Just started cruising and have now been on 5 cruises and I love your videos so much. The details you go into and how to describe everything is just so wonderful to watch. ❤
My husband said that on other Princess Cruises, he (as a bourbon lover) knew that they did not have Maker's Mark or Buffalo Trace (very hard to find lately, even when we visited Kentucky earlier this year and anywhere in Michigan, where we live). However, he is happy with Woodford Reserve, which he likes very much.
I was on this cruise on September 4th and loved Discovery Princess! I am a ship snob and prefer newer ships. Princess is my favorite cruise line. You are on point with the Medallion App. Needs some improvement but wonderful technology. Internet Cafe staff was very helpful with app access issues. Cruise Director was the absolute best and all his staff were great as well. Food and staff was great in Sabatini's and in the Crown Grill. We also enjoyed our meals on Lido Deck and Main Dining. so many choices. We had an interior room on our preferred deck, Lido. Loved the room layout and felt larger than normal due to this layout. Room Steward was wonderful and very attentive as all the staff were that we encountered around the ship. We did not experience long lines at the elevators. On excursion days, we walked up 1 to 2 floors from gangway floor to access an elevator as they are crowded when coming back to the ship. Loved all the new machines in the casino and as you stated, not overly crowded. My husband and daughter loved the Enclave and didn't mention any overcrowding. Furniture in all of the public areas was very comfortable. Not a complaint but wish they had more movies as well as a better selection of movies to watch on the big screen outdoors or in the theater. Also, we didn't see the blankets and warm cookies and milk being offered for the movies. Overall we had a fantastic time and very impressed with Discovery Princess. Considering the many months of closure during the Pandemic, I thought they did an excellent job in all areas. Still good advice if immunocompromised to take precautions concerning Covid while sailing and especially flying in and out of port cities. My spouse and I both tested positive this past week with mild symptoms but still very glad we went. A much needed vacation and I feel the flight home may have been the culprit. Looking forward to planning our next cruise on Princess!
Used to live in Juneau. Best time to whale watch is probably early in the season or later. Later in the season the humpbacks are migrating down to Hawaii.
Helpful video, thank you. We are cruising to Alaska on the Discovery this coming September (Seattle to Vancouver). We've cruised a lot, but this will be our first on Princess and to Alaska. Our last cruise was on the Carnival Mardi Gras, which we loved. Their app worked great for the most part, very easy, and not too much "clutter." Maybe it's too early to plan our dining reservations, but we purchased the premier package, which should include 2 specialty dining restaurants. I tried this morning to reserve one and it wanted my credit card info. Then I called them and couldn't get anywhere with the person who tried to help me. And, she was definitely in a call center because it was so incredibly loud that I could barely hear her. I ended up telling her not to worry about it and I'd look into it later. Is there a need to book dining in advance or can we wait until we board?
We were on the Sept. 4 cruise as well but on the Holland America Westerdam. We did many ports together. It did rain in Sitka but later in the day. We did a wildlife cruise where we saw more whales than we saw in Juneau. it was fabulous, they were right next to the boat. We were a loyal Princess cruiser but Holland America mid size ships have won us over. Food was very good and better than we had on the Enchanted Princess in March. We're just not a fan of mega ships.
Thanks so much for sharing this great review. Just booked on first Princess Cruise. In your sailings, have you noticed what the sparkling and still water offerings are available onboard Princess? San Pellegrino vs. Perrier vs. other? Aqua Panna vs. Evian vs. other? Thanks again!
@@susanjackson8066 ….. With Princess, you would qualify for those perks after 15 cruises or 150 cruise days. We have been sailing with princess at least once a year since 1999.
Quite the informative yet funny video :) the one with the “spirit animal” and Ricky tinkering around with it cracked me up, but the “tracking”-app should not be in the hands of my better half (not due to me doing unfaithful things, but her clingy nature would really be catered to 😵💫). Greetings from Germany, have a nice day :)
I find the criticism about the spa and gym not being near each other a bit comical. So a person will run on a treadmill for an hour but walking across the ship is too much work. 😅
Not like it used to be. No need for tuxes or long dresses unless you want to. Ladies now wear short dresses or even nice pants with a dressy top. Men wear colored shirts and ice pants. No tie required.
