Ruby, Emerald, Star, or Coral

[Turtle05]

Hello. I am in the early stages of planning an Alaskan cruise. I've primarily sailed Royal, though I've been on one NCL cruise. I've sailed the Majesty, which I believe is Royal's oldest ship, and the Allure, which at the time was the newest, and a couple I'm between. I have heard Princess does Alaska best, so I am mostly leaning towards Princess, with one NCL and one Carnival itinerary still in the running.

 

I do understand that Alaskan cruises are about Alaska and not the ship, but I still want to have quite a bit to do on board. With just ship in mind, Ruby is largest, followed by Emerald, Star, and Coral. A lot of people seem to really love the Coral. Since we haven't nailed down whether or not we will be doing a land tour or not, the itineraries still in the running are both round trip and N/S bound. If we do decide to do a land tour, that leaves just the Coral and Star. Can I get opinions of the on board atmosphere and activities for these ships? Thanks. 😊

[Colo Cruiser]

Hello. I am in the early stages of planning an Alaskan cruise. I've primarily sailed Royal, though I've been on one NCL cruise. I've sailed the Majesty, which I believe is Royal's oldest ship, and the Allure, which at the time was the newest, and a couple I'm between. I have heard Princess does Alaska best, so I am mostly leaning towards Princess, with one NCL and one Carnival itinerary still in the running.

 

I do understand that Alaskan cruises are about Alaska and not the ship, but I still want to have quite a bit to do on board. With just ship in mind, Ruby is largest, followed by Emerald, Star, and Coral. A lot of people seem to really love the Coral. Since we haven't nailed down whether or not we will be doing a land tour or not, the itineraries still in the running are both round trip and N/S bound. If we do decide to do a land tour, that leaves just the Coral and Star. Can I get opinions of the on board atmosphere and activities for these ships? Thanks. 😊

 

 

Ruby and Emerald are sister ship and identical.

 

I would pick the Coral, less passengers.

[Turtle05]

Ruby and Emerald are sister ship and identical.

 

I would pick the Coral, less passengers.

 

Does the Coral have as much to do as the others? I've never been bothered by the number of passengers, but it's also never caused me to have to wait a really long time for something, so I might sing a different tune if that ever happens on a cruise.

[Colo Cruiser]

Does the Coral have as much to do as the others? I've never been bothered by the number of passengers, but it's also never caused me to have to wait a really long time for something, so I might sing a different tune if that ever happens on a cruise.

 

 

The Coral is actually longer but narrower.

It has an International Cafe/Sabatini's/Bayou Cafe.

2 level Universe Lounge "On the Bayou" production show.

Princess theater for other shows comedians etc.

Explorer's Lounge

In Alaska this would be the only ship I would sail if I had to choose.

We have sailed her many times. I think there is lots to do. :)

[Working 2 Cruise]

Ship wise, for someone used to sail NCL, I'd go with the Ruby or Emerald. There probably will be a younger crowd than the Coral. It's also easier for round trip flights.

[xlxo]

Also check... which boat includes Glacier Bay... which boat includes Vancouver?

 

Then consider which MONTH or week!

 

• May and September is cheaper, but colder and some excursions are not running
  
• May can mean ice congestion to some glacier viewing sites like Tracy Arm/Sawyer
  
• May to July is dryer in Alaska, August will see more rain and September will be wettest. If too stormy to dock.... cruise ships will skip the port.
  
• July to August will be dryer in Cascadia
  
• May to August will give you more day light
  
• August and September offer better wildlife opportunities
  
• I like late-July for weather compromise and wildlife. It's also priced higher.
  
• some ports offer season opportunities like fireworks and pride celebrations, but can also mean congestion.
  
• http://www.alaska.org/advice/best-time-to-visit-alaska => it recommends mid-June to mid-July!
  

Alaskan mosquitos are Zika free!

[Working 2 Cruise]

It's a ship, not a boat! However, the advice is really good!

[Colo Cruiser]

Alaskan mosquitos are Zika free!

 

 

Until an unsuspecting passenger infects one. :rolleyes:

[Essiesmom]

Until an unsuspecting passenger infects one. :rolleyes:

 

Not the right species of mosquitoes in Alaska. EM

[Colo Cruiser]

Not the right species of mosquitoes in Alaska. EM

 

 

Thats what they said about Colorado. :cool:

[Turtle05]

They all go to Glacier Bay. Time will first depend on when everyone in our group of four can go, and then probably price will be the next factor, so I'm really aiming for May and then September. I think we'd rather spend the money on excursions and maybe splurge for some nice on board dining over spending extra to go during peak season. Also, while I've never been bothered by kids on board, I always try to aim for times when kiddos are in school.

 

Right now I have 13 itineraries in the running:

2 NB Vancouver to Anchorage

1 NB Vancouver to Fairbanks

I have the reverse going southbound for those itineraries.

5 round trip, 4 from Seattle and only 1 from Vancouver. The Vancouver one is my personal favorite if we go RT because it's from Vancouver and it swaps Skagway for Sitka. Unfortunately, it only runs twice, early May on the Coral and mid May on the Emerald.

 

I have a feeling all my questions will end up being irrelevant because once we determine when we can go, unless the prices are all comparable, our choice will end up being glaringly obvious. I enjoy cruise planning/comparing.

[xlxo]

Also include June when the weather is warmer.... kids are still in school.

 

On my August trips.... the kids were never a problem.... even on Disney. I found kids well behaved on a cruise.

 

At times, I feel kids are better behaved than the adults.

[AF-1]

Here are a few things to think about. There are several states where kids go to school year round; so you will have kids onboard every month you sail. We chose Emerald Princess in July; round trip out of Seattle. We too have never sailed Princess; so it is new for us. We chose Emerald; because didn't have time to do both cruise and land tour. Did not want to do one way because we like a round trip out of one city. This is just me; so don't book your cruise based on my criteriea.

