A Ruby Princess mini-suite is about 323 sq ft including the balcony, roughly half as big again as a standard balcony cabin, with a separate sitting area, sofa bed, two TVs and a bathtub. Reserve Collection mini-suites (what Princess used to call Club Class) add a private dining area, priority boarding and a few in-cabin extras. Full suites on Ruby Princess are larger again and come with the widest set of perks, but there are only 26 of them, plus two family suites.
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This guide explains every suite and mini-suite option on Ruby Princess as she sails from San Francisco in 2026-27, what the perks really include, where each type is on the ship and which ones give the best value. If you are still deciding between a regular balcony, oceanview or interior cabin, read our companion guide to Ruby Princess cabins to avoid and the best cabins to book first.
Ruby Princess suites and mini-suites at a glance
Ruby Princess has 178 mini-suites, 26 suites and 2 family suites out of 1,542 cabins. The sizes below come from Princess and from the CruiseDeckPlans category pages. Suite sizes differ slightly between sources, so treat them as approximate.
| Type | Where on the ship | Approx. size | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini-suite | Dolphin (9) and Emerald (8) decks | About 323 sq ft including balcony | Couples who want more space, small families of three or four |
| Reserve Collection mini-suite | Dolphin deck (9) | About 323 sq ft including balcony | Couples who want faster, quieter dining and priority boarding |
| Vista suite | Lido (15), plus Emerald, Dolphin and Caribe decks | About 329 sq ft plus a 166 sq ft balcony | Entry point to full suite perks |
| Premium suite | Riviera deck (14) | About 304 sq ft plus a 169 sq ft balcony | Guests who want suite perks near the pool deck |
| Penthouse suite | Caribe (10) and Aloha (12) decks | About 381 sq ft plus a 155 sq ft balcony | Longer cruises, entertaining on the balcony |
| Owner’s suite | Aloha deck (12) | About 411 sq ft plus a 180 sq ft balcony | The most space and the biggest balcony on board |
| Family suite | Dolphin deck (9) | Two connected cabins, sleeps up to 8 | Larger families or groups travelling together |
For comparison, a standard Ruby Princess balcony cabin is 214-222 sq ft including the balcony, so a mini-suite gives you roughly 100 sq ft more.
The Ruby Princess mini-suite
The Ruby Princess mini-suite is the most popular upgrade on the ship, and with 178 of them it is also the easiest to find. It is essentially a longer balcony cabin with a sitting area at the window end.
What you get in a mini-suite
- Twin beds that convert to a queen (Princess notes some layouts cannot be converted, so check)
- A separate sitting area with a sofa bed for a third guest; some also have a pull-down bed for a fourth
- Two flat-screen TVs, a mini-fridge, a desk and a walk-in closet
- A full bathroom with a bathtub and shower combination, which standard balcony cabins do not have
- Egyptian cotton linens, a welcome glass of champagne and evening turndown with chocolates
- A balcony with patio furniture
Mini-suite drawbacks to know about
Most standard mini-suites on Ruby Princess are on Dolphin deck (9). The balconies on this deck are uncovered and can be seen from the decks above, so they offer little privacy. On the plus side, they get plenty of sun and an open-sky feel. If privacy matters more to you, look at the mini-suites on Emerald deck (8), which sit under the deck above. Balcony sizes vary from cabin to cabin, from about 46 to 89 sq ft, so compare individual cabins on the deck plan rather than assuming they are all the same.
A standard mini-suite does not include suite perks such as priority boarding, free laundry or a mini-bar. You pay mostly for space, the bathtub and the sofa bed.
Ruby Princess Club Class and Reserve Collection mini-suites
If you see “Ruby Princess Club Class” in older reviews, it refers to the same thing Princess now sells as the Reserve Collection mini-suite. Princess renamed Club Class to Reserve Collection in early 2023 and kept the same core perks. On Ruby Princess, Reserve Collection mini-suites are in the M1 category on Dolphin deck (9). The cabin itself is the same size and layout as a standard mini-suite. What changes is the service.
Reserve Collection perks
- Reserve Collection dining: a private area of the main dining room with its own entrance, no wait for a table, dedicated waiters and extra menu choices. It is open for breakfast and dinner daily, plus lunch on sea days.
- Priority embarkation and disembarkation at the start and end of the cruise.
- A bottle of wine in your cabin on boarding day, and evening canapés on request.
- Upgraded bathrobes and bath products, plus the Princess Luxury Bed.
- Priority help booking specialty restaurants.
Is Reserve Collection worth it on Ruby Princess?
It depends on how you like to eat. If you prefer the main dining room and hate waiting for a table or being seated with others, the private dining area is the biggest benefit, and it adds up over a 7 or 10 night cruise. If you mainly eat at the buffet or specialty restaurants, you will get much less from it, and a standard mini-suite is better value. Price gaps vary by sailing, so compare both before you book.
