Enjoy Diverse Dining Options on the Ruby Princess
Overview
The Ruby Princess is a large cruise ship that carries about 3,500-guests. The ship was launched in 2008 and has several diverse dining options including:
The next several pages of this article describe each of these dining venues in more detail.
Botticelli Dining Room
The Botticelli Dining Room is an elegant room found aft on deck 6 of the Ruby Princess cruise ship. This dining venue is used for traditional dining at two fixed seatings--the first at 6:00 pm and the second at 8:30 pm.
Michelangelo and Da Vinci Dining Rooms
The Michelangelo Dining Room is located midship on deck 5 of the Ruby Princess, and the Da Vinci Dining Room is midship on deck 6. Our our eastern Caribbean cruise, Da Vinci was used for both early seating at 5:30 pm and Anytime dining from 7:30 to 10:00 pm. Michelangelo is used for Anytime dining between 5:30 and 10:00 pm.
Anytime dining allows guests to dine at their leisure between 5:30 and 10:00 pm.
Passengers can either make a reservation or just show up when they want to dine. Large parties or those couples who want to dine alone should definitely plan to make a reservation in advance. If you are a couple who is willing to share a table, there's not usually a wait. If there is a wait, the hostess will take your name and give you an electronic pager. Then, you can go browse the shops or have a drink in one of the lovely bars until your pager goes off.
We chose Anytime Dining on our Ruby Princess eastern Caribbean cruise, and were very satisfied with how well it worked. We chose a large table every night, and my friend and I only had to wait one night. When our wedding party of six wanted to dine together the night of the wedding, we got a reservation.
The Da Vinci Dining Room is also available for open-seating breakfast and lunch on sea days.
If you love tea, scones, and whipped cream as much as I do, be sure to check out the afternoon tea in the Da Vinci Dining Room. Tea is served most days between 3:30 and 4:30 pm--a perfect time for a delicious snack.
Crown Grill
The Crown Grill is found midship on deck 7 near the Explorers Lounge and the photo gallery on the Ruby Princess.
This elegant specialty restaurant features premium aged beef and fresh seafood items. The dining experience is both fun and special since the Crown Grill has an open, theater-style kitchen where chefs custom-prepare fresh seafood, such as lobster, scallops, clams and mussels, and cooked-to-order steaks.
The Crown Grill has a per person surcharge ($25 in 2012) and is open from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm each evening. Reservations are required, and it's a good idea to book early in the cruise since the bookings fill up quickly.
Sabatini's Italian Restaurant
Sabatini's is found aft on deck 16 on the Ruby Princess. It's one of my favorite specialty restaurants on a large cruise ship. The decor is reminiscent of a villa in Tuscany, and the food is interesting and delicious. The quiet Adagio bar is next door, and it's a perfect place for a before or after dinner drink.
Guests who stay in suites on the Ruby Princess have breakfast at Sabatini's included in their cruise fare.
The staff know your name after the first day, and the restaurant is quiet and relaxed. It's such a civilized way to start the day!
Dinner at Sabatini's includes antipasti (a selection of hot and cold appetizers, soups, and salads); a pasta course; main course; and dessert. There's a $20 per person surcharge (2012), and reservations are required.
As discussed on the previous pages, the Ruby Princess has several elegant dining venues, most of which are primarily open for dinner. However, the cruise ship has a diverse selection of casual dining venues, and guests can find somewhere open 24 hours a day. The pizzeria and ice cream bar on deck 15 midship are open from lunch until late evening, as is the Trident Grill on deck 15 forward. (The ice cream bar is actually open for breakfast, but only a few hardy souls eat ice cream for breakfast!)
The Horizon Court and Cafe Caribe are buffet restaurants located aft on deck 15. Horizon Court's buffet is open for three meals daily, and Cafe Caribe is open for most meals. These two venues have a variety of themes, so be sure to check your daily "Princess Patter" newsletter to see opening times and cuisine. For example, Cafe Caribe might have a pasta bar, Mexican fiesta, or Asian for lunch. Then in the evenings, it might feature Princess favorites or Italian.
