A Guide to the Discovery Princess: Cruising Alaska on the Newest Ship in the Princess Fleet

The Discovery Princess is the 6th and final Royal-class ship that Princess will build, and it’s heir apparent that, in building this, they learned from any past mistakes, and doubled down on what was working. We hopped on the 7-day Alaska Inside Passage Cruise from Seattle aboard the Discovery, and it was exactly what we could have hoped for.

For a long time, particularly when I was galavanting around Europe with little more than a backpack back in the day, I wrote off cruising as something that wasn’t for me. However, I began to realize that if I was going to be an expert in all things travel, it would be a mistake to totally ignore a large segment of the industry - cruising.

Our first cruise was with Princess about 4 years ago, and we were exploring the Caribbean. We went with a cruise largely because we wanted our Honeymoon to be nice and easy and void of headaches (and because Bri was rather certain that, given the chance, I may over-plan our holiday, and turn our “vacation” into non-stop exploration). With this set-up, I was able to plan out our days on shore, but we also had days at sea to relax and spend time together.

For one reason or another, the idea of an Alaska cruise continued to poke at us. We realized that, for us, a good cruise was about unique and unparalleled access to a location. We knew it would be a nightmare to try to cover the amount of ground that we would via ship in a car in Alaska, and when we found out that the Discovery Princess, their newest ship, was covering that route, our eyes widened even further.

It turned out that our hunch was very much correct. It’s difficult to describe the rush that you get as you pull away from harbour surrounded by mountains, or as you dine, and look out the window only to see a picturesque, glacier lined shore skirting on by.

Some mornings, we’d wake up, head out onto our balcony with a cup of coffee, and we’d watch the fog burn off only to reveal the town (and the nature surrounding the town) that we’d be exploring that day.

The experience was ethereal and otherworldly, and I do feel as if our 7 night cruise offered us a diverse array of moments that enabled us to understand just what makes Alaska so special.

Key Details About the Discovery Princess

For reference, we took the 7-day Alaska Inside Passage Cruise from Seattle. Its ports of call are Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway (which is close to Glacier Bay National Park), Victoria, BC, and then back to Seattle.

The inaugural cruise for the Discovery Princess was March 27, 2022. In total, there are 19 decks and 1,830 guest cabins which can hold a maximum of 3,660 guests, with a maximum of 1,346 crew on board as well. It comes in a little under 150,000 tonnes and a little over 1000 feet in length. The ship was built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.

Accommodation Options On Board

Sky Suite: Each Sky Suite can host up to five guests and you’ll also get a dedicated Suite Experience Manager. You’ll have a 270-degree panorama throughout, and a balcony that’s over 1000 square feet in size. As Princess says about this suite, “exclusive doesn’t begin to describe the experience.” (Approximately 1,873 sq. ft including balcony)
Suite: A spacious suite with a balcony that’s focused on offering more living space. That means separate seating areas, a sofa bed, and more. (440-1500 sq. ft. including balcony)
Club Class (Mini-Suite): The premium stateroom category which features their best located Mini-Suite staterooms. Beside the extra room and sitting area, this room is really all about the dining benefits and luxurious perks (Club Class Dining, priority embarkation and disembarkation etc.). We actually had access to the Club Class benefits throughout, and also appreciated the wine that was in our room upon arrival, and the bathrobes as well! (323 sq. ft., including balcony)
Balcony: These rooms offer private balconies that each have their own outdoor space with a table, two chairs, and a view of the inspiring scenery around you. This is where we stayed on our trip. (214 to 222 sq. ft., including balcony)
Premium Oceanview: In this room, you’ll have a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, but you won’t have access to a balcony yourself. You should have plenty of natural light though throughout. (172 sq. ft.)
Interior: This is the most affordable option available for guests, and there are no windows in the room, as it’s mostly just two-twin beds or a queen side bed. (158-162 sq. ft.)
Wheelchair - Accessible: Princess has a number of staterooms on offer that are fully wheelchair accessible. These aforementioned staterooms typically have a roll-in shower, a fold-down bench seat, as well as an accessible writing desk. If you’re looking for more information, shoot an email to accessofficeprincess@princesscruises.com.

What’s On Offer for Families

I was personally just travelling with Briana, so we were looking for activities for couples (massages, visits to the spa, dinner reservations etc.), but it’s worth sharing what Princess offers for families as well.

There’s an area for kids aged 3-7 called “The Tree House” that focuses on dancing, movie nights, playing with Lego, art projects, puppets and more. For kids aged 8-12, there’s an area called “The Lodge” where they can play foosball, air hockey, kid-sized olympic competitions, and programming put by the California Science Center around stargazing and so on.

