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A floating retreat, bound for exciting destinations
Island Princess is your own private retreat on the sea. Whether you crave relaxation or exhilaration, you'll find the soothing Lotus Spa®, live entertainment, gourmet cuisine, casino gaming and more. And for a special treat, try the Bayou Café and Steakhouse, which features New Orleans-inspired Cajun and Creole cuisine.
January, 2025 – Island Princess Review – Fort Lauderdale to LA via Panama Canal Overall Impressions of the Ship Overall, we were very satisfied with this cruise. The Island Princess was built in 2003 and last had a major refurbishment in 2017, with a smaller refurbishment more recently. We found her to be in very good condition. Prior to the cruise we had read some negative comments about air conditioning systems not working and about sewage smells in some areas of the ship. We found the air conditioning to be very effective and we were able to maintain a comfortable temperature of 71 deg F in our cabin, even during the hot and humid Panama Canal passage. We did find some sewage smells around the ship in various places, but they were not strong and tended to come and go. For instance, we smelt something outside of the Princess Theatre one evening, but it was gone by the next day. Cabin Our cabin was a “Reserve Class Mini-Suite” on deck 11 (Baja). We were very happy with the cabin. If you can afford it, we highly recommend going with an M1 (Reserve Class) cabin. The location was quiet and, being midships, had very little motion. The cabin was a good size and had a nice collection of American electrical plugs. For a complete cabin tour, including more information about electrical plugs, please see this YouTube video: https://youtu.be/7TCrKS2QvB4?si=vfa14Evv8pWpFCWE. Our cabin attendant Paul was very pleasant and attentive. He responded quickly to our requests and kept the cabin very neat and clean. The bed was comfortable, and we had good storage areas for our two-week cruise. A feature that we particularly liked was the “bump out” forward looking location of the balcony. The balcony is slightly smaller than others in this class, since it is at the front of the bump out section, but the advantage of the location is that you get a very good view looking forward when going through the Panama Canal. The bathroom is a bit dated and features a small bathtub/shower. It is quite a step up to get into the bath/shower and also the space is quite small, so you do end up fighting with the shower curtain. Replacement of this with just a shower, with a glass door, would be a nice improvement. Reserve Class Dining – Bordeaux Dining Room A much-appreciated privilege was having an area of the Bordeaux dining room dedicated to suite and reserve class passengers. Although a specific table was not dedicated for our use throughout the voyage (as was the case on a recent Cunard voyage), we were seated in the same area for all of our meals and had the same wait staff throughout the voyage. When arriving for meals we bypassed the line and were taken directly to our table. Service was available for breakfast and dinner on all days, as well as for lunch on sea days. The Maître de and wait staff were all very good and remembered our preferences. Enrichment Offerings On most days there were two enrichment presentations offered. One was at 10:00 AM and one at 11:00 AM. Both were in the Princess Theatre. The 10:00 AM was an astronomy/space travel lecture and was well attended. The 11:00 AM presentation was a port destination talk and was even more fully attended, to the point of being sold out. Both were very good, but it would have been nice to have had additional enrichment presentations, especially in the afternoon. The fullness of the theater during the offerings shows that there is the demand for these. Musical and Other Offerings There were a wide variety of musical offerings on board. The Princess Singers and Dancers were very talented and the stage show “On the Bayou” was particularly enjoyable to us. We enjoyed the piano players around the ship and especially enjoyed the music in the Wheelhouse bar, including some folk music that allowed us to sing along. Wifi Connectivity Wifi connectivity was very good. We had the Premier package which allowed us to each have up to four devices connected. One strange thing was that when I came to reconnect my phone I would find the system was thinking that I was connecting up a new device, so I had to tell it to “replace” an existing device through the app (i.e. one of the existing connections for the same phone). Easy enough to do once I figured it out. Food and Drink Generally very good. We especially enjoyed the food and service in the reserve class area of the Bordeaux dining room. On our 16-day cruise the menus were varied and interesting with a lot of variety. A nice thing about the portion sizes in the restaurant is that they are reasonable without being overwhelming, which is nice to help with weight control. One area that we actually found a bit disappointing was the steak house specialty restaurant. Our package included two specialty meals. We went to the steak house early in the cruise and, while the food was good, the atmosphere was definitely not that of an upscale restaurant, which is what Princess markets this as. It was quite loud and five times during our meal our conversation was interrupted by staff singing happy birthday. Unusually the buffet is in the bow of the ship, which made for a nice change and nice views out the window. Seats were easy to find, especially if you went to the side of the buffet that was closed. There were different themes each night and the food was good. The desserts were very good with nice small helpings so you might enjoy two without feeling that you were going overboard. One thing we did find annoying is that the Princess “premier” dessert portions are overwhelming large. A slice of cake was basically two very large slices of cake placed on top of each other. We also ordered some cookies from room service and thought we were getting one each. The order turned up with three extremely large cookies for each of us. A real waste of food and not necessary. We enjoyed the “Good Spirits” cocktail presentation. This is offered twice each evening and was fun and informative. It was quite quiet on the evening we attended, and was quite entertaining. Premium Package Information For our style of cruising the Premium package was very worthwhile. Everything that we would have spent money on board for was covered (gratuities, wifi, drinks, photographs, etc.). We also enjoyed having our pictures taken at the various photo stations available around the ship. All of the electronic copies we wanted were included in the package, and we could have had three 8X10 prints if we wanted them, at no extra charge. Between the reserve class cabin/dining and the premium package we felt that we got the best the ship had to offer. Pools and MUTS The ship had two main pools, the outdoor Lido pool and the enclosed Lotus pool. The outdoor Lido pool was larger, and often busier. When the MUTS (Movies Under the Start) screen was in use it was also very loud. Sporting events are shown as well as movies, but it was so loud as to be painful and we did not stay in that area. The Lido pool was much more comfortable and quiet. It is not very large, so you won’t be swimming laps, but was nice to float about in. The two hot tubs adjacent were also very nice. In that area there were always loungers available. Formal Nights The ship had three formal nights on a 16 day cruise. We participated and were pleasantly surprised to see how many people made the effort to dress up in the main dining rooms. However, by the third formal night we were a bit tired and so decided not to partake and just had dinner in the buffet. Ship’s Excursion We only took one ship’s excursion and that was in Guatemala, which we read was best experienced through an organized tour. The excursion was really very good. We were taken to a coffee plantation where there was an excellent presentation, and then on to Antiqua where our guide gave us an excellent walking tour, as well as giving us guidance on how to deal with the persistent street vendors. Disembarkation was very smooth as well.
