Alaska: Coral or Star?

[skrapngal]

Just wondering if the Coral is really worth the bigger price (about $250 more). Cuz really, Alaska is all about the nature and not the ship, right?

[Coral]

I would pay it.

[GweninTX]

We loved the size of the Coral. It also has a unique showroom with rotating pads that they have special shows for you will not see on other size ships. The diamond is her twin sister - identical. We loved our Alaskan cruise on her much more than the one last year on Crown. I have never been on Star.

[Colo Cruiser]

Just wondering if the Coral is really worth the bigger price (about $250 more). Cuz really, Alaska is all about the nature and not the ship, right?

 

 

 

Absolutely worth it!

[SlyOldLady]

All Princess ships are identical (as far as I am concerned) however, these two cruises are anything but.

Roundtrip cruises can be easier but the Coral itinerary north or southbound are worth the extra work and money...hands down!

If you have a few extra days to spend in anchorage there are some awesome excursion companies in and around town...go climb a glacier and explore the ice caves...

[LoriPhil]

We prefer the Coral, but have booked the Star because she fit our schedule (and price threshold for a B2B) for 2016. While I will miss the many great elements of Coral cruising, I'll be happily glued to the railing with my binoculars on the Star. Once you make your decision don't sweat it, just look forward to the trip.

Edited January 2, 2016 by LoriPhil

[Colo Cruiser]

All Princess ships are identical (as far as I am concerned) however, these two cruises are anything but.

Roundtrip cruises can be easier but the Coral itinerary north or southbound are worth the extra work and money...hands down!

If you have a few extra days to spend in anchorage there are some awesome excursion companies in and around town...go climb a glacier and explore the ice caves...

 

 

 

I will have to disagree......

Have you sailed all the Princess ships?

[hllwdcruiser]

All Princess ships are identical (as far as I am concerned) however, these two cruises are anything but.

Roundtrip cruises can be easier but the Coral itinerary north or southbound are worth the extra work and money...hands down!

If you have a few extra days to spend in anchorage there are some awesome excursion companies in and around town...go climb a glacier and explore the ice caves...

 

I'm assuming you have been on the Coral since you are responding to this post. Did you go on the forward and aft facing decks while you were on her? Using these decks made a huge difference to our Alaska cruising experience.

 

Add to that the indoor pool and the space to passenger ratio and I would say that the Coral is very unlike the other Princess ships I have been on.

 

To the OP - I would definitely pay the additional fare to sail through Glacier Bay on the Coral again.

[SlyOldLady]

I will have to disagree......

Have you sailed all the Princess ships?

 

We've sailed on all except the Royal and Caribbean Princess of ships currently in the family. I am sure people have there favorites for one reason or another but to us the difference is in the crew not the vessel. I have also done Alaska a dozen times on seven different ships, I could tell you which was my favorite ship but it would be pointless because it had nothing to do with the vessel and everything to do with the crew and itinerary. Yes, I'm sure some people like the Casino on deck 5 verses 6 or some other quirky difference in boats...thats why I said "in my opinion" in the original reply :)

The main point I was trying to relay was the itinerary trumps everything...again in my opinion :)

[rob2102]

She was built for cruising in Alaska, she had a much larger observation deck forward and a covered pool. She cruises the panama canal in the winter season, and her and her sisters have a narrower beam ( width ) which enables them to navigate the panama canal.

[SlyOldLady]

I'm assuming you have been on the Coral since you are responding to this post. Did you go on the forward and aft facing decks while you were on her? Using these decks made a huge difference to our Alaska cruising experience.

 

Add to that the indoor pool and the space to passenger ratio and I would say that the Coral is very unlike the other Princess ships I have been on.

 

To the OP - I would definitely pay the additional fare to sail through Glacier Bay on the Coral again.

 

We've sailed the Coral and it's sister the Island seven times, LOVED them, then again, we loved all the others as well. Our most memorable Alaskan cruise was on the Dawn Princess which is as different as it gets. It was a favorite not because of the boat but because the force 10 storm we hit just north of Vancouver, we will never forget that adventure.

[SlyOldLady]

Just wondering if the Coral is really worth the bigger price (about $250 more). Cuz really, Alaska is all about the nature and not the ship, right?

 

I did make a mistake...I thought the Star was doing round trips next year, sorry, looks like they are doing the same itinerary for the most part, my bad. With that in mind I would toss a coin.

[Jasperdo]

I've sailed on both the Star and the Coral. I loved them both, and would happily cruise again on either one. Being the cheapskate that I am, I would pick the cheaper cruise.

[Dbld777]

We're not familiar with the Star, however we've loved our Northbound cruises on the Coral. We always get a Caribe deck balcony somewhere near the aft viewing decks. These aft viewing decks are a great place to hangout on a sunny day. A nice warm spot with the ability to see both sides of the ship or just admire that mesmerizing wake view. An economical option is to sail in inside cabins C723 or C724. Really close to the aft viewing deck!

[hllwdcruiser]

We've sailed the Coral and it's sister the Island seven times, LOVED them, then again, we loved all the others as well. Our most memorable Alaskan cruise was on the Dawn Princess which is as different as it gets. It was a favorite not because of the boat but because the force 10 storm we hit just north of Vancouver, we will never forget that adventure.

