What You Should Know Before Cruising On the Discovery Princess

Princess Cruises is known for offering elegant ships with state-of-the-art technology, as well as an upscale cruising experience that appeals to audiences of all ages. However, the cruise line's mastery of the perfect cruise vacation has never been more on display than it is on the brand's new cruise ship, the Discovery Princess.

Delivered during an official handover at the Fincantieri Shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy in January of 2022, the Discovery Princess has many of the popular features of other Princess Cruises ships. For example, traveling on the Discovery Princess gives you the chance to book one of the brand's famous Sky Suites, as well as access to an on-board casino and a generous central corridor that features a coffee shop, plenty of bars and seating and an endless array of live entertainment.

Still, there are lots of added features to love about this ship, from its onboard mini golf course to its self-service laundry rooms and huge thermal suite. If you're considering a cruise on the Discover Princess in the next few years, you should learn about the ship's exciting features and everything else you should expect.

One interesting detail to note about Discovery Princess is the fact the ship's itineraries are so wide and varied throughout the year. For example, this dynamic cruise ship just finished up its final Alaskan cruise itineraries for the year, and will now move on to cruising along the Pacific Coast of the United States and the Mexican Riviera.

Starting in April 2023, the ship will begin cruising to Alaska again while offering alternate itineraries all along the west coast.

Princess Cruises Sky Suites are some of the largest and most luxurious across all cruise ships at sea, and the Discovery Princess offers two suites in this category. These gigantic suites can sleep up to five guests, and they offer a 1,000-square-foot continuous balcony that lets you enjoy a 270-degree panorama throughout your voyage.

Sky Suites also come with added perks you can enjoy, including bonus amenities and a dedicated Suite Experience Manager to help you get the most from your trip.

It might be impossible to go hungry (or thirsty) cruising on the Discovery Princess considering the ship has 23 different dining options and bars, in addition to 24/7 room service.

While the ship's buffet offers nearly any type of cuisine you could want, stand-out dining options on Discovery Princess include the Ocean Terrace Seafood Bar, a Crown Grill & Bar steakhouse and an Italian gem called Sabatini's Italian Trattoria.

The Discovery Princess has the normal ship features you expect, but there are some fun extras you should know about. For example, families can play mini golf for free overlooking the sea on the highest deck of the ship, and there's a wedding chapel and a Vegas-style casino on board.

A walking trail makes it easy to get your steps in while enjoying dramatic ocean views in every direction. The Discovery Princess also boasts a jazz lounge, a huge theater with Broadway-style shows and a fine arts gallery.

Princess Cruises Medallion app really does make the cruise process seamless, and you can even use the app to order food and drink wherever you are on the ship. All U.S. guests that cruise with Princess receive a free Medallion device that makes it easy for workers on the ship to know where you are, and it paves the way to easy ordering of nearly anything your heart desires.

For example, you can use the app to order a cocktail and cheese fries to the pool deck or to have a six-pack of beer delivered to your cabin. Many food and drink items are offered complimentary through the app, and you can use your drink package with it, too.

The Discovery Princess has its own huge thermal suite known as the Enclave at Lotus Spa. Visitors here can relax the day away while enjoying some therapeutic perks such as a hydro-therapy pool with a cascading rain shower and air jets and heated stone beds and water beds.

The thermal suite also has its own hammam, which is a Turkish-style steam bath. Guests who want more pampering can also book various massages and treatments in the Lotus Spa.

If you have your kids in tow on the Discovery Princess, you'll get the chance to let everyone in your crew get some time away. The ship offers three different clubs for children - The Treehouse for ages three to seven, The Lodge for ages eight to 12 and The Beach House for teens ages 13 to 17.

Each club offers activities and features geared to the age group invited to attend, and parents are free to drop their kids off while they enjoy a romantic dinner or some quiet time.

Like other Princess ships, Discovery Princess has its share of hot tubs and pools, including deep tank pools perfect for swimming laps or floating in the sun. Specifically, the ship offers four pools and ten different hot tubs.

The two largest pools are on the top deck of the ship, and the infinity-style Wakeview pool and bar offer the perfect place to relax and enjoy stunning ocean views.

Maybe you hate doing laundry on vacation. That's perfectly okay, but it's awfully nice to get the chance to wash some clothes during your trip. Knowing you have access to laundry on board can also help you pack less for your cruise overall, which is a major plus for those of us who tend to overpack for vacation.

With that in mind, you should know that Discovery Princess has laundry facilities you can use if you need to. You'll even find name-brand detergent and fabric softener sheets, and these facilities are open 24 hours per day.