Ruby Princess - Classic California Coast from San Francisco
A 7-night Pacific Coast roundtrip on Ruby Princess from San Francisco, tracing California from Catalina Island to San Diego with a border stop in Ensenada.
Price Range
$
Budget
*Prices vary by cabin type, sailing date, and availability. Confirm rates with Princess Cruises before booking.
Ship Details — Ruby Princess
View full Ruby Princess details
Year Built
2008
Tonnage
113,561 GT
Passengers
3,080
Crew
1,200
Decks
19
Class
Grand
Itinerary & Route Map
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Where this cruise calls, day by day
6 ports and 2 sea days over 7 Nights.
- Day 1San Francisco, CA port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
San Francisco, CA
United StatesDepart Day 2 · At sea
- Day 3
Catalina Island, CA
United StatesPortCatalina sits 22 miles off the Los Angeles coast and feels a century removed from it. Ships anchor off Avalon and tender in to a small harbour town of pastel buildings where private cars are so restricted that residents wait years for a permit and most people drive golf carts. The round Casino building on the point never held gambling - it is a 1929 ballroom and theatre.
- Tour the Catalina Casino's Art Deco theatre and ballroom
- Glass-bottom boat or semi-submarine over the kelp forest at Lovers Cove
- Descanso Beach Club and the coastal path around the bay
- Zip line or an interior Hummer tour into the island's bison country
- Getting ashore
- Tender only into Avalon; the town is compact and entirely walkable from the tender landing.
- Best months
- May-Oct (Sep-Oct warmest water and clearest; winter swell causes tender cancellations)
- Day 4Los Angeles, CA port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Los Angeles, CA
United StatesPort - Day 5
San Diego, CA
United StatesPortSan Diego is one of the easiest cruise arrivals in the country: the B Street and Broadway piers sit directly on the downtown Embarcadero, with the aircraft carrier USS Midway permanently moored a few hundred yards along the same waterfront. The Gaslamp Quarter is a flat ten-minute walk. It works as both a turnaround port for Mexico runs and a pleasant one-day call.
- USS Midway Museum, with the flight deck and hangar open to walk
- Balboa Park's museums and the San Diego Zoo
- Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, the original Mexican-era settlement
- The ferry across the bay to Coronado and the Hotel del Coronado
- Getting ashore
- Docks downtown at the B Street or Broadway Pier; the Gaslamp Quarter, Midway and Little Italy are all walkable.
- Best months
- Year-round (Sep-Oct warmest and clearest; May-Jun often grey until afternoon)
- Day 6Ensenada port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
Ensenada
MexicoPort Day 7 · At sea
- Day 8San Francisco, CA port guide: where ships dock and what to do ashore
San Francisco, CA
United StatesArrive
Onboard Amenities
Cruise Highlights
About the Ship
What Travelers Say About Ruby Princess
Reviews of the ship itself — the same for every Ruby Princess sailing. Distilled from 137 traveler threads, passenger reviews and travel blogs.
Ruby Princess is a 2008-built Grand-class ship (Crown subclass) that delivers the classic, mid-size Princess experience rather than the bells and whistles of the line's newer Royal-class giants. At roughly 113,000 gross tons and 3,080 guests, she feels noticeably more intimate and walkable than ships like Royal or Sky Princess, and reviewers consistently describe a relaxed, traditional cruising vibe. Guests who value calm over crowds and warm service over the latest tech tend to be her biggest fans.
What People Love
- 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
Common Complaints
- 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