js10

Just back from a seven day Western Caribbean cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam. I have wanted to try HAL for a long time and booked this cruise about two months out primarily because the price was far better than other comparable cruises. We originally booked an inside cabin but one month out we started getting upsale offers every few days. HAL started with an offer to move up to a balcony for $400 which I did not respond to. Next week it was $300 dollars and again I did not respond. About one week prior to sailing the offer was $199 more for a balcony and I jumped on it. I was fearful that it would be a poor location but they actually had multiple cabins available and I took a VB category on deck five near the forward elevators.

Flying in from Baltimore it was almost a moot point as the massive snowstorm would almost certainly cancel our Saturday flight to Ft. Lauderdale. Southwest was great and I was able to rebook to a early Friday morning flight for $20 more per ticket. We arrived in Ft. Lauderdale at 9:00am and found ourselves at the front desk of Embassy Suites at 9:30. They had two smoking rooms clean and available but we declined and said we would wait for a non smoking room. Incredibly, they called my cell in 20 minutes and we were able to check in immediately. This Embassy Suites hotel is not a value when it comes to price but it is extremely convenient. Rate was $270 before taxes but a decent hot breakfast is included and the manager's cocktail party can almost serve as dinner if you eat a heavy, late lunch. The Sun Trolley is right outside the hotel and we traveled to the beach and Las Olas for a few dollars. Directly behind the hotel is a large shopping area with a Publix and Total Wine and a wonderful restaurant called Gilberts on 17th. Gilberts is a hamburger joint but it was rated as the 4th best restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale on Trip Advisor and it is very, very good. Embassy Suites really pushes the paid shuttle service to the port but a taxi is cheaper for two people and takes you directly to your ship. Price was $12 plus a $3 tip.

We arrived at the port on Sunday at around 11:10, were processed in about 15minutes and then waited about 30 minutes to board. Our cabin was ready when we boarded and was in great shape. Clean and efficient and featured a bathtub which was a first for me.

Our ports included Half Moon Cay which is my favorite of the private islands I have visited. We were the only ship to visit that day which was nice. We made an effort to get off the ship as early as possible and then walked as far down the beach as we could. We found chairs near the very end of the beach and for and hour or two felt like we were almost alone! Arriving early also lets you eat lunch early when it is not too crowded. Back on the ship by 3:00.

Second port was Grand Cayman which we were not able to visit. I am still not exactly sure what happened. We were the 4th ship of six to anchor. Two more ships arrived after us. We watched the other ships utilize the larger Grand Cayman tenders while we lowered our smaller tenders into the water. Cruise director shortly came on the PA and said the engineers were dealing with a "small power outage issue" and we would be kept informed. Maybe thirty minutes later the Captain came on the PA and said that due to the power issue (now resolved?), unfavorable sea conditions, and an unfavorable anchor assignment we would have to miss the port and would sail asap for Cozumel. As we left we could see all five ships utilizing the Grand Cayman tenders including a ship that arrived after us and anchored in our exact position. That night we had a letter on our bed from the Captain apologizing and explaining that the other ships had contractual agreements with the GC tenders and that is why they were able to make their way into Grand Cayman. Left unsaid was why HAL or Nieuw Amsterdam did not have a similar agreement. Random? A money issue? Who knows. To HAL's credit they gave each passenger $50 obc and returned $11 per person in port fees.

Third port was Cozumel where I returned to Chankanaab Park for the first time since visiting more than 30 years ago. Much had changed as the park was severely damaged by an earlier hurricane but the day was nostalgic and fun. $21 to get in (used to be free!) and $7 to rent snorkeling gear. Snorkeling was great but somewhat difficult due to choppy/rough water. Cold Mexican beer only $3!

Final port was Key West. We walked the 1 1/2 miles to the southernmost point marker and did an informal, funky bar hop along the way--Sloppy Joe's, Green Parrot and Capt. Tony's. Great fun.

Positives:

* the ship itself is beautiful with tasteful public areas and the size is not overwhelming.

* there is a very relaxed atmosphere on the ship. Very few PA announcements, music around the pools, etc.

*BB King Blues band was as good as any I have heard on a cruise ship. These bands apparently cycle on and off the ships so a different band might not be as good.

