Cruise Spotlight
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Ruby Princess vs Sun
The Princess Cruises Ruby Princess was built in 2008. It was renovated in 2018. This ship is the second to sail under the Regal Princess name. It's 7 years newer than the Sun, which was built in 2001 and renovated in 2018.
Comparison Overview
- Ship Size
- Number of Passengers
- Food and Restaurants
- Bars and Drinks
- Pools and Hot Tubs
- Ship Features and Activities
- Cruise Costs
- Onboard Costs
Ship Size
The Ruby Princess is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 951 feet long and 118 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.6 football fields, as wide as 2.2 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 19-story building. Compared to the Norwegian Sun, the Ruby Princess is 45% larger in terms of overall tons.
Number of Passengers
Princess Cruises Ruby Princess holds 59% more passengers than the Sun based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or the total tonnage of a ship compared to the number of passengers, the Ruby Princess has less space per person compared to the Sun.
| Princess Cruises Ruby Princess | Norwegian Sun | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Crown | Sun |
| Gross Tonnage | 113,561 | 78,309 |
| Length | 951 | 848 |
| Beam/Width | 118 | 123 |
| Passenger Decks | 19 | 8 |
| Passengers (double occupancy) | 3,080 | 1,936 |
| Crew | 1,200 | 906 |
| Passenger to Crew Ratio | 2.6 | 2.1 |
| Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger) | 37 | 40 |
Food and Restaurants
Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.
The Ruby Princess has 18 different dining options like Crown Grill, World Fresh Marketplace, and Coffee and Cones. Of those options, 11 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 5 options have an additional fee.
The Sun has 1 more dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Teppanyaki, Los Lobos, and La Cucina Italian. 9 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 9 have an additional fee.
The Princess Cruises Ruby Princess has about the same number of dining options as the Norwegian Sun.
If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Ruby Princess might be a better choice then the Sun. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.
| Princess Cruises Ruby Princess | Norwegian Sun | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Dining Options | 18 | 19 |
| Complimentary Dining Options: | 11 | 9 |
| Additional Fee Dining Options: | 5 | 9 |
| % of Included Options | 72% | 53% |
| See the options | See the options |
In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.
There are also plenty of bars available on these ships. You can check out recent the bar menus for the Sun below.
Pools and Hot Tubs
Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.
The Princess Cruises Ruby Princess has a total of 4 pools and 6 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.
Norwegian Sun has fewer pools than the Ruby Princess and fewer hot tubs.
| Princess Cruises Ruby Princess | Norwegian Sun | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Pools | 4 | 2 |
| Pools - General Access | 3 | 2 |
| Pools - Adults Only | 1 | |
| Pools - Exclusive | ||
| Total Hot Tubs | 6 | 5 |
| Hot Tubs - General Access | 4 | 5 |
| Hot Tubs - Adults Only | 2 | |
| Hot Tubs - Exclusive |
Ship Features and Activities
Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On the Ruby Princess, 67% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Sun, only 50% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.
| Princess Cruises Ruby Princess | Norwegian Sun | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults-only area (additional fee) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Afternoon Tea | ✓ | ✗ |
| Arcade | ✗ | ✓ |
| Art Auctions | ✓ | ✗ |
| Basketball | ✗ | ✓ |
| Casino | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fitness Center | ✓ | ✓ |
| Jogging Track | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pool-side Movies | ✓ | ✗ |
| Putting green | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shows - musical review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Spa | ✓ | ✓ |
| Sports Court | ✓ | ✗ |
| Thermal Suites | ✓ | ✗ |
| Learn more | Learn more |
Cruise Costs
Princess Cruises is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.
Norwegian, on the other hand, is considered a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.
Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit the cruise line's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.
Onboard Costs
Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.
Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.
The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.
| Princess Cruises Ruby Princess | Norwegian Sun | |
|---|---|---|
| Base Daily Gratuities* (Per Person Per Day) | $17.00 | $20.00 |
| Tip added to drinks & services | 18% | 20% |
| Soda Price | $2.50 | $3.50 |
| Domestic Beer Price | $6.25 | $7.00 See drink menus |
| Drink Package Price | $77 -$100 | 106 Learn more |
| Internet Plan | $24.99 per device per day | $29.99 - $39.99 per cabin per day, with $5 for each extra device |
| *Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates. | ||
Princess Cruises offers two packages to bundle onboard expenses. The Princess Plus package includes daily gratuities, the basic beverage package, 2 fitness classes, 2 casual dining meals, and internet for $60 per day per guest. The Princess Premier package upgrades to the premiere beverage package, wifi for up to 4 devices per guest, two specialty dining meals, unlimited casual dining meals, unlimited fitness classes, and a photo package for $80 per guest per day.
Norwegian Cruise Line offers a More at Sea fare. Through this program, guests receive open bar, a discount on excursions, some free internet, and some meals at specialty restaurants. If you book using this promotion, you'll be responsible for the gratuities on the dining and drink package. If you won't be using these options, booking a "sail away" rate that doesn't include the More at Sea benefits is considerably cheaper. Also, most of these benefits are the base packages; you can spend more to upgrade to better alcoholic drinks or faster/more wifi.
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Founded in 2020, Cruise Spotlight's goal is to help people understand every aspect of cruising. Plenty of sites focus on the perfect Instagram pictures and marketing fluff. We focus on what really matters: onboard expenses, tips for cruise ships, detailed cruise reviews, and more. Our goal is to provide helpful, unbiased information to new and established cruisers. Over the years, we've helped millions of people get the most from their cruise vacation.
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