[AF-1]

Here are a few things to think about. There are several states where kids go to school year round; so you will have kids onboard every month you sail. We chose Emerald Princess in July; round trip out of Seattle. We too have never sailed Princess; so it is new for us. We don't have time to do both cruise and land tour. Did not want to do one way because we like a round trip out of one city. This is just me; so don't book your cruise based on my criteriea.

[grouchomarx]

The Coral has a covered indoor pool, the Emerald and Ruby do not (don't know about the other ship). That might be useful on an Alaska cruise.

[OCruisers]

While we really love both Emerald & Ruby, Coral would be our choice for Alaska. The lay out for viewing on Coral is great for Alaska! :)

[Tiffanymom]

We have done 2 cruise in alaska. First the Island(before the worst dry dock) and X solstice. I would choose the Coral because of the open decks in the front and aft. I can not remember which decks. before we had a mimi on the Island(sistership before the remodel). It was great we could go out and see the glaciers get cold and pop back into our warm cabin. Were close to the bow. The Coral has the best viewing areas. We did the land tour first and took the train to the ship. I thought the train ride was to long, but really enjoyed the land part of the trip. It is a different look of Alaska than just the cruise and Princess was so organized. Everything when like clockwork.

 

Happy cruisisng.

[need2cruisesoon]

We have done 2 cruise in alaska. First the Island(before the worst dry dock) and X solstice. I would choose the Coral because of the open decks in the front and aft. I can not remember which decks. before we had a mimi on the Island(sistership before the remodel). It was great we could go out and see the glaciers get cold and pop back into our warm cabin. Were close to the bow. The Coral has the best viewing areas. We did the land tour first and took the train to the ship. I thought the train ride was to long' date=' but really enjoyed the land part of the trip. It is a different look of Alaska than just the cruise and Princess was so organized. Everything when like clockwork.

 

Happy cruisisng.[/quote']

 

Please tell me your opinion of your Solstice Alaska cruise? I am on her this June.

[Tiffanymom]

Please tell me your opinion of your Solstice Alaska cruise? I am on her this June.

 

A lot of people really like the solstice. We did not. It was big and in personal.

 

We have cruised on the m class and like them. If you like modern you will like it. We cruised the solstice a week after we came home from 17 days on the pacific princess where service was excellent. The first night on the solstice ( our 50th anv) we were seated in the very back of the dinning Room the waiter did show up for a half hour. We ask to be change and given a table that was full. We ended up in open seating. We could not get a service in the martini bar. There was not a quiet bar on the hold ship, music was loud.

 

We had booked 30 some days on solstice came home and canceled. We booked b2b on the Connie instead.

 

I hope you enjoy your cruise and have a different experience. We did have a great tour In Alaska and good dinners in the speciality restaurants. Go watch the glass blowing, very interesting.

 

Pam

[Turtle05]

So this is weird. When I try to pull the Coral's deck plan, it gives a date range and has a different plan for after May 6. To me, that would indicate some sort of renovation/dry dock, but there are sailings going on before that, so it does not make sense that the deck plan changes. I hope it's not going into dry dock after I've read all the horror stories of crushing right after a dry dock!

[AF-1]

During drydock, Princess is adding additional cabins to some of their ships. This may have happened to Coral; which means they had to change your cabin location

[Tiffanymom]

The Coral is going into dry this spring. The changes -like happen on the island- was cancelled. There were some structural problems because of adding cabins in aft. They are probably changing cabins like a AD to AC.

[Colo Cruiser]

The Coral is going into dry this spring. The changes -like happen on the island- was cancelled. There were some structural problems because of adding cabins in aft. They are probably changing cabins like a AD to AC.

 

 

The Coral was in dry dock Jan 16th 2016 to Jan 30th 2016.

No cabin changes were made and no other big changes were made.

 

The reference when pulling up any Princess ship deck plans all ask

"when are you sailing"? Giving 3 date choices. These are just cabin cat changes and no physical changes are being made.

[Colo Cruiser]

So this is weird. When I try to pull the Coral's deck plan, it gives a date range and has a different plan for after May 6. To me, that would indicate some sort of renovation/dry dock, but there are sailings going on before that, so it does not make sense that the deck plan changes. I hope it's not going into dry dock after I've read all the horror stories of crushing right after a dry dock!

 

 

The Coral was in dry dock Jan 16th 2016 to Jan 30th 2016.

No cabin changes were made and no other big changes were made.

 

The reference when pulling up any Princess ship deck plans all ask

"when are you sailing"? Giving 3 date choices. These are just cabin cat changes and no physical changes are being made.

__________________

[sassyredhat]

We just got back from a 15 day Hawaiian cruise on the Ruby, and we won't sail on her again.

 

There was no wifi anywhere for almost 3 days. They finally got it working in the casino, I think on the 2nd day.

This was a huge concern for us because we left at home our 2 adult deaf DS and DIL who had taken our 2 yr old GD to urgent care as we were driving to the ship. No wifi=no communication with deaf people.

 

Our dining room was Boticelli, aft. The crew shut down 1 elevator which left only 2 elevators for all the diners. The crew member we complained to told us there was no deck for passengers below, so they locked it.

Trying to go to dinner was crazy.

 

On our deck, Riviera, they washers flooded the room twice. Our shower backed up with blank gunk--twice. Toilets wouldn't flush one day.

 

There were too many minor problems.

 

That said ~~~~the crew was awesome. The food was great. Shore excursions were wonderful. Disembarkation was the easiest on any cruise we have taken.

 

Patti.