*really appreciated the complimentary room service and the full breakfast option.

*the price of drinks, and happy hour at three bars, were reasonable. After reading the nightmare stories of price increases on other lines this was a pleasant surprise.

Negatives:

*I found the food to be very uneven. We had five dinners in the main dining room, one in a specialty restaurant, and one at the Lido. We had a number of excellent meals but too many ordinary meals that were bland and unexciting.

As You Wish Dining was all that was available when I booked and the experience reinforced why I like fixed dining. There is simply too much going on at different stages for the wait staff to do their best. It was not for lack of effort, it is just obviously an organizational nightmare for all concerned.

Breakfast and lunch in the Lido was also uneven as was service there.

*The relaxed atmosphere that I referenced as a positive could be a negative for some. I would have enjoyed some music on the sun decks and more opportunities for late night dancing.

*Steel drum lessons near to the Sea View Pool. (that is an inside joke that only people on this sailing will appreciate!)

I would not hesitate to cruise with Holland America again if the price was right and if I liked the itinerary but I really did not see any difference from the other mainstream cruise lines that I have sailed with before.

Nice ship, nice crew, nice people, ok food. Reinforced my belief that there is no such thing as a bad cruise!

We used Princess excursions for the ferry transit and the rain forest--those current prices should be available on their website. The tour of Jamaica, including Blue Hole, was $60 per person, plus tip.

Preparing for my first HAL cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale. Any advice on the earliest time to arrive at the port on the morning of the cruise?

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CMR123--Do some research on CC about the full transit by ferry excursion--you will find many responses, some strongly recommending the excursion and some strongly recommending against it. My two cents is that the excursion is a must unless you plan to return to the Canal some day and take a full transit on the ship. While simply passing through Gatun locks will give you a complete appreciation of the lock system (and I have been told that going back through on a nearly deserted ship is very cool!), you will miss so much else such as the Cut, the water level perspective, and the entry into the Pacific with a view of the Panama City skyline. It is a full day but I found it very doable and I was 64 years old at the time of the cruise.

Either way you will love the Canal experience!

Bramley8--Entire cruise was wonderful but the two highlights were the full transit by ferry excursion and the visit to Blue Hole. Enjoy your trip and be sure to post a report on your return!

Use this board or Trip Advisor to get recommendations of local tour companies to take you anywhere you like. Safe, reliable, and maybe $60 plus tip for a four hour private tour. Beautiful island.

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Just did this cruise last February. We had a Baja balcony. See my review "Panama Canal Review and Thanks" for specific tips about the cabin and best spots to view the canal. BTW, I was worried about all the comments about the excessive heat but did not find it to be a problem at all.

We did Sabatini's while on the Coral--wonderful meal and service and, as stated, $25. The only surprise for me was how empty it was. I forget what time we were seated but there were only three other tables being served while we were there.

First time on Oasis. Is there a martini bar on Oasis or is one of the bars clearly more formal than the others? Thanks for your help!

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Bus is VERY easy. Pick it up a few hundred yards from the dock and get off a few hundred yards from the beach. Bus is clean and efficient and gives you the chance to interact with the very friendly locals.

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Just took that tour on Coral Princess two months ago. Wonderful excursion. Look up my review for details. It will probably be listed by Princess as "Full transit by boat" or similar. It is the most popular tour they offer in Panama.

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I took the local bus from the dockyards and got off at the beach. Walked the beach for a mile or so and got back on the bus at the next stop. Transferred to second bus at the terminal and got off right in front of Swizzle Inn. Try to get one of the tables on the porch for a view while you enjoy your swizzles. Stumbled back to the bus to the terminal and then took the ferry back to the ship. Great way to spend a day and to see parts of the island that are off the tourist trail! Terrific t-shirts at the Inn as well.

I am the original poster and just happened to see that this thread is still active. I went back and forth on whether or not to do the ferry excursion and after reading a number of helpful responses to my question decided to try it. You can find more details in my trip report ("Coral Princess Review and Thanks"), but to quickly sum it up, I was very happy with the excursion and it ended up being the highlight of the cruise for me. Heat was not an issue, the lunch was excellent, the day was not long and most importantly the perspective from a small ferry was completely different than from a ship. I am 64 years old.