Hello! I was on this sailing with you guys. I enjoyed my cruise, however… the spa was very crowded and it was small in comparison to the size of the ship. The food was meh, just okay, and in my opinion it really lacked activities (mostly quizzes) and they had some enrichment talks which was really more story telling than factual knowledge of the speaker. The wifi was not good at all. The medallion was good, I mostly liked that it opened my stateroom door, and staff used my name when assisting me. I’m on the Enchanted Princess in early October headed through New England. I will sail Princess again, there is always room for improvement 😀
Too bad Discovery doesn't have an indoor pool. My cruise on her is coming up this Aug. and we booked this ship via another couple who is also on this ship's Alaska cruise. If I researched before this booking I would have looked at other ships that HAS an indoor pool. To get the exact count of passengers you could ask at the guest desk.
Our experience was not stellar. You are spot on regarding the medallion. The app was not good. The food was cafeteria grade. Out best meal was on deck 7 at a French specialty restaurant. Highly recommend. Disembarking in Seattle was a nightmare. Thank you for your review.
We were just on last week and our experience was top notch. Our Seattle experience with boarding and disembarkation was flawless, smooth, fast and easy. Food was indeed as you said "cafeteria grade" in the buffet and just plain bad in the Salty Dog Gastropub, but otherwise EXCELLENT on the rest of the ship, the MDR's and especially the Crown grill and Gigi's(Alfredo's). Funny that you reference Bistro Sula-mer as excellent when we thought it was just ok.
aft or forward: Before I ever board the ship I always look to see where the bow is, once I get on it kind of sticks in my head. I failed to do this on Norwegian Bliss and I was always heading the wrong direction. Tip # 2: the carpet is usually different on both sides of the ship. Tip #3: Even numbered rooms are always on the port side, odd numbers on the starboard side. Tip #4: always walk on the same side of the ship, keeps you from getting lost.
Thanks for the video. My husband and I are going soon on a California Coastal Cruise on Discovery Princess. I'm looking forward to seeing the food and stateroom review.
My husband and I are taking our virgin cruise to Alaska in June on The Discovery Princess. We have the premier package, but I wonder what else we should book on the ship to enhance our trip. I eas considering The Enclave, but what about The Sanctuary? What is the addition cost as we are not in the elite group. Again, this is our very first cruise.
I thoroughly enjoyed your video. Still planning our Alaskan cruise for '24. We will have a 14&11 year old. Were there alot of kids on this cruise for them not to be bored with their parents?
Great overview - I would agree with it being unusual for the spa and fitness centre to be located in such different parts of the ship. The other annoyance I had with the enclave was that they very rarely sell day passes - $149 for a week just isn't worth it for me, as I'd only pop in once or twice!
Believe me it's just not Alaska with The Medallion net. Princess likes to say the fastest internet at sea.. well when you can connect it's not very reliable it's horrible and this is one of the reasons I call for the removal of John pageant... I've only been on 17 cruises all of them with Princess I only compare princess with Princess and I remember what princess used to be to what it is today. There's a reason why Disney fired John pageant... John pageant is turning the princess brand into the Greyhound of the Seas sorry to sound like a broken record but it's true thanks for sharing your videos are really great.
Did I understand you correctly, to enjoy the Spa on Discovery Princess, you need a day pass or a week pass? I am planning/collecting info for a future cruise to Alaska
Thank you, Chris, for doing this review. We are also Platinum cruisers with Princess. We will be on the Discovery Princess in November and will be doing our first back-to-back cruises and first time in an interior. I like the way you presented the information and the factual account from your perspective. Thanks for sharing!
