Review: Northbound on Princess Coral 9/2-9/9

I’ve returned from a northbound journey on the Coral and started going through photos, all the while mentally putting together a recap of the trip. Reading the reviews posted on here really helped with planning, packing, and in giving me a general sense of what to expect. I’m a fairly easy-to-please person and not overly critical, but I’ll be as honest as possible and post photos.

Just to introduce myself and the people in the photos, my husband Matt and I traveled with our friends Mike and Morgan. (so. many. M names.) After a bit of research and planning, the four of us decided on a one-way cruise so we could see more than a round-trip would allow, but we all have jobs that we had to come back to, and not many vacation days to go around, so unfortunately there was no land tour to follow. However, we’ll definitely be returning to Alaska and I can’t wait to plan a longer trip.

When we decided on a cruise, I knew I wanted to see Glacier Bay and travel northbound. It seems more natural, to explore into the heart of things, and I’m so happy we did settle on this itinerary. Just as our exceptional naturalist Mark mentioned, the journey northbound just gets more spectacular each day. From Ketchikan to Juneau to Skagway and onto Glacier Bay, each day was more breathtaking than the previous. I also enjoyed having the front-half of our itinerary loaded with port days and then ending with a couple days of less ‘go-time’ on the ship.

I’d never cruised before, and as a group we wanted to hike and drive and see as much as we could while still getting a feel for the towns we visited. Eventually we decided on cruising more as a way to get from point A to point B, especially given our limited time. That being said, I found I actually enjoyed the perks of cruising quite a bit. The real gem of the trip was, of course, Alaska. We were blessed with exceptional sunny, dry weather and overall I'm extremely pleased with how well everything went.

Unfortunately none of my photos can do Alaska any justice. Even though I only got see a small glimpse of the state, the peeks I was fortunate enough to get were impossibly beautiful. I know adjectives like ‘spectacular’ and ‘amazing’ and ‘wonderful’ are over-used, but it really is all of those things. I don’t know how else to explain the wonderment of the place. Matt and I lived in Wyoming for a year, so I came in believing I understood the bounds of an unspoiled frontier. Alaska is something else entirely.

Onto the review!

Day 1: Vancouver Part 1

The morning of Day 1 came early for Mike, Morgan and I so we slept in while Matt went for a run. We’d arrived in Vancouver the night before and had only enough time to discover two things. 1) The weather in Vancouver is much different in early September than it is in Texas. And 2) Poutine. (Gravy, bacon and cheese curds on french fries!? We were in love!)

Matt returned and we got ready for the day. We considered doing a hop on/hop off tour before boarding, but instead Mike talked the guy at the kiosk into giving him a map for free and we did a short self-guided tour on foot and had breakfast at Tim Hortons. While in Canada, right?

We also took a quick peek at the Coral since she was waiting in port, and then we set out to find wine to take aboard. We went to a government-run beer and wine store and the prices weren’t as bad as I was expecting. By 1:00 we had walked a good bit of the city, decided we couldn’t see it all, and decided to go ahead and board.

The process to get on was incredibly easy. There was Holland boat also shipping off that day, but there were plenty of people stationed at every corner to guide us in the right direction. We walked onto the Coral without any lines, and were greeted by a friendly crew members before looking around the boat. The boys took to their maps, trying to familiarize themselves with everything.

[/img]

[/img]

Day 1 Vancouver Part 2

We departed rainy Vancouver with a promise of sunnier weather. Woo!

[/img]

We attended the sail-away party and the guys got drinks to start getting their monies worth for their unlimited drink packages, and I joined in the dancing. No one else in my party joined because they’re curmudgeons, but it was their loss because I got handed a few raffle tickets and they did not.

We stopped by our rooms to find our luggage had arrived safely. We’d booked neighboring cabins (D231 and D233, Dolphin deck 9) and I was pleased to find that the rooms were more spacious than I thought they would be. I was expecting something ridiculously tiny, but in the end we had plenty of space. The shower was the only thing I found cramped, and after 7 days I never mastered taking a shower without getting water all over the floor. Poor, meticulous Matt was driven crazy by the wet bathroom. But seriously, it was the only downside to the room.