There’s also “The Beach House,” an area for teens aged 13-17. It’s mostly about late-night movie viewing, video games and sports competitions and they even serve some mocktails.

What are the Highlights of the Discovery Princess (and the Alaskan Cruise)?

Here are some of the highlights of the ship, as well as what sorts of activities and experiences we had in Alaska itself through excursions and stops at ports of call. They’re listed in no particular order.

The Sanctuary

Towards the front of the ship, there’s an area called “The Sanctuary” that’s very much is as it sounds. There are eight private cabanas there (twice as many as any other Royal-class Princess ship, by the way), and plenty of areas outside the cabanas to rest and relax. It’s an adults only area, for reference.

We parked ourselves on two reclining shares, not far from the hot tub, and appreciated how much light came in through the large windows surrounding us. We ordered food, took advantage of the crisp, cold lemon water available, and read to our hearts’ content.

Of course, as we were approaching Victoria, we also happened to see dozens of killer whales - a moment that was a definite highlight of the trip for us.

MedallionNet (Wi-Fi)

When we took our first cruise in 2017, wifi felt very much like a novelty, but now it’s equipped on all Princess ships, and it’s included in your fare if you book Princess Plus or Princess Premier.

Overall, I was impressed with how it functioned. I found that, understandably, when we were way off shore, the wi-fi struggled, but when we were close to shore or a port of call, it was much better than I expected. As a business owner, I needed a touch of wi-fi just to keep things moving forwards, and I found the internet that I needed to do that, which is a relief for future cruises.

Talking to Princess reps, it’s clear they know how valuable wifi is to their customers, and they’re trying to set (and continue to move forward) the industry standard.

The Food

At the Chef’s Table on the Princess Discovery.

You will not go hungry on the Discovery Princess, that I promise you. We appreciated the little touches, like getting breakfast ordered to our room/balcony to start our day. We prioritized doing most of our dinners at speciality restaurants, but we ate most of our lunches at the World Fresh Marketplace where both Bri and I were impressed with the immense variety, as well as how hot and fresh it was. We never had a problem filling our plates (in fact, quite the opposite).

Our dining highlight would have to be the Chef’s Table Lumiere where we were seated with a lovely table of individuals, and ultimately embarked on a culinary adventure together. Think champagne, a variety of hors d’oeuvres, many courses (each with their own wine pairing), and engaging with the ship’s executive chef.

In terms of other speciality dining experiences, you also won’t go wrong with Bistro Sur La Mer, a casual French bistro with some memorable dishes on offer. Many people don’t know that this restaurant was actually created by Chef Emmanuel Renaut who is one of the most famous French chefs on the planet (his Flocons de Sel restaurant received three Michelin stars).

You also likely want to circle the Crown Grill, which is the go-to steakhouse on board the ship. Like any good steakhouse, the Crown Grill has a warm wooden interior, and they also have excellent sides to go along with your choice of meat. If red meat isn’t your thing, don’t stress, as they also have an array of fresh seafood on offer.

The Lotus Spa Fitness Center

I’m somebody who needs to be on the move, even when I’m on a moving ship. The gym was bigger and better than I anticipated, with much of the gear looking brand spanking new. I went pretty much everyday, even if that was just to hop on the elliptical and peer out into the endless waves (what a view to workout to, by the way).

They also offer classes such as Pilates, Yoga, TRX suspension training and more. I didn’t personally go down that path, but later at night, I’d sometimes use the room that they ran classes in to stretch. There’s plenty of mirrors in there, so you can watch your form carefully, which I appreciated.

If I was feeling like being outdoors, I’d simply head to the basketball court up top and shoot a few hoops.

Best view from an elliptical machine on the planet?

The Cocktails

Since I last went a cruise, Princess has brought a world-renowned mixologist on board, Rob Floyd, and results are night and day. For one, most cocktails I ordered were fulfilled with premium alcohol (like Belvedere or Tanqueray) as opposed bottom of the barrel, bar rail booze.

I’m a former bartender, so forgive my passion here, but that makes a world of difference.

I also think it’s worth mentioning that they use fresh fruit, as opposed to fruit juices, wherever they can in cocktails. Beyond just the cocktails though, they also had a substantial beer list, which I loved, as I track all the new beer I try on the app Untappd.

The quality approach to cocktails extended to coffee as well, to be honest. I always seemed to have a freshly made cappuccino or espresso in hand on the ship.