You are so right about the app. I was on hold with princess last night almost 2hrs finally talked to someone and got most of my issue's and reservations squared away. The chat on app stopped working so I had to speak to a human. She was very nice and helpful thank goodness! The app needs work and I haven't even gotten on the ship yet m
I do hope no one will take these comments as being anything but my attempt to be factual. I just want to speak about the suite class experience on the Discovery. I travelled as a suite class passenger on the Discovery about a month ago when I visited Alaska. This was my very first Princess cruise. The crew members were amazing. The ship is beautiful. I think the ship does very well for the non-suite class passenger. I think they get an excellent experience. However, I generally travel as a suite class passenger, and I am looking for something a little different. I personally want a quiet, beautiful, and serene vacation away from the chaos of my daily life. The concierge lounge provides the quiet, but there is no view of the sea, and its furnishings speak of luxury, not serenity. As a result, I did not spend too much time in the concierge lounge but there really is no place on the main public floors of the ship that could substitute. I couldn't really use the retreat lounge at the top of the ship since it was a little cold and is somewhat exposed to the elements on an Alaskan cruise. My room was beautiful and provided a nice substitute, but I don't really want to be stuck in my room all day. I think the food at the Skagway club class area is very good, but really not at the level of excellence that I have experienced on the Celebrity ships. (The Skagway is where the suite class person can go when he or she is not eating at a specialty restaurant or some other venue. ) There is one special meal prepared each day for the suite class passenger but honestly, although beautifully presented by excellent waiters, I really did not think the actual flavors for the most part were all that special. The food was good. But that's what I can say about it. I did have an excellent steak at the Crown Grill. I loved it. But I have to say that was the only meal I felt really met the specialty standards of other ships I've been on. The company pays a great deal of attention to the needs of the general public (as they should) but not so much to the priorities of the suite class. And that is visible in the placement of the lounge, the lack of specialty restaurants etc. As a result I will think twice before I travel on Princess ships as a suite class passenger.
I've been sailing Princess over 30 years. My April Discovery cruise confirmed that Princess no longer offers the type of cruise product I expect. The whole experience felt very impersonal, like staying at a corporate chain hotel or mall. All the nice features on Crown Princess, gone from Discovery. Walk around promenade, observation lounge, usable aft pool, forward observation deck, quiet off the beaten path seating & lounges. Gone! Apparently the Princess design team thinks these aren't important. The constant daily MUTS showing special effects action/adventure movies & concerts at inappropriately high volumes was absolutely obnoxious! The Retreat & Wake View pools were nothing more than water tubs, not real pools for swimming. The only forward view is monetized with The Sanctuary. Even there annoying background music was playing. Food quality & selection in MDR was disappointing. The cabin attendant made it very clear he only serviced the room once a day. So coming back to the cabin after dinner to the same trash, plates, used towels, bed not turned down was decidedly not a premium experience. But what is so great about these review sites is two people can be on the same ship & have completely different perceptions/experiences. In the future I'll stick to Viking, Cunard, Oceania, Celebrity.
Actually you should look up the legality of trimming and nail clippings. I know its Illegal to use certain trimmers in certain states or Maritime areas(even they do it). I wouldn't want to lose my Cidesco over a 40$ service with less than a 5$ tip.
I also was on the Sept. 4th cruise and loved every minute of it! My min-suite was awesome and the food was delicious everywhere I went
Thank you for this video. We are going on this exact itinerary soon and we have never been on a cruise before so this video was so helpful!
Glad it was helpful!
Just started cruising and have now been on 5 cruises and I love your videos so much. The details you go into and how to describe everything is just so wonderful to watch. ❤
Thank you so much. Just started following you on Instagram.
My husband said that on other Princess Cruises, he (as a bourbon lover) knew that they did not have Maker's Mark or Buffalo Trace (very hard to find lately, even when we visited Kentucky earlier this year and anywhere in Michigan, where we live). However, he is happy with Woodford Reserve, which he likes very much.
I was on this cruise on September 4th and loved Discovery Princess! I am a ship snob and prefer newer ships. Princess is my favorite cruise line. You are on point with the Medallion App. Needs some improvement but wonderful technology. Internet Cafe staff was very helpful with app access issues. Cruise Director was the absolute best and all his staff were great as well. Food and staff was great in Sabatini's and in the Crown Grill. We also enjoyed our meals on Lido Deck and Main Dining. so many choices. We had an interior room on our preferred deck, Lido. Loved the room layout and felt larger than normal due to this layout. Room Steward was wonderful and very attentive as all the staff were that we encountered around the ship. We did not experience long lines at the elevators. On excursion days, we walked up 1 to 2 floors from gangway floor to access an elevator as they are crowded when coming back to the ship. Loved all the new machines in the casino and as you stated, not overly crowded. My husband and daughter loved the Enclave and didn't mention any overcrowding. Furniture in all of the public areas was very comfortable.
