Review - Coral Princess - Panama Canal - 2008-02-25 to 2008-03-06

[reggielew]

Hi!

 

Thanks for your replies. Have a great cruise.

 

Reggie

[Colo Cruiser]

For a recent review, go to Trip Advisor where I posted my pre- and post-cruise review as Queenston. The hotel has been extensively renovated and is lovely, except for the points mentioned in that review.

 

 

Thanks. :)

[Colo Cruiser]

Thank you so much for your very helpful review! We are going on the 14 day Coral through the canal at the end of next January so this was a very informative review indeed.

 

I would just like to ask if you have any pointers re what to avoid? Sounds like there is not all that much on the Coral that needs avoidance! We have already booked and been confirmed for early traditional with two friends who are joining us from Kelowna, so the dining should not be an issue. Did you try Sabatini's on the Coral? We really enjoyed in on Emerald.

 

(Wonderful city, Halifax! You are so lucky to live in such a well appointed Atlantic port. And Dal is an amazing university.)

 

 

I agree try the Bayou Cafe, the surf/turf is excellent. :)

[bjkTX]

Carl & Brett - thanks for the review. We'll be doing the full transit on the Coral in just about a month after waiting 17 months. Your review got us even more excited than we already were :-)

 

Brian

[anniversary cruiser]

Thank you for the review we will be doing a full 10 day transit in November on the Coral - can't wait.

[pugdog]

Queenston we will be on board with you for that cruise. We are also really looking forward to the cruise.

[LARGIN]

I agree try the Bayou Cafe, the surf/turf is excellent. :)

 

As is their bread pudding :D

[ck53]

Thank you for the great review, we will be cruising to the Canal in October. We are also staying @ the Hilton Grande, the lowest price per night is $129, can't beat that for a newly renovated hotel.

 

Did you find one side of the ship better than the other? On another review it was mentioned portside the sun was in your face. I'm not sure this is troublesome as once you turn around everything was switched.

 

How was the entertainment?

 

Thanks again for the review and we're glad you had a wonderful time!

[Chicagocruiser919]

Hi!

 

We are planning to do the Panama Canal on the Island Princess in November. Are there any lectures or slide presentations, etc. onboard to familiarize the passengers with the history and the construction of the canal?

 

Thanks for all the previous information.

Reggie

 

The Coral Princess runs on the TVs in the cabins throughout the Panama Canal trip an excellent Biography documentary that covers the whole history of the Panama Canal.

 

Also, if you are willing to get up really early, the Horizon Court buffet dining room opens at 5:30 on the day of the Canal transit, which on our cruise started at 6:30 a.m. (because of the size of the cruise ships, they have to wait for daylight to enter the locks). If you get up to that dining room shortly after it opens, you can snag a table at the windows that overlook the bow of the ship and have a comfortable, cool place to watch the entire transit. It is especially interesting to watch the little locomotives tie up to the ship at each gate of the locks.

[DundasONT]

Thank you for the great review, we will be cruising to the Canal in October. We are also staying @ the Hilton Grande, the lowest price per night is $129, can't beat that for a newly renovated hotel.

 

Did you find one side of the ship better than the other? On another review it was mentioned portside the sun was in your face. I'm not sure this is troublesome as once you turn around everything was switched.

 

How was the entertainment?

 

Thanks again for the review and we're glad you had a wonderful time!

 

If you plan to sit on your balcony, pick starboard. You will get am shade going into the locks and pm shade returning. On the 10 day cruise, the side provided more afternoon days of shade (important for happy hour).

 

As others have mentioned, good viewing areas for and aft on decks 10 & 11. There was no need to get there at the crack of dawn as they weren't that crowded.