Ruby Princess
Product brand
UnclaimedRuby Princess is a Crown-class cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises.
Last updated August 22, 2026
Overview
Ruby Princess is a large cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises, which is part of Carnival Corporation & plc. Built by Fincantieri in Italy, the vessel was delivered in October 2008 and became the third and final ship in Princess Cruises’ Crown class. With a gross tonnage of approximately 113,561 GT, it was also the ninth and last Grand-class-related vessel to enter the Princess fleet. Its design retained the broad architecture of the modified Grand class while incorporating changes intended to distinguish the Crown-class ships from earlier sisters. One notable alteration placed the nightclub just behind the funnel rather than in the suspended-over-the-stern arrangement used on some earlier designs. Ruby Princess was the largest ship in the Princess fleet until Royal Princess entered service in 2013. The ship’s early commercial career included a public christening in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in November 2008. Trista Sutter and Ryan Sutter served as godparents at the ceremony. Ruby Princess operated its inaugural voyage on a Western Caribbean itinerary and later undertook Mediterranean sailings during the summer of 2009. Over subsequent years, its itineraries included destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, the Panama Canal, Hawaii, Alaska, Australia, New Zealand and other cruise regions. Its offering is the cruise voyage itself: accommodation, dining, entertainment, onboard recreation and shore visits delivered through Princess Cruises’ vacation business. Ruby Princess became internationally associated with the COVID-19 pandemic after its March 2020 voyage from Sydney around New Zealand. The cruise departed on 8 March 2020 but was curtailed as the outbreak intensified. It returned to Sydney on 19 March, two days ahead of schedule, and approximately 2,700 passengers were allowed to disembark. Subsequent investigations and public-health reporting linked the vessel to hundreds of confirmed infections in Australia and to cases in New Zealand. At least 28 deaths were ultimately associated with the voyage, including deaths of passengers in Australia, the United States and elsewhere. The incident prompted a criminal investigation, a New South Wales Special Commission of Inquiry and a federal review of Australia's human-biosecurity procedures. The New South Wales inquiry report, published in August 2020, examined the decisions and communications surrounding the ship's arrival and passenger disembarkation. A later Inspector-General of Biosecurity review concluded that relevant inspection procedures had not been followed and issued more than 40 recommendations. The ship returned to public attention during further COVID-19 outbreaks in 2022. Cruises to Mexico, the Panama Canal and Hawaii were associated with reported onboard infections, including a Hawaii voyage on which 143 passengers tested positive. In July 2023, Ruby Princess sustained damage after making unexpected contact with Pier 27 while docking in San Francisco at the end of an Alaska cruise. Repairs and United States Coast Guard requirements delayed departure and shortened the following itinerary. Despite these incidents, Ruby Princess remains an active Princess Cruises vessel and continues to operate regional and international cruise itineraries.
History
Ruby Princess was constructed for Princess Cruises by Fincantieri at its Italian facilities in Monfalcone and Trieste. It was delivered at Monfalcone on 23 October 2008 and became the third and final Crown-class ship. The vessel continued the design direction of the modified Grand class, but its internal arrangement included changes such as relocating the nightclub to a position immediately aft of the funnel. At approximately 113,561 GT, it was the largest ship in the Princess fleet until Royal Princess entered service in 2013. The ship sailed toward its inaugural homeport at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, arriving on 4 November 2008. It was christened there on 6 November by Trista Sutter and Ryan Sutter. Its first commercial voyage began on 8 November 2008 as a Western Caribbean cruise. During its first full operating cycle, the vessel also conducted Mediterranean voyages in summer 2009. It subsequently served Princess Cruises' international itinerary network, including cruises in the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, Australia and New Zealand. The most consequential episode in Ruby Princess history occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. On 8 March 2020, the ship departed Sydney for a planned 13-night New Zealand itinerary. The voyage was cut short on 15 March, and the ship returned directly to Sydney. It arrived early on 19 March, while health authorities were assessing passengers for possible infection. Approximately 2,700 passengers were permitted to leave the vessel that morning. Testing later showed extensive transmission among passengers and crew. By early April, hundreds of passenger cases had been recorded across Australian states and territories, and infections were also associated with New Zealand. The eventual death toll connected with the ship was reported as at least 28. The vessel remained near the Australian coast while crew members were assessed and repatriated. It moved to Port Kembla on 5 April 2020. Several crew members were medically evacuated, and hundreds were later disembarked for repatriation to countries including Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, the United Kingdom and the United States. Ruby Princess left Port Kembla on 23 April and reached Manila in May, where Filipino crew members disembarked. The incident generated criminal and administrative scrutiny. New South Wales Police launched Strike Force Bast to investigate the circumstances leading to docking and disembarkation without a conventional quarantine. The ship's voyage data recorder was seized. The New South Wales government then established a Special Commission of Inquiry chaired by Bret Walker. Its report, issued on 14 August 2020, assessed the conduct and decision-making of the relevant authorities and organizations. A separate Inspector-General of Biosecurity review, released on 29 April 2021, found that required inspection procedures had not been followed and proposed more than 40 improvements to Australia's management of human biosecurity risks on ships. Ruby Princess was again associated with COVID-19 cases in 2022. Reports cited positive cases on cruises to Mexico, the Panama Canal and Hawaii, including 143 positive passengers on the Hawaii voyage. In July 2023, the vessel made unexpected contact with San Francisco's Pier 27 while docking after an Alaska cruise. The impact damaged the aft hull. Temporary and additional repairs, including work required by the United States Coast Guard, delayed departure by about 36 hours and reduced the next intended ten-day itinerary to seven days. Ruby Princess nevertheless remained an operating Princess Cruises vessel.
