Ruby Princess 2023 10-Day Caribbean Guest Cruise Review
Day 1 (Embarkation) December 29, 2022 Galveston, Texas
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Day 1 (Embarkation) December 29, 2022 Galveston, Texas
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Preparation for cruise and arrival in Galveston:
The Ruby Princess is a Medallion Class ship. After booking your cruise on the Ruby, you become “Ocean Ready” by downloading the Medallion Class App from the App Store on your phone or from Google Play. On the app you will provide information needed to complete your check-in, down load your passport and photo, give credit card you want to use on the ship and complete the health survey. By doing this before you get to the ship, you will be assigned the “green lane” which is the quickest and easiest way to board the ship. If you haven’t provided all the information requested, you will be in the “blue lane.” After getting the Medallion app, you can reserve the dining room that you want as well as the time and either a private table or one to share with others. You don’t have to have a reservation if you prefer to dine in different places and times each night. However, your wait time maybe longer if you want to dine in any of the dining rooms. You will be given an opportunity to order your complimentary medallion which is small, round and worn on a lanyard. It can be mailed to your home; but if you prefer, you can pick it up on the ship. The medallion takes the place of a “cruise card” that you may have used in the past. It will unlock your stateroom, is used to purchase drinks or items on the ship and is required to get off or on the ship. If you are driving to Galveston and need to park, I suggest you book one of the port’s parking lots as soon as you can in order to secure a spot. If flying into IAH or Hobby Airports, you can secure a transfer from Princess in advance.
The Ruby Princess is a Medallion Class ship. After booking your cruise on the Ruby, you become “Ocean Ready” by downloading the Medallion Class App from the App Store on your phone or from Google Play. On the app you will provide information needed to complete your check-in, down load your passport and photo, give credit card you want to use on the ship and complete the health survey. By doing this before you get to the ship, you will be assigned the “green lane” which is the quickest and easiest way to board the ship. If you haven’t provided all the information requested, you will be in the “blue lane.” After getting the Medallion app, you can reserve the dining room that you want as well as the time and either a private table or one to share with others. You don’t have to have a reservation if you prefer to dine in different places and times each night. However, your wait time maybe longer if you want to dine in any of the dining rooms. You will be given an opportunity to order your complimentary medallion which is small, round and worn on a lanyard. It can be mailed to your home; but if you prefer, you can pick it up on the ship. The medallion takes the place of a “cruise card” that you may have used in the past. It will unlock your stateroom, is used to purchase drinks or items on the ship and is required to get off or on the ship. If you are driving to Galveston and need to park, I suggest you book one of the port’s parking lots as soon as you can in order to secure a spot. If flying into IAH or Hobby Airports, you can secure a transfer from Princess in advance.
Ruby Princess ship - our home for 10 nights
Embarkation:
Since we were driving to Galveston, we booked the parking garage which is located across the street from the terminal that the Ruby sailed from. It was so easy to just walk across to the terminal. Other lots provide shuttle service and let you off in front of the terminal where carts were ready to accept your luggage. Inside the terminal were designated lanes for check-in. Since we had completed all the required information on the Medallion app and already had our medallions, we went to the “green lane” where it only took a few minutes to check-in. Since we had reached the platinum level, we were then directed to the Elite/ Platinum area to wait until passengers could start boarding the ship. The complimentary coffee, orange juice and various pastries made the wait time more pleasant. Once on the ship, there were many crew and staff available to help us find our way around the ship. We were able to drop our carryon luggage in our stateroom and then proceeded to lunch. Probably the easiest embarkation ever!
Since we were driving to Galveston, we booked the parking garage which is located across the street from the terminal that the Ruby sailed from. It was so easy to just walk across to the terminal. Other lots provide shuttle service and let you off in front of the terminal where carts were ready to accept your luggage. Inside the terminal were designated lanes for check-in. Since we had completed all the required information on the Medallion app and already had our medallions, we went to the “green lane” where it only took a few minutes to check-in. Since we had reached the platinum level, we were then directed to the Elite/ Platinum area to wait until passengers could start boarding the ship. The complimentary coffee, orange juice and various pastries made the wait time more pleasant. Once on the ship, there were many crew and staff available to help us find our way around the ship. We were able to drop our carryon luggage in our stateroom and then proceeded to lunch. Probably the easiest embarkation ever!
