Coral Princess

The 2002-built Coral Princess cruise ship is the first of the two Coral-class Princess Cruises liners, with sistership Island Princess.

The vessel (IMO number 9229659) is currently Bermuda-flagged (MMSI 310376000) and registered in Hamilton.

History - construction and ownership

Princess Cruises is a USA-based passenger shipping company headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA. A former subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises (founded in 1977), the company merged in 2003 with Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise shipowner. Among Princess Cruise Lines Ltd’s assets is the Caribbean private island resort Princess Cays, located on the southern end of Eleuthera Island (Bahamas), approximately 80 km (50 mi) from Nassau.

The 2000-passenger ship Coral Princess, along with Island Princess, is somewhat unique within the Princess fleet. The line launched only two cruise vessels of this size before transitioning to building much larger ships (like those in the Grand-class). Positioned between the fleet’s largest and mid-sized Sun-class ships, Coral Princess represents a balance of both styles.

Coral Princess combines exotic elements—such as an international crew, elegant Italian dining venues, and spa treatments—with familiar cruise experiences like buffets, poolside drinks, cocktails, and bingo.

Decks and Cabins

Most Coral Princess staterooms (1,000 total, in 34 grades) are 170-ft² balcony cabins (581 total). Nearly 80% of the outside cabins feature private step-out balconies. The ship has 20 wheelchair-accessible cabins. The largest accommodations are the Balcony Suites (470 ft² / 44 m², including the terrace).

The vessel has 15 decks, with 12 accessible to passengers and 7 housing cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Coral Princess features two main dining rooms offering traditional 5-course evening meals. Set-seating is available at 6:00 and 8:15 p.m. in the Bordeaux Restaurant, while the Provence Restaurant offers flexible Anytime Dining. Menus are identical in both venues, showcasing favorites like Executive Chef Martial Diffor’s fettuccine alfredo, beef Wellington, deep-sea cod in coriander butter sauce, and twin broiled lobster tails. Vegetarian options and Lotus Spa health-conscious dishes are also available, such as chilled yogurt and tamarind soup with lemon zest, baby turbot with fennel Pernod sauce, and tropical fruit smoothies.

Guests can also enjoy sit-down service in the Bordeaux Restaurant for breakfast and lunch.

Dining venues onboard include:

• Bordeaux Restaurant (dinner-only dining room, forward)
• Provence Restaurant (open for breakfast 7-9 a.m., lunch 12-1:30 p.m., afternoon tea 3:30-4:30 p.m.; features Anytime Dining for dinner 5:30-8 p.m. or 8-10 p.m.; includes “Chef’s Table” private dining)
• Sabatini’s Restaurant (Italian specialty dining; reservations recommended)
• Bayou Cafe & Steakhouse (specialty restaurant)
• The Bar & Grill (complimentary fast food)
• Horizon Court (complimentary buffet restaurant)

In April 2024, Princess Cruises announced that beginning September 14th, 2024, fleetwide dinner service will include three options: Traditional, Reservable, and Walk-in Anytime dining. Each ship will offer three separate main dining rooms—one for Traditional (early/late seating), one for Reservable dining, and one for Walk-in Anytime (open seating). These options integrate with the OceanNow service, enabling guests to order and receive items anywhere on the ship.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The main entertainment venues are Princess Theater and Universe Lounge, located on either side of the Fiesta and Promenade Decks. In between are most of the ship’s lounges and bars, including the classic Explorers Lounge, the quieter Wheelhouse Bar, the retro-themed Crooners martini bar, Churchill’s cigar lounge, and the casino (offering table games like blackjack, poker, roulette, and modern slot machines).

Daytime programming includes the ScholarShip@Sea enrichment program with activities such as dance classes, bridge and fashion lectures, and computer tutorials. During Panama Canal cruises, guests enjoy lectures about the canal’s history and operations.

