Coral - bottom of the bunch?

[timtrek]

Coral is my favorite ship in the fleet, too. Have great memories of our Alaska Cruise and all the fun we had. Cant wait for the chance to go on her again!

[Thrak]

I wish I could be on Coral right now. We did 17 days on her last Oct/Sept doing a full transit. Instead of being on the ship I'm sitting here at work. Bleh. We thought Coral was a fine ship.

[Parrottdizes]

Is the Coral an old ship? A beat up ship? Bottom of the category ship?

 

What caused you to think the Coral is an old beat up ship? Maybe you could give us some insight as to why you have that impression.

 

I was on the Coral in November of 2015, not long before her last dry-dock and we did not find her "beat up......or bottom of the category". And believe me, if she was in anyway to look "beat up", it would be just before a dry-dock.

 

The Coral is a great ship and a favorite of many a cruiser.

[ar1950]

...............................

There will always be some fans of every ship, so I was looking for the hard nosed truth considering I'm looking to book her.

 

FWIW, We have yet to be on any Princess ship (or Carnival or RCCL for that matter) that was actually "beat up and/or worn out". Princess seems to maintain their ships very well overall and they are all similar in so many respects. We will be on the Coral next month for the first time and have no concerns about the ship's condition. It is a smaller ship than what we have been on for a while so looking forward to it.

Edited March 22, 2016 by ar1950

[waltd]

FWIW, We have yet to be on any Princess ship (or Carnival or RCCL for that matter) that was actually "beat up and/or worn out". Princess seems to maintain their ships very well overall and they are all similar in so many respects. We will be on the Coral next month for the first time and have no concerns about the ship's condition. It is a smaller ship than what we have been on for a while so looking forward to it.

 

I agree with you on Princess maintaining their ships. For us the size of the ship is perfect and we did enjoy sailing on the Coral and Island.

[Cruisencatlady]

Three years ago, the Coral was my first Princess cruise to Alaska, and I loved the complete promenade deck, little IC, smaller size, and secret deck areas.

 

Feb 5-15, 2016, just after the Coral's latest dry dock, I really enjoyed a 10-day Partial Panama Canal Cruise. The dry dock upgrades included, new carpets, furniture re-upholstery, and new pillowtop mattresses, and is very well maintained, even after the dry dock,

 

After 6 cruises, the Coral is still my favorite ship.

[azbirdmom]

We were on the Coral a couple of weeks ago and liked it so much that we are doing a coastal cruise on her in May. The Coral is in great shape and the only negative things I can say would be small casino and old TVs. The rest was fantastic.

[kingsgirl]

We really like the Coral too. I have read some negative posts regarding the new aft cabins on the Island experiencing high noise and vibration levels (post dry-dock), but others speak quite highly of the ship. I guess we will find out for ourselves, we are on board in November for the 19 day R/T Panama Canal itinerary in one of the new cabins L721.

 

 

I will be looking for your review. I want to book a mini suite that is fully covered and the only ones are at the front of the ship or the back that get that fully coverage. I too just came across the vibration issue which is making me feel like I shouldn't spend the extra money....so I'll be looking to see how others have fared before deciding.

[sellwingri]

We were on the Coral a couple of weeks ago and liked it so much that we are doing a coastal cruise on her in May. The Coral is in great shape and the only negative things I can say would be small casino and old TVs. The rest was fantastic.

 

Just curious how small the casino is. Do they have a 3-card poker table? How about an ultimate Texas Holdem table?

[Parrottdizes]

I will be looking for your review. I want to book a mini suite that is fully covered and the only ones are at the front of the ship or the back that get that fully coverage. I too just came across the vibration issue which is making me feel like I shouldn't spend the extra money....so I'll be looking to see how others have fared before deciding.

 

We have stayed in the mini suite on the Coral.....the last cabin aft on both the port and starboard side. Since you want a covered balcony you wouldn't in the last cabin aft cause these cabins are uncovered. So you would be a little further away from any vibrations.

 

Now we had also read about a vibration issue someone had after our first sailing in the last cabin aft (port side) and truthfully neither the spouse or I remember any vibrations. So on this most recent sailing where we were in the last cabin aft (starboard side) we were looking from vibrations. On the first night of the cruise we did feel some vibration (not much) and maybe we felt it cause we were looking for it. After the first night we didn't notice any vibrations back there at all. Vibrations bother some people more than others; so it would seem we aren't or weren't bothered by vibrations.

 

If I had my choice, I would pick a cabin toward the aft rather than forward end of the ship.........just our preference.

 

Hope this helps.

[azbirdmom]

Just curious how small the casino is. Do they have a 3-card poker table? How about an ultimate Texas Holdem table?

