scienceteacher

I was wondering if bug spray would be a necessity in ports such as Panama and Limon, Costa Rica.

I also enjoy looking at the different webcams.

I accidentally left a brand new sweater on the back of my pool chair. I went back a couple of hours later to try and find it, but it was gone. I checked with the ship's lost and found everyday, for six days, and it was never turned in. I hope whomever is wearing my sweater is enjoying it.:rolleyes:

 

So, the answer to your question is to never leave anything on a pool chair that you don't mind replacing. If someone would steal a $30.00 sweater, I think someone would really love your Ipad. Now if it's in your backpack and you are taking a quick dip in the pool, I would probably risk it. I wouldn't leave it sitting out on my chair though.

Your sweater may not have been stolen purposely but taken by someone who thought it was theirs.

We did the partial transit last year (I think it was 11 days though) out of Ft Lauderdale on the Coral. We did that to avoid flying to the west coast (we have a second home in Florida and can just drive to the port). I would like to do a full transit one day but I was not disappointed in the partial transit. On the day of the canal visit we took an excursion to the Gatun Locks and the expansion center which we thought was very interesting.

We plan to do that excursion when we cruise the first week in November.

We are doing the partial the first week of November. I have no interest in the full transit. Four sea days are enough for us. I love vacation but also enjoy my activities at home. I would not like to be gone longer. I guess I am alone in that. Whichever you choose, I hope you have a wonderful time.

I have been trying to plan a bit of travel to Europe in 2016 and 2017 and wonder if anyone in the Princess forum can compare the amenities found on Princess to a Viking River cruise. Does one feel more upscale? Which cruise line offers the best dining options? Which cruise lines' decks feel less busy and more secluded?

 

Ports of call aren't as important to me as I have been to most of Vikings' cities, I am more curious about onboard differences in amenities.

River cruising is mostly bout the cities you are visitiing. Sounds like what you really want is an ocean cruise. Maybe a transatlantic would suit you.

I can't find the menu that was posted here recently, but I did find a photo of a menu from the Sapphire which seemed recent:

Lattes are $2.50/$3.50 (the Large is the size of a Starbucks Grande)

Mochas are $2.75/$3.75

 

It's definitely worth it to get the card, especially since you can use the unused punches on future cruises.

 

Since you didn't ask about brewed coffee, I'm not addressing that -- except to say that that other poster was wrong: brewed coffee is only about $1.25/$1.50, so definitely not cost-effective to get the coffee card for that alone. Hm, guess I was addressing that, after all.

 

Happy latte-ing!

Thanks for all the info. I might reconsider buying the card.

We always get one. it can be shared. Works well for us. A coffee a day each and we have one punch left over. Also can be used for the brewed coffee.

Unfortunately, I will be the only one using it. My husband doesn't drink coffee. I would only drink one per day. Maybe a second one some days. I am thinking I will probably just buy them as I want them. Thanks for the advice.

I am trying to decide if it is worth it to me to get a coffee card. Does anyone know the price of a cappachino or latte a la carte? I think I remember getting a latte on Norwegian for $2.50.

I am with a group going on this cruise in the winter and I was getting some suggestions together for when we meet. I keep reading about taking the ferry boat through the rest of the canal as interesting excursion. I have gone thru all the excursions on the Princess website and I cannot locate this tour? I would think it would be listed under Gatun Lake tours? I do not think this would be a tour that should be taken unless it was booked though Princess as the timing in the canal can be unpredictable. There are no tours for the port Colon? What am I missing?

 

Thanks.

I think the tour you are looking for is called Panama Canal & Locks Transit by Boat. (PC1-615)

Last year we went to Belize and I could not donate blood for one year. We are doing a Panama Canal cruise this year. I am fairly sure this will not impede my blood donation for another year. I hope not, as I donate several times each year.

diamond princess to the far east in march 2011. Got it for free!

 

We had booked to go to south america but 2 weeks before we went ta called saying princess had overbooked that cruise and wanted to do a deal. Deal was full refund and free cruise to the value of what we had originally paid.

 

Total no brainer.:):):)

wow!

We have cruised on Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Norwegian. Each one had somethings we loved. Celebrity had the best service and the ship , the Equinox was the most beautiful. Royal Caribbean had the best entertainment. Princess had the best itinerary. Norwegian had fun activities. We are not picky and thought each had good food, though I thought the food on Norwegian was ordinary in presentation and in selection.

It is 4pm. I would be relaxing with a book and a latte.

We have an inside cabin for late October. When we got it in January it was $800 per person less than it is now. The ship is almost full. I doubt there will be any reduction in price.

You're trying to remember where you saw the promo. I'm trying to remember turning 50. :rolleyes:

Me too. When I turned 50 I was too busy for cruising. If I could go back I would make time.

I love The Sound of Music! I cannot wait to sing in the pop choir. I love all the songs!

I don't think it is right to deliberately bring them in. It is against the rules. The rule doesn't't say it is alright as long as you do not get caught.

We are in Cleveland and are glad to hear all about the wonderful sunshine you experienced.

Variety is the spice of life. Give something new a try. You can always go back to HAL for your next cruise. I doubt you will have a bad time on a Princess cruise.

Very humorous anecdotes. Looking forward to your review. We will be on The Coral in October.

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

Never had a problem with the coffee on the ship and I've never paid for a cup. Coffee is very subjective... one person gets a cup of black coffee and the next gets a little coffee with tons of sugar and cream. We're all different.

I am with you on that. Tastes vary. Someone can tell you if they like or dislike the coffee but they do not know whether you will like it.

We head to the dining room for lunch. While waiting for our meal, we check out the daily schedule and plan our day.

We sailed on the Celebrity Equinox in 2013. It is the most beautiful ship we have ever seen. The service was amazing. The food was fabulous. The entertainment was disappointing. My only experience on Princess was 11 years ago. I don't remember anything negative. We are looking forward to our cruise of the Panama Canal on the Coral Princess. I have heard great things about this ship.