Good luck with your decision and have a great cruise.

Jim--concerning the amount of time in ports, I only found the stop in Cartagena to be somewhat limiting depending on what you want to do. In the immediate area around the port, the Old City and the fortress are by far the most visited sites. They can easily be done on your own or on a relatively inexpensive ship excursion. I was so impressed with the Old City that I would probably go again if I returned to Cartagena. As I noted in my review, all of the most popular sites in Ocho Rios are clustered together near the port. We were back on board by 2:30 and turned down the opportunity to tube that our guide offered. Coral Princess alternates each cruise between Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman. I do not know how much time is available in GC but I do know that excellent snorkeling is available just a few hundred yards from where the tenders dock.

Cindy&Craig--Yes, we did make several jumps. It does not look very high until you get to the ledge! The guides claim the water is 15+ feet deep and we never hit the bottom. They will caution you to jump out so you avoid the rocks. There is no pressure and a couple of people stepped back from the ledge after looking down. At the very least you can sit at the base of the waterfall, jump from the lower rocks and swim in the pools. We are each 64 years old so it is certainly doable! BTW, pool shoes, secure sandals or an old pair of tennis shoes are a must.

Denise--US dollars were taken at the bus terminal and everywhere else on the Coral Princess itinerary. At the terminal you actually purchase a computer card that is scanned by the driver--very modern technology.

The weather was not nearly as hot as I had feared. A mixture of sunny, partly cloudy, and cloudy days with temps in the mid-80's. Humid but not unbearably so and only one true downpour while on the ferry excursion in the Panama Canal.

Just off the Coral Princess 11 day Panama Canal partial transit out of Ft. Lauderdale. First a sincere thank you to all the Cruise Critic members who provided valuable information as I prepared for this cruise. From the suggestion to read Path Between the Seas to the tip to stake out a spot early on the "secret" forward balcony on the Baja deck for the morning passage through the Gatun Locks, you're input made this wonderful cruise even more enjoyable.

Pre-cruise and Embarkation

We stayed in the Hilton Marina for the night before the cruise. A bit pricey at $210 but extremely convenient to the cruise port. We even saw a few cruisers walking from the hotel to the port. This would only be practical if you were on a Princess ship since their berths are the closest to the hotels on 17th Street. We took a cab from the hotel and it was actually similar in cost to shuttle tickets. Be aware, however, that friends staying at the Hyatt Pier 66 which is almost as close as the Hilton took 45 minutes to get to the Coral berth due to severe traffic and had quite an expensive cab ride. We were told there were nine ships in port on the day we left and even a town as experienced with cruise traffic as Ft. Lauderdale had a hard time handling it. For those intending to take their allotted wine quota on board there is a Walgreen's a block away and they have a limited selection there. Another positive is that the water taxi Stop Five is only steps from the hotel's property. Big City Tavern on Las Olas Blvd. was a great place for drinks and food and was only minutes from two water taxi stops.

We arrived at the port at 11:30, were processed very quickly, sat for about 15 minutes in the lounge, and were on board by 12:15.

Ship, Staff, Food, Entertainment

We were on deck 11/Baja in a forward standard balcony cabin. The Coral Princess is in great shape for her age. Although it is a large ship it has a small feel, perhaps due to the narrow width that allows passage through the Panama Canal. The casino is very small but the other public areas seem to be approximately the same size as other ships I have been on. I had read on CC that the showers in the standard balcony cabins were small but we were still surprised at the dimensions. Anyone who needs a shower of anything close to normal size should seriously consider looking a the mini-suites. Chair hogs were alive and well but lounge chairs could always be found in forward areas away from the pool. As would be expected on an 11 day itinerary, it was an older crowd on this particular cruise. We were told by many people that the shop was at full capacity but we did not experience lines or waits anywhere on board including the elevators. The port side of the ship seemed to have the best views as we entered four of the five ports. I found it interesting that on the third day of the cruise our cabin attendant told us that we were scheduled for carpet replacement the following day. She said it was completely up to us and when we declined it was not big deal.

