Dear First-Time Ruby Princess Cruiser,

Welcome aboard! Based on countless passenger experiences, here’s the insider knowledge that will help you navigate your Ruby Princess adventure like a seasoned cruiser.

The Ruby Princess will be Completely Booked

This cruise ship is as large as it can get and still visit glaciers at the Endicott Arm. We had hoped that booking late in the season would mean fewer children and passengers. There were only 45 children aboard but the total number of passengers was slightly above capacity (3100 vs 3080). It turns out that if any cabins become available, they are eagerly filled by locals of San Francisco.

This is owing to the sea days (6 in total) where the newly refurbished casino is in full operation. It is also owing to food on board, which by necessity is comparable to and even superior to that obtained in the city of San Francisco.

The Ruby Princess, in every sense, competes with the city of San Francisco as an attraction and you will know that by spending a few days on shore. It is also less expensive than vacationing in San Francisco and staying at hotels with comparable accommodations.

The Ruby Princess on the San Francisco California to Skagway Alaska route is a favorite and you will find that several passengers have booked the Ruby Princess for this route multiple times. Princess Premier Passengers earn their status by booking this ship multiple times. The loyalty program favors this 11 day cruise in earning Princess Premier status.

Bathroom Etiquette & Toilet Tips

The Golden Rule: No Double Flushing (Initially)
Many passengers report that Ruby Princess toilets work best when you wait 10-15 seconds between flushes rather than immediately hitting the button twice. The vacuum system needs time to reset, and impatient double-flushing can actually cause blockages[1][2]. If your toilet isn’t flushing properly, contact housekeeping immediately rather than repeatedly trying the switch. Early in the cruise, we observed mops and carpet drying on our deck likely caused by toilet overflow.

Bring Your Own Supplies
Pack extra toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and wet wipes. Also bring N95 masks. While housekeeping is generally excellent, having backup supplies ensures comfort.

We had an outbreak of COVID-19 on our voyage. This was expected given that both California and Alaska had outbreaks. The sick were quarantined in their rooms. Masks were worn by many including ourselves. We did get COVID a few days after the cruise, likely because we didn’t take masking as seriously as we should have. Other passengers mentioned that it was good the outbreak happened late in the cruise so on shore attention could be given latter.

Take head (toilet) problems seriously

You do not need a red bag (as per the train wreck film poop cruise) but don’t buy into customer service claims that there has never been a sewage breakdown on the Ruby Princess. BTW, We did find a blue Princess Cruise line bag in our closet. Three decks had sewage lines blocked at the same time on our cruise.

There may have never been a situation exactly like Poop Cruise but smaller episodes can be expected. If one occurs on your deck, find a manager that has seen Poop cruise. The film should be required watching for every Princess Cruise crew member. Crew members have trouble visualizing the horror of inoperable heads and hence do not escalate to management in a timely manner. In our case, the decks with inoperable sewage lines were known before passengers were waking up but the night staff didn’t (wouldn’t) notify day management, passengers (me) had to.

The electric switch on the heads operates on a battery. If you suspect the switch is broken or the battery has run down, get the entire switch replaced. Plumbers on board can do this easily and are happy to do so. They will also swap out the bathroom motion sensor light with a non motion sensor one if this is requested.

Be certain your stateroom head operates as you expect. Flush several times (giving 15 seconds between flushing) before unpacking your bags and get a temporary accommodation if the plumber seems to be required. The previous passenger may have experimented with flushing prohibited items and succeeded. Seriously, plastic water bottles may flush (owing to the powerful vacuum) but you are specifically told not to do so. Passengers joke about experimenting with potentially flushable items.

Buffet Line Strategy & Food Quality

Respect Closed Sections
When buffet stations display “closed” signs or have sneeze guards down, don’t lift them or reach around. These areas are being sanitized or restocked. Violating this rule can result in foodborne illness and delays reopening for everyone.

It can be confusing when an area closes. You might expect the next nearest to open but it could be the area around the other side of the ship, perhaps a considerable distance from where you have seats. This happens when switching from breakfast to lunch.

The Great Cheese & Donut Debate
Experienced passengers warn that some cheese selections and certain pastries (especially donuts) may have been previously frozen and can taste stale or rubbery. Check the texture before loading your plate, and don’t hesitate to ask staff when items were freshly prepared.

Taco Assembly Line No-No
Never build elaborate tacos or complex dishes directly in the buffet line. This creates bottlenecks and frustrated passengers behind you. Instead, grab your tortilla, proteins, and basics, then step aside to a table for assembly. Keep the line moving!

Scout System Courtesy
While it’s tempting to send someone ahead to “hold your place” at popular buffet stations, this practice annoys fellow cruisers. If you must scout ahead, keep your party size small and don’t send someone to hold multiple spots for a large group.

Balcony Glacier Viewing Excellence

Prime Viewing Strategy
For Alaska cruises, book a port-side balcony cabin if possible for optimal glacier viewing in popular destinations. However, the ship may turn around, so starboard balconies also get excellent views at different times. This was our experience at Endicott Arm.

Dress Warmly
Even in summer, Alaska mornings can be 35-45°F on deck. Pack layers, gloves, and waterproof jackets. Your beautiful balcony photos won’t matter if you’re too cold to enjoy the experience.

