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Coral Princess, with more than 700 balcony staterooms, was custom built to navigate the historic Panama Canal. Be sure to try the Bayou Café and Steakhouse, which features New Orleans-inspired Cajun and Creole cuisine, join friends for cocktails and Movies Under the Stars® by the pool or try some decadent treats at the International Café.
SUMMARY: Overall the Princess Alaska cruise/land tours are a well-oiled machine. Impressed with the thousands of people they have to move on & off ships, tour buses to the different lodges & tours - not even including the luggage. We did not have any issues with late/lost luggage, service or delays in transportation. It boggled our minds how they quickly get staff trained each season - considering most were new each season. There were plenty of people (quite a few retirees) that work the Alaska season each year. Most come up from the southern US and work in the cooler temps. They were all knowledgeable, funny and gave insight into inner workings of these land tours. We had the Princess PLUS package and it was worth it. Even if you don't drink any or much alcohol we came out ahead as it included tips/specialty coffees like cappuccinos/bottled water/WIFI. Add in a few alcohol drinks and we came out further ahead. OVERALL: Encourage everyone to do an Alaska cruise/land tour. Don't skip the land portion! Possibly consider doing the land portion first and then the cruise. Weather was really good, only showered in Ketchikan, other ports were cloudy, but sun would come out for a while. Got to see pretty much every animal you could - bears, bald eagles, moose, caribou, Dall ship, whales, snowshoe hares, etc. CRUISE PORTION EMBARKATION: Princess moved to choosing your embarkation across a range of time lines - we chose the last one at 1:30-2. So easy! We dropped off bags, checked in, got our medallion and wound our way through the maze, went back "into the US" and immediately boarded ship. No crowds - perfect embarkation. TIP: get medallion at port, don't waste time having it mailed to you. SHIP/CABIN: Coral Princess is an older ship and it shows in some places. We had about 1800 people on board, the only time it seemed crowded was lunch/dinner times. Rooms are brown wood and white, bathroom is tiny toilet seat, and there is the bathtub/shower combo. We got a deal on a mini-suite so we did have some room to move around and the balcony had teak flooring/furniture. Common areas were nice, but if you looked too close you could see lots of wear/tear on furniture. Everything was clean and the buffet had stewards making sure you washed your hands before going in. Princess APP - app was sort of OK. Cool you could find people you were traveling with. However you couldn't make appts for dinner/spa or order room service off of it. It didn't coordinate with the APP on the TV set. You couldn't see the menu. It was kind of half-A**ed. DINING Food was very good IMHO. A big step up from the last Princess cruise we were on. BUFFET - always my favorite as there are so many choices for different tastes/appetites. It was difficult to get seating during busy lunch/breakfast hours. MAIN dining - good food/service. Portions were just right and any steaks we got were cooked to perfection. Service was good and quick. SPECIALTY Restaurants - had the package which included Alfredo's Pizza and Salty Dog Pub. Alfredo's was good pizza/salad, wait was around 5-10 min. Salty Dog Pub is ridiculous- open 2 days from 11:30-1 pm. People lined up starting at 11 AM. If you weren't in line you could not come back later and get a seat - wait times were 1+ hr. which makes no sense since the restaurant was only for 1 1/2 hrs. They need to get rid of the Pub concept or open for more hours/days. It was included in our package but you couldn't use it, so pretty worthless. ENTERTAINMENT - we pretty much don't do these. Find them cheesy. Did go to the game room and played a game/did a puzzle - but that room is crowded on sea days. BARS - all had singers most were pretty good- waitstaff was good at all of them. Went to one show on July 4 and it was not what I thought. Supposed to be a tribute to USA using music across America. Instead more like a Rt 66 of some music from a few states, did play music from each of the Armed Forces but it all seemed a bit cheesy. PORTS - I know these cruise ships pay big bucks to maintain/repair these docks and the area around it, as they should, since they pour thousands of people into these small towns. However, I felt like I was on movie set in these ports- the docks and businesses around them were almost too nice. :) KETCHIKAN - least favorite. Looked the most inauthentic, all tourist shops. Appalled at the number of jewelry stores - we counted 15 in a 2 block radius. How many