Coral vs. Island Princess

[Monkeycat]

Cruising through Panama Canal November 2018. Which ship to choose and why.

 

Thanks!

[GweninTX]

Coral is the only choice! They retrofitted the Island and chopped her up badly! Added lots of cabins and did not realize how much it would impact the buffet & theater. I will never cruise the Island again, but loved the Coral! Great size ship that is the perfect size!!

 

 

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[tamsocal]

agreed- I have been on both multiple times. we had a good cruise last month on Island but I only booked because I had no other option for what I was trying to achieve.

 

for Panama Canal- I would want the public areas that were removed. You risk having over crowding because more passengers are likely to be on the Island vs Coral.

 

If you choose Island- I would only go with traditional dining- the increase of passengers places potential for DR waits- they did not add DR space

[Colo Cruiser]

Cruising through Panama Canal November 2018. Which ship to choose and why.

 

Thanks!

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2472869&highlight=island+princess+good

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2520125&highlight=island+princess+good

[Thrak]

Coral all the way. Coral is one of my favorite ships. Island is one I will sail if no other Princess ship is doing the itinerary I want at the time I want but that's the only reason I'd book Island. I've sailed both and was not pleased with what had been done to Island.

[Eagle_and_hawk]

The Coral would be my first choice for any cruise. We have sailed on her two times through the Panama Canal and will be sailing in Alaska in a few weeks.

 

We have not been on the Island, and doubt we ever will as when I walk around the Coral, and think about the area's they changed & the additional people, I doubt we would enjoy it as much.

[skynight]

Coral for sure. 200+ less passengers. More public space. More upper deck viewing areas. DR's less crowded. Universe show lounge. International cafe. 360 degree promenade.

[golfb4cruzing]

We did the Canal aboard the Coral last November and it is our favorite ship now. Smaller ship, smaller casino, great service and the covered pool area was our group hangout. We would use her if possible every trip.

[Monkeycat]

Thank you so much! I will talk to my TA about switching to the Coral. We are booked on Island right now and I'm hesitant to keep this reservation after reading so many negatives about this ship since it was renovated.

[hpeabody]

Thank you so much! I will talk to my TA about switching to the Coral. We are booked on Island right now and I'm hesitant to keep this reservation after reading so many negatives about this ship since it was renovated.

 

Good decision! Coral :) Island :(

[brucedodge]

Coral is a wonderful ship. Island used to be.

[CineGraphic]

Coral!

 

 

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[RSF Cruiser]

I have done the full transit on both ships, and I will be the lone voice for the Island! We stay in an aft Vista Suite on the Aloha deck. The Coral does not have any fully aft suites. The aft suites on the Island, especially on the upper decks - Aloha - are incredible. The largest, nicest furnished Vista Suite we have ever stayed in, and the balcony is spectacular. There are many reviews about the IsIand post remodel. There are fewer public spaces, but we didn't notice that to be a problem. The Horizon Court was i credible in layout and food selection - better layout that any of the other Princess ships we've been on. We went over the winter holidays, so the ship was very full, and we had no problems with crowds. Which is the better ship really depends on your priorities. For us it is the cabin, and the Island is our favorite ship, hands down.

 

 

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[Monkeycat]

Thank you, RSF Cruiser. Your review was very helpful. Our number one priority is the cabin also. We have reserved a Premium suite, aft, on the Baja Deck. Good to hear that you enjoyed the Island Princess and the suite you were in. All the negative reviews of the Island have made me second guess our choice of ships. Thanks again!

[matadams4u]

I agree having the full promenade and a gym with an ocean view plus having an ic enhance the cruise. I definitely felt those changes diminished the experience of my Canal cruise.

 

 

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[mdgary]

Thank you, RSF Cruiser. Your review was very helpful. Our number one priority is the cabin also. We have reserved a Premium suite, aft, on the Baja Deck. Good to hear that you enjoyed the Island Princess and the suite you were in. All the negative reviews of the Island have made me second guess our choice of ships. Thanks again!

