We drove to the dock and thought we were leaving from Terminal 2, but went out of Terminal 19 instead. We parked in the parking garage at the terminal. Embarkation was a breeze, and the only delay was a short line at the security checkpoint. We booked in an ocean view obstructed cabin and got "upgraded" to a handicapped room which was spacious. We had 3 couples with us and our room became pre-dinner drinks and frivolity location. We had sailed the Coral to Alaska before and found her to be the same great ship as before. It is a nice size ship with spacious public rooms. We have always liked the layout of the Princess ships we have been on finding them easy to get about on. This cruise had 4 days at sea and we had perfect weather for the whole cruise. We enjoyed the wrap around promenade deck for our daily walk, the ballroom dancing classes led by Dallas and Kaylea, the decks (14 and 15) on the back of the ship by what is called the Family Pool ( small but fairly unused). This cruise had an older crowd that the comedians and cruise entertainment staff frequently commented on. There were very few children and hardly any teenagers at all. I also enjoyed the guest lecturer that was on board. He was Dr. Wheeler from U Calif Sacramento and spoke to large crowds about the Panama Canal and the whole geology of the Caribbean Sea. We had anytime dining and found it to be just fine. The first night we were sort of unnerved as they couldn't seat our party of 8 together without a 45 minute wait. Every night after that it was just fine and we ate between 6:00 and 7:00. The food was fine, but not quite up to what we recalled from our last voyage on the Coral. We had no specific complaints, but it there were a couple of strange offerings that some of us had to send back and ask for a different entree. An example was the flying fish which did not look like a fish at all, and I am a cruiser who orders the fish most nights. We went to the Horizon Court for breakfast and lunch almost every day. Personally, I do not like to spend the time in the dining room with so much going on, and I feel like I am wasting time in the dining room. During breakfast and lunch primetimes it did get a little difficult to find a table in the Horizon Court The entertainment was very good. One complaint was that they did not seem to understand the BCS College Football Championship game was happening on Monday night. When they finally decided that they could actually get it, they beamed it into staterooms only......told us the Explorer's lounge was booked (karaoke). It was just as well as OSU got humiliated again anyway. The Princess singers and dancer production shows were great, and the guest performers were too. You had to get to the theater at least 20 minutes before show time if you wanted to sit together with friends. If there is any complaint about the Coral, it is the Universe Lounge. The sight lines are extremely poor. At least half the seats are blocked by the people in front of you, or by pillars. The other area we wished was better was that the shops on the ship are few and uninspiring. Not that we want to shop on the ship all the time, but it is nice to wander the shops before and after dinner. Ports: Aruba: It is a beautiful island that you feel very safe on, and you are not constantly hassled by vendors. On this cruise, you are just not there long enough. It is 7:30-8:00 before you get off the ship and you have to be back on by 12:30pm. We rented a van and went out to the California lighthouse, and stopped at the beaches on the way back. Well, I guess that just gives us reasons to go back. If you want to rent a car, you do not have to reserve one. They are there right as you walk off the ship. The ship docks right downtown.

Cartagena, Columbia - As the city appears on the horizon, tall slender white high rises appear. The city is a lot bigger and more modern than I assumed. The old city is marvelous, with narrow walking streets, colorful building, lots of history, and an absolutely beautiful main square. We first went to the Fortress, which is very impressive. You are greeted by vendors who are very aggressive, but they can be ignored as long as you don't make eye contact. Once in the Fortress, they are not permitted. We then went to the Slave Dungeons which have been turned into shopping areas. It is a very colorful experience and then we went off to the old city. This was a Princess Cruise line arranged tour, and all went very well.

The Canal - I got up at 4:30am and by 5:00am had secured two chairs in front row center of Deck 14. Great place to watch the trip thru the Canal. It was sort of spooky when we approached in the canal as we were going very slowly and there were many cargo ships at anchor and we slipped through the maze. Coral Princess has some sort of special deal that they can choose when they go through (they told us the cost for the ship to use the canal was $244,000). The transit thru the Gatun Locks is very impressive and by about 9:30am we were at anchor in Gatun Lake not far from the last lock. We sat there for about 2 hours or so as passengers got tendered off the ship to take tours. About 1000 of the 2000 passengers took tours. We then went back out and down the three locks, which is equally as impressive. On the trip out I roamed about watching from various spots. The Coral Princess just fits in the locks....there is about a foot on each side. The ship then goes to Cristobal Pier. This was a pleasant surprise. The warehouse at the pier has been turned into a shopping area...One part is set up like a little town and there is entertainment with music and dancing. There is also a bar there and we all had a great time enjoying the music and the brews. Read more