Ship info
The Coral Princess cruise ship departs from Vancouver,
Canada, Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Los
Angeles, CA. Throughout the year, she offers ocean cruises to Alaska,
Caribbean, and Panama Canal.
Check Dates & Prices for cruises to Alaska, Caribbean, and Panama Canal.
Began service: December, 2002
Guest capacity: 1974
Total staff: 900
Length: 964 feet
Passenger decks: 16
CDC
inspection score: 96
Coral Princess Overview
The Coral Princess is a ship done in soothing corals and
soft blues with plenty of marble and glass. Only 15 percent of accommodations
are inside, and 83 percent of the outside cabins have private balconies.
Other introductions on the Coral-class include the first seagoing
New Orleans-style eatery and an extensive enrichment program with
lectures, classes and cooking demonstrations. Not only can you visit
exotic Caribbean, Central American and scenic Alaskan ports, you can
take home a hand-painted fish platter you made yourself or a checklist
for hosting a Mexican-themed dinner party.
The Coral Princess is a new class of ship for Princess
Cruises, a vessel built to offer the maximum amount of public
space and still squeeze through the Panama Canal. The company says
it's a true Panamax, which is the term that describes the maximum
width that can fit through the canal's 110-foot-wide locks. It ranks
as one of the largest to fit through the canal, with just mere feet
to spare on each side - you can almost stretch out to touch the clammy
walls!
Cabins
Like the atrium, the cabins on Coral Princess are
decorated in soothing corals and soft blues with pale woods. Standard
cabins have convertible twin/queen beds, color TV and remote with
CNN, ESPN, and Discovery, a mini-fridge, hair dryers, safe, and bathroom
with shower. There are 671 outside standards (162
square feet) and 108 inside (156 square feet). The
527 standard balcony cabins measure 217 to 232 square feet, including
the balcony.
The 192 mini-suites (285-302 square feet with balcony,
300 square feet
without) have a queen-size bed and sitting area with sofa bed. There
are two televisions - one facing the bed, the other the sitting area
-- waffle-weave robes for use during the cruise, a mini-fridge with
ice replenished daily, a roomy closet with a safe, a hair dryer at
the dressing table, and a bathroom with lots of little glass shelves
and a shower in the full tub. Don't expect total privacy on your balcony;
passengers on Deck 10 balconies can look straight down onto those
on Deck 9.
The Coral Princess has 16 suites, measuring
470 square feet with balcony. These have walk-in closets, bathrooms
with whirlpool tubs and a wet bar, in addition to the other features
found in the lower categories.
There are 20 wheelchair-accessible cabins measuring
217 to 374 square feet. Sixteen have ocean views, four do not.
General notes: Room stewards knocked on the door several times when
the do-not-disturb sign was out (several other passengers mentioned
the same occurrence). Passengers' names were posted outside each cabin
under the mailbox. Fruit baskets are replenished only on demand by
filling out the "fruit menu." The so-so bath amenities are
being upgraded with the Lotus Spa brand.
Dining
The highlights are the two optional eateries - the Sabatini's
Trattoria and the new Bayou Cafe. The former
is an Italian eatery with
tables and bench seating The food is antipasti, such as artichokes,
olives, peppers and marinated shrimp; three kinds of pizzas; three
kinds of pasta; caesar salad, seafood, and steak. Reservations are
recommended, and there's a $15 cover charge.
The Bayou Cafe is cajun and creole food. Entrees
include chicken and chorizo jambalaya, cornmeal fried catfish, or
a red pepper butter broiled lobster (an extra $6). Meals are accompanied
by dirty rice, fried green tomatoes, slaw and warm Johnny cakes and
cheese-topped biscuits. Desserts include sweet potato pie, friend
yellow peach pie, buttermilk bread pudding and banana whiskey pound
cake with a honey orange glaze. The $10 cover charge includes a Hurricane
in the signature wavy glass (although you can ask for a substitute
drink). Reservations are recommended. The restaurant has an adjacent
lounge where jazz fans would gather after dinner.
Princess has Personal Choice Dining in which
you can select to be seated in the Provence restaurant
if you like traditional seating with the same waiter and table every
night at 6:15 and 8:30pm, or the Bordeaux, to dine
when and with whom you choose between 5:30 and 10pm. In addition,
food is available buffet or bistro style in the Horizon
Court. There's a pizzeria and grill near the pool
on Lido Deck 14. The Patisserie
on Deck 5 in the atrium is a spot to relax at bistro
tables or on a couch; there's a charge for fancy coffees but pastries
and cookies are free. The Hagen-Dazs ice cream bar
on Deck 14 charges for its treats ($4 for a sundae).
There's a guide in the staterooms that lists restaurant and bar hours
and other pertinent dining info.
