PRINCESS CRUISES’ ALCOHOL POLICY

That's right, ONE BOTTLE only! 

The alcohol policy for Princess Cruises basically states that individual cruisers can bring 

ONE (1) bottle of Wine or Champagne per adult of drinking age per voyage and the bottle may not be larger then 750ml. In addition, if you consume your bottle in your stateroom you will not incur a $15 corkage fee per bottle. If you choose to bring additional bottles a $15 corkage fee per bottle will be charged regardless of where you choose to consume it. It is also my understanding that those who are cruising solo can still only bring 1 bottle per person.

Below is the Princess Cruises’ Alcohol Policy as stated on their website:  

As provided in the Passage Contract, guests agree not to bring alcoholic beverages of any kind onboard for consumption, except one bottle of wine or champagne per adult of drinking age (no larger than 750 ml) per voyage, which will not be subject to a corkage fee if consumed in the stateroom. Additional wine or champagne bottles are welcome, but will incur a $15 corkage fee each, irrespective of where they are intended to be consumed. Liquor, spirits or beers are not permitted. Please remember that luggage will be scanned and alcohol outside of our policy will be removed and discarded.*

Alcoholic beverages that are purchased duty free from the ship's gift shop, or at ports of call, will be collected for safekeeping and delivered to the guest's stateroom on the last day of the cruise.  A member of the ship's staff will be at the gangway to assist guests with the storage of their shoreside alcoholic purchases while our Boutiques staff will assist guests with shipboard alcoholic purchases.

*Princess Cruises is not responsible for any alcoholic beverages removed and discarded by shoreside security staff.
Such items are not eligible for monetary refund or replacement. 

Cruise Ship Docking & Other Port Helpful Information

Please be advised that changes can occur for cruise docking and that this information was based on my finding as of 09/02/2015, I found the following cruise docking schedule for the Ruby Princess on the Hawaii Department of Transportation for Harbors . Click on the highlight phrase or word  for more information and explore.

HILO  “BIG ISLAND” HAWAII - Thursday, October 8, 2015 

Cruise ships dock at piers in Kuhio Bay on Kuhio St approximately 2 miles east of downtown. Shuttles may be provided to Walmart and the adjacent Hilo Hatties at Prince Kuhio Plaza 2 miles south of the pier. The Downtown Farmer's Market may also offer a free shuttle.

Here is a google map of the cruise ship dock in Kuhio Bay on Kuhio Street, Hilo, Hawaii

For More Cruise Port Information & Maps

Check out - “CruisePortWiki - Hilo” 

HONOLULU “THE GATHERING PLACE” OAHU - Friday, October 9, 2015

I checked out the link below on the Hawaii Department of Transportation for Harbors and found that the RUBY PRINCESS on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2015 is currently scheduled to be docked at the Primary cruise ship terminal Pier 2. It seems there are two cruise terminals and Pier 2 cruise terminal is at the West end of Channel Street, off Ala Moana Boulevard. This is not the Aloha Tower Cruise Terminal. 

Here is a google map of Honolulu Cruise Terminal Pier 2 

For More Cruise Port Information & Maps

Check out - “CruisePortWiki - Honolulu” 

NAWILIWILI,  “GARDEN ISLE” KAUAI - Saturday, October 10, 2015

Cruise ships dock at the port by the town of Lihue which is the commercial center of the island. Free shuttles run to car rental offices, Hilo Hatties, Kmart (beside Kuhio Grove), Walmart, and smaller malls from the pier. Kalapaki beach is nearby.

Here is a google map of  “Nawiliwili Bay” 

For More Cruise Port Information & Maps

Check out - “CruisePortWiki - Nawiliwili”

LAHAINA, “VALLEY ISLE” MAUI - Sunday, October 11, 2015 

The seaside town of Lahaina is located on the westside of the island of Maui

Cruise ships anchor offshore and tenders take passengers to Lahaina Harbor

Here is a google map of the seaside town of “Lahaina & Lahaina Harbor”

For More Cruise Port Information & Maps

Check out - “CruisePortWiki - Lahaina” 

Photos provided by CruisePortWiki

Roger’s Top 10 Thumbs Up Reason for this Hawaii Cruise!

