Our review of Coral Princess Roundtrip Panama Canal Cruise (Nov 9-20)

[Kerry&LuAnn]

Pre-Cruise Travel

 

We have learned that arriving at the departure city a day early has three distinct advantages: it reduces the stress of possible flight delays; it allows us to be refreshed for the start of our cruise; and it gives us the opportunity to board the ship as soon as possible.

 

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is one of the fastest growing airports in the country, perhaps due to the fact that Port Everglades is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. The airport is less than two miles from the Port Everglades cruise port, and our taxi driver told us that a direct tram between the airport and the cruise port is being constructed.

 

Port Everglades

 

Since welcoming its first cruise ship in 1931, Port Everglades has grown to become one of the busiest cruise ports in the world with 42 cruise ships from 13 premier cruise lines, featuring some 2,000 different cruises and over 3.5 million passengers annually. The port has a total of 11 modern cruise terminals, boasting more waiting area and air-conditioned baggage space than any port in the world. It is also the only cruise port in the country located directly adjacent to an international airport. Our ship for this cruise, the Coral Princess, was docked at Pier 21. (At the conclusion of our cruise we were docked at Pier 19.)

 

Along with the Coral Princess, other ships in port included Holland America’s Nieuw Amsterdam and Eurodam, Carnival Freedom, Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, and the Regal Princess.

 

Embarkation

 

We arrived at Pier 21 just before 12 noon and followed the sign for Preferred Check-in (one of the perks of Platinum status). We presented our boarding passes, received our cruise cards, completed the health form, and were walking up the gangway about 10 minutes after entering the terminal.

 

Our first stop before stepping foot on the ship was a quick and easy security procedure. The cruise card we were issued when we checked in at the terminal had encoded on it all of our cruise information, such as stateroom number and credit card information for onboard purchases. As we entered the ship, a crew member using a handheld device scanned the information from our cards, took our digital photograph, and then encoded that on our cards as well. To avoid demagnetization, we were careful to keep our cruise cards away from magnetic fields such as cameras and cell phones. The process took less than a minute, but it ensures that if we were to lose a card no one else could pick it up and use it to sneak on board. Safety is serious business aboard a cruise ship.

 

After being welcomed aboard by some of the ship’s crew, we headed directly to the Provence Dining Room, where lunch was being served from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. It was very pleasant to begin our cruise by enjoying a leisurely served meal in the un-crowded dining room rather than merge with the crowd of passengers descending on the Horizon Court buffet.

[Kerry&LuAnn]

Our Stateroom

 

After lunch we made our way to our stateroom. The 163 square feet of the standard inside cabin has always been quite adequate for the two of us, and the cost savings are significant. We had reserved a guaranteed inside cabin at the lowest rate category, which meant that we were not selecting a specific cabin but getting a guarantee for a cabin at that category or better. One week before our cruise we were notified that our cabin had been assigned, and we received a slight upgrade from an inside cabin to an outside obstructed view cabin. It was located mid-aft on Emerald Deck 8; at that location we did not feel rocking when the ship was moving, and we also noticed very little vibration from the ship’s engines. Our window to the outside was obstructed by one of the tenders, but it at least allowed some daylight into our room.

 

The odd-numbered staterooms are on the starboard side and the even-numbered rooms are on the port side. To help us quickly locate our room throughout the cruise, we remembered that the hallway carpets on the starboard side are trimmed in blue whereas the carpets on the port side are trimmed in red (port wine is red!).

 

The two twin beds in the room had been put together and made into a queen-sized bed. We think this is actually better than one queen size bed because when one person turns while sleeping it doesn’t disrupt the adjoining bed. The quilted foam top mattress was very comfortable.

 

The stateroom was nicely furnished and plenty spacious for the two of us, with enough storage space for all of our things. The bathroom and shower were small but adequate for us. Princess also provides the little extras you find in the best hotels: evening bed turn-down, chocolates on the pillow, body lotion, shampoo and conditioner.

 

Our stateroom was well maintained by our very pleasant steward. He was like some sort of ninja -- we would step out briefly, only to return and discover that our room had been cleaned, bed made, and towels replaced! We are always amazed at how efficiently, and without disruption, the stewards perform their jobs. With the number of staterooms each steward is assigned, they most definitely earn our respect and appreciation – not to mention our gratuities.

[Kerry&LuAnn]

Exploring the Coral Princess

 

After unpacking our luggage, we set out to explore the ship. Coral Princess is one of just two cruise ships in the Princess fleet specifically built to sail through the Panama Canal. This ship was built in France and registered in Bermuda. It was christened by Mireya Moscoso, President of Panama, and took its inaugural cruise on January 17, 2003. It was last refurbished in February 2013.

 

Our past cruises with Princess had been on the larger vessels in their fleet: Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Diamond Princess, and Sapphire Princess. Compared to the Caribbean Princess (which has 3082 guests, 1200 crew, and 19 decks), the Coral Princess is a bit smaller (1974 guests, 895 crew, and 16 decks). Still, the Coral Princess had all the venues we were familiar with, and we found the layout of the ship to be very easy to navigate. In addition to spacious public areas, there are also quite a few more cozy spaces and out-of-the-way areas. The décor of warm woods, brass, and glass with beautiful carpets and interesting works of art give the ship an elegant feel.

