Floridapenny

I wanted to take the train from Anchorage to Fairbanks after arriving in Whittier, when I cruised in 2017.  I used a Princess transfer from Whittier to Anchorage, spent the day and night in Anchorage (which I enjoyed) and took the train the next day.

I was informed that in lieu of "free" limited number of minutes for elites, one can purchase a premium unlimited package for the price of a social package.  I was also informed that this must be done on board the ship, and the person to whom I was speaking was unable to quote me a price.  I will be sailing on the Coral (which also offers unlimited internet packages) in December.

1 hour ago, travelerchris said:

I'd be interested in knowing if they do that because those rails are used to move containers from East to West or the other way. So please keep me posted. Maybe we'll do it on some of the cruises. LOL. 7am departure from the city isn't worth it to me. 

My excursion confirmation shows a departure time of 10am and a return time of 3pm.

I plan to cruise the Panama Canal from west to east next month.  I have booked the Panama Canal Railway & New Locks excursion from Fuerte Amador.  I very much enjoy train travel and am looking forward to this excursion.  I believe the train will take us to Colon and we will return by bus.

I am fairly new to this status and have not previously taken advantage of internet "perks."  In December, I will be on a 15 day Panama Canal full transit on the Coral.  

I am interested in the unlimited premium package, which is $199.99 prepaid ($234.99 original price).  I was told by my Princess cruise consultant that in order to receive a platinum/elite "discount" on the package, I will have to wait to purchase the package on the ship.  At that time, I will be able to obtain the premium package for the price of the social package (which is $99.99 prepaid or $119.99 original price).  In all my previous cruises, I have pre-paid for my internet in order to either pay less or get more minutes (depending on the package).

I want to confirm that the information I received from the cruise consultant is accurate.  Has anyone been successful in purchasing the premium package for the price of the social package?  If so, was the price similar to those on the 15 day Panama Canal Cruise?  I am under the impression that this is a fairly new program, so it may be difficult to confirm.

Thanks.

FloridaPenny.

Did you get any replies?

No, I did not receive any replies. I ended up doing the Banana Plantation train excursion. It was OK. I am not sure if I had it to do over again if I would.

I have been on both also (Island from Alaska to Vancouver and Coral partial Panama Canal transit from Ft. Lauderdale). I prefer the Coral. In fact, I liked the Coral so much, I will be doing a full transit from LA on December 7 (even though I prefer to travel from Ft. Lauderdale).

I am considering taking the Regal Princess next year in a club class mini suite. I notice that there are club class mini suites on Decks 11, 12 and 14. On which deck were you and were you happy with the location of your mini suite? Thanks.

I did a partial transit on the Coral in March and liked the trip and ship so much, I am planning a full transit in December on the Coral. I loved the ship.

I sailed both last year to and from Alaska. I liked the Star much better than the Island (including ship layout and crew).

Thanks for your post.

How was the internet? I was on the Coral for a partial transit from Ft. Lauderdale in March and I thought the internet was pretty bad. I am planning to do a full transit in December from LA and am hoping for an improvement. Other than the internet, I liked everything else about the Coral.

Two years ago, we did the NB cruise, followed by a 7 day land package, followed by the SB cruise. Both cruises were great.

Last year I did a NB cruise, followed by one day on my own, then a 10 day cruise/tour (land and SB cruise). I found both cruises great (although I liked the Star better than the Island).

I did not do a roundtrip because I wanted to see more of the mainland in Alaska (and I do not fly - so I took trains to and from Vancouver).

DON’T stay in Downtown Los Angeles. Yes, there are a few things one might see in the area, but, overall, it’s not an area one should want to stay in unless one has specific business in the area...That Doubletree isn’t even in a great location in Downtown...unless you have a need to be at the court house or at City Hall.

 

If you’re arriving by train and want to stay at a Hilton product, consider the new Hampton Inn in Santa Monica. You can get right off the train and onto the Metro Expo Line...and the Hampton Inn is right next to the new Santa Monica Metro Station (end of the Expo Line). I’d even consider staying there both nights, then using Super Shuttle, Execucar or Uber to take you to the pier the morning of the cruise. Santa Monica has lots to see and do—the Santa Monica Pier, Third Street Promenade and Palisades Park are all easy walking distance from that Hampton Inn. There are lots of shops and restaurants, nightlife and attractions nearby...and the area is fairly upscale and safe (unlike the area around that Downtown Doubletree). If you want to do an LA tour (to see Hollywood, Beverly Hills, et al), all of the major tour companies will pick up at Santa Monica hotels...plus the HOHO bus tour uses Santa Monica as well. Venice Beach, the Getty Center and Getty Villa museums are short Uber rides away.

 

It is the best area to stay in without a car...

