Why I Fell in Love with Ruby Princess: California Coast Cruise Highlights

I’ve just come back from a fantastic week at sea on a Princess Cruises fam trip, sailing the California Coast on Ruby Princess.  It was my first time sailing with Princess, and let’s just say it will not be my last.

I flew into San Francisco and had one night there before joining the ship.  This was very much a “head down and reset” stop for me rather than sightseeing, but it worked perfectly.  A good sleep, a chance to regroup after the flight, and then I was ready to board Ruby Princess the next morning and get into cruise mode.

First impressions, Ruby Princess is one of the older ships in the Princess fleet, and I absolutely loved that about her.  She feels like an elegant lady: classic, spacious, with lots of room to move around and plenty of cosy corners to sit and people-watch.

What really stood out was the crew.  They were superb from start to finish, always smiling and genuinely keen to help.  I have recently found out I have a few food intolerances and did struggle a little at first with the main menus, but once I spoke to the restaurant teams they went above and beyond.  They chatted with the chef most nights and created some fabulous off-menu dishes for me.  Nothing was too much trouble, and that personal care made me feel special rather than a nuisance.

I was on the Princess Premier package and I genuinely loved it.  For me, it took the stress out of decision-making and made everything feel that bit more indulgent.

Some of my favourite inclusions were:

Unlimited photography: I could have as many photos taken as I wanted, then download them all for free.  Perfect if (like me) you end up with hundreds of photos on your phone but very few of yourself in them!  Rather than avoid the photographer I found myself getting more taken and some lovely memories to bring home.

Drinks up to 20 USD: I could enjoy a great choice of drinks without constantly checking the bill, which makes evenings so much more relaxing.

Superb Wi‑Fi: The Wi‑Fi really surprised me.  It was the quickest I’ve ever had at sea, which meant I could keep on top of work admin and stay active on social media with no problem.

Speciality dining: I also benefitted from speciality dining, which was excellent.  It is lovely to mix up your evenings with more intimate venues and some beautifully presented dishes.

For anyone who likes their holiday to feel easy and a bit more “all taken care of”, Princess Premier is worth looking at.

The magic of the Medallion

The highlight for me must be the Princess Medallion.  It honestly changes the whole onboard experience.

Before I even reached my cabin, my door had already unlocked as I approached.  You can use the Medallion for purchases around the ship, to help with directions by the lifts, and for so many other little touches that just make life easier.  It feels very slick and modern, but in a way that takes away hassle rather than adding tech stress.

It is one of those things you quickly get used to and then wonder how you ever cruised without it.

Ports of call on the California Coast

We sailed the California Coast with a mix of iconic and fun stops.  Here is a little flavour of what I got up to.

Catalina Island

On Catalina I chose to do a pedicab tour, which was such good fun.  It is a lovely way to see the island, soak in the atmosphere and scenery, and let someone else do the hard work on the hills!  It was a marvellous way to get my bearings and enjoy the sunshine.

Los Angeles

In Los Angeles I went fully into “Hollywood mode”.  I used Ubers to get around, which made it easy to maximise my time ashore.

I headed to West Hollywood to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  I particularly wanted to see Dolly Parton’s star, so that was a little personal mission ticked off.  The area itself isn’t the nicest, more of a quick photo stop than a place to linger, but it is one of those must‑see icons.

I then did a Hollywood Hills star homes tour, which was a fun, slightly cheesy but very entertaining way to see another side of LA.

A real highlight was a hotel inspection at The Beverly Hills Wilshire (where Pretty Woman was filmed).  It is a gorgeous hotel and very much a place to be seen or to sit and people-watch if you are in Beverly Hills.

I wandered along Rodeo Drive, admiring the designer shops and the very expensive cars, and indulged in a bit more people‑watching before heading back to the ship.

I even managed to drive past Vivian’s apartment from Pretty Woman and the Oppenheim Group office where Selling Sunset is filmed.  If you love your TV and film references like I do, it makes the day feel extra fun.

San Diego

In San Diego I did a quirky sea and land tour where the vehicle starts as a truck and then literally drives straight into the water and becomes a boat, without you changing vehicles.  It was a great way to see the city and coastline from different angles and to soak up more of that Californian sunshine.  I enjoyed seeing the wildlife so many seals and birds and also seen Dolphins playing.

Ensenada, Mexico

Ensenada was a shorter stop for me.  We arrived to traditional Mexican music, which was such a lovely welcome.  It felt like more of a quick port call for a little wander and a spot of shopping.  I spent about an hour ashore, had a browse, enjoyed the atmosphere, then headed back to Ruby Princess to relax and enjoy the quiet time onboard.

Life onboard: from galley tours to gala nights

As this was a fam trip, I had the chance to go behind the scenes a little too.  I joined a galley tour and a crew Q&A session, which was fascinating and gave a real insight into how much work and care goes into running the ship and keeping everything running so smoothly.

I also took part in Dress to Impress and Gala Night.  It is lovely to have an excuse to get dressed up, but one thing I really appreciated is that you can still dress in whatever you are comfortable with.  There is no pressure to go full ball gown if that is not your style.

Between the dining, the entertainment, the crew and the relaxed but polished atmosphere, I really felt at home on Ruby.

Final thoughts

Ruby Princess may be one of the older ships in the fleet, but for me that adds to her charm.  She is elegant, spacious and has a crew who genuinely care and make you feel special, especially if you have any dietary needs or preferences.

Princess Premier made life onboard feel wonderfully easy and indulgent, and the Medallion is a genuine game‑changer for the whole experience.

I would happily sail with Princess again in a heartbeat, and I came home from this fam trip full of ideas and first‑hand experience to share with my cruise clients.

If you are curious about trying a California Coast & Mexico sailing or want to know if Princess is the right fit for you, I would love to chat through it and help you find the perfect sailing.