- 2023
San Francisco pier contact
[1]The ship struck or made hard contact with Pier 27 while docking, causing hull damage and delaying its next sailing.
- 2021
Australian biosecurity review
[3]The Inspector-General of Biosecurity released a review of border health procedures connected with the incident.
- 2020
Sydney COVID-19 disembarkation
[1]After a shortened New Zealand cruise, approximately 2,700 passengers disembarked in Sydney on 19 March, followed by a major outbreak investigation.
- 2020
Special Commission report
[2]The New South Wales Special Commission of Inquiry published its report on 14 August.
- 2009
Mediterranean inaugural-season voyages
[1]Ruby Princess operated Mediterranean cruises during the summer season.
- 2008
Delivery to Princess Cruises
[1]Fincantieri delivered Ruby Princess at Monfalcone on 23 October, completing the third and final Crown-class ship.
- 2008
Christening and inaugural cruise
[1]The ship arrived at Port Everglades on 4 November, was christened on 6 November and began its first voyage on 8 November on a Western Caribbean itinerary.
Products and positioning
A large, full-service Princess Cruises vessel positioned around destination-led leisure cruising, onboard hospitality and resort-style entertainment.
Cruise travel · 2008
Ruby Princess cruise voyages
The vessel's principal offering is multi-day ocean cruising. Voyages combine passenger cabins, dining, entertainment, recreation and organized port calls. During its career, Ruby Princess has served regional and international routes including the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, the Panama Canal, Australia and New Zealand.
Cruise ship services · 2008
Onboard hospitality and entertainment
As a Princess Cruises ship, Ruby Princess provides the integrated hotel and leisure services associated with a full-service cruise vessel, including accommodation, meals, public spaces, entertainment and access to shore excursions. The ship's design includes a nightclub positioned aft of the funnel, a feature associated with its modified Grand-class layout.
Controversies
2022
Further onboard COVID-19 outbreaks
The vessel was among cruise ships investigated by the CDC after reported outbreaks on voyages to Mexico, the Panama Canal and Hawaii. The Hawaii cruise reportedly produced 143 positive passenger tests.
2020
COVID-19 outbreak and passenger disembarkation
Ruby Princess became the focus of public-health and legal scrutiny after approximately 2,700 passengers left the ship in Sydney on 19 March 2020. The voyage was subsequently associated with hundreds of infections and at least 28 deaths. Investigations examined health information, communication and the decision to permit disembarkation.
Brand decisions
2023
Repairs after San Francisco docking contactOtherBackground
Ruby Princess made unexpected contact with Pier 27 at the end of a ten-day Alaska cruise on 6 July.
Action taken
The operator patched the aft hull and undertook further repairs after the United States Coast Guard required additional work.
Aftermath
Departure was delayed until 9 July and the following ten-day cruise was reduced to seven days.
2020
Curtailment of New Zealand voyageStrategyBackground
The ship's 13-night New Zealand cruise departed Sydney on 8 March as COVID-19 concerns were escalating.
Action taken
The voyage was ended early on 15 March and Ruby Princess returned directly to Sydney rather than completing the planned port sequence.
Aftermath
The ship arrived in Sydney on 19 March, where passenger disembarkation became the subject of extensive public-health, criminal and administrative investigations.
Recent events
- 2023
Ruby Princess contacts San Francisco pier during docking[1]
Other
The ship made unexpected contact with Pier 27 in San Francisco after an Alaska cruise. The aft hull was punctured, repairs were required and the next voyage was delayed and shortened.
Sources4 sources
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