Last Updated on 03/31/26 by Rose Palmer
Some days, I wish I had a maid. And a cook. And since I am dreaming, let’s add a chauffeur and a gardener to the list. I’ve probably watched Downton Abbey one too many times and read too many books set in Britain’s golden age, where the hired help does all the work and the Lord and Lady of the manor get to have fun.
Alas, I was not to the manor born nor am I a princess by birth, but on my two recent Ruby Princess cruises, I certainly felt like one. For many glorious days, I was waited on as if I were royalty, and it was heavenly.
My Ruby Princess review – what I loved about my cruise
I’ve been fortunate to cruise on the Ruby Princess twice. The first time was a cruise through the Panama Canal from Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco. The second cruise was a 20-day round-trip cruise to Alaska from San Francisco.
Each person has different wants and desires when they cruise. For my trips, I was looking for a relaxing break with no responsibilities, combined with some interesting sightseeing, and the Ruby Princess ship delivered.
I was fortunate in that neither cruise was full, so the ship never felt crowded. The service was fantastic and was always delivered with a gracious smile, even though the staff worked long hours, 7 days a week.
My Ruby Princess cruises were wonderful downtime with no chores while others waited on me. I loved having someone make my bed, clean my room, and bring clean towels each day. And I loved not having to cook and eating on my own schedule.
One of my favorite activities was watching concerts and movies on deck “under the stars” while eating pizza, or a burger, or ice cream, or sitting in the hot tub – it was like being at a drive-in without having to drive.
And I really loved having breakfast on the balcony in the morning while staring at the blue ocean swimming by. Or dinner with sunset views. My stateroom was roomy and comfortable and was my private sanctuary.
Both cruises had ad a lot of days at sea, and I was able to get lots of writing done and, yes, also some quilting. I watched movies, listened to audiobooks, saw shows in the theater, and enjoyed good food – probably a little too much food. There were also plenty of activities on the ship if I wanted a distraction.
Then, at the end of each day, I loved watching the sun set over the water – each day was different, but always beautiful.
I thought the Ruby was perfect for seeing the sights as we passed through the Panama Canal and also for sailing in Alaska. Between the Promenade deck and all the deck space on the Sun deck, there was plenty of outdoor space to take in the views.
In this post, I am focusing primarily on reviewing my Ruby Princess cruising experience. I share more detailed information about going through the Panama Canal in my story: A Full Transit Panama Canal Cruise – Passing Through an Engineering Marvel. I also describe my various excursions in the story titled: I Loved These Panama Canal Cruise Excursions.
Ruby Princess cabin review
Mini suite cabin review
On the Panama Canal cruise, I was upgraded to a Reserve midship mini suite cabin on deck 9 – the Dolphin deck. Mini suites were 323 square feet, which makes them about 100 square feet larger than a balcony cabin. This makes them a good choice for families, so as a solo cruiser, all that space was utterly luxurious.
The mini suite had one area that held the queen-sized bed with nightstands and a desk, and then an equally sized area with a sleeper sofa, small coffee table, and a single chair. And the suite had two TVs – not that I needed that many TVs, but it was nice to be able to watch one TV while lying in bed and the other one when I was sitting on the sofa.
The size of the bathroom also surprised me – it certainly could have been large enough for a bathroom in an apartment in New York City. It had a full-sized tub with a shower, lots of counter space around the single sink, and 3 shelves for storing toiletries.
The other pleasant surprise was the amount of total storage space that I had in the cabin. Each nightstand had two drawers, and the desk had a deep two-shelf cabinet. In addition, the half-circle divider between the two sections of the cabin held a mini fridge and two large open shelves.
The closet was equally spacious with plenty of shelves and more than enough hangers. There were also two robes and a safe to store personal items of value.
My only complaint was the lack of conveniently located outlets and USB ports (a common issue I have had on the older cruise ships). There were two outlets at the desk and two at the top of the half-round shelf divider. For me, these were sufficient, especially with an additional multiport power strip.