The International Cafe on deck 5 in the Piazza is open 24 hours a day, and has a good selection of quick bites and light meal choices. The pastries and croissants are favorites for breakfast, and the hot panini sandwiches and salads are a good choice for lunch or dinner.
Vines is also in the Piazza on deck 5 and features a daily selection of sushi and tapas, which are complimentary with any beverage purchase. Vines is open from happy hour (5:00 pm) until 11:00 pm.
Ulitmate Balcony Dining on the Ruby Princess features cocktails, fresh flowers, champagne, and a four-course meal served on your balcony.
If you prefer a romantic breakfast, the Ultimate Balcony Breakfast includes specialty pastries, fresh fruits, quiche, smoked salmon and other special treats served with a half bottle of French champagne. The newlyweds we were traveling with loved this special meal the morning after their destination wedding!
The Ruby Princess is a large cruise ship that carries about 3,500-guests. The ship was launched in 2008 and has several diverse dining options including:
- Boticelli Dining Room
- Michelangelo and Da Vinci Dining Rooms
- Crown Grill Steakhouse
- Sabatini's Italian Restaurant
- Casual Dining on the Ruby Princess
- Ultimate Balcony Dining
The next several pages of this article describe each of these dining venues in more detail.
Botticelli Dining Room
The Botticelli Dining Room is an elegant room found aft on deck 6 of the Ruby Princess cruise ship. This dining venue is used for traditional dining at two fixed seatings--the first at 6:00 pm and the second at 8:30 pm.
Ruby Princess Dining Options
- Overview of Ruby Princess Dining Options
- Boticelli Dining Room
- Michaelangelo and Da Vinci Dining Rooms
- Crown Grill Steakhouse
- Sabatini's Italian Restaurant
- Casual Dining on the Ruby Princess
Michelangelo and Da Vinci Dining Rooms
The Michelangelo Dining Room is located midship on deck 5 of the Ruby Princess, and the Da Vinci Dining Room is midship on deck 6. Our our eastern Caribbean cruise, Da Vinci was used for both early seating at 5:30 pm and Anytime dining from 7:30 to 10:00 pm. Michelangelo is used for Anytime dining between 5:30 and 10:00 pm.
Anytime dining allows guests to dine at their leisure between 5:30 and 10:00 pm.
Passengers can either make a reservation or just show up when they want to dine. Large parties or those couples who want to dine alone should definitely plan to make a reservation in advance. If you are a couple who is willing to share a table, there's not usually a wait. If there is a wait, the hostess will take your name and give you an electronic pager. Then, you can go browse the shops or have a drink in one of the lovely bars until your pager goes off.
We chose Anytime Dining on our Ruby Princess eastern Caribbean cruise, and were very satisfied with how well it worked. We chose a large table every night, and my friend and I only had to wait one night. When our wedding party of six wanted to dine together the night of the wedding, we got a reservation.
The Da Vinci Dining Room is also available for open-seating breakfast and lunch on sea days.
If you love tea, scones, and whipped cream as much as I do, be sure to check out the afternoon tea in the Da Vinci Dining Room. Tea is served most days between 3:30 and 4:30 pm--a perfect time for a delicious snack.
Ruby Princess Dining Options
- Overview of Ruby Princess Dining Options
- Boticelli Dining Room
- Michelangelo and Da Vinci Dining Rooms
- Crown Grill Steakhouse
- Sabatini's Italian Restaurant
- Casual Dining on the Ruby Princess
- Ultimate Balcony Dining
Crown Grill
The Crown Grill is found midship on deck 7 near the Explorers Lounge and the photo gallery on the Ruby Princess.
This elegant specialty restaurant features premium aged beef and fresh seafood items. The dining experience is both fun and special since the Crown Grill has an open, theater-style kitchen where chefs custom-prepare fresh seafood, such as lobster, scallops, clams and mussels, and cooked-to-order steaks.
