Discovery Princess
Royal class · refurbished 2025 · Alaska, Mexican Riviera & West Coast
Discovery Princess entered service in 2022 as the final Royal-class ship, with itineraries focused on the western United States. In summer, it offers departures from Vancouver and Vancouver to Whittier (Anchorage), combining Alaska cruises with land tours. From winter onward, it switches to departures from Los Angeles for seven-night Mexico and California coast itineraries. After a dry dock in 2025, its onboard condition has also been refreshed.
Current position (external site)View on VesselFinder (IMO 9837468)External site. Position information has not been checked by Cruise Atlas.
For travelers from Japan
A guide to public baths, Japanese food and language support, payment in yen, smoking, dress codes and power outlets, based on available official and other sources. Details may vary by itinerary and season. Check the official website for current information.
Similar facilities, such as a thermal suite
Japanese-speaking staff and menus
Payment in yen not accepted
English text in preparation.
Official: confirmed by the cruise line or another official source / Secondary source: confirmed by other sources / Estimated: inferred by Cruise Atlas / Not stated: no information found in official sources
At a glance
What is included and what costs extra
- Meals (main restaurants)Included
- AlcoholExtra charge
- GratuitiesExtra charge
- Wi‑FiExtra charge
- Specialty diningExtra charge
- Shore excursionsExtra charge
The base fare (Princess Standard) includes meals such as main dining and buffet only. Princess Plus ($65 per person per day) adds a beverage package (up to $15 per drink), Wi-Fi (one device), and gratuities (crew appreciation). Princess Premier ($100 per person per day) further adds four-device Wi-Fi, specialty restaurant access, priority access, and other benefits. Specialty restaurants typically require an additional cover charge of about $18–$29 (Chef's Table Lumiere is around $155).
- Extra chargeDrinks (one beer)$7-$7.50 (+18% service charge)
- Extra chargeSoft drinks and water$3–$4 (+18% service charge)
- Extra chargeDrink packagePrincess Plus ($65/person/day) includes a drink package covering cocktails, beer, wine, and similar drinks up to $15 per drink. Premier ($100/person/day) includes premium drinks up to $20.
- Extra chargeWi‑FiFrom about $175 for 7 nights when purchased on its own.
- Extra chargeGratuities (automatic service charge)$18/day for standard cabins; $19/day for mini-suites and Club Class; $20/day for suites
- Extra chargeSpa (60 minutes)From $149 (based on the 50-minute menu; explicit prices for a 60-minute session alone are limited)
- Extra chargeLaundrySelf-service coin laundry is available for personal use on decks 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, and 16 (Medallion token purchase required, $3-$5/use, detergent included). Captain's Circle Elite members use it free.
- Shore excursionsShore excursions cost extra depending on the content and port. Additional purchases can be made through the advance booking website or onboard desk.
Prices are shown in the onboard currency; no currency conversion is applied.
Boarding, atmosphere, and links
- Japan departures: No
- Home ports: Los Angeles (United States; California's west coast, using San Pedro and Long Beach; a major base for Mexican Riviera and seasonal round-trip cruises), Vancouver (Canada; British Columbia's west coast; a major base for Alaska cruises), Seattle (United States; Washington State; a major base for Alaska routes)
- Departure ports: Los Angeles, Vancouver, Seattle, Cabo San Lucas/Mazatlán/Puerto Vallarta (ports of call on Mexican Riviera itineraries)
- All ages
- The sophisticated large-resort atmosphere befitting the Royal class (the last ship in the series that began with Royal Princess in 2013). It combines experiential features such as the glass-floored aerial walkway SeaWalk and the digitally staged escape room Phantom Bridge with classic Princess elements such as the traditional 3 main dining rooms and The Sanctuary.
- Alaska sailings from Seattle or Vancouver mainly attract Western European and American guests across a broad age range seeking scenic cruises, while Mexican Riviera sailings from Los Angeles mainly attract relatively casual families and couples. Japanese-language guidance and Japanese staff could not be confirmed.
