Ship review: Discovery Princess

World of Cruising recently spent a week aboard Discovery Princess on an Alaska Inside Passage voyage. Launched in 2022, the ship is a relatively recent addition to the Princess Cruises fleet and the sixth (and final) vessel in the Royal Class, which also includes Royal Princess, Regal Princess, Majestic Princess, Sky Princess and Enchanted Princess.

With a guest capacity of 3,660, Discovery Princess is at the smaller end of what the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) classifies as a large ship. And despite sailing on a sold-out voyage, it never felt overcrowded, offering a well-balanced mix of lively and peaceful areas.

Style & character: 4.5/5

Discovery Princess follows the Princess Cruises blueprint successfully: a polished cruising experience that's sophisticated without ever being pompous, fun but never rowdy, perfect for couples while still delivering for families.

Interiors lean heavily on an earthy palette of blue, brown, cream, gold and copper. While the palette remains consistent throughout the ship, different areas feature different dominant colours to help set the mood.

As the heart of the ship, the three-storey atrium is predominantly cream, reinforcing a feeling of light and space. In contrast, the Crown Grill Bar's blue-and-gold décor creates an intimate vibe perfect for a post-dinner cocktail.

Unlike many ships from other lines, you won't find any 'neighbourhoods' here. Instead, the ship is loosely divided into various spaces and zones, each offering something different while remaining completely cohesive. This makes the onboard flow feel organic, and we found ourselves gravitating to different locations based on how we felt, without ever really thinking about it.

Take three of the ship's wide array of bars, for example: O'Malley's has the buzzing atmosphere of a city pub; Wake View offers a chilled beach-club vibe; and the Crown Grill Bar provides a sophisticated cocktail lounge ambience. We enjoyed all of them, but at different times of the day.

You'll find a similar variety with the swimming pools. The Sky Pools on the Lido Deck are lively and fun – great for sunbathing and people-watching. The smaller infinity pool at the Wake View Bar is quieter and offers stunning sea views. Finally, the Retreat Pool is an adults-only haven, perfect for diving into a good book for a few hours.

Cabins: 4/5

While there are technically only a handful of outside cabins (called Premium Oceanview Staterooms and featuring floor-to-ceiling windows), you won't have any issues finding accommodation that suits your needs on Discovery Princess thanks to a wide range of stateroom and suite options.

In addition to the Premium Oceanview Staterooms, guests can book the usual mix of Interior or Balcony Staterooms (including standard and Deluxe options).

Also available are Mini-Suites, larger than Balcony Staterooms and featuring a sofa bed and two flat-screen TVs – an attractive option for families and larger groups who want more space but can't quite stretch to the full suite experience. A range of suites, from regular to the luxurious Sky Suites, complete the line-up.

During our cruise, we stayed in a Balcony Stateroom, which we found extremely functional and well-designed. Travelling as a family, we were impressed by the ample storage. The stateroom is divided into two parts (sleeping area and bathroom) by a partition wall that also acts as a walk-in wardrobe. The wardrobe itself has enough rail space and shelving to absorb the contents of two large suitcases and keep things organised.

Children can sleep in bunk beds that fold down from the ceiling, meaning you don't sacrifice too much floor space when travelling with kids. Alternatively, you can request a cot for younger children. The stateroom was fitted with a large flat-screen TV offering a good selection of films on demand.

The balcony itself was in line with what you'll find on most modern cruise ships, with enough space for two sun loungers and a small coffee table. All in all, the stateroom and balcony were spacious enough that we never felt cramped.

The bathroom felt a little more utilitarian while still perfectly serviceable, with excellent water pressure in the shower. However, more shelving space and a shower screen (rather than a curtain) would have been welcome additions.

Food & drink: 5/5

This is where Discovery Princess truly shines. During our cruise, we tried most dining venues and enjoyed every one of them. As is standard with Princess Cruises, the dining options are divided into four categories: complimentary, casual, speciality, and experiential.

Complimentary options are, as you'd expect, free. Casual and speciality restaurants require payment, although some are included with the Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages.

Experiential venues (the most expensive in the line-up and not included in any packages) offer dining that goes beyond a simple meal. Think interactive dining, chef-led presentations or dinners, blending food and entertainment.

The free options include three dining rooms (Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan), with daily-changing menus and options for anytime or traditional set-time dining. While these are delicious, the World Fresh Marketplace, with its buffet-style selection of international cuisines, was our go-to for breakfast and lunch.

We recommend taking your plate to one of the tables at the Wake View Bar, which is adjacent to World Fresh Marketplace, for al fresco dining with unbeatable ocean views.

