Live from the Ruby Princess August 15-25

[EvilGrandpa]

13 hours ago, XBGuy said:

 

Congratulations.  You picked the right ship.  Did your wife help you out with that?

 

We celebrated our 40th anniversary a few years ago.  A few months prior I thought I'd better start some planning.  So, I asked Mrs. XBGuy and she was enthusiastic about doing something special.

 

I couple months prior she had mentioned something about a road trip to the wine country.  So, I asked, "Do you want to take a wine country trip?"

 

She responded, "That sounds nice."

 

OK, after almost 40 years of marriage, I know "That sounds nice" is not a ringing endorsement.  So, I try again.

 

"Would you like to take a cruise?"

 

"YES!"

 

Now we're talking.  The next step is to pick a cruise.  Our anniversary is towards the end of October, and we found two itineraries on Princess ships that we thought would work for our anniversary.  One was on the Star Princess and the other one was on the Ruby Princess.  I really don't recall the itinerary of the Star Princess, but the decision was made when Mrs. XBGuy told me that the gemstone for the 40th anniversary was the Ruby,  Done.

 

We had a terrific California Coastal Cruise.  We indulged in the Ultimate Balcony Dinner on our anniversary day, 

 

Great call on going for the suite.

 

Not to hijack but...

 

While I like cruising I'd have preferred Tahiti or a similar destination.   Yes, Heresey on a cruise ship board!!  However "happy wife, happy life" so a cruise it was.  We chose the Ruby because the itinerary fit our anniversary date (sept10) plus The Wife wanted to go to Alaska.  I didn't even know until well after booking that the 40th is the Ruby anniversary.

[HaveDogWillTravel]

18 hours ago, cruzrbachoua said:

Well that is a bummer...sure hope they change the suite benefits or find a way to add the mdr menu to the app so suites can order it there.  Although before I posted I did go an look at the suite benefit pdf and it doesn't say "free"...just states that the suite get the extended room service menu by being able to order from the MDR menu...so we will see what happens when we board in September and are planned for either paying or not... 

I’m sure they will sort it out. The room service manager on the Emerald said (I am currently sailing her) they are not charging full suites for phoning room service even if you have no package or an old package. 
If they do charge you (on Ruby)  I’d ask for the F&B manager to pay you a visit. A friendly chat with them or the HGM if needed should take care of it. 
 

Enjoy your vacation. 

[cruzrbachoua]

2 hours ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

I’m sure they will sort it out. The room service manager on the Emerald said (I am currently sailing her) they are not charging full suites for phoning room service even if you have no package or an old package. 
If they do charge you (on Ruby)  I’d ask for the F&B manager to pay you a visit. A friendly chat with them or the HGM if needed should take care of it. 
 

Enjoy your vacation. 

OH thank you this helps...will remember this if we do see a charge. 

[EvilGrandpa]

2 hours ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

I’m sure they will sort it out. The room service manager on the Emerald said (I am currently sailing her) they are not charging full suites for phoning room service even if you have no package or an old package. 
If they do charge you (on Ruby)  I’d ask for the F&B manager to pay you a visit. A friendly chat with them or the HGM if needed should take care of it. 
 

Enjoy your vacation. 

I got an email from Princess earlier this month.   Briefly it said:

If you have a plus package you would get two of the casual dining meals and unlimited if you have the premier package.   Otherwise it's $14.99 - but it didn't specify if that's per person or per table at the casual dining restaurants.  

Ocean Now Delivery - $14.99/guest/voyage - UNLESS you have Plus or Premier when the fee is waived.

Room Service fee - $5 (except complimentary breakfast orders) but again waived if you have Plus or Premier packages.   

As usual I'd expect different people to have different answers because it's a new program.  

[hobo1937]

21 hours ago, cruzrbachoua said:

Well that is a bummer...sure hope they change the suite benefits or find a way to add the mdr menu to the app so suites can order it there.  Although before I posted I did go an look at the suite benefit pdf and it doesn't say "free"...just states that the suite get the extended room service menu by being able to order from the MDR menu...so we will see what happens when we board in September and are planned for either paying or not... 

If you go on the website and do a mock booking for a suite using the standard rate and go as far as picking the stateroom, the pricing page lists the amenities associated with the suite and it states “complimentary room service”.

[cruzrbachoua]

8 minutes ago, hobo1937 said:

If you go on the website and do a mock booking for a suite using the standard rate and go as far as picking the stateroom, the pricing page lists the amenities associated with the suite and it states “complimentary room service”.

Good to know...I was going off the suite pdf that listed all the amenities where it showed the extended MDR menu but that was date back in 2022...but this does show it in live time...so we will have this as backup.  We don't normally get a suite this was a special occasion and we scrimped and saved for it and budgeted the heck out of it...granted $5 is not alot but it will add up if we did several meals each day in there to take advantage of the cabin and then of course the glacier views.  