I’m thankful I read a post about bringing your own toiletries. The shampoo/conditioner combo was rubbish, so I’m glad I brought a stash of travel-sized bottles along. Since Matt and I only packed a carry-on and backpack each, we were careful about what we brought along, but I do not regret conditioner taking up precious suitcase space one bit. (Okay, I’ll stop talking about the washroom now…)

Having a balcony was amazing, but honestly, I think I could’ve done without. I'll have to try another cruise to compare. I don't regret the decision to get one, especially one next door to our friends. We spent most mornings and evenings enjoying the scenery and weather, but much of this could’ve been enjoyed elsewhere on the ship. I would say a balcony is a ‘bonus’ for me, but not necessarily a ‘must-have’. We probably could’ve spent that money on a more expensive excursion, but I guess there’s always next time!

A bit more exploring and it was time for our 7:30 dinning time at the MDR. Another couple was peeking at the posted menu, and I got confused. Appetizers AND pasta AND entrees? I asked how it worked, and the couple delighted in explaining us us young, naive cruisers that we could have whatever we’d like. I can’t remember what everyone got for dinner, but I did pause long enough to snap a photo of our desserts.

Morgan’s hazelnut dessert looked delightful, and I opted for the Princess Love Boat Dream dessert. It’s a luscious chocolate mousse with a thin brownie bottom, a berry sauce and cream. Any and everything chocolate we ordered in the MDR was top-notch, and I have a VERY soft spot for dessert.

[/img]

[/img]

I’m not really a foodie, and I’m definitely not used to being pampered at dinner time. Matt even less so (sorry dear!). Our wait staff was amazing and attentive, and seemed to have a good time joking around with us. Things like putting a napkin on my lap were really unnecessary, but AHH I loved the unlimited courses and punctuating every meal with fabulous dessert!

We’d highlighted trivia on our patter for after dinner, but we were a bit late since eating in the MDR takes a good bit of time. We listened to the trivia, had drinks, and then walked to the top of the ship to see the stars. There was a movie playing but only one couple watching. The weather was cool but it was a lovely night, and when Morgan went to get popcorn she noticed they were serving ribs at the Grill & Bar. Even though we’d eaten a giant dinner, such is the nature of little self-control and vacation, and we got ribs and they were amazing. We asked if they would have them everyday and we were told they would be served every 3 days. Unfortunately, that was the only time we saw them, but if you manage to nab some trust me, they’re saucy and tender and delicious.

Loving your review & pictures! We are going to Alaska for the first time next June so I have enjoyed reading everyone's reviews.

Love the review and look forward to more.

Day 2: Sea day Part 1

Matt and I woke up around 6:00 for the gym, and as we were getting ready I turned on the TV just in time to hear the naturalist say humpback whales were visible on the starboard side, so we went outside and sat on our balcony and watched the pair of whales as we sailed through the Johnstone Strait. The water was so calm and we were a lot closer to the shore than I thought we’d be. And I adored the way the clouds settled over the islands.

When we finally made it up to the workout room, all the equipment was taken. From then on, it would be virtually empty when we went to work out, but the first sea day must’ve inspired people to hit the gym! Since the treadmills were taken, we stopped by the international cafe and picked up some coffees and parfaits and walked a couple laps around the Promenade deck. We were on the lookout for more whales, but didn’t see any. Around 9:00, we met up with Mike and Morgan at the MDR for breakfast. We sat with a gentleman from Canada and two ladies from Chicago. While we enjoyed our 4-person dinner table, it was kind of nice, chatting with other passengers during meals. Everyone at our table except Matt got eggs benedict. It was a bit strange - the hollandaise was firmer than any I’d had before, but it was still tasty. Matt had bacon and eggs, and he said it was good. However, by this point it was a bit choppy and he was feeling a touch sea sick, so he went back to the room to take a nap while the three of us went to play bingo where I had to do the chicken dance for accidentally calling out ‘bingo’ prematurely and then following it up with ‘just kidding! just kidding!’ (seriously!) and then, with the following number, I did actually get a bingo and won $400 (seriously!).

