Panama Canal; Coral vs Caribbean; Ft Lauderdale vs PT Canaveral

[D1324tt]

Wanting to cruise Panama Canal April 2026. For possible options I'm looking at 2025 cruises. There are two ships, Coral and Caribbean, and two embarkation ports, Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral. Is there an advantage to either ship or embarkation port?

 

I noticed that the Coral is a smaller ship. Does that change which set of locks transited?

 

Thank you for input.

[NavyVeteran]

45 minutes ago, D1324tt said:

Wanting to cruise Panama Canal April 2026. For possible options I'm looking at 2025 cruises. There are two ships, Coral and Caribbean, and two embarkation ports, Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral. Is there an advantage to either ship or embarkation port?

 

I noticed that the Coral is a smaller ship. Does that change which set of locks transited?

 

Thank you for input.

Do you mean 2025 or 2056? I can't find any Panama Canal cruises available for April 2026.

 

Looking at the itineraries for the two April 2025 cruises, the Coral cruise says "Panama Canal Full Transit Historic Locks" and the Caribbean cruise says "Panama Canal Full Transit New Locks". Although the Caribbean Princess is one of my favorite ships, I would definitely recommend the Coral Princess and the Historic Locks if you have not sailed through the canal before. I have sailed through both sets of locks, and they are both interesting, but the Historic Locks are historic. There is a lot of history there that the New Locks don't have. Sail them first, and save the New Locks for a later cruise.

 

Also, I highly recommend you read Path Between the Seas by David McCullough. It is the definitive history of the building of the Panama Canal. Reading it before (and during) your trip will definitely help make the trip through the Canal more interesting, especially if you transit the Historic Locks.

[Honolulu Blue]

1 hour ago, D1324tt said:

Wanting to cruise Panama Canal April 2026. For possible options I'm looking at 2025 cruises. There are two ships, Coral and Caribbean, and two embarkation ports, Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral. Is there an advantage to either ship or embarkation port?

 

I noticed that the Coral is a smaller ship. Does that change which set of locks transited?

 

Thank you for input.

As @NavyVeteran noted above, the size of ship can make a difference to which set of locks you go through.  I did a Canal transit a few years ago (not on Princess) through the new locks and I'm investigating a cruise that goes through the old locks from the opposite direction (also not on Princess).

 

As for Port Canaveral vs. Port Everglades, PC is not a favorite of mine.  I just think the port is a pain to get to and around.  And it takes longer to sail to where I want to go, which means cut port times or even a port that gets cut entirely.  So, of course, I have one going out of there next year (also not Princess).  This is just my opinion and worth about what you paid for it.  I'm sure we'll hear from people who love Port Canaveral.

 

Whatever you pick, enjoy the experience!

[Ken the cruiser]

We recently went through the new locks (May 2022) on the Caribbean Princess and the old locks twice, once on the Island Princess which is similar to the Coral (Jan 2020), and once on the HAL Veendam (Jan 2016), with all 3 times in an aft-facing cabin.

 

Either ship is fine, but I would highly recommend if your budget can afford it to book an aft-facing cabin if one is available. If you click on my below Live From thread and go down to post #440, I posted a variety of pictures from our aft-facing balcony on the Caribbean Princess going through the new locks back in May 2022.

 

Live from the Caribbean Princess: Panama Canal - Apr 26 to May 14 - SF to FTL - Page 18 - Princess Cruises - Cruise Critic Community

 

[skynight]

itineraries and ships shown for 2025 probably will not be the same in 2026. Take notice that ships sailing the full transit P.C. in 2024 are the Emerald and Island Princess. The Emerald is a Grand Class ship which is similar to but not exactly the same as the Caribbean. The Island, which has one sailing scheduled, is a sister ship to the Coral with some modifications. Here is some information regarding the ships.

Rather than focusing on the ships focus on the locks. The Coral and Island are Panamax in size. They were built when the only locks were the original locks. They just fit inside these locks. In fact there is only a few feet between the lock walls and the sides of the ship. The ships remain centered within the locks by cables attached to the bow and stern and are guided through by what are called mules, electric cars that run on rails.

With the new locks there is plenty of space for the Grand Class ships. The ships enter the locks and maintain centered by tugs. Both are interesting to see. 

[eclue]

Having been on both ships, I would choose the Caribbean Princess over the Coral....we did not like that ship....

Also, I would definitely choose Port Everglades - it is so easy to get there from the airport- just a few minutes away...