 

Yes to both - DH spent a lot of time at the PokerPro table. There seem to be the same number of tables, it's just that there aren't as many slot machines as there are on other ships.

[sellwingri]

Yes to both - DH spent a lot of time at the PokerPro table. There seem to be the same number of tables, it's just that there aren't as many slot machines as there are on other ships.

 

Since we're on the same cruise, maybe I'll see your DH there. 😀

 

I'm not sure what a PokerPro table is. I was curious if they had Ultimate Texas Poker which is a game played at a blackjack like table. You only play against the dealer, not other players.

[ar1950]

I will be looking for your review. I want to book a mini suite that is fully covered and the only ones are at the front of the ship or the back that get that fully coverage. I too just came across the vibration issue which is making me feel like I shouldn't spend the extra money....so I'll be looking to see how others have fared before deciding.

 

I believe that the vibration issue was on the Island after the new cabins were added in the aft area. The Coral did not get the modification of those added cabins during its most recent dry dock. I have not read of any vibration issues on the Coral.

[floridalover5623]

We found that most ships have some vibration to various degrees in the aft cabins. It may not be disagreeable to some people but it annoyed us to the point of booking just slightly forward which eliminates most of the problem.

[JAF1]

I hope you still like Island, but the drydock has ruined her in my opinion. So Coral stands alone at the top of the Princess fleet!

 

Totally agree with your comment. We booked the Island before checking change of deck plans and really were most unimpressed with the changes. The gym now seems as though it is an after thought 'shoved' in a cupboard, they had left the sign up saying how many times round the deck for a mile but of course they have blocked off part of the deck with cabins. Will not sail on her again.

[OCruisers]

Coral is an absolutely wonderful ship! Go and enjoy! :D

[sweet curise]

Is the Coral an old ship? A beat up ship? Bottom of the category ship?

Just got off last week and imop she is a lovely ship staff is excellent you cant go wrong with your choice (have been onroyal princess also emerald princess )

[azbirdmom]

Since we're on the same cruise, maybe I'll see your DH there.

 

I'm not sure what a PokerPro table is. I was curious if they had Ultimate Texas Poker which is a game played at a blackjack like table. You only play against the dealer, not other players.

 

Misunderstood, sorry! PokerPro is an electronic game where you play no limit holdem against other players and the house rake is fairly high (15% as I recall). I know they have 3 card poker at the regular tables but didn't see the game you described. And yes, we will see you there!

[Swice]

Any other post dry dock news? One person mentioned "old" TV's (certainly they can't be the old tube tv's???).

 

We will be on Coral in two months.

[shredie]

Any other post dry dock news? One person mentioned "old" TV's (certainly they can't be the old tube tv's???).

 

We will be on Coral in two months.

 

 

"Old" means not interactive like on some of the newer ships. All ships have the flat screens now, as far as I know. If they do change the TVs, they can do it without putting the ship in dry dock.

[Jetswdo]

We found the Coral to be a very nice ship. We didn't care for most of the crew however. Food was unusually good- Indoor pool, only good for families- lazy crew didn't care about a man bouncing his diapered baby in the pool, which used to be a 16 year and older adult pool. This was a total turn off to us-- we were going to book this ship for an Alaska cruise, but due to no adults only pool available on the ship (not including the small pool in fee sanctuary) this ship wouldn't work for us in Alaska. Also, if you prefer eating in dining room, if you are a party of 2, there are very few tables for 2 available, then make sure to book a traditional seating. We did really like our mini suite (a lot more than Celebrity cabins)--

But in general, we really liked the lay out on this ship--- We have been on the Sapphire, Island, and the Royal--

Depending on the itinerary, we would certainly book the Coral again.

[Furbette]

Yes and Yes

[Furbette]

Just got off the Coral Panama Partial. Have ben on several Princess ships and we prefer the Coral. We never waited for more than 5 minutes for a table for 2 in Anytime Dining. We usually arrived about 7:30. Casino is small but does have 3 card and Texas Hold em

[Wishing on a star]

Can I also ask about the brewed coffee from the IC on the Coral?

Have heard conflicting reports. And, with the new coffee card (new coffee/grounds supplier) I am hoping that any comments about bad coffee were a fluke or a post dry-dock, or transitional, thing.

[kingsgirl]

Can I also ask about the brewed coffee from the IC on the Coral?

 

Have heard conflicting reports. And, with the new coffee card (new coffee/grounds supplier) I am hoping that any comments about bad coffee were a fluke or a post dry-dock, or transitional, thing.

 

 

You might want to start a new thread for more responses.