The new Ruby Princess will be delivered earlier than previously expected, announced Princess Cruises. The line’s next new ship will now debut one week prior on November 8, 2008, creating a new inaugural voyage, a seven-day Western Caribbean sailing taking passengers to Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Princess Cays.
Passengers booked on the ship’s previously scheduled inaugural cruise on November 15 will have the opportunity to change their booking to the new November 8 sailing if they wish. Duplicate bookings have been made for all passengers booked on the original cruise, guaranteeing the same cabin on the new voyage. Those who wish to change sailings can call their travel agent or Princess by March 31, 2008. Passengers who wish to remain on the November 15 voyage need not take any action, as their duplicate reservation will expire at the end of the month.
“Of course we’re delighted that the construction schedule for Ruby Princess has been advanced by a week,” said Jan Swartz, Princess’ senior vice president of customer service and sales. “The early delivery provides a wonderful opportunity to offer even more passengers the chance to experience our beautiful new ship.”
Ruby Princess, a sister ship to Emerald Princess and Crown Princess, will feature a dramatic piazza-style atrium featuring small-bite eateries and an ever-changing array of performing street entertainers, Princess’ signature adults-only retreat called The Sanctuary, an Italian trattoria, a seafood and steak house, a “Movies Under the Stars” giant outdoor movie screen and 900 cabins with private balconies.
The 113,000-ton vessel will feature an inaugural season of Western Caribbean cruises roundtrip from Fort Lauderdale, followed by a program of Mediterranean voyages in summer 2009.
Fares for the maiden Ruby Princess season begin at $699.