 

Gala Deck 4 is the lowest deck accessible to passengers, with the Medical Center located mid-ship.

 

On Plaza Deck 5, staterooms are located aft. The Atrium with its marble stairways and glass elevators, is located mid-ship. It is surrounded there by the Passenger Services, Shore Excursions, and Future Cruise Sales desks, along with the La Patisserie coffee bar. Forward of the Atrium is the Bordeaux Dining Room.

 

On Fiesta Deck 6 are some of the entertainment venues. Located aft is the lower level of the Universe Lounge, a multi-use room with three revolving stages, and then the Explorers Lounge, designed to evoke the wonders of the Far East and Africa. The Photo Gallery is located in the hallway across from the Explorers Lounge, and the International Café is located just outside the entrance to the Princess Casino. The shops are located mid-ship, overlooking the Atrium, and just forward of that is the Provence Dining Room.

 

On Promenade Deck 7 are the other entertainment and dining venues. Located aft is the upper level of the Universe Lounge, then the two specialty restaurants (Sabatini’s and the Bayou Café). Tucked in just beyond Sabatini’s are the Princess Fine Arts Gallery and the Wedding Chapel. At mid-ship are Crooners Bar, a 1960’s-style piano lounge overlooking the Atrium, and the Churchill Lounge cigar bar along the starboard side. Forward are the Wheelhouse Bar with its classical nautical theme and nice dance floor, and the Princess Theater. We discovered in the past that going outside on the Promenade Deck is often the quickest way to walk from one end of the ship to the other. The outside deck seemed wider in some places than other Princess ships, and it wraps completely around the ship making for a great place for some healthy outdoor walking.

 

On Emerald Deck 8 are staterooms forward and aft. Located mid-ship, surrounding the Atrium overlook, are a Cards and Game Room, a well-stocked Library, and an Internet Lounge. Although there are several computers available, we usually used our personal laptop computer or iPad for e-mail. Internet service is slow (depending upon satellite connections), so to maximize our limited allotment of minutes we would compose emails offline, log in, send and download emails, and then log out. One thing we paid attention to was that our time on the internet didn’t stop because we shut down the iPad or went off-line. Our times ended when we purposely logged out of the ship’s wi-fi service.

 

Dolphin Deck 9, Caribe Deck 10, and Baja Deck 11 have only staterooms and no public areas.

 

Out the back doors and the end of the hallways on Decks 8, 9, 10, and 11 are small decks that extend the width of the ship. On Decks 8 and 9, these spaces are about 4’ deep, but sufficient room for standing to enjoy the scenery. On Decks 10 and 11, the spaces are about 21’ deep and each deck has 16 lounge chairs.

 

On Aloha Deck 12, besides the staterooms, the Youth Center and Teen Center are located aft.

 

On Lido Deck 14 (hey, what happened to Deck 13?) are the Sanctuary (which is also on the deck below), the Fitness Center, and the Lotus Spa. Located mid-ship is the covered adults-only Lotus Pool with a pair of hot tubs. Forward of that is the Ice Cream Bar and then the open Lido Pool where games, live music, and “Movies Under the Stars” take place. Continuing forward we pass the Pizzeria and then enter the Horizon Court buffet at the front of the ship with panoramic windows on three sides. This arrangement is different from the grand class of Princess ships we have been on in the past, where the Horizon Court buffet is at the rear of the Lido Deck and the Fitness Center is at the front and up on the Sun Deck.

 

On Sun Deck 15, besides the outside deck covered with loungers, the upper level of the Sanctuary is at the back of the ship and the Princess Links miniature golf is located just past the pool area and before the large movie screen. There’s also a bar and grill on this deck.

 

On Sky Deck 16 are spaces for shuffleboard and basketball, as well as a small splash pool. (There are a total of 4 pools and 5 whirlpool spas on this ship.)

[Kerry&LuAnn]

Sail Away

 

The “muster drill” was scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Before the ship leaves port, all passengers must attend a general emergency exercise at their designated General Emergency Stations. This exercise is a requirement of law. At the start of the exercise, alarms were sounded and broadcasts made, calling us to our Muster Station as indicated on the notice on the back of our stateroom door. (All muster stations are inside public lounges.) Passengers were asked to carry their life jackets with them but not put them on, and to be sure to have their cruise cards with them as well. We proceeded to our station where crew members with the handheld devices scanned our cruise cards to make sure everyone was present and accounted for. Safety instructions were then given, along with a demonstration of how to put on the life jackets. In a few minutes we were finished and on our way back to our stateroom.

