Boredom forbidden on Coral Princess

Princess Cruises introduced the fleet’s newest addition, Coral Princess, with a mid-cruise naming ceremony last month in the Panama Canal’s Gatun Locks. The Coral Princess is the first of a new class of ships for Princess. It weighs 91,627 tons and carries 1,970 passengers, placing it between the Grand Princess (at 109,000 tons and 2,600 passengers) and the Sea Princess (77,000 tons, 1,950 passengers). The extra space means larger public areas and some innovative entertainment venues.

Most notable is the new Universe Lounge at the aft end of decks 6 and 7, which can be used for late-night productions. It also can accommodate daytime lectures and cooking demonstrations in a full kitchen on one of three revolving stages. With its sofas and tub chairs around small tables, the room feels more like a nightclub than a theater.

Most of the entertainment and dining areas are on decks 6 and 7. At the forward end is the large two-deck Princess Theater, where well-produced razzle-dazzle shows such as “Da Beat” and “Dance!” draw capacity crowds. Other entertainment rooms lining the Promenade are Crooners, a piano bar featuring music and decor of the Rat Pack period; a cigar club named Churchill’s; Explorer’s Lounge for cocktails and late-night disco dancing; and the Princess Casino, sporting London decor with red telephone booths and a red bus that spouts recorded conversations to accompany the slot machines.

Also on decks 6 and 7 are two alternative restaurants: the Italian-themed Sabatini’s (carrying a $15 charge) with a magnificent set-dinner menu that never seems to end; and the Bayou Cafe (with a $10 charge that includes a hurricane rum punch), which features New Orleans cuisine with treats like alligator ribs and oysters Bienville. The room doubles as a jazz club.

The Bordeaux and Provence rooms offer “personal choice” dining: Passengers can dine when, where and with whom they choose or follow the traditional plan, with early or late seatings at assigned tables.

Princess’ trademark Wheelhouse Bar, rich in dark paneling and big leather armchairs and sofas, has been enlarged but still is a good place for drinks, dancing and intimate conversation.

An Internet cafe flanks the four-deck atrium; connection costs 50 cents a minute. A nearby library is a quiet getaway on this busy ship.

The cabins, 753 with private balconies, are concentrated on four decks. Mini-suites have a living area with sofa bed, armchair and table. Twin beds, which can be converted to queen, are separated from the living area by a desk with phone and mirrored wall. The rooms have two TVs, one facing the sofa, the other the bed. Closets are large, with drawers, shelf space and a safe. The bathroom has a molded sink and a tub with shower. Standard rooms are smaller and have only a shower.

The Coral Princess has a large children’s area, containing a separate teen room with disco and a large-screen TV, and the Fun Zone, with computers, for 8- to 12-year-olds.

The upper decks are dedicated to food and fitness. The large Horizon Court cafe serves buffet breakfasts, lunches and casual dinners in the evening. Because it has several food stations, buffet lines are short.

The gym in the Lotus Spa counts treadmills and stair steppers among its equipment and offers many classes, including yoga. The spa, with saunas and steam rooms, has a variety of Asian-inspired treatments: massages, facials and body wraps. But it’s pricey: A two-hour massage and facial costs $215.

Separating the spa and Horizon Court are two pools: the Lotus Pool, covered by a retractable glass dome roof, and the Lido Pool, with three whirlpools. An observation deck forward has a small splash pool and loungers protected from the wind by glass panels along the rail. On an upper sports deck, passengers can play tennis, basketball, shuffleboard or chess.

The Coral Princess will sail 10-day round-trip itineraries this winter from Fort Lauderdale to Gatun Lake in the Panama Canal and other western Caribbean ports. In summer it will reposition, with seven-day cruises between Vancouver, Canada, and Seward, Alaska. For more information contact a travel agent, call (800) PRINCESS (774-6237) or log on to www.princess.com.

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Harry Basch travels as a guest of the cruise lines. Cruise Views appears twice a month.