Coral Princess: first in an innovative new breed of Panamax Cruise Liners - Ship of the Month

Cruise Travel, July-August, 2003 by Peter Knego

The Coral Princess (along with her newbuilding sister, Island Princess) is the first of Princess Cruises' new "Panamax" ships, incorporating the amenities of the 109,000-gross-register-ton Grand Class within a more compact 88,000-grt hull that is of the maximum size that can transit the Panama Canal. Her double occupancy capacity of 1,974 is the same as the already spacious 77,000-grt Sun Princess and Dawn Princess, which makes her passenger-space ratio of 44.6 one of the best in the premium-class cruise market.

Externally, her sleek white hull, towering superstructure paned in blue glass, and grilled funnel with the company's distinctive "sea witch" logo are trademark Princess elements. Her lines are bold and futuristic, from a sharply chiseled bow and angled superstructure to swept-back dipped radio mast and a funnel that is adorned with two glistening aluminum "jets." These features (which will appear on all future Princess newbuilds) are like silver baubles on a birthday cake, lacking in primary function, but adding to the festive took and spirit of the overall package. Unlike the Sun Class vessels, the Coral Princess funnel does not contain a sports court; instead, it houses a powerful and environmentally friendly gas turbine, that when combined with the two traditional diesels, can help propel the ship at a rather speedy 24 knots. The pipe-capped funnel is wide, almost dome-shaped, and merges with a secondary casing that stretches aft to shelter the games area on Deck 16 before meshing into the superstructure. The outer casing's inverted curve is skillfully worked into the afterdecks to round off the ship's hindquarters in a flattering tribute to the lamented cruiser sterns of yesteryear.

The first ship in Princess's distinguished lineage to bear the name Coral Princess, she also introduces some new features to the fleet. The aft-situated Universe Lounge is a second (in addition to the Princess Theater), more versatile showroom with a cornucopia of pyrotechnic lighting and stage effects that support a wide range of activities (its only minus being poor balcony sightlines, which are compromised by decorative brass railings). Here, on a typical sea day, a morning cooking demonstration can be enhanced with no less than three giant projection screens. An afternoon lecture on the history of Panama might be followed by a cocktail party that utilizes one of the largest dance floors at sea. A full Broadway-style stage presentation in the evening (with the high-definition screens as backdrops and three revolving lift stages) can be capped off with a late movie, shown on a crisp large screen with the best in digital surround sound.

Another first is the Bayou Cafe, a New Orleans-inspired Cajun and Creole eatery that features live (and lively)jazz music accompaniment. The new Crooner's Bar is a 1950s retro martini bar with decor and music inspired by the Sinatra/Davis/Martin "Rat Pack" era. Just across the atrium, the Churchill Lounge beckons to those with an affinity for cigars and fine spirits in a cozy, windowed space that recalls an English gentleman's club.

The Coral Princess also introduces the Princess's Scholarship At Sea program, which is enhanced by the interactive capabilities of the Universe Lounge as well as other venues to offer no less than six courses a day, ranging from computer skills to ceramics and Italian cooking. Employing a bevy of onboard and guest experts, the enrichment lectures are free, but there is a nominal charge for some of the pottery ($40 to $75, including materials), digital photography ($10), and computer ($20) classes.

In addition to all that is new, the Coral Princess combines the best of the Sun and Grand class features, with terraced open and sheltered sunning and observation decks, inviting pools, and an array of sports and spa options loyal Princess clientele have come to expect. Passenger flow is very smooth, and the ship is laid out in such a way that guests with divergent interests occupy different areas at the same time, allowing a feeling of spaciousness and intimacy to prevail. The public rooms on decks 6 and 7 are linked on the starboard side by wide boulevards that rarely bottleneck, despite strategically placed photo and merchandise displays.

The atrium features a network of smaller hangouts, from the specialty coffee bar, Le Patisserie (where near-sea-level views of the ocean being plundered by the vessel's massive hull are exhilarating) and Atrium Lounge on Deck 5 to Churchill and Crooner's on Deck 7 and the Library, Cardroom, and Internet Cafe on Deck 8. Two panoramic, glass-enclosed elevators adorn the atrium's "Metamorphosis" centerpiece, a metal and fiberglass sculpture that salutes man's relationship to the ocean and cosmos. The Deck 8 ceiling portion recalls the bottom of a ship's hull amid twinkling stars as seen from the depths of the sea, represented by wave-like forms that descend to Deck 5.

Her interior look, color schemes, and artwork are consistent with the other ships in the Princess fleet, while incorporating a few more festive fiber-optic lighting effects. Shiny brass accents, marble, and a variety of wood veneers (bulkhead paneling and attractive deck marquetry) are enhanced by a palette that includes turquoise, beige, tan, maroon, and, of course, coral.