Princess Ship Debate - But with tweens in an Interior!

[Suzie231]

Hi, looking to take our  10 year old kids on an Alaska North (or Southbound) Princess cruise in Summer 2020.  I'm debating Princess Coral and Royal. I've read a lot of threads, and I understand that the Coral is preferred by many on this board due to the Promenade Deck and the smaller capacity.  We need to book an interior room (due to budget 😞) , so I think that the Promenade deck will come in handy!  However, I spoke with a travel agent, and she recommended the Royal. She said that her older clients prefer the Coral, and the younger ones prefer the Royal. At 50, I don't know if I'm young or old!  She might be thinking about the kids.... Opinions?  PS. I'm super stressed about fitting four of us in an interior cabin.  If anyone has survived this experience, would love the vote of confidence!  Only other family cruise was with Disney Carribbean with balcony.  TIA!

[frugaltravel]

In Alaska it is all about the destination and not the ship. Coral has way more options for being outside scenery and glacier viewing which you want more so being in an inside cabin.

 

Princess southbound cruises are superior to their northbound cruises because they visit both Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier.

[Suzie231]

Thanks!  Interesting that you mentioned the itinerary.  I picked Princess because of Glacier Bay.  Also read good things about College Fjord.  A lot of posters recommended going north "as the scenery just gets better".  But your vote is Southbound to experience Hubbard over College Fjord?  Thanks!

[Wishing on a star]

Look at the nice, larger,  OV cabins on Deck 6, just off the casino, if you choose the Coral.

The Royal will be a bigger, newer, ship, with better amenities.

But, really, for Tweens,  not sure any Princess ship will be any better than the other.

I would choose based on which ship you, as the adults who are planning to cruise Alaska, would prefer.

 

We sailed the Coral to Alaska,  and recently sailed the Regal.

Very different ships/experiences, for sure!

 

PS:  I can't offer you any good advice or encouragement about the whole family in one interior or OV...

I simply could not do that.  

But, to each their own!

 

 

[Wishing on a star]

I agree about the Southbound being the best itinerary, for most all cases.

And, with that, very highly recommend a tour of Prince William Sound/College Fjord, and the glaciers just before boarding the Princess ship.   So, yes, it is possible to see some of College Fjord and 'Surprise Glacier' when doing the Southbound...  That was amazing, being in a boat, with the really up close and personal viewpoint.

 

Edited January 24, 2019 by Wishing on a star

[skynight]

Here you go. My opinion. I don't think you will be sorry with either.

Coral

Indoor pool

More upper deck viewing areas, including The Conservatory above the indoor pool and areas on decks 15, 16 10 and 11 where you can get standing bow views.

Full promenade deck for viewing, sitting and walking.

Forward view buffet area.

Universe Show Lounge, Explorer's Lounge, Wheelhouse Bar for evening entertainment.

Alfredo's lunch in Sabatini's on some sea days.

Small International Cafe.

2,000 passengers

Royal

One pool for use by youth, one adult pool both outdoors

No promenade, but 4 decks on the promenade level with padded lounge chairs

Largest and best buffet in the fleet with lots of youth friendly selections like a taco bar.

Sit down waiter served pizza and other menu items at Alfredo's, open every day 11am to 11pm.

Limited side viewing areas on the upper decks, nice aft viewing area on the Horizon Terrace

Larger youth center, but more passengers, 3,600.

Large Piazza area.

Vista Show Lounge, nice but not as nice as the Universe Lounge.

Princess Live, used for many cruse staff activities, but not as nice as Explorer's Lounge.

On the Royal you may be able to afford an obstructed view balcony, take a look.

Anytime Dining is easier on the Royal. Also, more dining selections youth may enjoy.

 

Edited January 24, 2019 by skynight

[h-sar]

We did an interior for a 12 day Med cruise on the Regal when our kids were 15 and 17 due to financial reasons (flights were $1500 each!) and because we know we’d be in ports for much of the time. Was totally fine. Helped that DH liked to work out early in the morning and would use the shower in the gym area. 

[Potstech]

I know you mentioned cost but with that age children I would seriously consider a larger cabin.  Ocean View Obstructed at minimum. Think of all of you slerping, dressing and showering in a small bedroom and dor 7 days.

Edited January 24, 2019 by Potstech

[SusieS]

We’re a family of 4, & we’ve taken 13 cruises with Princess, all in inside quads! We’ve been doing this since the kids were toddlers, & they’re now 20 & 24. This has been the only affordable option for us, & it has allowed us to see the world as a family. Grateful...!

