Diamond, Coral or Island Princess in Alaska?

[dinomac]

Have decided on Princess for our Alaska cruise, but now have to choose between Diamond, Coral or Island Princess? Is one newer or better than another? Is it better to be on the Coral or Island that have less passengers? Recommendations anyone????

[rdsqrl]

I haven't been on the Diamond but I loved the Coral and think she or her twin, the Island, would be perfect for Alaska because of the open viewing decks both fore and aft. I don't think the Diamond has that feature, at least certainly not the forward open decks on Caribe and Baja. Also, having a smaller passenger load is great -- the ship really felt uncrowded on a full-up holiday cruise and the staff was fantastic; I don't have one bad thing to say about her (well, they made me get off after 15 days; that sucked!). I think you'd enjoy her tremendously.

[Colo Cruiser]

Island/Coral

[D&N LUV 2 TRAVEL]

The Island and Coral are about 800 passengers less than the Diamond. If selecting a balcony cabin on the Island or Coral make sure you are not against a bump out section. It will block your view from the left or right depending on your room location. Do your own research and know which are the bad cabins for location beside the bump out sections. I had a TA trying to sell me a midship balcony only to find it right against the bumpout.

[Putterdude]

We have certainly have enjoyed the Coral but we have a fondness for the Diamond/Sapphire. We have found that the public areas are more spacious, the flow of people is just easier, they have more interior lounges for viewing the scenery and have the Skywalkers lounge which faces aft and is a terrific place for viewing scenery during the day...the Coral and Island don't have Skywalkers.

[Oi]

Loved the Coral...did Alaska on her, it was our first time with Princess and our first trip to Alaska...It was what made us Princess lovers...the Coral and Alaska, great combination.

 

Whichever you decide though, enjoy!

[dinomac]

Whatever ship we decide... still wondering if we should spend the extra money on a balcony or just view the scenery from public areas... what do you all say???

[Oi]

Whatever ship we decide... still wondering if we should spend the extra money on a balcony or just view the scenery from public areas... what do you all say???

 

We had a window and my parents had a balcony...all 4 of us spent 'most' of our time on deck for the viewings...buying the wonderful hot chocolate (with liquor added ;) ) that they were selling up top! :-) it was wonderful. We enjoyed the window in the evenings when we retired for the night, and you might enjoy having a balcony to do that with, my parents did, but if you are mostly going to use your room to shower and sleep (like we did) then save the money and buy more stuff and excurssions, etc! We did not feel we missed anything in just having a window. just my HO...

[scmomofboys]

Another vote for the Coral. We've sailed to Alaska 3 times on the Coral and once on the Sapphire (Diamond's twin). Just like the fewer passengers and size of the Coral.

 

We had a balcony all 4 times and I highly recommend it. We did go to the public areas to view Glacier Bay, but the majority of our time was spent on our balcony. We kept the curtains open all night so when we were awake, we could look out at the awesome scenery. As such, we did not take advantage of most of the amenities on the ship - shows, casino, nightlife - because we were captivated by what was going on outside the ship. The scenery is just magnificent! Make sure you bring good binoculars. We got our money's worth out of ours.:)

[Pachutabelle]

Balcony,balcony balcony. First time we went to Alaska we were inside and did not know what we missed. Always having to run to deck to view anything. Last year on Star we had a balcony. Wonderful. I so enjoyed roomservice breakfast on balcony viewing glaciers. Don't think I could sail again without balcony. Well worth the extra money in my humble opinion.

[AmazingJourneys]

Coral or the Island would be my choice, but I'm sure you will be satisfied with whichever one you choose.

[Travel Time]

Loved the ship, it never felt crowded, and the service was fabulous. Had a balcony on our tour. Would not do Alaska without it. It was so nice to sip hot chocolate and watch the scenery go by. Just an FYI a couple of highlight of our trip was a Float Plane Ride over the Misty Fjords, with Island Wings and in Junea Tracey's Crab Shack.

[Colo Cruiser]

The Promanade deck on all 3 are the best.

[dinomac]

The Promanade deck on all 3 are the best.

 

Colo Cruiser... are you saying to get a cabin on the Promenade deck or best for viewing the scenery?

[Whoo]

I have been on both the Island and the Coral - they are both wonderful! I would agree with others here, regarding which type of room. For Alaska, I would always recommend a balcony. The scenery is so beautiful, you want to see it every moment you can!

