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

[travelin.sisters]

new page, here is the list of posts so far:

 

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-h: Deck 7–Promenade (p 1/#21, 22, 24 & 25–p2/#27-30)

Post 12a-d: Deck 6–Fiesta (p 2/#32, 33, 38 & 39)

Post 13a-f: Deck 5–Plaza (p 2/#42-47)

Post 14: Deck 4–Gala (p 2/#48)

[New2cruise2022]

8 minutes ago, travelin.sisters said:

new page, here is the list of posts so far:

 

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-h: Deck 7–Promenade (p 1/#21, 22, 24 & 25–p2/#27-30)

Post 12a-d: Deck 6–Fiesta (p 2/#32, 33, 38 & 39)

Post 13a-f: Deck 5–Plaza (p 2/#42-47)

Post 14: Deck 4–Gala (p 2/#48)

The organization of this review! Next level. Thank you!

[whataboutport]

I know CA has been getting huge waves recently. How was the motion in the ship? We sail on her in a few weeks and it will be my kid's first time on a ship. When I was a kid I did this itinerary and I got sea sick on the way back up to LA. 

[travelin.sisters]

1 hour ago, whataboutport said:

I know CA has been getting huge waves recently. How was the motion in the ship? We sail on her in a few weeks and it will be my kid's first time on a ship. When I was a kid I did this itinerary and I got sea sick on the way back up to LA. 

we cruised before the big waves arrived, there was some rocking but not bad

[jaycruising]

Thanks for sharing again! Love your detailed reports!

[cr8tiv1]

I can't believe it's taken me three pages before I "found" you.

 

Nice fact finding short cruise.

[travelin.sisters]

Post 15a: Dining–Night 1 Ketchikan MDR 

 

The food was generally very good (but not superb) on the Discovery. The first night we ate in the Ketchikan main dining room & it was a very disappointing experience. We have cruised enough to know that first night dining service is always a little slow & disorganized. This was beyond that by far.  With 6:20 reservations we were seated a little before 6:40. However, at a table for 5 there was one bread plate & 2 water glasses. We were given a basket with 4 pieces of bread & no water. When I could finally get the waiter’s attention to ask for water, he said they had to wait for them to be washed. He finally took our order but did not ask about allergens. I did tell him about my sissy’s allergens & he advised her she needed to change her order, there was no offer to have a head waiter assist which is Princess’ standard when dealing with allergies.  It took until 7:30 & asking 3 people for my BIL to finally be able to place a drink order. When we did receive our food, we got things we didn’t order & didn’t get things we did. The worst was instead of the safe dish my sister ordered; she received one soaked in her allergen. Fortunately, I was able to recognize that it was not what she could eat as dishes were just plopped on the table without any indication of what they were. The food that we did receive was tasty & well prepared, but it was by far the worst meal service we have ever had on a Princess cruise.

 

 

rum infused pina colada chilled soup

 

classic Caesar salad

 

seared garlic prawns

 

french onion soup (sadly deficient in the cheese/bread topping)

 

when they finally did bring us water glasses, they weren't even dried!

 

Bahamian seafood stew (reportedly delicious)

 

grilled pork tenderloin

 

cajun fried chicken (delivered to my sister with pepper allergies!)

 

dessert time!

 

bananas foster

 

strawberry cheesecake

 

Princess loveboat dream (the sad red new version, not the chocolate new version)

 

lychee, raspberry & rose mousse

Edited January 8 by travelin.sisters
title

[travelin.sisters]

Post 15b: Dining–Night 2 Sabatini's

 

The next night we ate at Sabatini’s. One of the grands really wanted calamari & I think that is the only place on the ship to get it, so since we had a lot of OBC we decided to take them there. I stopped by during suite breakfast & Robert was able to fit us in for dinner at 5 that evening. I have had mixed experiences at the different Sabatini’s on various ships, but this was superb, both the meal & the service! Nestor our waiter was wonderful & so patient with our teens.

