Along with another couple, my husband and I boarded the Ruby with high hopes and great expectations, and also to see if we wanted to talk this ship for a longer trip to the British Isles in 2015.Now it is true that we took an inside cabin ( inexpensive- however we slept like bears hibernating!) and there were things that we had to pay for that came with the more expensive staterooms- and that was fine. BUT!!!

Let me first say that the ship is beautiful- just stunning- ( we have cruised many, many times and this is even prettier than Crystal). The staff is amazing- very eager to please, very helpful and these are the marks of Princess. Just what we had hoped for and had heard from our friends. And that is were it stopped. As it morphed into a Carnival cruise ( we have travelled Carnival) the food was underwhelming, the towels in the rooms where like the ones you put aside to wash your car, dog, etc.- stiff, thin, small. The liquid soap and shampoo was just that, liquid and not great. There is a spa on the ship. You would think they would promote their products for people to buy after they tried them. ( However, I did find out that the towels in mini-suites and suites were plush and lovely- what's next, the sheets) When asking about an upgrade, we were told the ship was full; met a lady who was moved up 3 times!

The ship allows smoking on 1 side of the casino- the smoke doesn't stay on that side! It travels through the whole casino and into the halls. We couldn't get near it. Read more