Not a complaint but wish they had more movies as well as a better selection of movies to watch on the big screen outdoors or in the theater. Also, we didn't see the blankets and warm cookies and milk being offered for the movies.
Overall we had a fantastic time and very impressed with Discovery Princess. Considering the many months of closure during the Pandemic, I thought they did an excellent job in all areas.
Still good advice if immunocompromised to take precautions concerning Covid while sailing and especially flying in and out of port cities. My spouse and I both tested positive this past week with mild symptoms but still very glad we went. A much needed vacation and I feel the flight home may have been the culprit. Looking forward to planning our next cruise on Princess!
Getting on this ship today for Alaska. Hope its everything youve described. I'm sure it wi be awesome.
Anxious to hear back from you.
Different people like their nails different lengths, so you should always let them know what length you would like! 😀
Used to live in Juneau. Best time to whale watch is probably early in the season or later. Later in the season the humpbacks are migrating down to Hawaii.
Helpful video, thank you. We are cruising to Alaska on the Discovery this coming September (Seattle to Vancouver). We've cruised a lot, but this will be our first on Princess and to Alaska. Our last cruise was on the Carnival Mardi Gras, which we loved. Their app worked great for the most part, very easy, and not too much "clutter." Maybe it's too early to plan our dining reservations, but we purchased the premier package, which should include 2 specialty dining restaurants. I tried this morning to reserve one and it wanted my credit card info. Then I called them and couldn't get anywhere with the person who tried to help me. And, she was definitely in a call center because it was so incredibly loud that I could barely hear her. I ended up telling her not to worry about it and I'd look into it later. Is there a need to book dining in advance or can we wait until we board?
We were on the Sept. 4 cruise as well but on the Holland America Westerdam. We did many ports together. It did rain in Sitka but later in the day. We did a wildlife cruise where we saw more whales than we saw in Juneau. it was fabulous, they were right next to the boat. We were a loyal Princess cruiser but Holland America mid size ships have won us over. Food was very good and better than we had on the Enchanted Princess in March. We're just not a fan of mega ships.
Now I wish we had done the whale watching in Sitka!
Thanks so much for sharing this great review. Just booked on first Princess Cruise. In your sailings, have you noticed what the sparkling and still water offerings are available onboard Princess? San Pellegrino vs. Perrier vs. other? Aqua Panna vs. Evian vs. other? Thanks again!
You know, I have never paid attention to the water choices. Maybe I should in the future.
Good review Chris. We booked a balcony on the Caribe deck as well. We are also Elite status members. The perks are really nice for sure.
How many cruises do you have to go on to make Elite status?
@@susanjackson8066 ….. With Princess, you would qualify for those perks after 15 cruises or 150 cruise days. We have been sailing with princess at least once a year since 1999.
Quite the informative yet funny video :) the one with the “spirit animal” and Ricky tinkering around with it cracked me up, but the “tracking”-app should not be in the hands of my better half (not due to me doing unfaithful things, but her clingy nature would really be catered to 😵💫).
Greetings from Germany, have a nice day :)
I find the criticism about the spa and gym not being near each other a bit comical. So a person will run on a treadmill for an hour but walking across the ship is too much work. 😅
I get mani/ pedi often! The technician always asks if I want them trimmed. I don’t think it’s automatic, but she should have asked.
Not like it used to be. No need for tuxes or long dresses unless you want to. Ladies now wear short dresses or even nice pants with a dressy top. Men wear colored shirts and ice pants. No tie required.
