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

The 2000-passenger ship Coral Princess, together with sister ship Island Princess, is an aberration for Princess Cruises. The line launched only two cruise vessels of this size before joining the rest of industry in building ever-more-massive ships (like those in the Grand class). Not part of either the group of biggest-in-fleet ships or the mid-sized Sun-class vessels, Coral Princess falls somewhere in the middle and in many ways, it represents the best of both. Coral Princess mixes the exotic (international crew members, stylish Italian dining venues, celebrity-style spa treatments) and the familiar (cruising's ubiquitous buffets, poolside umbrella drinks, cocktails and bingo). 

Decks and Cabins

Most Coral Princess staterooms (1000 total, in 34 grades) are 170-ft2 balcony cabins (581). Almost 80% of the ship's outside staterooms have private step-out balconies. Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 20. The largest accommodations are the Balcony Suites (470 ft2 / 44 m2, including the terrace).

The boat has 15 decks, of which 12 are passenger-accessible and 7 with cabins.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

The two main restaurants onboard Coral Princess serve up traditional 5-course evening meals. The line offers set seating at 6 and 8:15 p.m. in the Bordeaux and flexible anytime dining in the Provence Restaurant. The menus in both venues are the same with favourites, such as Executive Chef Martial Diffor's fettuccine alfredo, beef wellington, deep-sea cod in coriander butter sauce, twin broiled lobster tail. All meals are prepared to order. Menus in the main restaurants also offer vegetarian choices and Lotus Spa innovative dishes, with healthier options like chilled yoghurt and tamarind soup with grated lemon zest, filet of baby turbot with fennel Pernod sauce and tropical fruit smoothie with lime. Guests who prefer more formal fare can choose the sit-down service in the Bordeaux dining room for breakfast and lunch. 

Follows the complete list of Coral Princess restaurants and food bars.

• Bordeaux Restaurant (ship's forward Dining Room; dinner only)
• Provence Restaurant (ship's forward Dining Room 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 between 5:30-8 p.m. or 8-10 p.m. and "Chef's Table" private dining)
• Sabatini’s Restaurant (Italian speciality restaurant; reservations recommended)
• Bayou Cafe & Steakhouse (speciality restaurant)
• The Bar & Grill (complimentary fast food)
• Horizon Court (self-service buffet restaurant, complimentary).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

On either side of the Fiesta and Promenade Decks are the two grandest venues of Coral Princess: Princess Theater and Universe Lounge. Tucked between the two are the majority of lounges and bars, including the clubby Explorers Lounge, the Wheelhouse Bar which is more sedate, the retro Crooners martini bar, Churchill's cigar lounge and the casino, with its various table games like blackjack, poker, roulette and state-of-the-art slots. By day, ScholarShip@Sea program focuses on enrichment with a wide range of programming. There are dance classes, lectures on bridge and fashion, computer instruction. When Coral Princess gets to the Panama Canal, passengers are provided with a lecture about canal's history and how it works. 

Follows the complete list of Coral Princess lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• The Piazza Atrium (3-deck open floor area; features live performances entertainment and lobby Bar Piazza)
• La Patisserie Bar (speciality coffee bar)
• Princess Fine Arts Gallery; Photo Gallery & Shop; Photo Kiosk; Platinum Studio
• International Cafe (24-hour speciality coffee bar and patisserie)
• Library (with Internet stations); Internet Cafe (24-hour); Card Room
• Princess Coral Theatre (2-level musical and show productions; hosts workshops, seminars, game shows)
• The Universe Lounge (2-level second show lounge, also used for dance lessons)
• Churchill Lounge & Bar (smoking lounge and sports bar)
• Calypso Cove Shop; Essence Shop; Meridian Bay Shop; Facets Shop
• Princess Coral Casino
• Crooners Lounge & Bar (live music; also used for seminars)
• Explorers Lounge & Bar (disco/show lounge; hosts karaoke, comedy, game shows and art auctions)
• Wheelhouse Bar (piano bar during the day and an English pub nightly)
• Wedding Chapel
• Coral’s Lotus Spa complex; Beauty Salon; Fitness Center (with Aerobics Studio)
• Movies Under the Stars (LED screen outdoor cinema)
• Video Games Arcade; Teen Center; Youth Center with Paddling Pool and outdoor playing areas
• The Sanctuary (adult-only open-air area)
• Lido Pool area; Lotus Pool area 
• Central Court (volleyball, basketball, European football); Shuffleboard; Deck Chess; Princess Links mini golf course.

Itineraries

Coral Princess itinerary program is based on Australian voyages leaving roundtrip from homeports Sydney NSW and Brisbane QLD. The ship also operates World Cruises from Australia.

Due to the Coronavirus crisis, the Coral Princess ship was paused for ~2,5 years (March 2020 thru September 2022) and World Cruise 2022 (107-night roundtrip from Sydney-Brisbane-Auckland NZ) was canceled.

Princess Cruises Coral ship is the first of the company's two Coral-Class liners, with sistership Island Princess. Ship's christening ceremony was held on January 18, 2003. Its godmother was Mireya Elisa Moscoso Rodriguez de Arias - Panama's first female president (mandate 1999-2004).

The boat has environmentally-friendly engines - more silent, less vibrating and with lower emissions and increased fuel efficiency. The engines are mounted in the funnel, freeing space for more public places and facilities.

During summer, the ship offers 7-day Alaskan itineraries from homeports Vancouver BC Canada and Whittier Alaska. Being one of the "Princess Panama Canal cruise ships", Coral Princess spends autumn, winter and spring on Panama Canal transition voyages. The ship offers 10-days or 2-week itineraries visiting ports in Aruba, Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico Riviera. The two Princess ships Coral and Island are the fleet's only Panamax vessels that cover all standards for transiting through the Panama Canal.

In 2017, Coral Princess did its maiden season of Panama Canal cruises through the new locks (inaugurated on June 26, 2016).

During drydock refurbishment 2019, all Coral Princess staterooms were upgraded with the company's "Princess Luxury Bed". The new "cruise bed" was developed in collaboration with PhD Michael Breus (commonly known as The Sleep Doctor) and the designer Candice Olson. The new cabin beds feature a luxury pillow-top mattress, individually wrapped coils (reducing surface sway) and hypoallergenic duvets.

Coral Princess World Cruise 2024

In late-November 2021 was announced Princess Cruises' ever-longest World Cruise on Coral Princess out of Australia and New Zealand. The 110-day itinerary visits 32 countries (15 UNESCO sites) and went on sale on December 1, 2021.

World Voyage 2024 departs on April 30, 2024 (from Sydney NSW) and on May 2, 2024 (from Brisbane QLD). Alternative departures are also offered from Melbourne, Fremantle-Perth, Adelaide, as well as from Auckland NZ.

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

Coral Princess World Cruise 2023

On March 2, 2021, went on sale Coral Princess World Cruise 2023. The 107-day itinerary departs roundtrip from New Zealand and Australia - from Auckland NZ (May 31), from Sydney NSW (June 4) and out of Brisbane (June 6).

The voyage features 32500 NM (37400 mi/60200 km) of global cruising, Panama Canal full transit (passing through the old locks), total 44 ports/destinations (26 countries, 6 continents), visiting 20+ UNESCO sites, 6 maiden 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 is 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 on 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).