key differences in Island princess and coral princess

[creel5857]

trying to decide on Panama Canal cruise in Dec or Jan ......I was trying to find old messages that gave some update on differences in 2 ships after drydock.......can anyone please help me with any major differences in ships related to mini suite rooms, public space and when they were last dry docked. thank you so much

[cr8tiv1]

Book your cruise on the Coral. Most of the comments (changes) for the Island Princess are not positive. I love the Coral...and will not take a cruise on the Island.

 

Island Princess modifications (Enough post dry dock comments that Princess scrapped the Coral's butchering).

 

No International Cafe

Only one theater (removed the aft theater). Fewer entertainment scheduled.

A "ton" more people added because of the additional cabins

Removed walk around Promenade Deck

Removed aft observation decks

 

And yet...Princess offers more Island full transits! Go figure $$$$

[Astro Flyer]

These posts show the physical changes made to the Island Princess & what you'd still have on the great Coral Princess. Friends who've sailed the modified Island still had a good cruise but I'd still much prefer the Coral. Too many negative changes were made to add cabins for about 200 more passengers.

 

Changes such as the second showroom the Universe Lounge being replaced by cabins & the gym with views of the ocean being buried inside like some old oceanliner are a few of the negative changes. They made these negative changes but failed to make a positive change by adding an International Cafe like on the Coral. That's a few of the reasons why the Coral would be my choice over the modified Island unless the Island's price was significantly lower & had a much better itinerary.

 

Here is a side-by-side comparison of some of the major changes...

 

 

Universe Lounge and aft Promenade Deck wrap around goes away completely, Fitness Center relocated down from Lido Deck

 

 

 

 

 

Casino downsized

 

 

 

 

 

Baja, Aloha, and Lido Decks aft are extrended/squared off and aft facing public access decks go away, Sanctuary Relocated

 

 

 

:D

 

I'm guessing one of the aesthetic attractions to The Sanctuary on Island Princess was, although the space wasn't great in its length, it was beautifully tiered over three decks looking aft over the stern. That, and it had it's own designated pool for Sanctuary use only.

 

I did another before/after comparison for The Sanctuary, and despite the lack of any indication of a pool, I wonder if post-refit it will at least have a dipping-pool similar to Regal Princess' Deck 17 aft?

 

It will be interesting to see what the stern of Island Princess looks like when they are finished extending all of the aft upper decks and adding all of those cabins; most likely like that of a Grand-class but without any tiered decks aft or SkyWalkers Lounge to offset the bluntness of the stern. Not that it matters, but I'm sure it won't be very attractive.

 

 

The Sanctuary

[Astro Flyer]

Hopefully someone can post large photos of what is often referred to as the butchering of the Island.

 

 

I'm unable to add them due to the limits of CC but if you search for before & after island princess photos you'll see the change...the Island has the boxy aft end with added cabins & the Coral is the tiered aft end with the great aft viewing areas.

[NavyVeteran]

The changes to the Island added additional accessible staterooms. Balcony staterooms PR701, PR702, PR703, PR704, PR705, PR706, PR709, and PR 710 are handicapped accessible. If you need an accessible stateroom and would like a balcony, then the Island may be your only choice.

 

If you do not need an accessible stateroom, I agree with the recommendations of the Coral.

[AJs Grandpa]

Left the Island earlier this week. While I agree with all the negative comments above, in fairness, I want to point out one positive change. The buffet is much improved especially the Amuleto Cafe dessert and coffee bar. I hope they will make that change to the Coral.

 

All that said, we wouldn't hesitate to sail on the Island again if price, date and itinerary fit our needs. It's just not that bad!

[donswife]

Left the Island earlier this week. While I agree with all the negative comments above, in fairness, I want to point out one positive change. The buffet is much improved especially the Amuleto Cafe dessert and coffee bar. I hope they will make that change to the Coral.

 

All that said, we wouldn't hesitate to sail on the Island again if price, date and itinerary fit our needs. It's just not that bad!

 

Since I spend a lot of my time on a ship in the gym and especially on the Promenade deck, I would need an incredible deal to choose the Island over the Coral. I'm hoping a Panama Canal cruise will be in my future!

[Cruisinbuddies01]

I hope we didn't make a mistake by going on the Island. Been on the Coral and loved her. Leaving on the 30th. We will make the most of it. Love cruising!

[Astro Flyer]

I hope we didn't make a mistake by going on the Island. Been on the Coral and loved her. Leaving on the 30th. We will make the most of it. Love cruising!

I have several very experienced & knowledgeable cruising friends who recently enjoyed their cruise on the Island Princess. You know about the changes & you appear to be like us and will just adjust to the circumstances.

 

Did you make a mistake? I've never been on a cruise that was a mistake...Buon Viaggio! :)

[exbiologist]

Island's chef or dining staff won some kind of big award last year, for what that's worth.

[Thrak]

Sailed on Coral and loved it. Then sailed on Island and had a good cruise but... We kept feeling like a large part of the ship was simply "missing" when we sailed on Island.

 

If I had my choice between the two there wouldn't be a choice. I would take Coral every time.

[OCruisers]

Hate what they did to Island! :mad:

Gosh, wish they would have at least given her an IC.