Matt met up with us for lunch and since the buffet looked crowded and the food looked just okay we decide on pizza. As a collective group, the four us would probably eat more pizza than anyone else on the ship over the next few days. After lunch we walked to the theater for the North to Alaska lumberjack show.

It was fun and informative, and quite interesting to hear from one of the Ketchikan lumberjacks. Matt had wanted to see the show in Ketchikan and so I thought this would be a good substitute, but it just made him want to go to the show more. Passengers were split into two teams for ax throwing and some of the competitors were far more skilled than others; Morgan was convinced one of the axes was going to fly backward. I have to admit… there were a few dozen holes in the net in odd places. We walked out with all our limbs intact and it was a nice show. :)

We’d met one of the competitors at the sail away party, and he mentioned that the lumberjack was passing out tickets for the 8 contestants while walking around the ship. So if you want to toss an ax and win a chance at free tickets to the Great Alaskan Lumberjack show - find the lumberjack and just ask.

Day 2: Sea day Part 2

After the lumberjack presentation and competition, we went up and enjoyed the views from the Lido deck. We snacked on pizza, played dominoes, and enjoyed the abundant scenery and occasional wildlife. The weather was lovely, and even though it was a bit windy we spent the rest of the day sightseeing outside, listening to the naturalist’s commentary. Matt had a good set of binoculars and we were lucky enough to see whales, seals and porpoises that afternoon, but spotting wildlife requires a lot of luck and a good deal of patience. Luckily it’s very relaxing and refreshing to just stop and look around.

When we returned to our room around 7:00, debating if we wanted to go to formal night, we found that a complimentary reservation had been made by our travel agent for Sabatini's at 8:00, so we decided to try it out after stopping by the champagne waterfall. I was surprised how fancy everyone was dressed - even though we weren’t going to formal night, I felt very under-dressed surrounded by all the black, sparkly floor-length gowns.

At Sabatini's I had the lobster three ways and it was fantastic. Mike and Matt had steaks, and while Mike’s was perfect Matt ordered his medium rare and his was very overcooked. He probably should’ve sent it back, but he’s not big on waste so he ate it. All four of us had the tiramisu for dessert and, no surprise, it was amazing.

The couple at the table beside us pointed out a pair of whales and we watched them follow alongside the boat for a while while as the sun set. I’d say it was the end to the perfect evening, but the best was yet to come.

We played dominoes in the card room for a bit and then decided to call it a night. Morgan and I went out the balcony to stargaze, and we both sat in silence for a moment before I asked her if I was crazy. Those are just clouds, right? And the green light is just being reflected off the ship… right? Surely I was not seeing what I thought I was seeing in our first night in Alaska. We weren’t that lucky. Morgan confirmed that I wasn't crazy and we got the guys and went to the top of the ship where a couple and another woman were watching the light show. I asked the woman if I was seeing what I thought I was seeing (part of me was still convinced it was wishful thinking and I was fairly certain I was crazy) and she confirmed that the Aurora was particularly active that evening. I tried to snap a photo, but it takes a bit more skill to do so, apparently, because my attempt is laughable.

We sat for what felt like hours, watching them stretch and dance and turn brilliant green before fading to a barely-visible before spanning the sky again. When we decided to call it a night I couldn’t resist returning to the balcony and watching the Aurora a bit longer. But it was an early day in Ketchikan to come, and I needed to get some rest.

Love this review! Thank you! Looking forward to the next installment!

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

We are on the NCL Sun about the same time next year as your cruise.

We arrive in Seward on 12 September and three tour companies have indicated that they don't offer tours to Denali that late in the season or what is offered is just not worth going.

It seems that we will likely take a pass on Denali.

How did you find the weather in Anchorage?

Enjoying your review and looking forward to reading the additional installments.

Keith

We are on the NCL Sun about the same time next year as your cruise.

We arrive in Seward on 12 September and three tour companies have indicated that they don't offer tours to Denali that late in the season or what is offered is just not worth going.

 

It seems that we will likely take a pass on Denali.

 

How did you find the weather in Anchorage?