But, for multiple people in a cabin or a family traveling together, keeping all the modern techie gadgets charged would take some juggling.
Traveler’s Tip – Note that I could bring a multi-port power strip on board, like the one in the picture below, but I was not allowed to bring one with a surge protector.
Besides all the space, I also loved the bed linens. I have a little bit of a Princess-and-the-pea complex when it comes to sleeping, and I am quite particular about my bedding at home.
It was so very nice to sleep in a bed that felt as good as what I am used to. The mattress was very comfortable, the linens were a high thread count, crispy cotton, and the feather pillows were large and fluffy, just the way I like them.
Between the gentle rocking of the cruise ship and being enveloped by such nice bedding, I slept like a baby each night.
The final space in my cabin that I utterly enjoyed was the balcony with its floor-to-ceiling glass window and door. I got into the habit of having breakfast out there each morning, letting the sun warm me up as I watched the blue ocean swim by.
Deluxe balcony cabin review
On my three-week cruise to Alaska, I chose a balcony cabin on deck 10 because it came with a slightly larger, partially covered balcony. Once again, I was cruising solo, so this cabin was sufficiently roomy for me.
Again, I had more than enough storage. The closet was equally large, and the nightstands had two drawers each. The desk also had storage space, while the credenza held a small fridge with a shelf above.
The bathroom was a bit smaller with only a shower, but I still had the glass shelves above the sink and a long shelf under the sink.
The Ruby Princess ship details
By today’s standards, the Ruby was not an overly large ship, but she was large enough to provide a lot of amenities.
The stats:
- Crown Class – sister ship to Crown Princess and Emerald Princess
- Year inaugurated – 2008
- Last refurbished –2018
- Last dry dock – October 2023
- Maximum number of passengers –3080
- Maximum number of crew -1200
Check-ins at both Fort Lauderdale and San Francisco were easy and efficient. I always pick up my medallion at the port, which only adds a few extra minutes to the check-in process. I wait to check in until most of the rush has passed (usually by 1 PM). The only other brief additional step was to register the bottle of wine that I was bringing on board.
The Ruby Princess had plenty of public spaces that offered numerous activities all day if I wanted them.
This list of all public spaces on the Ruby Princess (with lots of photos) gives a good sense of the ship’s layout and design details.
Deck 4 – Gala
Medical Center – If I need medical help, this is the place to go. Note that charges for any medical services provided on board will need to be paid before disembarking the ship. A detailed statement of services and the associated charges can then be submitted to insurance.
Water Shuttle embarkation – in ports where the ship cannot dock, the ship’s water shuttle transports passengers to and from the ship (this is referred to as tendering). This location is also often used for disembarkation and embarkation when docked.
Deck 5 – Plaza
The Piazza – the beautiful three-story heart of the ship showcased elegant, curving three-story staircases with lots of glittery gold, marble, and glass accents.
Surrounding the Piazza are:
The International Café – one of my favorite places for food and my favorite spot to pick up a breakfast of a yogurt parfait and an almond croissant. This was a great place to get quick snacks, a light lunch, pastries, or cookies 24 hours a day. This was also the place to satisfy my specialty coffee cravings (for a fee since I did not have any of the Princess Packages).
Good Spirits at Sea – the place to try new specialty mixed cocktails.
Vines Wine Bar – a spot to try different wines from around the world. The menu at Vines also offered a charcuterie board, which was one of the casual dining options on the Ruby Princess.
Future Cruise and Loyalty -I purchased a couple of Future Cruise Credits that I planned to use as down payments on cruises next year.
Internet café – a nice, quiet place to catch up on emails with views of the ocean. I enjoyed sitting here with a cup of iced coffee while working on my blog. This was also where I could get help setting up my Medallion Net Wifi.
Michelangelo Dining Room – one of the three main dining rooms on the ship, which was open for dinner.