 

Don’t worry about the traffic morning of the cruise, just check out of the hotel early enough in the day and let your shuttle or Uber driver deal with traffic...it’s about 30 miles to the port, and, even with some traffic on a Monday-Friday morning, will likely only take about an hour...even under the worst circumstances, an hour and a half...and there are lots of alternate routes your driver will know.

Thank you so much for the good suggestion. I spent a day in Santa Monica a few years back (arriving and departing by Metro), and it is lovely. I checked the rates at the Hampton Inn and they were close to $400/night! The Doubletree, a few blocks away, is less expensive. I may consider the Doubletree even though it is a further walk from the Metro Station.

I plan to stay in the area two days pre cruise in December, after arriving by train. I usually stay at Hilton properties, and am considering eiter the Doubletree in San Pedro both nights, Doubletree Downtown L.A. both nights or one night in each hotel. I assume there is more to do in downtown L.A. than in San Pedro, but I am relucant to rely on L.A. traffic from downtown getting to the port the day of the cruise. My concern is whether I will be bored staying in San Pedro for 2 days with no public transportation. Any thoughts from the locals?

I am coming from the Caribbean. Where will we get on the ferry & where will we get back on the ship? I heard that we get off the ship in Gatun Lake by tender. Will we be getting off the ferry anywhere?

 

Thanks in advance.

I did the ferry tour last month from the Coral Princess (partial transit from Ft. Lauderdale). We were tendered off the ship in Gatun Lake, then we were bussed (6 busses in total) for what seemed to be a long time to the other end of Gatun Lake where we boarded a ferry. We slowly went through the 3 Pacific locks (we had to wait for other boats and a large cargo ship to join us in the locks). Near Panama City we got off the ferry and onto busses and made our way (slowly at first due to rush hour traffic in Panama City) to Colon where the ship was waiting for us. We arrived back at the ship a little after the scheduled departure time of 7:30pm. It was a very long day, but I believe it was well worth the bus rides and waiting.

If you are on the Coral Princess, my guess is your experience will be similar to mine. We did not get off the ferry until we docked near Panama City to board the busses.

I am planning to bring my one bottle of wine on board with me on the Coral Princess tomorrow in Port Everglades. I am not sure of the logistics of this. Will I be asked to show someone the bottle or will I just declare that I have it? I am trying to decide whether to pack it in my roller bag or back pack. Thanks

Halibut fish and fries worth the $25 there?

I got the halibut sandwich and fries and I believe it was less than $20. I thought it was worth what I paid.

Go to Humpy’s for lunch. Kind of bar-like but the halibut is out of the world - better than Glacier Brewhouse. Last time I was at GBH halibut was only available as a modified appetizer.

Ditto about halibut at Humpy's. The beer was good also.

On the Star last year, yoga classes were offered for $12 each or 3 for $30 and stretch classes were offered at no charge. I was not impressed with the caliber of the yoga instructor and only did one class.

I was on a Princess Cruise Tour last June and we were dropped at Captain Hook Hotel for our lunch break on our motor coach trip from McKinley Lodge to Whittier. I walked a few blocks and had a nice lunch (including a local beer) and had plenty of time to walk around some more before the motor coach picked us up.

Our's last May were assigned and faced forward. We were in one of the new cars with the two seat arrangement instead of the tables. I think there was still one car with the tables but I'm fairly certain that those will be removed this coming season.

I took a cruise tour last May also. The train portion was from Denali to Talkeetna. I, also, was in one of the cars where all the seats were facing forward and the seats were assigned. It was a comfortable and lovely trip.

try Mears Transportation http://www.mearstransportation.com/services/cruise-transport/

I am taking Amtrak from Orlando (where I reside) to Ft. Lauderdale and spending the night in Ft. Lauderdale before my cruise.

For anyone considering a Partial Transit on Coral, look into the shore excursion that takes you through the rest of the Canal on a small boat. It’s an day boat and we sat on the top deck which is mostly covered. We were in the front row in the sun but very comfortable. You’re transferred from Coral while she’s in Gatun Lake. It’s fun to go through the locks almost at water level. We were served a light lunch. We came out into the Pacific, got a look at Panama City which is loaded with skyscrapers, and then taken back to meet the ship on a motor coach.

Our table mates, my DH and I all felt the food on Coral was the best we’d had on any ship and any cruise line in a long time.

 

 

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Thank you for your post. It was just what I wanted to hear since I am doing a partial transit next month on the Coral and plan to take the excursion through the rest of the canal.

Were there BOGO specials on the ship? Do you recall if any craft beers were offered? Thanks.

I traveled on the Star and Island last year to and from Alaska and thought both were fine. I liked the layout and crew on the Star better, but was pretty happy with my experience on the Island. I am looking forward to my cruise on the Coral next month to the Panama Canal. I, also, like smaller ships and I think the Coral will work nicely for me.