Review of Coral Princess Panama Canal Cruise, 4/12/09 - 4/26/09

[davidnsteph]

We just returned home from a 14 day Panama Canal cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Los Angeles on the Coral Princess. We had a great time onboard the ship and on shore excursions. In addition to the canal transit, we visited Aruba; Cartagena, Colombia; Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica; San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua; Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala; and Huatulco, Mexico (thankfully, we did not get the swine flu:D).

 

We have published a full review of this cruise for those who may be interested in this itinerary. Here is the link:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberre...?EntryID=54345

 

Would be happy to answer any questions.:)

 

David

[cynbar]

Thanks for your review, that's a cruise we haven't done yet and would like to, it just hasn't worked into our schedules (hard at this point for us to take a long time away from work.) Glad to hear you didn't come home with the swine flu-- and also that your cruise wasn't diverted to some odd place to avoid it!!

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks for the review.

[mii]

Hi David and Steph enjoyed being on the cruise with you guys. We sure had a good time didn't we. Lots of good memories.

 

Marilyn

[BalconyGal]

Thank you so much for the review...we will be on her sister in the fall, can't wait!!!

[mycruz]

So glad you all had such a great time. Hopefully I'll be on another cruise through the canal one day.

[davidnsteph]

Thanks for the comments. The Coral Princess is a great ship, especially for sea days. This cruise had plenty of sea days, and there were lots of activities for all interests. We definitely need to sail on her again, and the Island Princess, too.

 

DavidnSteph

[JWJs]

Glad you had a good cruise on the Coral...one of my favorite ships. Enjoyed reading your review.

[laughing husky]

My DH and I did the same cruise last December. It was one of the best cruises that we have done. We both loved Nicaragua which was kind of a surprise to us...we also did the scarlet macaw sanctuary as we have had macaws....I also highly recommend that particular cruise....There are some BIG crocs in that river....:)

[The Postman]

We're travelling with the Sea Princess through the canal in about a week. We just found out that they'll be replacing a few Mexico ports with the ports of San Juan del Sur and Peurto Quetzal.

 

Since we really haven't had time to research any of them, could you elaborate on them some more?

 

Did you take a ship's tour in San Juan del Sur or just walk on your own?

 

Did you feel safe going off on your own in both ports?

 

Were there taxi's, tour operators, etc. at the dock offering private excursions, etc.

 

Thanks for any help you may be able to offer!

 

The Postman?

[newport dave]

We're on the Coral in November with slightly different ports, can't wait now, after reading your review. One quick question, you mentioned homestyle dinners in the dining rooms, was the menu made up mainly of these, or were they just a single item on the menu each night.

 

I don't want to be paying out good money on a cruise where the meals are the same that I can every night back home.......

[sherman931]

Thanks for taking the time to write a great review.

[Coolmama_1]

Great review! Thanks for sharing your cruise!

[mii]

I was on the same cruise as the OP and as for the home style menu there was one "home Style" food each nite right alongside of the other entrees.

 

Yes there are taxi's tour operators in both of those ports. Quatamala(Puerto Quezel) had a wonderful set-up for people who chose not to go on excursions. Lots of vendors with their items and it was set in a site filled with trees and places to sit. It was hot and humid but felt more cooling there. Nicaguara was more open but they also had plenty of shopping to do. Both places had many, many private excursion companies, taxis etc. We did not do any excursions in both places. We just walked around the area but many people we talked to had a great time on their ship or private excursions.

 

Marilyn

[davidnsteph]

We're travelling with the Sea Princess through the canal in about a week. We just found out that they'll be replacing a few Mexico ports with the ports of San Juan del Sur and Peurto Quetzal.

 

Since we really haven't had time to research any of them, could you elaborate on them some more?

 

Did you take a ship's tour in San Juan del Sur or just walk on your own?

 

Did you feel safe going off on your own in both ports?

 

Were there taxi's, tour operators, etc. at the dock offering private excursions, etc.

 

Thanks for any help you may be able to offer!

 

The Postman?