The Michelangelo dining room offered traditional seating with two fixed seating options per night at 5 PM and 7:30 PM. This was ideal for guests who like to eat at the same time each evening, at the same table, and with the same wait staff.
Fine Arts Gallery – showing new art for the art auctions at sea.
Deck 6 – Fiesta
Public spaces forward to aft:
Princess Theater lower level – the venue for evening shows, performances, and enrichment lectures.
Gatsby’s Casino and bar – plenty of options for those who like to gamble. Note that smoking was allowed in this space when I was on board.
Video Arcade – video and arcade games for the young and the young at heart (replaced what was previously the Cigar Lounge).
Guest Services – this was where I went for answers and got help during the cruise. The staff was always very friendly and helpful.
Shops of Princess – plenty of choices for browsing and buying.
DaVinci Dining Room – this dining room was available for breakfast and lunch on sea days, and dinner every evening (the Princess Patter had all the information about the dining rooms). This was also where Reserve dining was located (and was where I ate my dining room meals) as well as where afternoon tea was served.
The DaVinci dining room was also the “walk-in any time” dining room, where dinner reservations were not necessary.
Botticelli Dining Room – this main dining room was only accessible from the aft lift area and was only open for dinner.
The Botticelli dining room offered reservable anytime dining. Dinner reservations could be made in 20-minute increments beginning at 5 PM.
Deck 7 – Promenade
Public spaces moving forward to aft:
Princess Theater upper level – the place where I went for enrichment lectures and evening shows.
Shore Excursion desk – if I didn’t want to book shore excursions online or on the app, I could also book in person at this location.
The Wheelhouse Bar and the Gastro Pub – The Gastropub was also one of the casual dining restaurants on the Ruby Princess. The Wheelhouse Bar offered drinks and evening musical entertainment.
The Shops of Princess – lots of choices for browsing and buying.
The Library – A quiet and intimate space where I could find a variety of books to borrow, along with games and jigsaw puzzles.
Crooners Bar – relaxing spot for drinks and music with views of the Piazza.
Explorers Lounge and bar – a large venue for drinks, daily activities, and evening entertainment.
Crown Grill – specialty steakhouse restaurant serving fine steaks and seafood. Their menu never disappoints.
Photo Gallery – the spot to purchase my ship photos.
Ocean Front – this was where I could buy different accessories for my medallion.
Club Fusion – another large venue for drinks, activities, and evening entertainment.
Outside on deck 7, the Promenade Deck encircled the whole ship and was good for walking or just relaxing in the shade on a deck chair.
Deck 14 – Riviera
Terrace pool – this out-of-the-way pool area in the back of the ship was hardly ever busy. This was also a great spot to see the scenery during my Alaska cruise.
Deck 15 – Lido
Public spaces from midship to aft:
THE MIX – poolside bar for drinks of all types.
The Salty Dog Grill – a great spot to satisfy that burger-and-fries craving.
Neptune’s Reef and Pool – a big pool with two hot tubs in the middle of the ship, with lots of lounge chairs for sunning and relaxing.
Slice Pizza – Princess says they have award-winning pizza, and after eating some almost every day, I have to say that I agree. The Neapolitan-style pizza had a thin, crispy crust, and each day there was a special that offered different toppings.
Coffee and Cones – free soft serve ice cream any time of day and specialty coffees and teas for an extra charge.
Calypso Reef and Pool – the second large pool located midship with two hot tubs and lots of lounge chairs. This pool was below the “Movies Under the Stars” screen, and it was fun to sit in the hot tub or in the pool and watch a favorite movie or concert on the big screen.
Calypso Bar – outdoor poolside bar offering a variety of drinks.
World Fresh Marketplaces at the Horizon Court – the place to go for buffet meals or self-serve drinks of water, tea, and coffee. I thought there were more than enough choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I especially liked the different international-themed menus each day.
