Ruby Princess
Line: Princess Cruises
Passengers: 3,070 passengers
Itineraries: Caribbean, Mediterranean, Transatlantic
This latest addition to Princess's fleet debuts in November 2008. While the Ruby's kids' program mirrors those of the Crown Princess and the Emerald Princess and its facilities are generally similar, there is nothing like the thrill of setting sail on a spanking new ship. Onboard, the children's programs are split among three age-groups: scavenger hunts and ice-cream parties for the Princess Pelicans (ages 3 through 7); pajama parties, kids-only dinners, and Nintendo Wii video games for the Shockwaves (8 through 12); and hip-hop dance lessons and air hockey shows for the Remix crowd (13 through 17). On certain nights, the 8-through-12 group is invited to bring along their parents as they take over the ship's working galley kitchen, donning toques and aprons to create pizzas, roll sushi, and decorate cakes. Should the parents crave independence and yet not want to venture too far from their progeny, they can escape to the Sanctuary, an adults-only area with plush deck loungers, situated on the same level as the kids' center. Families reunite in the evening to munch popcorn and watch a movie on the 300-square-foot LED screen by the pool (800-774-6237; princess .com; seven-day Western Caribbean cruise from $748).