Evaluation of food is purely subjective. For dinner we had traditional dining, late seating and I personally found the food to be consistently very good but not quite rising to the level of outstanding. The food was always hot and the portions were appropriate considering how many courses are offered. The vast majority of passengers followed the dress code on both formal and smart casual nights. Food in the buffet was fine. At breakfast there was never a line for the buffet or for omelets which is very unusual. The pizza is not only the best at sea, it is better than most on land as well. Ditto for the fresh rolls which I consumed at breakfast, lunch and dinner!

The only real negative for me on the entire cruise--and a change from past Princess cruises--was the constant attempts to sell water and beverages while we were eating meals at any time of day and at any venue. In the Horizon we were approached multiple times during breakfasts to purchase water for port visits or to purchase different varieties of mimosa type drinks. At dinner we were offered drinks of the day and specialty coffees while we were eating. Yes I know, all you have to do is say no, and I politely did so. But multiple times for the same product during the same meal is over the line for me.

Our room attendant (Marikris) and our head waiter (Christian) were outstanding. The entire bar staff at Crooners worked hard for us each evening and always had a smile even when things got hectic. I found it interesting that the cruise director (Susan) somehow found the time to lead the daily Zumba class in addition to all of her other duties. A clear majority of the staff were sincerely friendly, a minority seemed to want to be somewhere else.

The major production shows were the best I have ever experienced on a cruise. Do not miss Motor City, On the Bayou, and Dance. The singers and dancers were extremely talented and enthusiastic. I was very pleased to see that Princess still has a live orchestra and the costumes and sets were more like you might find in a land based theater rather than a cruise ship. The "pool band" was fine and played multiple venues throughout the day and night. If you are looking for a cruise with nightclub style dancing after 10:00, the Panama Canal itinerary will probably not suit you. The ship did a good job with the Super Bowl and MUTS seemed popular. No matter what was going on around the pool, you can always find a seat in the hot tub.

Ports

Aruba--we spent the day on Palm Beach. The city bus terminal is directly across the street from the cruise port and fares are $2 each way and run every 15 minutes. This is far cheaper than a taxi and the buses are clean and convenient. We took a one mile walk on the beach starting at DePalm pier. We found a nice section of the beach where we could sun and swim. We then walked back stopping at the Moomba Bar for a drink and then the Bugaloe Bar on DePalm Pier for lunch and drinks. Bugaloe is a great bar!

Cartagena--we did the Princess excursion, "Old City On Your Own." The bus stopped briefly at the fortress for pictures and then gave us a 45 minute guided tour of the Old City. We then had approximately 1 1/2 hours to explore further on our own. We could have saved a little by using a taxi here and doing it on our own but due to the limited time in port we opted for the security of an excursion.

Panama Canal--Up at 5:00 and on the forward viewing area on deck 11 by 5:15. The door is marked "No Admittance" but a room attendant assured us that the area was available on the day we were visiting the Panama Canal. We were the only people there for 15 minutes or so but the area gradually filled and by 6:15 it was shoulder to shoulder. It is magical approaching the canal from miles away in the dark. By the time you actually enter Gatun Lock the sun is up. By 8:30 or so we were in Gatun Lake and hustling to eat breakfast with everyone else prior to going on an excursion. After much deliberation (and with the help of multiple CC posters), we decided to take the full transit by ferry. We experienced all of the positives that people told us we would and none of the negatives that we were warned about. The experience in the locks is completely different in a small vessel as compared to a cruise ship. The ferry features seating that is 95% covered or enclosed so heat was not a problem for us. The lunch was much better than the "bag lunch" we had been warned about and the wait to enter the locks was minimal. I asked one of the guides on board if I could get some pictures from the top of the ferry and he took us to the bridge where we met the captain and the canal pilot. The view of the Pacific and Panama City is very impressive. We were back on board by 5:00 or so.

Costa Rica--We did the Princess excursion to the Veragua rainforest. This is an educational excursion that is $129 but well worth it. The only negative is the road that must be used to get you there. If you get motion sickness or have a bad back that is aggravated by a very bumpy ride you might want to think twice about this trip.