1. To hang out and be with Roger and Diana and, of course, eat and drink.
2. Being there on board ....Simply because you can!  You’re not dead, you know!!
3. Good Food & Drinks and as much as you like! Did I already mention this?
4. Lots of Laughs and Laughter- special moments & stories
5. Meeting new and old friends - great reunions too!  Some you’ve already met??
6. Visiting the Hawaiian Islands (and on this cruise 4 major islands).
7. Lifestyle cruise, its living the good life! You have earned it!!
8. Being a part of both real and imaginary cruise stories to be shared.
9. Last Call for Roger & Diana’s Renewal Ceremony ...and you were there!
10. Experiencing the Aloha Spirit and did I mention....eating and drinking? 

On Your Own in Hilo...free shuttle to Hilo Farmer's Market & Downtown Hilo!

If you are on your own in Hilo which is our first port of call, this maybe of interest to you. I came across this website for the Hilo Farmer’s Market that offers cruise ship passengers free shuttle to the Hilo Farmer’s Market and Downtown Hilo. It is approximately 2 miles between the ship and downtown Hilo. Check out this link on HILO FARMER”S MARKET and decide whether this will work for you? Be sure you read the details as you do need to call and make advance reservations via email and its good until 11:00am only and our ship docks at 9am. Worth a peek if you are thinking of exploring downtown!   

Photo provided by Hilo Farmer's Market

PRINCESS@SEA & Internet Minutes

DON’T FORGET..to bring your smartphone, tablet or laptop on this cruise and here’s why!    

PRINCESS@SEA: Everything at your fingertips... while on board the 

Ruby Princess cruise ship. You will have access to PRINCESS@SEA

which connects to your personal electronic device with the Ruby Princess

ship’s Wi-Fi. No cellular or data charges required and it operates in 

“Airplane Mode”. 

Be advised that some portions of PRINCESS@SEA requires the creation of a user ID and password before proceeding. These include My Stateroom Account and My Cruise Planner which can be found on the Home Page.

Once you are on board, you can create an account and then open your browser and PRINCESS@SEA will be the default page that appears. Type in your browser “ruby.princess.com”  and then you can begin to explore:

HOME: Shows a sampling of today’s events while welcoming you to the next port

of call or encouraging you to enjoy your day at sea.

EVENTS: Show casing the current events and activities available to you throughout 

the ships.

INTERNET: Connecting to the internet is easy via Princess@Sea.

For more information about PRINCESS@SEA , double click and check it out!

PLUS: Check out your stateroom account, General Information from you stateroom directory, Itinerary, Locations, Hours and more including Internet access.

Check out Princess Cruises website under BOOKED GUESTS > CRUISE GIFTS & SERVICE>INTERNET & IN-CABIN CALLING for pre-purchase internet minutes. Buy them on-line and get those extra bonus minutes! 

TRAVEL GADGETS... that you might want to consider

Are you still making out your packing list? Came across this article below that I thought you might want to look over. Also here are a couple of my handy tips if you are interested that I like to bring with me... make a list? ...Diana 

• Removable hooks that are very handy. I generally place them near the hallway door... to hang our shore excursion back pack and another for Roger’s hat.
• Post-it Notes are a must for writing reminders that I can place on the mirror.
• Night Light with a on-off switch
• Power strip for all my extra gadgets
• Headlight or small flashlight in case of emergency 
• Booklight especially if you have a roommate

Cruise Critic Article

10 Gadgets That Enhance Your Cruise Experience

Diana's Pre-Packing Tips for Hawaii Cruise on the Ruby Princess!

I thought I would share some helpful tips from my recent visit aboard the Ruby Princess. On this 15 day cruise being organized and efficient can alleviate that “over packing” and “whoops I forgot syndrome issue”. Listed below are some possible helpful pointers to assist in this pre-cruise task... 

✪ There will be 3 Formal
Nights...which means tux or a dark suit and tie for the men.

For the women folks formalwear can be that little black dress or for fun time take out that glittery long New Year’s evening gown for the glitz night. Those not wanting to dress up can settle for room service or head to the Buffet. The option is of course yours! 

✪ 12 Smart Casual Days. The key here is mix and match work style outfits and to 

     accessorize your casual wear with shirts, tops, pants, skirts scarves and jewelry for 

     the women folks. And for the men? Remember no shorts or sandals in the dining 

     room. Hear that Roger and Reagan! Collared Shirts, Big Boy long pants & shoes!

