C
Conniemc
Guest
Anyone else aboard?
S
seagarsmoker
Guest
Yes, we are booked on the same cruise (if its 12/6/8). We're both looking forward to being on a new ship! 
C
Conniemc
Guest
Re: RUBY PRINCESS - DECEMBER 6TH!!!
Yes, I meant the 6th...and WOW...even another dreaded SMOKER!!! Ha. Hope to see you aboard!!
What's the current smoking policy for Princess, do you know?
Yes, I meant the 6th...and WOW...even another dreaded SMOKER!!! Ha. Hope to see you aboard!!
What's the current smoking policy for Princess, do you know?
S
seagarsmoker
Guest
Re: RUBY PRINCESS - DECEMBER 6TH!!!
[quote Conniemc]Yes, I meant the 6th...and WOW...even another dreaded SMOKER!!! Ha. Hope to see you aboard!!
What's the current smoking policy for Princess, do you know?[/quote]
People can smoke in cabins, balconies, port side of the ship on open decks. Also in the casino, cigar bar and a some of the bars have a smoking section.
[quote Conniemc]Yes, I meant the 6th...and WOW...even another dreaded SMOKER!!! Ha. Hope to see you aboard!!
What's the current smoking policy for Princess, do you know?[/quote]
People can smoke in cabins, balconies, port side of the ship on open decks. Also in the casino, cigar bar and a some of the bars have a smoking section.
C
Conniemc
Guest
Re: RUBY PRINCESS - DECEMBER 6TH!!!
[size=medium]I was booked on my 5th M Class (Celebrity) sailing in just the last 2 years, when they announced last week a complete ban on smoking not only in cabins, but private verandas and most bars.
(td)
I cancelled. Figures. I just got to Elite Status last year. :lol I know Celebrity is tops with service and food, but I HAVE to smoke when I'm having my champagne and when I'm getting dressed.
I hope Princess doesn't ban veranda smoking before our Dec 6th sailing![/size]
[size=medium]I was booked on my 5th M Class (Celebrity) sailing in just the last 2 years, when they announced last week a complete ban on smoking not only in cabins, but private verandas and most bars.
(td)
I cancelled. Figures. I just got to Elite Status last year. :lol I know Celebrity is tops with service and food, but I HAVE to smoke when I'm having my champagne and when I'm getting dressed.
I hope Princess doesn't ban veranda smoking before our Dec 6th sailing![/size]
S
seagarsmoker
Guest
Re: RUBY PRINCESS - DECEMBER 6TH!!!
[quote Conniemc][size=medium]I was booked on my 5th M Class (Celebrity) sailing in just the last 2 years, when they announced last week a complete ban on smoking not only in cabins, but private verandas and most bars.
(td)
I cancelled. Figures. I just got to Elite Status last year. :lol I know Celebrity is tops with service and food, but I HAVE to smoke when I'm having my champagne and when I'm getting dressed.
I hope Princess doesn't ban veranda smoking before our Dec 6th sailing![/size][/quote]
Understand and we are in the same 'boat'.
We were going to book the new Celebrity cruise ship Solstice next spring for my 50th birthday, but took them off the list with that announcement.
Do not know if Princess will change smoking rules. Hope not as we will cancel our cruise if they have similar announcement like Celebrity.
[quote Conniemc][size=medium]I was booked on my 5th M Class (Celebrity) sailing in just the last 2 years, when they announced last week a complete ban on smoking not only in cabins, but private verandas and most bars.
(td)
I cancelled. Figures. I just got to Elite Status last year. :lol I know Celebrity is tops with service and food, but I HAVE to smoke when I'm having my champagne and when I'm getting dressed.
I hope Princess doesn't ban veranda smoking before our Dec 6th sailing![/size][/quote]
Understand and we are in the same 'boat'.
We were going to book the new Celebrity cruise ship Solstice next spring for my 50th birthday, but took them off the list with that announcement.
Do not know if Princess will change smoking rules. Hope not as we will cancel our cruise if they have similar announcement like Celebrity.
C
Conniemc
Guest
Re: RUBY PRINCESS - DECEMBER 6TH!!!
I just turned 47 this month. We're both spring babies! I also just checked out the airfare for Dec sailing...WOWSA...300% jump over the same flight I took less than 4 months ago. Wasn't counting on THAT. I'm hesitating whether to book the air now before it gets worse, or hold off until late summer hoping it goes down. I always book non stop, non refundable tickets. I'm a daredevil.
You'll have to tell me everything I need to know about Princess in the coming months. I'm a virgin Princess sailor.
I just turned 47 this month. We're both spring babies! I also just checked out the airfare for Dec sailing...WOWSA...300% jump over the same flight I took less than 4 months ago. Wasn't counting on THAT. I'm hesitating whether to book the air now before it gets worse, or hold off until late summer hoping it goes down. I always book non stop, non refundable tickets. I'm a daredevil.