We had lovely weather in Anchorage. Sunny and in the 60's. As the day went on it did get kind of windy though, and by evening I was wearing a jacket.

Day 3 Ketchikan Part 1

We arrived in Ketchikan sometime the night before, and so that morning we were greeted with the sights of boats situated along the harbor and houses nestled amongst the green hillside. Since we’d filled the room service, we sat on the balcony and ate breakfast, watching the float planes land and take off and waiting to be told we were cleared to get off the ship.

After disembarking we met our driver who would take us to the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary. She was waiting beside the giant rain gauge. Ketchikan gets a lot of rain, but it was a sunny, clear morning. We had a guided hike booked, and I honestly didn’t know much about it. Mike had selected it with hopes of seeing a bear, but I’d read a few reviews about how bear sightings weren’t guaranteed and that the best bet for bear sightings is to book a tour that flies you further into the rainforest.

Besides the four of us and our driver, there was a couple from California and three others on our van ride. Our driver told us a bit about the town of Ketchikan and the rainforest, and when we got to the mouth of the trail the three zip-liners broke off while the four of us and the couple from California met up with our guide.

Our guide was very informative, but it was less of a hike and more of a slow, educational stroll where we learned about native plants and animals. Bear sightings were looking promising what with all the dead fish and bear scat littering the trail. The salmon were mostly intact, and our guide explained that with the abundance of salmon running the bear can afford to be picky, and that they often only eat their favorite part - the belly. (They’re fancy bears partial caviar, apparently).

I wish it would have been more hiking, and the screaming zip-liners definitely took away from what could have been a serene walk through nature. I think they’ve done themselves a disservice by adding a zip line feature, but I guess it makes money and is more exciting than a walk among the plants. During the walk our guide was great. She answered questions and showed us the beauty of the Tongass. Just as we rounded the path toward the salmon hatchery a black bear came out of the trees and went into the water for a snack. He was pretty quick, snatching up a fish and disappearing into the opposite direction, but it was very exciting. Seeing a bear definitely made the excursion. After the bear made his exit an eagle decided it was his time to shine and swooped down where the bear had been fishing to catch himself a fish and pose for photos.

The tour also included a talk with a woman from the raptor center about some of the rescued birds as well as a glimpse at a local artist working on a totem pole. I loved the smell of cedar inside the studio, and during his brief talk he mentioned he was from a neighboring island. There was something very charming about imagining a morning commute by boat; of course, he only comes to the center during the summer months and works from home most of the year.

After our tour there were complimentary cookies and hot chocolate. It was warm and sunny, but we drank hot cocoa anyway before getting on the van and heading back downtown.

Day 3 Ketchikan Part 2

Creek Street is just as lovely as the photos. It was, however, very crowded with 4 ships in port that day.

The funicular up to Cape Fox Lodge was closed, but we walked up Married Man’s Trail. I made our married men stop for a photo, but they were less than thrilled.

The trail was a bit of an uphill jot, but there were stairs and a railing along the way. I can’t imagine all those men sneaking from the brothels through the trees. We saw the totem poles at the top of the hill and took the road back down for a peek at the salmon ladder. Nothing exciting happening there, but there were lots of salmon visible in the water below.

Day 3: Ketchikan Part 3

We returned to town and popped into a touristy restaurant. I can’t remember the name, but it was next to the Fish House which was my first choice. However, they didn’t appear to have beer and so we went elsewhere and split a giant platter of fried fish, clams, and crab cakes and a pitcher of Alaskan Amber before heading back to the ship. Our boat pulled out at 2:00 for what seemed a very short port time, but we had a full day in town. Seeing a bear and an eagle feeding had us in good spirits, and Ketchikan was a really cute stop with an interesting history.

Back on the boat, the four of us sat on the balcony with the TV on listening to Mark the naturalist’s commentary. Afternoons like this really made the adjacent balconies worth having.

After a drink and trivia, we went on to the Lido deck, our second home, and watched the scenery roll by until dinnertime. It was cool at this point and we dressed accordingly, but the scenery made it all worthwhile.

