Discovery Princess

What Discovery Princess Is

Discovery Princess joined the Princess Cruises fleet as the final ship in the Royal Class, sharing a hull with Enchanted Princess, Sky Princess, Majestic Princess, Royal Princess and Regal Princess — making her a sister ship to five others built to the same design. At 145,000 gross tonnes across 19 decks, she carries up to 3,660 guests and 1,346 crew. Her 1,830 cabins span six inside grades, one outside category, 15 balcony grades and 14 suite grades — the full shape of the offer lives on the Discovery Princess cabins and deck plans page.

The Royal Class format gives Discovery Princess a scale that supports one of the most varied dining line-ups in the fleet, a ship-within-a-ship suite enclave, and enough space on deck to feel uncrowded even when every berth is filled. She is a ship that rewards those who explore her thoroughly — there is always another venue, another bar, another corner of deck.

Dining on Discovery Princess

Discovery Princess carries one of the most extensive dining programmes afloat, running from complimentary all-day options through to intimate chef-led experiences with wine pairings at an additional charge.

The Main Dining Rooms are covered by the cruise fare, offering flexible dining times and a full kitchen-prepared menu with attentive service. For something lighter at any hour, the International Café serves fresh pastries, sandwiches and salads around the clock, included in the fare, alongside the classic English Afternoon Tea held there each day — with a complimentary version and a premium Royal option available.

Specialist restaurants carry an additional charge and are where the ship really distinguishes itself. Chef’s Table and Chef’s Table Lumière seat up to 12 guests for exclusive multi-course menus with wine pairings led by the Executive Chef — the most intimate dining aboard. Ocean Terrace Sushi serves fresh sushi and sashimi with sea views on an à la carte basis. Makoto Ocean brings the cuisine of acclaimed chef Makoto Okuwa to the ship, covering Japanese cuisine and sushi in a more formal setting. The Butcher’s Block by Dario, created with master butcher Dario Cecchini, celebrates premium meat cookery; Crown Grill takes the classic steakhouse route with premium cuts and fresh seafood; and Churrascaria Brazilian Grill runs a traditional rodizio service, with servers bringing fire-grilled meats to the table.

Beyond the headline restaurants: Alfredo GiGi’s does wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta; Crab Shack is a pop-up seafood experience with king crab legs and chowder; Plank’s BBQ takes a Texas-style approach to slow-cooked meats; Americana Diner serves round-the-clock comfort food from fried chicken to pancakes; and Love by Britto, inspired by the colourful art of Romero Britto, is a dessert restaurant for creative pastries and sweets. Wine enthusiasts will find Caymus Vineyards, billed as the most comprehensive wine selection at sea, pairing Napa Valley bottles with fine cuisine.

At the bar, Crooners serves handcrafted martinis against live piano in an Art Déco setting; Good Spirits at Sea, guided by mixologist Rob Floyd, crafts cocktails inspired by the ports she calls at; Bellini’s does Italian-inspired prosecco cocktails with light bites; and O’Malley’s is the ship’s Irish pub, with draught beer, live music and sport on screen. The Gelateria turns out artisan Italian gelato with daily-rotating flavours for those with a sweet tooth.

The Sanctuary and Suite Enclaves

Discovery Princess has two dedicated enclaves for guests who want a quieter, more private experience. The Sanctuary Collection is a ship-within-a-ship private area, and guests in the Reserve Collection — the suite tier — have access to exclusive fine dining in the Reserve Collection restaurant, where personalised service and bespoke menus are included in the fare at no additional charge. These two enclaves mean that suite guests effectively have a separate dining room and a private retreat already built into their booking.

Alaska and the Mexican Riviera

Discovery Princess runs two principal programmes. Her Alaska season operates out of Vancouver, British Columbia, with sailings heading north through the Inside Passage — a mix of round-trips and one-way itineraries calling at the glaciers and coastal towns of the Alaskan interior, with some one-way sailings ending at Anchorage or Whittier. Cruises from Vancouver to Alaska and Alaska sailings in 2027 both show what is on sale for that run.

Her Mexican Riviera programme departs from Los Angeles on round-trips of seven, eleven and twelve nights, calling at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. The seven-night sailings run in October and December; the longer eleven- and twelve-night departures run in September and October, reaching further into the Riviera for a more leisurely pace. These are seasonal programmes rather than year-round, so dates matter — the sailings on sale from £378pp* give a clear picture of what is available.