Hello! I was on this sailing with you guys. I enjoyed my cruise, however… the spa was very crowded and it was small in comparison to the size of the ship. The food was meh, just okay, and in my opinion it really lacked activities (mostly quizzes) and they had some enrichment talks which was really more story telling than factual knowledge of the speaker. The wifi was not good at all. The medallion was good, I mostly liked that it opened my stateroom door, and staff used my name when assisting me. I’m on the Enchanted Princess in early October headed through New England. I will sail Princess again, there is always room for improvement 😀
Too bad Discovery doesn't have an indoor pool. My cruise on her is coming up this Aug. and we booked this ship via another couple who is also on this ship's Alaska cruise. If I researched before this booking I would have looked at other ships that HAS an indoor pool.
To get the exact count of passengers you could ask at the guest desk.
Check out Holland America ships, they all have a covered pool.
Nice review! We are on that same ship for a Mexican cruise in November! Should be awesome! Thank you!
Have a great cruise!
We are going on Mar 11, CA coastal on Discovery.
@@doreenwalters8909 You will have a fantastic time! 😀
Wow! You guys are awesome.
Our experience was not stellar. You are spot on regarding the medallion. The app was not good. The food was cafeteria grade. Out best meal was on deck 7 at a French specialty restaurant. Highly recommend. Disembarking in Seattle was a nightmare. Thank you for your review.
We were just on last week and our experience was top notch. Our Seattle experience with boarding and disembarkation was flawless, smooth, fast and easy. Food was indeed as you said "cafeteria grade" in the buffet and just plain bad in the Salty Dog Gastropub, but otherwise EXCELLENT on the rest of the ship, the MDR's and especially the Crown grill and Gigi's(Alfredo's). Funny that you reference Bistro Sula-mer as excellent when we thought it was just ok.
aft or forward: Before I ever board the ship I always look to see where the bow is, once I get on it kind of sticks in my head. I failed to do this on Norwegian Bliss and I was always heading the wrong direction. Tip # 2: the carpet is usually different on both sides of the ship. Tip #3: Even numbered rooms are always on the port side, odd numbers on the starboard side. Tip #4: always walk on the same side of the ship, keeps you from getting lost.
Thanks for the video. My husband and I are going soon on a California Coastal Cruise on Discovery Princess. I'm looking forward to seeing the food and stateroom review.
Where did you get your shirt? I really like it.
I think I ordered it from Amazon! amzn.to/3Ighovo
My husband and I are taking our virgin cruise to Alaska in June on The Discovery Princess. We have the premier package, but I wonder what else we should book on the ship to enhance our trip. I eas considering The Enclave, but what about The Sanctuary? What is the addition cost as we are not in the elite group. Again, this is our very first cruise.
Definitely spend one afternoon in The Sanctuary. I think it is about $20pp.
I thoroughly enjoyed your video. Still planning our Alaskan cruise for '24. We will have a 14&11 year old. Were there alot of kids on this cruise for them not to be bored with their parents?
I would not say a "lot" of kids, but we did see some.
Aft Or Bow: isn’t it that the Elevators face the front of ship??
Great overview - I would agree with it being unusual for the spa and fitness centre to be located in such different parts of the ship. The other annoyance I had with the enclave was that they very rarely sell day passes - $149 for a week just isn't worth it for me, as I'd only pop in once or twice!
Believe me it's just not Alaska with The Medallion net. Princess likes to say the fastest internet at sea.. well when you can connect it's not very reliable it's horrible and this is one of the reasons I call for the removal of John pageant... I've only been on 17 cruises all of them with Princess I only compare princess with Princess and I remember what princess used to be to what it is today. There's a reason why Disney fired John pageant... John pageant is turning the princess brand into the Greyhound of the Seas sorry to sound like a broken record but it's true thanks for sharing your videos are really great.
Did I understand you correctly, to enjoy the Spa on Discovery Princess, you need a day pass or a week pass? I am planning/collecting info for a future cruise to Alaska
Yes, at the time of our sailing.
Thank you for a great, informative review! Any of you have any info about formal nights on Princess? People really dress up or what? Thanks!
A lot depends on the destination. Caribbean and Alaska tend to be less formal that Europe and Mediterranean.
No they normally ask or tell them when your at a spa.
LOL, Canadian booze! American Booze is good!
They did not have American whisky either. Only bourbon.
