Emerald versus Ruby

Since they are the same ship, they change the paint on the bow every Sunday, take the ship that will get you the sunny weather.

They're basically the same. It would depend on the captain, entertainment director, and cruise director for me--but those are something subject to change this far out.

I have sailed on both. And if you drove me to the port blindfolded and escorted me onto either ship I doubt I could distinguish between the two. (Until I looked at the Patter or the Princess at Sea on my phone)

Now that we have settled that part...are you sure the itineraries are the same? Both sail round-trip Seattle, but Ruby via Glacier Bay vs. Emerald via Tracy Arm Fjord. You did say you were looking at the fall (2018 I assume) but I don't see any one-off Alaska sailings from Seattle at the end of the season that would match each other.

I've been on both, they are identical, at least in all the ways I can recall.
What I like about them is that SHARE is available on these ships.

Two peas in a pod - physically. Just different staff and artwork on the walls.

Hi,

I have cruised on both ships. I agree with the comments above. The ships are nearly identical. Both ships are great.

Chuck

One is for your right hand and one is for your left hand?



Sorry could not resist.

I think the Emerald is a training ship given the experience we had on her to Alaska. Not great. Ruby was great.

Staff on Ruby always seems friendlier and the food on Ruby was better prepared. Cruise director on Emerald was never around, Ruby always saw him...same layout, same routines. I like Ruby much better overall.

Staff on Ruby always seems friendlier and the food on Ruby was better prepared. Cruise director on Emerald was never around, Ruby always saw him...same layout, same routines. I like Ruby much better overall.

When did you cruise them both? The CD's could have changed in the interim. What if they happened to swap?

Ruby is the nicer ship.

The only difference I found between the two is that the Ruby shows a little newer but otherwise they are the same beautiful ship


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When did you cruise them both? The CD's could have changed in the interim. What if they happened to swap?

I've cruised Ruby 3 times and Emerald 2...actually was a different cruise director on all due to their time off or swapping. But still came away with Ruby's CD always being memorable and Emerald's not, Was on Emerald at Thanksgiving...never saw CD once...not even at sailaway. Seemed like everyone was just on their own...whereas on Ruby the CD was in full sight, with microphone, full of energy, etc. But it was an extremely over populated cruise with way too many kids so he could of been lost in a sea of cruisers.

The only difference I found between the two is that the Ruby shows a little newer but otherwise they are the same beautiful ship


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This was our experience also. Although both ships are nice, if all things were equal, I would pick the Ruby.

I've cruised Ruby 3 times and Emerald 2...actually was a different cruise director on all due to their time off or swapping. But still came away with Ruby's CD always being memorable and Emerald's not, Was on Emerald at Thanksgiving...never saw CD once...not even at sailaway. Seemed like everyone was just on their own...whereas on Ruby the CD was in full sight, with microphone, full of energy, etc. But it was an extremely over populated cruise with way too many kids so he could of been lost in a sea of cruisers.

Love the debate over CDs. My Thanksgiving 2014 cruise on Ruby ranks near the top of my list of all cruises on all lines. Best service on all my Princess cruises for sure. Yet the CD was one that is near-unanimously disliked here on Cruise Critic as all-but-invisible and when visible having the personality of a rotting carp. (Accurate on both counts).

Forward to Emerald's final (to this point) Caribbean cruise in 2016: the CD was one of the most well known ones with a (deserved) reputation for being effusive and gregarious. And made not one whit of difference to me.

I will let you guess the names. And will also add that in 2009 and 2011 I also sailed with two different CDs that were well criticized on this board at the time--yet I thought the activities and entertainment were better run than usual. So to each our own I guess.

And we just recently sailed on the Emerald 28 day LA-Tahiti cruise with Dave Clark, who is BY FAR the VERY best CD we've had in our almost 50 cruises!!!
The crew were attentive and seemed happy. I think they respond to management's attitude.

I'd go by itinerary - the ships are virtually the same.

Although the ships are nearly identical, I have found the entertainment on Ruby to be superior, particularly the musicians.

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And we just recently sailed on the Emerald 28 day LA-Tahiti cruise with Dave Clark, who is BY FAR the VERY best CD we've had in our almost 50 cruises!!!
The crew were attentive and seemed happy. I think they respond to management's attitude.

I'd go by itinerary - the ships are virtually the same.

LOVED Dave Clark too!!!!

We sailed on the Ruby, then the day after disembarking from Ruby, sailed away on the Emerald. Even had the same cabin on both ships. Yes, they are "twins", but we very much preferred the Emerald. Hard to say why, just that the Emerald seemed to have it all together better.