Cruising Alaska Onboard The Discovery Princess

Boarding the Discovery Princess in Seattle, this MedallionClass ship is the 15th Princess cruise ship in the fleet. Besides elegantly appointed accommodations, there are an array of enrichment opportunities, entertainment venues, gourmet dining and cocktails and expansive views sailing to Alaska.

The 3,660-guest Discovery Princess was built at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, and is the sixth Royal-Class new luxury mega-cruise ship. Her sister ships include the Enchanted Princess, Sky Princess, Majestic Princess, Regal Princess and Royal Princess.

At embarkation each passenger received a wearable Princess Medallion. It’s a quarter-size device that enables expedited contactless boarding, unlocks and locks  your stateroom door, locates loved ones anywhere on the ship, provides payment of specialty food and cocktails, spa services, store merchandise, playing at the onboard casino and stores points while playing games on the new information digital boards.

Also on the ship is MedallionNet Wi-Fi at Sea that works remotely anywhere on the ship. Depending on the location in Alaska, I was able to post content and stream movies and shows, however while cruising through the Inland Passage, the Wi-Fi was spotty.

Taking a tour to our cabin on the 9th level, our approximately 231 sq. ft. stateroom offered everything we needed for a week. There were two lower beds with luxury linens that could convert to a queen-size bed. We left the floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door leading out to a large balcony open for fresh cool air to waft inside. Having a balcony on an Alaska cruise is a must to see waterfalls, whales and eagles soaring above when cruising to different ports.

There was a desk offering additional storage space and a large flat-screen television to watch movies during At Sea days. While unpacking we found the spacious closet and shelves held everything we brought on the trip. The room also had a small refrigerator to keep fruit and waters cold. I will say the bathroom with shower was small, but the ship provides shampoo-conditioner, luxury towels, body wash and lotion.

Every morning at 7:30 a.m., I joined others at the Fitness Center on deck 17 for a morning stretch class to start my day, before exploring Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria, B.C.

During a day at sea, I reserved a relaxing aroma hot stone massage at the Discovery Princess signature Princess Lotus Spa. Named “Best Spa on a Cruise Ship” by Spafinder Wellness 365, the Lotus Spa offers a variety of relaxing facials, therapy massages, detoxifying ocean wraps and an aromatherapy thermal suite. One can get their hair styled or colored, plus men can receive a professional shave. Get ready for formal evening with a manicure, pedicure or teeth whitening.

We always walked the stairs, instead of taking the elevators for exercise and avoiding close contact with other passengers. Our favorite walk was outdoors around the ship’s decks to take in the beauty of Alaska. The over-water SeaWalk is a dramatic over-the-ocean glass walkway. It’s 60 feet long and cantilevers 128 feet above the wake of the ship. This glass path extends 28 feet beyond the edge of the ship. It’s a great spot to see the ever-changing seascape below, just as Captain John Smith does when he peers through glass panels in the floor of the bridge.

There are four pools for guests and 10 raised hot tubs onboard. During the day and in the evening passengers gather on lounge chairs at the Main Pool to watch ‘Princess Movies Under the Stars’. Nearby Swirl’s Ice Cream Bar twirls soft-serve icy treats and hands out bags of popcorn. Blankets are distributed to guests for a cozy al fresco theatre experience.

Another popular pool is the aft-located WakeView Pool, a small, adults-only sun deck and outdoor relaxation area that is popular during the day and at sunset. There is also a Retreat Pool for those seeking an exclusive experience.

We discovered world-class global dining at the all-day World Fresh Market open to all with ocean-view tables up on Deck 16. Executive Chef Giovanni Sisto at a Chef Culinary Talk said that he has 275 kitchen staff onboard. Double that amount of servers.

Dinner one night at the refined Crown Grill steakhouse was fabulous. The menu included hand cut and aged beef with cooked-to-order steaks, grilled shrimp, fresh fish and lobster. There is an extensive wine and cocktail menu.

The Salty Dog Gastropub is a fun theme restaurant offering more casual fare, while Bistro Sur La Mer is a French theme fine dining experience, created with Chef Emmanuel Renaut. Not only does he hold the prestigious title of “Meilleur Ouvrier de France” (Best Craftsmen of France) and Chef of the Year by Le Chef, his Flocons de Sel restaurant has received three Michelin stars. Chef Renaut created authentic French dishes crafted with the Chef’s signature flair that the ship’s chefs replicate.

The pastas are heavenly at Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria, because they are made fresh daily.  There is also a small sushi restaurant overlooking the three-story open Promenade to listen to live music while dining.  

Princess Cruises has a “seawitch” logo that first became famous in 1977, when the Pacific Princess was cast in a starring role of the weekly series “The Love Boat.” This television show introduced millions of viewers to the concept of a cruise vacation, fueling the dramatic expansion of the cruise industry.

Cruising to Alaska onboard the Discovery Princess we sailed in sunshine everyday while visiting four different charming and uniquely different ports. At each port we did get off to go on a whale watching excursion on a small ship, traveled to see where Alaskan sled dogs train, went on a canoe in a pristine lake 40 minutes from Ketchikan and hiked in a nearby forest. One of the most memorable excursions was following humpback whales for 40 minutes and seeing Victoria’s waterfront at night with the lights of Parliament aglow.

There were over 3,400 passengers onboard this luxury mega-ship, yet we felt safe and stayed well. Everyone had to provide a negative COVID-19 test before boarding the ship. The crew are extra careful on the ship and all wear masks. They are so happy to be working again and appreciate every passenger onboard. We washed our hands often and wore a mask when we felt the need to be extra careful. Would I go on another Discovery Princess cruise? You bet I will.