Royal Caribbean
Explorer of the Seas
- Cruises
- 68
- From
- $308
Ship comparison
Explorer of the Seas vs Ruby Princess
Princess Cruises
Ruby Princess
- Cruises
- 53
- From
- $769
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Explorer of the Seas is a large Royal Caribbean ship carrying 3,114 passengers, in service since 2000. Ruby Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 3,082 passengers, in service since 2008.
Choose Explorer of the Seas if you want a lower starting fare, a more family-friendly ship or a more active cruise: it outscores Ruby Princess for family friendly (9.0 vs 7.8) and active (7.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its cruises start from $308 (vs $769).
Choose Ruby Princess if you want better-rated staterooms, a more romantic trip or a newer ship: it outscores Explorer of the Seas for staterooms (10.0 vs 8.0) and romantic (8.0 vs 6.5) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores and its maiden voyage was in 2008 (vs 2000).
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Explorer of the Seas | Ruby Princess | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Royal Caribbean | Princess Cruises |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2000 | 2008 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2015 | 2018 (better) |
| Gross tonnage | 137,308 | 113,561 |
| Passengers | 3,114 | 3,082 |
| Crew | 1,185 | 1,210 |
| Passengers per crew memberfewer is better | 2.6 | 2.5 (better) |
| Space per passengergross tons per passenger; more is roomier | 44.1 (better) | 36.8 |
| Decks | 15 | 19 |
| Length | 1,020 ft | 950 ft |
| Beam | 157 ft | 118 ft |
| Speed | 27 mph | 26 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 7 / 10 | 8 / 10 (better) |
| Cruises on sale | 68 | 53 |
| Upcoming sailings | 106 | 76 |
| Cruise lengths | 4 to 14 nights | 5 to 16 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $308 (better) | $769 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Explorer of the Seas leads on 4 of the ten, Ruby Princess on 3, with 3 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Royal Caribbean
Explorer of the Seas
Is it adventure you seek or a restful retreat from life on land? Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas is home to an array of innovations that give you whatever type of vacation you desire. Climb a rock wall that overlooks the sea, or find your adventure on the basketball court, ice-skating rink or mini-golf course.
Highlights
- In-line skating tracks at the onboard ice skating rink
- Visiting Royal Caribbean's private beach resort, Labadee, in Haiti
- Playing basketball on the basketball court
- Adults-only swimming at Solarium
Sailing now
68 cruises on sale, from $308.
About Explorer of the Seas Plan my cruise on Explorer of the Seas
Princess Cruises
Ruby Princess
When I first walked on board Ruby Princess, I knew I was going to like this romantic gem of the Princess Cruises mega-ship fleet. Although she weighs in at 113,561 gross tons and houses 1,542 cabins, the floating hotel-like Ruby Princess has a warm, almost cozy feel and an old world meets modern day design.
Highlights
- Movies Under the Stars, a Princess tradition, is also offered on Ruby Princess.
- Head to the Piazza for live entertainment and a bustling main street feel.
- The Sanctuary offers a spa-like atmosphere to get away from the stresses of the day.
Sailing now
53 cruises on sale, from $769.
Questions
Explorer of the Seas or Ruby Princess?
Which is bigger, Explorer of the Seas or Ruby Princess?
Explorer of the Seas is bigger at 137,308 gross tons, against 113,561 gross tons for Ruby Princess. Explorer of the Seas carries 3,114 passengers and Ruby Princess carries 3,082.
Which ship is newer, Explorer of the Seas or Ruby Princess?
Ruby Princess is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2008 against 2000 for Explorer of the Seas.
Which has more space per passenger?
Explorer of the Seas, with 44.1 gross tons per passenger against 36.8 on Ruby Princess. The higher the figure, the more ship there is for each guest.
Which has more crew per passenger?
Ruby Princess, with one crew member for every 2.5 passengers against one for every 2.6 on Explorer of the Seas.
Which is better for families?
Explorer of the Seas scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 9.0 out of 10, against 7.8 for Ruby Princess.
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