 

We didn't take a tour in San Juan del Sur or Puerto Quetzal. SJDS is a charming resort town. There is also a nice wooden church on the way to Pelican Eyes Resort. A few blocks up from the waterfront, there is noticeable poverty. Since there were several cruise passengers strolling about, we didn't feel unsafe.

 

We've heard good things about Antigua, Guatemala. This is an old Spanish colonial city inland from the coast, and at a higher elevation. Passengers said that the temperature was much more comfortable there than at the coast.

 

David

[davidnsteph]

We're on the Coral in November with slightly different ports, can't wait now, after reading your review. One quick question, you mentioned homestyle dinners in the dining rooms, was the menu made up mainly of these, or were they just a single item on the menu each night.

 

I don't want to be paying out good money on a cruise where the meals are the same that I can every night back home.......

 

This was a single entree item each evening for dinner. Some examples were beef stroganoff, meatloaf and pork ribs. There was also a vegetarian entree, and 4 other traditional Princess entrees each evening as a main course.

 

DavidnSteph

[SHIPMEOUT]

We're travelling with the Sea Princess through the canal in about a week. We just found out that they'll be replacing a few Mexico ports with the ports of San Juan del Sur and Peurto Quetzal.

 

Since we really haven't had time to research any of them, could you elaborate on them some more?

 

Did you take a ship's tour in San Juan del Sur or just walk on your own?

 

Did you feel safe going off on your own in both ports?

 

Were there taxi's, tour operators, etc. at the dock offering private excursions, etc.

 

Thanks for any help you may be able to offer!

 

The Postman?

 

In San Juan del Sur, we took the ship excursion "Colonial Granada, Masaya Volcano & Craft Market With Lunch", and in Puerto Quetzal, we took the ship excursion "Colonial Antigua on Your Own" (transportation only to the old city of Antigua).

 

Both excursions were excellent - In San Juan del Sur, the bus trip was guided, and we saw that the Nicaraguan countryside is varied and picturesque along the way. The volcano was active, the craft market was excellent, lunch was good at a nice restaurant where we were serenaded by Mariachis. There was lots to see and experience walking through Granada. In Puerto Quetzal, the bus trip was unguided, but when we got to Antigua - oh my, what an old, incredible city - like stepping back in time. Buildings back to the 1700's. Volcanoes nearby, cobblestone streets, ancient churches, palaces, etc. It was unique and unforgettable.

 

We were very glad we chose the above excursions...you really do experience so much more of these countries by travelling inland.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

Cindy

[newport dave]

This was a single entree item each evening for dinner. Some examples were beef stroganoff, meatloaf and pork ribs. There was also a vegetarian entree, and 4 other traditional Princess entrees each evening as a main course.

 

DavidnSteph

 

Thanks for the reply, it's good to know.

[davidnsteph]

In San Juan del Sur, we took the ship excursion "Colonial Granada, Masaya Volcano & Craft Market With Lunch", and in Puerto Quetzal, we took the ship excursion "Colonial Antigua on Your Own" (transportation only to the old city of Antigua).

 

Both excursions were excellent - In San Juan del Sur, the bus trip was guided, and we saw that the Nicaraguan countryside is varied and picturesque along the way. The volcano was active, the craft market was excellent, lunch was good at a nice restaurant where we were serenaded by Mariachis. There was lots to see and experience walking through Granada. In Puerto Quetzal, the bus trip was unguided, but when we got to Antigua - oh my, what an old, incredible city - like stepping back in time. Buildings back to the 1700's. Volcanoes nearby, cobblestone streets, ancient churches, palaces, etc. It was unique and unforgettable.

 

We were very glad we chose the above excursions...you really do experience so much more of these countries by travelling inland.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

Cindy

 

Cindy,

 

Thanks for you comments on these ports. Since we saw many Spanish Colonial buildings in Cartagena, we opted out of tours in SJDS and Puerto Quetzal. If the Cartagena tour hadn't worked out, we would have definitely seen either Granada or Antigua.:)

 

David