I enjoyed most of the cruise, including the entertainment and some of the restaurants. However, the food buffets on the ship were nothing to brag about. I have had better on other cruise ships. They had a variety of dishes, but some of them tasted and looked like leftovers from the day before. The cabin was terrific, but the bathroom, especially the shower, was a bit too small. I do not recall the shower being that small on my other cruises, but I could be wrong. I visited the spa because I wanted to have a massage, but instead, I had a very beneficial acupuncture treatment, and it helped me to do some activities I had problems with before I boarded the ship. The assigned cabin steward was pleasant and always there when we needed something. The guest service desk employees were always friendly when they helped you. The only other part I did not like was the rocking, which reminded me of turbulence on an aircraft.
Absolutely wonderful cruise from start to finish! Ship is in fine condition very well maintained! Our reserve class mini suite had all new furniture and the large balcony was sweet. The internet staff was most helpful with a illiterate computer guy like me! the food was good to very good in both buffet and reserve dining. Embarkation in Civit. was the fastest ever. (Disembarkation in FFL) was very fast. we don't do shows so I can't comment on the theater. we enjoyed the elite lounge every evening and the staff was really great As always the ENTIRE crew was incredible! They re the reason we mainly cruise with princess. If you are into the big ship bells and whistles, this isn't the ship for you. The only complaint I had was the indoor smoking area on deck 7. Although a separate ventilated room, the smokers room door was occasionally stuck open and it certainly stunk up anything close by.
From the moment you step aboard, we want you to feel welcomed and right at home. And with attentive service from a friendly staff that knows what hospitality means, you’ll find your Princess® ship truly is your home away from home.
Experience the Ultimate Night of Sleep at Sea
With your overall wellness in mind, we’ve collaborated with a board-certified sleep expert to create the ultimate in blissful comfort. Our luxurious new beds feature a scientifically engineered mattress and bed springs, a plush two-inch pillow top, European-inspired duvets and 100% luxurious Jacquard-woven linens-to assure that at the end of your voyage, you come home feeling refreshed and renewed.
The Princess Luxury Bed is available across the fleet except for Regal Princess, where most staterooms have been updated. On Regal Princess all Full Suites and Club Class staterooms have been updated and we are continuing to convert the few remaining beds.
Photos, floor plan diagrams, amenities, and furnishings represent typical arrangements and may vary by ship and stateroom.
Indulge your appetite whenever you wish on board Princess®. Every hour, our chefs are busy baking, grilling and sautéing great-tasting fare from scratch. Princess offers unparalleled inclusive dining options throughout the ship with a wide range of culinary delights to suit any palate, from endless buffet choice to gourmet pizza, frosty treats, decadent desserts and much more.
Speciality Dining
Dining on board a Princess® cruise ship is a joyful celebration and our speciality restaurants always deliver an extraordinary experience. They are among the best at sea – or anywhere. We serve dishes made with the freshest ingredients, and our menus reflect regional flavours from around the world. You'll find our speciality restaurants are the perfect place to celebrate any occasion.
When is a cruise an opportunity to enrich? When it's a Princess cruise. This ship offers area lectures, art exhibits and classes taught by local experts.
To say the nightlife onboard is entertaining is an understatement. Illuminating the stage in captivating productions, Princess Cruises performers are some of the most talented musicians, singers and dancers at sea. Their Princess Signature Shows, lounge performers, movies and casinos are just some of the entertainment guests enjoy as they escape completely.
The many activities onboard Coral Princess are designed to stimulate, educate, entertain, inspire and sweat - not necessarily in that order. But guests can be sure the crew onboard the ship, will do their best to cover all the bases. From art auctions to the Lotus Spa, this ship is loaded with fun things to do.
Leave it to Princess to create experiences the whole family can enjoy. The destinations we visit come to life with our Festivals of the World celebrations and Discovery at Sea™ programmes like Shark Week. If you’re looking for some friendly competition there’s Wii™ family tournaments, indoor and outdoor sports, and The Voice of the Ocean, our high-seas version of the TV singing sensation where guests choose the winner.