You'll have to tell me everything I need to know about Princess in the coming months. I'm a virgin Princess sailor.
S
seagarsmoker
Guest
Re: RUBY PRINCESS - DECEMBER 6TH!!!
Unless something happens with oil prices, flight prices will only be going up.
As for Princess, ask any questions you would like. This will be my tenth cruise with them, so I have a pretty good feel for them.
Unless something happens with oil prices, flight prices will only be going up.
As for Princess, ask any questions you would like. This will be my tenth cruise with them, so I have a pretty good feel for them.
C
Conniemc
Guest
Re: RUBY PRINCESS - DECEMBER 6TH!!!
Background - travel alone - not a pool person - prefer champagne bars, casino, disco and adult only venues.
Questions (when you have time) -
Anytime seating or early seating? I usually book a large table of 12, so if some of the people are boring, I'll have a better chance of good conversation with someone else. Right now I'm on standby for early seating. Since I have no clout with them, doubt I'll get it.
Lots of kids?
Do they have a champage bar?
Quality of food - room service any good?
What do you like best and worst about the line?
What cabin are you in? I booked R710
Background - travel alone - not a pool person - prefer champagne bars, casino, disco and adult only venues.
Questions (when you have time) -
Anytime seating or early seating? I usually book a large table of 12, so if some of the people are boring, I'll have a better chance of good conversation with someone else. Right now I'm on standby for early seating. Since I have no clout with them, doubt I'll get it.
Lots of kids?
Do they have a champage bar?
Quality of food - room service any good?
What do you like best and worst about the line?
What cabin are you in? I booked R710
S
seagarsmoker
Guest
Re: RUBY PRINCESS - DECEMBER 6TH!!!
Questions (when you have time) -
Anytime seating or early seating? We book main seating (or as you call early) at a large table. If you never get assigned to it, on the day of boarding you can see the Maître de and he will put you at a large table for main seating.
Lots of kids? Depends on sailing, but I would say they are around but most are involved with the kids program or in the pool area.
Do they have a champagne bar? They have one or it may be called a wine bar. If memory serves, we never went as it was a no smoking lounge. We usually go to the Wheelhouse bar before dinner and have a glass of wine. They have a smoking section and its not that busy.
Quality of food - room service any good? I think it is similar to other mass market cruise lines. Some things are better, some items are not. One item I like about the Princess menu is the 'always available' area. They will have beef, chicken, salads, deserts, etc that you can get any evening. That is nice when the main menu doesn't have anything of interest. Room service is limited, Suzi has room service lunch almost every day since we do not do buffets. Suzi loves the BLTs and choc-chip cookies. I like the pool grill for hamburgers and pizza. We always put out a breakfast card the evening before for coffee and pastries - they are very prompt and courteous.
What do you like best and worst about the line? Too many things to list, but when Suzi was on Princess for the first time (our 10/06 Caribbean Princess cruise), she liked it much better than her previous cruises with RCI, Carnival or Disney. She has told others that Princess just does all the small things so well that when you are on another line and notice something missing, it reminds you of what you are missing on Princess.
What cabin are you in? We are in cabin D730
If you can't tell by now, I love talking about cruising, so ask away!
Questions (when you have time) -
Anytime seating or early seating? We book main seating (or as you call early) at a large table. If you never get assigned to it, on the day of boarding you can see the Maître de and he will put you at a large table for main seating.
Lots of kids? Depends on sailing, but I would say they are around but most are involved with the kids program or in the pool area.
Do they have a champagne bar? They have one or it may be called a wine bar. If memory serves, we never went as it was a no smoking lounge. We usually go to the Wheelhouse bar before dinner and have a glass of wine. They have a smoking section and its not that busy.
Quality of food - room service any good? I think it is similar to other mass market cruise lines. Some things are better, some items are not. One item I like about the Princess menu is the 'always available' area. They will have beef, chicken, salads, deserts, etc that you can get any evening. That is nice when the main menu doesn't have anything of interest. Room service is limited, Suzi has room service lunch almost every day since we do not do buffets. Suzi loves the BLTs and choc-chip cookies.
I like the pool grill for hamburgers and pizza. We always put out a breakfast card the evening before for coffee and pastries - they are very prompt and courteous. What do you like best and worst about the line? Too many things to list, but when Suzi was on Princess for the first time (our 10/06 Caribbean Princess cruise), she liked it much better than her previous cruises with RCI, Carnival or Disney. She has told others that Princess just does all the small things so well that when you are on another line and notice something missing, it reminds you of what you are missing on Princess.
What cabin are you in? We are in cabin D730
If you can't tell by now, I love talking about cruising, so ask away!
C
Conniemc
Guest
Re: RUBY PRINCESS - DECEMBER 6TH!!!