Equipped with an Advanced Air Quality System (exhaust-gas scrubber) to comply with low-sulfur fuel regulations. Graywater and blackwater are treated at a United States Coast Guard-certified advanced wastewater treatment plant and discharged only beyond 12 miles offshore. Uses diesel-electric propulsion with four Wärtsilä engines rated at 62.4 MW total.
Ship character
- • Alaska cruises with land tours
- • Short western coast cruises
- • Families taking their first cruise
- • Travelers seeking Norwegian fjords
- • Travelers seeking long ocean voyages
Cruise stories and videos on external sites
5 linksThese are articles and videos by other publishers, not Cruise Atlas. Their content is their own and has not been reviewed by us. Links open in a new tab.
- Personal blogJapanesenote.com
note.com · Link checked Oct 4, 2026
- Personal blogEnglishDiscovering New Horizons with Princess - A Complete Discovery Princess Review With Photos - Quiltripping
quiltripping.com · Link checked Oct 5, 2026
- YouTubeEnglishDiscovery Princess Complete Ship Tour (with on-screen navigation)
youtube.com · Link checked Oct 5, 2026
- YouTubeEnglishDiscovery Princess Cruise Ship Tour & Honest Review 🛳️ | Full Walkthrough!
youtube.com · Link checked Oct 5, 2026
- Personal blogEnglishDiscovery Princess: Review
cruisingjoy.com · Link checked Oct 4, 2026
English text in preparation.
Sources
- Officialprincess.com
- Secondary sourceseatrade-cruise.com
- Officialprincess.com (2)
- Officialprincess.com (3)
- Encyclopediaen.wikipedia.org
- Officialprincess.com (4)
- Officialprincess.com (5)
- Officialprincess.com (6)
- Secondary sourcecruisedeckplans.com
- Secondary sourcecruisedeckplans.com (2)
- Secondary sourcespecialneedsatsea.com
- Secondary sourceeatsleepcruise.com
- Secondary sourceeatsleepcruise.com (2)
- Secondary sourceeatsleepcruise.com (3)
- Secondary sourceeatsleepcruise.com (4)
- Officialprincess.com (7)
- Officialprincess.com (8)
- Secondary sourcecruisemummy.co.uk
- Officialprincess.com (9)
- Officialprincess.com (10)
- Officialprincess.com (11)
- Officialprincess.com (12)
- Secondary sourcemccooltravel.com
- Secondary sourcecruiseline.com
- Secondary sourcecruiseline.com (2)
- Secondary sourceprnewswire.com
- Officialprincess.com (13)
- Secondary sourcealaskacruises.com
- Secondary sourcespapriceslist.com
- Secondary sourcecruiselifestyle.co.uk
Source: Wikipedia “Discovery Princess” (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Cabins by category
| Cabins | Size | Occupancy and beds | Features | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Interior Stateroom The ship's smallest and least expensive category (3 codes, IA-IF, about 175 square feet). Although there is no window, basic amenities such as a bathroom with shower, flat-panel TV, refrigerator, and digital safe are shared with other categories. Includes 7 wheelchair-accessible cabins; there are 36 wheelchair-accessible cabins across the ship when balconies are included. A dedicated solo cabin for 1 guest could not be confirmed as of July 2026. 342 cabins | 16.2–16.3 m² (174–175 ft²) | 2–4 guests (some categories have upper beds) Princess Luxury Bed (queen-size/twin-size available). | Accessible | Check cabin location on the official deck plan |
Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom A very small minority category in the Royal class, where 81% of cabins have balconies: category code O6 only, with just 6 cabins in total. Offers sea views through large non-opening windows (about 172 square feet). There is no balcony, but basic amenities such as a refrigerator and flat-panel TV are shared. 6 cabins | 16 m² (172 ft²) | 2 people Queen bed (convertible to twins). | Window | Check cabin location on the official deck plan |
