Best-Value Itineraries
Ruby Princess - Hawaiian Islands from San Francisco vs Nieuw Amsterdam - 17-Day Circle Hawaii from San Diego
Both of these are long, no-fly Hawaii voyages with roughly nine Pacific sea days each: Ruby Princess sails 16 nights round-trip under the Golden Gate from San Francisco, while Nieuw Amsterdam runs a 17-night Circle Hawaii from San Diego. They cover the same four islands but differ in pace, port depth, ship vibe, and price.
At a Glance
Ruby Princess - Hawaiian Islands from San Francisco
Princess Cruises
Nieuw Amsterdam - 17-Day Circle Hawaii from San Diego
Holland America Line
Highlighted rows show where the two differ.
Amenity Differences
Only on Ruby Princess - Hawaiian Islands from San Francisco
- + Adults-Only Area
- + International Café
- + Kids Club
- + MedallionClass Experience
- + Movies Under the Stars
- + Nine-hole putting course
- + OceanMedallion wearable
- + Piazza Atrium
- + Salty Dog gastropub
- + Slice Pizzeria
- + The Piazza Atrium
- + Vines wine & seafood bar
- + Wine Bar
On both
- ✓ Buffet
- ✓ Casino
- ✓ Fitness Center
- ✓ Main Dining Room
- ✓ Pool
- ✓ Spa
- ✓ Specialty Dining
- ✓ Theater & Shows
- ✓ Thermal Suite
Only on Nieuw Amsterdam - 17-Day Circle Hawaii from San Diego
- + 24-hour room service
- + B.B. King's Blues Club
- + Billboard Onboard
- + Culinary Arts Center
- + Dive-In poolside grill
- + Explorations Central
- + Explorers Lounge
- + Library
- + Lincoln Center Stage
- + Lincoln Center Stage / Vivace classical ensemble
- + Morimoto by Sea (added 2024)
- + Notable onboard art collection
- + Observation Lounge
- + Opening bow for Alaska glacier viewing
- + Rolling Stone Lounge
- + Sports Court
What Real Travelers Say
Pros and cons from real traveler discussions about each ship.
Ruby Princess
- Specialty dining is a highlight - Crown Grill and Sabatini's earn consistent praise
- Personable, going-the-extra-mile service is the most-repeated compliment
- The Sanctuary adults-only retreat with Serenity Stewards delivers a real escape
- Larger Lotus Spa with thermal suite is more elaborate than on Grand-class sisters
- More intimate, easier-to-navigate size than the newer Royal-class megaships
- Main dining room and buffet food quality is the top complaint
- Visible post-pandemic cutbacks with reduced menu variety
- Showing its 2008 age, with some worn linens and tired cabin finishes
- Horizon Court buffet draws crowding and occasional hygiene gripes
- Lacks modern Royal-class features like the SeaWalk and larger atrium
Nieuw Amsterdam
- Among the best dining in the Holland America fleet, with strong specialty venues including Pinnacle Grill, Tamarind, Canaletto and the Morimoto by Sea added in 2024
- Midsize ship at around 2,100 guests, so venues rarely feel crowded and the atmosphere stays relaxed and uncrowded
- Outstanding for Alaska - the bow opens to passengers for excellent glacier and wildlife viewing
- Warm, frequently praised crew service
- Lido Pool's retractable glass roof keeps it usable in any weather
- Cabins feel dated and small by modern standards, with worn decor and compact bathrooms cited as in need of refurbishment
- Skews heavily older, with an average passenger in their early sixties and programming aimed at a 55-plus crowd
- Mobility traffic - scooters and walkers in narrow hallways are noted by some guests
- Service can be inconsistent, with some reporting an understaffed or going-through-the-motions main dining room and Lido
- Some public spaces and the atrium feel dated and don't wow
The Verdict
The islands are similar; the personality isn't. Ruby Princess packs four Hawaiian ports on consecutive days, keeps you in Honolulu until 11 PM for Pearl Harbor plus a Waikiki evening, and fills the sea days with Movies Under the Stars, hula and lei-making — a bigger, livelier ship and that iconic Golden Gate sail-away. Nieuw Amsterdam gives you a bit more Hawaii for slightly less money: an overnight in Honolulu and five port calls including both Kona and Hilo, so you see both sides of the Big Island's volcanoes, aboard a smaller, more refined Holland America ship known for a calmer, more mature onboard feel and Morimoto by Sea dining. One extra night buys you more ashore but a quieter ship; the shorter Princess trip is more energetic and departs from the more dramatic port.
Choose Ruby Princess - Hawaiian Islands from San Francisco if…
Pick Ruby Princess if you want a livelier, more entertainment-driven ship, a late Honolulu night, and that unbeatable round-trip under the Golden Gate — one fewer night at sea.
See Ruby Princess - Hawaiian Islands from San FranciscoChoose Nieuw Amsterdam - 17-Day Circle Hawaii from San Diego if…
Pick Nieuw Amsterdam if you'll trade an extra day for more Hawaii — an overnight in Honolulu and both Big Island sides — on a smaller, calmer, more refined ship at a slightly lower fare.
See Nieuw Amsterdam - 17-Day Circle Hawaii from San Diego