Coral remains a GREAT ship! :D

[westcoaster]

I've been on both the Coral and the Island over the past two years. The changes on the Island didn't really impact my cruise experience. I love spending time on the Promenade deck, but I didn't think it made much difference without the aft section of the Promenade on the Island - to me it's still better than the Promenade decks on most Princess ships. I would gladly sail again on either ship. :)

[recyclelady]

I just got off the Coral (2nd time) and really love the Universe Lounge for shows and activities. My husband goes to the gym daily and enjoys the view. I know we will not have that when we are on the Island in January.

 

BUT we want to do the 60-day cruise around South America and the Island in January 2018 is the only way to do it. I guess we'll adapt!

[JAF1]

Since I spend a lot of my time on a ship in the gym and especially on the Promenade deck, I would need an incredible deal to choose the Island over the Coral. I'm hoping a Panama Canal cruise will be in my future!

 

Agree with your comments have never seen such an awful gym on a cruise ship - it felt as though someone had a light bulb moment 'we must have a gym, where can we put it' answer there is an old cupboard we can empty and use. It is small, internal and I really felt as though I was in a large cupboard. I will never sail on the Island again.

[Astro Flyer]

Agree with your comments have never seen such an awful gym on a cruise ship - it felt as though someone had a light bulb moment 'we must have a gym, where can we put it' answer there is an old cupboard we can empty and use. It is small, internal and I really felt as though I was in a large cupboard. I will never sail on the Island again.

As I recall the last Princess ship that I sailed with the gym buried below decks inside the ship like they've done to the Island was on the 1991 version of the Regal Princess.

 

Maybe that's Princess' way of dealing with passengers who miss the good old days of sailing??? ;)

[puli]

I just got off the Coral (2nd time) and really love the Universe Lounge for shows and activities. My husband goes to the gym daily and enjoys the view. I know we will not have that when we are on the Island in January.

 

BUT we want to do the 60-day cruise around South America and the Island in January 2018 is the only way to do it. I guess we'll adapt!

sorry to butt in, but did you happen to notice any odor on the Coral? lots of comments about it earlier and am trying to decide about booking an Alaska cruise on her. thanks!

[Colo Cruiser]

sorry to butt in, but did you happen to notice any odor on the Coral? lots of comments about it earlier and am trying to decide about booking an Alaska cruise on her. thanks!

 

 

We have encountered odors on all of our cruises.

Have sailed the Island and Coral many times as well as many other Princess ships.

Even yesterday on the Ruby.

[Colo Cruiser]

trying to decide on Panama Canal cruise in Dec or Jan ......I was trying to find old messages that gave some update on differences in 2 ships after drydock.......can anyone please help me with any major differences in ships related to mini suite rooms, public space and when they were last dry docked. thank you so much

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2127734&highlight=island+princess+changes

[puli]

We have encountered odors on all of our cruises.

Have sailed the Island and Coral many times as well as many other Princess ships.

Even yesterday on the Ruby.

Not worried about the occasional odors often found on ships but i have RAD (reactive airway disease) and have spent 10 days on 2 cruises with our stateroom & adjacent hallway unusable so when there are running multiple comments I pay attention. The Coral seemed to have had some serious odor problems especially in the aft following her last drydock so I was just checking.

[Colo Cruiser]

Not worried about the occasional odors often found on ships but i have RAD (reactive airway disease) and have spent 10 days on 2 cruises with our stateroom & adjacent hallway unusable so when there are running multiple comments I pay attention. The Coral seemed to have had some serious odor problems especially in the aft following her last drydock so I was just checking.

 

 

We were in an aft area Emerald deck balcony on the Coral for 2 weeks.

There was a toilet issue in that area and odors at different times during the cruise.

On the Ruby there was the same issue on Dolphin deck.

We have had toilet issues on a couple of cruises.

Just saying that there is just no way to tell from cruise to cruise if there will be issues or not.

[puli]

We were in an aft area Emerald deck balcony on the Coral for 2 weeks.

There was a toilet issue in that area and odors at different times during the cruise.

On the Ruby there was the same issue on Dolphin deck.

We have had toilet issues on a couple of cruises.

Just saying that there is just no way to tell from cruise to cruise if there will be issues or not.

I know but statistically Coral has had too many comments for me to take the risk.

[frugaltravel]

Our Island Princess PC cruise was sold out in February. Everything seemed packed - lounges, theater, ATD. Expect long waits or arrive 45-60 minutes early for the theater.

 

As someone else said earlier, never again on the Island unless it was a super cheap offer.

[pjwaz]

Been on both ships recently including the above mentioned full transit Panama canal in February. Miss the universe lounge. Arrive at least 30-45 minutes early for any show or lecture in the theater or explorers lounge. I heard people complain about waiting for anytime dining, but we had traditional, so no problem there. I thought the food was much better on the Island. In fact, except for one meal, the seafood was excellently prepared, even good in the buffet.

[Thrak]

I know but statistically Coral has had too many comments for me to take the risk.

 

Your call but, in my opinion, not a good call. I would sail Coral any day. Great ship. I think it's sad to be scared off by someone else's (possibly biased) opinion. I've see people on here complain about a ship being in "terrible condition" yet I have sailed that same ship and had no issues at all. Some just like to complain or make a big deal out of nothing.

 

 

Again, it's your call but I think you are missing out by simply dismissing Coral Princess.