All Discovery Princess sailings depart from the United States or Canada, so the cruise typically sits in the middle of a wider Pacific Coast trip. Cruise1st puts the flights, the hotel either side and the transfers on the same booking as the cruise — one holiday rather than a set of separate arrangements. Cruise1st Packages bring everything together.

Cabins on Discovery Princess

Across 36 grades, Discovery Princess covers every category from inside rooms through oceanview, then 15 balcony grades — including aft-facing private balconies with unobstructed sea views — up to 14 suite grades, the highest of which include a sleeper sofa, 24-hour room service and balcony space. Suite guests gain automatic access to the Reserve Collection dining room, so the upgrade carries dining benefits as well as the extra space. Every grade and its full details — including deck plans — are on the Discovery Princess cabins and deck plans page.

Who Books Discovery Princess

The ship’s dining programme — Chef’s Table, Chef’s Table Lumière and Ocean Terrace Sushi among many others — makes her a natural choice for food lovers who want genuine variety and the option of serious chef-led meals without leaving the ship. The Reserve Collection and Sanctuary Collection enclaves give suite guests a genuinely private experience within the larger ship, with their own dining and retreat spaces.

The Princess Cruises Fleet

Princess Cruises currently sails 17 ships, grouped into four classes. Discovery Princess belongs to the Royal Class, sharing a hull with Regal Princess, Majestic Princess, Sky Princess, Royal Princess and Enchanted Princess.

The Grand Class comprises Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess, Caribbean Princess, Grand Princess, Emerald Princess, Crown Princess and Ruby Princess. The Coral Class covers Coral Princess and Island Princess. The Sphere Class — Princess Cruises’ newest — includes Sun Princess and Star Princess. The full story of the line is on the Princess Cruises page.

Why Book with Cruise1st

Cruise1st is one of the UK’s leading cruise specialists — which means real cruise experts on the phone before you book, not a general travel agent working from a brochure. Because every Discovery Princess sailing departs from the US or Canada, we put the flights, the hotels either side and the transfers together with the cruise as one holiday. Whatever cabin grade and fare inclusions suit your plans, we build the whole trip around it. Cruise1st Packages set out how that works in practice, and there are Discovery Princess guest reviews on site if you want to hear from people who have already sailed her.

Questions About Booking Discovery Princess

Do I Need to Fly to Join Discovery Princess?

Yes — all current sailings depart from either Los Angeles or Vancouver, so a transatlantic flight is part of the trip. Cruise1st books the flights, pre- or post-cruise hotel nights and airport transfers alongside the cruise fare, so the whole journey is arranged in one place rather than pieced together separately.

Which Is the Best Season — Alaska or Mexican Riviera?

Alaska sailings run in the summer season out of Vancouver, taking in the Inside Passage, glaciers and coastal wildlife. The Mexican Riviera programme runs in autumn — primarily September, October and December — from Los Angeles, with calls at Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta. The right choice depends entirely on the experience you want: wilderness and scenery in the north, sun, beaches and resort towns in the south.

What Is the Difference Between the Reserve Collection and the Sanctuary Collection?

The Reserve Collection is the suite dining tier — guests in suite grades have access to the exclusive Reserve Collection restaurant, with personalised service and bespoke menus included. The Sanctuary Collection is a separate private enclave on board, a retreat area available to Sanctuary guests. Both enclaves give a more private experience within the ship, but they serve different functions: one is a dining benefit, the other a private outdoor space.

How Many Dining Options Are Included in the Fare?

The Main Dining Rooms, International Café and Afternoon Tea (standard version) are all covered by the cruise fare. Most of the specialist venues — Crown Grill, Chef’s Table, Butcher’s Block by Dario, Makoto Ocean, Ocean Terrace Sushi and others — carry an additional charge per person or per dish. The Americana Diner is included if you hold a Princess Plus or Premier package fare; otherwise it is à la carte.

Can I See the Deck Plans Before Choosing a Cabin?

Yes — the Discovery Princess cabins and deck plans page shows every one of the 36 cabin grades across 19 decks, with the full layout. That is the right place to compare balcony positions, check suite locations and settle on the grade that suits your trip before calling to book.