Discovery Princess: Ship Overview

Discovery Princess Overview

• Embarkation took about 20 minutes.
• Deluxe Balcony cabins are slightly larger than regular balcony rooms and include a sofa.
• Rooms are serviced twice daily, with printed event listings provided.
• The ship accommodates 3,600 passengers.
• During the summer, it sails in Alaska, and the rest of the year, it sails in California and Mexico.
• Launched in 2022, the ship is relatively new with fresh, clean rooms.
• The car park is conveniently located next to the ship in Los Angeles (embarkation port).

Stateroom Features

• An open closet area is located next to the bathroom.
• Balcony size accommodates two chairs and a table, but is smaller compared to Celebrity ships.
• Bathrooms feature a shower curtain instead of glass doors and lack a nightlight.

Muster Station and Atrium

• The muster station is on Deck 7, convenient for accessing both ends of the ship.
• The atrium is a three-story space with marble spiral staircases.

Dining and Bars

• The International Cafe is open 24/7 and offers light bites such as cakes and sandwiches.
• Good Spirits Bar is on Deck 5, the first bar encountered when boarding.
• Crooners Bar, with its lively atmosphere, is located on Level 6 in the middle of the atrium.
• There are three main dining rooms (e.g., Ketchikan) with slightly varied decor.
• Anytime Dining is assigned to the Ketchikan dining room.
• Gelato Bar, located on Deck 5, has an extra charge but is included in the Princess Plus package.
• Wake View Bar is at the aft end of the ship.

Food and Beverage

• The OceanNow App can be used to order drinks to the room.
• Dining options include Philemon and lobster tail.
• Breakfast is served in the main dining room as an alternative to the buffet.
• Princess Cruise fans love the International Cafe for its 24/7 availability of light bites.

Pool Area

• The pool area on the Lido Deck (Deck 16) can get busy, especially during sail away.
• The Wake View Pool is located on the Promenade deck.

Itinerary Highlights

• The ship docked in downtown San Diego, next to the USS Midway museum.
• The San Diego Zoo was visited during a port day.
• Santa Catalina Island, where some Royal Caribbean itineraries stop, was visible in the distance.
• The cruise included a stop in Ensenada, Mexico.
• Sea lions were present at the Dockside in Ensenada.
• The port in Ensenada had closed shops, with a shuttle bus available to take people into town.
• Day four had better weather.

Entertainment and Activities

• The Promenade Deck is located on Deck 7 and offers partial access around the ship.
• Passengers commonly dance in the Piazza with live or recorded music.
• The casino is heavily promoted.
• Take Five is a jazz bar
• The theater hosted 80s tribute bands, including a Pat Benatar experience and a Journey tribute band.
• Princess Live hosts trivia and quizzes.
• The Vista Lounge hosts daytime dance classes and evening karaoke or comedians.
• The fitness center has ample space.
• The Sports Court on Deck 18 has pickleball.
• An 80s theme was present, with screenings of "Batman" (1989) and "The Breakfast Club".

Spa and Wellness

• The Lotus Spa is on Deck 5 and offers a day pass for $50.
• The Sanctuary and Retreat is an adults-only area that costs $20 per person for a half-day.

Marketplace (Buffet)

• Hand washing stations are located at each end of the buffet.
• Themed buffet with a good variety of foods, including Filipino and Indian options.
• Gluten-free options are available upon request.
• Allergen labeling is not as comprehensive as on Celebrity, requiring assistance from the manager on duty.
• Waiters are available to take drink orders.
• Free water is available at the water station to fill personal containers.
• Bread, pastries, and cakes are prepared daily for desserts.

Payments

• The Medallion is used for onboard purchases instead of cards.

Departure

• San Diego departure was late, at 10 pm, and memorable due to the city lights.

Dining Options

• Sabatini's is a specialty restaurant that was fully booked a month before departure, costing $35 per person.
• The Salty Dog gastropub, on Deck 5, offers a fixed-price menu at $15 per person; it serves items like grilled cheese, fried chicken sandwiches, burgers, short ribs, and lobster mac and cheese.
• The Ocean Terrace sushi bar is popular, with à la carte pricing.
• GiGi's Pizza, once inclusive, now has a $15 per person fee, including an appetizer, pizza or pasta, and dessert.
• Princess Life Cafe is popular for specialty coffee.
• The Lido deck offers The Slice (pizza by the slice) and the Salty Dog Grill (hot dogs, burgers, chili fries).
• Swirls provides soft-serve ice cream.

Shopping

• A range of shops is available, including an art gallery and more shops than on previous cruises with Celebrity or Holland America.
• Shops offer jewelry, handbags, clothing, souvenirs, cosmetics, and toiletries.
• To avoid local taxes, shops are only open when at sea.

Bars and Lounges

• Drinks menus are available on letsallcruise.com.
• Churchill's smoking lounge is the only indoor smoking area on the ship and has a cigar menu.
• The Chrome Grille bar experienced slow service and confused staff.
• Crooners bar featured pianist Andy.

Stateroom and Amenities

• The Princess Plus package includes unlimited drinks (up to $15 each), Wi-Fi, tips, and OceanNow delivery to the room for an additional $60 per day per person.
• Laundromats are available on cabin decks and charge for washers, dryers, and soap, but the ironing board and iron are free.
• The deluxe balcony room was $1250 for a four-day cruise.
• The Medallion is the key to the room and can be used for onboard charges; accessories like lanyards and wristbands are available.

Demographics

• Princess Cruises is not a cruise line that specializes in families or kids, but families do travel on board.
• This voyage had very few children.

Miscellaneous

• Princess Cruises offers good value for money.
• The cruise was being compared to Celebrity Equinox.