At the drink station, I could get ice, water, coffee, and hot water for tea, as well as iced tea and lemonade.
Horizon Terrace and Outriggers Bar – deck area around the Terrace Pool that could be accessed from the Horizon Court. This outdoor seating was usually not very busy on my cruises.
Deck 16 – Sun
In front of the ship:
Fitness area – The place to go to work off all the calories from all that good food. I could walk for miles on a treadmill while looking out over the deep blue sea.
Lotus Spa – Inside the large spa area was the beauty salon and spa treatment rooms. Additional facilities were also on deck 15.
Lotus Spa pool – this intimate pool and hot tub was open to the outside deck and could be used by anyone, not just those using the spa. It was usually not busy or crowded during my cruise.
Midship:
Tradewinds Bar – another bar for drinks on the deck above the Neptune pool.
Movies Under the Stars – a large screen above the Calypso Pool, where I could watch movies and concerts. This was one of my favorite activities on the ship and was practically empty on formal night.
Aft:
Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria – another specialty dining restaurant. I had a lovely dinner here one night.
Adagio Bar – a cozy bar area across from Sabatini’s Restaurant. Great place to hang out during the day, as it was usually pretty quiet.
Outdoor deck with fountains around the Terrace Pool – a very pleasant and quiet area to relax with a book. This was one of my favorite outdoor quiet spaces.
Deck 17 – Sports
Forward:
The Sanctuary – a quiet, adult-only retreat where I could relax without the crowds. An extra daily fee was charged to reserve a deck chair or a cabana for a day or half a day.
The Sanctuary offers its own unique menu of snacks and light meals, along with an afternoon tea experience, all included in the cost of reserving a spot for the day.
Travel tip: I reserved time in the Sanctuary as soon as I boarded the ship. I like an afternoon time slot so I can enjoy lunch and the special afternoon tea menu served in the Sanctuary.
Aft:
Camp Discovery and the Teen Lounge – dedicated club areas for children and teens with their own hot tub and a pool.
Deck 18 – Sky
Skywalkers Nightclub – by day, this was a quiet place to read and enjoy the high views of the sea. By night, this became an active spot for music and drinks. Note that access to this space was via the aft lift only.
Deck 19 – Star
Aft:
This space was accessible only via the aft lifts. The one time I went up here while we were cruising, it was very windy.
Center Court – basketball and/or pickleball court.
Jogging Track – walking 16 times around the track equaled one mile.
Princess Links – a small putting green.
Laundromat
I really appreciate that Princess cruise ships have self-serve laundry facilities. It means I can pack less for a long cruise and do a quick load of laundry midway through.
The laundromats are located in the aft section of decks 8 to 14. I used my medallion to purchase tokens from a vending machine in the laundry room, which I then used in the washers or dryers. I brought my own detergent pods, but laundry soap was also available for purchase with the medallion.
The laundry room also had ironing boards and irons for guests’ use.
Ruby Princess entertainment
It’s hard to write specifics about the entertainment on board a cruise because it changes with each cruise and with each week. Throughout the day, there were numerous musical performances in the Piazza and in the lounges.
I am always impressed by the stage shows in the theater and by the talented singers and dancers who manage to do their routines as the ship is rocking back and forth. And the musicians in the band were equally talented.
The cruise director and his/her staff were very busy throughout the cruise with a variety of activities, games, competitions, and distractions for those who didn’t want to sit still.
My favorite “entertainments,” though, were the enrichment lecturers and the destination experts. We had a Panama Canal expert who provided a lot of additional insight into the construction and management of the canal, which really added to the overall Panama Canal cruising experience. On my Alaska cruise, we also had a naturalist and a destination expert, both of whom provided a lot of helpful information.
My favorite entertainment by far was the Puppies in the Piazza event on my Alaska cruise. Princess works with one of the Ididerod champions, who brought a few puppies onto the ship and talked about their training and about the race.