 

You have sailed a lot more than I and I absolutely respect your opinion.

 

Except for the Coral, I have only sailed on the Ruby and the Crown. I really feel that there was a pretty significant difference between them and the Coral. My response was specifically directed to your statement that all Princess ships are the same.

 

I believe the Star has the indoor pool but does it have all of the great viewing decks? I've never sailed on her so I cannot form an opinion.

 

The only thing I can say with certainty is that I don't regret taking the advice of the majority on these boards when picking the Coral for our first Alaska voyage. She did not disappoint!

[Thrak]

I would be happy on either of them. I've sailed both. Given my choice, I'd take the Coral for the forward and aft viewing area and for the Universe Lounge.

 

Our first cruise was Alaska on Sea Princess. We loved it. :)

[TracieABD]

Keith, Thrak, Theresa-

Don't flame me <insert anticipatory wince here>, but I would go with the Star. I actually like the Grand class of ship a lot.

 

I have been on both ships, and while I love a cruise on just about any cruise ship, my best cruise was on the Star. I struggled a little bit with the layout and some of the amenities of the Coral.

 

...But that is just me--- I am most definately in the minority here!

[Coral]

Keith, Thrak, Theresa-

Don't flame me <insert anticipatory wince here>, but I would go with the Star. I actually like the Grand class of ship a lot.

 

I have been on both ships, and while I love a cruise on just about any cruise ship, my best cruise was on the Star. I struggled a little bit with the layout and some of the amenities of the Coral.

 

...But that is just me--- I am most definately in the minority here!

 

Tracie - I think you probably struggled because you have sailed so many Grand Class ships (or variations), you are used to one layout. I agree, on the Coral Princess, some things are reversed.

 

It is funny - when people from other cruise lines come to Grand class ships, they struggle with the layout as there are a lot of dead ends or you must go up to go over, etc... Most Princess people started with Grand class ships and that is what they learned and are used to. I personally agree with them, the layout of the Grand class ships is bizarre but as Princess people, we are used to it.

 

I think the Coral Princess has a more logical layout assuming you had not been on a Grand class ship 10x.

 

I also like the forward and aft viewing on the Coral Princess and love the better space ratio. I also like ships that are 90,000 tonns - for me this is a great size for a ship. The Radiance class and Millennium class are this same size. Now after saying that, I do like the Star Princess, I much prefer that ship to the Crown Princess.

 

You are definitely allowed to be in the minority :). Out of curiosity - have you sailed on any of Princess's other classes of ships such as Sun Class?

 

--------

 

Just saw in your signature that you sailed Princess in the 80's and 90's so you have done some of the earlier ships. That blows my theory :)

Edited January 3, 2016 by Coral

[KruzPrincess]

I'm usually trying to get the best "deal" because I love getting a good price. That said, I'd probably choose the Coral. Smaller ship and great viewing areas. We did 14 days on the Coral a couple years back. We had a forward mini on Baja and would go back and forth between our balcony and the forward viewing area. Gorgeous. Most passengers aren't aware of those forward viewing areas and we often had them mostly to ourselves. I'd happily do that again.

 

Now, the Coral doesn't have an identical sister ship. The Island has been changed and no longer has the same viewing areas. Someone said the Diamond is a sister ship to the Coral which is not correct. The Diamond and Sapphire are sister ships.

Edited January 3, 2016 by KruzPrincess

[Colo Cruiser]

Keith, Thrak, Theresa-

Don't flame me <insert anticipatory wince here>, but I would go with the Star. I actually like the Grand class of ship a lot.

 

I have been on both ships, and while I love a cruise on just about any cruise ship, my best cruise was on the Star. I struggled a little bit with the layout and some of the amenities of the Coral.

 

...But that is just me--- I am most definately in the minority here!

 

No flames here.......

We actually took the Star/Alaska in June of 2012. It was excellent. We made it into your arm and the Golden didn't.

I really have no issues with the Star. We had taken her inaugural cruise and a couple of others. At least she still has Skywalkers. (I am a big fan). I just love the Coral. :)

[TracieABD]

No flames here.......

We actually took the Star/Alaska in June of 2012. It was excellent. We made it into your arm and the Golden didn't.

I really have no issues with the Star. We had taken her inaugural cruise and a couple of others. At least she still has Skywalkers. (I am a big fan). I just love the Coral. :)

 

I seriously had to think about that. (and then laughed out loud).

[Colo Cruiser]

I seriously had to think about that. (and then laughed out loud).

 

 

Ha! :D

[OCruisers]

Coral is absolutely worth it and would be our choice for sure! :)

[UpcountryTravelers]

We loved the size of the Coral. It also has a unique showroom with rotating pads that they have special shows for you will not see on other size ships. The diamond is her twin sister - identical. We loved our Alaskan cruise on her much more than the one last year on Crown. I have never been on Star.

 

No, the Diamond is NOT the twin of the Coral. Not even close. We have sailed the Sapphire, which IS the twin of the Diamond. Our LEAST favorite Princess ship.

 

We have sailed the Coral and the Star Princess (Star was our first Princess ship and the one that hooked us on Princess). While we love the Star, we strongly recommend the Coral for Alaska. Just a much better layout and size for Alaska, which is all about the awesome land! Coral is much better laid out for scenic cruising.