Our balcony room
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Bathroom, small but adequate storage
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Lunch:
Lunch was being served in several different locations. The buffet in the Horizon Court, Deck 15 Aft, started serving at 11am while a menu lunch in the Da Vinci Dining Room, Deck 6, Midship, started serving at 12noon. The International Café, Deck 5, Midship was already serving, as well. The Horizon and the Da Vinci dining areas were very large, so even though there were many hungry people it was not crowded.
Lunch was being served in several different locations. The buffet in the Horizon Court, Deck 15 Aft, started serving at 11am while a menu lunch in the Da Vinci Dining Room, Deck 6, Midship, started serving at 12noon. The International Café, Deck 5, Midship was already serving, as well. The Horizon and the Da Vinci dining areas were very large, so even though there were many hungry people it was not crowded.
Horizon Court- an option for breakfast and lunch each day
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Another option for lunch and also our evening dining room
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Da Vinci dining room
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International Cafe - open 24 hours a day
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Selections at International Cafe
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Muster:
After lunch, we went back to our stateroom. Everyone on the ship was required to watch the “muster” video and then check-in with their assigned “muster” station before sailing. We were able to watch it on our stateroom TV which made it so convenient. After watching, we had to go to Deck 7, Forward, to scan our medallion on the scanner apparatus there which recorded that we had watched the video. Our stateroom with balcony was very comfortable and nicely decorated. The bathroom was small as expected, but there was plenty of storage room for supplies. The closet area was very large and provided enough space to store our clothes and luggage.
After lunch, we went back to our stateroom. Everyone on the ship was required to watch the “muster” video and then check-in with their assigned “muster” station before sailing. We were able to watch it on our stateroom TV which made it so convenient. After watching, we had to go to Deck 7, Forward, to scan our medallion on the scanner apparatus there which recorded that we had watched the video. Our stateroom with balcony was very comfortable and nicely decorated. The bathroom was small as expected, but there was plenty of storage room for supplies. The closet area was very large and provided enough space to store our clothes and luggage.
Lotus Spa - gave tours and free consultations on first day
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Afternoon Activities:
Most of the afternoon was spent getting acquainted with the different areas of the ship. It is always important to find the evening’s dining room ahead of time and to see the areas that would be providing entertainment later in the afternoon and evening. Most of the afternoon there was live music being played in the Piazza, Deck 5, Midship, as well as tours and sign-ups in the Lotus Spa for various consultations. Sailaway Celebration was scheduled for 4pm at Neptune’s Reef and Pool, Deck 15, Midship; however, the ship was a little later leaving for some reason. |
Dinner:
On the Medallion app we had reserved dinner in the Da Vinci Dining Room, Deck 6, Midship, at 5pm and requested the same private table each night. At 5pm the dining room doors opened, our medallion was scanned and we were escorted to our table by one of the friendly wait staff. Our two waiters welcomed us and gave us excellent service each night. The menu had many great choices so it was difficult to make the decision of what to order. Our orders were quickly taken and our food arrived shortly afterwards. We really liked our wait staff. Our head waiter was from Thailand and his assistant was from Indonesia. Both were very friendly and anxious to please.
On the Medallion app we had reserved dinner in the Da Vinci Dining Room, Deck 6, Midship, at 5pm and requested the same private table each night. At 5pm the dining room doors opened, our medallion was scanned and we were escorted to our table by one of the friendly wait staff. Our two waiters welcomed us and gave us excellent service each night. The menu had many great choices so it was difficult to make the decision of what to order. Our orders were quickly taken and our food arrived shortly afterwards. We really liked our wait staff. Our head waiter was from Thailand and his assistant was from Indonesia. Both were very friendly and anxious to please.
Dinner choice - Seared garlic prawns
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Dinner choice - Seared Mahi Mahi
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Entertainment:
There were many activities going on all around the ship. Everything from live music in many areas, movie under the stars on Deck 16, ballroom dancing, trivia challenges, get-togethers for various groups, casual portraits, football game on big screen, karaoke fun, and the casino. We always enjoy Showtime in the Princess Theater, Deck 6 or 7, Forward. The comedian Greg Schwen was the entertainer for the first show. He was really funny and the audience seemed to really enjoy him. |
Princess Theater - beautiful place for evening entertainment
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