crown in January was so out of this world delicious, we may have had ultra high expectations.) On the plus side, we didn't gain any weight! :)

[geoherb]

Mariia in Skywalkers for the evening cocktail event gave us great service. We usually just have one cocktail there each night, but most nights we ended up ordering another--not pressured into doing so, but rather just enjoying the event. She also noticed me at the champagne waterfall event and kept my glass full there.

 

I don't remember the name of the bar steward at the captain's party, but he was very friendly and efficient as well. It helped a lot that we were sitting with the most-traveled passengers.

[bhopal21]

I assume you sat a table in Crooners since you were listening to the piano player?

 

We sat at the bar each day on our B2B last month and had the best service we have ever had on a cruise with Olena and Jeff.

 

Franky, one of the table servers was transferred to Skywalker's after our cruise and that was a big loss for Crooners as he was a highly animated entertaining person.

 

Mike:)

[gator582]

This is Kmkub'sa thread, so I don't want to steal their thunder... but for my Two Abe's (two cents) worth:

 

Atin from India as the bartender up at the pool/Calypso bar was the best...

 

 

Nemo from Serbia as the bar server for the theater / Wheelhouse... get to know him and you'll never wait for a drink again (if you're nice)....

 

 

"Joe", the waiter from the Philippines who was in the Michangelo (anytime dining) was exceptional and worth asking for his station (and even waiting for it)....

Thank you. Just what I need to hear. BTW, I am a really nice person. ;)

[Kmkub]

I assume you sat a table in Crooners since you were listening to the piano player?

 

Yes - one advantage to having a less than awesome entertainer in Crooners is there is always a table. It was SRO in Crooners on the Crown in January. It's still a great place to snuggle and nuzzle and have a great martini. I have zero complaints about the martini quality on this ship.

 

 

Any recommendations for a good bar with a good bartender? We had a couple of favorites on the Coral last year. Thanks.

 

I don't recall her name, but our server at the Adagio bar was excellent. We make it a point to hit there at least once; the Sorrento Sunset martini is one of our favorites!

[paradiselivin1]

Thanks for your quick review. I was looking forward to MUTS on this cruise as I haven't seen a few of those movies & thought this would be a good place to do it. Now, it sounds like I might as well dial in a movie on tv.... Been a while since we've been on Princess & had good food on our Alaska cruise ~ will not have high expectations for this one. Any particular food you WOULD highly recommend?

[bhopal21]

We also noticed there were quite a few dead pixels in the MUTS screen when onboard in February.

 

Mike:)

[Kmkub]

We ended up not watching any tv at all. We usually unwind with a Love Boat episode or something as we're prepping for bed. The tv quality was terrible; like 1970's with the snowy lines terrible.

 

As to the food, I'm terrible with remembering names and even worse about pictures. There were many good items, but my favorites the standouts were every appetizer on the Dress to Impress night. There was escargot, a lobster bisque and some sort of shrimp or fish dish. We only had appetizers that night.

 

There was a chocolate cake for dessert at lunch in the MDR - same day as I had the tasteless fish taco. It was incredible. It wasn't cake; it was smooth and creamy like mousse, but creamier. I should have brought one back to my cabin.

 

Except for dinner at Crown Grill (where almost everything is almost always delicious) there were no other stand outs for me.

[imgrdy]

Just got back on Sunday ( Royal Princess)

great time

great food

great Mut experience

Not so Great and major design flaw,

missing stair case center ship, creating 4-8 minute wait for lifts

Sorry to hear about the Ruby,

we were on the Ruby ... Cruise for a cure in Feb. all was well

center stairs included !!!!

Edited March 24, 2014 by imgrdy

[Griff4AU]

....I was looking forward to MUTS on this cruise as I haven't seen a few of those movies & thought this would be a good place to do it. Now, it sounds like I might as well dial in a movie on tv.... will not have high expectations for this one.

 

Please understand that I think both Kmkub and I are saying that this was a wonderful 4 days... I'd do it again tomorrow if we could (I do only have a 20 minute drive to the port!). However the Ruby and her staff/Service weren't quite as sharp as they usually are. I'd take a Princess boat on her WORST day over an NCL or Carnival on their best days. However this sailing wouldn't convert any RCCL or X loyalists over to Princess.

 

If you haven't enjoyed MUTS before, then it's still a very enjoyable experience. I think what we were both trying to share is that both the screen and speakers weren't as clear as they have been and should have been. I'd still take MUTS (we watched both Captain Phillips and Gravity on MUTS, although we had already seen them in the theaters) over TV any day. We watched the 2 movies and the Coldplay concert, so the screen wasn't terrible... just not up to Princess standards.

 

So I hope you do have great expectations for your sailing. You're going to have a wonderful time. The Ruby just happens to have fallen a bit below the Princess standard. I'm still thinking you'll "escape completely" and then "come back new...."