Good info, thanks! Long time off, but I'll be sure to look for you in the Wheelhouse. I don't wait in line for the Maitre de. I'm afraid I've been so spoiled on Celebrity, I don't wait in line for anything.
I'll just take what I get.
In case you weren't aware, there are at least 4 large "singles" groups on that sailing. Two are for "over 40" Boomers, so I thought why not? If you book through these agencies, you pay about 40% more. Stupid. So, I just booked direct with Princess and I'm sure I'll "find" the singles gatherings.
Good info, thanks! Long time off, but I'll be sure to look for you in the Wheelhouse. I don't wait in line for the Maitre de. I'm afraid I've been so spoiled on Celebrity, I don't wait in line for anything.
I'll just take what I get.
In case you weren't aware, there are at least 4 large "singles" groups on that sailing. Two are for "over 40" Boomers, so I thought why not? If you book through these agencies, you pay about 40% more. Stupid. So, I just booked direct with Princess and I'm sure I'll "find" the singles gatherings.
C
Conniemc
Guest
PS - Princess site STILL doesn't have Ruby layout. Ridiculous. Says "coming soon".
I found this on another site....full layout info.
http://www.ovscruise.com/cruises/cr...hipname=Ruby Princess&cruiselinename=Princess
I found this on another site....full layout info.
http://www.ovscruise.com/cruises/cr...hipname=Ruby Princess&cruiselinename=Princess
C
Conniemc
Guest
Just realized, I never mentioned....I'm right down the hall...R710
S
Shifra
Guest
Good Morning.....We will be travelling with you on the Ruby. 3 cpls...fyi all smokers. We will be just down the hall from you on rivieria. Great location!!!! I commiserate with my fellow smokers, it seems we are slowly getting pushed off the cruise ships. Sorry to hear about celebrity, I haven't cruised with them for awhile and now I know I will not until they get realistic on smoking policies. Too bad.
I find Princess & HAL so far to be the most realistic about smokers. Having said that I do believe that Princess has slowly been eliminating areas inside the ship. As far as the casino Princess 7 dy cruises had 1 smoke-free. 10 day cruises had 2, you get the idea. I have found that the Princess ships I have been on seem to vary regarding smoking areas. That is why you are getting so many different answers to your questions. On my last cruise, Coral, the policy was the most restrictive and we almost had a smokers revolt on the ship. Princess corp sure heard from a lot of cruisers regarding this. On the bright side we made so many new friends in the smoking areas.
You asked about adult areas. I have always found many areas on Princess ships that were relaxing & free of kids. As a matter of fact I have never had any problems with rowdy children. The aft pool area is adult only, thats why I love the riviera cabins. You can walk right out the aft door and there is a spectacular view, the aft pool, bar & easy access to cafe caribe. The other pool that is usually very quiet is the forward pool by the spa. Very under-used. The last quiet adult area is the new sanctuary. It is an adult only area but there is a surcharge to use it. I don't know much about the area first hand, this will be my first ship with this ammenity.
I got a bit defensive when you referred to Princess as a step down from Celebrity. I have not found that to be the case for me. In some things Princess does better, other things Celebrity does better. I think it all evens out. My favorite cruiselines are #1 Princess - #2 Holland America & #3 Celebrity.
I am glad to meet others on my cruise and very eager for your observations after cruising Princess for the first time.
I find Princess & HAL so far to be the most realistic about smokers. Having said that I do believe that Princess has slowly been eliminating areas inside the ship. As far as the casino Princess 7 dy cruises had 1 smoke-free. 10 day cruises had 2, you get the idea. I have found that the Princess ships I have been on seem to vary regarding smoking areas. That is why you are getting so many different answers to your questions. On my last cruise, Coral, the policy was the most restrictive and we almost had a smokers revolt on the ship. Princess corp sure heard from a lot of cruisers regarding this. On the bright side we made so many new friends in the smoking areas.
You asked about adult areas. I have always found many areas on Princess ships that were relaxing & free of kids. As a matter of fact I have never had any problems with rowdy children. The aft pool area is adult only, thats why I love the riviera cabins. You can walk right out the aft door and there is a spectacular view, the aft pool, bar & easy access to cafe caribe. The other pool that is usually very quiet is the forward pool by the spa. Very under-used. The last quiet adult area is the new sanctuary. It is an adult only area but there is a surcharge to use it. I don't know much about the area first hand, this will be my first ship with this ammenity.
I got a bit defensive when you referred to Princess as a step down from Celebrity. I have not found that to be the case for me. In some things Princess does better, other things Celebrity does better. I think it all evens out. My favorite cruiselines are #1 Princess - #2 Holland America & #3 Celebrity.
I am glad to meet others on my cruise and very eager for your observations after cruising Princess for the first time.