people are buying this much jewelry? Of course they all close for the season and follow the cruises around and I assume the cruise lines pay for the empty buildings. There is not much to do here. We did the Lumberjack show - it was OK- if you have kids they might like it but I wouldn't necessarily recommend - very cheesy/and it's a comedy act - kind of. JUNEAU- the Capital! Nice little 'city'. We did the Mendenhall Glacier/Salmon Bake thru Princess. It was very nice, Salmon Bake facility was really good food! Saw lots of Bald Eagles and a bear! Stopped at Red Dog Saloon - super crowded but interesting. July 4 was the day we were here - so lots of Red White & Blue. Ship was decorated for most of the trip and we did see some fireworks off the shore as we left port! Of course it was 9 pm and it was still light outside! SKAGWAY- town is small, almost like a prairie town, but I liked it. Some nice shops - less touristy in some places. We did the DIY JEEP tour and loved it. Highly recommend. We drove from Skagway all the way to Emerald Lake stopping along the way at: 1. lots of scenery sites - amazing. My DH said "I can't handle so much beauty"!! 2. Tutshi Dog Sled - rustic place, the husky puppies were 3 wks old so we couldn't hold/play with them. They were fostering some other breed and we played w/them a bit, but a small bus showed up and the play area got crowded so we did the dog 'sled' ride. It was fun, driver was great & took photos for everyone! This is worth a stop but meter your expectations. 3. Stopped in Carcross - very busy with large tour buses but cute little area, drove to Emerald lake, turned around and headed back. Stopped at the signs for Alaska & Yukon. TIP: allow 30 min on the way up for customs to get into Canada. Getting back into US was maybe a couple of minutes. TIP: Rent the Toyota 4Runner, not the Jeep. Way more comfortable with good heating. Last two days were at sea cruising Hubbard Glacier and College Fjord. Very cool to see these. We docked in Whittier which is right next to the train station. There is not much there, I believe we were told the town had 300 residents? EMBARKATION: super easy, waited in one of the bar areas, our group was called, we walked off and wound our way on to the train for the land portion. NOTE: There was an outbreak of a virus (probably Noro) on the ship. It was not big enough to announce, but the last 2 days we noticed an uptick in demanding hand washing at the buffet & they shut it off and were handing out plates/silverware instead of letting you wander in and get things on your own. As we left the ship, a lady was demanding 2 days of $$ back as they had quarantined her husband. On the land portion they continued with glove wearing in restaurants & sending notices out to our rooms each day about hand washing for viruses. None of our group got sick. LAND: Train ride was approx 5 hrs and we had a great guide in our car. Food on the train was good and service was great. We were on the train cars with the windows all around - side & ceiling. Some of the scenery was beautiful, some not so great, esp thru towns. The train ends in the middle of nowhere, you get off and board buses that then take you 15 min to Talkeetna. Then you get off there and wait for some more buses to take you Princess McKinley lodge. Not sure why they don't take you straight to McKinley from train depot, other than they want you shopping/spending money in Talkeetna. We were tired and didn't stay in Talkeetna, just hopped on to get to McKinley lodge - it was another 1.50 hrs approx. MCKINLEY LODGE Beautiful lodge, landscaping is well maintained. Over looking the river. We were fortunate to get one of the upgraded Lodges. I believe Bldgs #23 and #24 are upgraded. Entryway had a wall-wall bench w/shelves, hanging rod and hooks. Both suitcases/carry on bag fit. All hotels should have an entryway like this! Bathroom had two sinks with drawers/shelf. All modern 'rustic' style. Hope they get the rest of the lodges upgraded. There is not much to do, but we were here 1 1/2 days ( 2 nights). Nice to relax, walk around and just hang out. RESTAURANTS - food was good, limited one page menu. We had no issues with service or food. Weather cleared up our last day and we got to see Denali! Beautiful mountain range. NOTE: Buses to get you from lodge to lodge were well organized. Each day you arrive to a lodge you were given an envelope with luggage tags, sheet of paper with your next stop and which bus # you were on. Go to the bus # ,they ask your name, check you off & you board and buses left on time. DENALI LODGE Bussed to Denali about 2 hrs. This lodge is more rustic looking and the rooms (at the last one we had) were extremely outdated/rustic. Room was clean but barely passable - I'm sure we were spoiled by the updated rooms at McKinley