[D1324tt]

2 hours ago, NavyVeteran said:

Do you mean 2025 or 2056? I can't find any Panama Canal cruises available for April 2026.

 

Looking at the itineraries for the two April 2025 cruises, the Coral cruise says "Panama Canal Full Transit Historic Locks" and the Caribbean cruise says "Panama Canal Full Transit New Locks". Although the Caribbean Princess is one of my favorite ships, I would definitely recommend the Coral Princess and the Historic Locks if you have not sailed through the canal before. I have sailed through both sets of locks, and they are both interesting, but the Historic Locks are historic. There is a lot of history there that the New Locks don't have. Sail them first, and save the New Locks for a later cruise.

 

Also, I highly recommend you read Path Between the Seas by David McCullough. It is the definitive history of the building of the Panama Canal. Reading it before (and during) your trip will definitely help make the trip through the Canal more interesting, especially if you transit the Historic Locks.

Thanks for your input. We're sailing in 2026 but I was looking at 2025 itineraries in order to see what ships might make the trip. As you pointed out the Coral will transit the historic locks which many responders have also recommended. Thank you

[cr8tiv1]

I have a Panama Canal cruise booked on the Coral Princess for 2025.  Been through on both ships.  Given a choice, I would definitely do the Historic Locks on the Coral.  I would also do North to South since you gain hours along the way.  Embarkation port shouldn't be a factor in making your decision...extremely irrelavant since it is the ship. you are considering.

 

Several great cabin options:

 

I on on Baja, the last cabin of the first bump out.  Forward cabins act as a wind shield.

There are several secret doors that lead out to the forward and aft observation decks.

New OceanView cabins on Deck 6 (near the casino/IC) but have a separate hallway.

Nice OceanView cabins/Interior on Deck 6 near everything (less use of elevators).

Forward facing Buffet.

Much smaller ship (less passengers than sister ship the Island).

 

[Thrak]

Coral Princess. Old locks. Period. We've done the old locks on Coral twice and the new locks on Ruby once. Anybody who hasn't done either itinerary should, in my opinion, do the old locks - especially as there is no guarantee how long Princess will keep Coral and Island which are the only two ships in their fleet that have the ability to sail that route. Coral has the best show - On The Bayou - which is designed for their special rotating stage in the Universe Lounge. (Princess remodeled Island and that venue was replaced by more passenger cabins.) When the show first starts I love the reactions of the passengers who have never seen the show before. 🤫

[KreinKrunker]

I have to join the crowd.  The Coral out of Ft Lauderdale.  

[startedwithamouse]

Ft. Lauderdale,  cheap cab ride from the airport.  

[Thrak]

Don't get me wrong. I love Caribbean Princess and doing the new locks was a great experience but, for one's first canal transit, the old locks win and Coral Princess can do those locks. We're a bit odd as our favorite cabin on Coral Princess is an Ocean View all the way aft. There is an aft viewing deck just steps away from our door and it's quite roomy and has loungers all across the deck. I've tried to see into the cabin through the window during the day and, with just the sheer drapes pulled, I couldn't see in even when I pressed my face to the glass. At night we close the blackout drapes. It's like having our own huge balcony and the majority of passengers don't even know this space is available as it's through a heavy door at the end of the corridor all the way aft and most never go there. There is a similar cabin on the port side of the ship but, for some reason, we have booked the Starboard cabin twice. Our window is the one shown nearest to the door. We've been out on that deck all alone in the evenings having a drink while getting ready for dinner and watching dolphins play in the wake. This is Baja Deck. There is a similar but smaller place on Caribe Deck but this is where we want to be. The cabin number is B731. (The similar cabin on the Port side is B728.)

 

 

Edited September 24, 2023 by Thrak

[D1324tt]

39 minutes ago, Thrak said:

Don't get me wrong. I love Caribbean Princess and doing the new locks was a great experience but, for one's first canal transit, the old locks win and Coral Princess can do those locks. We're a bit odd as our favorite cabin on Coral Princess is an Ocean View all the way aft. There is an aft viewing deck just steps away from our door and it's quite roomy and has loungers all across the deck. I've tried to see into the cabin through the window during the day and, with just the sheer drapes pulled, I couldn't see in even when I pressed my face to the glass. At night we close the blackout drapes. It's like having our own huge balcony and the majority of passengers don't even know this space is available as it's through a heavy door at the end of the corridor all the way aft and most never go there. There is a similar cabin on the port side of the ship but, for some reason, we have booked the Starboard cabin twice. Our window is the one shown nearest to the door. We've been out on that deck all alone in the evenings having a drink while getting ready for dinner and watching dolphins play in the wake. This is Baja Deck. There is a similar but smaller place on Caribe Deck but this is where we want to be. The cabin number is B731. (The similar cabin on the Port side is B728.)

