Which ship is better for Alaska, Crown Princess or Coral Princess?

[allisons]

For the complete lowdown on Coral balconies, see this wonderful website:

http://mysite.verizon.net/res76zxu/princessbalconies/index.html

 

Coral has four sets of elevators/stairs. The midship and aft sets go to all decks. The forward set only goes down to deck 7, so you have to transfer to get down to the restaurants, casino, etc. There is also an extra set of elevators and a staircase that only covers the atrium area. Since you're looking at an aft cabin, you will find that Coral has enough stairs and elevators that you will never have to wait.

 

Take a good look at the Coral deck plans, and you'll see what all this means. There is a doorway right next to E736 that leads to the aft balcony -- so you would not only get the panoramic view from your own balcony, but a full 180 degrees there. [i would still spend most of the glacier viewing on the promenade on deck 7.]

 

Wow! This site is amazing! Very helpful! It definitely looks like E736 is the perfect cabin on the Coral Princess or Island Princess!

[san diego sue]

Been on the Crown on a transatlantic (cold weather northern route)Had C752). And I mentioned being cold, ship was very crowded inside. Except for the Coral and the Island, most of the larger Princess ships are basically the same layout. Had C752 on The Star to Alaska, Caribbean Princess (Caribbean), Golden Princess (three times to Hawaii), Sapphire Princess opposite side 753(on a /coastal cruise).So my experience with those aft cabins in both cold and warm weather cruises is significant.

The nice thing about that aft cabin is If it rains, you can still sit outside.

So getting back to the topic, for Alaska would still take the Coral.You won't be just sitting on your balcony for viewing, you need to get up on deck and view it all. The Naturalist will be talking on loud speakers and referring to things to look at and you will be walking from one side to the other.

[allisons]

Been on the Crown on a transatlantic (cold weather northern route)Had C752). And I mentioned being cold, ship was very crowded inside. Except for the Coral and the Island, most of the larger Princess ships are basically the same layout. Had C752 on The Star to Alaska, Caribbean Princess (Caribbean), Golden Princess (three times to Hawaii), Sapphire Princess opposite side 753(on a /coastal cruise).So my experience with those aft cabins in both cold and warm weather cruises is significant.

The nice thing about that aft cabin is If it rains, you can still sit outside.

So getting back to the topic, for Alaska would still take the Coral.You won't be just sitting on your balcony for viewing, you need to get up on deck and view it all. The Naturalist will be talking on loud speakers and referring to things to look at and you will be walking from one side to the other.

 

Thank you so much! (We'll see about that. On our Alaska cruise this summer, my husband refused to ever go up on public decks or to listen to the naturalist. He just wanted to view everything from our balcony.)

Edited July 19, 2013 by allisons

[fishin' musician]

Just go, you will enjoy whatever you pick.

We cruise so often that for us, doesn't matter which ship because eventually will sale on the other one.I realize most people are not in same circumstance as I, and a cruise is a once in a lifetime. So appreciate your asking all the questions.

As I mentioned in a previous post, we have had C752. Only time we got really seasick was on Alaska cruise in that cabin, when on open sea.

Have had that aft cabin 6 times. We are going to Alaska next month on the Star and chose not to have the aft but one of the side Caribe deck instead. With the way the new category pricing is, better value to take an aft side. The savings can get you nice tours instead.

Poster above, glad you also mentioned the show. It is so worth being on the Coral to see it.

 

I believe that for most on these boards a cruise is not "once in a lifetime".

[allisons]

I believe that for most on these boards a cruise is not "once in a lifetime".

 

Ha ha! So true! I'm currently planning #22 and #23! But I still obsess to get it just right each time!

[san diego sue]

Now I understand your situation. Since you already did this trip to Alaska and your husband didn't want to go on public decks for viewing, then the Crown will be best for you. You can sit on that wonderful balcony and enjoy the view. It is panoramic. When we did this last on the Star, we ate our lunch on the balcony. If you turn your TV set up and leave your balcony door opened, you can hear the naturalist on the TV.