I think it was Italian night in the MDR, and of course the only food photo I snapped is of this delectable dessert: Chocolate Tart with Vanilla Mousse and Flourless Chocolate Cake. Ahhhhh. So. Good.

Taking my son on our first cruise to Alaska next year, so enjoying your review immensely (living vicariously until we get there ourselves)!

I know adjectives like ‘spectacular’ and ‘amazing’ and ‘wonderful’ are over-used, but it really is all of those things. I don’t know how else to explain the wonderment of the place. Matt and I lived in Wyoming for a year, so I came in believing I understood the bounds of an unspoiled frontier. Alaska is something else entirely.

Completely agree with this. I grew up in rural Utah and have been to many other parts of the West, and I thought I knew mountains and rugged beauty. Alaska blew me away.

Very nice pics and review!

I'm enjoying your review and pictures. Hope there's more!

Day 4: Juneau Part 1

Another breakfast room service day as we pulled closer to Juneau. It was a very scenic morning with calm water, waterfalls, and lush, green hills.

We waited in line to be one of the first off the ship since we had an 8:30 pick-up time for our rental car from Avis at the Goldbelt hotel. Thanks to reading threads here, I knew to get there early. After speed-walking to the hotel, we arrived about 3 minutes before the Avis employee did and were first in line.

It was a speedy process; she gave us a map of Juneau and chatted with us. We were the only ship in port that day, but even still there was quite a line forming as we left.

We opened the sunroof and enjoyed the beautiful, sunny day as Matt drove to Mendenhall. We got there before 9:00 and there were only two other cars in the parking lot. A trail that warned of bears was our first walk and though I can’t remember the name it was easy and flat. There was a wooden deck over the water, but we didn’t spot any bears even though the little stream looked like a perfect place for a salmon breakfast.

Then we set off to hike Photo Point and Nugget Falls. The moment we started on this trail I could feel the cold set in. All four of us ended up donning jackets; the closer we got to the glacier, the chillier it got. Which makes since, of course, seeing as to how we’re walking toward a glacier.

Mendenhall was the first glacier we’d seen, and it was spectacular. Nugget Falls was also breathtaking, and it was quite an experience, standing beneath its spray. We lingered for a bit, enjoying the sights and sounds and snapping photos before hiking back. There were lots of people on the trail at this point; a couple buses began dropping people off and I was glad we’d gotten there early.

Day 4: Juneau Part 2

After Mendenhall we drove over to the Shrine of St. Therese, which was very serene and peaceful. We spent some time walking the Stations of the Cross and at the lookout where we, unfortunately didn’t see any whales. The spot was still lovely and very worthy of a visit if time allows.

Afterwards we did a quick stop at Eagle Beach where we spotted a single eagle posing for a group on a photography tour, and then we made our way over to the Alaskan brewery for some free samples.

We had a good lunch at the Silverbow Bakery before parting ways. Mike and Morgan had a whale watching tour, and Matt and I walked back from the Goldbelt toward the docks after returning the car. This part of town reminded me a bit of Disney World - where the buildings are cute and picturesque, but very touristy. And I don’t understand why there are so many jewelry stores.

We met up with Abe from Hooked on Juneau. While I would’ve loved to whale watch, all Matt wanted to do in Alaska have a shore fishing experience with locals, so that’s where Hooked on Juneau came in.

Day 4: Juneau Part 3

We were quickly issued our fishing licenses and our guide told us about a spot where he’d been lucky lately with silver salmon. A few other people were fishing there and everyone was very friendly. There was also a group on the beach with a lawnmower motor dredging for gold. They celebrated a couple times, but when I asked how it was going they told me it was a slow day.

Matt was the luckiest man on the beach that afternoon. As the tide came in he reeled in six sizable silver salmon.

Naturally, his trip was made.

On their whale watching tour, Mike and Morgan said the boat had more people than they were originally told there would be, but that it never felt overcrowded. They snapped some photos of the humpback whales they saw, and also spotted several seals and eagles.

Afterwards we met up with Mike and Morgan at Hangar on the Wharf to watch Texas A&M’s first football game of the season (Whoop!). We split some appetizers and watched the second half of the game, and when we left at 7:30 for an all-board time of 8 the worst possible thing had happened - I couldn’t find my wallet!