Jamaica--We hired a private tour through Marvyn's Paradise Tours. Marvyn (you will get to know him on a first name basis if you use him!) quoted a price of $60 apiece to visit Blue Hole, a gated beach, and Scotchies for lunch. We also had to pay the $10 entry fee to Blue Hole and buy our own lunch. You really cannot get a feel for Blue Hole without visiting it. It is basically a beautiful waterfall with four or five small but deep pools of water downstream. A guide helps you to the falls and then gives you the option to jump into the pools from ledges of varying heights above the water ranging from maybe five feet to thirty feet. If you do this, try to get there as early as possible. We were the second car there and it was peaceful and private. With thirty people there the experience would not have been the same. The road to the falls is barely a road and will test your nerves as much as the jumps! Our driver gave us a tour of Ocho Rios on the way to the beach where we stayed until we got hungry for lunch. Then on to Scotchies for lunch--jerk chicken or pork for $4.50 and Red Stripes for $2.00. This place has been featured on the Cooking Channel and should not be missed. The nice thing about this itinerary is that all three venues are within thirty minutes of each other so you really never worry about getting back to the ship. Marvyn was highly recommended on Trip Advisor and our experience was very positive as well.

Random thoughts

I found this itinerary to be one that provided a wide variety of experiences. It is educational and features a great deal of history. You can visit beaches and rainforest. You visit another continent. You can cross the continental divide. It is a Caribbean cruise but much more.

I have posted this before but I continue to worry that these ships are just getting too big. Multiple ships visiting small Caribbean ports are changing the very nature of these beautiful islands.

I once again learned a great deal by simply engaging the staff of Coral Princess in conversation. I have found that asking crew members about their home countries, their families, their experiences on board almost always leads to an interesting exchange. Invariably they have personal stories that are amazing and sometimes heartbreaking when you consider the sacrifices they are making for their families back home.

Again, thanks to the Cruise Critic community for the assistance that you provided that helped to make this cruise a success.

js

I am not a big gambler but I love craps if I can find a $5 table. I only play the pass line and pass odds. Not very exciting but I have found you can stay at the table a long time unless you are really unlucky and you have an excellent chance to actually come out a little ahead which is most unusual in a casino!

The only advice I feel strongly about is to not play the "don't pass" line. The fun part of craps is the way everyone roots for each other during the roll. EXCEPT for the person who bets don't pass!

js

Thanks for the info! I enjoy talking with the staff to learn about their home countries, life on board, etc. and have found the bartenders the easiest to get to know when they are not swamped. It is probably an unfair generalization, but I have also found the bartenders at the nicer bars to be the friendliest and most interesting.

js

Is there a martini bar on Coral Princess? If not, what is the most elegant bar on the ship? Also, can anyone offer names of specific bartenders that are especially friendly and talented?

Many thanks,

js

Thanks so much for the valuable information. The photos were especially helpful. I am also going to continue to monitor this thread since I have a couple of months to make up my mind about the excursion. When I booked the excursion I did not know that part of the canal was bypassed during the bus ride to the ferry and I also naively thought that the ferry turned around and returned to the port by the canal. I have since learned that the return is via bus. I am still happy that I booked a partial transit cruise since I am also looking forward to the other ports, three of which will be new for me. However, based on what I have learned since booking the cruise, I do see a full transit in my future. I just started reading Path Between the Seas and that will probably influence my thinking as well!

John

I have booked the full transit by ferry excursion from Princess and am now having second thoughts. Maybe I am spending too much time on Cruise Critic but I have read many negative posts recently concerning this excursion. I would appreciate hearing from people who stayed on board ship specifically to observe the canal from this perspective. Does the ship anchor while in Gatun at a spot close enough to watch the operation of the canal?

Thanks for your help!

John

Greetings--Based on the information provided on Cruise Critic and Trip Advisor I am interested in possibly contacting Friends of Colombia to arrange a tour. However, we will only be in port from 7:00am to 2:00 pm. Is this enough time to take one of their tours and still get back to the ship with time to spare?

Thanks,

js10

I will be visiting Aruba on a Princess Cruise in a few months and based on CC research have decided to cab from the cruise port to Palm Beach. I would like to spend the afternoon walking the beach and stopping at a few beach bars along the way. Any recommendations for laid back bars directly on the beach? I am not interested in large resort type bars--my preference would be for unique and funky!

Thanks for your help!

js

On the now gone Windjammer Barefoot cruise line the dress code for the one formal night was to "wear a clean t-shirt or turn a dirty one inside out."