Ruby Princess review is a different kind of post for me because this is the Princess ship that shaped my first real impression of the line.
I sailed Ruby Princess when I was much younger, and even at that age I could tell it felt different from the Carnival ships I had done before. The dining room food felt better, the service felt more polished, the decks felt calmer, and the overall atmosphere felt more grown-up without feeling stuffy. That one sailing stuck with me for years. It is a big reason I still think of Princess as Carnival’s more refined sister brand, same corporate family, very different onboard energy.
That is also why Ruby Princess still matters. This is not a ship I would talk about as the newest, flashiest, or most advanced Princess ship. It matters because it represents the version of Princess that made a lot of cruisers understand what the line was trying to be in the first place. If you are looking at Ruby Princess now, the real question is not whether it can outshine newer ships on specs. It is whether it still delivers the calmer, more polished Princess feel that made people like the brand to begin with.
Britini and I have not sailed Ruby Princess together yet, but this is exactly the kind of ship I would still consider for Alaska or another itinerary where the overall tone of the cruise matters more than whether the ship has the latest public-space redesign.
Before you go deeper, these are the most useful Princess posts to read alongside this one:
- Princess cruise ships by age
- Princess cruise ship classes
- Princess cruise ships by size
- Diamond Princess review
- Sapphire Princess review
- Royal Princess review
- Regal Princess review
- Majestic Princess review
- Discovery Princess review
- Enchanted Princess review
- Sky Princess review
- Sun Princess review
- Star Princess review
The biggest takeaway: Ruby Princess is still worth booking if you want a more traditional big-ship Princess experience with a calmer atmosphere and proven layout, especially if you care more about the overall feel of the cruise than about having the newest ship in the fleet.
Table of Contents
Quick Answer: Is Ruby Princess Worth Booking?
Yes, for the right kind of cruiser.
| If This Sounds Like You | Ruby Princess Makes Sense | You May Want Another Princess Ship |
|---|---|---|
| You want a classic big-ship Princess experience with a more polished tone | Yes | No |
| You care more about atmosphere, dining, and service than newest hardware | Yes | No |
| You want the newest Princess class or the boldest public spaces | No | Yes |
| You like the idea of a ship that feels proven and easy to understand | Yes | No |
My read is simple: Ruby Princess can still be a very smart booking for travelers who want the Princess experience that built the brand’s reputation, not the newer version of Princess trying to evolve past it.
Ruby Princess Review: Key Facts at a Glance
| Detail | Ruby Princess |
|---|---|
| Inaugural cruise | November 8, 2008 |
| Class | Crown Class |
| Guests | 3,080 |
| Crew | 1,200 |
| Tonnage | 113,561 |
| Guest staterooms | 1,542 |
| Decks | 19 |
| Balcony count | Nearly 900 |
| Signature onboard style | Traditional large-ship Princess feel |
Those details matter because Ruby Princess sits in an interesting middle ground. It is older than Royal Class and Sphere Class ships, but it is still large enough to feel like a major ship rather than a small legacy vessel.
That size makes it easier to recommend than some older ships for travelers who want classic Princess without going too far back.
What You Need to Know Before You Book Ruby Princess
Ruby Princess Is a Good Test of Whether You Actually Like Princess
This is the biggest reason the ship matters.
Some Princess ships are interesting because they changed the fleet. Some are interesting because they represent where the brand is headed next. Ruby Princess is interesting because it is one of the clearest examples of the Princess feel many people associate with the line in the first place.
That matters because if you sail Ruby Princess and like the atmosphere, dining style, and calmer rhythm, there is a good chance you actually like Princess as a brand, not just a specific new ship.
This Is Not a Ship You Book for Newness
That needs to be clear from the start.
Ruby Princess is not the choice for travelers who want the newest public spaces, the most modern cabin product, or the biggest wow-factor onboard. It makes more sense when you book it for what it does consistently well:
- calmer overall atmosphere
- more traditional cruise flow
- a polished mainstream feel
- enough size to feel like a full cruise ship without becoming overwhelming
That is still a real value proposition.
It Is Big Enough to Feel Substantial Without Feeling Like a Resort Complex
This is one of the more practical reasons Ruby Princess still works.
At 3,080 guests, Ruby Princess is not small. But it also does not push into the scale of the newest Princess ships. That means it can feel like a more comfortable middle ground for travelers who want a large ship without the newest mega-ship sprawl.
For some cruisers, that is exactly the right size.
Ruby Princess Review: What This Princess Ship Does Best
It Delivers the Princess Atmosphere People Still Talk About
This is the clearest strength.
When I think back to why Ruby Princess stayed with me, it was not a specific attraction or a flashy feature. It was the tone. It felt calmer, more polished, and more grown-up than the Carnival ships I had done before. That kind of difference matters because it changes the whole trip, not just one part of it.
Ruby Princess still looks like a good fit for travelers who want that same kind of tone now.
It Gives You a More Traditional Big-Ship Experience
This matters more now that newer Princess ships have gone in a bigger and more design-forward direction.