Entertainment and leisure venues include:

• The Piazza Atrium (3-deck open space with live entertainment and Piazza Bar)
• La Patisserie Bar (specialty coffee)
• Princess Fine Arts Gallery; Photo Gallery & Shop; Photo Kiosk; Platinum Studio
• International Cafe (24-hour specialty coffee and patisserie)
• Library (with Internet stations); Internet Cafe (24-hour); Card Room
• Princess Theater (2-level main show lounge for musicals, game shows, seminars)
• Universe Lounge (2-level secondary theater; used for dance lessons and performances)
• Churchill Lounge & Bar (cigar and sports lounge)
• Calypso Cove, Essence, Meridian Bay, and Facets retail shops
• Coral Casino
• Crooners Lounge & Bar (live music and seminars)
• Explorers Lounge & Bar (used for karaoke, comedy, art auctions, game shows)
• Wheelhouse Bar (piano bar by day, English pub by night)
• Wedding Chapel
• Lotus Spa complex; Beauty Salon; Fitness Center with Aerobics Studio
• Movies Under the Stars (outdoor LED cinema)
• Video Games Arcade; Teen Center; Youth Center with paddling pool and outdoor play areas
• The Sanctuary (adults-only outdoor relaxation area)
• Lido Pool; Lotus Pool
• Central Court (volleyball, basketball, European football); Shuffleboard; Deck Chess; Princess Links mini-golf course

Itineraries

Coral Princess’ itinerary program includes Australian voyages roundtrip from homeports Sydney NSW and Brisbane QLD. The ship also operates World Cruises from Australia.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Coral Princess was paused for over two years (March 2020 through June 2022), and the 2022 World Cruise (107-night roundtrip from Sydney-Brisbane-Auckland NZ) was canceled. The ship resumed operations on June 16, 2022, from Sydney.

The winter 2022–2023 schedule featured:

• 3- and 4-day “Australia Getaways” (cruises to nowhere from Brisbane and Sydney)
• 7-day “Queensland” cruises (roundtrip from Brisbane to Cairns, Port Douglas, Airlie Beach)
• New 7-day “New South Wales Coast” (roundtrip from Brisbane to Eden, Sydney, Newcastle NSW)
• New 12-day “Queensland and New South Wales” (roundtrip from Brisbane to Eden, Sydney, Newcastle, Airlie Beach, Cairns, Port Douglas, Willis Island)
• New 12-day “Queensland and the Conflict Islands” (roundtrip from Sydney to Brisbane, Conflict Islands PNG, Cairns, Port Douglas, Airlie Beach)

The vessel (STX France/Chantiers de l'Atlantique yard/hull number C32) has a volume of 91,627 GT and a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 8,015 tons, with a maximum draught of 8.3 m. The powerplant consists of two Wärtsilä marine diesel engines (model 16V46C) combined with a General Electric LM2500 gas turbine, delivering a total output of 62.7 MW (84,055 hp). The propulsion system is CODLAG (Combined Diesel-Electric and Gas). The registered shipowner is PRINCESS CRUISE LINES LTD, and the registered manager is BRITTANY SHIPPING CORP LTD.

Coral Princess is the first of the two Coral-Class ships operated by Princess Cruises, with her sistership being the Island Princess. The ship was christened on January 18, 2003, by Mireya Elisa Moscoso Rodriguez de Arias, Panama's first female president (1999–2004).

The vessel features environmentally friendly engines that are quieter, more fuel efficient, and produce fewer vibrations and emissions. These engines are installed in the funnel, which frees up space for additional public areas and facilities onboard.

During the summer season, Coral Princess operates 7-day Alaskan itineraries from homeports Vancouver, BC (Canada) and Whittier, Alaska. As one of the "Princess Panama Canal cruise ships," she sails autumn, winter, and spring transition voyages through the Panama Canal. These cruises are 10-day or 2-week long and visit ports in Aruba, Costa Rica, Colombia, and the Mexican Riviera. Coral and Island Princess are the fleet’s only Panamax-class ships capable of transiting the Panama Canal under all existing standards.

In 2017, Coral Princess completed her inaugural season of transiting the Panama Canal’s new locks (opened on June 26, 2016).

During her 2019 drydock refurbishment, all staterooms were upgraded with the company’s "Princess Luxury Bed." Developed in collaboration with Dr. Michael Breus (“The Sleep Doctor”) and designer Candice Olson, the beds feature luxury pillow-top mattresses, individually wrapped coils to reduce surface motion, and hypoallergenic duvets.

The ship’s most recent drydock was held from September 26 to October 17, 2024, at Sembawang Shipyard in Singapore. The maintenance included routine work, safety and classification inspections, machinery and system overhauls, as well as hull cleaning and repainting.

Coral Princess World Cruise 2026

In early May 2024, bookings opened for Coral Princess' 2026 World Cruise. In November 2024, the itinerary was revised to exclude Suez Canal and Red Sea navigation for safety reasons.

