2 weeks on the Discovery

[suekel]

We cruised from 4/10-4/24.  For the 1st leg we stayed in M106, a forward facing Mini suite and we loved it.  We were able to use the balcony every day except the last.  It was so quiet and peaceful.  The mini's are smaller than other mini's, sort of squat, but the balcony and location made up for that.  Our 2 boys were in M101 which is a deluxe balcony.  Their balcony was a little bigger and more sheltered than ours.  2nd leg, we sent the boys home and moved to B429, a Club Class Mini.  It had an angled balcony. which if sailing on a Royal class ship, I heartily recommend as the other balconys are so small.  

 

I thought the ship was beautiful, the crew friendly and hard working.  I thought I would miss Vines more than I did.  Ronny and Llada at Crooners were the best, Jhon our casino server was also the best.  We did the drink exhibition a couple of times at Good Spirits, don't let Lew put in more than one pepper in the Yucatan drink.  We didn't get a T-shirt but the experience was great fun.  Go early, get a seat at the bar.  Our first steward was great, the 2nd one not so much.  First time that I haven't left an extra tip.  Victor and Young Clyde were our waiters in Club Class...loved them.  The tip we didn't leave for the steward, we split between them (in addition to what we were going to give already).  We enjoyed Take 5, fun drinks and the music was so good.  AJ at Crooners was fun but don't ask him to play Piano Man (I think he's really sick of it).  We didn't do any shows in the theater or any game shows.  We were planning on seeing Rock Opera the 2nd week but they didn't perform it.  Dang.  

 

We had mixed results in the Casino, Black Jack was the most fun especially on a sea day during the day. 

 

I would guess about 25% of passengers wore masks.  

 

The first week we went to Mexico.  I stayed on the ship in Cabo.  I hate tendering and have been there a few times.  In both Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, we took the boys to some of our favorite places including Freddy's Tucan on Basillo Badillo for breakfast.  

 

The second week was a California Coastal.  We did the Sonoma tour out of San Francisco.  There were only 13 people on the tour which was perfect.  Went to 2 vineyards and had lunch in Sonoma.  Went out for Mexican and had a Margarita to cleanse our palate.   In both Santa Barbara and San Diego, we explored on our own.  Santa Barbara we took the free bus to the Courthouse and walked back to the ship, stopping for wine tastings and lunch.  In San Diego we took an Uber to Old Town and explored, once again stopping for wine tastings and lunch.  There is a Churchill's cigar bar where one can sit outside and enjoy some good wines but you gotta like the smell of a good cigar (Which I do).  Ensenada, we stayed on the ship again to work on my tan.  

 

It was fun to be on a new ship.  It's our 2nd cruise since they started up again, there are things we miss from before but it was great to be there.  

[suekel]

Oh... and I forgot to say that Bill Nye was just on the other side of the aisle from me on the flight out of LA. 

[c-boy]

who ?

[dickinson]

3 minutes ago, c-boy said:

who ?

Bill Nye the science guy. I think he had a tv show. I’ve never seen him but have heard of him. 

[JimmyVWine]

[Honolulu Blue]

@suekel: Thanks for sharing. I'm glad you enjoyed yourself. We're following you up and down the California coast on the Majestic. Your excursions past San Francisco are noted. I noticed about 30% mask wearers on this ship.

[tutumomickey]

Thanks for taking the time to post. We recently switched from HAL (that we love) to Discovery for Alaska . It is our 40th anniversary and we really wanted our family with us but our 4 year old granddaughters can not currently sail with HAL. We have only one other Princess cruise that was okay. I was beginning to think we may have made a mistake but, your review gives me hope. Also, we booked L101 and all posting say you can access the balcony when you want but your experience with M101 is reassuring.

[daydreamer16]

3 hours ago, suekel said:

We cruised from 4/10-4/24.  For the 1st leg we stayed in M106, a forward facing Mini suite and we loved it.  We were able to use the balcony every day except the last.  It was so quiet and peaceful.  The mini's are smaller than other mini's, sort of squat, but the balcony and location made up for that.  Our 2 boys were in M101 which is a deluxe balcony.  Their balcony was a little bigger and more sheltered than ours.  2nd leg, we sent the boys home and moved to B429, a Club Class Mini.  It had an angled balcony. which if sailing on a Royal class ship, I heartily recommend as the other balconys are so small.  

 

I thought the ship was beautiful, the crew friendly and hard working.  I thought I would miss Vines more than I did.  Ronny and Llada at Crooners were the best, Jhon our casino server was also the best.  We did the drink exhibition a couple of times at Good Spirits, don't let Lew put in more than one pepper in the Yucatan drink.  We didn't get a T-shirt but the experience was great fun.  Go early, get a seat at the bar.  Our first steward was great, the 2nd one not so much.  First time that I haven't left an extra tip.  Victor and Young Clyde were our waiters in Club Class...loved them.  The tip we didn't leave for the steward, we split between them (in addition to what we were going to give already).  We enjoyed Take 5, fun drinks and the music was so good.  AJ at Crooners was fun but don't ask him to play Piano Man (I think he's really sick of it).  We didn't do any shows in the theater or any game shows.  We were planning on seeing Rock Opera the 2nd week but they didn't perform it.  Dang.  

