Royal Caribbean
Mariner of the Seas
- Cruises
- 39
- From
- $319
Ship comparison
Mariner of the Seas vs Ruby Princess
Princess Cruises
Ruby Princess
- Cruises
- 39
- From
- $804
The verdict
Which should you choose?
Mariner of the Seas is a large Royal Caribbean ship carrying 3,114 passengers, in service since 2002. Ruby Princess is a large Princess Cruises ship carrying 3,082 passengers, in service since 2007.
Choose Mariner of the Seas if you want a lower starting fare, more space per passenger or a more active cruise: it outscores Ruby Princess for active (7.0 vs 6.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores, its cruises start from $319 (vs $804) and it has 44.4 gross tons per passenger (vs 36.8).
Choose Ruby Princess if you want a more romantic trip, better-rated staterooms or more of a party: it outscores Mariner of the Seas for romantic (8.0 vs 7.0), staterooms (10.0 vs 9.0) and party (6.0 vs 5.0) in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores.
Side by side
Specifications
marks the better figure where more, or less, is plainly better.
| Mariner of the Seas | Ruby Princess | |
|---|---|---|
| Cruise line | Royal Caribbean | Princess Cruises |
| Ship size | Large | Large |
| Maiden voyagenewer highlighted | 2002 | 2007 (better) |
| Last refurbishedmore recent highlighted | 2018 | 2018 |
| Gross tonnage | 138,279 | 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 | 44.4 (better) | 36.8 |
| Decks | 15 | 19 |
| Length | 1,020 ft | 950 ft |
| Beam | 157 ft | 118 ft |
| Speed | 28 mph | 26 mph |
| Cruiseable ratingout of 10 | 10 / 10 (better) | 8 / 10 |
| Cruises on sale | 39 | 39 |
| Upcoming sailings | 77 | 61 |
| Cruise lengths | 4–17 nights | 5–16 nights |
| Fares fromlower highlighted | $319 (better) | $804 |
Bliss scores
How they rate, out of 10
Cruiseable rates ships out of 10 on ten parts of a cruise holiday. Mariner of the Seas leads on 4 of the ten, Ruby Princess on 4, with 2 level.
- Active
- Adventure & nature
- Cultural
- Dining
- Entertainment
- Family friendly
- Party
- Romantic
- Spa & fitness
- Staterooms
Royal Caribbean
Mariner of the Seas
The newly amplified Mariner of the Seas from Royal Caribbean underwent a $120 million refurbishment in 2018 — and the enhancements remain eye-catching. Many of the renovations involve new features to attract families and younger cruisers.
Highlights
- Broadway-style entertainment in the Main Theater
- The Bamboo Room delivers top-notch Polynesian-inspired cocktails
- The Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade serves up a wide selection of beers and pub favorites like chicken wings and nachos
- Spa treatments in the Vitality Spa
Sailing now
39 cruises on sale, from $319.
About Mariner of the Seas Plan my cruise on Mariner 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
39 cruises on sale, from $804.
Questions
Mariner of the Seas or Ruby Princess?
Which is bigger, Mariner of the Seas or Ruby Princess?
Mariner of the Seas is bigger at 138,279 gross tons, against 113,561 gross tons for Ruby Princess. Mariner of the Seas carries 3,114 passengers and Ruby Princess carries 3,082.
Which ship is newer, Mariner of the Seas or Ruby Princess?
Ruby Princess is newer, with a maiden voyage in 2007 against 2002 for Mariner of the Seas.
Which has more space per passenger?
Mariner of the Seas, with 44.4 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 Mariner of the Seas.
Which is better for families?
Mariner of the Seas scores higher for family friendliness in Cruiseable’s Bliss scores: 8.0 out of 10, against 7.8 for Ruby Princess.
Still deciding?
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