The revised 131-day "Circle Pacific Voyage 2026" is the company’s longest voyage, departing roundtrip from Port Everglades/Fort Lauderdale, Florida on January 5 and ending in Los Angeles on May 16, 2026.

The updated itinerary includes 60 ports across 19 countries. A shorter version of the cruise (115 days) is available as a roundtrip from Los Angeles, departing on January 21, 2026.

The Circle Pacific voyage was also offered for booking in smaller segments - 34-day Honolulu to Sydney, 9-day Auckland to Sydney, 20-day Sydney to Singapore, 14-day Singapore to Hong Kong, 25-day Singapore to Yokohama, 55-day Singapore to Los Angeles, 11-day Hong Kong to Yokohama, 21-day Yokohama to Vancouver, 30-day Yokohama to Los Angeles, 9-day Vancouver to Los Angeles.

The original (115-day) itinerary was scheduled to visit 52 ports (45 UNESCO sites) in 28 different countries (on 6 continents), and featured 35000+ NM (~65000 km/~40300 mi) of global navigation.

The original "World Voyage 2026" had 2 departure options (both roundtrips) - one from Fort Lauderdale, (on January 5th) and the other from Los Angeles (on January 21st).

The itinerary (the following table) included first-time ports for the company (Boracay Philippines, Puerto Chiapas Mexico, Ponta Delgada Azores), and 13 extended port stays (late-night departures).

Prices started from USD 26500 (Fort Lauderdale roundtrip) and USD 23400 (Los Angeles roundtrip).

Coral Princess World Cruise 2024

In late-November 2021 was announced Coral Princess' "World Cruise 2024" leaving out of Australia and New Zealand.

The 111-day itinerary visited 32 countries (15 UNESCO sites) and went on sale on December 1, 2021.

World Voyage 2024 departed on April 26, 2024 (from Auckland NZ), April 30th (from Sydney NSW) and May 2nd (from Brisbane QLD).

Alternative departures were also offered from Melbourne, Fremantle-Perth, Adelaide.

Prices started from ~USD 20670 (EUR 18230 / GBP 15440) per person with double occupancy.

Early bookings (made by April 30, 2022) received AUD 1000 pp in OBC (onboard credit).

Coral Princess World Cruise 2023

On March 2, 2021, Coral Princess' World Cruise 2023 went on sale.

The 107-day itinerary departed roundtrip from New Zealand and Australia - from Auckland NZ (May 31st), from Sydney NSW (June 4th) and out of Brisbane (June 6th).

The voyage featured 32500 NM (37400 mi/60200 km) of global cruising, a Panama Canal full transit (passing through the old locks), a total of 44 ports/destinations (26 countries, 6 continents), 20+ UNESCO sites, 6 first-time for Princess World Cruises ports (Portoferraio, Elba Italy, Marseille France, Malaga Spain, Tangier Morocco, Belfast Ireland, Invergordon Scotland), 10x late-night port departures, 3 overnight port stays (Dubai, NYC, Callao-Lima).

Prices started from USD 17770 per person with double occupancy.

Princess World Voyage 2023 was also available for booking in shorter segments (50 to 73 days/departures out of Brisbane, London UK, Sydney NSW, Auckland NZ) and 21 to 34 days (from other ports).

Coral Princess World Cruise 2022 (canceled)

In mid-August 2020, the company revealed details of its 107-day / 108-night world circumnavigation itinerary. In November 2021, the voyage was canceled due to uncertainties regarding Australia's travel restrictions.

The voyage featured a full Panama Canal transit (passing through 3 locks - Miraflores, Pedro Miguel, Gatun), Suez Canal transit, visiting 21 UNESCO sites, 27 countries (6 continents), 43 ports (4 maiden ports - Sibenik, Olden, Isafjordur, Falmouth UK), 12 late-night port departures, 4 overnights (Dubai, Venice, NYC, Callao-Lima), optional land tours from Callao (to Machu Picchu and Galapagos Islands), Easter Island (cruising).

World circumnavigation 2022 voyage included 14 segments/itineraries ranging between 19-107 days. Roundtrips were offered from 3 homeports - Auckland NZ (May 14, from $14670 pp), Sydney NSW (May 18, from $18270 pp), Brisbane QLD (May 20, from $14670 pp).

108-day itinerary roundtrip from Sydney

The voyage's total mileage was 34000 nm/nautical miles (63 km / 39130 mi).