Balcony / Deluxe Balcony Stateroom The largest category, combining standard balconies (BA-BF/BW; approximately 174 square feet) and deluxe balconies (D4/DA-DF/DW; approximately 185 square feet), with a total of 1,066 cabins, the majority of the ship's cabins. It includes 29 accessible cabins. The ship is reported to have 100 connecting cabins in total, and many appear to be concentrated in these balcony categories (the official breakdown by category had not been confirmed as of July 2026). 1,066 cabins | 19.5–20.5 m² (210–221 ft²) | 2-4 people Queen bed (can be split into twins). Some rooms accommodate 3-4 guests with an added upper berth. | BalconyConnectingAccessible | Check cabin location on the official deck plan |
Reserve Collection Mini-Suite A mini-suite category of about 243 square feet (about 279 square feet including the balcony), with a living area (M1/M6/MA-MC/ME/MF/MY, 374 cabins). As part of the Reserve Collection, it includes priority embarkation and disembarkation and access to a dedicated area in the main dining room, but not the Concierge Lounge reserved for full suites. 374 cabins | 22.6–26.3 m² (243–283 ft²) | 2-4 people Queen bed (convertible to twin) + sofa bed. | Balcony | Check cabin location on the official deck plan |
Suite / Vista Suite / Window Suite / Sky Suite Four suite types totaling 46 cabins: standard Suites (S2-S5, about 332 square feet, 36 cabins), Vista Suites (S6, about 329 square feet plus a 112-square-foot balcony, up to 4 guests, 6 cabins), large Window Suites without balconies (S7, about 710 square feet, 2 cabins), and the fleet's largest two-room Sky Suites (S0, about 1,565 square feet, 270-degree terrace, 2 cabins). Unlike Reserve Collection mini-suites, only full suites have access to the Concierge Lounge. 46 cabins / The Sky Suite (S0, only 2 rooms) is located aft of the sports deck on Deck 18 and has a 270-degree observation terrace, one of the largest balconies in the fleet. Many other suites are located near the Concierge Lounge around Deck 14. | 30.8–145.4 m² (332–1,565 ft²) | 2-6 guests (Vista Suite accommodates up to 4; Sky Suite has 2 bedrooms and accommodates up to about 6) King bed (convertible to twin). The top-tier two-room Sky Suite has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. | BalconyConcierge | Check cabin location on the official deck plan |
Approximate figures from official and reliable sources. Cabins vary by ship, category, and sailing.Links generally lead to official pages; some have not been verified.
Families, adults-only areas, and practical information
- • Camp Discovery: The Tree House / The Lodge / The Beach House — The free Camp Discovery program for children and teens comprises three age-based facilities: The Tree House for ages 3-7, The Lodge for ages 8-12, and The Beach House for ages 13-17, with a surf theme. No paid nursery dedicated to infants and toddlers could be confirmed.
- • The Sanctuary — An adults-only retreat on the Sky Deck with a private pool, lounge chairs, and a dedicated bar, offering signature drinks, light snacks, and outdoor massages (for a fee). It is not exclusive to full-suite guests; other guests can use it with a paid day pass.
- • Princess Casino — A casino with slot machines and table games. It operates only in international waters (more than 12 miles offshore) and is one of the few areas where smoking is permitted onboard.
- Onboard currency
- USD
- Gratuities
- Charged automatically to your onboard account for each day under the name "Crew Appreciation." Prepayment is also possible. Guests on Standard fares are charged automatically every day, but the amount can be adjusted at Guest Services (it cannot be abolished, but you can ask to increase or reduce it). If you have purchased the Princess Plus or Princess Premier package, this Crew Appreciation is included in the package price and is not billed separately. Also, from March 2026 the service charge on food and beverage purchases was raised from 18% to 20%.
- Payment
- Cashless onboard
- Voltage
- 110V/60Hz (North American specification is standard; on some ships, 220V European sockets are also provided)
- Formal nights
- They are scheduled according to cruise length, at roughly 1 for every 4 to 6 nights. Short cruises of 1 to 4 days have none; typically there is 1 for 5 to 6 days and about 2 for 7 to 13 days.