[Knickearth]

On 8/23/2023 at 11:54 AM, Cruise Raider said:

Awe .. happy 40th anniversary.  We are here celebrating our anniversary, as well.  
The PES event is in Skywalkers and we love that location.  The food up there has been so very good.  It’s perfect as a nice light dinner.  It is held every evening from 5 PM until 6:30 PM or so on every evening except for the Captain’s Party night, which is the second formal night on this 10 day itinerary, which incidentally, is tonight.  
I have a feeling you will love the suite life!  That’s a great splurge for a special occasion such as a milestone anniversary.  

We recently got off the Ruby.  We celebrated our 50th anniversary and splurged on the owners suite.  If you have not read my previous postings after many trips on princess ships, this was the happiest crew and most accommodating crew ever.  So it was a wonderful cruise.

[hobo1937]

1 hour ago, cruzrbachoua said:

Good to know...I was going off the suite pdf that listed all the amenities where it showed the extended MDR menu but that was date back in 2022...but this does show it in live time...so we will have this as backup.  We don't normally get a suite this was a special occasion and we scrimped and saved for it and budgeted the heck out of it...granted $5 is not alot but it will add up if we did several meals each day in there to take advantage of the cabin and then of course the glacier views.  

We don't normally do suites either but for our 50th we booked a PH suite on the Discovery this past April. It was a wonderful experience and I hope you enjoy your suite too. I agree $5 is not a lot but you are already paying a premium for the stateroom and now they want you to pay thousands more to get free room service that their website says is complimentary.. Just plain stupid and greedy. 

[cruzrbachoua]

30 minutes ago, hobo1937 said:

We don't normally do suites either but for our 50th we booked a PH suite on the Discovery this past April. It was a wonderful experience and I hope you enjoy your suite too. I agree $5 is not a lot but you are already paying a premium for the stateroom and now they want you to pay thousands more to get free room service that their website says is complimentary.. Just plain stupid and greedy. 

1000% agree.  Our suite has been put off since 2020 finally we are getting to be in it and we can't wait.  Cant wait for that aft view as we got an aft facing suite on the Grand.  Love that view. 

[hobo1937]

6 minutes ago, cruzrbachoua said:

1000% agree.  Our suite has been put off since 2020 finally we are getting to be in it and we can't wait.  Cant wait for that aft view as we got an aft facing suite on the Grand.  Love that view. 

Sounds wonderful. Enjoy!

[jwattle]

47 minutes ago, hobo1937 said:

We don't normally do suites either but for our 50th we booked a PH suite on the Discovery this past April. It was a wonderful experience and I hope you enjoy your suite too. I agree $5 is not a lot but you are already paying a premium for the stateroom and now they want you to pay thousands more to get free room service that their website says is complimentary.. Just plain stupid and greedy. 

I should have an answer coming up...at some point. I asked today on the travel advisor webinar about suites and the $5 room service fee. It is being researched.

[Petersonfcu]

On 8/23/2023 at 11:58 AM, lstone19 said:

Quite a bit of excitement in the casino very early this morning when a woman playing blackjack with the Lucky Ladies side bet won $25,000 plus a cruise. She had the maximum $25 on the Lucky Ladies side bet, received two Queens of Heart, and then lost to a dealer blackjack to trigger the 1,000 to 1 payout.

 

If you're wondering, things came to a halt at the table. The casino manager needed to be called, then a chip fill since the table didn't have that amount on it (surprise, surprise - they do have larger chips than the $100 black chips that were the largest seen on the floor until then - the $25,000 was paid in $500 chips).

 

Note that Lucky Ladies has a huge house advantage (more than 25%) so it's a good way to donate to the casino. I do not advise anyone make that bet.

That must have been exciting.  I couldn't help but think, though, she should have been cruising and playing BJ on Carnival.  Just got of a Carnival ship, and they have changed their Lucky Ladies side bet into a progressive that pays more than $200,000 for two queen of hearts beaten by a dealer blackjack!  Well, it has to be a suited blackjack.  So I guess she would have won only $50,000 I think if not suited.  Still pretty good.  I am like you, though, I don't play the LL sidebet because I am aware of the huge house advantage on that side bet.

[Petersonfcu]

On 8/23/2023 at 12:13 PM, lstone19 said:

 

Speaking of which, I heard the casino manager offer her a choice of check or cash (or a mix) and she opted for all cash. I was near her and immediately told her to make damn sure she declares the cash to US CBP. Trying to bring more than $10,000 cash into the U.S. without declaring it is major violation and can get the cash confiscated (almost all countries have a limit and to my knowledge, they're all somewhere in the vicinity of USD 10,000 (e.g. Canada CAD 10,000, EU 10,000 Euros)). It's not illegal to bring more the $10,000 in cash, it just need to be declared.

Hopefully, someone from the casino staff also told her to declare.  Otherwise, major malpractice by the staff.

[Petersonfcu]

23 hours ago, memoak said:

When the table minimum is $6 I will bet $5 and put the extra dollar on Lucky Ladies. 

Is a $6 minimum a thing of the past on Princess?   It is on Carnival.  No blackjack tables with less than a $10 minimum on Carnival.

