review of our Discovery Princess pre-Christmas cruise (12/19-23/23

[travelin.sisters]

here is a list so far of where we've gone:

Post 1: Discovery Princess California Coastal–December 19-23. 2023 (p 1/# 1)

Post 2: Boarding & Embarkation Lunch (p 1/# 4)

Post 3: Christmas Decorations & Getting Settled (p 1/# 6)

Post 4: Exploring the Discovery Princess–Starting at the Top: Deck 19–Vista (p 1/# 7)

Post 5: Deck 18–Sky (p 1/# 9)

Post 6: Deck 17–Sun (p 1/#10)

Post 7: Deck 18–Lido (p 1/#11)

Post 8: World Fresh Market (p 1/#12)

Post 10: Middle Decks (p 1/#13)--aak there was no post 9!!! like a cruise ship that goes from deck 12 to 14 with no 13 😕

Post 11a-d: Deck 7–Promenade (p 1/#21, 22, 24 & 25)

[travelin.sisters]

Post 11e: Deck 7–Promenade

 

On the starboard side is Gigi’s Pizzeria by Alfredo, as many have said it did not seem very busy the times I went by. It does not take up the whole side so you can walk through on the starboard side. 

 

Bellini’s bar is between the two restaurants & the open-air dining is outside of each of them. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 6 by travelin.sisters

[travelin.sisters]

Post 11f: Deck 7–Promenade

 

 

 

Continuing aft on the starboard side past the panoramic lifts & central elevators is OceanFront where you can get help with wifi & the Princess Live Cafe. On the Discovery, Princess Live is open to the walkway & seating outside. I have mixed feelings about this, on the one hand more people can enjoy the events & activities, but on the other if you are walking by you have no choice but to experience the bad karaoke for example.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[travelin.sisters]

Post 11g: Deck 7–Promenade

 

Next is the very spacious Crown Grill & Bar. Here, as throughout decks 5, 6 & 7 there is a lot of seating in small groupings. It never felt, even with a ship that was fuller than normal, like you couldn’t find a quiet spot to sit & enjoy time to yourself on this ship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[travelin.sisters]

Post 11h: Deck 7–Promenade

 

Finally, all the way aft is the Vista lounge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

2 hours ago, travelin.sisters said:

I did see it, guess I missed adding the photo, I thought it was a very neat idea...it is aft, out toward the wakeview bar on the starboard side....I never did find the bottle refiller that I had read about though

 

Great review!  Thanks ! The soft drink bar here is great.  I wonder how it works for people who don't have a package.

 

That's sad news about the water bottle filler.  It was my favorite addition when we sailed the Discovery back in March 2023. It was located just after the hand washing stations 

Edited January 6 by ColoradoMom!!

[travelin.sisters]

Post 12a: Deck 6–Fiesta

 

Taking the aft elevators down to the Fiesta deck, you only encounter the Ketchikan main dining room. I did not get photos in that dining room.

 

 

 

 

Back up, forward & then down in the middle of the ship, is the Skagway dining room. This is where embarkation lunch, breakfasts & sea day lunches were served. The port side entrance is for reserve dining. 

 

 

[travelin.sisters]

Post 12b: Deck 6–Fiesta

 

Around the area above the Piazza from starboard to port you will find future cruise captain's circle representatives, Crooners bar, Ocean Terrace sushi, Effy, the photo & art galleries. I do like that the photo & art department take up way less of the ship space than on older ships & that they do not waste paper & ink printing hundreds of photos that just get tossed out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 6 by travelin.sisters
photos

[New2cruise2022]

59 minutes ago, ColoradoMom!! said:

Great review!  Thanks ! The soft drink bar here is great.  I wonder how it works for people who don't have a package.

 

That's sad news about the water bottle filler.  It was my favorite addition when we sailed the Discovery back in March 2023. It was located just after the hand washing stations 

There is a terminal next to the soda dispenser. You would need a drink package and a swipe of the medallion to use it. 

[donswife]

It is very subtle,  but I noticed that on the hallways I studied, the gold trim in the carpet pattern was on the forward side of the design. 

[travelin.sisters]

3 minutes ago, New2cruise2022 said:

There is a terminal next to the soda dispenser. You would need a drink package and a swipe of the medallion to use it. 

I didn't try it to see if it would charge your account if you used a Medallion without a package.