[Colo Cruiser]

Colo Cruiser... are you saying to get a cabin on the Promenade deck or best for viewing the scenery?

 

No cabins on Promanade deck.

No they (Island/Coral/Diamond/Sapphire) are wider then all the other Grand Class ships, just nice for walking and viewing, and have full teak loungers.! ;)

[c-cruise]

Yet another vote for Coral/Island. We went on the Island last year after several cruises on Grand class ships (Including Diamond/Sapphire). The Island felt significantly less crowded to us. The layout is a little different with the Horizon court in the front, but it works well. The only annoyance I had was the grill being up a deck from the Horizon court. Promenade on the Island/Coral is nice as well, goes all the way around without the stairs at the bow like on the Grand class ships (much better if you are a walker/jogger). Also liked the larger (4 story) atrium on the Coral/Island.

 

Another thing to consider is the Coral and Diamond are Saturday departures while the Island departs on Mondays. We left on a Monday last season and had very few other ships in port with us all week. Might be worth looking at the schedules for the ports and seeing which has the least other ships in the ports.

[cattman]

Another thing to consider is the Coral and Diamond are Saturday departures while the Island departs on Mondays. We left on a Monday last season and had very few other ships in port with us all week. Might be worth looking at the schedules for the ports and seeing which has the least other ships in the ports.

 

This is a very good point, and Monday departure is one of the reasons we sail the Island every year.

 

The Island and Coral(both known as the "baby Grands" as they have the features of the Grand class ships in a Panamax size) have the highest passenger/space ratio in the Princess fleet. More space means more room on deck during glacier viewing days; it's never too crowded... great if you decide not to book a balcony. These ships just feel more spacious than the Diamond/Sapphire.

[kruisey]

I have sailed on The island and The Diamond and much prefer The Diamond

I preferred her width which gives great space on upper decks.The island and Coral were especially built to go through the Panama Canal so they don't have the same width as The Diamond but are longer in length.

[Colo Cruiser]

I have sailed on The island and The Diamond and much prefer The Diamond

I preferred her width which gives great space on upper decks.The island and Coral were especially built to go through the Panama Canal so they don't have the same width as The Diamond but are longer in length.

 

They still have the wide Promanade though.

[Putterdude]

They still have the wide Promanade though.

 

Colo, because the where designed for the Panama, what they don't have though is the ability to get a wheelchair or a walker past a "stewarts" cart in the halls (or companionways) on the cabin decks....which is a big turn off for anyone who is disabled. Sorry as much as we like the Coral, if the Diamond or Sapphire were on the same itinerary....it woud be the Diamond or the Sapphire for us.

[Colo Cruiser]

Colo, because the where designed for the Panama, what they don't have though is the ability to get a wheelchair or a walker past a "stewarts" cart in the halls (or companionways) on the cabin decks....which is a big turn off for anyone who is disabled. Sorry as much as we like the Coral, if the Diamond or Sapphire were on the same itinerary....it woud be the Diamond or the Sapphire for us.

 

 

I did not know that, thanks.

[luvlake]

We were on the Coral in 2007 and the Sapphire (Diamond's siter ship) in 2009. Both trips were to Alaska and both ships were wonderful. I would take either again and again.

 

I found the difference in the ships is the number of people and the size of the ship. Since I am a person that doesn't mind a few more people I think the next time we go we would take the larger ship again. I love the Skywalker's night club for the cool days of scenery watching. I also loved walking the Promenade deck. The Horizon Court is at the opposite ends of the ships. It was nice to watch the scenery off the front on the Coral but we also enjoyed walking out the back on the Sapphire and seeing what we had passed.

 

One thing I found when we got home from Alaska though is that we did not talk about the ship as much as we did the majestic scenery. I think a person would love either ship.:)

[gertz]

Any of the three. You will not be crowded on any of them.

[Restless Feet]

Another vote for Island/Coral. Fabulous ship for Alaska as well as Panama Canal. But for any of the ships on one way itinerary in Alaska, pay attention to which side of the ship will be closest to the shore (port on south bound, starboard on north bound). With good binoculars, the wildlife spotting is great. We lived on our balcony, watching the birds, animals and fish during the entire cruise.