Caribbean or Island for Panama

[Shutterlady]

I have already booked the Caribbean Princess for the Panama Canal for January 2019. But with the ongoing propulsion issues on the Caribbean Princess should I switch it to the Island Princess? It's the same ports of call. Seems odd that they don't expect to fix the issues with the Caribbean Princess until a year and a half from now. I personally liked the looks of the Caribbean over the Island. But I also don't want to skip ports and be slowed down to much either. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[Thrak]

My personal preference is any Princess ship other than Island. It would likely be my last choice. Of course I haven't cruise Majestic or Sky with their weird new venues so I don't know about them. I just know that after sailing other Princess ships - especially comparing Island to Coral - I'd rather said ships other than Island Princess.

[cr8tiv1]

I would not cruise the Island, ever....I have done the Panama Canal on the Coral and the Caribbean Princess.

 

First choice...find a itinerary on the Coral doing the "Historic" canal.

 

Second choice...The Caribbean's problem is not a problem. In my opinion, the canal passage as very unexciting.

 

Avoid the Island like the plague.

[KCsealegs]

I agree with Thrak and Crea8tiv1. I’ve sailed on both the Island and Caribbean Princess. I would choose the Caribbean Princess. I just spent 14 days on her over Christmas and New Years. She is in excellent condition and the service was wonderful. You will not notice the “propulsion issue”.

[wowzz]

I sailed on the Island and thoroughly enjoyed it. Have to say that the actual Panama cruise was not the most exciting I've ever been on, but that is nothing to do with the ship.

[nukesubsailor]

I would go with the Caribbean Princess. I spent 24 days on her last July/August doing back-to-back, port intensive British Isles cruises and the propulsion limitation was not an issue. The trouble only reduces the ships speed by 2 knots-----no big deal. I would bet that by now, every cruise schedule for the ship has already been adjusted to allow for the speed limitation.

[KreinKrunker]

But with the ongoing propulsion issues on the Caribbean Princess should I switch it to the Island Princess?

If you want to go through the new locks take the Caribbean. If you want to go through the old locks take the Coral.

[Jasperdo]

I would choose the Island simply because it goes through the historic locks. The Caribbean has to go through the new, larger locks.

[NavyVeteran]

If I wrere choosing the ship, I would choose the Caribbean. I will be leaving next week to go through the canal on the Caribbean.

 

However, if this is your first trip through the canal, I would recommend any ship going through the historic locks instead of the new locks. I would also recommend reading David McCullough's book The Path Between the Seas before your cruise. The history is fasinating.

 

I am sailing on the Caribbean because I want to see the new locks, but I have already sailed through the old ones.

[diane.in.ny]

If I wrere choosing the ship, I would choose the Caribbean. I will be leaving next week to go through the canal on the Caribbean.

 

However, if this is your first trip through the canal, I would recommend any ship going through the historic locks instead of the new locks. I would also recommend reading David McCullough's book The Path Between the Seas before your cruise. The history is fascinating.

 

I am sailing on the Caribbean because I want to see the new locks, but I have already sailed through the old ones.

 

Shutterlady -

 

What NavyVeteran says. We've been on both the Coral and the Island through the old locks and read the book before we went. If you are interested in the locks themselves, the history, experience, etc. go through the old locks first.

 

Yes, I know people complain about the Island all the time. I have been on her twice. Yes, it feels more crowded and you have to get to the theater 30-45 min preshow time to get a seat. And Princess ruined the wonderful promenade. But for a two-week cruise, if the itinerary was important to me, I wouldn't hesitate to sail her.

 

(on the other hand, love her 60 days RT FLL South America cruise but you'd have to pay me to do it.)

[Tak8]

I was on the Caribbean Princess for two weeks last May for British Isles. I'll be back on her this may for Caribbean sailing. I'd pick Caribbean princess.

[retrembl]

I have already booked the Caribbean Princess for the Panama Canal for January 2019. But with the ongoing propulsion issues on the Caribbean Princess should I switch it to the Island Princess? It's the same ports of call. Seems odd that they don't expect to fix the issues with the Caribbean Princess until a year and a half from now. I personally liked the looks of the Caribbean over the Island. But I also don't want to skip ports and be slowed down to much either. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Island Princess was been choked up to add 234more staterooms. I would choose the Coral Princess over the Island Princess.

[diane.in.ny]

I have already booked the Caribbean Princess for the Panama Canal for January 2019. But with the ongoing propulsion issues on the Caribbean Princess should I switch it to the Island Princess? It's the same ports of call.

 

As mentioned, it is not really the same ports of call. The Island will go through the old locks and the Caribbean the new ones.

 

Two very different experiences

[chisoxfan]

We will be on C Princess next week and take the small boat excursion to old canal. Outside perhaps of a complete transit I am thinking (hoping) this will be best of both worlds. As much as I am fascinated by history and engineering I am not looking to be wowed but it is on the bucket list.

I also think the propulsion issues are overplayed. Will be happy to report upon return.

[metairiegal]

Wow. I was just starting to consider the Island for the Panama Canal in Dec 2018. In my initial research on her, I have read so many negative things, I may have to find another option. (And the Caribbean Princess' December Panama Canal date does not work for us.)

[partybarbie]

Wow. I was just starting to consider the Island for the Panama Canal in Dec 2018. In my initial research on her, I have read so many negative things, I may have to find another option. (And the Caribbean Princess' December Panama Canal date does not work for us.)

 

DH and I had no problems with the new configuration of the Island Princess. Talk about crowded! Our one cruise on the Caribbean Princess was so jammed packed with passengers, she would be my last choice for the Panama Canal.

 

Here's how to decide if the Island will work for you:

 

Do you like Crooner's? The Island has the best Crooner's in the fleet.