 

Even though we had been onboard for a few hours, sail-away is the official start to our cruise vacation. The lines were pulled in, the ship’s horn blasted, and we could feel our excitement grow as the vessel glided away from the pier and started to pick up steam. (The ship’s horn of the Regal Princess, which was leaving at about the same time, blasted out the opening notes to the theme from TV’s “Love Boat” – very fun!). As we pulled out of the channel, on the port side of the ship the residents of the condominiums on the shore across from us were waving, shouting greetings, waving flags, ringing cowbells, and blowing air horns to wish us bon voyage. One by one all of the cruise ships made their way out of the harbor and proceeded on their respective itineraries.

 

Our Captain and Crew

 

The Coral Princess was under the command of Captain Karl Austin. Born in Poole, England, on the shores of one of the largest natural harbors in the world, Austin developed a fondness for the sea. So it was only natural for him to embark on a Deck Officer cadetship with Princess Cruises. Convinced this was the career path for him, Austin later studied at the Nautical College in Warsash near Southampton. After earning his Master's Certification in 2000, he returned to Princess Cruises to work his way up through the ranks. His first senior appointment was as Staff Captain of Golden Princess in 2005. As fate would have it, Karl met his wife Sarah onboard an Alaskan cruise, and the two now reside in the United States when not onboard.

 

The bridge, the ship’s headquarters which spans out like wings at the front of the vessel, is staffed around the clock by at least four crew members who assist the captain. But they have more than their knowledge of the high seas to point them in the right direction. The Coral Princess is outfitted with a state-of-the art device called the Navigation and Command System or NACOS. At the start of each voyage, the crew programs the ship’s intended course into the NACOS computer. It’s a lot like the autopilot on an airplane, so when the sea is calm the captain barely has to lift a finger. The ship can literally be taken from one port of call to the next in a completely automated fashion. It can also compensate for tides, currents, and winds to make sure the ship always arrives at its next scheduled port of call on time. But it’s not all hands-off steering. When it comes to avoiding a crash or getting a ship in or out of port, the captain takes charge by putting the ship into manual drive.

 

Because the ship is at sea for long periods of time, everything that happens on the ship has to be taken care of within the realm of the ship itself. For example, the ship produces its own water supply. Through a process called desalinization, several thousand tons of sea water are transformed each day into water fit for drinking, by removing salt and adding rich minerals inside enormous tanks. Half of the water is used to cool the ship’s massive machines, and the rest of it is used by passengers and crew for drinking, washing, and splashing. And a fully automated laundry house below deck has several dozen machines to clean, press and fold thousands of pounds of linen a day.

 

Considering the number of passengers and the amount of activity on the ship every day, it is remarkable how sparkling clean it appears everywhere. Unless up wandering around late at night, most passengers would not be aware of the hard work of the night crew cleaning and polishing. It would not be unusual to see crew members cleaning vigorously under railings and tables, in places likely even supervisors would not check too carefully. They clearly take great pride in doing work thoroughly and well.

 

Every crew member we encountered throughout the cruise greeted us enthusiastically and made us genuinely feel welcomed aboard the Coral Princess.

 

Our Cruise Director

 

Bob Leininger graduated from University of Iowa with a degree in Radio and TV Production in 1986. A week after graduation he began working on cruise ships as a disc jockey. Since then, he worked his way from Disc Jockey and Shore Excursions Manager to Broadcast Manager, Assistant Cruise Director and Cruise Director. Although Bob has spent most of his time in the Caribbean and Alaska, he has also cruised to the Mediterranean, Rio De Janeiro, Australia, and New Zealand, and he has also written a fascinating book about his career on cruise ships. When Bob is not onboard, he helps his wife with “Free 2 Be Me Dance,” a dance program for children with Down syndrome. He also enjoys travelling on his Harley Davidson and has logged over 300,000 miles, including three full United States cross country trips and one trip up to Alaska. In all of the cruises we have taken, Bob Leininger is the best cruise director we have ever experienced. As emcee for various events and productions, he has a terrific voice, great stage presence, and easy sense of humor. Throughout the cruise, Bob could be found interacting with passengers in various public areas; he was very accessible, warm and friendly. He seemed to be genuinely interested in everyone he met.

[Kerry&LuAnn]

Dining

 

We appreciate the Anytime Dining feature because it allows us more flexibility in our dining schedule. We aren’t limited to eating at a fixed time, and can enjoy eating by ourselves at a table for two or with others at a large table. Anytime Dining took place in the Bordeaux Dining Room, offering dinner between 5:30 and 10:00 p.m. Actually, we discovered that the dining room opened its doors at 5:15 p.m., which is usually when we arrived. At that time, we were seated immediately. Because there were so many who wanted the Traditional Dining option (fixed seating time and assigned table), half of the Bordeaux Dining Room was designed for Traditional Dining until 7:30 p.m. Consequently, guests arriving at the Bordeaux Dining Room after 6:00 p.m. would usually have to wait with a pager until seats opened up. But, as we mentioned, when we arrived at 5:15 p.m. we were always seated immediately.

 

The Provence Dining Room was completely Traditional Dining for dinner, with fixed seating times and assigned tables. There are also two specialty restaurants – Sabatini’s (Italian) and the Bayou Café and Steakhouse (with New Orleans cuisine), but a cover charge applies.