Ruby Princess represents an earlier version of large-ship cruising… one where the ship still has scale, choice, and enough energy to feel like a full vacation, but the design does not revolve around giant statement spaces. For readers who want a cruise ship, not a floating resort experiment, that can be a plus.
It Works Well for Itinerary-First Cruisers Who Still Want a Real Ship Experience
Ruby Princess feels like a strong fit when the destination matters, but you still want the ship to feel substantial and comfortable. With nearly 900 balconies, a full-size big-ship layout, and the more polished Princess tone, this is the kind of ship that can support the trip well without demanding that the ship itself become the entire reason for booking.
How Ruby Princess Compares to Sapphire Princess, Diamond Princess, and the Newer Fleet
This is the comparison that matters most.
Start with Princess cruise ship classes if you want the class-level breakdown first, then use Princess cruise ships by size and Princess cruise ships by age to see where Ruby Princess fits in the broader fleet.
| Ship | Best Reason to Book | Watch Out For |
|---|---|---|
| Ruby Princess | Traditional big-ship Princess feel with strong broad appeal | Older hardware and less modern public-space design |
| Sapphire Princess | More classic Grand Class feel and more manageable scale | Smaller and more itinerary-first in personality |
| Diamond Princess | Strong Japan and Asia identity with destination-specific features | More region-specific and less broad in appeal |
| Royal Princess | Original Royal Class identity and larger modern platform | More hardware-driven and less classic in feel |
| Regal Princess | Practical early Royal Class option | More modern-feeling but less tied to traditional Princess identity |
| Discovery Princess | Most finished Royal Class version | Much newer and more polished, but also a different booking logic |
| Sun Princess | Bold new direction for Princess | A very different feel from what made Ruby appealing |
| Star Princess | Newest Sphere-class follow-up | Much newer, bigger, and less about classic Princess atmosphere |
Book Ruby Princess if
- you want the more traditional big-ship Princess feel
- atmosphere matters more than new hardware
- you like the idea of a proven ship with broad appeal
- you want a large ship without the newest design shift
Book Sapphire or Diamond Princess if
- you want an even more classic Princess feel
- you prefer a more manageable scale
- destination identity is a bigger part of the decision
Book Royal Class or Sphere Class ships if
- you care more about newer hardware than classic Princess tone
- the ship itself matters as much as the route
- you want the newest version of what Princess is becoming
If you are making that choice now, read Sapphire Princess review for a more classic smaller-ship angle, Royal Princess review for the jump into Royal Class, and Sun Princess review if you want to see how different newer Princess ships have become.
Ruby Princess Review: Cabins and Suites on this Ship
Cabins are still a practical part of the value here.
Princess says Ruby Princess has 1,542 staterooms and nearly 900 balconies. That is still a strong setup for travelers who want private outdoor space without jumping to the newest ships. You are not getting the most modern cabin product in the fleet, but you are still getting a ship that offers enough balcony inventory to make scenic and destination-heavy itineraries more enjoyable.
What matters most here:
- nearly 900 balconies
- older cabin product than newer classes
- location still matters for convenience and noise
- a good fit for longer itineraries where the room is part of the trip
On a ship like this, I would still pay close attention to what is above and below the room, how close you are to elevators, and whether easier access to dining, theater spaces, or outer decks matters more to your day.
Ruby Princess Review: Dining Expectation
Dining is one of the biggest reasons I still think Ruby Princess matters.
My one early sailing on Ruby Princess left me with the impression that Princess felt better in the dining room than the Carnival ships I had done before. That is not fake nostalgia talking. It is the part of the cruise I noticed most clearly even then. Ruby Princess may not be the ship with the most modern dining concepts, but it still looks like a strong fit for travelers who want a more polished mainstream dining baseline.
What I would expect overall:
- a solid main dining room experience
- enough specialty dining to keep things interesting
- a calmer dining rhythm than party-first cruise lines
- a good fit for travelers who care about food quality and service more than novelty
Atmosphere and Onboard Feel
This is where Ruby Princess probably makes the most sense.
The ship seems built for travelers who want Princess to feel calm, polished, and easy to understand. Not flashy. Not experimental. Just a strong mainstream cruise experience with a more grown-up tone.
That is exactly why I think Ruby Princess still matters. The ship feels like a reminder of what made Princess appealing in the first place.
Itineraries: Why Ruby Princess Can Still Make Sense
This is one of the most practical parts of the decision.
Princess continues to use Ruby Princess in places like Alaska and the West Coast, and that makes sense because this is the kind of ship that works well when the destination matters and the ship simply needs to support the experience well. It is big enough to feel substantial, but not so ship-centric that the itinerary gets overshadowed.
If I were choosing it, I would care just as much about the route and value as I would about the ship’s age.