 

Would you like a big, new balcony cabin on the Promenade Deck with real teak decking? They have them on the Island.

 

Do you like having a covered pool area? The Island has one, but the Caribbean does not.

 

Would you like to try an authentic Bayou Cafe? You'll find that on the Island, and also a great show called "On the Bayou".

 

The Island does have a wait for anytime dining, but so do many other ships. We chose late Traditional dining, so we never had to wait. You will need to get to the shows about 30 minutes before the scheduled start time, but we had to do that on the Diamond Princess last month too.

 

Now, how to decide if the Island is not for you:

 

Do you like to gamble? The casino on the Island is very small, so this is not the ship for you.

 

Do you go to gym? The gym is in the bowels of the ship, so this is probably not the ship for you.

 

Do you party it up at the disco? The Island doesn't have a disco, but there's live music and dancing in the Wheelhouse bar, and the Explorer's lounge turns in to disco around 11:00 pm.

 

Do you need the IC? The Island doesn't have one.

 

I hope this helps with your decision. IMHO, I would go with the Island. Unless you are a big gambler or gym user, the positives outweigh the negatives.

[metairiegal]

Thanks for the info, Party Barbie!

 

(I actually posted a few additional questions on the other Island vs Caribbean thread.)

[Lucky TGO]

My vote go to the Caribbean Princess. I just completed a 14 day and the ship was very nice.

Tony

[southpawsdakota]

We have been through the Canal 3 x’. Twice through the old Canal on Island and Coral and most recently the Caribbean Princess. I would suggest going on the Caribbean Princess and signing up for the excursion that takes you off the Caribbean Princess and you go on a small boat that takes you to the Pacific side and then back through the old locks. It was one of the best excursions we have ever done and we have sailed on Princess over 40 times. Read the book Path Between the Seas by McCullough prior to going.

[jennybenny]

DH and I had no problems with the new configuration of the Island Princess. Talk about crowded! Our one cruise on the Caribbean Princess was so jammed packed with passengers, she would be my last choice for the Panama Canal.

 

Here's how to decide if the Island will work for you:

 

Do you like Crooner's? The Island has the best Crooner's in the fleet.

 

Would you like a big, new balcony cabin on the Promenade Deck with real teak decking? They have them on the Island.

 

Do you like having a covered pool area? The Island has one, but the Caribbean does not.

 

Would you like to try an authentic Bayou Cafe? You'll find that on the Island, and also a great show called "On the Bayou".

 

The Island does have a wait for anytime dining, but so do many other ships. We chose late Traditional dining, so we never had to wait. You will need to get to the shows about 30 minutes before the scheduled start time, but we had to do that on the Diamond Princess last month too.

 

Now, how to decide if the Island is not for you:

 

Do you like to gamble? The casino on the Island is very small, so this is not the ship for you.

 

Do you go to gym? The gym is in the bowels of the ship, so this is probably not the ship for you.

 

Do you party it up at the disco? The Island doesn't have a disco, but there's live music and dancing in the Wheelhouse bar, and the Explorer's lounge turns in to disco around 11:00 pm.

 

Do you need the IC? The Island doesn't have one.

 

I hope this helps with your decision. IMHO, I would go with the Island. Unless you are a big gambler or gym user, the positives outweigh the negatives.

 

Thank you for this!! We booked the Island because it worked best for the time we need to take off. However I have been worried about it. I love Crooners! So all your positive inputs helps put my mind at ease.

Jenny

[partybarbie]

Thank you for this!! We booked the Island because it worked best for the time we need to take off. However I have been worried about it. I love Crooners! So all your positive inputs helps put my mind at ease.

Jenny

 

I was worried too when the first post-retrofit reviews started coming back. I did what others had suggested and got Traditional Dining. I think it was around 7:30 or 7:45 pm.

 

There was often a pre-dinner show, that was less crowded than the later show, so we would try and go to that one. If you like the game shows in the Explorer's lounge, then make sure you get there at least 30 minutes early.

 

I knew that the aft outside viewing area for the Canal was pretty much gone, so we got a balcony. We rarely even used it, spending most of our time at the MUTS pool. We could always find chairs there.

 

I really thought I would miss the Vista Lounge, but honestly I did not. You will love this Crooner's Bar. It's my favorite because it's larger than most and has a really nice layout.

 

I hope you have a great cruise and come back and post your experiences. Some people have posted such negative comments (and not to dismiss them because that was their experience) that I wonder if my cruise was just a fluke? DH and I still talk about what a good time we had and how it has set the bar high for our future cruises. :D

[Lanz]

Wow. I was just starting to consider the Island for the Panama Canal in Dec 2018. In my initial research on her, I have read so many negative things, I may have to find another option. (And the Caribbean Princess' December Panama Canal date does not work for us.)

We sailed on the island to Alaska summer of 2016, we too were very apprehensive because of all the negative reviews. We loved the ship. Had one of the cabins that a lot of people said vibrated so much glasses fell off tables. We did not have any vibration besides the usual aft cabin vibration when arriving and departing, the cabin was one of our favorites C728. The balcony was spectacular for viewing Glacier Bay. Do your homework about ship amenities and make your choice. I have sailed on the Caribbean Princess four times due to itinerary. On every sailing with the exception of 2017 BI cruise we had propulsion issues, as early as 2014. I don’t think they can fix the propulsion problems without a major overhaul. Having said all of the above , if the right itinerary I’d sail both ships again.

[OCruisers]

We'd cruise on either.

Island isn't a good as it was before its renovation but still a great ship for the Panama Canal -- long and narrow -- designed for making full transits

We loved our last two recent cruises on Caribbean Princess so would pick Caribbean especially for a partial transit.