[travelin.sisters]

1 minute ago, donswife said:

It is very subtle,  but I noticed that on the hallways I studied, the gold trim in the carpet pattern was on the forward side of the design. 

I will have to look for that in March

[travelin.sisters]

Post 12c: Deck 6–Fiesta

 

Continuing forward starboard is the Casino.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[travelin.sisters]

Post 12d: Deck 6–Fiesta

 

Take 5 is on the portside next to the Casio. It is very nice not to have to walk through the smoky Casino to get to the lower entrance to the theater.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Between Take 5 & the theater is Churchill’s Cigar Lounge.

 

 

 

for those who smoke here is the list of locations:

 

[1412p0oi]

Thank you so much for the great review and all the pictures! I felt like I was on the cruise with you. :) 

[greenbeanie]

We are taking the 7-day Pacific Coastal in April; first time on Princess.  Yours was an awesome review and very helpful, thanks!

 

I'm a dedicated aqua fitness exerciser (and aqua instructor) and simply have to get in the pool on every cruise, every day!  So knowing the water depth is important - if over 4.5 foot I need to have a noodle to use like a hobby horse thru my legs.  (I do my workouts in the morning when a pool isn't busy.)

 

Did you notice the water depth on the various pools?

[travelin.sisters]

Post 13a: Deck 5–Plaza

 

Taking the forward elevators down to the Plaza deck, you find the spa area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

not very good pix, but here is the price list

 

 

 

I did a pedicure & loved the view from the chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 6 by travelin.sisters
photos

[travelin.sisters]

Post 13b: Deck 5–Plaza

 

Beyond the spa are the Guest Service & Shore Excursions desks. I much prefer this location for Guest Services, even on embarkation day it feels less crowded.

 

 

 

Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria is on the starboard side in this same area.

 

 

 

(Sabatini's review & food & menu photos & food & m later when I get to dining.)

 

[travelin.sisters]

Post 13c: Deck 5–Plaza

 

Entering the central Piazza, you first find the International Cafe. I love the IC; it is great to have a place to grab a quick bite any time of day or night. I can't believe that I went on at least 5 cruises before I discovered this gem. The Discovery has a good selection of foods in their IC...my BIL always gets breakfast there & his specialty coffee. I almost always have a few cookies stored in a ziplock bag in my room form there & it is a great fast lunch if you don't want to face the WFM.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[travelin.sisters]

Post 13d: Deck 5–Plaza

 

Continuing around the Piazza are Good Spirits at Sea, the internet cafe, the liquor & tobacco shop, Gelato & Salty Dog Gastropub. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[travelin.sisters]

Post 13e: Deck 5–Plaza

 

The Piazza on the Discovery feels more open & airier & has more seating than the older smaller ships. They had everything from zumba classes, line dancing, entertainers, kids' events, games & more there throughout the cruise. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At least one morning there was a bloody Mary cart in the Piazza.

 

 

 

[travelin.sisters]

Post 13f: Deck 5–Plaza

 

Finally, after the elevator was the third of the main dining rooms, Juneau. I was told but didn’t check that this was where the games were kept (there is no library on the Discovery).

 

 

 

 

 

 

[travelin.sisters]

Post 14: Deck 4–Gala

 

I only went to the Gala deck the day we were in Ensenada to make sure that our minors would not be able to get off the ship without an accompanying adult (they can’t). It is where disembarkation sometimes happens & houses the medical center (they let you take the towels ashore).

 

 

 

 

[travelin.sisters]

OK that's it for the ship tour (except the galley which will be with the culinary show info)...time for a break...I will be back with all the food & menu photos form Sabatini's & the MDR, shows, & random thoughts...we didn't go ashore so there won't be any port stuff...see you soon, it might be Monday before I get back to this

[travelin.sisters]

50 minutes ago, greenbeanie said:

We are taking the 7-day Pacific Coastal in April; first time on Princess.  Yours was an awesome review and very helpful, thanks!

 

I'm a dedicated aqua fitness exerciser (and aqua instructor) and simply have to get in the pool on every cruise, every day!  So knowing the water depth is important - if over 4.5 foot I need to have a noodle to use like a hobby horse thru my legs.  (I do my workouts in the morning when a pool isn't busy.)

 

Did you notice the water depth on the various pools?

I didn't notice the depth, I don't think they are very deep...pretty sure the wake view pool is pretty shallow

 

I was able to zoom on this (it is the adult only retreat pool)