Ruby Princess has a laid-back, family vibe that despite carrying 3,000 passengers never felt crowded. And while not an overly active ship, people were always engaged -- whether it was kids playing in the kids' club or participating in a scavenger hunt or adults trying their luck at bingo, competing enthusiastically in The Voice of the Ocean or soaking in the hot tubs.
Passengers tended to be friendly, and audience participation in most activities was the norm. Trivia nights were popular, with strangers quickly grouping up to become friends and allies.
The service throughout is noticeably good. Cabin attendants on our sailing went that extra mile bringing playing cards to our kids when they needed something to do; waiters remembered those that were trying to avoid carbs and asked if bread was wanted instead of just bringing it out. Overall, the crew made an effort to offer personalized and intimate service, even while being on a big ship.
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Inclusions
Included with your cruise fare:
- Three main dining rooms, the buffet and select other eateries
- All theater shows
- Most daily activities, unless otherwise noted
- Use of the gym, but not most classes
- Gratuities, but only when the ship is sailing in Australia or New Zealand and the onboard currency is Australian dollars.
Not included with your cruise fare:
- Gratuities ($16.50 per person, per day for suites; $15.50 per person, per day for those in mini-suites; and $14.50 per person, per day for everyone else)
- Automatic beverage and spa tips (18 percent for both)
- All drinks beyond basic coffees, teas (hot and iced), water (not bottled) and select juices in the buffet
- Spa treatments
- Shore excursions
- Wi-Fi
- Laundry
- Photos and retail store purchases
Fellow Passengers
Ruby Princess appeals to multigen travelers, with families finding that there are plenty of things for kids, adults and grandparents to do. Couples, too, are common, though we noticed most stayed in the adult-only sections.
The ship's Alaska sailings generally skew older because it's a more expensive itinerary, and while there were a good number of senior citizens, there were also a number of baby boomers and families. In fact, the kids camp was well-attended (about 50 kids in total on our sailing). In addition to the mainly American clientele, there were many Asian passengers, and Chinese tours and translations were offered.
Ruby Princess Dress Code
Daytime: Princess cruises are informal during the day, and most passengers simply dress for the weather.
Evening: Most nights the dress code is informal, but there are two formal nights on most cruises. The dress code was pretty casual on informal nights -- everything from jeans and sweaters to casual dresses. While some passengers really got dolled up on formal night -- tuxes and suits -- a good majority of them just wore nice dresses and pant suits for women and buttoned-up and collared shirts for men.
Not Permitted: The only items of clothing specifically not permitted in restaurants are bathing suits (all venues) and tank tops (main dining rooms and most specialty restaurants).
For more information, visit Cruise Line Dress Codes: Princess.
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