Island Princess Review

4.0 / 5.0
1,228 reviews

Family fun to the Panama Canal

Review for the Panama Canal & Central America Cruise on Island Princess
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mrfviews
First Time Cruiser • Age 70s

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Sail Date: Mar 2009
Cabin: Balcony
Traveled with children

This is our second opportunity to sail on the I.P. this time with our kids, it should be quite a vacation. We took our local shuttle into Vegas and caught the red eye to Ft. Lauderdale via Houston. Both our flights were uneventful, and on time, we're off to a great start so far. Family picked us up at FLL, and we were at the port by noon, and easily aboard by 12:30. The I.P. looked great, no worse for wear, since our Hawaii cruise in May of 07. We were very pleased to here that our first CD and his assistant were still onboard. Billy Hygate, and Mark Turner, this was great news, as we are fond of both of them ! We knew once we caught up with them, and mentioned we were the "flat Stanley" gang, they would definitely remember us, and they did! We had a nice room on Baja deck 11, #404, midship. Mark mentioned this was their roughest trip this year, sea wise, but after 4 cruises with Princess in the last four years it didn't bother us much. Great sailaway party with Craig heading up the conga lines, and teaching everyone the electric slide .We brought our 17 year old daughter along for her first cruise, and her brother, and his new wife of 6 months, their first as well, (belayed honeymoon)I was kind of concerned the older crowd 65+, Princess usually attracts, might be a real turn off to them, but that was not the case, at all. We enjoyed most of the fun activities, shows & games Princess offers and had a lot of fun participating in most, especially the Princess Pop Star competition. The new I.P. dancers & singers were quite good as usual,very attractive, and talented, and we truly enjoyed all 3 main shows, especially "Motortown" ! Both comics were very entertaining especially "Billy Vader", what a nut ! Don't miss him if your ever on a Princess ship. The I.P. employee talent show was hysterical, especially with Mark as a ballerina, and Billy doing his Topel impersonation with "if I were a rich man" and "Tom Jones" medley. "Treasure" the house band was very good, and could play just about anything. Food was usually well received although not as good as our 2007 cruise, the meat was a bit lacking in taste, and portion size, but everything else quite good. The service in the Bordeau dining room was "excellent" every nite, thanks to Raynan, Sylvestre, and Adriann. They were not only great waiters, but very funny, and came over to sing to us 3 different occasions, birthday, honeymoon, and the last nite. We had the same great table everynite, (anytime) dining, and never had to wait with our pre-reserved set time. Thanks guys for the great service, smiles, and song ! Horizon Court was it's usually decent fare, but so busy in the mornings, sometimes hard to find a table, but lot's of variety, and usually a good breakfast. The pizza, burgers, hot dogs & fries are always a treat out by the pool. I'm surprised more folks don't have lunch out there ? The chaise lounge hogs were at there best again, still holding down lounges, but they were nowhere in sight. I guess it's time for lounge chair police out by the pool, just not enough availability for everyone ? Shore excursions, on the helmet dive in Aruba, they wouldn't let my wife take her camera, and then the excursion companies camera broke, so no memories there, and no sympathy or discount from Princess. Once they have your $, they have got you! Princess needs to spend more time in Aruba, 5 hours isn't enough.You may be better off hiring your own excursions,it's definitely a lot cheaper, just don't be late, or they will leave you flat !Cartagena, and Panama City our beautiful cities but have an awful lot of crime and sad living conditions, be careful and stay together there, we did enjoy the old Panama City tour, but the lunch was awful ! Limon, Costa Rica, the Reventazon river rapids with Rios Tropicales, was another big hit with us.We had a great adventure, and guide Diego keeping a close eye on our safety. The traditional Costa Rican lunch was fantastic too in a beautiful indoor patio setting. I highly recommend this shore excursion. Ocho Rios, we have done the falls, so tried the sail n snorkel at a close by coral reef. We saw lot's of small colorful fish but it looked as though much of the coral was dying due to wear and tear by we tourists, too bad ! We then sailed down towards the Dunn's falls where they flow into the sea, beautiful. On the way back lot;s of rum punch, and caribbean music, and dancing, under the sun. A fun excursion despite the coral situation. Of course a little shopping near Margaritaville, and then a swim, splash, and bounce off the lagoon trampoline, and pool water slide, before a tasty lunch, and margarita, ahh ! We got some great deals on souvenirs, coffee and such, and saw some breathtaking scenery throughout Central America! Non- stop fun on the Island Princess, with so many things to do, and so little time. Stay out of the casino, man those machines are tight. Disembarking was a breeze, except for landing in a different terminal # 21, stay out of there if you can it's a zoo ! The entire crew of the I.P. came through again for us, and I highly recommend this ship to the Panama Canal, Alaska, and anywhere else it sails. We miss the crew & ship already, so don't you miss the Panama Canal, it truly is the 8th wonder of the world ! Bon Voyage all ...

Cabin Review

Balcony

Cabin ba

If you can swing it go with a balcony, or mini-suite (tub) included ! Midship is a smoother ride, bow is rougher, stern is noiser

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