Save the Coral for the Panama Canal. It is incredible should you ever want to go. Enjoy your cruise. Never second guess any decisions you make about which ship you cruise, you will enjoy yourself.

Since you have been on the Ruby, the Crown is almost identical to it.

[allisons]

Now I understand your situation. Since you already did this trip to Alaska and your husband didn't want to go on public decks for viewing, then the Crown will be best for you. You can sit on that wonderful balcony and enjoy the view. It is panoramic. When we did this last on the Star, we ate our lunch on the balcony. If you turn your TV set up and leave your balcony door opened, you can hear the naturalist on the TV.

Save the Coral for the Panama Canal. It is incredible should you ever want to go. Enjoy your cruise. Never second guess any decisions you make about which ship you cruise, you will enjoy yourself.

Since you have been on the Ruby, the Crown is almost identical to it.

 

Really?! Will I be missing out on good glacier viewing?! I have no frame of reference, because we had to miss Hubbard Glacier this summer due to bad weather! That's why we're returning next summer and why I wang to get the ship and balcony just right--it's my glacier do-over!

Edited July 19, 2013 by allisons

[san diego sue]

The reason I mentioned "Once in a lifetime" was not to insult people just starting to cruise and are young. For some of those , it is a trip of a lifetime and may be hardly affordable. We always assume that all of us are well traveled because we post here. Not always the case.

When we first cruised many years ago, we were in our 20's and it was a trip of a lifetime.Prices were higher in the 1970's than they are today.

Never thought that in our later years we would cruise to all parts of the world, and each trip an incredible journey.

With the Poster asking so many questions , I assumed she was not very well traveled. Guess I was wrong.

Edited July 19, 2013 by san diego sue

[allisons]

The reason I mentioned "Once in a lifetime" was not to insult people just starting to cruise and are young. For some of those , it is a trip of a lifetime and may be hardly affordable. We always assume that all of us are well traveled because we post here. Not always the case.

When we first cruised many years ago, we were in our 20's and it was a trip of a lifetime.Prices were higher in the 1970's than they are today.

Never thought that in our later years we would cruise to all parts of the world, and each trip an incredible journey.

With the Poster asking so many questions , I assumed she was not very well traveled. Guess I was wrong.

 

Ha ha! That's understandable! I'm well traveled to the Caribbean and on Royal Caribbean. However, I am new to Alaska and Princess, hence all the questions!

[Cruiserkenn]

See that Princess? We want more ships like the Coral! It wins in every poll, every time!:)

 

Yes, thanks for saying this. The Coral and her sister the Island.

 

Hello :) :) :)

[mr green]

I believe that two more ships were planned, however, due to the passenger to tonnage ratio, they were deemed uneconomical. So sad.

 

john

[CQG67]

Crown - the shower on the Coral isn't big enough for a child let alone an adult.

[KruzPrincess]

Thank you so much! I assume that your four days were Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm, and College Fjord? Can you please rank them, or at least compare and contrast? We're going to do two cruises in Alaska next summer, so we have lots of different options of different combinations of glaciers. Thanks!

 

We had 2 days in Glacier Bay, one at Hubbard Glacier and one at College Fjord. We enjoyed them all. Glacier Bay was our favorite. We didn't get very close to Hubbard. There was a lot of ice in the water there, but we still had a nice day.

[allisons]

We had 2 days in Glacier Bay, one at Hubbard Glacier and one at College Fjord. We enjoyed them all. Glacier Bay was our favorite. We didn't get very close to Hubbard. There was a lot of ice in the water there, but we still had a nice day.

 

Did you enjoy both days at Glacier Bay? Did you do as much viewing the second day? We have an itinerary option to do 2 days in Glacier Bay instead of Glacier Bay and Tracy Arm. Hmm . . .

[allisons]

Crown - the shower on the Coral isn't big enough for a child let alone an adult.

 

Really?! It's smaller than a standard cruise ship shower?! I can't imagine! Yikes!