 

 

 

We were on the Island for the full canal transit shortly after the refit and we truly enjoyed the ship and did not feel crowded with the addition of the extra cabins/passengers. While not in a suite we did have one of the new aft view cabins on Baja deck and would book it again. The only complaints we heard was from those with anytime dining and the waiting time. We wished the ship had the International Cafe but other than that no complaints.

 

 

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[OCruisers]

Coral is a wonderful ship. Island used to be.

 

Exactly! (y)

[Monkeycat]

Thanks to all that have replied! It has helped a lot with our decision on which ship to choose. Have been wanting to do the full Panama for a long time. Been on Princess cruises before, and love them, but the choice of ships for the time we want to go on this cruise has been a difficult. Appreciate all the input.

[Thrak]

The only real issues we had with Island princess were the loss of the aft viewing areas, the lack of IC, the loss of the aft portion of the Promenade deck, the loss of the Universe Lounge, and the fact that we kept heading aft and "running out of ship" when we got to where there used to be public spaces. It just felt totally truncated. We don't use the gym so the fact that it was moved to an inside location with no ocean views didn't impact us although it would certainly be a huge issue for us if we did use the gym. We had fixed time dining so didn't experience any extra wait time like those in Anytime Dining have reported. The ship didn't feel especially extra crowded (which surprised us).

 

Those issues may seem minor to some - especially those who booked the new aft cabins and absolutely loved them - but, for us, they were pretty big deals.

[lmcgrail]

We had a choice to either book the Island or the Coral for our Panama Canal cruise this October. We deliberately chose the Island (inset gasps from the anti-Island people) because of the aft suites. Coral was not even considered due to the lack of aft suites. If the Island had not been modified we would not be sailing Princess.

 

So to the OP, no matter which ship you choose, you will have a great time. Choose the ship that has the best cabin and best itinerary.

 

 

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[frugaltravel]

I chose the Island because it offered a two day PC experience. Did that in February. Way overcrowded for dining, theater, etc. Never again.

 

I would choose Coral, another ship or another cruise line.

[Wishing on a star]

Can't speak to the Island...

But, having sailed Alaska on the Coral, all the comments about the 'feel' of the ship, lack of crowding (crowding) etc... are correct!!!!

Maybe the square-ft. / staff/ passenger ratio.

I love a bigger ship, but there is a big difference between the Coral and a larger ship.

 

The food and service in the MDR were amazing.

 

What left a lot to be desired....

The pool area and unheated pools and barely-warm tubs in the covered pool in ALASKA!!!!!

The Buffet, in direct opposition to the MDR, was very very poor.

 

PS: we had one of the retrofit added picture window OV rooms in that hall beside the Casino.

Loved it!!! Higher ceiling, huge picture window, quiet, and so convenient to their mini-version of the International Cafe.

[mr green]

Coral all the way!

[mjrTom]

Cruising through Panama Canal November 2018. Which ship to choose and why.

 

Thanks!

Coral, Coral, Coral. We have sailed the Island 3x through the canal before the retrofit. If you have not gone on the Island before the retrofit it may not matter but the Coral's theater and promenade deck should be better. Make sure you are going through the old locks. We are looking forward going through the new locks on the Caribbean Princess next year

Enjoy :cool:

[Thrak]

We had a choice to either book the Island or the Coral for our Panama Canal cruise this October. We deliberately chose the Island (inset gasps from the anti-Island people) because of the aft suites. Coral was not even considered due to the lack of aft suites. If the Island had not been modified we would not be sailing Princess.

 

So to the OP, no matter which ship you choose, you will have a great time. Choose the ship that has the best cabin and best itinerary.

 

 

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Glad it worked for you but the vast majority of cruisers never sail in a suite so those new aft suites are only a "benefit" for very few passengers.