lodge! Not sure if they are upgrading, but some interiors of the other lodges looked newer. Well maintained exterior, similar food items as Princess. There is an area across the street with coffee/pizzas for eating if you get tired of the food at the lodge. TIP: Coffee place is always a wait in the AM, get coffee around 10-11 AM after the rush. There are other things to do in Denali, like zipline, river rafting. We upgraded to the Tundra Wilderness Tour, which goes the furthest they will let you into the park. You can pick AM or PM, but the Park determines which block of hours you will get. We ended up with last one 4:30-9:30pm. I was not happy, but it turned out to be the best time! We had the best guide - he was a hunter/fisherman so was excited for us to see the animals & would stop and scope it out for us. All the animals were out foraging for food, we saw a rainbow and while it clouded over a bit we did see some of Denali. The park is beautiful and I wish we had an extra day to go to the Visitor Center. FAIRBANKS Hopped a bus ride for 3 hrs Fairbanks and Riverboat Tour. Great guide, he was native Alaskan and had lots of stories. He loves this job. He told us how Princess trains everyone & the $$ Princess spends on training them. Stopped in a small town halfway for bathroom break. It was Sunday so only the Railroad Museum was open. Entered Fairbanks and got dropped off at the Riverboat Discovery Landing. It's clear all these places exist because of the cruise lines - they would not survive with local business only. Riverboat tour is very well organized, maybe a bit "cheesy" but a good over view of life in Alaska. The family who started this are all involved in the business & the pilot was the gr-gr-grandson of the man who came to Fairbanks & started the Riverboat freight system and then the tours. It was cool how they had people on land presenting their part of the tour - using TV/camera/mics on the boat. I enjoyed seeing Susan Butcher's Kennels (from the ground) and hear her story. Got dropped off at our Princess Fairbanks Lodge - nice room but didn't really enjoy it as we had a 1 AM flight out. Got to Fairbanks airport - small but nice - bar open at 2 am! Plenty of flights coming in that time of night. Took off about 30 min late, landed in Seattle and as luck would have it - we were leaving out of the same gate/plane as our final destination! So no running to gates for us! NOTE: I see a lot of negatives about the lodges and food on the land portion. This is a 4 month season with who knows how many people to feed. It's very expensive to ship food, etc up there so I understand limited menus and making various dishes out of the same ingredients. Burgers were good, chicken dishes & steaks were cooked as requested. I would say the only downside is not enough vegetable choices- more meat & carby potato sides. If you got this far, thanks for reading!
This cruise was booked as part of a land and sea tour. We opted to do the cruise portion second which is absolutely the best way to do it. The land portion has you moving around from place to place and keeps you busy, while the cruise portion second gives you a chance to rest and relax. Embarkation was easy. We were on the ship in less than 10 minutes. We arrived from the McKinley lodge by train so only the people arriving by train arrived at the same time as us. The ship is older, smaller, and definitely has some condition issues. Some of the public areas definitely show their age. For example, there were a number of broken and worn seats in the theater. Some of the restrooms looked like they had been renovated while others were in desperate need of an upgrade. The ship was clean apart from a few exceptions. There also seemed to be some sewage type odors in a few places too. There also seemed to be some type of water leak in one of the hallways. There were a couple of places where we saw buckets in the hallway to catch drips and some soaked carpets. 95% of areas on the ship were perfectly fine. Princess- PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get rid of smoking in the casino like other lines have done. We had a mini-suite. The room was spacious and looks to have had some upgrades, but the room was in need of a more extensive renovation. There were some missing trim pieces from furniture, carpet that was poorly installed, and paint peeling off all over the balcony. The sofa bed was unusable and is not even fit for kids. They ended up bringing a roll-away bed that was much better. The bathroom was large enough but needs a makeover. Some cracked and chipped tiles and a shower that was grungy with stained grout. The shower also would never get hot but they did fix this when we informed our room steward. Kudos to the maintenance staff for fixing it so quickly. The shower is a combo