Ruby Princess suites: which are best and worst value?
All full suites on Ruby Princess share the same core layout: a bedroom area, a separate living area with a sofa bed, a wet bar, a walk-in closet and a bathroom with a tub and separate shower. The differences are mostly size, balcony and location.
Owner’s suite: the most space
The owner’s suites on Aloha deck (12) are the largest suites on the ship, with the biggest balconies. Aloha deck has cabin decks above and below, which is good for quiet. If you are spending a long time on board and will use the space, these are the top choice.
Penthouse suites: the sweet spot
Penthouse suites on Caribe (10) and Aloha (12) give you most of the space of an owner’s suite for less money. They tend to be the best value full suite for couples who want room to spread out.
Vista suites: cheapest way into a full suite
Vista suites are the entry-level full suites. They still come with full suite perks and a generous balcony. The ones on Emerald, Dolphin and Caribe decks are in quieter areas. The Vista suites on Lido deck (15) are on the same level as the pools and buffet, which is convenient but can be busier.
Premium suites: check the location first
Premium suites are on Riviera deck (14), directly below the Lido deck. That puts you close to the pools and food, but some guests on this deck report early-morning noise from deck chairs and cleaning above. If you are a light sleeper, a Penthouse or a Vista suite on a lower deck is a safer choice.
Family suites
Ruby Princess has two family suites on Dolphin deck (9), made by connecting two cabins. Princess describes them as two-bedroom suites that sleep up to eight. They are a good alternative to booking two or three separate cabins, but because there are only two, they sell out early on school holiday sailings.
What full suite guests get
Princess lists these perks for suite guests (on top of the Reserve Collection benefits above). Some depend on the ship and cruise length, so check the current list for your sailing.
- Complimentary laundry and professional cleaning
- A complimentary mini-bar set-up
- Complimentary breakfast in a private venue and a specialty restaurant dinner on boarding day, with a glass of bubbly
- Priority disembarkation at tender ports and at the end of the cruise
- A suite experience manager for reservations and requests, and a concierge lounge on ships that have one
Note that suites and mini-suites do not automatically include the Princess Plus or Princess Premier packages. For 2026 sailings these are sold separately at about $65 (Plus) and $100 (Premier) per person per day when bought before the cruise, unless your fare promotion bundles them in.
Mini-suite vs balcony vs suite: which should you book?
| Choose | If you |
|---|---|
| Standard balcony | Spend little time in the cabin and want the best price |
| Mini-suite | Want space for three, a bathtub, or room to relax indoors on cooler Alaska and Pacific Northwest days |
| Reserve Collection mini-suite | Eat most dinners in the main dining room and value priority boarding |
| Vista or Penthouse suite | Are on a longer cruise and will use laundry, the bigger balcony and suite dining perks |
| Owner’s suite | Want the biggest space and balcony on the ship |
| Family suite | Are travelling with four or more people who want to stay together |
One extra tip: on Ruby Princess’s longer Hawaii and Mexican Riviera cruises, the free laundry included with full suites saves real money and a lot of packing. On a shorter cruise, the extra perks matter much less, and a mini-suite is usually the better buy.
If you are comparing ships, our Crown Princess cabins guide covers a sister ship with a very similar layout, while the newer Sun Princess cabins guide shows how the suite offer differs on Princess’s newest ships, which use the Sanctuary Collection instead.
For a tier-by-tier comparison of mini-suite, Reserve and Sanctuary perks across the fleet, see our guide to Princess suite benefits.
FAQs
What do you get with a mini-suite on Princess?
On Ruby Princess a mini-suite gives you about 323 sq ft including the balcony, a separate sitting area with a sofa bed, two TVs, a bathtub with shower, Egyptian cotton linens, a welcome glass of champagne and turndown with chocolates. Suite perks like priority boarding and free laundry are not included unless you book a Reserve Collection mini-suite or a full suite.
Does Ruby Princess have Club Class?
Not under that name. Princess renamed Club Class to Reserve Collection in 2023. Ruby Princess has Reserve Collection mini-suites on Dolphin deck with private dining, priority boarding and in-cabin extras.
Are Dolphin deck balconies on Ruby Princess private?
Not very. Dolphin deck (9) balconies are uncovered and can be seen from decks above. They get lots of sun and open sky, but if privacy matters, consider mini-suites on Emerald deck or a covered balcony elsewhere.
How many suites are on Ruby Princess?
Ruby Princess has 26 suites with balconies plus 2 family suites, and 178 mini-suites. Suite types include owner’s, penthouse, premium and vista suites.
Is a mini-suite worth it over a balcony on Ruby Princess?
Often yes, if the price gap is small. You get about 100 sq ft more space, a sofa bed and a bathtub. If you rarely spend time in your cabin, a standard balcony is the better value.
