IC on Coral/Island?

[IECalCruiser]

We are currently on the Coral and I heard from two reliable sources that the Coral will get an IC during her January drydock. It would be located in part of the area that is currently the Casino Bar on Fiesta deck. Has anyone heard this information or is it just a pipe dream?

[caribill]

We are currently on the Coral and I heard from two reliable sources that the Coral will get an IC during her January drydock. It would be located in part of the area that is currently the Casino Bar on Fiesta deck. Has anyone heard this information or is it just a pipe dream?

 

You are the first person to post this on Cruise Critic.

 

Are your reliable sources officers (Captain, Hotel Manager, Food and Beverage Manager, etc.) or knowledgable staff (CD, Captain's Citcle rep, etc.) on the ship?

[Pia1913]

I'll be on the Coral at the end of October. Will try to get more info on this. For sure we'll be at the most traveled luncheon. so the knowledgeable folks will be there too.

[Phyljim]

We were on the Coral in April/May and in July/August this year.

 

We also heard the same rumors, gutting of the Atrium, complete redo there, and putting an IC where the casino is now.

 

But we also heard it was going to be just the usual refurbishment. Spruce everything up time.

 

Be interesting to see what happens.

[Pam in CA]

It's not going to be the usual refurbishment. :) I just pulled out my brand new, handy dandy Cruise Atlas and the Coral will be in dry/wet dock for three weeks. The "usual" is at most ten days. Something major is being done. Whether it's an IC, I have no idea but they don't schedule a drydock that long without some sort of major work.

[skynight]

My guesses would be that Deck 5 will be converted into a piazza with an IC like their other ships. The Circle Desk, Shore Ex., and Future Cruise Sales would be moved to Deck 7 in the area between the atrium and the Wheelhouse which is currently a display area, with nautical memorabilia. Maybe one of these, perhaps the Circle Desk, would be in the Starboard passageway alongside of the Wheelhouse, similar to it's placement on the Crown. Other possible placements for these service areas may include Deck 8 in the Card and game room area.

 

The Casino Bar area has a raised floor and could be separated from the Casino, but placement there would cause issues as an IC. Smoke from the Casino would be noticeable in the eating/lounge area. This would make it unpleasant as a food service, eating and lounging area and keep many passengers away.

 

Other possible changes, maybe do away with the Golf Simulator and change it into The Platinum Studio, and change the Princess Links into a Lawn Court. This has been done on other ships. Alfredo's?? Maybe in the Bayou Bar/Lounge area which is adjacent to Sabatini's Kitchen.

 

It's fun speculate. Will have to wait to see.

[IECalCruiser]

You are the first person to post this on Cruise Critic.

 

Are your reliable sources officers (Captain, Hotel Manager, Food and Beverage Manager, etc.) or knowledgable staff (CD, Captain's Citcle rep, etc.) on the ship?

One of my sources is one of the officers that should know what is being done. He asked us where we thought an IC could be installed and after we guessed wrong, he told us that it would be installed in part of the Casino Bar area which is too large and is unused space. The Coral's upcoming drydock is 20 days long. We were also told that the Horizon Court area would be remodeled. There was no mention of changes to the Piazza. In addition, one of our servers in the Bayou Cafe indicated that his contract had been extended from the end of December to the end of January to help support the drydock. As we have seen from prior drydocks such as the Star in 2008 and the Sapphire last year, not all planned modifications are completed for various reasons.

[caribill]

The Casino Bar area has a raised floor and could be separated from the Casino, but placement there would cause issues as an IC. Smoke from the Casino would be noticeable in the eating/lounge area. This would make it unpleasant as a food service, eating and lounging area and keep many passengers away.

 

 

The smoking issue is more than "unpleasant" as Princess no longer allows smoking where food is served. (On one ship we were not permitted to bring food (cookies) into an inside area where smoking was allowed.)

 

I also wonder where they would create a seating area for the IC near the casino as the IC is not just a food dispensing area, but also an area where it is consumed.

[IECalCruiser]

Other possible changes, maybe do away with the Golf Simulator and change it into The Platinum Studio, and change the Princess Links into a Lawn Court.

This change has already been made.

[IECalCruiser]

The Casino Bar area has a raised floor could be separated from the Casino, but placement there would cause issues as an IC. Smoke from the Casino would be noticeable in the eating/lounge area. This would make it unpleasant as a food service, eating and lounging area and keep many passengers away.

At least on the Coral, we have never had an issue with smoke odor from the Casino as we walked by. I do see a problem with seating.

[runnerodb83]

It's not going to be the usual refurbishment. :) I just pulled out my brand new, handy dandy Cruise Atlas and the Coral will be in dry/wet dock for three weeks. The "usual" is at most ten days. Something major is being done. Whether it's an IC, I have no idea but they don't schedule a drydock that long without some sort of major work.

 

Pam, I don't have the atlas. Can you tell me what dates they are so I can update my website? Thank you.

 

Nevermind found it.

So the island may be within a year after that to get similar upgrades. GIven that the Piazza on the Royal has grown out of the atrium, i would imagine the next round of major upgrades to the fleet will extend the piazza "feel" beyond the atriums.