We just got back from our first cruise on the Ruby Princess, a 16 day trip from San Francisco to Hawaii and Ensenada and back. Overall, it was a relaxing and enjoyable vacation, and we would definitely do it again. Here are some key takeaways from our experience.
Phone and connectivity
When at sea, Verizon offered a “cellular at sea” plan for $20 per day. I kept my phone on airplane mode most of the time and used the ship WiFi instead, which is required anyway to connect onboard.
Motion sickness
If you have ever experienced motion sickness, bring medication from home. This is critical.
I had a history of motion sickness as a child but assumed I would be fine. I was not. The first night was rough, especially with bad weather and being on a higher deck. Zofran helped prevent nausea but did not relieve dizziness. Dramamine made a huge difference within about an hour.
Recommendation: bring enough medication for the entire trip, even if you think you will not need it.
Premier Package
We mainly bought it for WiFi and room service but ended up using more of the benefits.
Photos: you can download them onboard, even if you do not plan to print them
OceanNow: inconsistent for me due to medallion location issues, but worked fine for my husband
Drinks: good variety including non-alcoholic options like virgin mojitos and margaritas
Room service: fast and reliable, though menu is limited
Dining
Buffet (Horizon Court/Cafe Caribe): good quality and easy seating with great views
Main dining rooms: flexible, no strict dress enforcement despite “smart casual” guidelines
Specialty dining: Sabatini’s and Crown Grill were both excellent and easy to book, even last minute
Dress codes were much more relaxed than expected. Many people wore casual clothes without issue.
Reservations
No need to stress. We were able to dine where and when we wanted, even without advance bookings.
Service
Staff were consistently friendly and helpful. Our steward was excellent, and spa services were also high quality.
Final thoughts
The cruise exceeded expectations. The Premier Package ended up being worth it for us, and we would absolutely cruise again.
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