Return Trip to Panama - well worth it

Item: Coral Princess
Rating: 4
Author: jorgelvnv

Coral Princess Cruise Review to Panama Canal, Central America

jorgelvnv

Contributor Level: Second Mate

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 5

Helpful Votes: 165

Overall rating:

4 out of 5

Verified Review

10 Night Panama Canal With Costa Rica & Caribbean (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)

Sail date: December 28, 2016

Ship: Coral Princess

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: C231

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

We enjoyed the excursions in Colombia, Panama as well as the excursion in Jamaica. All stops were good but the worse excursion was in Costa Rica. The Banana train ride was a joke and not worth a penny. No stops just looking out the window of an old train as it rides thru the Banana Plantations. Would definitely make a change in the future. They should add stops to this excursion to allow the guests to mingle with the local people and spend some badly needed money in their respective communities. We are now planning a trip just to Jamaica as we enjoyed it so much we will have to spend at least 4 to 5 days to enrich ourselves even more.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

This is my 15th cruise and I have to say 11 have been with Princess but the Cruise entertainment Director on this Princess ship has been the worse I've seen. He thought he was a movie star strutting around but the activities on board were weak, very weak

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Refer to the note put in as to Onboard activities

Children's Programs

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

The ship was clean but does show it wear and tear of the past 15 years

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Bambi did an excellent job on providing notifications, the room was always clean and was very accommodating.

Ship tip

The Magician was terrible doing tricks you see a child do when he commences on a career of doing Magic.. Don't waste your time as you will be disappointed. Shows were not spectacular but OK

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

5 out of 5

Unfortunately we got caught up in the shooting at Ft. Lauderdale airport and our flight was cancelled but Delta Airlines treats us well and taxied us to West Palm Beach and put us up in a Hilton Hotel for two additional nights until we could fly out on Monday.

Thumbs Up 4

Oranjestad, Aruba

3 out of 5

Cartagena, Colombia

5 out of 5

Panama Canal (Cruise Into Canal)

5 out of 5

Colon, Panama

3 out of 5

The city has a lot of apparent poverty and all you can do is shop right there at the pier. Take an excursion as you will not want to walk thru the city of Colon which I understand will be 100% business in the next two years as all residents are being moved to other housing away from the city.

Thumbs Up 0

Puerto Limon, Costa Rica

3 out of 5

Avoid the Train ride thru the Banana Plantations as it's bad, boring and over priced. Try something different.

Thumbs Up 1

Ocho Rios, Jamaica

5 out of 5

We enjoyed this part of the tri the most. Definitely do the Dunn River Falls. We will plan a separate vacation only to Jamaica as it was the highlight of the trip.

Thumbs Up 1

2 Comments

Gwbigdog 2 years ago

Thanks for sharing your cruise.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

Gwbigdog 2 years ago

Thanks

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

Other reviews of this sailing

Our Panama Cruise 2017

Best way to see the Panama Canal