Dining on the Ruby Princess
I tried most of the dining options on the Ruby Princess during my two cruises and liked everything I ate.
I describe all the Ruby Princess dining options in a separate post, My Ruby Princess Dining Experiences Including the Chef’s Table and Other Special Dining Options.
Additional Ruby Princess cruise tips and information
Princess cruise packages
Princess offers Standard, Plus, and Premier cruise fare packages. Before each cruise, I evaluate which package makes sense for me for that particular itinerary. Princess Cruise Drinks Packages and Fare Packages – Which One Is Best?
The Medallion
The Medallion is a waterproof, round electronic button that holds all my personal Princess cruise information. Since I booked at the last minute, I picked up my medallion at check-in at the port and wore it through the cruise on the provided lanyard. If I wanted something more fashionable, Princess sold a variety of Medallion accessories on board, such as chains and wristbands.
The Medallion automatically unlocked my room once I was within about 3-4 feet of my cabin door. I also used it for any on-board charges for drinks, excursions, etc. It was also my responsibility to get back on the ship after getting off in port.
Right after boarding, I also had to check in to my muster station using my medallion.
The Princess Cruises App
I used the Princess Cruises app to check in before my cruise. After downloading the app, I added all the requested information and worked my way through each screen until I was “Ocean Ready”. I chose to pick up my medallion at the port, which put me in the “blue” check-in lane. This only added a few extra minutes at embarkation.
Once I was on board, I could use the app to look at the scheduled activities, schedule dinner reservations, order room service, register for an excursion, order drinks or food to be delivered to my seat, track and find members in my cruising party, and look at my bill. I could also watch the required safety video once I boarded. All this was quite easy to do on my (newish) Samsung Android phone.
Interactive On-Board Screens
Near each elevator, a large interactive screen displayed a map of the ship or the current activities going on throughout the ship. These touch screens were very easy and intuitive to use.
MedallionNet Wi-Fi
I had the 4-device package for the full length of the trip so that I could use both my phone and my computer at the same time while on board. Signing up and logging into the Wi-Fi network was easy.
I used my sea days to catch up on blog writing and posting on this blog. I did not try streaming movies or music. Since Princess has switched to using Starlink, the internet on the ships has been pretty fast.
Travel Tip – I switched my phone to Airplane Mode before leaving port so that I would not incur roaming charges. I used WhatsApp to connect with family and friends back home via texts or calls.
Princess Patter
My cabin steward dropped off the Princess Patter each night, and it listed all the following day’s activities. This was an invaluable source of information.
In room TV
Besides watching movies, TV programs, and listening to music, I was also able to watch the enrichment lectures that had been presented at the theater in the comfort of my cabin. I also watched the safety video on the TV right after I boarded.
Bridge Cam
I can see where the Ruby Princess currently is through its bridge cam at https://www.princess.com/bridgecams/
As I said, I really enjoyed my Ruby Princess cruise through the Panama Canal and my 3-week Alaska cruise. My experience on the ship gave me everything I was looking for.
If this is what it is like to live like a princess, then I could definitely get used to it! I will absolutely be doing this again!
Links to all my cruising content, including all my other Princess cruises, can be found on my Experience – Cruising page.
Other cruising stories you may like:
Sailing the Greek islands with Running On Waves: Release Your Inner Jackie O on a Luxury Sailing Holiday in Greece
How I spent my day in Cartagena, Colombia: One Day in Cartagena, Colombia – A Colorful Independent Cruise Excursion
Taking a luxury barge cruise in France: My France Canal Cruise: Quiet Luxury in the French Countryside
Alaska cruise excursion tips: Alaska Cruise Excursion Tips to Inspire Your Best Alaska Trip
A full review of the Sky Princess cruise ship: Cruising Sky High – A complete Sky Princess Review With Photos
Please note that I received a media-upgraded cabin from Princess. All content and opinions in this post are my own.
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
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