Entertainment
Entertainment mixes with enrichment and education on the Coral
Princess, the first of the fleet to offer the Scholarship@Sea
program. Always had a hankering to throw some clay around? Join the
Intro to Pottery class ($40 include materials). Pick up some culinary
tips from famous cooks, such as the Too Hot Tamales or the ship's
own head chef. Want to learn about MS Word or Excel ($20), travel
photography (free), or the inner workings of Scotland Yard (also no
cost)? It's all here. Much of the program is centered on
the first seagoing pottery kiln and the high-tech Universe
Lounge. The kiln is used to fire ceramics painted by passengers
(cost varies) while the Universe Lounge features a full kitchen
set just like ones used by TV chefs. There are even overhead cameras
so you can look into a simmering pot of sauce.
Of course, splashy revues are still part of the entertainment lineup.
The
Coral Princess debuted "Curtain Up!" featuring
Andrew Lloyd Weber music and "Tribute" with popular music
from the Rat Pack to Madonna. Most nights, there are two big shows
in the Universe Lounge and the Princess Theater.
The Coral Princess also features a half-dozen other performances
a night, from the resident crooner in Crooners, the lively jazz
combo in the Bayou Cafe, and several other danceable bands and disc
jockeys.
Fitness & Recreation
The Lotus Spa
includes the a pool with a swim-against-the-current lane The 13,000-square-foot
spa is divided into a serene, quiet area and a more active fitness
area.
Asian-themed spa treatments include the Exotic Lime and Ginger
Salt Glow body rub and a Japanese Silk Facial. It's always best
to schedule appointments as early in the cruise as possible, services
book up quickly.
The fitness center includes a well-equipped gym with Lifecycles,
step
machines, treadmills, weight-training equipment and free weights.
Fitness classes are offered but some charge a fee, such as yoga,
pulse cycling, kickboxing and Pilates (all $10).
Public Areas
Most of the public rooms are located
on Decks 6 and 7. Deck 6 is the
deck for boutiques, an English-themed casino (slots in an old double-deck
bus or a red phone booth), a photo gallery, and the African-themed
Explorers Lounge. The Explorers is used for after-dinner
music, game shows and late-night disco dancing. The Universe
Lounge has theater-style seating for after-dining shows,
three revolving stages, and state-of-the-art facilities for the
enrichment program. The Princess Theater is used
for headline shows and big-screen viewing of almost-first-run movies.
On Deck 7 are the optional eateries and
the wedding chapel. Right off the panoramic elevators are the 1960s-cool
Crooners Bar with Rat Pack photos on the walls
and martini menu; the Churchill Lounge smoking
room; and the popular Wheelhouse Bar, with its
big leather chairs, couches, nautical atmosphere and maritime memorabilia.
Princess does not serve alcohol to guests under age 21 and bartenders
may ask for identification. The line also bans the onboard consumption
of alcoholic beverages brought onboard. All alcoholic beverages
brought onboard will be collected and returned prior to disembarkation.
Liquor for stateroom consumption is available for purchase from
specific locations.
Outside is the Promenade Deck lined with cushioned
teak chairs.
On Deck 8 is a card room, an extensive library,
and an Internet Center (50 cents/minute) with about
10 terminals.
One nice touch is a flower shop, at which you can order three roses
in a
vase ($15), an anniversary arrangement ($55) or Godiva chocolates
($20) for delivery to a cabin with a personal message. Orders are
taken at the
Passenger Services Desk in the atrium lobby on Deck 5.
There are self-serve launderettes conveniently located on every
stateroom deck with irons and boards.
Kids
Princess continues to
offer an extensive children's program as well as a
separate program for teens. There is a small pool just for the young
ones on Deck 12, along with the playroom and video
arcade.
Princess Pelicans, ages 3-7, and Princess
Pirateers, ages 8-12, are
entertained with arts and crafts, videos and cartoons, scavenger
hunts, ice cream parties, sports tournaments, and tours of the bridge,
galley and backstage areas.
Off Limits, designed for teens ages 13 to 17, offers
a wide range of
activities such as teens-only disco parties and dinners, shipboard
Olympics and T-Shirt painting.
Expert Coral Princess reviews are edited by Michelle, and
provided by Ian and Cruise Critic.com, an award-winning cruise community.
This objective information can help you choose just the right ship
for your next cruise vacation.
Check Dates & Prices
for cruises to Alaska, Caribbean, and
Panama Canal.
Coral Princess cruise reviews
Cruise
Ship Inspection Report
All passenger cruise ships arriving at US ports are subject to unannounced
CDC inspection. Coral Princess
Score: 96
Cruise
Critic: Coral Princess
The Cruise Critic gives Princess' Coral Princess a 4-ribbon rating.
Coral Princess
"Absolutely Amazing"
Date: August 29, 2005
Reviewer: Miami Beach 411 User, Wayne, NJ
The Coral Princess is an amazing ship and I had a wonderful time.
There was not one thing that I disagreed with. The food was great
and the staff was amazing! They all make you feel right at home and
I think that is what I will miss the most. They offer tons of things
to do and activities for everyone. It was a great choice.
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