✪  As we cruise towards the Hawaiian Islands it can be come very humid. But   

     remember on the cruise ship the air conditioning are going at full blast so remember 

     to bring a sweater or light cover-up top. And be mindful that as you walk on the 

     deck it can be extremely windy and cool!

✪ There are laundry facilities on board the ship. So remember to bring you detergent 

    pods and dryer sheets. There are ironing boards as well in the laundry room for touch 

    ups!

✪ Plenty of pools and jacuzzi’s to enjoy - So don’t forget your swim suit and cover-up as 

    well as your sandals or flip flops.

✪ The toiletries in the bathrooms are very minimal. They have a shampoo conditioner 

     and a bath gel that is refilled in a dispenser. So if you have your favorite products, I 

    would bring them along.

✪ The wall unit hair dryer on board for the women may not be up to your standards so 

     if you use one I would bring one from home. 

✪ There seems to be plenty of hangers on board, but a helpful tip is to bring some of 

     your outfit pre-arranged on disposable wire hangers...I like to set-up my outfits by each 
     day. This will alleviate any extra clothing for that over stuffed suitcase. Karen and Buzz 
     love their foldable garment bag for this option!

✪  You can also count on the Ruby Princess Ship to have shopping opportunities.

      Look for discounts in your welcome booklet and daily promo flyers in the Princess 

      Patter Newsletter.

✪ Our 25th Anniversary Renewal Ceremony will be Alohawear ...which means 

    Aloha Shirts and Sundress/Hawaiian Style Dresses with sandals or flip flops. We are 

    not doing a formal white wedding. C’mon we did that at our 5 year renewal in Vegas, 

    remember?

✪ Wanna be a “fashonista and color coordinated” for our Renewal Celebration? Pick 

    any color shades of BLUE, like the sea, GREEN like the tropical Island, WHITE like 

    the white caps of the waves, BLACK like the volcanic sand beaches and you will fit 

    right in!   

  ✪ And if you like, you can shop while in the Hawaiian islands as our renewal ceremony 

    celebration will be held on Monday, October 12th which is the day after we 

    leave Lahaina Maui --- the final Hawaiian Island Port of Call! 

✪ Wanna shop now? Check out the following links for ideas for hawaiian clothes.... 

✪ Here are some links to some Hawaiian style clothing

http://www.shakatime.com

http://www.lavahut.com 

http://www.papayasun.com

http://www.alohaz.com

http://hawaiianclothingfactory.com

http://www.alohaoutlet.com

http://www.alohafunwear.com

http://www.jadefashion.com 

http://www.hilohattie.com 

http://www.hawaiianoutpost.com

http://www.hawaiianshirtsinc.com

http://www.mauishirts.com

QUEEN MARY DINNER OPTION

You hopefully checked-in and found your way to your Queen Mary Stateroom, got comfortable for the overnight stay and now ready to connect with Roger and Diana. So where are Roger and Diana? Well it’s the Davis’ once again announcing, is it time to “EAT & DRINK” yet?

We have decided not to commit to a group dining venue for this overnight stay on the Queen Mary. With 30 individuals in our group. We explored the option of setting up a group dining at SIR WINSTON’S RESTAURANT and the CHELSEA CHOWDER HOUSE and found the group menu to be very pricey and a limiting group menu selection. As an example our group dinner at SIR WINSTON’S RESTAURANT would range between $63 to $129 plus a 18% service charge and a 9% tax fee per person. At the CHELSEA CHOWDER HOUSE our group menu was cheaper ($40-$60 plus a18% service charge and a 9% tax fee per person), but did not include items from their raw bar as an example. As a result, we have decided that for this reason everyone should decide independently who they would like to have dinner with and make their own reservation arrangement. Keep in mind that a group is considered 10 or more! 

In the meantime you can find Roger and Diana for a pre-dinner cocktail at the CHELSEA CHOWDER HOUSE BAR, say around 5-7pm and then find them in the OBSERVATION BAR

after dinner for a night cap drink! We should be there around 8:30-9:00pm after our dinner at 7pm 
at Chelsea's Chowder House. 

Below is the list of the various dining establishments on the Queen Mary. Be sure you go on-line and explore their website for more details and sample menus.   

