thews Cruise Review on Coral Princess on Jan 31, 2019

Coral Princess Cruise Review

thews

Contributor Level: Deck Hand

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 7

Overall rating:

2 out of 5

Sail date: January 31, 2019

Ship: Coral Princess

Reviewed: 5 years ago

Review summary

Well we are on it now cruising the canal. To call it a curate’s egg is an understatement. It was in dry dock for a couple of weeks before we boarded; and as far as we can see they spent this time fitting new TVs in the cabins and little else. We are now day 14 of 15 and they are still painting parts of the ship. If I were anyone coming on the next cruise I would call them and ask them whether repainting will be happening then as well. Don’t expect them to do anything about it whilst you are onboard. Customer services has one poor girl trying and the rest are a joke. Don’t waste your time with them and feel free to cite this example of someone wasting well over 3 hours of time “interfacing” with the supervisory team for an end product of a comp Italian experience of dubious value. It was also late leaving Miami by a good 4 hours. Evidence again of it not being ready to cruise. Dining Tables were not assigned until night 2 and they have no Mondavi cab sauv on board at all (despite enticing you into the drinks package with “fine Mondavi wines”. The first ensemble theatre show was not until day 7 and they have cut most 10.30pm shows with no explanation. None of these problems are dream-destroying but they are frustrating when you’ve paid good money. Princess are not the first company to get too big to quick and have great people interfacing with clients on deck backed by poor (mis) management. Check your bills carefully and regularly because they do not spot any mistakes: the onus is on you. We know of people spending a whole day/night without a shower and having to wash in the sink. Don’t get me started on how they reacted to our disabled Mothet

7 Comments

Lazyboy 5 years ago

Glad there are many other reviews that paint a different picture.

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RetiredRay 5 years ago

We were on the last Panama cruise before refurbishment, and overall counted that as one of our better cruises. However, there were complaints from others on our trip about the services, especially the Circle desk and to some extent the Service desk.

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earlyj25 5 years ago

Will be on the Coral in April. Looking forward to it as I have cruised on it a few years ago and loved it!

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thews 5 years ago

Hope Princess pay you well. You are entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts. We knew the TVs were new because the cabin steward told us. Princess cruises is not for me and I hope my comments help people who may have different views about what they expect for their money than you do. But thanks for taking your time to engage with me and I hope you get the cruises you deserve.

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EddieWouldGo 5 years ago

We cruised on the last Coral Princess voyage before dry dock, felt overall the ship was fine (see review posted several weeks ago) and that was our 13th Princess cruise, although I would have liked the newer tv’s if they came with on demand programming. In regards to the wine there’s usually a comparable (and sometimes better choice) for example my wife is a Mondavi Cabernet drinker at home but started drinking Clos Du Bois on the first day of the cruise at $9 (we had the sip and sail drink package so no charge) , I perused the drink menu and suggested she try the Decoy Merlot which is $12 a glass and she LOVED it, probably ended up drinking 10 bottles....at least. Point is, I’m not disputing the writers claim to be upset but sometimes if you take a breath you might find a silver lining. Most of my friends would give their right arm to take a trip like that although they might mutiny with no Pabst Blue Ribbon on board. :-)

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1960cruiser 5 years ago

I will be on the Coral Princess in April. I have cruised with Princess many times and it seems most of your issues are with too high of expectations. Perhaps the ship left late due to EZ air flights, since they will hold ship in that case. New TV's? How would you know what the difference was from pre dry dock till your sail date. If you have ever cruised before, then you would know that painting is an ongoing maintenance project. They will be out painting whether at sea or in port, it's something that never ends. Also, the lack of a wine on board is not in any way a deal breaker in my opinion. I would be more concerned with other staples, but complaining cause your wine choice isn't available is just petty. If this is your first cruise, then maybe it's not for you, but if not, well maybe, you should choose a different cruise line, I'm sure the other passengers will be happier. The only reason I'm posting this rebuttal, is because I spent the extra money you enjoy a good steak dinner in the specialty restaurant, and my cruise mate and I were seated next to a lady that complained about every little thing. Her petty complaints were really getting on my nerves, since I have in the restaurant field for almost 40 years. After all her eating and complaining, she then had the nerve to refuse to pay, I almost lost it at that point. This brings me to my point, stop being petty, and enjoy the damn cruise.

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TNmtnlovingit1 5 years ago

I hope ship is ready for our trip to Alaska.

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