dmwnc1959

UPDATED info from Michael Bayley

Just curious as to what it is about Coral Princess’ layout that you personally didn’t like. Anything you can warn me in reference? I’ve been studying the deck plans and watching a ton of YouTube ship tour videos, and other than the Lotus Spa/Fitness Center/Sanctuary access (which I’ll never use) it all seems straight forward. I’ve only cruised Ruby Princess and Royal Princess. Thanks for any heads up! 😁

Now up to 22 knots

Marine Traffic has updated the ICON voyage info

Pictures of ICON leaving Ponce late this afternoon courtesy of Cruceros Puerto Rico FB

Marine Traffic just now has her leaving Ponce

Last night in Ponce… (Image courtesy of PR Infroma FB and Ciudad de Ponce FB pages) “Thank you Ponce! The Icon of the Seas crew thanks the city for their hospitality before sailing off to Miami for the first group of passengers to enjoy the world's biggest cruise.”

Thanks for the article, had me really concerned for a moment. Not flying in until Jan. 2025, so I should be safe. 😎

Here’s a video from FB showing her repositioning sides. https://www.facebook.com/100063784830543/posts/pfbid02zr7B4pMRX1Mk8gcjECUbSSsksLeJyTc2EnKgfY5LvjduahHf8F9txZ9Di1dHczJxl/?app=fbl Screenshot of the Facebook post

Brought it up in the old app and it does display the ‘other’ prices. 😁

If you have FB check out these pictures showing some of the starboard side lifeboats being extended and lowered into the water. https://www.facebook.com/100045153182928/posts/pfbid02L1KaaBgR7Sfa1Kf769h6CFn3P8WdCvtz7c8RizTwizqNWUVSRo29UdDBkMzqrh2Ll/?app=fbl Image courtesy of Cruceros Puerto Rico FB

Yes. She is undergoing her first full Coast Guard safety inspections. I did see pictures on FB of her starboard side lifeboats being lowered and tested.

I did see that one. It would be nice just to start dreaming of what I’ll be dining on!

THANK YOU for the link, great reading!!! 👍

This screenshot from FB

I’ve been checking out the venue on the Princess app and various Google searches looking for a menu that might be the same as a Panama Canal cruise. All of the images that I have found, even in the Princess website, reflect completely different offerings - even down to itinerary-specific (Australia?) sailings - of the appetizers, main courses, and desserts. Maybe I won’t get to see the Panama Canal menu until much later in 2024 when Coral Princess starts her PC transits? The app also lists the per person adult price at $63. Seems a little steep, but I can live with it. 😉 Does that include the gratuity? I do love the specialty restaurants, and was wondering if the non-steak options in this restaurant would make it worth eating her a few times on a 16-night cruise. I have two free Princess Premire choices and already know I’ll love Sabatini’s. Thank you for any insight!

Grabbed a few screenshots of her going through the Miraflores Locks today, courtesy of the Canal de Panama webcams.

First cruise ships of 2024 🥳🎉 SILVER SHADOW - January 2nd RUBY PRINCESS, and the INSIGNIA on her World Cruise - January 3rd

More pictures from FB https://www.facebook.com/100045153182928/posts/pfbid032SiYFSjCwKFY7AxeyPc54j7Qcur2hoE2fHK5KaiCVGXvdvTSmBknxkThKZmMvBmvl/?app=fbl

These from Facebook… https://www.facebook.com/story.php/?id=100045153182928&story_fbid=906351824213249

There were a lot of things on AnthemOTS that didn’t appeal to me, so it’s a one-and-done for that class of ship too. It’s sort of why I went back to Princess. The Coral Princess Panama Canal cruise is a bucket-list item that’s been needing scratched off for decades, and the passenger capacity, itinerary, intimate ship’s spaces, and size of the ship is perfect. After that it will all be ship-focused cruises, like @BecciBoo mentioned doing B2B cruises, and maybe never get off at the ports. That would be a perfect way to experience ICON. She is most certainly beyond extraordinary. And who knows, maybe five years down the road I’ll have a change of heart and book her for a couple of weeks. I’m sure the more I see of her, the more I’ll be tempted. But that price tag…😳 😉

I think for the most part all of these giant cruise ships have become floating theme parks, heck, yours even has a giant chunk of the outdoor space dedicated to a race track. I don’t find that appealing, same for most of NCL’s big ships. But like you said we choose that which fits what we like in a cruise ship, correct. I cruised Anthem of the Seas a couple of years back and it was fine. But I wanted something smaller for my Panama Canal cruise, so I chose Coral Princess (which will transit the old locks) doing a 16-night full transit ‘Ocean to Ocean’ from San Francisco to Fort Lauderdale. With that said, I think Icon of the Seas is an absolute stunner. A truly remarkable achievement. All I can say is WOW, just…WOW. And her name fits: ICON. And she will set the standards high when it comes to future cruise ships in the vast array of offerings. But I think that, from what I’ve seen of her, she is mostly dedicated to a market I’m no longer a part of. And that’s really fine. She’ll have hundreds of thousands of very happy customers this year alone. There are plenty of fish in the sea. I’ll catch a different one. Can’t wait to watch her on the live cams! GO ICON! GO!!! 😁

Icon of the Seas now showing up on Marine Traffic as well…

THANKS! I’ll need to start using this site! It seems to be more up to date.

Sorry for being late to the game, and I did do a search. When is ICON supposed to arrive in Ponce? And her very first arrival into Miami?