 

In the Provence Dining Room, breakfast is served daily from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. and lunch from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. It was wonderful to indulge in gourmet cuisine, served in an elegant, comfortable setting. We had the pleasure of dining with different people at each meal and enjoyed the variety of conversations. We had several different servers throughout the cruise, and every one of them was professional, gracious, and witty – making for a delightful dining experience each time.

 

At dinner time, nine of the evenings were designated smart casual, when passengers were asked to dress as they would for a fine restaurant back home: skirts or dresses, slacks, and sweaters for ladies; pants and open-neck shirts for men. There were two evenings for formal attire (nights 2 and 9). What constitutes “formal” can be a controversial subject on these message boards, which prompted us to pay attention during one of the formal nights. There seemed to be a variety in men’s attire. For instance, of the four men at our table one wore a tuxedo, one had a dark suit, one had a sport coat with no tie, and one had a shirt and tie with no coat. Everyone seemed comfortable with his own attire, and no one at the table was concerned with what the others were wearing. Conversation was lively and pleasant, and we all enjoyed a great meal together.

 

For casual dining, the Horizon Court Buffet offers continental breakfast (5:00-6:00 a.m.), full breakfast buffet (6:00-11:30 a.m.), lunch buffet (11:303:30 p.m.), light snack (3:30-5:30 p.m.), and themed dinner buffets (5:30-11:00 p.m.). The International Café has complimentary sandwiches, salads, and pastries 24 hours. Free soft serve ice cream is available at the Ice Cream Bar on Lido Deck 14 midship from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. There is also the Grill on Sun Deck 15 forward for grilled hot dogs, burgers, chicken patties, and fries (11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.); and the Pizzeria on Lido Deck 14 forward (11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.). Complimentary gourmet pizza is offered at Alfredo’s (at Sabatini’s) on Promenade Deck 7 aft from 11:30 to 2:00 p.m. daily. And, of course, there is 24-hour room service.

 

Afternoon tea (3:30 to 4:30 p.m.) is a delightful experience with white-gloved service, petite sandwiches and desserts, scones with clotted cream and jam, tea and fresh brewed coffee.

[Kerry&LuAnn]

Show Time!

 

Spectacular shows are a hallmark of every cruise with Princess. We enjoyed some excellent stage shows which were written, costumed and choreographed exclusively by Princess. They included “Motor City” (highlighting the music of Motown), “What A Swell Party” (featuring songs from the Cole Porter era of the 1920s), and “Dance” (a musical journey highlighting the many styles and forms of dance) in the beautiful Princess Theater. By far, our favorite was “On the Bayou,” a New Orleans jazz musical story presented in the Universe Lounge.

 

A couple of notes about the theaters might be helpful. When we were on the larger Princess ships, the theater had exits at both the upper and lower levels. The Princess Theater on the Coral Princess only has exits on the upper level. So, while sitting down front for the shows was highly enjoyable, it meant waiting a while longer to exit. As for entering the theater, the main hallway leads directly to the right side, so that is where the majority of people went in. We found that by going over to the left side, we were able to get into the theater quicker and find more readily available seats. As for the two-level Universe Theater, railings in the balcony seating area and large pillars near the back of the main floor seating area presented some visual obstructions. So, for the best viewing, it was important to arrive early and get a seat in the center section on the main floor.

 

Other entertainers during the cruise included an outstanding performance by singer Bobby Brooks Wilson with a tribute to his father, the late Jackie Wilson; fabulous saxophonist Craig Richard; hilarious comedians Scott Wyler (dry humor with lots of punch lines) and Gary Delena (comedy and musical impersonations); and amazing illusions by magician Alexander Great.

 

A couple of great dance bands played every evening in the Wheelhouse Bar (Rhapsody) and Explorers Lounge (Solutions), and piano entertainer Barrington Brown played show tunes in Crooners Lounge. The atrium was often filled with the relaxing music of a pianist or string trio.

 

Movies Under The Stars

 

The Caribbean Princess was the first modern cruise ship to ever replicate a drive-in movie scenario with what they call M.U.T.S. “Movies Under The Stars” (or “Movies Under The Sun,” depending on the time of day). This concept, which has become an iconic offering for Princess Cruises and is now offered on other ships, came about from seeing the giant video screen in Times Square. When it was first introduced, some people thought the cruise line was crazy, but they made it happen with phenomenal success. Day or night, the image on the screen is clear and brilliant. And with marvelous engineering, the surround sound that fills the viewing area doesn’t carry over into the other areas on deck. For the evening movies, the deck crew sets out special padded coverings for the lounge chairs and offers complimentary popcorn.

