HellooKitty

What an amazing experience we had! Embarkation – We drove to San Pedro from Phoenix. Started out around 0330, a couple of gas and restroom stops along the way. We did not have a hard time finding parking at all. We parked right across the terminal building. We got there around 0930, sat inside the terminal and waited until about 1030, when they started processing passengers. The staff were very helpful and after about 30 minutes, we were onboard this magnificent vessel! The cabins weren’t ready yet, so we went to the International Café to eat, and soon after went to the Lido deck to check out the buffet. We also went to look for our Muster Station. At 1300, an announcement was made that the cabins were ready. We headed to our cabin, put up my door decorations, then after about 10 minutes, our luggage arrived. Cabin: The room was bigger than I thought it would be. Our Oceanview was unobstructed, so we were able to look out our big window and that was so awesome! The bed was comfy, and our Steward Johnny M. was absolutely amazing! He accommodated my requests throughout our stay and always greeted us with a smile. We requested for 2 robes and got them, too. I would definitely recommend bringing an air freshener, though, because there’s no vent in the bathroom. Food: I really don’t understand all the negative reviews about the food here! They were all excellent. We dined at the Horizon court, Salty Dog grill, Slices, Michaelangelo, and Da Vinci. We opted for Anytime Dining, but never waited more than 5-10 minutes for a table. True, sometimes we shared a table with others cause the wait line for tables for 2 were about a 20 minute wait and we were in a hurry to watch a show. Well one night, we enjoyed the company of our tablemates that we didn’t even make it to our show. It was so fun to get to meet others. Their selections were excellent, and I often found myself ordering two appetizers and two dinner plates, which hubby and I shared. The desserts were also great, not too sweet. Our servers were amazing as well – Noni G., Ferdie A., Samuel E., Roy, and a slew of other great staff. The receptionists always smiled upon greeting all the guests. Horizon court – you usually have to walk through to find an open table, but so many others were willing to share their table with us, and we did the same when we had extra seats. I had asked for a special fish sauce and staff got it for me two times from their own staff kitchen. We did not do any Specialty Dining, nor order any specialty or alcoholic drinks. The only thing we spent money for was Gelato, and that was $1.50 for three scoops (oh, and a souvenir magnet). Now where can you go and find gelato for that price? Also, the coffee and specialty coffee they had like fraps, mocha, etc, the prices were not that expensive. In fact, we were pleasantly surprised at how low they were priced. They looked really yummy. We didn’t order them, though, because I’ve always been fine with just water and the occasional iced tea (which was good, too). On our last day, we ordered lemonade and regret not doing that earlier during our cruise because the lemonade was very good! Shows: We watched almost all of their shows, except for the country shows. We attended both auditions for The Voice of the Ocean, and that was a lot of fun! Yes, get there about 20 minutes early to get good seats, just like you would at any other show. The Cruise Director and her staff really put on good shows. Activities: We didn’t travel with children, but we signed up for Discovery @ Sea Planetarium, and that was a good experience. Sign up early so you don’t run out of the limited space. The times to sign up will be on the Patter. We also attended a Stargazing session, and it was amazing! We went to the very top of the ship and got a lecture about the solar system. Movies Under The Stars: This was my absolute favorite! All the movies shown were fairly new. Heck, I even went even though I’ve seen the movie! Staff was going around offering pizza. There were flannel blankets to keep you warm. Excursions: At Cabo, we booked the pirate ship snorkel excursion. That was great, too. Their excursions are very well organized. We got tickets to all 3 excursions on our first night. It told us where to meet, what time, and any special instructions like clothes to wear or bring. At Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, we did the city highlights tour. I thought it was a great way to see Mexico. Lots of art. I would say that the only bad thing was the street vendors trying to sell you their goods, but that is expected of all tourist spots. Disembarkation: We set out our luggage on the last night. We got a newsletter that told us where to go at a particular time. That went smoothly as well! I can hardly wait for our next cruise on the Ruby! I am a fan, and I know you will be, too.