Ruby Princess set sail from Galveston (Texas USA) Sunday afternoon, December 18th, on an 11-day roundtrip to Mexico and the Caribbean, marking Princess Cruises’ first voyage from Texas in 6 years.
The departure is the first of 16 (out of Galveston TX) as part of the ship's winter 2022-23 schedule which includes 5- to 11-day voyages along with two 16-day Panama Canal transits - between Galveston and San Francisco (California USA). It is estimated that the boat will serve ~50,000 tourists (out of Texas) during the winter season, with many opting for a pre-/post-cruise hotel stay to explore the state's largest port city.
To mark the return of Princess Cruises to Galveston, the company's President John Padgett hosted a maritime plaque exchange with Galveston Port Director Rodger Rees before the departure.
Padgett said Galveston was an important port for Princess and provided "an exciting and easy-to-reach option for millions of people living in the southwestern USA to enjoy the ultimate in classic cruise vacations" marked by the Princess MedallionClass service.
“Cruising from Galveston has never been better. Adding the first-class Ruby Princess to our sailing schedule, with its enticing itineraries, offers our cruise customers yet another spectacular sailing experience. These itineraries are a nice addition to our current ports of call. As the fourth most popular homeport in the U.S., we’re excited to welcome this beautiful ship to Galveston.”
The 113,561 GT-tom Ruby Princess features 18 decks (8 housing 1530 staterooms/including 882 with outdoor balconies), a luxurious spa, 4 swimming pools, various dining options, dazzling entertainment, and acres of teak-planked outdoor decks for relaxation.