 

During our cruise, the movies included “The Princess Bride,” “Non-Stop,” “On the Town,” “Mamma Mia!,” “Edge of Tomorrow,” “The Proposal,” “Godzilla,” “Hitch,” “The Fault in Our Stars,” “Draft Day,” “Big,” “Top Gun,” “Maleficent,” “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” “Some Like It Hot,” “Back to the Future,” and “Million Dollar Arm.” Concerts presented on the big screen included “Barry Manilow: Music and Passion,” “Billy Joel: Live at Shea Stadium,” James Taylor: Live at the Beacon Theatere,” “Tom Jones: Live from Cardiff Castle,” “Stevie Wonder: Live at Last,” “Pink: Live in Melbourne,” “Sheryl Crow: Live,” “The Killers: Live at the Royal Albert Hall,” “Beyonce: Live from Wembley,” “Coldplay: Live 2012,” “Take That: Live at Wembley Stadium,” and “U2: Vertigo.” Several NFL football games were also shown.

 

There were also movies shown in the Princess Theater and Universe Lounge (comfortable seats and air conditioning!): “The Grand Gudapest Hotel,” “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” “Edge of Tomorrow,” “Jersey Boys,” “Chef,” “Godzilla,” “The Fault in Our Stars,” “Begin Again,” “Million Dollar Arm,” “Maleficent,” and “Boyhood.”

 

Onboard Activities

 

There was a seemingly unending array of activities available from early morning to late night, with something for everyone. These included trivia contests, games, scavenger hunts, bingo, art auctions, fitness classes, ballroom and line dance classes, arts and crafts, and a variety of enrichment seminars. Our favorites were the port talks by the informative and humorous Port Lecturer Chris Roberts; musical history by Piano Entertainer Barrington Brown; and understanding the mind and personalities by Glora Auchey from the Success Institute of America.

[OCruisers]

Enjoying reading your excellent review! :)

LuLu

[lalabaster]

Wow, what an assume review. I can't wait to get on the ship.

[windsor26]

Thanks for the review Matches everything we found so good when we did the Panama on the Island Princess

[Darcy15]

Really enjoying your review :)

 

I'm booked on this cruise next year so hoping to get some tips :D

 

Thank you for all your effort :)

[Kerry&LuAnn]

Having cruised to several Caribbean islands and twice to Alaska, this opportunity to cruise to the Panama Canal was one that has long interested us. It was particularly exciting to experience this during the 100th birthday of the Canal.

 

First Port of Call: Aruba

 

After two sea days, the first port of call on this itinerary was Oranjestad, Aruba. Located just off the coast of Venezuela, Aruba is one of three islands called the “ABC” (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao) islands. They have a definite Dutch flavor as they have been closely tied to the Netherlands since 1634.

 

Aruba was part of the former Netherlands Antilles until its independence in 1986, and the Dutch influence lingers on this balmy Caribbean island. The island’s colonization by the Netherlands shows in Oranjestad’s Dutch colonial architecture, while the buildings’ bright colors are distinctly Caribbean. Aruba’s long and colorful heritage is reflected in its dialect. Called Papiamento, it combines elements of Spanish, French, Portuguese, Dutch, African and English.

 

More tourist-focused than its sister island Curaçao, the west coast of Aruba has a series of hotels, condominiums, restaurants and casinos drawing visitors from around the world. Aruba has more timeshares than any other island in the Caribbean and depends heavily on the tourist industry as almost everything has to be imported.

 

Aruba is less than 20 miles long and 6 miles across at its widest point. It is a flat desert-like island. The interior is dotted with cactus and windswept divi-divi trees (considered a natural compass as they point in a southwesterly direction due to the trade winds). The coast is made up of secluded coves and picture-perfect, powdery white sandy beaches.

 

After docking at the capital city of Oranjestand, passengers were allowed to disembark at about 8:00 a.m. (Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas will also be at this port today.)

 

When we were here two years ago we had contacted a local guide, Sonny Binns, for a tour of the island. Sonny is a Jamaican who has lived in Aruba for the past two decades. He knows the island well and speaks the local language. At one time he had worked as a guide with the big DePalm Tour Company, driving the large buses around the island. Then he decided to start his own independent operation. It was clear that he really enjoys showing visitors around the island. He provided an extensive amount of fascinating historical and cultural information, and he was always gracious, outgoing, and witty. Although the tour was supposed to be three hours in length, we were actually with Sonny for close to four hours. The tour was outstanding and we definitely got our money’s worth!

 

On this visit we decided to save the cost of a guided tour and just walk around a bit on our own. It is easy and safe to walk into Oranjestad. We came off Ruizstaat at the pier and walked a block to the main street named L.G. Smith Boulevard. Across the street was an open air market. Turning right, we walked to the Royal Plaza Mall and the Renaissance Mall. (There’s a Starbucks here with free wi-fi.) We poked around a few stores and then enjoyed a couple of warm pastechis (delicious half-moon pies filled with local meat and spices) and some locally-bottled Coca-Cola from a street-side vendor before returning to the ship. It was very hot and humid, which can be expected this close to the Equator! “All Aboard” was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and the Coral Princess departed at 7:00 p.m.

