Ruby Princess Review
First time Princess cruise, pretty much eveything was average
Rating by category
Additional details
Thanksgiving itinerary and interest in cruising with Princess was reason for this experience. Chocolate (and I am not a chocolate fan) was amazing and consistently great.
Food was average in dining room and buffet. Breakfast in dining room was excellent as were eggs benedict. Lunch in dining room was disappointing....had Cobb salad, avocado was swirled with black (old) would have been best to leave it out..and blue cheese was missing from salad. Dessert were okay, not great, except all chocolate items were terrific. Pizza and soft serve ice cream were available 11am to 11pm. 24/7 International Café was a treat and very nice staff for all of the meals/snacks. I think it is tacky to up sale shakes $2.50 and $1.50 for three scoops of gelato and all specialty coffees were an upcharge even at dinner.
The non-Ruby Princess singers/performances were nice...refreshing to have a comedian that was family-friendly. The Princess performer performances were just "weird." I felt for the performers because they are doing what was choreographed for them, but just too weird and odd and should be redefined immediately.
Cabin Review
Interior
Port Reviews
Puerto Vallarta
This is not a port that you can walk off and then "walk around town." It is about 10 minutes by taxi/shuttle to touristy area and is way to far to just walk off and around. Very disorganized about taxis/shuttles. Taxi (share) ride is about $4-$5 USD per person (not per vehicle, per person)...and you share with others to similar destination (usually boardwalk area). "private taxi, meaning just you or your party is about $20USD for two people. To hire a taxi for touring is about $30USD an hour for part of two.
Mazatlan
Similar to Puerto Vallarta, not a part you can just walk off and around on, but not as crazy with taxi order. A lot of sales stuff in tent where the golf carts take you after you get off ship...riding these golf carts is required...as it is a very busy industrial port. BUT you can walk the "blue line" which takes you from the ship to main plaza by main Catholic Cathedral (about .8 mile walk) and there are tourist police on along the blue line pedestrian walk...and friendly volunteers (mostly US ex-pats) offering free advice along the route.
Cabo San Lucas
Developing port and large cruise ships can't dock, so tendering operation is necessary. Once get to shore, most shopping is along the boardwalk...about 1/5 of it is still under construction....but pretty usable. Good signage of streets and ship location...but a lot of vendors selling silver, hats, sunglasses, and fishing tours, etc.
Los Angeles
"Port of Los Angeles" is about 30 minutes from LAX and in "San Pedro, CA" next to Port of Long Beach. Do not think it is close to airport like in San Diego. WE took public bus from LAX to Port and would not do it again...we knew it was about 90 minutes by bus and we had plenty of time to make it, but bus system does not have easy to use text system to plan beyond Google Maps planning...and we only changed busses one time, but unfortunately for the environment, too much hassle.