Who Ruby Princess Looks Best For
Ruby Princess looks strongest for:
- couples who want a calmer mainstream cruise
- travelers who like a more traditional Princess feel
- cruisers who care more about atmosphere than ship novelty
- food-focused travelers who want a more polished mainstream baseline
- readers who want a large enough ship without the newest design shift
Who Should Skip Ruby Princess
Ruby Princess is probably not your best fit if you are looking for:
- the newest Princess class in the fleet
- the boldest public-space design Princess offers
- the most modern cabin product
- attraction-heavy family features
- a cruise where the ship itself needs to feel like the main attraction
That matters because Ruby Princess wins on tone and proven fit, not on newness.
Ruby Princess Review: Common Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming Ruby Princess Is Too Old to Matter
Why it is a problem: Ship age alone does not tell you whether the onboard feel still matches what you actually want.
Extra considerations: Ruby Princess can still make a lot of sense if you want the traditional big-ship Princess atmosphere without the newest design shift.
Better alternatives: Use Princess cruise ships by age and Princess cruise ships by size before using age as your main filter.
Comparing It to Newer Princess Ships for the Wrong Reasons
Why it is a problem: Ruby Princess is not trying to compete with Sphere Class on wow-factor.
Extra considerations: The better comparison is classic Princess tone, proven layout, and big-ship comfort.
Better alternatives: Compare it directly with Sapphire Princess review, Diamond Princess review, and Royal Princess review first, then decide whether you even want a newer class.
Ignoring the Personal-Fit Advantage of a Proven Ship
Why it is a problem: A lot of cruisers assume newer automatically means better, even when a proven older ship may fit their style better.
Extra considerations: Ruby Princess gets stronger when you care about atmosphere, service, and overall flow more than hardware updates.
Better alternatives: Choose Ruby Princess because you want the Princess feel, not because it happens to be cheaper or available.
Step by Step: How to Decide Whether Ruby Princess Is Right for You
1. Decide whether you want classic Princess or newer Princess
That is the real first choice.
2. Compare Ruby Princess with Sapphire and Diamond Princess first
This is usually the most useful classic-Princess comparison.
3. Think about how much ship size matters to you
If you want a big ship without the newest mega-ship feel, Ruby gets stronger.
4. Look at itinerary and total value before ship age
This ship makes the most sense when the route is doing real work.
5. Choose your cabin carefully
Even on a more traditional ship, location still affects noise, convenience, and daily flow.
FAQs About Ruby Princess review
Has Ruby Princess launched yet?
Yes. Ruby Princess began service on November 8, 2008.
What class is Ruby Princess?
It is a Crown Class ship.
Is Ruby Princess smaller than Royal Class and Sphere Class ships?
Yes. It is smaller than those newer Princess classes, but still large enough to feel like a full big-ship experience.
Is Ruby Princess good for couples?
Yes. Couples are one of the clearest fits for this ship.
Is Ruby Princess good for Alaska?
Yes. It looks like a sensible Alaska option if you want Princess atmosphere and a full-size ship without needing the newest hardware.
Does Ruby Princess feel more upscale than Carnival?
Usually yes. That was exactly my impression when I sailed it. Princess felt calmer, more polished, and more grown-up overall.
Is Ruby Princess too old to book in 2026?
No, but it makes the most sense when you want classic Princess tone and proven big-ship comfort rather than the newest hardware.
What is the biggest reason to book Ruby Princess?
The chance to get the traditional big-ship Princess experience that helped define the line’s reputation for a lot of cruisers.
Is Ruby Princess better than Sapphire Princess or Diamond Princess?
Not automatically. It may be the better fit if you want a larger classic Princess ship with broader appeal.
Would I book Ruby Princess?
Yes, especially for an itinerary where the destination matters but I still want the Princess atmosphere that stuck with me from my first sailing.
Jim’s Take on Ruby Princess review
Ruby Princess review comes down to one simple idea for me, this is the Princess ship that made the brand click in my head in the first place.
That matters because this is one of the few ship posts where I can point to a real personal baseline. I sailed Ruby Princess when I was younger, and even then I could tell it felt different from the Carnival ships I had done before. The food felt better. The ship felt calmer. The service felt more polished. The whole experience felt aimed at people who wanted a more grown-up kind of mainstream cruise.
That is still the lens I use when I look at Princess now. Ruby Princess may not be the newest or the most exciting ship on paper, but it still feels like one of the clearest examples of what made Princess appealing to begin with.
Britini and I have not sailed it together yet, so I am not pretending this is current firsthand experience. But if I wanted a Princess cruise that connected back to why the line stood out to me in the first place, Ruby Princess would absolutely be worth a serious look.
Final Recommendation After Ruby Princess Review:
If you want a Princess ship that feels traditional, polished, and broad enough in appeal to still make sense in 2026, this Ruby Princess review is absolutely worth considering.
Book it for the calmer Princess atmosphere, the proven big-ship layout, the strong dining-and-service baseline, and the fact that it still represents the version of Princess many cruisers first fell for.
Skip it if you specifically want the newest class, the most modern public spaces, or a cruise where the ship itself is the main attraction.
The smartest way to think about Ruby Princess is simple: it is not the newest Princess ship. It may be one of the most representative ones. Learn more facts about ruby princess.
