September 17, 2026
16-Night Hawaii Cruise
Departing from San Francisco
From
$1,999
Price / day
$125
Ruby Princess|Diamond Princess
Ruby Princess vs Diamond Princess
Compare ship age, size, passenger capacity, itineraries and upcoming cruise prices.
Ruby Princess
Princess Cruises
Check prices on CruiseDirectVS
Newer Ship
Ruby Princess
Built in 2008
4 years newer
Lower Price Per Day
Ruby Princess
$100 / day
$64 less per day
More Spacious Ship
Diamond Princess
43.4 GT per guest
Gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity
Ruby Princess vs Diamond Princess: Quick Comparison
Ruby Princess is the newer ship in this comparison. Built in 2008, it is 4 years newer than Diamond Princess, which entered service in 2004. Diamond Princess is approximately 2% larger by gross tonnage at 115,906 GT. Ruby Princess also carries 410 more passengers. Ruby Princess has upcoming sailings in Hawaii, while Diamond Princess has sailings in Japan. Based on the upcoming cruises currently displayed, Ruby Princess has the lower average starting price per day. The sailings shown cover different itineraries, so the price per day figures are not a like-for-like comparison. Cruise fares vary significantly by itinerary, departure date and cabin availability, so any price difference should be treated as a snapshot rather than a permanent gap.
Ship Comparison
| Spec | Ruby Princess | Diamond Princess |
|---|---|---|
| Year Built | 2008Newer | 2004 |
| Gross Tonnage | 113,561 GT | 115,906 GT |
| Passenger Capacity | 3,080 | 2,670 |
| Space per Passenger | 36.9 GT | 43.4 GT |
| Length | 288.59 m | 290 m |
| Decks | — | — |
| Cabins | — | — |
Key Differences: Ruby Princess vs Diamond Princess
Age
Ruby Princess was built in 2008, making it 4 years newer than Diamond Princess, which was built in 2004.
Size
At 115,906 GT, Diamond Princess is approximately 2% larger by gross tonnage than Ruby Princess at 113,561 GT.
Passenger capacity
Ruby Princess carries up to 3,080 passengers compared with 2,670 aboard Diamond Princess, a difference of 410 passengers.
Passenger space
Diamond Princess offers more space per passenger: 43.4 GT per guest, compared with 36.9 aboard Ruby Princess. A higher passenger space ratio generally means less crowding in public areas.
Itineraries
The upcoming sailings shown for Ruby Princess (Hawaii) and Diamond Princess (Japan) currently cover different regions or departure ports.
Price
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Ruby Princess has the lower average starting price per day at $100 per day.
Compare Ports of Call
Ruby Princess
Hawaiian Islands
- Departure Port
- San Francisco
- Region
- Hawaii
- Nights
- 16
- Round Trip
- Yes
- Day 1 · Sep 17, 2026San Francisco
- Day 2 · Sep 18, 2026At Sea
- Day 3 · Sep 19, 2026At Sea
- Day 4 · Sep 20, 2026At Sea
- Day 5 · Sep 21, 2026At Sea
- Day 6 · Sep 22, 2026Kauai
- Day 7 · Sep 23, 2026Honolulu
- Day 8 · Sep 24, 2026Kona
- Day 9 · Sep 25, 2026Kahului
- Day 10 · Sep 26, 2026At Sea
- Day 11 · Sep 27, 2026At Sea
- Day 12 · Sep 28, 2026At Sea
- Day 13 · Sep 29, 2026At Sea
- Day 14 · Sep 30, 2026At Sea
- Day 15 · Oct 1, 2026Ensenada
- Day 16 · Oct 2, 2026At Sea
- Day 17 · Oct 3, 2026San Francisco
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Diamond Princess
Japan Explorer
- Departure Port
- Tokyo
- Region
- Japan
- Nights
- 9
- Round Trip
- Yes
- Day 1 · Oct 1, 2026Tokyo
- Day 2 · Oct 2, 2026Toba
- Day 3 · Oct 3, 2026Osaka
- Day 4 · Oct 4, 2026Kochi
- Day 5 · Oct 5, 2026Hiroshima
- Day 6 · Oct 6, 2026Kanmon Straits
- Day 7 · Oct 7, 2026Busan
- Day 8 · Oct 8, 2026Nagasaki
- Day 9 · Oct 9, 2026At Sea
- Day 10 · Oct 10, 2026Tokyo
Dates are estimates based on the published departure date.
Upcoming Cruises & Prices
Ruby Princess
November 8, 2026
16-Night Hawaii Cruise
Departing from San Francisco
From
$1,201
Price / day
$75
Diamond Princess
October 1, 2026
9-Night Japan Cruise
Departing from Tokyo
From
$1,657
Price / day
$184
October 10, 2026
9-Night Japan Cruise
Departing from Tokyo
From
$1,296
Price / day
$144
Prices shown are starting fares and may change.
Which Ship Is Cheaper?
Ruby Princess
Average
$100 / day
VS
Diamond Princess
Average
$164 / day
Ruby Princess has the lower price per day among the sailings shown
$100/day vs $164/day
About $64 less per day
This comparison is based on the upcoming sailings currently shown and may not represent like-for-like itineraries.
Cruise prices vary by departure date, itinerary, cabin type and availability.
Which Ship Should You Choose?
Choose Ruby Princess if…
- You prefer the newer ship.
- You do not mind sailing on a ship with a higher passenger capacity.
- You want to sail in Hawaii.
- Departing from San Francisco works for your plans.
- The lower price per day among the sailings currently shown matters to you.
Choose Diamond Princess if…
- You prefer the larger ship by gross tonnage.
- You prefer the ship with the lower passenger capacity.
- You value having more space per passenger (higher GT-per-guest ratio).
- You want to sail in Japan.
- Departing from Tokyo works for your plans.
- You do not place as much importance on sailing on a newer ship than Ruby Princess.
Ruby Princess vs Diamond Princess: Final Comparison Summary
Newer
Ruby Princess
Built in 2008
4 years newer
Bigger
Diamond Princess
115,906 GT
2% larger by gross tonnage
Lower Price Per Day
Ruby Princess
$100 / day
About $64 less per day
- Ruby Princess is 4 years newer.
- Diamond Princess is 2% larger by gross tonnage.
- Ruby Princess carries 410 more passengers.
- Diamond Princess offers more space per passenger (43.4 GT per guest).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is newer, Ruby Princess or Diamond Princess?
Ruby Princess is newer. It was built in 2008, while Diamond Princess was built in 2004, making Ruby Princess 4 years newer.
Which is bigger, Ruby Princess or Diamond Princess?
Diamond Princess is larger by gross tonnage. It measures approximately 115,906 GT compared with Ruby Princess at 113,561 GT.
Which ship carries more passengers?
Ruby Princess has a passenger capacity of approximately 3,080, compared with 2,670 for Diamond Princess.
Which ship is more spacious, Ruby Princess or Diamond Princess?
Diamond Princess has the higher passenger space ratio at 43.4 GT per passenger, versus 36.9 for Ruby Princess. The ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity; a higher number means more ship space per guest.
Which ship is cheaper, Ruby Princess or Diamond Princess?
Among the upcoming sailings currently displayed, Ruby Princess has the lower average starting price per day at $100 per day versus $164 per day. Fares vary by itinerary, departure date, cabin type and availability.
Where does Ruby Princess sail?
The upcoming Ruby Princess sailings currently listed cover Hawaii, departing from San Francisco.
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