How similar are the layouts of different ships?

Last year my husband and I took our first cruise for our honeymoon. We sailed on the Golden to Alaska. We just booked our second cruise on the Ruby to Mexico next year. Should we expect the ship's features to be very similar and in all the same places? Or are there different features/layouts on different ships? I have heard people talk about different "classes" of ships within the Princess fleet, but I'm not really sure what all that means or which ships are in which class. Thanks for your help!

We've been on Sun and Dawn, which are the same class of ship, and they were virtually identical apart from a couple of things eg Sun has an International Cafe and Kai Seafood bar, and Dawn doesn't. We've also sailed on Golden, which is a different class and bigger, so although there were similarly named places onboard they looked different. Ruby is a little bigger than Golden so there will probably be some differences. Have a look at the deck plans on the Princess website.

Edited August 26, 2016 by OzKiwiJJ

Most of the layout on the Ruby will be like the Golden.

 

Major differences:

 

No covered pool on the Ruby.

 

Ruby has one more passenger deck than the Golden.

 

Golden has Sabatini's on deck 7. Ruby had it on deck 15 until it was changed to Share last year.

 

Ruby has the Adagio lounge (deck 15) which does not exist on the Golden.

 

MUTS is over the Neptune's pool on the Golden, over the Calypso pool on the Ruby.

 

All four aft elevators go to the deck 6 aft dining room and Skywalkers on the Ruby. Only two of them went there on the Golden.

 

Pizza and ice cream counters are together on the Ruby, but are separate on the Golden.

 

Crown Grill on the Ruby is where Sabatini's was on the Golden.

 

Casino is on deck 6 on the Ruby, on deck 7 on the Golden.

 

Golden has some window full suites on deck 6 on the Golden. No window suites on the Ruby.

 

Future cruise sales and shore excursions are in different locations on the two ships.

 

Princess Links is above Skywalkers on the Ruby as is the jogging track.

 

Youth centers are in different locations on the two ships.

 

Crooners (piano bar) is on deck 7 on both ships near the atrium, but is on the starboard side on the Golden and on the port side on the Ruby.

 

Ruby as Cafe Caribe, a second buffet area, aft of the Horizon Court buffet. Golden does not have Cafe Caribe.

 

Deck 6 aft dining room has no restrooms on the Golden. The Ruby has restrooms there.

Edited August 26, 2016 by caribill

Last year my husband and I took our first cruise for our honeymoon. We sailed on the Golden to Alaska. We just booked our second cruise on the Ruby to Mexico next year. Should we expect the ship's features to be very similar and in all the same places? Or are there different features/layouts on different ships? I have heard people talk about different "classes" of ships within the Princess fleet, but I'm not really sure what all that means or which ships are in which class. Thanks for your help!

Many features are in the same location on the Ruby and the Golden as they are both variants of the Grand class and if you booked the same cabin category your cabin will have the same layout. Princess basically has five ship classes, the small ship Pacific, the Sun class including the Sun, Sea and Dawn, the Coral class including the Coral and Island, the Royal class including the Royal and Regal and the Grand class which includes the other nine ships. After the years and various drydocks there are sometimes significant differences between ships within a class but most features will be similar.

 

 

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Most of the layout on the Ruby will be like the Golden.

 

Major differences:

 

No covered pool on the Ruby.

 

Ruby has one more passenger deck than the Golden.

 

Golden has Sabatini's on deck 7. Ruby had it on deck 15 until it was changed to Share last year.

 

Ruby has the Adagio lounge (deck 15) which does not exist on the Golden.

 

MUTS is over the Neptune's pool on the Golden, over the Calypso pool on the Ruby.

 

All four aft elevators go to the deck 6 aft dining room and Skywalkers on the Ruby. Only two of them went there on the Golden.

 

Pizza and ice cream counters are together on the Ruby, but are separate on the Golden.

 

Crown Grill on the Ruby is where Sabatini's was on the Golden.

 

Casino is on deck 6 on the Ruby, on deck 7 on the Golden.

 

Golden has some window full suites on deck 6 on the Golden. No window suites on the Ruby.

 

Future cruise sales and shore excursions are in different locations on the two ships.

 

Princess Links is above Skywalkers on the Ruby as is the jogging track.

 

Youth centers are in different locations on the two ships.

 

Crooners (piano bar) is on deck 7 on both ships near the atrium, but is on the starboard side on the Golden and on the port side on the Ruby.

 

Ruby as Cafe Caribe, a second buffet area, aft of the Horizon Court buffet. Golden does not have Cafe Caribe.

 

Deck 6 aft dining room has no restrooms on the Golden. The Ruby has restrooms there.

Well said.

Last year my husband and I took our first cruise for our honeymoon. We sailed on the Golden to Alaska. We just booked our second cruise on the Ruby to Mexico next year. Should we expect the ship's features to be very similar and in all the same places? Or are there different features/layouts on different ships? I have heard people talk about different "classes" of ships within the Princess fleet, but I'm not really sure what all that means or which ships are in which class. Thanks for your help!

 

Caribill covered most of your question about the differences in post 3. We have been on both and can't think of much else to add. Carry around the little folding map that you are given at embarkation the first day or two just in case, but, by the second day you will probably be comfortable with how similar the two ships are.

Wow! Thank you all so much for the quick replies. Now I just want to be on the ship exploring!

You will recognise a lot from Golden. Ruby does have one more deck of cabins - so more passengers - perhaps the theatre and dining room will be a bit busier. Maybe it's worth heading to shows a little sooner to be sure of a seat.

 

There's a few extra bits - but if you liked Golden, you'll like Ruby.

 

Enjoy!

Overall, the Ruby will feel very similar to the Golden. The decor, the Princess Theater, Explorers Lounge, Piazza, Dining Rooms, Horizon Court Buffet, Cabins, all very much alike. caribill gave you an excellent overview of the differences. One additional thing not mentioned is the Ruby has Club Fusion instead of the Vista Lounge.