 

We had mixed results in the Casino, Black Jack was the most fun especially on a sea day during the day. 

 

I would guess about 25% of passengers wore masks.  

 

The first week we went to Mexico.  I stayed on the ship in Cabo.  I hate tendering and have been there a few times.  In both Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, we took the boys to some of our favorite places including Freddy's Tucan on Basillo Badillo for breakfast.  

 

The second week was a California Coastal.  We did the Sonoma tour out of San Francisco.  There were only 13 people on the tour which was perfect.  Went to 2 vineyards and had lunch in Sonoma.  Went out for Mexican and had a Margarita to cleanse our palate.   In both Santa Barbara and San Diego, we explored on our own.  Santa Barbara we took the free bus to the Courthouse and walked back to the ship, stopping for wine tastings and lunch.  In San Diego we took an Uber to Old Town and explored, once again stopping for wine tastings and lunch.  There is a Churchill's cigar bar where one can sit outside and enjoy some good wines but you gotta like the smell of a good cigar (Which I do).  Ensenada, we stayed on the ship again to work on my tan.  

 

It was fun to be on a new ship.  It's our 2nd cruise since they started up again, there are things we miss from before but it was great to be there.  

 

 

Thanks for your post, love to hear good things about the new ship! We are doing a 10 day on the Discovery at the end of December!

[c-boy]

good gawd ! I was thinking Bill Nye the Russian spy, is that the same guy

[roxievegas]

We were on the 2nd part of your cruise.  I thought that about 50% of passengers were wearing masks.

We agree that the staff was excellent, everyone was smiling (with their eyes - couldn't see their mouth_ and they always greeted you with a hello.

We found the food great in the dining room and had a wonderful meal in the Crown Grill.

Glad to be back to cruising.

[suekel]

I should add that we ate in all 3 specialty restaurants.  Plus Gigi's pizza.  I didn't think Sabatini's was as good as other ships.  I got the Italian Trio and they changed the recipe for the Ziti, also the bread wasn't as good.  Crown Grill was awesome as usual.  Their new bread is delicious but you gotta like garlic.  I had the shrimp in garlic, whiskey and some other spice.  The rice that came with it was stupendous. I tried to identify the spices but couldn't do it.  It was a light pink.  I love that my hubby can cut his filet with his fork.  We enjoyed La Mer.  Supposedly you only get one appetizer but our waiter slipped us an extra because I whined a bit.  Panko enrusted Escargot and the Lobster Bisque.  Both good.  I had the duck in a blackberry sauce (I think).  It was really well trimmed and not fatty at all.  The chocolate tarte for dessert was so rich that I could only eat half.  I've read some not so good things about La Mer on the Enchanted but on the Discovery it's worth a trip.  

[that]

Bistro Sur La Mer  was a delicious experience for us.  Enjoyed the lobster Bisque,

the seabass filet, the duck breast, the citrus meringue and the Mont Blanc.  Read many negatives on cruise critic thus had never tried this specialty restaurant until the Discovery Princess and now will not hesitate to recommend.  Bon Apetit

[Host CJSKIDS]

Sounds like it was a wonderful trip.  Thanks for sharing!

[twinprincessmama]

Hi @suekel thanks for the review! Can you please let me know when your boys had access to their balcony M101? We are booked in this cabin for alaska in a few weeks and wondering if it is really locked every time at sea. thanks!

[chamima]

On 4/26/2022 at 3:34 PM, suekel said:

We cruised from 4/10-4/24.  For the 1st leg we stayed in M106, a forward facing Mini suite and we loved it.  We were able to use the balcony every day except the last.  It was so quiet and peaceful.  The mini's are smaller than other mini's, sort of squat, but the balcony and location made up for that.  Our 2 boys were in M101 which is a deluxe balcony.  Their balcony was a little bigger and more sheltered than ours.  2nd leg, we sent the boys home and moved to B429, a Club Class Mini.  It had an angled balcony. which if sailing on a Royal class ship, I heartily recommend as the other balconys are so small.  

 

 

It was fun to be on a new ship.  It's our 2nd cruise since they started up again, there are things we miss from before but it was great to be there.  

 

Quick question about B429 - was the balcony covered at all?

Thanks!

[suekel]

8 hours ago, twinprincessmama said:

Hi @suekel thanks for the review! Can you please let me know when your boys had access to their balcony M101? We are booked in this cabin for alaska in a few weeks and wondering if it is really locked every time at sea. thanks!

It's never locked.  Only one day was it too windy to be out there.  

[suekel]

8 hours ago, chamima said:

 

Quick question about B429 - was the balcony covered at all?

Thanks!

yes