Ruby-Princess Vessel Reviews and Specifications

On August 24, an impressive display of international cooperation took place off the coast of Cape Flattery, Washington, as the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), and the Canadian Coast Guard executed two critical medical evacuations from the Ruby Princess cruise ship. The vessel was approximately 145 nautical miles west of Cape Flattery when the USCG Northwest District received a distress call regarding two passengers in urgent need of medical assistance. The first patient was a 52-year-old female passenger who experienced a sudden cardiac arrest and was on life support. The second was a 99-year-old male passenger suffering from a complete esophageal obstruction. Responding swiftly, a coordinated effort began, involving a duo of helicopters and aircraft from both Canada and the United States. The operation featured a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter and a CC-295 Kingfisher from RCAF 19 Wing Comox, alongside an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter dispatched from USCG Air Station Port Angeles. The Kingfisher aircraft played a crucial role by maintaining aerial oversight throughout the rescue missions. The MH-65 helicopter successfully hoisted the 99-year-old man from the Ruby Princess, transferring him to Life Flight Network at Neah Bay, Washington, through a wing-to-wing transfer maneuver. Meanwhile, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Victoria launched the CH-149 Cormorant to evacuate the 52-year-old woman. RCAF 909 carried out an efficient hoist operation and transported her to Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, British Columbia, for essential medical care. For further details and to view the operation, visit the USCG press release: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4285541/us-coast-guard-and-royal-canadian-air-force-medevac-multiple-passengers-from-cr/

An outbreak of norovirus significantly impacted passengers and crew aboard the 'Ruby Princess', with a total of 115 individuals falling ill during its voyage to Hawaii and Mexico. This voyage commenced on December 2, 2024, from San Francisco, and the ship returned to port on December 19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially confirmed the outbreak after numerous passengers reported experiencing diarrhea and vomiting, which are typical symptoms of norovirus infection. Although investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of this incident, the virus has been identified as the likely source of the outbreak. In response, Princess Cruises took immediate action by enhancing sanitation measures across the vessel and isolating affected passengers and crew to curb further transmission.

The U.S. Coast Guard has officially ceased its search efforts for a 72-year-old man who is presumed to have gone overboard from the Ruby Princess. This incident occurred as the cruise ship was returning to San Francisco after a five-day journey to Ensenada, Mexico. The ship docked in San Francisco on December 2 at 6:50 a.m., and multiple searches aboard the vessel yielded no clues regarding the missing passenger, who was traveling solo. With alternative explanations deemed unlikely, authorities classified the incident as a man overboard case. The Coast Guard initiated aerial reconnaissance in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 45 miles off the Monterey coastline, but the search was called off around 5:30 p.m. due to a lack of new information. In addition, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency is conducting further investigations into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance. Following the incident, the Ruby Princess departed San Francisco again on the evening of December 2, embarking on a new 16-day cruise to the Hawaiian Islands.

A comprehensive search operation is currently in progress following the discovery that a passenger is missing from the Ruby Princess. This urgent effort commenced after the cruise ship, which returned to San Francisco on December 2, 2024, at 6:50 a.m., reported that a 72-year-old American man was unaccounted for. The missing individual was on a five-day cruise to Mexico that began on November 27. Despite the ship's meticulous internal search and extensive review of security footage, no trace of him has been found for over 24 hours. The passenger was traveling solo, and until now, he had not been reported missing prior to the ship's arrival. The situation has escalated to involve US Customs and Border Protection as they investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident, which is suspected to have transpired in international waters. Authorities hope to uncover more information regarding the passenger's mysterious disappearance.