Discovery Princess has six speciality dining options, including the Crown Grill, a sophisticated brasserie-style restaurant; Sabatini's Italian Trattoria for Italian fine dining; and The Catch by Rudi for exceptional seafood.

All three were excellent. The ribeye at the Crown Grill can easily compete with some of the best steakhouses on land; the vitello tonnato at Sabatini's hits all the right umami and salty notes; and the prawns on the rocks at The Catch by Rudi were succulent.

Tables do sell out, so make sure to book on the Princess Cruises app before you sail. This is less of an issue with The Catch by Rudi and Sabatini's if you're flexible with dining times, but the Crown Grill was the hardest to secure after we set sail.

If you want to go all out one evening, check out 360. With a price tag of US$149 per diner, it's not the cheapest option, but it's a real treat (and includes cocktails and wine to match each dish). 360 is an interactive dining experience that combines food with live music, video, audio and on-table projections that respond to diners' actions. The highlight was a surf-and-turf with beef fillet paired with SeaStar 2022 D.O.Ca Priorat, a Spanish wine aged for six months at the bottom of the sea (its bottle is covered in seashells).

Service & facilities: 4/5

Discovery Princess is well-designed across its 19 decks. The heart of the ship spans Decks 5 to 7, centred around the three-level Piazza atrium that buzzes with a lively high-street atmosphere. Here, you'll find the main dining and drinking venues, plus the theatre, casino, shops, spa and guest services.

Decks 8-15 house the staterooms, with Deck 16 serving as the main pool and casual dining hub around World Fresh Marketplace. Deck 17 houses the kids' clubs, fitness centre and adults-only Retreat area.

The selection of facilities is impressive and caters well to those seeking a refined cruise experience. However, thrill-seekers looking for rock-climbing walls, water slides or surf simulators might be a little disappointed. Discovery Princess focuses on sophistication over adrenaline-pumping attractions.

Throughout our voyage, service levels remained consistently high. Staff were attentive without being intrusive, and the ship felt well-maintained with clean facilities in good working order. Guest services were particularly helpful with reservations, though queues could build up during busy periods.

Entertainment & excursions: 4/5

Discovery Princess offers a solid array of entertainment options. The main theatre, Princess Theatre, hosts full-scale production shows that are genuinely impressive.

For those seeking more intimate entertainment, the various lounges offer everything from live jazz at Crooners Bar to interactive game shows in the Piazza. The ship's entertainment team works hard to create a vibrant atmosphere, with deck parties, trivia contests and dance classes happening throughout the day.

Families will appreciate the extensive kids' club facilities on Deck 17. The Camp Discovery youth programmes are well-structured and age-appropriate, giving parents peace of mind while they enjoy some adult time. Teenagers have their own dedicated spaces and activities, including gaming areas and supervised social events.

Regarding shore excursions during our Alaska voyage, Princess Cruises offered an excellent variety of tours that showcased the region's natural beauty and wildlife. From Glacier boat tours to whale-watching expeditions, there was something for every interest and activity preference. While not cheap, the quality of these excursions was consistently high.

Value for money: 4.5/5

Discovery Princess represents good value at the premium end of the market. The complimentary dining options alone would satisfy most cruisers, and the variety of included activities and entertainment means you could easily have a fulfilling holiday without spending extra.

That said, the ship does encourage additional spending. Speciality dining, while excellent, can add up quickly for a family. Shore excursions, while high-quality, carry premium pricing too.

If you’re planning to spend money on cocktails and speciality dining, the Princess Premier package may make sense; it covers all drinks (up to US$20 per drink) and speciality dining. Wi-Fi for up to four devices, a photo package, room service, OceanNow delivery, bottled water and gratuities are also included. The package will add to the cost of your cruise (£75 per person, per day). But if you are the kind of cruiser who likes to browse the web, have a few drinks and try all the onboard restaurants, the maths soon make sense.

Compared to other cruise lines, Princess Cruises sits in the premium-but-accessible segment. You're paying more than you would for mass-market operators, but you're getting a more refined experience with better food, service and overall execution. For couples seeking a sophisticated cruise experience without the ultra-luxury price tag, Discovery Princess delivers excellent value. Families will find the ship accommodating, though the lack of flashy attractions might disappoint thrill-seeking teenagers.

Overall, if you prefer a more relaxed, refined cruising style, Discovery Princess offers solid value for money. The ship may not be the cheapest option, but it consistently delivers on its promises of a polished cruise experience.