I told Mike and Morgan I’d forgotten something and told them to go ahead, and started to panic. I had been holding mine and Matt’s credit cards and our debit card, but Matt had my driver’s license since we’d handed it over to get my fishing license. Matt calmly checked our statements online and said nothing had been spent, but I was panicking. We were going to cancel our credit cards on vacation! And I had $200 cash in that wallet... I’d had it at the bar, but it’d stuffed it in a flimsy side pocket of my backpack and I was so upset with myself.

I ran back to the bar but they hadn’t spotted it, but they took my number. I retraced my steps but came up empty. Fighting tears, we got in line to get back on the boat and the gentleman asked for my cruise card and I explained that I’d misplaced my wallet. He asked if I had any ID and I showed him my driver’s license to which he smiled and pulled out my wallet. Someone had looked inside, saw the princess cruise card, and returned it to the dock. All the cash inside and I started crying. I miiiight’ve hugged and kissed the cruise guy on the cheek, to which Matt would later tease me relentlessly over. But my faith in humanity and kind people was restored, and I’ll never put my wallet in the flimsy side pocket again.

After that excitement we met back up with Mike and Morgan and went up to the Lido deck to enjoy the sailaway. Mark the naturalist spoke and we enjoyed the scenery for a bit before dinner, and then afterwards we met back up in the hot tub. Big thank you to a kind cruiser who recommended snagging two towels per person and bringing along a bathrobe! Makes getting out of the hot tub much more pleasant.

Great review so far. Looking forward to more!

We were on the Coral Princess in July, and while we were a bit disappointed in the ship, food and service, we fell in love with Alaska and can't wait to go back.

So glad you got your wallet back. I know well that terrible feeling. I was robbed during a trip to Ireland years ago and they got not only my credit cards and cash, but my cameras, passport and return airline ticket. We made the best of it and went on to have a wonderful trip, but what a hassle it was.

Loving this excellent report. We are on the Island next June on a Southbound so almost the same.

Loved your review and photos. And many thanks for making them the size they are :D- I hate it when they stretch too wide, making the print on the 40 posts of the page too small to read.

Day 5: Skagway, Part 1

We got a bit of a late start this day, considering we could get off the boat around 6:30. After staying up a bit too late the night before and not filling out the room service card, we went up to the buffet for breakfast around 7:00 and watched from the window as a pair of otters played on the rocks where the ship-tags are. They kept jumping in and swimming before hopping back out to play some more. I love how playful otters are; definitely the most adorable wildlife we spotted.

Matt and Mike’s all-inclusive drink packages include bottles of water, and the bartender asked if he wanted small or large bottles. Matt said large, and the bartender handed over 2-liter bottles of water! It wasn’t a lot of fun to lug around in my backpack, but it was very generous and we did end up drinking them all.

Around 8:00 we departed and went to the popcorn store downtown to pick up our green jeep from, of course, Alaska Green Jeeps. The man at the desk gave us instructions before handing over a mile-by-mile guide chock-full of information and a CD to listen along to, and we were off. We were the only boat in port that day, and it seemed most people had gotten rental cars, private tours or had taken the train and town was pretty empty.

The inclusion of (what I believe was) Murray’s Guide was wonderful, and we listened to the CD commentary about gold rush history and the story of Soapy. He was an interesting character, and I imagine the show downtown about him would be neat to see, if there had been time.

We took our time driving the Klondike Highway, cutting alongside the train until we could only see it peeking through the mountains in the distance. It was scenic, and I was surprised by plethora of fall hues that was unexpected and so amazing. We were really hoping to see more wildlife, but the beauty of this country shines on its own. This was by far the most scenic day so far.

Day 5: Skagway, Part 2

We stopped by some mining ruins mentioned in the guide, and of course some of the popular photo ops like the Yukon sign and the ‘smallest dessert’. Tutshi Lake was probably the most breathtaking, and across the way Matt watched the Dall sheep climb on the mountain through his binoculars. Morgan also spotted what we think might’ve been a woodchuck or marmot near the water?