Island Princess Review

4.0 / 5.0
1,228 reviews

Loved it!

Review for the Panama Canal & Central America Cruise on Island Princess
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Fred'n'Ethel
6-10 Cruises • Age 60s

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Sail Date: Jan 2012
Cabin: Oceanview (obstructed view)

This was our first 10 day cruise and our first Princess Cruise. We loved both! I was very happy to have learned the tips from previous cruisers aboard the Island Princess for this itinerary - very helpful advice!

Let me first speak about "The Sanctuary". For us, it was the best "excursion" one could purchase. If Deck 14 Aft is your first stop once you board the ship, run as fast as you can to reserve your spot in this adults-only lap of quiet luxury for the entire length of the cruise at a discounted price. Normally 20.00 per day, half of the spots are available on a first come, first serve basis, but only on the day you board the ship, for a cost of 135.00 for the entire cruise. The excepted day is the day you cruise the canal - where it is a single day charge of $70.00. We opted out of that day, but in hindsight, it would have been the better choice over the over-priced excursion on the Panama Railway Train excursion...I'm still wondering why we paid so much for such little value. Perhaps we just had Murphy with us that day, as our train was stalled on the tracks for near 45 minutes during our trip, and enroute back to the port, our bus broke down, causing us to have to wait at the side of the highway while the tour company sent another bus to rescue the very tired bunch. While we were gone on this excursion, we didn't realize that the ship went back through the Gatun Locks and waited for us in Colon. If we had realized this before, we would have for sure stayed onboard that day, as much as I wanted to take the excursion to see the Pacific side of the canal. Back to the Sanctuary for a minute. There are at least 3 to 4 available staff at your beck and call from 8 - 6 every day. These 4 staff are assigned to the Sanctuary only (and work other hours elsewehere), but just like your waiters and stateroom steward, they are the same staff for the length of your cruise. They will bring you water, they will bring you towels, they will bring you drinks, lunch, and even pillows as available (only 5 available!). But the best part of the day? At 3:30 every afternoon, it was high tea, served right to your comfortable lounge chaise in The Sanctuary, with delightful choices of sandwiches, traditional hot scones, pastries, cookies and of course, tea and coffee!! Everyone got to know my happy dance when the cart rolled in each afternoon! Not to worry if you do not choose to spend time in The Sanctuary -- high tea is served elsewhere on the ship each day at the same time! The Sanctuary also has its own pool - small - but peaceful and deep enough to refresh over the course of the day.

We had read about the "Ultimate Ship Tour" on Cruise Critic. Another cruiser had signed up for this onboard excursion and gave a high recommendation. The price is high at $150.00 per person, but I promise you that you get it back in the positive experience, as well as many goodies delivered to your stateroom the next evening. The tip from a previous cruiser jested to bring an extra bag to take home all the loot and they were not kidding! The robe alone weighs 3 pounds in your luggage. Trust me on that one...I had to redistribute the robes to save myself an additional charge from Air Canada!! You meet several key staff in key function areas of the ship including the engine room, the bridge, the galley, the printing, laundry and crew areas of the Island Princess. You are led by one of the activity staff -- and you have a photographer with you every step of your journey, who scurries back and forth to the photolab with the snapped photos, so that they may be printed and sent to your stateroom later. A time to lounge in the Captain's quarters is truly Star Trek in feeling, sitting around his boardroom table eating fancy canapes, sipping mimosas! While there was a quick tour of the Medical Center, I feel that it was an unnecessary stop on the tour...but perhaps it was interesting to others. In any event, this tour is offered generally on the last sea day of the itinerary, but - is very limited in numbers allowed. This tour may not be booked ahead of time. You have to sign up for it at the Passenger Services desk on Deck 5.

Cabin Review

Oceanview (obstructed view)

Cabin OW

We were on B628. It was quiet, small, okay sized balcony, and the stateroom door opened into the area that houses the aft elevators. I like being close to an open area, as I feel very enclosed when along the narrow hallways. I was a little worried that the elevator noise may be heard, but not at all, on this itinerary, anyway.

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