@@CruiseReport UHM... what do think American Whisky is? All Bourbon is whisky
@@williamcunningham1586 I think I will have to try American whiskey and do some comparing.
Thank you, Chris, for doing this review. We are also Platinum cruisers with Princess. We will be on the Discovery Princess in November and will be doing our first back-to-back cruises and first time in an interior. I like the way you presented the information and the factual account from your perspective. Thanks for sharing!
Tx
You are so right about the app. I was on hold with princess last night almost 2hrs finally talked to someone and got most of my issue's and reservations squared away. The chat on app stopped working so I had to speak to a human. She was very nice and helpful thank goodness! The app needs work and I haven't even gotten on the ship yet m
Be there may 7
I do hope no one will take these comments as being anything but my attempt to be factual. I just want to speak about the suite class experience on the Discovery.
I travelled as a suite class passenger on the Discovery about a month ago when I visited Alaska. This was my very first Princess cruise. The crew members were amazing. The ship is beautiful. I think the ship does very well for the non-suite class passenger. I think they get an excellent experience. However, I generally travel as a suite class passenger, and I am looking for something a little different. I personally want a quiet, beautiful, and serene vacation away from the chaos of my daily life. The concierge lounge provides the quiet, but there is no view of the sea, and its furnishings speak of luxury, not serenity. As a result, I did not spend too much time in the concierge lounge but there really is no place on the main public floors of the ship that could substitute. I couldn't really use the retreat lounge at the top of the ship since it was a little cold and is somewhat exposed to the elements on an Alaskan cruise. My room was beautiful and provided a nice substitute, but I don't really want to be stuck in my room all day.
I think the food at the Skagway club class area is very good, but really not at the level of excellence that I have experienced on the Celebrity ships. (The Skagway is where the suite class person can go when he or she is not eating at a specialty restaurant or some other venue. ) There is one special meal prepared each day for the suite class passenger but honestly, although beautifully presented by excellent waiters, I really did not think the actual flavors for the most part were all that special. The food was good. But that's what I can say about it. I did have an excellent steak at the Crown Grill. I loved it. But I have to say that was the only meal I felt really met the specialty standards of other ships I've been on.
The company pays a great deal of attention to the needs of the general public (as they should) but not so much to the priorities of the suite class. And that is visible in the placement of the lounge, the lack of specialty restaurants etc. As a result I will think twice before I travel on Princess ships as a suite class passenger.
I’ve always had the manicurist ask if I’d like my nails trimmed. 🤷♀️
Your wife looks like a refined kathy lee gifford
I've been sailing Princess over 30 years. My April Discovery cruise confirmed that Princess no longer offers the type of cruise product I expect. The whole experience felt very impersonal, like staying at a corporate chain hotel or mall. All the nice features on Crown Princess, gone from Discovery. Walk around promenade, observation lounge, usable aft pool, forward observation deck, quiet off the beaten path seating & lounges. Gone! Apparently the Princess design team thinks these aren't important. The constant daily MUTS showing special effects action/adventure movies & concerts at inappropriately high volumes was absolutely obnoxious! The Retreat & Wake View pools were nothing more than water tubs, not real pools for swimming. The only forward view is monetized with The Sanctuary. Even there annoying background music was playing. Food quality & selection in MDR was disappointing. The cabin attendant made it very clear he only serviced the room once a day. So coming back to the cabin after dinner to the same trash, plates, used towels, bed not turned down was decidedly not a premium experience. But what is so great about these review sites is two people can be on the same ship & have completely different perceptions/experiences. In the future I'll stick to Viking, Cunard, Oceania, Celebrity.
I’m surprised, our cabin was cleaned in the morning and then attended to again in the evening for a turndown and tidy up!
Oh yes! She should have trimmed your nails.
Actually you should look up the legality of trimming and nail clippings. I know its Illegal to use certain trimmers in certain states or Maritime areas(even they do it). I wouldn't want to lose my Cidesco over a 40$ service with less than a 5$ tip.
Who would want to take a cruise after all these complaints ? No wonder they are giving away 15 days for free to Alaska or Hawaii.