There are some destinations where cruise ship size really matters, none more than the Panama Canal. The 2,000-passenger Coral Princess was built to fit the specific criteria needed to navigate the locks and (along with her almost-identical sister, Island Princess) spends almost the entire year traversing the canal from the Pacific to the Atlantic and back, and also journeys north to the wilds of Alaska. The small size means the onboard activities are more laid-back than on megaships, with sitting back and enjoying the view a preferred way to pass the time.