 

I actually like the causal look of the Sabatini's Trattoria better than the white tablecloth version, but that's all personal choice.

 

 

I found the knives on the Discovery very interesting...

 

So many great choices, the new menu is growing on me.

 

first come the breads with olive oil & balsamic vinegar:

 

 

next the stuzzichino della casa, the arancini al tartufo (ok, but not my favorite...I'll have an extra bread instead please)

 

now to the choices...zuppe e insalata (both are delicious)

ribollita

 

insalata mista

 

antipasti
piadina italiana di verdure

 

fritto misto Veneziana

 

buratta caprese

 

 

still more food to come

 

primi piatti

lobster tortelloni

 

spaghetti polpette

 

papardelli alla bolognesse

 

secondi piatti

ossobuco milanese

 

filetto di branzino alle erbe mediterrane

 

& if you have room...dolci (dessert)

 

I think the specialita dello chef ( a little one of each dessert) is so cute

 

but really only like the rocher (chocolate, of course)

 

vanilla panna cotta

 

next stop food coma...

 

 

[New2cruise2022]

Great pictures on the food — as all of your pics are great. Thank you for being so organized and taking time to label all of your photos. 
 

It’s too bad dinner in the MDR was disorganized and highlighted with substandard attention and service. I actually think it is one of the better menus I have seen. 
 

Your Sabatinni report and pics has me considering adding this dining to my cruise. 

[travelin.sisters]

Post 15c: Dining–Night 3 Juneau MDR 

 

At lunch on the third day, someone was wandering through the WFM inviting people to the culinary show on the next day & asking about our dining experiences. I mentioned our issues & allergy concerns from the first night (which I had also reported in the first day survey with no response) & we were surprised shortly thereafter by Ricky, one of the head waiters from the Juneau dining room. He talked to my sister about her allergies & helped her pick out safe dishes for that night & suggested we try his dining room.

 

That night we went to Juneau when it opened & they were able, after a short wait to get us a table for 5. The difference from the first night dining experience was remarkable. We went from our worst ever Princess dining experience to our best. Haro, our waiter, asked & remembered our names. helped with allergies & was able to adjust menu items for the girls. We enjoyed our gala dinner.

 

 

they grabbed the rolls before I could get a photo! Princess breads are the best.

 

our 15-year-old liked the escargot

 

fettuccini alfredo (better on this cruise than some recent ones) & notice plenty of water!

 

the french onion soup was delicious & suitably topped with bread & chesse

 

BIL always asks for anchovies on his Caesar salad & he got timely beverage service

 

shrimp cocktail

 

surf & turf without the turf (allergies)...another strange Princess potato creation but it was all delicious

 

duck & her sister's lobster

 

the lobsters from those who didn't want them (this was the first time we've sailed where they charge for extra lobsters, but we could share for free)

 

dessert, of course

chocolate pistachio dome

 

crepes suzette

 

creme brulee

 

cheesecake again

 

& an icecream sundae

Edited January 8 by travelin.sisters

[travelin.sisters]

Post 15d: Dining–Night 4 Juneau MDR 

 

 

Best of all Ricky was able to change our reservations so that we had the same table for the next night as well. Haro remembered us, our names & our preferences (even BIL's beverage order). I have already changed our dinner reservations for our next cruise to Juneau & plan to ask for the same team next cruise. Sorry didn't do so well with food photos for this dinner.

 

the dream team

 

 

 

 

a "glass" of milk

 

salmon cake without the poached egg

 

fettuccini alfredo again

 

watermelon with feta cheese

 

 

seafood medley

 

 

pan roasted chicken breast

 

baked Alaska parade

 

Edited January 8 by travelin.sisters

[travelin.sisters]

Post 16a: Shows–Illusionist, Rock Opera & Farewell Variety Show

 

I do really like the theater on the Discovery it feels less tightly packed than some. 

 

The Illusionist was Elliott Hunter & he was not my favorite magician I have seen on Princess. He was fin but I didn't think worth going back to see another show with him. His up close card tricks were better than the production type ones. I found the smoke & lighting made it hard to see the show. We went to the late show & it was easy to get seats.