OBSERVATION BAR    

http://www.queenmary.com/dining-bars/observation-bar/

1930’s sophistication and style with your classic drink with friends. Whether to meet before dinner or perhaps after for a night cap. This is the Queen Mary Bar that can keep you from that DUI, but be sure you don’t fall off the ship, now! 

CHELSEA CHOWDER HOUSE & BAR 

http://www.queenmary.com/dining-bars/chelsea-chowder-house-bar/

A casual eatery that captures a bit of the British Chowder House feel. The menu here has fresh seafood selections, small raw bar, salads, soups/chowder and a minimal meat selection of a couple of steaks & chicken. The restaurant also has a bar and a bar menu.

SIR WINSTON’S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE 

http://www.queenmary.com/dining-bars/sir-winstons-restaurant-lounge/

This is the award winning fine ding restaurant for the Queen Mary. The restaurant menu is continental with a wine list. Quality meats & seafood with a la carte selection. Would 

recommend a smart casual attire as this would be considered their formal dining restaurant.

PROMENADE CAFE

http://www.queenmary.com/dining-bars/promenade-cafe/

Is the Queen Mary’s answer to Breakfast-Lunch and Dinner. The cafe offers comfort food classics like gourmet burgers, seasonal salads, fish & chips, Mac & Cheese & meatloaf.

MIDSHIP MARKET PLACE

http://www.queenmary.com/dining-bars/midship-marketplace/

This is your grab and go eatery. Quick Starbuck’s Coffee & pastery, sandwich, yogurt & fruit to name a few items. 

TRAVELZOO - 50% Off Queen Mary Tours

For those joining us on the Queen Mary Pre-Cruise Overnight. You might want to check this option out in advance. On Travelzoo a free membership website,  they are promoting a 50% off the following shows and tours on the Queen Mary ship. Just double click on the Title below to get more details of this advance purchase deal. 

50% OFF QUEEN MARY TOURS include NEW LEGO EXHIBIT

• $12 for admission for one adult (reg. $25)
• $25 for admission for two adults (reg. $50)
• $50 for admission for four adults (reg. $100)
• $39 for admission for two adults and two children (ages 4-11) (reg. $78)

• Choose from the following show or tours: Ghosts & Legends show, Haunted Encounters guided tour, Glory Days historical tour or self-guided tour of Diana: Legacy of a Princess
• Get access to the LEGO Shipyard exhibit -- the Queen Mary's newest attraction

For those worried about getting bored with nothing to do? Here’s a chance to tour the Queen Mary ship. Great chance to take advantage of our visit and stay! 

INDEPENDENT EXCURSION: USS ARIZONA MEMORIAL & PUNCHBOWL

It has been brought to my attention that Princess Cruises Shore Excursion for
Pearl Harbor is on wait list. There are cruisers who are wanting this excursion from our group and Alex has graciously found an alternative option for our group. If you are interested please contact Alex by next Wednesday, September 9th so she can arrange this excursion for our group. 

In the meantime here are the details and information regarding this independent shore
excursion:

USS ARIZONA & USS MISSOURI with PUNCHBOWL CRATER TOUR

The Arizona & Missouri with Punchbowl tour, aka Pearl Harbor Remembered, takes you to the beginning and ending of World War II. You’ll watch a powerful documentary film and board the ferry for the ride out to the Arizona Memorial, which represents the beginning of American involvement in the war. You’ll also have a chance to visit the USS Oklahoma Memorial, which stands as a monument to the 429 sailors who died when that ship capsized during the attack on Pearl Harbor. You will also participate in a guided tour of the USS Missouri, a battleship of the same class as the USS Arizona. The USS Missouri was the scene of the end of World War II as the Japanese signed formal documents of surrender aboard this ship in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945. You will see a copy of the Declaration of Surrender on the exact spot where the document was signed.  You will continue downtown with a narrated Honolulu City Tour.  A drive through the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl Crater completes this very popular and very moving tour.

Date: Friday, October 9, 2015

Time: 9am  (Approximate return:4:30pm) 

Maximum: 25 individuals

Transportation: Mini- tour bus with large viewing windows, & pick-up from cruise ship.

Cost: $92.66 (with Hawaii sales tax) per person

What to Bring & Wear: Tour participants should wear respectful attire (shoes must be worn and no swimwear allowed). Due to heightened security no bags, purses, or strollers are permitted at the Memorial. Storage of these items is available for a nominal fee. Cameras and small, hand-carried wallets are permitted.