Help needed choosing a ship

[notalandlover]

I'm looking into an Alaskan cruise and have narrowed it down to a seven day literary starting in Anchorage and ending in Vancouver. A few years ago DW & I sailed the Royal Princess and had a great time. We want experience a different ship. The ships doing this itinerary are Golden, Coral & Island. Based on these three ships only which one would you choose and why. DW and I are in our 50's and enjoy being busy and active on cruises. We sailed HAL once and found it to be a bit slow for us. Thanks in advance

[Red Rock Feaver]

We did Star Princess and it was amazing!

[notalandlover]

We did Star Princess and it was amazing!

 

 

Based on ?? Thanks

[daydreamer16]

I would go with Coral as my first choice because it (as well as Island) has an indoor pool area. Our first cruise was to Alaska on the Sun Princess, which does not have an indoor pool. We had lots of cool, rainy weather on our cruise and I would have loved to sit in the hot tub a couple of days after touring! Not sure about the Golden? We've been on the Island before it was redone in2015 and loved it, but many here say it's just not the same.

[neverbeenhere]

It’s Princess cruising, while I haven’t been on the Island between the Coral and Golden, I choose Coral. Activities would likely be about the same on the Golden and Coral, but we liked the Coral better. I don’t think that Princess truly offers a huge difference in activities between ships in the same size category. Itinerary would be the real deciding factor, Tracy Arm would be the lesser of the itinerary choices, mainly because we have not gotten deep into the fjord the last three times we travel the Tracy Arm/ Sawyer Glacier itinerary.

[Bill B]

I would strike the Island off the list immediately. Others may disagree, but I'm of the opinion it was 'ruined' when they added 19 balcony rooms and five suites aft on Lido Deck.

 

Between the Golden and the Coral, it would depend on the fare and availability of rooms (I always want to pick my specific room).

[OCruisers]

Coral Princess would be our choice!

Love the deck plan and enough activities to keep us entertained! :D

[hpeabody]

Definitely Coral

[Jammu2]

Coral no question!

 

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[mevs904]

We did an Alaskan cruise tour on the Coral and loved the ship so much that we specifically chose her for our recent Panama Canal cruise. In fact, we chose the same stateroom as we had on our Alaska cruise. The full promenade deck on the Coral is perfect for the Alaska scenery as are quiet fore and aft observation decks. The naturalist that we had on the Coral was Mark Harris...outstanding! We also feel that the ship is a perfect size and that the crew on the ship gives excellent. If we were to ever take another Alaska cruise it would, without a doubt, be the Coral.

[Mrs.Gosse]

People love the Coral, she is a fan favorite. The Golden is my favorite and I wish we could sail on her before she goes to P&O. The Golden goes all the way around and I like that. CORAL will be MUCH smaller than the Royal and Golden will be in between.

 

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[Mrs.Gosse]

Oh let me say this. Some People love the Coral because shes smaller..ie: more personal. Since Alaskan cruises are less fast paced and party cruises, that wouldn't matter as much.

 

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[Lucky TGO]

Coral Princess would be our choice!

Love the deck plan and enough activities to keep us entertained! :D

 

I agree with you LuLu my vote goes to the Coral Princess also.

Tony

[skynight]

1. Coral, nicest ship for Alaska, 2,000 pax.

2. Golden a close 2nd, 2,600 pax.

3. Island, would not book. Sister ship of the Coral, but modified in dry dock to add 200+ additional pax., removed the Universe Lounge, no International cafe, no additional dining space for the 200 pax.

[WisCruiser2]

We cruised on Coral last month for the first time, it's now my new favorite Princess ship! We really liked the size (but that being said, booked the Regal for next winter...) and layout. Only thing I didn't like was having the International Cafe next to the Casino but fortunately there didn't seem to be many smokers in the Casino when we used the IC.

 

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[LoriPhil]

Just back from B2B Alaska on the Coral - our favorite ship and itinerary. Love the Promenade Deck which is deep and continuous around the ship; the Atrium is 3 stories up to the Emerald deck where you find the Game Room (great large windows) and Library (great large windows and big comfy chairs and actual books); covered pool, Horizon court at the bow with great viewing and seat selection; international cafe (yay Coral!) and finally our favorite Wheelhouse configuration (big, large windows out to the Promenade Deck) of all the Princess Ships. Excellent!

[nukesubsailor]

I would choose the Coral Princess. It has fewer passengers. It has the Bayou Cafe specialty restaurant. It has the musical production stage show "On The Bayou" with great music. The ship also has great viewing decks for the Alaskan scenery.

[CineGraphic]

1 more vote for the Coral...she's one of a kind!

[notalandlover]

I appreciate everyone taking the time to read and respond to this post. I will be booking the Coral.

[Eagle_and_hawk]

First choice would be the Coral as sailed on her two trips though the Panama Canal and once on the Southbound Alaska route. Second choice would be the Golden as we really like that ship too, as Skywalkers is a nice place to be during the day.

 

 

We can't say anything definitive about the Island, other than knowing the Coral like we do, we don't think we would like it for any trip after the drydock.

[jr8934]

Another vote for Coral.. We board her July 18th!