 

 

Great info. Thank you

[rmsmith]

Yup. Like most are saying take the Coral or the Island and go through the old locks!  Been on both and happy with both ships. For my wife and I they are both about the perfect size in terms of passenger counts in addition to fitting through the old locks as they were built for that purpose. 

[mevs904]

You’ve gotten some excellent advice here and I’ll just chime in to recommend the Coral.  We loved our Panama Canal cruise on her, particularly because of the fore and aft observation decks that many don’t know about.  We loved transiting through the historic locks and watching the “mules” in action.  We were scheduled to enter the locks at 6:00 am and it was so interesting to stand on one of the forward observation decks and see all of the ships gathered near the entrance to the canal wait their turn.  I also agree with the poster who recommended reading the Path Between the Seas.  I read it before our cruise and it really helped me to appreciate the experience even more.

[wheezedr]

Nothing different from previous posters but one more vote for the Coral, as doing the historic locks really gives one a better understanding of what the original builders faced.  Also you really do need to read The Path Between the Seas as others have noted.

[cr8tiv1]

And don't forget the wonderful lecturers they have for this cruise.  I am guessing they would have one on the Caribbean, but because of the Historic Locks, I am sure it would be more fined tuned to include all of that information.

[PacnGoNow]

8 hours ago, Thrak said:

Don't get me wrong. I love Caribbean Princess and doing the new locks was a great experience but, for one's first canal transit, the old locks win and Coral Princess can do those locks. We're a bit odd as our favorite cabin on Coral Princess is an Ocean View all the way aft. There is an aft viewing deck just steps away from our door and it's quite roomy and has loungers all across the deck. I've tried to see into the cabin through the window during the day and, with just the sheer drapes pulled, I couldn't see in even when I pressed my face to the glass. At night we close the blackout drapes. It's like having our own huge balcony and the majority of passengers don't even know this space is available as it's through a heavy door at the end of the corridor all the way aft and most never go there. There is a similar cabin on the port side of the ship but, for some reason, we have booked the Starboard cabin twice. Our window is the one shown nearest to the door. We've been out on that deck all alone in the evenings having a drink while getting ready for dinner and watching dolphins play in the wake. This is Baja Deck. There is a similar but smaller place on Caribe Deck but this is where we want to be. The cabin number is B731. (The similar cabin on the Port side is B728.)

 

 

I wonder if they would set up a UBD out there for you?

[TAW1963]

14 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

We recently went through the new locks (May 2022) on the Caribbean Princess and the old locks twice, once on the Island Princess which is similar to the Coral (Jan 2020), and once on the HAL Veendam (Jan 2016), with all 3 times in an aft-facing cabin.

 

Either ship is fine, but I would highly recommend if your budget can afford it to book an aft-facing cabin if one is available. If you click on my below Live From thread and go down to post #440, I posted a variety of pictures from our aft-facing balcony on the Caribbean Princess going through the new locks back in May 2022.

 

Live from the Caribbean Princess: Panama Canal - Apr 26 to May 14 - SF to FTL - Page 18 - Princess Cruises - Cruise Critic Community

 

Hey Ken, I just went through your 2022 Live through the Panama Canal.  We love the aft-facing cabins too.  I noticed most of your pictures as you were traversing the Panama Canal were from your aft-facing cabin.  Did you stay in your cabin most of the time through the canal, or did you move about the ship?  We are looking forward to cruising through the canal this spring in an aft-facing cabin.

[Greg4502]

If you have never been through the canal, go with the Coral and the old locks. Much more happening during the transit as you go through the locks. 

[Ken the cruiser]

2 hours ago, TAW1963 said:

Hey Ken, I just went through your 2022 Live through the Panama Canal.  We love the aft-facing cabins too.  I noticed most of your pictures as you were traversing the Panama Canal were from your aft-facing cabin.  Did you stay in your cabin most of the time through the canal, or did you move about the ship?  We are looking forward to cruising through the canal this spring in an aft-facing cabin.

We pretty much stayed on our fully covered balcony as we, of course, could see on both sides of the ship as well as out the aft and didn't want to miss anything. We also had the TV on so to periodically get a glimpse of where we were heading.