Coral Princess

Coral Princess in Gatun Lake
Career
Name:	Coral Princess
Owner:	Carnival plc
Operator:	Princess Cruises
Port of registry:	Hamilton, Bermuda
Route:	Panama Canal, Alaska.
Ordered:	2000
Builder:	STX Europe Chantiers de l'Atlantique
Cost:	US$330 million
Yard number:	No.C32
Laid down:	2000
Launched:	2002
Christened:	January 18, 2003 by Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso.
Completed:	December 2002
Maiden voyage:	January 3, 2003
In service:	January 3, 2003
Identification:	IMO number: 9229659
Status:	In service
General characteristics
Class and type:	Sun Class
Tonnage:	91,627 gross tons
Length:	964 ft (294 m)
Beam:	122 feet (including bridge wing) 106 feet (excluding bridge wing)
Height:	204’
Draft:	27’
Decks:	16
Installed power:	Two Wärtsilä type 16V 46C and GE Marine type LD 2500 T gasturbine
Speed:	22 knots (25 MPH/38 KPH)
Capacity:	1,970 passengers
Crew:	900
Notes:	She is the longest ship in the Princess fleet.

The Coral Princess is a cruise ship owned and operated by Princess Cruises line. The vessel, along with sister ship Island Princess, was launched in 2002. The Coral Princess and Island Princess are the only two Panamax ships operated by Princess Cruises. She holds the highest paid toll to pass through the Panama Canal at over $380,500. Coral Princess was christened January 18, 2003 by Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso while the ship was in transit on the Panama Canal. Princess President Phil Kleweno said the fact that the president agreed to be godmother is "symbolic of the close ties we feel with the people and government of Panama. The brief, dignified ceremony was held outside on deck under a hot sun, while slight breezes kept the well-dressed guests from melting. Built at Chantiers de l'Atlantique - France. The ship features a combined diesel and gas turbine electric powerplant. This should avoid visible smoke in sensitive areas such as Alaska. By manoeuvring at low speed P&O plans to use the gas turbine as the sole power source.The gasturbines are located on top of the ship near deck 15. The Coral Princess has no pods, but a conventional twin-screw arrangement, with drive thru long shaftlines.The Coral Princess, was specifically built for canal cruising, with a high percentage of balcony staterooms (85% of all outsides) and the maximum space possible inside a ship that can still squeeze through the canal. The 88,000-ton, 1,970-passenger Coral Princess is a bright, airy ship with lots of chrome, marble, lighter woods and colors of pale blue, sand and, of course, coral. She boasts the big-ship choice and small-ship feel that distinguishes the Princess fleet. Coral Princess is a fascinating blend of traditional Princess features and exciting new highlights. There's an Italian trattoria, a wedding chapel with video and web cam facilities, and a swimming pool with a retractable glass dome. Princess "firsts" on this ship include a New Orleans-style restaurant, a cigar bar, a TV studio, and a London-themed casino. Minigolf, the Lotus Spa, a sushi buffet, an Internet cafe, and 24-hour dining completes this spectacular floating resort.

Route

The Coral Princess's main itinerary consist of 7 day Alaskan cruises from Vancouver, Canada to Whittier, Alaska during Summer months. During fall, winter, and spring the Coral Princess and her sister ship Island Princess run 14-15 day Panama Canal cruises with stops in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, San Juan del Sur, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Cartagena, Columbia, and Oranjestad, Aruba.

Coral Princess's route

Ship Statistics

• Name: Coral Princess
• Registry: Hamilton, Bermuda
• Builder: Alstom Chantiers de I'Atlantique (Now STX Europe Chantiers de l'Atlantique)
• Country Built In: France
• Ship Completed Date: December 2002
• Christened By: Mireya Moscoso
• Call Letters: ZCDF4
• Refurbished Date: 10/9/2009
• Capacity: 1970
• Number of Crew, Nationality: 900, International
• Gross Tonnage: 92000
• Stabilized: Yes
• Average Speed: 22 knots
• Maximum Speed: 22 knots
• Length: 964 feet
• Beam: 106 feet
• Number of Passenger Decks: 11
• Number of Inside Rooms: 108
• Number of Outside Rooms: 879
• Number of Restaurants: 7
• Number of Pools: 4
• Number of Elevators: 14
• Number of Lifeboats: 12
• Voltage: 110/220
• Non-Smoking Dining: Yes
• Non-Smoking Ship: No

Similar ships

• Island Princess - the sister ship of the Coral Princess
• Spirit class - a similar class of Panamax ships operated by Carnival Cruise Lines.
• Radiance class - a similar class of Panamax ships operated by Royal Caribbean International
• MV Arcadia - a similar Panamax ship operated by P&O Cruises.
• MS Queen Victoria - a similar Panamax sized ship operated by Cunard Line.
• Vista class cruise ship - a similar class of Panamax ships operated by Holland America Line
• "Signature class" cruise ship - a similar class of Panamax ships operated by Holland America Line
• Costa Luminosa and Costa Deliziosa - A set of Panamax ships operated by Costa Cruises derived from the Spirit Class and Vista Class designs.

A plaque inside the Coral Princess

Coral Princess under construction in Chantiers de l'Atlantique

Coral Princess under construction in Chantiers de l'Atlantique

Coral Princess under construction in Chantiers de l'Atlantique

Coral Princess during sea trials off the west coast of France

External links

• Princess Cruises Site
• CruiseCritic.com review