- Medical facilities
- Doctors and nurses are on board 24 hours a day, but the doctors are independent contractors and consultations are charged. As a guide, a consultation during regular hours is said to cost around $100, after-hours visits more ($165 or so), and cabin visits more still (about $205) in some cases. Travel insurance cannot be used directly on board; the charge is first billed to your onboard account, and after disembarking you submit the receipt to your own insurer to claim a refund.
- Bringing items onboard
- Each passenger aged 21 or over (the legal drinking age) may bring only 1 bottle (750 ml) of wine or champagne on board, and no corkage fee is charged for drinking it in your cabin. Bringing beer and spirits is prohibited, and they are confiscated if found. A corkage fee of $20 per bottle applies for additional bottles brought on board or for bottles opened in public areas such as restaurants, regardless of the number of bottles. Alcohol purchased at ports of call or in duty-free shops is held by the ship until the day of disembarkation.
- Mobile and connectivity
- With "Cellular at Sea," which uses satellite communication (via Wireless Maritime Services), regular mobile phone use is possible at sea if your carrier has a roaming agreement. However, maritime roaming tends to be expensive at about $2 to $6 per MB, so it is advisable to check in advance whether your carrier offers a package for sea cruises. If you subscribe to MedallionNet Wi-Fi, you can use data-based calling apps such as WhatsApp, FaceTime Audio and Wi-Fi calling, and going through Wi-Fi is a realistic alternative if you want to keep communication costs down.
- Japanese support
- Staff PartialMenus PartialAnnouncements Partial
Dining
Deck 5, one of the main dining rooms adjacent to the Piazza. Primarily operated with traditional fixed seating, it also has a circular wine-cellar private room for up to 12 guests. It offers the same rotation menu as the other two rooms.
Hours: Breakfast 7:00-9:30, dinner 17:00-21:30 approximate; lunch and afternoon tea may be available depending on the day
The main dining room on Deck 6. Part of the room is designated for Reserve Collection (Mini-Suite and above) and Club Class guests, offering dedicated wait staff, additional menu items, and no wait times.
Hours: Dinner 17:00-21:30, approximate.
The main dining room on Deck 6, often used for the flexible "Dine My Way" system, which accepts reservations and walk-ins. All three rooms (Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan) offer the same menu included in the fare.
Hours: Dinner 17:00-21:30, approximate.
A complimentary buffet on Deck 16, divided into three zones: The Bistro, The Pastry Shop, and Marketplace. Breakfast includes a custom egg station, while dinner features themed nights such as ramen, Caribbean, Mexican, and Mongolian cuisine.
Hours: 5:00-22:30, approximate (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
A café on Deck 5. Light snacks (sandwiches, pastries, cookies, and more) are included in the fare, but specialty coffees such as lattes, cappuccinos, and espressos cost extra without a beverage package.
Hours: Open 24 hours
A complimentary pizzeria on Deck 7 serving pizza and calzones, as well as soup, salad, and dessert.
Hours: 11:30-22:00.
A free Naples-style pizza stand on the Deck 16 pool deck.
Hours: 11:00-22:00.
A free casual grill on Deck 16 serving burgers, tacos, hot dogs, loaded fries, and other items.
Hours: 11:00-22:00 (On port days, the start time may be later)
A complimentary soft-serve ice cream stand on Deck 16.
Hours: 11:00-22:00.
A Princess signature Italian trattoria on Deck 5 serving antipasti, handmade pasta, and meat-based main dishes.
- Antipasto assortment
- Handmade pasta (seasonal changes)
- Tiramisu
An upscale gastropub on Deck 5 overseen by chef Ernesto Uchimura, with an extensive selection of craft beers and premium whiskies.
- Ernie Burger
- Fish & Chips
- Seasonal dessert
Deck 7. A Princess-original French bistro, not an Emeril-branded venue. It offers a four-course format of welcome dish, appetizer, main course, and dessert.
- Lobster bisque served in a bread bowl
- Ahi tuna tartare/escargot
- Additional main course (such as filet mignon)$10 (additional charge)
Princess's traditional steakhouse on Deck 7, refreshed on Discovery Princess with a modern design and color palette. Premium beef cuts and seafood are the focus.