[Kerry&LuAnn]

Port of Call: Colombia

 

After another sea day, our second port of call was Cartagena, Colombia. One of the more interesting cities on our itinerary, Cartagena is steeped in history. Officially founded as s city in 1533, this was the transit port for all the wealth Spain derived from South America. Throughout Cartagena, the Spanish Empire’s influence in the New World is self-evident. Its fortress walls, quaint narrow streets, and balconied houses are all vivid reminders of Spain’s hold on Cartagena and throughout the Caribbean and South America. Cartagena’s well-constructed fortifications defended its borders against seafaring pirates whose attacks lasted for more than 200 years. Today this modern and bustling city, seaport, and commercial center still boasts much of its original colonial architecture. As we had been forewarned, we encountered numerous and aggressive vendors at various tourist locations. In fact, at our first stop, they congregated right at the door of our tour bus!

 

We docked in Cartagena at about 6:30 a.m. (The Celebrity Equinox and Norwegian Star were also at this port today.) Because the pier is in the middle of a cargo loading and industrial area, walking into town is not recommended. We had booked an excursion through Princess called “Highlights of Cartagena, Fortress and Las Bovedas” (CTG-100). In preparation for going ashore, we were asked to assemble in the Bordeaux Dining Room by 7:50 a.m.. Staff then directed us to the ship exit, and once on shore we were guided to a line of our buses. We simply had to spot the one marked for our particular excursion. This half-day tour via air-conditioned coach bus with a local guide left at 8:15 a.m. and returned at 12:45 p.m.

 

The first stop on our tour was Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas (Fort of San Felipe), the most important work of Spanish military engineering in South America. Majestically standing guard on a hillside overlooking the city and harbor, this fortress was built in the 17th century by the Spanish for protection against pirates while shipping gold out to Europe. Not only the largest Spanish fort in the New World, it is also practically impenetrable and has withstood attacks from English and French invaders as well as the test of time. On a 500-foot hill overlooking the fort is 400-year-old La Popa Monastery. We had about 40 minutes at the fort before continuing on by bus to Las Bóvedas (The Vaults), once a row of two dozen dungeons and now home to tourist shops. We had a few minutes here to see the handicrafts and works of art by local artisans, as well as visit Baluarte de Santa Catalina (Santa Catalina’s Bastion) atop Las Bóvedas for a spectacular view of the Caribbean Sea. Next we traveled to the famed Old City. This walled city is the historic center of Cartagena and a World Heritage site. Its narrow, winding streets lined with Spanish Colonial architecture display colorfully painted buildings, local bars and restaurants. Behind a charming, colonial façade at the Historical Museum of Cartagena (formerly known as the Inquisition Palace), a museum displays instruments of torture from the Spanish Inquisition. Begun in the 17th century, the Palacio de la Inquisición served as a prison and torture site for those souls that had committed sins against the church or were found with religious fault. It lasted until the 19th century when Spain lost her colonies in the New World. The museum also contains pre-Columbian, colonial and independence-era art. We then moved on to Iglesia de San Pedro Claver (the San Pedro Church), namesake of San Pedro Claver, a Jesuit in Cartagena who labored passionately on behalf of the slaves. He was so influential and revered that he was named the Patron Saint of Slaves by the Catholic Church (and the first saint canonized in the Western Hemisphere). Built in the 17th century, the church holds the remains of San Pedro Claver and displays beautiful statues, exquisite stained glass, and old-world furnishings. It has been named a national monument in Colombia and is an exemplary example of colonial church architecture. We continued from there to the Navy Museum, established in 1986 from the restored ruins of a Jesuit school. After seeing the historical artifacts relating to maritime life and naval history of Colombia, we were treated to a cultural demonstration of music and dance. The tour made a final shopping stop before returning to the pier at 12:45 p.m. Everyone will be expected to be onboard at 1:30 p.m. for a 2:00 p.m. departure from the port.

[Kerry&LuAnn]

Port of Call: Panama

 

The third port of call was the centerpiece of our cruise vacation, the engineering marvel called the eighth wonder of the world: the Panama Canal. The presentations by the Port Lecturer and screenings of Panama Canal documentaries in the days prior helped us to be better informed about what we would be witnessing.

 

The Coral Princess embarked the Panama Canal pilots at about 6:00 a.m., just after entering the Cristobal breakwaters, before proceeding toward the Gatun Locks. From that point onward, there was a narration by the ship’s Port Lecturer. The broadcast could be heard on the outside decks, inside the Horizon Court, as well as on the televisions in the staterooms. After a quick breakfast in the Horizon Court, we headed out to the front of the ship at 6:30 a.m. (about 15 minutes after sunrise) to witness the approach to the Canal. Most people gather up on Lido Deck 14, Sun Deck 15, or Sky Deck 16. We learned that by walking all the way forward on Deck 10 or Deck 11 we came to doors that open out onto decks on the bow, presenting unobstructed views at the deck railing. As we observed the bow of the Coral Princess approach the first chamber, it seemed unbelievable that the huge ship would actually fit! Each chamber has a useable length of 1,000 feet and a width of 110 feet. The Coral Princess is 965 feet long and 106 feet wide, so it is about the largest ship that can pass through the Canal.