C
Conniemc
Guest
Well, hello there Shifra! Nice to "meet you". I feel so honored...your first post! LOL
You are correct. Having never sailed Princess, I should reserve my judgements. I was going by my parents, who started me as a cruise addict back when I was 16 with HAL. We only sailed HAL for many years. In the last 10 years, they have tried different lines, and they were not impressed with Princess. But I have no idea what ship they were on, etc. My parents ARE 30 years older than me, so their opinions may not be my own. However, I respect their thoughts, since they've got at least 70 cruises under their belts.
We'll have to find a way to figure out who we all are now that we've "met" here. Seagar has a photo, but I doubt that would be enough for me to recognize them. As you said, I look forward to making lots of new friends in the smoking areas.D
Thank you for all the info.....I wondered about that little pool on Riviera.....now I know. Sounds like a great hangout. I only hit the roulette tables in the casino once or twice during a cruise (I always win and then LEAVE)....so the non-smoking nights are no big issue for me. I'm looking forward to meeting you guys! Which cabin?
You are correct. Having never sailed Princess, I should reserve my judgements. I was going by my parents, who started me as a cruise addict back when I was 16 with HAL. We only sailed HAL for many years. In the last 10 years, they have tried different lines, and they were not impressed with Princess. But I have no idea what ship they were on, etc. My parents ARE 30 years older than me, so their opinions may not be my own. However, I respect their thoughts, since they've got at least 70 cruises under their belts.
We'll have to find a way to figure out who we all are now that we've "met" here. Seagar has a photo, but I doubt that would be enough for me to recognize them. As you said, I look forward to making lots of new friends in the smoking areas.
DThank you for all the info.....I wondered about that little pool on Riviera.....now I know. Sounds like a great hangout. I only hit the roulette tables in the casino once or twice during a cruise (I always win and then LEAVE)....so the non-smoking nights are no big issue for me. I'm looking forward to meeting you guys! Which cabin?
S
Shifra
Guest
Thanks for the warm welcome. I laughed reading your post.....I also was influenced by my mother who was a HAL fanatic. I'm not sure if we should blame them or thank them for the addiction. P) I remember being forced into going on my first cruise (at the time I was positive I would hate it). Remember the show love boat? Well unlike most people it really turned me off to even thinking about a cruise.
Seriously I hope you do like Princess. Did your parents try more than one ship or did they give up after the first one. I know the first Princess cruise I took was less then good. I thought the food was terrible, felt the ship was too big...blah blah blah. But every other Princess cruise I have taken has been great!! You know the drill....2 pax get off the same ship one says it was the worst cruise, the other says the best cruise we ever had. As I said the 3 lines I mentioned fit me best.
Did you book traditional seating? or anytime?
Yes I was surprised when it showed first post. When I first joined I know I only posted a few times then got busy with other boards. I am trying to find the right balance because I do love cruising on or off a ship. :thumb
P) I remember being forced into going on my first cruise (at the time I was positive I would hate it). Remember the show love boat? Well unlike most people it really turned me off to even thinking about a cruise. Seriously I hope you do like Princess. Did your parents try more than one ship or did they give up after the first one. I know the first Princess cruise I took was less then good. I thought the food was terrible, felt the ship was too big...blah blah blah. But every other Princess cruise I have taken has been great!! You know the drill....2 pax get off the same ship one says it was the worst cruise, the other says the best cruise we ever had. As I said the 3 lines I mentioned fit me best.
Did you book traditional seating? or anytime?
Yes I was surprised when it showed first post. When I first joined I know I only posted a few times then got busy with other boards. I am trying to find the right balance because I do love cruising on or off a ship. :thumb
C
Conniemc
Guest
Stared with traditional....switched to my first experience with Anytime....time will tell if that was the right decision.
Hey! I LOVED The Love Boat!!! Who didn't want to be Julie McCoy?? She got to cruise everywhere in the world and always had hot boyfriends on the ships....wait a minute....I DID become Julie McCoy!!!
:
Hey! I LOVED The Love Boat!!! Who didn't want to be Julie McCoy?? She got to cruise everywhere in the world and always had hot boyfriends on the ships....wait a minute....I DID become Julie McCoy!!!
:
S
Shifra
Guest
I love anytime but I am one of those people that doesn't wear a watch. It will be a big change for you, their won't be the pampering that you get with traditional. Of course if you find a waiter you like you can make reservations and have him/her for the rest of the cruise.
C
Conniemc
Guest
Pampering is the whole point of cruising, isn't it?
S
Shifra
Guest
Right On about pampering. :thumb Maybe you should switch to traditional, although you probably would be waitlisted for it. I may have given you the wrong idea about anytime dining. You will get wonderful service, waiters who will try to please & give you almost anything you want, but they won't know your name or have your preferred drink waiting for you when you are seated for dinner. If you are looking for a Celebrity experience on Princess you will be very disappointed.