[allisons]

So, we now booked the Island Princess to do the same cruise but on Wednesday instead of Saturday. The Island Princess is exactly the same as the Coral Princess, so I assume it is as highly recommended? We booked E736, of course. Now we just have to decide which cruise to do, but we can sit on both reservations a while.

[suzski]

So, we now booked the Island Princess to do the same cruise but on Wednesday instead of Saturday. The Island Princess is exactly the same as the Coral Princess, so I assume it is as highly recommended? We booked E736, of course. Now we just have to decide which cruise to do, but we can sit on both reservations a while.

 

Except that the Island Princess does not have the International Café which was added during Coral's last drydock.

[fishin' musician]

Except that the Island Princess does not have the International Café which was added during Coral's last drydock.

 

They also changed the layout of the Horizon Court during the last drydock...

 

A prior post mentioned the miniscule showers on the Coral and I concur, they were the smallest I've ever experienced...fwiw, my previous leader in the smallest showers at sea category was the RCL Enchantment of the Seas.

[Coral]

Except that the Island Princess does not have the International Café which was added during Coral's last drydock.

 

The Island Princess is scheduled for dry dock October of this year.

[OCruisers]

The Island Princess is scheduled for dry dock October of this year.

 

Thanks, Coral .... That's good to know.

 

Hopefully, they'll add an IC.

 

LuLu

~~~~

[allisons]

Except that the Island Princess does not have the International Café which was added during Coral's last drydock.

 

Oh no! Are you serious?! After all that noise about the Coral, I book the Island and it isn't equivalent?! The Coral had a recent dry dock refurbishment and the Island didn't?!

[allisons]

They also changed the layout of the Horizon Court during the last drydock...

 

A prior post mentioned the miniscule showers on the Coral and I concur' date=' they were the smallest I've ever experienced...fwiw, my previous leader in the smallest showers at sea category was the RCL Enchantment of the Seas.[/quote']

 

Are the showers on the Island as bad as the ones on Coral?! Or are they any better?! Well, we've been on the RCI Enchantment of the Seas and I don't recall an issue or thinking they were any smaller than on other ships. We find all cruise ship showers equally small and annoying, so maybe it will be fine for us.

[allisons]

The Island Princess is scheduled for dry dock October of this year.

 

Is it anticipated that during that dry dock, the Island will get the exact same refurbishments that the Coral did?! If so, then the Island would be an even better choice for next summer than Coral! Right?! Woo hoo!

[Coral]

Is it anticipated that during that dry dock, the Island will get the exact same refurbishments that the Coral did?! If so, then the Island would be an even better choice for next summer than Coral! Right?! Woo hoo!

 

Yes. It appears you have sailed the Radiance class of RCCL. The Coral and Island remind me of the Radiance class, but less crowded. It is the perfect size ship for Alaska and is not crowded at all on the ship. The space ratio on the Crown is awful and you will definitely feel it in Alaska.

 

I feel your pain. In 2002 I sailed on the Radiance to Alaska and missed Hubbard Glacier (we were 9 miles away). I couldn't wait to get back to Alaska to see a glacier and went the following year on the Coral Princess! The Coral (and the sister ship would be similar) far surpassed my Radiance experience in Alaska.

Edited July 20, 2013 by Coral

[allisons]

Yes. It appears you have sailed the Radiance class of RCCL. The Coral and Island remind me of the Radiance class, but less crowded. It is the perfect size ship for Alaska and is not crowded at all on the ship. The space ratio on the Crown is awful and you will definitely feel it in Alaska.

 

I feel your pain. In 2002 I sailed on the Radiance to Alaska and missed Hubbard Glacier (we were 9 miles away). I couldn't wait to get back to Alaska to see a glacier and went the following year on the Coral Princess! The Coral (and the sister ship would be similar) far surpassed my Radiance experience in Alaska.

 

Thank you so much! That is great to hear! We didn't even get 9 miles away! We couldn't sail into the bay to Hubbard Glacier at all!