[hobo1937]

51 minutes ago, jwattle said:

I should have an answer coming up...at some point. I asked today on the travel advisor webinar about suites and the $5 room service fee. It is being researched.

Can’t wait to hear what they say. 

[lstone19]

11 minutes ago, Petersonfcu said:

Is a $6 minimum a thing of the past on Princess?   It is on Carnival.  No blackjack tables with less than a $10 minimum on Carnival.

Regular (which to me means 3:2 pay for blackjacks) is $25 minimum. Ripoff BJ (6:5 pay for blackjacks) is $10 minimum. Fun 21 is a $6 minimum. The only ones I consider playable are regular with the $25 minimum and Fun 21. From the sources I've read, when you play perfect basic strategy (no counting), regular BJ has a house edge of about 0.5%, Fun 21 about 0.6%, and Ripoff BJ about 2.0%.

 

The Wizard of Odds website has a good analysis of Fun 21 and a strategy chart. I have no doubt the casino makes a ton off Fun 21 due to people playing regular BJ basic strategy. With the Kings removed, both player and dealer are less likely to bust and as a result, correct strategy is to hit all 12s, hit 13s except against 6, and hit 14 against except against 4 to 6 (there are exceptions for drawing a fifth or more card due to the 3:2 payout for 21 with five or more cards). Unfortunately, many players don't get the difference and the other night I had a player getting really angry with me for my correct draw of a 14 against a 3 that unfortunately would have resulted in a dealer bust had I stood (of course, he was unaware of how many times his incorrect play saved the table - it largely evens out on the table as a whole). I was surprised that the casino did not mind me having my strategy chart in hand as I played.

[lstone19]

34 minutes ago, Petersonfcu said:

That must have been exciting.  I couldn't help but think, though, she should have been cruising and playing BJ on Carnival.  Just got of a Carnival ship, and they have changed their Lucky Ladies side bet into a progressive that pays more than $200,000 for two queen of hearts beaten by a dealer blackjack!  Well, it has to be a suited blackjack.  So I guess she would have won only $50,000 I think if not suited.  

 

The dealer blackjack was not suited which also won her a cruise in an interior cabin. If suited, an oceanview cabin, and if hearts (I think), a balcony cabin. But no progressive.

[Petersonfcu]

1 hour ago, lstone19 said:

 

 

The Wizard of Odds website has a good analysis of Fun 21 and a strategy chart. I have no doubt the casino makes a ton off Fun 21 due to people playing regular BJ basic strategy. With the Kings removed, both player and dealer are less likely to bust and as a result, correct strategy is to hit all 12s, hit 13s except against 6, and hit 14 against except against 4 to 6 (there are exceptions for drawing a fifth or more card due to the 3:2 payout for 21 with five or more cards). Unfortunately, many players don't get the difference and the other night I had a player getting really angry with me for my correct draw of a 14 against a 3 that unfortunately would have resulted in a dealer bust had I stood (of course, he was unaware of how many times his incorrect play saved the table - it largely evens out on the table as a whole). I was surprised that the casino did not mind me having my strategy chart in hand as I played.

I could have written your post myself.  Word for word!   Like you, I started taking  the WOO Fun21 basic strategy chart to the table before I learned that strategy by heart.  And, yup,  sometimes people also object to how I play.  But the reality is that Fun21 remains a favorite of Carnival Corporation and its subsidiary lines because they make good money off people who play the regular BJ strategy, which I think yields a house advantage of 4 percent or more.   So my wife says I shouldn't try to educate anyone at the table if I want Carnival to keep the Fun21 game  . .  🙂

Edited August 24, 2023 by Petersonfcu

[Knickearth]

2 hours ago, hobo1937 said:

Sounds wonderful. Enjoy!

Have been on Grand tons of times and love the old boat.  Please enjoy your anniversary cruise.

[Scotmay]

What does PES stand for?

[Petersonfcu]

On 8/23/2023 at 11:41 AM, Cruise Raider said:

 
My absolute pleasure.  Like I mentioned, it sounds like such great group that’s following along and no complaints .. anything to make someone else have a better cruise experience is my goal here.  Other happy cruisers make it so much more fun for everyone, including us!  
 

Thank you for starting this blog and your live reporting.  Board the Ruby tomorrow . . . can't wait!

[Petersonfcu]

3 minutes ago, Scotmay said:

What does PES stand for?

Platinum, Elite, and Suite Guests.

[lstone19]

Well, that seemed odd. I was up for our passing under the Golden Gate Bridge. After we did, a pilot boat came up alongside. Why would a pilot boat be approaching after we were already under the bridge and in the bay? The pilot should have boarded well out to sea and certainly long before we passed under the bridge.

[Cruise Raider]

Always a sad day when we have to pack up and leave … 😞 

What a wonderful sailing we’ve had!  
 

As for @EvilGrandpa’s question, the $14.99 for the price fix menu is per person at the casual restaurants.  They also have a la carte menu options available, though. 

 

[EvilGrandpa]

Thanks for the live report.  We board the Ruby on the 4th and your posts have been helpful.