Alaska
Ruby Princess Cruise ship, fixed after S.F. crash, departs for Alaska ‘fit to sail’
The Ruby Princess cruise ship finally departed the Port of San Francisco on Sunday afternoon after it was declared “fit to sail” following repairs after its Thursday crash into a dock, the cruise line said.
“Princess Cruises can confirm that repairs on Ruby Princess have been completed, and following inspection and certification by the United States Coast Guard the ship is safe and fit to sail,” a statement from the cruise company said Sunday. It pushed off at 3:40 p.m. for its planned excursion to Alaska.
The ship collided into the dock at Pier 27 on Thursday morning as it returned from a 10-day Alaska voyage. Its next trip had been set to depart at 4 p.m. that day but was postponed due to damage to the port quarter. No injuries were reported, and the Coast Guard was investigating the incident.
The cruise company declined to reply to a Chronicle query as to what may have caused the collision.
Guests who chose to embark on the cruise that was delayed were offered a 75% refund of the fares they paid, and a full refund on shore activities booked through the cruise, taxes and port fees. Guests who canceled due to the delay were offered a 100% refund of the fare and costs of post-cruise hotels, prepaid shore activities and port fees. The company said all guests would receive a future cruise credit.
The cruise initially boarded 3,256 guests for its intended Thursday departure from San Francisco, but by the time repair work and clearance was completed, the passenger roster had dropped to 2,677 on Sunday, with 1,161 crew onboard, the company said.
The cruise headed out on its originally planned seven-day Pacific Northwest and Alaska voyage, set to return to San Francisco next Sunday.
Reach Zara Irshad: zara.irshad@sfchronicle.com