 

[memoak]

You can't go wrong with the Coral a wonderful size ship

[Coral]

I am younger than you and would choose the Coral Princess in a heart beat over the Royal Princess. I sailed the Coral to Alaska in 2003 and it was amazing.

 

The Royal Princess would be the last ship I would choose. Well, not last one but the last Princess ship I would choose. There are some big RCCL and NCL ships I would not choose either.

Edited January 24, 2019 by Coral

[cjpj]

Consider 2 interior cabins. Depending on how much you are paying for 3rd and 4th passenger and any OBC you get, it might not be much more. Book yourself and one child in one room and your spouse and other child in the other cabin. You can even get a connecting cabin and essentially have one cabin for the kids and one for you.  The extra bathroom and space would be worth it if the price difference isn't much.

[Coral]

4 minutes ago, cjpj said:

Consider 2 interior cabins. Depending on how much you are paying for 3rd and 4th passenger and any OBC you get, it might not be much more. Book yourself and one child in one room and your spouse and other child in the other cabin. You can even get a connecting cabin and essentially have one cabin for the kids and one for you.  The extra bathroom and space would be worth it if the price difference isn't much.

This is a great idea. Sometimes, it doesn't cost that much more.

[Thrak]

Coral Princess has Fore and Aft viewing decks on Baja and Caribe decks which would be a huge plus for Alaska. Coral also has the old style WIDE Promenade deck which we love. Royal doesn't have the viewing decks and it doesn't even have a Promenade deck that goes all the way around - let alone the wonderful wide Promenade that is on Coral.

[Suzie231]

Thank you everyone!  I was gone for a few hours and came back to so many helpful replies.  Coral it is!  And I'm going to consider going Southbound now.  LOVE the idea of two interior cabins!  Ran the numbers and it's super close. I completely missed that.  Going to contact my travel agent asap.  Thank you!!

[hllwdcruiser]

Alaska is ALL about the scenery and very little about the ship.

I don't need to repeat what others have said already, skylight gave an excellent detailed description of each ship.

Although I haven't been on the Royal, we are sailing on her sister ship, the Regal next month for the 3rd time. The Regal is fine for the Caribbean - there just isn't that much to see between ports. I would not recommend the Royal class for Alaska. I don't think that the ship offers enough additional kid friendly venues or entertainment to make it a better choice for you.

The Coral will give you excellent viewing opportunities from all around the ship. We chose the Coral for Alaska and had an aft cabin on the Emerald Deck. We spent most of our days on the aft public decks, the promenade and the upper decks.

We kept our TV on most of the time while we were in the cabin, listening for wildlife announcements and would then dash out to the aft decks to watch dolphins playing in the wake, pods of whales and even a moose swimming from one shore to another.

If you can, grab an interior near one of the aft or forward decks. It's almost like you have your own private balconies. Deck 10 (Caribe) has a great aft deck. Save your money for awesome excursions. Be sure to go on the Alaska Ports of Call on this site for recommendations for ones that are especially child friendly.

In short, Alaska is the entertainment. And I agree with those who suggest Southbound is a better choice.

 

[cruisequeen4ever]

Don’t do the Coral!! I know most recommend it on here, but for your kids’ sake, do the Royal! It’s way more exciting for them and full of activity. I say this as a 30 something whose favorite thing in the world is cruising and who has sailed the Coral’s sister ship as well as  the Royal multiples times. The ONLY cruise I have ever been bored on was the sister ship of the Coral to Alaska! I love the Alaska cruises; we have done many of them, but that class of ship is designed more for calm scenery viewing, not games and fun. There isn’t even a nightclub. You can still have great views on the Royal while making the experience lightyears more fun for your kids! 

 

As for the directiobal debate, if you’re going to spend time exploring Alaska on land, Southbound is better, but if you’re just doing the cruise, I recommend doing Northbound because the scenery gets better and better the further north you get until you reach the gorgeous glaciers. It’s a finale type ending to the cruise.

[Wishing on a star]

 

Yes, the Royal is bigger and has more to offer...  But, seriously, I don't think that the differences are anything that would appeal to Tweens anyhow.

 

Heck, I just sailed on the Regal, with all that it has to offer...  My son was STILL bored.  We LOVED all of the additional offerings, the entertainment (EXCELLENT!), the vibe.   But, our son,  not so much...  All the additional venues are still geared for adults. (not even teens or younger adults).

 

To the original poster...  As you make your own personal choice...

Do be aware that the Coral is a much smaller, and older, ship, and will be much, more, more low-key.

 

Unfortunately, the one drawback for us on the Coral was the lack of a nice alternative steakhouse.

The one Cajun type restaurant wasn't worth our time or the extra expense.  

Edited January 25, 2019 by Wishing on a star