Ship is small with less choices

Coral Princess Cruise Review to Panama Canal, Central America

Cruises: 7+ cruises
Reviews: 2
Helpful Votes: 96

Overall rating:

3 out of 5
Verified Review
Coral Princess

10 Night Panama Canal Partial Transit (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)

Sail date: March 06, 2016

Ship: Coral Princess

Cabin type: Oceanview

Cabin number: E511

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

This ship has less than 200 passengers, the ship size is smaller than the others.

Buffet choices were very limited, staffs are not as friendly, only few staffs smiles and greet passengers.

We asked for 1st seating, we did not get one.  The ship provide more any time dining compare with my previous cruises.

We arrived early around 10 A.M., embarkation does not start until 11:00 A.M.,

There was not place to seat, we all have to wait outside, it took us two hours before we can enter the ship.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5
Bathroom was so small, right hand easily to hit the handicap handle. For someone over weight, it will be very difficult to take a shower.

Ship tip

Try to eat at Main Dining Room as much as you can, buffet has very limited choices.

Ports of call

Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

1 out of 5
Taxi drive are like a robber, from FLL to ship terminal, first drive asked for additional $3 for airport tax. From Ship terminal to FLL, meter was less than $16, I gave $20, taxi driver won't give me change back, he said rest was for tips.

Oranjestad, Aruba

3 out of 5

Cartagena, Colombia

3 out of 5
Too many street vendors, they do not leave you alone. But the port is very nice, it has a small zoo when you pass through to exit. It has a lot of peacocks, parrots, monkeys, flamingos and others.

Panama Canal (Cruise Into Canal)

5 out of 5
Great experience to watch the ship go into canal.

Colon, Panama

3 out of 5

Puerto Limon, Costa Rica

1 out of 5
Very poor run down city, nothing much to see outside the port.

George Town, Grand Cayman

3 out of 5
Nice port, but if you plan to shop for jewelries, you need to bargain 30% or more.
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5 Comments

Gwbigdog    2 years ago

Thanks for sharing your cruise.

Gwbigdog    2 years ago

alanpeiying    8 years ago

I am aware that check in time was 11:00 A.M., unfortunately our flight arrived 40 minutes early,

We have no choice but go straight to the port terminal.  Most of the port I went to have seating area for

passengers to sit and wait rather than standing outside of the building.

noname111    8 years ago

Thank you for posting your review.  I agree with everything CruisinTim had to say. I'm not sure how an experienced cruiser, such as yourself, could be surprised by any of the things that appeared to surprise you on this cruise. The issue of ship size and activities are basics that most veteran cruisers evaluate prior to booking a voyage.  Hopefully you will have the time to research your next voyage more thoroughly.  Best of luck.

 

CrusinTim    8 years ago

I'm sorry, but when you post in your profile that you have "7+" cruises, then post things like " We asked for 1st seating, we did not get one.",  " We arrived early around 10 A.M., embarkation does not start until 11:00 A.M. " and " it took us two hours before we can enter the ship.", I can't believe you!  If you DID have "7+" cruises, you would know that you are NOT guaranteed the seating you request although you may be able to change it if you talk to the Maitre'd. You arrived at 10am thinking you could board the ship? REALLY? You should have known after "7+" cruises that sometimes it is AFTER 10am when the passengers from the previous sailing actually deboard the ship!! "Embarkation started at 11am " (THE NORM), you showed at 10am which means you boarded in 1 hour....not too shabby if you ask me! " Majority of the passengers are 70 or older, it is not right for us to stand for such a long time.". With all due respect, with 7+ cruises (supposedly) you should have waited to at least 12pm before going to the terminal if you felt boarding may have been too early. Sounds to me that no matter what, nothing could have gone right for you on this cruise.......

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