 

 

 

I had heard so much about the Rock Opera but found it disappointing. I really miss the days when the production shows had an actual story rather than just songs/dance numbers around a theme. The cast of singers & dancers are excellent & the shows are well rehearsed, it is nothing against them I just don't find the shows themselves engaging. We went to the early show & again were easily able to get seats.

 

 

 

 

The last night was the Farewell Variety Show. This was only offered one time & by the time I arrived there was only seating in the front side. I had to leave early in the show because the smoke was causing problems with my allergies. I then went to Princess Live & watched the simultaneous broadcast. 

 

 

[travelin.sisters]

Post 16b: Shows–Culinary Demonstration & Galley Tour

 

I do always enjoy the culinary demonstration & the Director of Resturant Operations & Executive Chef did a nice job on this one. It had humor but was not as silly as it sometimes is. I was also the changed the push for all 10s on the reviews to admitting that it wasn't always perfect & accepting 9s at least.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The galley tour is always interesting & I liked seeing the photos of all the menu items.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[travelin.sisters]

Post 17a: Papers & Such—Event Listings

 

I was sad to see on this cruise that they have returned to putting ads & spa flyers in the rooms at night. I had hoped that those were gone forever. Here are the event listings (I still think of them as patters), elite & platinum notices, teen info, disembarkation instructions & other stuff for anyone who is interested.

 

First the event listings, formerly known as patters:

 

Day 1: embarkation

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2: San Diego

 

 

 

 

 

Day 3: at sea

 

 

 

Day 4: Ensenada

 

 

[travelin.sisters]

 

Post 17b: Papers & Such—Captain Circle

 

Here are the Captain Circle letters, Platinum & Elite:

 

 

 

[travelin.sisters]

Post 17c: Papers & Such—Teen Program/Beach House

 

 

 

 

 

[travelin.sisters]

Post 17d: Papers & Such—Flyers

 

Here are various flyers we received.

 

 

 

 

I filled this out with both great things & our dining issues, but got no response.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[travelin.sisters]

Post 17e: Papers & Such—Disembarkation

 

Disembarkation in San Pedro was very easy & smooth, just a little slowdown because our teens did not have passports so they had to go with their birth certificates to see an agent, while the rest of us breezed through the facial recognition system.

 

 

 

 

[travelin.sisters]

 

Post 17f: Papers & Such—Signs

 

Last, some random information from signs around the ship:

 

 

 

 

[lakegirl16]

Thanks for taking the time to post all of this information.  We're on this itinerary in February.  Looking forward to seeing this ship.

[travelingbears]

On 1/6/2024 at 12:33 PM, 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?

Which one in April.? We will be on then and I love water aerobics, what time do you head to the pool?

Edited January 9 by travelingbears

[New2cruise2022]

Thank you again! Such a thorough and refreshingly positive review. 
 

The MDR meal guide pictures are so interesting. I just want to study them and figure out what I want to eat and try asking for it even if it isn’t on the printed menu. 

[travelin.sisters]

6 minutes ago, New2cruise2022 said:

Thank you again! Such a thorough and refreshingly positive review. 
 

The MDR meal guide pictures are so interesting. I just want to study them and figure out what I want to eat and try asking for it even if it isn’t on the printed menu. 

maybe print the photo & show them saying I want this please 🤣

[cheezenip]

9 hours ago, travelin.sisters said:

Ricky was able to change our reservations so that we had the same table for the next night as well. Haro remembered us, our names & our preferences (even BIL's beverage order). I have already changed our dinner reservations for our next cruise to Juneau & plan to ask for the same team next cruise.

Do you recall the table number you were at in Juneau? I might go ahead and request Haro for the entire cruise.

[travelin.sisters]

13 hours ago, cheezenip said:

Do you recall the table number you were at in Juneau? I might go ahead and request Haro for the entire cruise.

it looks like 164 in the video of the baked Alaska parade