Share the Rails
During scenic cruising, don’t monopolize prime deck space. Take your photos, enjoy the view, then allow others the same opportunity by backing away from the rails.

Room Service & Tipping Wisdom

Room Service Reality Check
Ruby Princess room service can be slow during peak times (breakfast and dinner rushes). Order 45-60 minutes ahead of when you want to eat, especially for continental breakfast items. The service charge is automatic, but small additional tips for exceptional service are appreciated.

Gratuity vs. Tipping Confusion
Your daily gratuities ($15.50-$16.50 per person per day) cover housekeeping, dining staff, and behind-the-scenes crew. This is separate from:

• Beverage package gratuities (included in Princess Plus/Premier)
• Specialty restaurant service charges (usually 18%)
• Room service delivery fees (usually $4-6 per order)
• Optional additional tips for exceptional service

Don’t feel pressured to tip beyond the automatic gratuities unless service truly exceeds expectations.

General Ruby Princess Survival Tips

Elevator Strategy
Use stairs between Decks 5-8 during peak times (embarkation, disembarkation, dinner). The elevators get crowded, and you’ll often arrive faster on foot.

The elevators are likely the biggest flaw on the Ruby Princess. You will envy crew who have stem to stern deck access as well as crew only elevators. Nonetheless, things would be better if passengers didn’t get on elevators going in the wrong direction to reserve a spot for the ride back up. This fills up elevators and blocks handicap access. It also contributes to virus spread. Note: special routs are provided for mobility cars. Please use them and refrain from using walkers as a tool (battering ram) for riding elevators.

Specialty Dining Timing
Make specialty restaurant reservations immediately after boarding. Popular venues like Crown Grill fill up quickly, especially on sea days.

Laundry Room Etiquette
The ship’s self-service laundry rooms get busy. Remove your clothes promptly when cycles finish, and don’t leave items unattended for hours.

One of the perks of frequent Princess customers is the free room laundry service you get in Premium Class. It is considered by some to be the main reason for becoming a premier class cruiser.

Medical Preparedness
Pack motion sickness remedies, basic pain relievers, wrist bands and any prescription medications with extras. The medical center is available but charges for services not covered by travel insurance. Acupuncture for sea sickness is offered at $250 US an is guaranteed for the duration of the cruise.

Follow Crew Instructions at All Times

I didn’t realize that the medallions issued to passengers are color coded. The Cheechako medallion signifies that you are new to cruising. (The word Cheechako comes from Chinook Jargon, a historic pidgin language that developed for trade in the Pacific Northwest. It’s a compound of “chee” meaning “new” and “chako” meaning “to come” or “arrive,” so it literally translates as “just arrived”) The gold medallion (issued to those on their second Ruby Princess cruise) signifies that you should know better.

At one of the off broadway shows, crew told attendees to move to the center of the newly refurbished theater. A passenger would not do so and when I ask her why she stated “I am on vacation and that means I don’t have to do everything I am told to.”

Cruising isn’t like that. You do have to do as crew tell you to. It is more like airplane travel that way. If you can’t follow crew instructions, then cruising isn’t for you. Watch the safety instructions as told and clear decks for evacuations.

The Ruby Princess has had three evacuations by helicopter in the last two years. You have to leave the upper decks so the helicopter can lower a stretcher.

Beware of Maritime Service Data Charges

Even with ship WiFi, our in-airplane-mode devices still racked up data charges. This according to AT&T is owing to overlapping service by a third party near ports. We have unlimited roaming and unlimited data on our devices and this covers both the USA and Canada yet each had a Maritime Service Data Charge.

Note that Alaska Airlines is implementing an airplane mode system where you can still have data for text. My thoughts are that we live in the dark ages. The work around for AT&T doesn’t exist outside of daily international charging at a cost of $12 per day. Plan to have the charges reversed and contact your cell phone carrier to see if this technical issue has been addressed before cruising.

Final Disembarking

We found disembarking at San Francisco disagreeable because the taxi drivers bargain for fairs with those going to the airport getting priority service. Uber drivers had to queue up in a zone so full of baggage and cruise passengers that this isn’t a taxi solution.

We rolled our bags half a mile and called Uber from there. In hindsight, I understand why Princess Cruise passengers book hotels through Princess Cruise Lines. Bags are delivered from ship to shore and passengers disembark before all others. But the shore accommodation is twice as expensive as when you book yourself.

Final Wisdom

Remember that the Ruby Princess, while generally excellent, is a 17-year-old ship with occasional maintenance quirks[3]. Patience and flexibility will enhance your experience. Most importantly, fellow passengers appreciate courtesy, common sense, and good humor when minor inconveniences arise.

Pro Tip: Download the MedallionClass app before boarding to check your account, make dining reservations, and track daily activities without waiting in guest services lines.

Bon voyage, and may your Ruby Princess adventure be smooth sailing!

Happy Cruising

Sources
[1] Ruby Princess – Bathroom Issues? – Cruise Critic https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2269433-ruby-princess-bathroom-issues/
[2] Disappointed onboard Ruby Princess : r/PrincessCruises – Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/PrincessCruises/comments/1cpbqdu/disappointed_onboard_ruby_princess/
[3] Ruby Princess accidents and incidents – CruiseMapper https://www.cruisemapper.com/accidents/Ruby-Princess-593