Meet the Discovery Princess

 Our Kristin On the Go Alaska Group Cruise is sailing aboard Discovery Princess, one of Princess Cruises’ Royal-Class ships. With beautiful public spaces, more than 1,400 balcony staterooms, plenty of dining choices, entertainment, and outdoor areas designed for enjoying the view, this ship is a great match for an Alaska itinerary.

We’ll call Discovery Princess home for seven nights as we travel from Vancouver to Whittier, Alaska, May 20–27, 2028, visiting Ketchikan, Juneau, and Skagway and enjoying scenic cruising through Glacier Bay and College Fjord.

Discovery Princess joined the Princess fleet in 2022 as the sixth ship in the Royal Class. She accommodates approximately 3,660 guests at double occupancy, measures about 1,083 feet long, and features 19 decks and 1,830 guest staterooms. But the numbers aren't really what make this ship exciting for Alaska.

For me, it is all about having places where you can grab a drink, find a comfortable seat, step outside, and watch Alaska go by.

And yes...there are balconies. Lots of balconies.

Princess reports that Discovery Princess has more than 1,400 balcony accommodations, making it especially appealing for a cruise where the scenery is a huge part of the experience.

Discovery Princess offers accommodations ranging from comfortable interior cabins to balcony staterooms, mini-suites and suites.

Interior Staterooms

Interior cabins provide a comfortable and budget-friendly home base for travelers who plan to spend most of their time exploring the ship and Alaska.

For our group cruise, interior cabins begin at:

$1,299 per person, double occupancy
$2,299 single occupancy

Balcony Staterooms

If there is ever an itinerary where I appreciate having a balcony, it is Alaska.

Imagine waking up, opening the curtains and discovering mountains, glaciers or the Inside Passage right outside your cabin. A private balcony also gives you another place to watch for wildlife or enjoy the scenery when you aren't out exploring the ship.

For our group cruise, balcony cabins begin at:

$2,269 per person, double occupancy
$4,239 single occupancy

You definitely won't go hungry on Discovery Princess.

The ship offers everything from casual snacks and pizza to main dining rooms and specialty restaurants. Princess currently lists dining venues including the World Fresh Marketplace, International Café, Slice Pizzeria, Gigi's Pizzeria, Crown Grill, Sabatini's Italian Trattoria, The Catch by Rudi, O'Malley's Irish Pub, Ocean Terrace Seafood Bar and more.

International Café

Located in the Piazza and open 24 hours, the International Café is one of those places that quickly becomes part of your cruise routine. Stop by for pastries in the morning, sandwiches and salads during the day, or a snack when you suddenly realize it is late at night and apparently you need something else to eat.

Crown Grill

Princess's signature steakhouse offers premium steaks and an upscale atmosphere. It's a great choice for a special dinner during the cruise.

Sabatini's Italian Trattoria

If Italian food is calling your name, Sabatini's features Italian-inspired dishes prepared with traditional techniques and fresh ingredients.

The Catch by Rudi

Seafood lovers will want to check out The Catch by Rudi, a specialty restaurant created around seafood and dishes inspired by the ocean.

Gigi's Pizzeria

Sometimes you don't need a fancy dinner.

Sometimes you need pizza.

Gigi's serves made-to-order Neapolitan-style pizza in a casual sit-down setting.

One of the central gathering places aboard Discovery Princess is The Piazza.

Inspired by European town squares, this multi-level atrium serves as the heart of the ship. Throughout the cruise you'll find entertainment, shops, cafés, bars and plenty of opportunities to simply grab a seat and watch everything happening around you.

You may start walking through the Piazza on your way somewhere else.  There is a very good chance you will never actually get there. Cruise ships have a way of doing that.

 One of the signature features of Princess's Royal-Class ships is the SeaWalk.

This glass-bottom walkway extends over the side of the ship, giving you a look straight down at the ocean below. 

The SeaWalk is listed among Discovery Princess's key onboard venues.  It's a fun spot for photos—and perhaps a brief test of how comfortable you really are with heights.

Exploring Alaska may be the star of this itinerary, but the day doesn't have to end when we sail away from port.

Discovery Princess offers live entertainment, comedians, music, movies and production shows throughout the cruise.

Princess Theater

The Princess Theater is the ship's main theater and hosts large-scale production shows and other live performances.

Movies Under the Stars

Grab a blanket and settle in for a movie on the giant outdoor screen.

On an Alaska cruise, I might also recommend grabbing an extra blanket.

Possibly two.

Take Five

Prefer something a little more relaxed? Take Five is the ship's jazz lounge and offers a completely different vibe from the larger entertainment venues.

Princess Casino

Discovery Princess also has a Vegas-style casino featuring slot machines and table games.

And yes, I will probably know where it is.

Discovery Princess has outdoor deck areas, pools and plenty of spots for enjoying the scenery.

While Alaska may not always deliver traditional pool weather, the outdoor decks become prime real estate when we are sailing through areas such as Glacier Bay and College Fjord.

Bring your camera.

Bring binoculars.

Bring layers.

And don't assume that because you saw one whale, mountain or glacier that you are finished looking. Alaska has a habit of producing another incredible view five minutes later.

The Sanctuary

For adults looking for a quieter escape, The Sanctuary offers an adults-only retreat away from some of the busier areas of the ship. Princess describes the space as a relaxing outdoor getaway with attentive service and additional amenities.

Lotus Spa & The Enclave

Discovery Princess also features the Lotus Spa, The Enclave and a fitness center, giving you plenty of options if your idea of vacation includes massages, spa time or somehow voluntarily exercising while on a cruise.

I personally support whichever interpretation of vacation works for you.

 Discovery Princess uses Princess's MedallionClass technology to make navigating your cruise easier.

The wearable Medallion and Princess app can support features such as keyless stateroom entry and personalized onboard services. 

Princess also offers OceanNow delivery, which allows guests to order select food and drinks through the Princess app for delivery to eligible locations around the ship. Additional charges may apply depending on the service and package.

 Want more included in your cruise experience?

Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages can be added to your group cruise reservation for an additional cost.

Depending on the package and Princess's offerings at the time of sailing, packages may bundle amenities such as beverages, Wi-Fi, dining and other onboard benefits.

Packages and inclusions can change, so we'll review the options available for our 2028 sailing before you make your final choice.

 There are cruises where the ship is the destination.

And then there is Alaska, where the ship needs to help you experience the destination.

That's what I like about Discovery Princess for this trip.

You can spend the morning exploring Ketchikan, Juneau or Skagway, come back onboard for dinner and entertainment, and then find yourself standing outside staring at mountains at 10 PM because apparently going to bed is no longer important.

Our two scenic cruising days make the ship especially important. During Glacier Bay and College Fjord, you don't have to leave Discovery Princess to experience some of the biggest moments of the trip.

The scenery comes to us.