Coral Princess Review
Magnificent Weather and Scenery, and First Time on Princess
Rating by category
Additional details
We just returned from a northbound cruise from Vancouver to Anchorage (Whittier) with stops at Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, and College Fjord. This was only our second cruise (previously sailed on Celebrity Millennium in the Caribbean) and our first time in Alaska. Alaska did not disappoint--each day brought more magnificent and beautiful scenery. We were very fortunate with weather, with mostly sunny days and no rain. Several people had recommended a northbound itinerary and this does seem to be the better way; coming south it seems that each day would be a little less dramatic.
We did two shore excursions through Princess: A rainforest walk in Ketchikan and the White Pass & Yukon scenic railway in Skagway. Both were excellent.
We both had some mixed feelings about the cruise experience with Princess. Overall the ship was fine...a little worn around the edges, but comfortable and roomy. The staff overall was very friendly and warm.
Cabin Review
Mini-Suite with Balcony
Our cabin was on Baja deck (11), starboard side, and we liked it very much. Roomy, clean, excellent storage. Close enough to the forward stairs/elevators to be convenient but far enough away to be quiet. Nice tub/shower combo in the bathroom.
The balcony is roomy enough for the three chairs and a round table. There is not a cabin/balcony directly above (which might have been an issue in the rain had we had any), but it means the view is unobstructed.
A really nice feature of this cabin which we didn't discover for a couple of days is that if you go forward to the end of the corridor you can go right out onto a small open deck underneath the bridge. It is a great viewing position for scenery and wildlife and never very crowded.
Port Reviews
Vancouver
The embarkation facilities in Vancouver are excellent and it made it easy to get started. We spent three days in Vancouver on our own before the cruise began and liked the city very much. If you go, and if you like to bike, be sure to rent bikes and take the seawall ride around Stanley Park--one of the nicest rides we have ever taken!