 

The Gatun Locks have three chambers that raise the ship 85 feet from the level of the Atlantic to the level of Gatun Lake. The Coral Princess entered the first chamber at 7:30 a.m. When the ship entered the second chamber at 8:00 a.m., we moved to the aft deck on Emerald Deck 8 for a different perspective of the gates closing behind us and the change in water level. At 8:40 a.m. we entered the third and final chamber, at which time we headed down to Promenade Deck 7. It was incredible to be standing level with the ground within touching distance of the sides of the canal. Then we watched as the water entering the chamber raised us above the ground. Throughout the transit, each deck and each side of the ship offered their own unique views. At about 9:00 a.m. the Coral Princess exited the third chamber. At this time, an announcement was made for everyone on a Princess excursion to report to their designated disembarkation stations.

 

Once clear of the Gatun Locks, the Coral Princess proceeded into Gatun Lake. By 9:30 a.m. the ship was anchored and the tenders began transporting passengers for the Princess excursions. At 11:45 a.m., the Coral Princess hoisted anchor and retraced her route out of Gatun Lake and back through the Gatun Locks, exiting into the Caribbean Sea at about 12:45 p.m. Making her way along the coast, the Coral Princess docked at the port of Colon at about 4:00 p.m.

 

Meanwhile, we were among the first passengers tendered ashore for an excursion called “Panama Canal and Locks Transit by Boat” (PC1-615). We were able to experience the full wonder of the Panama Canal with a crossing of the canal by small tour boat on this daylong adventure. After tendering ashore to the Gatun Yacht Club, we boarded an air-conditioned bus for a one-hour narrated drive through the isthmus to the small village of Gamboa. Located on the banks of the Chagres River and the Panama Canal, Gamboa lies in the heart of Panama's 55,000-acre Soberania National Park, consisting of large tracts of lowland tropical rainforests.

 

From Gamboa, we embarked on our tour boat to transit the remaining portions of the Panama Canal. To experience the locks from a smaller vessel gave us a much different perspective than that from 15 decks up. Along with a supply of ice cold water and sodas, we were given a nice buffet lunch onboard. There were also clean and well-maintained restroom facilities. A narrator provided information along our journey. We cruised through the Gaillard Cut, an artificial valley that cuts through the continental divide in Panama. Construction of the cut was one of the great engineering feats of its time; the immense effort required to complete it was justified by the great significance of the canal to shipping, and in particular the strategic interests of the United States. After crossing the Gaillard Cut, our tour boat entered the Pedro Miguel Locks, which lowered our vessel 31 feet to Miraflores Lake. We then sailed across the lake to the Miraflores Locks. This is a two-stage lock that lowered our tour boat the final 54 feet, matching the level of the Pacific Ocean. The lock gates at Miraflores are the tallest of the three due to the extreme tidal variation that takes place in the Pacific Ocean; the tidal variation on the Atlantic coast is by far less. During the transit of the locks, a large container cargo ship was in the canal to our right, and our ferry boat shared our canal with a couple of other ferries, a catamaran, and a pair of sailboats. (To conserve water in the locks, several small vessels usually make the transit simultaneously.)

 

On the remainder of the trip to the Pacific, we passed beneath the Bridge of the Americas and saw the multicolored Frank Gehry Biodiversity Museum on the shore on the port side. Finally, we reached the dock at Balboa where we boarded an air-conditioned coach bus for the return cross-country drive to Colon. With everyone back on board, the Coral Princess sailed out of Colon at about 7:30 p.m.

[Kerry&LuAnn]

Port of Call: Costa Rica

 

We docked at the Port of Limon at 7:00 a.m. and passengers were allowed to disembark at 7:30 a.m. We had booked the half-day Princess shore excursion called “Train Ride, Tortuguero Canals and Banana Plantation” (LIO-600). After disembarking the ship, we boarded an air-conditioned bus for a 30-minute narrated drive through Limon. Many of Limon’s residents (including our tour guide) are descendants from Jamaica who had been brought here to build the railroad, and after it was completed, these Jamaicans stayed in the area to work on the cacao and banana plantations. Our first stop was a fascinating thirty-minute visit to a Del Monte Banana Plantation where we were guided into a field of banana plants and then shown the fruit processing operation.

 

Back on the bus, we passed by lush tropical forests, farms and small villages on a 30-minute drive to the dock at Pachira where we embarked on a 45-minute river safari in the Tortuguero Canals. This system of canals that links remote Barra del Colorado and Tortuguero with Puerto Limon, is part of the less-traveled Caribbean side of Costa Rica. From our small covered boat, our guide pointed out caiman in the water, sloths and bat colonies in the trees, and a many species of birds and waterfowl. Upon returning to the dock, we were treated to a buffet of delicious pineapple and watermelon, refreshing tangerine lime beverage, and Costa Rican coffee, while entertained by a live calypso band.