The Lotus Spa & The Enclave

The Lotus Spa is a relaxing place to just let all your worries melt away. Both Bri and I had massages on board, and they were spot-on. The massage therapists were diligent in understanding exactly what we were looking for, and then executing that.

After our massages, we went to The Enclave, an area which has heated stone beds surrounding a hydro-therapy pool. There are also some saunas of varying temperature, as well as some unique, rainforest style showers. It was a little busier than we would have liked while we were there (it was a rainy day, to be fair), so I’d recommend finding a time to visit The Enclave when there would be less people (talk to the staff, and they’ll let you know when may be best).

The Excursions & Exploring Ports of Call

As someone who loves to explore new destinations, this is what I was so excited about. Here’s what we did at each stop, but note that we didn’t always do an excursion, and sometimes explored on our own. If you’re someone who always likes to do an excursion at each port when you’re cruising, then you can see Princess’ list of Alaska Cruse Excursions here.

Ketchikan, Alaska (IG Reel): First and foremost, this was a beautiful spot to look down upon from the height of the ship. It’s known as Alaska’s “First City” because it was the first spot that travellers would come to as they were headed north. We made a point of wandering around the heart of the town for some time (you’ll want to set eyes on Creek Street, for example), then made our way up to the spectacular Rainbird Hiking Trail, and tackled most of it before heading back to the ship!
Juneau, Alaska: We were supposed to take part in the Taku Glacier Helicopter Landing & Airboat Tour, but unfortunately the excursion was rained out. However, we got off, then nabbed a bus to take us to the Mendenhall Glacier, which is less than 20 kilometres (12 miles) from central Juneau. It’s a famous American glacier that, sadly, is in retreat mode, so I know Bri and I were awfully happy to set eyes on it. (IG Reel)
Skagway, Alaska: Here, we did the “Heli-Hike & Rail Adventure,” and it was utterly spectacular. The photos and video I was able to snap while we were veering in and out of the glacier covered mountains and lush green valleys - well, I’ll cherish them forever. Bri and I literally just sat there, looking out the window, mouths totally agape. Not to mention, our helicopter pilot was remarkably skilled, of that there was no question (here’s an Instagram Reel of that adventure). After the flight, we headed off on a nature hike towards the Laughton Glacier, and were able to fill our bottles up in streams along the way. Finally, we boarded the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad (IG Reel) for a scenic ride back to town (and even stopped at Skagway Brewing Company and Klondike Brewing Company with newfound friends before boarding the ship again!)
Victoria, British Columbia (IG Reel): It had been years since I’d been to Victoria, so I was thrilled to return to one of Canada’s most beautiful and historic cities. We walked from the ship towards Fisherman’s Wharf, took some photos, then headed to the downtown core. We got a cocktail and caught sunset at the Fairmont, had dinner on a nearby side street, and got lost in the energy of the city. I love that this stop is set up so that you can see a sunset here, and watch the lights turn on in Victoria’s famed harbour area.

What Else Should You Have on Your Radar on This Cruise Ship?

Firstly, I would say that you should take some time once you board to simply wander. Without really consulting any of the interactive maps (which are everywhere, in case you were wondering), I aimed to get lost, because I knew I wouldn’t get too lost. This enabled me to happen across spots to get a coffee or drink that perhaps I wouldn’t have otherwise found.

I’d also recommend saving some energy for the night. I know this is easier said than done, but we had a lot of fun dancing with friends at the Vista Lounge, catching live jazz at Take Five, and walking through the Casino once the sun was down. I tend to not be too enticed by the elaborate performances and shows that so many cruise lovers absolutely adore, but I did have fun visiting the Princess Live! Cafe, where one night I even hopped up to sing karaoke! Generally speaking, The Princess Live! Cafe is a place for comedy, trivia, and a whole lot more.

Finally, remember that you’re doing this to have fun. I met some cruisers that seemed so stressed about packing everything in that they seemed to have forgotten that this was, in the end, meant to be a vacation, and something to savour, cherish, and enjoy. So, my recommendation is to make those reservations for restaurants, or to the spas, and have that structure to your days at sea, but leave some of it up to chance. Our favourite performance, for example, was the jazz trio at Take Five that we stumbled upon by good fortune, and then decided to stay, and have an Old Fashioned or two while we were at it.

I hope this arms you with all the information you’ll need if you’re considering a trip on the Princess Discovery, and especially if you’re heading to Alaska on this ship. As always, I try to go in-depth, so that by the time you board, you know exactly how to make the most of what is sure to be a memorable trip.

We want to humbly thank Princess Cruises for hosting us as media. All opinions are completely our own.

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