shower tub and had a really high step-in. I still have bruises on my shins... The shower is also kind of claustrophobic with a very low ceiling. The food quality was mostly good. I never had anything that I didn't like. Some more variety in the buffet for breakfast and lunch would be my main suggestion. The dining room staff were also very good and attentive. The service onboard was great. All of the employees were very friendly and would say hello. Our cabin steward was probably the best I've ever had. The entertainment was probably the worst aspect of this cruise. Many people seemed to enjoy it, but most of it was not my taste at all. A lot of the material was very dated (especially the first show). The ventriloquist show was so slow and boring that we left after a few minutes. Even entertainment like trivia, etc. was so slow and drawn out that it didn't hold our interest. A couple of the shows that were more upbeat were more entertaining. Overall the quality of the shows reminded me of shows I had seen on Carnival 15 years ago. They have some really talented performers; it's just a shame they aren't given some better material to work with. The itinerary was amazing with trips to Hubbard glacier and Glacier Bay National Park. I absolutely recommend opting for an itinerary that includes Glacier Bay. Disembarkation was ok but chaotic in terms of getting on the shuttle to the airport that was included as part of our land and sea tour. I'm not sure that this really Princess' fault, but the lines were so long that one person passed out from having to stand so long waiting for the bus. Overall this cruise was amazing with beautiful ports, amazing weather, a great crew, mostly good food. We had a great time and are definitely glad that we booked, but it's kind of a shame that Princess hasn't kept this ship in better condition.
From the moment you step aboard, we want you to feel welcomed and right at home. And with attentive service from a friendly staff that knows what hospitality means, you’ll find your Princess® ship truly is your home away from home.
Experience the Ultimate Night of Sleep at Sea
With your overall wellness in mind, we’ve collaborated with a board-certified sleep expert to create the ultimate in blissful comfort. Our luxurious new beds feature a scientifically engineered mattress and bed springs, a plush two-inch pillow top, European-inspired duvets and 100% luxurious Jacquard-woven linens-to assure that at the end of your voyage, you come home feeling refreshed and renewed.
The Princess Luxury Bed is available across the fleet except for Regal Princess, where most staterooms have been updated. On Regal Princess all Full Suites and Club Class staterooms have been updated and we are continuing to convert the few remaining beds.
Photos, floor plan diagrams, amenities, and furnishings represent typical arrangements and may vary by ship and stateroom.
Indulge your appetite whenever you wish on board Princess®. Every hour, our chefs are busy baking, grilling and sautéing great-tasting fare from scratch. Princess offers unparalleled inclusive dining options throughout the ship with a wide range of culinary delights to suit any palate, from endless buffet choice to gourmet pizza, frosty treats, decadent desserts and much more.
Speciality Dining
Dining on board a Princess® cruise ship is a joyful celebration and our speciality restaurants always deliver an extraordinary experience. They are among the best at sea – or anywhere. We serve dishes made with the freshest ingredients, and our menus reflect regional flavours from around the world. You'll find our speciality restaurants are the perfect place to celebrate any occasion.
To say the nightlife onboard is entertaining is an understatement. Illuminating the stage in captivating productions, Princess Cruises performers are some of the most talented musicians, singers and dancers at sea. Their Princess Signature Shows, lounge performers, movies and casinos are just some of the entertainment guests enjoy as they escape completely.
The many activities onboard Coral Princess are designed to stimulate, educate, entertain, inspire and sweat - not necessarily in that order. But guests can be sure the crew onboard the ship, will do their best to cover all the bases. From art auctions to the Lotus Spa, this ship is loaded with fun things to do.
Passengers ages 3-17 will enjoy many exciting onboard activities. The Youth Centres and Teen Lounges are staffed by experienced counsellors, who are ready to ensure the youngest cruisers stay happy all day long. There’s everything from art projects, game tables, the latest movies, pizza parties, talent shows, video games, and much more.
Children under the age of 3 are welcome to visit the Youth Centre, if accompanied and supervised by a parent at all times.