- Black & blue onion soup
- Premium beef chop
- Salted caramel crème brûlée cheesecake
An à la carte sushi bar on Deck 6 overlooking the Piazza. Nigiri, sashimi, and rolls are available individually (about $5 for 2 pieces) or as a $14.99 set.
- Nigiri sushi and sashimi (2 pieces)$5
- Sushi rolls$5
- Prix fixe set (appetizer + assortment + side)$14.99
A gelato stand on Deck 5 opposite the International Café. This small-charge snack venue does not serve alcoholic or soft drinks.
- Gelato, 1 scoop$1.50–$2
- 2 scoops$3
- 3 scoops$4
A special experiential course limited to 12 guests, hosted by the executive chef with behind-the-scenes stories from the galley. Advance registration through Guest Services or the Dine Line is required.
- Executive Chef-curated multi-course tasting menu (with champagne and wine pairing)$155 (included in course)
Facilities and activities
A glass-enclosed skywalk extending from the ship's side. This Royal-class signature facility offers an immersive experience with views down to the sea.
An escape room in the Experience Center on the aft starboard side of the deck, combining physical and digital effects. This industry-first technology-driven attraction has more than 700 possible scenario branches.
A free outdoor theater using the large pool-deck screen (69,000 watts). Movies, concert broadcasts, and sports-viewing events are shown with blanket rentals and free popcorn.
A dedicated studio on the starboard side of Deck 7. This interactive entertainment hub hosts daytime activities such as trivia, game shows, and live music free of charge.
An adults-only retreat on the Sky Deck with a private pool, lounge chairs, and a dedicated bar, offering signature drinks, light snacks, and outdoor massages (for a fee). It is not exclusive to full-suite guests; other guests can use it with a paid day pass.
A two-level main theater spanning the forward sections of Decks 6 and 7. Free performances include original production shows such as Rock Opera, as well as comedians and magicians. The early show is around 19:30 and the late show around 21:30.
An open-plan, multi-purpose atrium. International Café, Sabatini's, Good Spirits at Sea, shops, and the guest services desk line the surrounding area, making it a social hub on the ship.
A casino with slot machines and table games. It operates only in international waters (more than 12 miles offshore) and is one of the few areas where smoking is permitted onboard.
A spa facility on Deck 5 with two couples' villas, a Scrub & Shine bar, 18 massage rooms, and a relaxation lounge. Discounts of 10-30% are available for booking multiple treatments at once or using the spa on sea days.
A gym on Deck 18 with cardio machines and weight equipment. Some group classes and personal training sessions cost extra.
A free jogging and walking track on Deck 18, located one level above the fitness center. Approximately 1 mile is covered in 7 laps.
A large combination court with a net on Deck 18. It supports both pickleball and basketball and is free to use.
The free Camp Discovery program for children and teens comprises three age-based facilities: The Tree House for ages 3-7, The Lodge for ages 8-12, and The Beach House for ages 13-17, with a surf theme. No paid nursery dedicated to infants and toddlers could be confirmed.
A shopping area around the Piazza offering branded goods and souvenirs from Swarovski, Chanel, Estée Lauder, Clinique, Lancôme, Calvin Klein, Citizen, Tissot, and other brands. Browsing and entry are free.
A multi-purpose nightlife venue on Deck 7. The dance floor hosts live performances by the resident band, karaoke, and DJ events.
A jazz lounge on Deck 6. Signature cocktails themed around the golden age of jazz, including Ella Fitzgerald, and nighttime live performances are its specialties.
A piano bar on Deck 6 offering live piano vocal performances, signature martinis, and classic cocktails.
A mixologist bar in the Piazza offering unique cocktails made with local ingredients, accompanied by live demonstrations and explanations from bartenders.
The ship has four pools and 10 jacuzzis, including the Sky Pool on Deck 16 near the Movies Under the Stars screen and the Wakeview Pool at the stern. The adults-only retreat pool on Deck 17 is listed separately.
An all-day lounge near Deck 14 exclusively for full-suite guests, offering tea, coffee, and light snacks free of charge.