Relaxing journey on Discovery to Alaska! Didn’t get off the ship once, just enjoyed the many beautiful views. Discovery is working out her kinks and seems to get better with every voyage! She is an absolutely beautiful ship with great amenities. Service and staff are a cut above. Food is typical Princess fare.
Embarkation
3 out of 5
3 long lines - one to verify boarding passport and vaccine documents, one for security, and one for final check-in. Took about an hour and change.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
Crown Grill was nice, our servers were so attentive. The sea bass was delicious, triple chocolate dessert was as divine as before!
The buffet was our primary choice the rest of the cruise. Breakfast was the best meal of the day for consistency and spread. Lunch options were alright and dinner was better with choice and quality. The buffet is self-serve, which I disagree with. The crew members near the hand washing stations were asking people to wash up, however. Beverage service in the buffet was great.
Room service was phenomenal. It worked quickly with the app or ordering through the TV. Everyone was friendly and pleasant. A few times we received a partial order or something a little off (fountain soda instead of can, nbd) but nothing earth shattering. We enjoyed the International Cafe daily.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
We spent an afternoon in The Sanctuary and found it very well worth the $20pp charge for half day (12:30-5). We enjoyed fresh veggies, healthy entrees, and a few hours later they came around for tea time. We were alone in the venue for most of the afternoon, so I wonder if the upcharge option is really prudent as the staff outnumbered my husband and I 2:1.
The pools were heated but note that does not mean hot - the hot tubs aren’t even hot! The pools were temperate. Appropriate for hot days.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
The Take 5 Jazz Club is one of our favorite venues and the Larry King trio is exceptionally talented. All of the musicians around the ship are wonderful.
Due to Covid among the entertainment staff, there were no production shows this week. This is a risk that future cruisers should be aware of; I don’t mention this to disparage the cruiseline. Covid is just a risk right now and I’m glad they did the right thing and quarantined the performers. They filled the gap with comedians and magicians.
The Alaskan naturalist Michael Modzelwski was a character for sure. His information was spotty, it was more of a monologue. He told some off color jokes about weight (joking about a native woman who survived several hours in the Alaskan waters) and some dated jokes about his wife (ball and chain type jokes) that we didn’t think were in good taste.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
We felt very cared for. Our favorite waiter of all time, Pablo, was great as ever! Herbert, Ariel and Tito at the Wakeview bar were wonderful. Cubert and Chetan at The Crown Grill Bar were quick and personable. Flavia at the Sanctuary was so accommodating. Our new favorite waiter was Ricky at Take 5, who learned our names and orders immediately. Johne in the gelato shop gave us wonderful service (sneaking us an order just after closing time) and our room steward John was fantastic.
Ship Quality
3 out of 5
Cannot believe this ship, designed for west coast cruising to Mexico and Alaska, does not have a covered pool. Stick a cover on the retreat pool ASAP, Princess! Would like to see more covered areas on decks as well.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Our mini-suite was nice. Wish there was a closet-only light. The little shelf under the mirror upon entry is convenient. Nice sized bathroom with tub.
Ship tip
If the app isn’t working, you can go to discovery.Princess.com in a web browser for quick access to activities and more!
@willwork4cruz - This was our 3rd Alaskan cruise! The rain in Ketchikan was off-putting as was the number of ships (and therefore people) in each port.
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