Coral Princess Review
Overall, a pretty good cruise with a few minor shortcomings.
Rating by category
Additional details
We cruise with another couple and usually select a narrow window in the Jan-Mar period to get away from the cold Canadian winter. The four of us travel with low expectations, so when things go as planned, that is a bonus. We have traveled with most of the major lines, but prefer Princess; this was our first trip on the Coral.
Embarkation was quick and slick....eating lunch in Horizon Court half an hour after arriving at the port (we're Platinum status so get priority boarding, but the regular boarding line was moving almost as quickly).
We always book a partially obscured ocean view....it was small, but perfectly adequate since we did not spend much time there. (Any reviewers who claim the ship is old, beat up and scruffy are way off base. Yes, Coral is 12 years old and is showing a few signs of age, but the crew work diligently to keep her looking good and shipshape). Storage was adequate with more than enough room for our everyday and formal wear. We always bring extra clothes hangers and our cabin steward provided some more.
Cabin Review
Oceanview Obstructed
Fairly far aft on Emerald deck, exactly where we wanted to be. After we booked last year, we received several upgrades (pretty well technical only since they were all merely related to higher priced areas of the ship rather than a larger, or better situated cabin). We didn't really like any of them, and the two couples ended up at opposite ends of the ship and several decks apart. When a special promo came along that was cheaper than our original price, we cancelled that booking and got new cabins back where we wanted to be.
Port Reviews
Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)
This was our departure port and we arrived the previous day in late evening. We did a little walking tour and some shopping around our hotel
Grand Cayman (Georgetown)
We have been here before, so just spend a couple of hours walking around, seeing the local sights.
Cartagena (Colombia)
We only spent some time in the facility right outside the port since we have taken excursions on previous visits and did not care to repeat them.
Fuerte Amador (Balboa)
After my wife's fall in Cartagena, she was not up to riding a bus or doing much walking so I took a shore excursion. It was great, although the tour ran off the rails and we were two hours late getting back aboard ship. I would recommend the trip to the indigenous peoples' village. Top notch!
Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera)
Ambled around in the shopping area near the port....wife still having pain walking.
Puerto Quetzal (Antigua)
Again a mediocre rating only because we were unable to partake of what was available in the area.