The Crown Grill has a per person surcharge ($25 in 2012) and is open from 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm each evening. Reservations are required, and it's a good idea to book early in the cruise since the bookings fill up quickly.
Ruby Princess Dining Options
- Overview of Ruby Princess Dining Options
- Boticelli Dining Room
- Michelangelo and Da Vinci Dining Rooms
- Crown Grill Steakhouse
- Sabatini's Italian Restaurant
- Casual Dining on the Ruby Princess
- Ultimate Balcony Dining
Sabatini's Italian Restaurant
Sabatini's is found aft on deck 16 on the Ruby Princess. It's one of my favorite specialty restaurants on a large cruise ship. The decor is reminiscent of a villa in Tuscany, and the food is interesting and delicious. The quiet Adagio bar is next door, and it's a perfect place for a before or after dinner drink.
Guests who stay in suites on the Ruby Princess have breakfast at Sabatini's included in their cruise fare.
The staff know your name after the first day, and the restaurant is quiet and relaxed. It's such a civilized way to start the day!
Dinner at Sabatini's includes antipasti (a selection of hot and cold appetizers, soups, and salads); a pasta course; main course; and dessert. There's a $20 per person surcharge (2012), and reservations are required.
Ruby Princess Dining Options
- Overview of Ruby Princess Dining Options
- Boticelli Dining Room
- Michelangelo and Da Vinci Dining Rooms
- Crown Grill Steakhouse
- Sabatini's Italian Restaurant
- Casual Dining on the Ruby Princess
- Ultimate Balcony Dining
As discussed on the previous pages, the Ruby Princess has several elegant dining venues, most of which are primarily open for dinner. However, the cruise ship has a diverse selection of casual dining venues, and guests can find somewhere open 24 hours a day. The pizzeria and ice cream bar on deck 15 midship are open from lunch until late evening, as is the Trident Grill on deck 15 forward. (The ice cream bar is actually open for breakfast, but only a few hardy souls eat ice cream for breakfast!)
The Horizon Court and Cafe Caribe are buffet restaurants located aft on deck 15. Horizon Court's buffet is open for three meals daily, and Cafe Caribe is open for most meals. These two venues have a variety of themes, so be sure to check your daily "Princess Patter" newsletter to see opening times and cuisine. For example, Cafe Caribe might have a pasta bar, Mexican fiesta, or Asian for lunch. Then in the evenings, it might feature Princess favorites or Italian.
The International Cafe on deck 5 in the Piazza is open 24 hours a day, and has a good selection of quick bites and light meal choices. The pastries and croissants are favorites for breakfast, and the hot panini sandwiches and salads are a good choice for lunch or dinner.
Vines is also in the Piazza on deck 5 and features a daily selection of sushi and tapas, which are complimentary with any beverage purchase. Vines is open from happy hour (5:00 pm) until 11:00 pm.
Ruby Princess Dining Options
- Boticelli Dining Room
- Michelangelo and Da Vinci Dining Rooms
- Crown Grill Steakhouse
- Sabatini's Italian Restaurant
- Casual Dining on the Ruby Princess
- Ultimate Balcony Dining
Ulitmate Balcony Dining on the Ruby Princess features cocktails, fresh flowers, champagne, and a four-course meal served on your balcony.
If you prefer a romantic breakfast, the Ultimate Balcony Breakfast includes specialty pastries, fresh fruits, quiche, smoked salmon and other special treats served with a half bottle of French champagne. The newlyweds we were traveling with loved this special meal the morning after their destination wedding!
Ruby Princess Dining Options
- Overview of Ruby Princess Dining Options
- Boticelli Dining Room
- Michelangelo and Da Vinci Dining Rooms
- Crown Grill Steakhouse
- Sabatini's Italian Restaurant
- Casual Dining on the Ruby Princess
- Ultimate Balcony Dining