Coral Princess Cruise Review by zoomer-b

If you are a first-timer and considering a cruise, please be aware that not all cruiseships are the same. They may appear to be so in that they all have a multitude of restaurants, etc. What is different is the atmosphere on board. Our first cruise was for 12 days in the Mediterranean and we were disappointed. I felt bored and unsettled. Part of the problem was that we were 'newbies' and didn't know how to 'cruise'. The other reason was because the layout was such that the ship was too quiet. Many areas seemed isolated.

This trip was very different. We found the Princess Coral to have just the right amount of activity. In comparing a much newer HAL ship to the Princess Coral, we found the atmosphere had to do with how the Coral's Atrium was the focal point to most everything. It gave us a feeling that people were out and about without feeling crowded. Most meeting places had some sort of activity available allowing you to either join in or just sit back and watch. None of the activities were more than 45 minutes as a rule.

As far as the cabins/restaurants went, we were very happy with both. We had a mini-suite (I like a bathtub to soak in at night) that was very spacious, as far as cruiseships go. It had a very large closet and the bed was high enough to store the suitcases. The bed was also very comfortable.

For meals, we ate most of them in the 'Anytime' dining restaurant. The food selection was such that it offered something for every diet. We dined with one gentleman that required gluten-free food and the Princess was very accommodating. For quick/lighter meals we stopped in at the buffet and found a wide variety of food that was well prepared.

In closing I would say, if you are cruising for the first time, don't jump into the longer cruises, where you may have many sea days. Pick a short one to get the feel of cruising. We didn't and are sorry for the mistake.