 

Our air-conditioned coach bus then took us to a train station, where we boarded a restored Open-Air Train for a for a 45-minute journey through the thick tropical forest. During some portions of the journey we moved along the floor of the forest, and at other times the route took us above the canopy. At one point the train stopped as we heard the eerie barking of howler monkeys echoing through the forest, and our tour guide directed our attention to a group of monkeys up in the trees. At the end of the train journey, we re-boarded our air-conditioned bus for a 30-minute trip back to the cruise ship pier, concluding our excursion at 12 noon.

 

Back at the port, there was a nice bazaar with a variety of crafts, souvenirs, and local products. The vendors were friendly and not at all aggressive, making for a very pleasant shopping excursion.

 

We chose the morning tour because we anticipated that the afternoon would be uncomfortably hot and humid. After lunch back on the Coral Princess, we had the rest of the day to relax on the ship. Everyone was expected to be back onboard by 5:30 p.m. for a 6:00 p.m. departure from the port.

[Kerry&LuAnn]

Port of Call: Jamaica

 

After another sea day, our final port of call was Ocho Rios, Jamaica. We arrived at about 8:00 a.m. and passengers were allowed to disembark at about 8:30 a.m. Jamaica is known for its blue-green mountains and sandy beaches, and the culture is affected by British, African, Spanish and Asian influences. Ocho Rios (Spanish for “Eight Rivers”) is situated on the northern coast. The area is famous for the spectacular Dunn’s River Falls. At about 180 feet high and 600 feet long, the waterfalls are terraced like giant natural stairs, along with some man-made improvements. Several small lagoons are interspersed among the vertical sections of the falls, and they are bordered by lush, green vegetation that shades the area from the sun. The falls empty into the Caribbean Sea at an attractive white-sand beach. Climbing the waterfalls is a popular tourist activity and takes 1 to 1½ hours. The climb can be relatively difficult and so it is usually undertaken as a hand-holding human chain led by an experienced guide. Fed by a natural spring, the water is refreshingly cold. For those not wishing to get wet or unable to manage the rocky terrain of the actual waterfall, there are stairs alongside. Everyone was expected to be back onboard by 3:30 p.m. for a 4:00 p.m. departure from the port.

[Kerry&LuAnn]

Disembarkation

 

After one final sea day, the Coral Princess returned to Port Everglades, docking at 7:00 a.m. at Pier 19. After we finished packing, we enjoyed our last leisurely served breakfast in the dining room (which was available from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m.). We took advantage of the Express Walk Off option, which meant that we simply carried our own luggage off the ship. At 7:30 a.m. we gathered our bags from our stateroom, proceeded down to Plaza Deck 5, had our cruise cards scanned and exited the ship by the gangway into the terminal. From there we rode the escalator down to the main floor of the terminal and followed the line of passengers going through the U.S. Customs checkpoint. By 7:45 a.m. we were on the curb outside the terminal where taxi cabs were lined up. We hopped in one and about 10 minutes (and $15) later we were walking into the Fort Lauderdale airport.

[Kerry&LuAnn]

Staying Healthy

 

During our cruise, as we traversed the ship we took the stairs and avoided the elevators whenever possible, figuring that over the course of the entire cruise the extra exercise would be helpful. And usually we got to our destination more quickly than waiting for the elevators. We also took the opportunity for some brisk walking outside on the Promenade Deck and tried to be disciplined enough to regularly visit the Fitness Center. That’s a great place to work out, with floor-to-ceiling windows, cardiovascular stations, and weight-strength training stations. We avoided touching hand rails and were religious about washing our hands and using the sanitizers. Whether by luck or common sense, we have never suffered any illness on any cruise.

 

We weren’t aware of any sicknesses on the Coral Princess. But ironically, while we were gone there was an outbreak of norovirus in the public schools back home. So, going on the cruise saved us!

[lalabaster]

Were you a journalist in a previous life. Your review is so thorough. 🐠

 

 

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[Kerry&LuAnn]

I'm booked on this cruise next year so hoping to get some tips.

 

Let us know if you have any specific questions about this cruise or the Coral Princess.

[Oren]

We are on this exact cruise in mid-February 2015 so your insights were terrific....Thanks...

[The Big Booper]

We were on the Explorer alongside you in Aruba. What was your take on that older ship tied up next to you? We were told that it belonged to the Church of Scientology.

 

Your review is extremely thorough and well written.

[Kerry&LuAnn]

We were on the Explorer alongside you in Aruba. What was your take on that older ship tied up next to you? We were told that it belonged to the Church of Scientology.

 

The ship is the Freewinds, a 440-foot vessel based in the Caribbean with the home port of Curaçao and frequently seen in Aruba. It is apparently used as a sort of religious retreat center by the Church of Scientology. Maybe Tom Cruise was aboard the ship, checking to see how many people were watching "Edge of Tomorrow" on the Coral Princess M.U.T.S. movie screen!

[lalabaster]

😛

 

 

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[The Big Booper]

Thanks.

Edited November 26, 2014 by The Big Booper

[naplesam]

Were you a journalist in a previous life. Your review is so thorough. 🐠

 

 

Maybe, but it seemed like I had read many of these words before somewhere.:D :rolleyes: