Cruising is a way to explore the magical power of the places where land and water meet. Of course, you could fly to a desired location, hop on a water vessel, and then explore the meeting of land and water. But cruising will allow you to do this in a way that provides extra focus on the places where land and water meet, giving you an experience that is unique, and, for me, especially powerful.
In the pages that follow, I’ll explore some of my experiences traveling via cruise ships, enjoying culture, fine food, entertainment, and of course the magic that happens when land and water meet.
In July of 2023, we did a 7-night cruise from Athens/Piraeus to Ravenna, with stops in Mykonos, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Zadar, and Split. With only one sea day, this was a port-intensive, tiring (but in a good way) itinerary.
This review covers the ports, mostly, with thoughts about the ship and service.
PRE-CRUISE, ATHENS
It was HOT, hovering near and over 100 degrees that summer in Europe. We spent about 24 hours in Athens before embarkation. My husband and I have both claimed responsibility for finding our hotel for the night before, the fabulous niche hotel Athens. It’s in a great location for touring the Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum, which were the main items on our list for a short stay. We will certainly return for future stays there, as this hotel delivers terrific, personalized service that begins from the time you make a reservation. There’s a place on the reservation form to let them know your needs (e.g. transfer to cruise port) and they will write you back with information about that. The rooms are lovely.
The Stork rooftop restaurant and bar has a view of the Acropolis and everything that we ate or drank there was delicious. 10/10!
The best hotel breakfast I have ever had, hands down. Exceptional, warm hospitality from the staff.
ACROPOLIS
Since our time in Athens was so limited (we had planned a week in Italy post-cruise, and couldn’t really be gone longer than 16 days, we limited ourselves to the essential: the world-class fascinating Acropolis Museum (we did this first as it would be in the heat of the afternoon) and the Acropolis itself in the (slightly cooler) morning. Note to the British Museum: return the Acropolis sculptures, now!!
Did I say it was HOT? We had our reserved tickets for the Acropolis at 8 am, and walked by Red Cross stations and water stations as we hiked up the hill. They had announced that due to extreme heat, they were closing at 11 am. It was HOT but amazing.
SHIP: We were on the Celebrity Infinity, (Millenium class) a well-maintained but older ship that holds 2,170 (double occupancy). However, we were on a summer cruise and there were many families onboard. We heard that we were about 200 over that 2,170 number.
I had been on Solstice-class ships, and had read enough about Millenium-class ships to expect this to feel smaller. The ship didn’t really feel crowded, but the large family groups could at times make for a loud or rowdy atmosphere. I was especially glad for the covered, adults-only saltwater pool and the relaxation there.
There is a good article here describing the different classes of Celebrity ships.
CABIN: We chose an aft inside cabin, and near a set of stairs that led to the Rooftop Terrace. The idea was that instead of having a balcony, we could use the Rooftop Terrace when we wanted to be outside. It worked out fine. The layout of the cabin was good, with plenty of storage, comfortable seating as well as a desk area.
TIP: Use cruise deck plans website before making final selection of your cabin. Remember to check what is directly above or below your cabin choice. For example, some people are bothered if they are directly underneath the buffet, or directly over a late-night venue.
DINING: on this cruise, we opted to dine in the (included) Main Dining Room with friends who were also on the cruise, and it was lovely. Check out the expansive views of the water! We had good service, even though our staff was also handling groups of 20 (or even more). I always appreciate having a designated table with the same waiter and assistants. I find that they quickly learn my preferences and I enjoy interacting with them throughout the cruise.
Buffet/Oceanview Cafe: For a quick and casual breakfast or lunch, we often went to the buffet, and I am a huge fan of the Indian food that Celebrity serves at lunch – also, the menu selections change daily, so it’s entirely possible to return to that day after day and enjoy something different. They make sure to mix that up, so it’s not boring. Of course, if Indian food is not your favorite, there is much, much to choose from.
We also love to eat a light, healthful lunch at the Spa Cafe on the Pool Deck. The selections are fresh, healthy, and light, so that balances out our indulgent evening meals!
The offerings at the Spa Cafe will change daily, giving you a variety of choices. In the mornings you can find healthier choices, muffins and a wide variety of fruit. Here is a sample breakfast menu. This is also where you find fresh juices and healthy smoothies. I always get a green juice here. They will also make custom blends. The smoothies are included with a Premium package.
Healthy, light food on a cruise? Absolutely! Head to the Spa Cafe!
PORTS: This was a port-intensive itinerary, with only one Sea Day. I learned from this experience that on a seven-day cruise, having two days at sea is almost necessary for a relaxing vacation.
We did our shore excursions through Celebrity everywhere except our last port, Split, Croatia, which was a very easy port to explore on our own. So here’s a bit about our time in each port:
Mykonos
Sunrise over Mykonos, Greece from the Celebrity Infinity.
This was our first full day onboard. We had traveled from the Western U.S., not without complications, and then pushed ourselves hard in the heat in Athens. I woke early in the morning after only a few hours of sleep. My body doesn’t obey time changes! I had chosen our interior cabin because it was near the Rooftop Terrace, what I was hoping was a peaceful, quiet deck.
And so, I sat alone on a comfortable chaise wrapped in a blanket, and watched a lovely sliver of a crescent moon fade, as lights on land twinkled, and the sun eventually began to rise over the island. It was a magical way to enter our first port of call. And, I slept well the rest of the cruise! With all the activity we had that you will read about, how could I not?
We had prepurchased (months in advance, actually) a shore excursion through Celebrity. This was the first excursion we planned, but not because it was our first port. I knew that this was a tender port (where the boat is achored, not docked), and also knew that purchasing our shore excursion through Celebrity would automatically get us in a priority line for a tender shuttle. I suggest that you always note tender ports and consider this as a strategy to avoid waiting in long lines for a ticket to board a tender. Our Celebrity shore excursion was a Captain-Curated: Food on Foot tour that combined walking through the town of Mykonos with a guide who led us to several restaurants where we sampled food like souvlaki or mezes, with commentary on the town’s history. We were led down streets that we would not have found on our own, for sure. This was a good tour, and tasty! The final stop had the best sampling. I don’t think that on our own we could have wandered through town and gotten samples of food.
We definitely explored streets that we would not have found on our own. There was a secret garden that was used as a cinema, just charming.
CORFU
What a gorgeous sail-in into the island of Corfu! Sailing into and out of ports of call is one of the reasons I love cruising - because you see the land from a unique perspective. I have begun the habit of hugging the decks of the ship while sailing in and out for the views and experiences like this photo captured.
Once again we chose a Celebrity Excursion and it took us to a few locations that we would have struggled to get to on our own. This is one of my decision-making principles, and why I may opt for a shore excursion purchased through the cruise ship. When I am on vacation, I love to do preliminary research about a site in order to know what I would like to do, but once we arrive, I don’t love the distracting details of coordinating movements between numerous locations, and a tour can be a great way to be shuttled around, often in comfort. The air-conditioned bus was worth a lot on that hot day in July, too. We had a lovely, brilliant guide that day who was a native of Corfu. She talked for at least three hours about the history of the island, and I was enthralled. She recounted stories from the time of Homer, and also helped us understand the influence of Venetian, French, and British powers over the island. It’s a very special place I would love to return to. Our stops included a boat ride out to inspect some intriguing Sea Caves (Paleokastritsa), time on a sandy beach, and a visit to Corfu Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I regret not trying the kumquat liquor. Next time! Just a lovely, informative and beautiful excursion!
DUBROVNIK: Oh, this place is a wonder! We had chosen a tour to walk the walls of the old city, and I’m pretty sure that although we are ultimately glad to have done that, we didn’t quite know what we were in for. See that walled city? See how high those walls are? Can you imagine the view from there?
THIS is why cruise ships stop here. It’s amazing! These walls circle the city and were constructed over 500 years, from the 12th to the 17th century. It’s an experience to see the city, the Stradun (main street shown below) and the water from the walls, for sure.
At the time, I was still healing from a broken wrist, and was wearing a brace. I was struggling to get around. It was 100 degrees, the stairs were steep, and the handrails were very hot. Mind you, I had broken my wrist by falling down some stairs. So, this steep climb on stone stairs was unsettling. I know that I was thinking that I wished I were in those kayaks, and that I wanted to return when I was stronger and it was cooler!
There are some amazing places where you can walk through a hole in the wall, go down some steps, and find a very lively bar! We found one after leaving the tour group, and will make that our main activity next time. We watched the kayaks, and people were able to jump – from the bar – into the water for a swim. Magical, I tell you! Next time, we’ll wear our swimsuits for sure.
Of course, Dubrovnik was a major filming site for Game of Thrones, and while walking the walls, you absolutely know that you are in King’s Landing. While we did not opt for a tour specializing in that, they are easy to find. It’s also easy to grab a quick shot of yourself posing with one of the iron thrones in the shops! We heard that if you spend enough money, the store will let you sit on the throne. We didn’t get to that point, ourselves.
ZADAR
This was also a replacement port. We were supposed to go to Kotor, Montenegro, so that is still on my to-do list.
Prior to breaking my wrist (exactly six weeks before our cruise began – yup, I was calculating that even as we drove to the ER), I had thought it would be a great idea by this point in the cruise to plan an active hike. I’m not sure why I didn’t reckon the level of activity we would have already logged, but, ok! I had found a hiking excursion to Paklenica National Park, which, again, I knew we could not get to easily on our own. Somehow I didn’t pay much attention to the “strenuous” rating, and somehow I missed all the information about how this was a rock-climbing paradise, and envisioned a lush, green forest. Well.
While there were some trees, especially at the lower elevations, we ended up hiking on ancient, steep, worn-to-a-treacherous-and-death-defying-slickness limestone. This is my game face.
We decided we had to make it to the top! Whew! Of course going DOWN was in some ways even more dangerous. Sliding on slick limestone in a remote national park – what a way to balance the day when you live on a cruise ship.
After our visit there (Zadar was a change in itinerary from our original purchase), I was glad that I stared down death by limestone, but wasn’t sure I needed to return to Zadar. Now after reading this list of reasons to go, I am wondering whether I should return and find a beach. I would also LOVE to learn more about glass blowing. There are in fact some good reasons to return.
LIFE ON SHIP
Before mentioning our last day in Split, Croatia I will want to give some love to the crew and staff on Celebrity Infinity. The entertainers are brilliant, the dining staff are personable and attentive, and the bartenders are smart and fun. Our room steward was helpful and kept our cabin immaculate.
ENTERTAINMENT:
The terrific onboard entertainment is a huge part of our experience on a ship. It’s for sure one of the main reasons we choose to cruise. Having entertainment included and available makes cruising a special experience. We love the theater productions and make sure to go every night. You can grab a cocktail, or even order one there, and enjoy a high-quality show.
My husband always wants to sit in the front row when there is a comedian, increasing the chances that we will get picked on or mocked in some fun way. Celebrity Infinity has a talented crew of singers, dancers, and acrobats/aerialists. I love the way that Celebrity often incorporates aerialists into their theater productions. It’s always terrifying and thrilling to watch!
One thing that was new to us on this ship was that the cast would do mini-shows of 10-15 minutes in the Atrium, generally in the very early evening. That was a fun diversion with a cocktail before dinner, and you could observe the acrobats from a close vantage point.
We enjoyed live music in the bars also. The Abba Sing-a-Long one night in the Atrium was brilliant!
We can’t imagine missing out on the great theater shows, and we also look for live music happening in the bars and lounges. With such a port-intensive itinerary, I didn’t have as much of that as I would have liked. Still, I loved every port!
BEVERAGES ARE IMPORTANT!
We enjoy a specialty coffee from Cafe Al Bacio on the regular. While sometimes one of us will run down to pick up one or two to bring back to the room, we try to also work in sitting down in the Cafe. The service is just lovely. And I am a big fan of afternoon tea. While Celebrity doesn’t serve afternoon tea in the dining room as some cruise lines do, (at times you can find buffet offerings in the afternoon) I think that Cafe Al Bacio does a lovely tea service, and the pastry choices are great.
The Martini Bar, with its frozen counter to keep your drink chilled, is a Celebrity favorite. They make real martinis, and then there is an extensive menu with all kinds of fun drinks served in martini glasses. I finally got my nerve up to try the Lychee Martini, and it is good! While this bar unfortunately doesn’t have as much space as it does on Solstice or Edge class ship, it is a gathering spot near the staircase open to the Atrium. Abba Sing-a-Long, anyone?? We saw that there were mixology classes that you could sign up for here, and people were enjoying getting their bartending skills on.
The Martini Bar has a great reputation for fun and showmanship. Watch for the bartenders to do their “flair” moves, pouring a dozen martinis at a time while standing on the bar. When someone orders a martini flight, you will get a show! Also, note that most martinis here are priced at the Premium package rate, so if you think you will be a regular visitor, that package might be your best choice. Drink packages are evidently a controversial topic, but we are solidly in the “heck, yes, it’s worth it” camp. We like the ease of ordering, and feel that since we buy the package at the time of booking, we get our money’s worth. Of course, if you don’t drink alcohol, that would likely make no sense.
There are other bars on the ship; the Constellation Lounge has a fun menu of Zodiac-inspired drinks, and the Rendezvous Lounge has some smart and spirited bartenders who love to memorize your favorite drinks.
TIP: Buying a beverage package when you book generally involves significant savings, and I reckon that is up to 40 or 50%. We never (absolutely never) wait to purchase onboard, as we have always calculated that as far more expensive.
The drink of the summer was an Aperol Spritz, and we enjoyed many of these, whether poolside or elsewhere on deck.
NIGGLE: When we booked this cruise, we had the option between the classic OR the premium package, and we chose the premium package (the martinis, for example, would not be included in the classic and we would be paying extra on board). Celebrity currently (Jan 2024) is no longer letting you select the premium beverage package at the time of booking unless you are in The Retreat. Please, please, fix this Celebrity. Many of us don’t want to have to come back and pay for upgrades later.
SPLIT, CROATIA
On the last day before disembarking the ship in Ravenna, Italy, we visited Split. We chose to do a self-guided tour, with the help of Rick Steves pages from his book on Croatia and Slovenia. That was a great choice for us, as after all our activity, we could enjoy a day when we just wandered and wondered. Split is a great place to do this.
It’s very easy to walk from where the ship is docked to the town, (and I should note that in other ports Celebrity provided free shuttles to town – well done!!). The Roman Emperor Diocletian built his retirement palace here, and spent the last ten years of his life in a waterfront palace. It’s no longer waterfront, but instead there is a lovely promenade with restaurants and other places to enjoy the view.
Celebrity Infinity seen from the Promenade in Split, Croatia.
Diocletian’s palace was ultimately abandoned, and then centuries later people just set up their homes inside. Squatters with discriminating taste, maybe? In any case, today you can explore the remains of a 4th-century palace now filled with shops, restaurants, and apartments – home to 3,000 people. Strolling through the streets of the palace and town is enough to transport you back in time. There are some cosplay Roman soldiers, too, though we didn’t want to do a photo shoot.
Just outside the Golden Gate, you will a LARGE statue of Bishop Gregory of Nin by Croatian sculptor Ivan Meštrović. The angle in the photo here makes his head disappear, but he has one. I have read that many people think he is a wizard. Maybe he is magical: rubbing the big toe of the bishop (he is a national hero for defending Croatian language and culture) is said to bring you what you wish for. How could I resist?
Although I wanted to, we ran out of steam and thus did not visit The Meštrović Gallery, dedicated to Croatia’s most famous sculptor, who spent most of his adult life living abroad in exile due to his opposition to communism. He may be best known in the United States for his sculptures in Grant Park in Chicago. I will make a visit to the museum honoring his work the next time I am in Split!
So far, I need to return to Dubrovnik and swim from a hole in the wall, learn about glass blowing in Zadar, and visit the Meštrović museum in Split. I’m sure there is even more that I can do when I return.
We ended this cruise in Ravenna, Italy, where Celebrity sold a very reasonable ($10 pp) transfer to the train station. If you end or begin a cruise in Ravenna, (it may be getting busier, as Venice severely limits cruise ships – and it’s their right to do so!) I recommend that you set aside 2-3 hours in order to see the famous mosaics. We had an excellent guide on this tour and were thrilled to see the UNESCO Heritage Sites there.
Rating of cruise: We chose this cruise for the itinerary, and it did not disappoint. Even with TWO port changes, (announced months before we cruised) we were captivated at every port with experiences of immense value. We could have used one more sea day/one less port of call, but then I would have to decide which to skip, and that’s not fair!
The ship itself feels very manageable, and while it doesn’t have the bells and whistles or glitz of newer ships, it is well cared for, offers a variety of food and entertainment, and is a good value. I would cruise on the Celebrity Infinity again. It currently (Jan 2024) is dedicated to Greece and Turkey with mostly round trips cruising from Athens, and there are many fabulous ports of call to visit.
Mussel fishing near Zadar, Croatia
TIP: Newer ships are almost always more expensive. The older ships will get you out to sea for less money, while you plan your trips on the newer ones. Don’t be afraid to select an older ship, especially for a meaningful itinerary that will make a memorable cruise experience.
This review is based on a November 2023 sailing on the Discovery Princess, roundtrip from Los Angeles/San Pedro. I am not going to focus on the ports of call, but instead try to give an overview of our experience onboard.
Largest Royal-class ship in the fleet as of Nov. 2023; (Sun Princess sails soon!)
Capacity: 3,660 (double occupancy)
Crew: 1,550
Note about stated capacity: this number posted by the cruise line is based on double occupancy only; on our Thanksgiving week cruise, there were over 4,100 guests, including almost 900 children. Whew! This impacted the cruise experience as the ship very often felt crowded and there was a change in the atmosphere in the dining rooms as large groups assembled.
Layout/Design: Royal-class ships have an open atrium (three levels) at the heart of the ship, centered around the Piazza on Deck 5, with two additional decks with a variety of bars and restaurants overlooking that. This ship has a modern design and is visually stunning. The “salmon ladders” of blue glass, bordering the modern chandelier, evoke the Alaska cruising available on the ship at this time during the summer season. It’s beautiful.
Cabin: We had a balcony cabin this time, and I will say that I love the layout of the Princess cabins. The closet forms a wall between the bed and the bathroom, which works well when one person has to get up and doesn’t want to disturb the other one. The balcony is rather narrow, and this cruise was in November when it was not very warm, so we did not use it much. We usually do not spend too much time in the cabin, and have done inside cabins before on the Ruby Princess, and we were fine!
Main Dining (included, no fee): There are three main dining rooms with an identical menu, although the decor is slightly different. We chose to stay in one dining room for the evening meals. It was hard for us to reserve a set time for dining in advance, (mainly because we had some specialty dining credit, and so weren’t sure how to reserve a set table for the other nights) but on the first night, our attentive waiter asked us if we wanted to keep our table for the rest of the week, slightly shifting our time. That was welcome as we enjoy the consistency of service that’s possible when waitstaff learns your preferences (yes, indeed, we do want to start with champagne! Thanks for asking!). Early in the week, we got stuck in a long line even though we had our reservation, and were in the proper line for that. After waiting twenty minutes to go to our table that was definitely open and ready for us (see, there was chaos caused by large groups dining – and have you tried to make sure that ten people all arrive on time?) The maitre d’ was very aware of this, and directed us to go straight to our table each night. This shows attention to our reserved time, and we appreciated it.
Food in the main dining room was consistently good. The creme brulée was terrific!!
Specialty (fee) dining: There are options here for both traditional specialty dining, and some “casual dining” venues that are also added-fee. We had a premium package that included two specialty dining and unlimited casual dining.
Crown Grill is a favorite, and you will want to be proactive about getting your reservation made ahead of time for that. It was an excellent dining experience. The scallops with caviar were outstanding. Amazingly, I could not finish my ribeye, and I did not have room for dessert! Not even for creme brulée, alas!
Casual (fee) dining: Gigi’s Pizza was pretty good, although my pizza was not fully cooked through in the center. There was plenty of it, so I did not need to eat the center, though. I appreciated the server suggesting that I do a half-and-half pizza, thus trying two different menu items.
We also ate at the Ocean Terrace, and while the menu item included with our Premium package included a lovely plate of sushi and sashimi, we found that the sushi roll was far too covered in sauce. The Ocean Terrace was consistently busy, and seems to be getting loyal customers.
Note that in this case, if you are using casual dining as part of a package, you are limited to specific items, but this is especially true at Ocean Terrace, so listing it as “included” casual dining is not exactly accurate. You have ONE choice at Ocean Terrace, but several at Gigi’s.
Buffet/World Fresh Marketplace: We enjoy the service and experience of being served in the evenings, so we used this venue only for breakfast or lunch. To be honest, I would not rate the buffet experience as more than a 6/10. The layout is huge but ultimately annoying, with stations that run across the ship and so you have to walk back and forth a lot in this confusing space in order to survey the offerings (something you should surely do in a buffet before you begin loading a plate!) and yet there was also a lot of repetition of offerings, so I am unsure what the point was of having the multiple stations. There was nothing relaxing about trying to dine in this way. Again, we did not use the buffet at night, and there may have been more options at that time. I found identical menu items each morning at breakfast, and of course, it makes sense to offer some highly desired items. I love eggs at breakfast, and yet I wanted more variety than the fried or scrambled eggs on offer.
We tried the omelet to order one day, and it was terrible. I know better than to cook eggs until they are brown.
The buffet does have very attentive staff who will do their best to bring you a beverage or help in any way they can. And, to be fair, I have read many online comments from people who had a great experience in the buffet, so I have to acknowledge that!
Also, there is a great salad bar with bowls that are easy to carry out to the pool deck, and I can attest that many people enjoyed a healthy lunch that way. One day, we thoroughly enjoyed a tuna poke bowl for lunch.
Bar Scene: Ok, so we may know more about this than we should. We expected to hang out at Good Spirits bar a lot based on a very fun prior cruise experience (Ruby Princess! Where are you, our favorite barkeep, Artem?!?!), but we were disappointed to find that their menu was not the updated one that we had seen online, and we had tried their previous menu already. As in, we had tasted the entire menu and earned the t-shirts to prove it! If you haven’t done the Good Spirits Experience before, the menu is varied and fun, and you can watch a live demonstration that teaches you how the drinks are crafted.
Our favorites on this cruise were Bellini’s, on deck 7 off the atrium, a very small place that also serves the restaurants in the area, but had a great, knowledgable and attentive staff led by Ronnie, and an interesting menu. The view over the atrium here is outstanding, so if there are events going on that deserve your attention but not your participation, it’s the ideal, sweet spot.
For something even more refined, we also very much enjoyed the Crown Grill Bar, which has a great menu – perhaps the best bar menu on the ship, and a classic atmosphere. The bar staff there are very busy but attentive. There is often music playing there, and there is a great vibe – a mix of action and class. The Rosemary Sour was an amazing, special drink.
The Crooners bar, with occasional live music, appears to be a favorite, and I want to shout out Vishnu, who remembered from one night to the next exactly how I wanted my French 75. We heard great things about Take Five, which we didn’t discover until too late in the cruise, on the way to bed on the last night! It’s hard to leave a great bar to find another great bar, it seems! Discovery Princess has a great bar scene!
The bar menus mark some special cocktails created by Rob Floyd, and we tried a few that were outstanding. The Rosemary Sour was perhaps at the top of the list.
Pool Deck(s): The main pool deck (16) has two pools with hot tubs, bars, and food options. On our cruise, there was lots of very youthful action here, including super soakers (!!) and not much peace and quiet to be found. We weren’t looking for that environment.
Fortunately, there is a lovely adults-only Retreat pool (Forward on deck 17) with a dedicated bar, and a good amount of loungers, and hot tubs overlooking that on deck 18. We found it both very busy one time and very empty a couple of other times, so it’s worth trying that pool, and the Mermaid Mimosa (Rob Floyd creation) from the Retreat Bar there is especially lovely.
Sanctuary: We did not do this, but know that you can rent space here. It looks lovely, and probably is worth the expense on this ship to buy some tranquil time and space. Tip: You have to book your lounger or cabana onboard, and you want to do this first as a line forms.
Spa/Enclave: A thermal suite is something we always look for on a cruise ship, and we generally like to get a weekly pass and go daily. We’ve been on thermal suites that were much larger (Norwegian Bliss) and also smaller (Ruby Princess, Celebrity Solstice), and the Enclave is in between those sizes, with three distinct sauna rooms, four different shower experiences, and a therapy pool. The therapy pool is key, with large jets that massage your back and neck and work out any kinks you brought on to the ship, as cruise life is generally not stress-inducing! There are twelve heated tile loungers, which are lovely for lounging on and drying off after the pool or shower.
We purchased a weeklong pass ahead of time, which I understand saves money versus waiting until you are on ship. We paid $149 pp. for the 7 day pass.
Niggle: I’m told that the ship sells a limited number of passes, (80?) but I can also tell you that there were consistently at least twice as many people using the thermal suite as there were loungers. It’s located on a lower deck (5) and therefore this thermal suite does not have a view from the loungers as you might find on some ships. Early in the morning seemed best for availability, but others got the same idea.
Entertainment/Theater: There is a show every night on the main stage of the theater. It’s a well-designed space with great views. The production shows feature song and dance (no acrobatics) and those (there were two on a seven-night cruise) were terrific. There was also a comedian, an illusionist, and some additional musical talent on the main theater stage. In the afternoons and evenings, the bars featured musical entertainment, and there was at least one large performance in the Piazza combining the groups along with the ship’s orchestra. It was almost always possible to find some entertainment if that were a priority. We especially enjoyed the performances in the Crown Grill bar, and on the last night discovered the Take Five lounge, a very secluded spot that seems to focus on jazz.
Photography: There were photographers available every evening except the last (very understandable!) with varied backdrops. Especially on formal nights, I appreciate this opportunity. There were also port-themed options, and so we ended up with a nice set of photo memories. I found it fascinating that the photographers do not require any cabin numbers or Medallion login. It appears that they are using facial recognition technology to associate your photos into your app. That’s sort of fun, but also crazy! Tip: around 5 pm, the photographers are set up, and there are usually not lines at that time. Don’t only use this on formal nights. Also, although there are goofy/fun props, you can get a lovely photo without them. I won’t be framing this one, but it is fun!
Afternoon Tea: This was a lovely experience, and you can tell that regular Princess cruisers are tuned into this opportunity. On sea days, there is a 45-minute-long window (3:00 to 3:45) to get yourself into a main dining room for afternoon tea. Servers pour your hot, freshly brewed tea and then come around with sandwiches, scones, and pastries. The photo does not do justice to the flavors of these delightful bites. Tip: we planned a very light lunch on those days, and got in line about ten minutes before 3:00.
Coffee: For many of us, this is an important part of any day, whether on vacation or not. In short, they can step up their game here. In the space of a week, I had but one specialty coffee that met my expectations of flavor and wasn’t essentially coffee-flavored milk. The cappuccinos were actually made like a cafe au lait, and I kept asking for less milk. Specialty coffee in a mug is available in the buffet, and the International Cafe serves in paper cups for takeaway. Again, I hope they can improve the quality. I saw that they were grinding Lavazza beans, so it’s not an issue with the espresso quality, but with their technique that relies on excessive amounts of warm (not even frothed) milk. Tip: get very specific about how you want your specialty coffee made.
WiFi/Medallion/OceanNow: The WiFi on the ship worked very well. I was disconnected a few times, but was able to rejoin the MedallionNet immediately.
The Medallion, a magnetic disk (think AirTag size) which you can wear using a lanyard, clip, or bracelet, and you use instead of a keycard to access your room and to make onboard orders and purchases, worked quite well. Princess has invested a lot in this technology, and I would not mind using it onboard other cruise lines. Note that you can use the app to locate Medallion-wearing companions on the ship, which is helpful if one of you wants to nap and the other wants to explore.
OceanNow allows you to order food and drink on the app and have it brought to you wherever you are on the ship, whether in the room or on a deck lounger. We used it once when the nearby bar had not yet opened. Otherwise, we were always close enough to the bar to get our own order. I do like this feature, and think it’s great that there is no fee to use it with the Premium package. At this time, there may be an activation fee with other packages.
Niggles/Negatives:
Smoke from Casino – okay, Princess Cruise Lines, I beg you to fix this. Smoking is allowed in the Casino, and since many cruise lines do not allow this, I fear you attract a crowd who craves this. I don’t know why this has to be near the middle of the ship, though, and open to the atrium area where we generally want to gather. The smoke comes out into the public areas, and it can be a lot. I’m not really very sensitive to smoke, but this was a negative surprise. I think now that I know this it will be easier to manage.
Crowded/Chaotic Pool Deck – I cannot blame people for bringing children on a cruise. I think that if I had known there would be nearly 1000 children on board, I would have set my expectations differently.
Positives:
Cruise Director DuVaul – Omistinkingosh, the most energetic and dynamic cruise director ever! I don’t know if he will stay with Discovery, but wherever he goes, he will be bringing the fun (and his dad’s stories!)
Great staff and high quality service – The staff on the ship are consistently friendly, helpful, professional and yet fun! Princess does a great job of including the kinds of touches that elevate your day. Having fruit-infused water as you get back on the ship, delivered with a smile, is just one example.
Beautiful design – It’s a beautiful ship and pretty well designed, except for the one dining room that you cannot get to directly. See https://cruisedeckplans.com/ships/Discovery-Princess for deck plans to help you select a cabin.
Embarkation/Disembarkation and Sail Away – I have never embarked or disembarked a cruise ship so easily and speedily! Well done, Princess! And the facial recognition thing at US Customs when disembarking was crazy easy! I do LOVE a great Sail Away party, and Princess knows how to do that for dang sure!
Responsible cruising – I think there are many misconceptions about cruising, and among them are assumptions about how cruise lines operate in terms of environmental impact. One good overview of Princess Cruise Lines practices is here: Princess Cruises Brings Sustainable Technology to Sea
WOULD I GO AGAIN?
Yes, absolutely. I would likely not choose this ship for another holiday sailing, or in the summer, but we had a great time onboard for sure. I will look for a time and place to get back onboard. Princess delivers a great cruise product, and they can be proud of the Discovery Princess.
I think that while many people are naturally attracted to the idea of a cruise vacation, others are more likely to reject the notion. Here, in no particular order, are the reasons I love to cruise:
No carrying luggage! Once you’ve boarded, you unpack one time, and then, (all too soon), pack up once to leave. Being able to hit multiple cities and countries without once carrying luggage frees you up for other, far more fun activities!
Visiting many different locations!!! By definition, cruising takes you from place to place. I have heard an analogy to fine dining: if you travel to say, Rome, and stay for several days, that’s like visiting a restaurant and selecting one well-prepared meal. If you cruise to several ports, that’s more like choosing a restaurant known for its tasting menu. While the analogy isn’t perfect, it does feel right to me. And remember that in this case, if there is an item on the tasting menu that you want more of, you get to choose to do more of that in the future. 🙂
Visiting many different locations without making all the hotel reservations (and, let’s face it, there is some risk involved with making hotel reservations in places that you don’t know well).
No worry about finding a place to eat! While I love to dine out, the time involved in hunting down a restaurant can eat into your day – and while on vacation, I really don’t need to miss happy hour because I walked around for an hour reading menus. Is that just me? On a cruise, the main dining room is the default, and you can always upgrade to specialty dining if you feel inclined (or, in my case, if I can talk my husband into it. He has agreed it can be well worth it!)
Entertainment is included! One of the best parts of cruising is the high-quality performances in the theater and the lounges. Typically, there is a range of musical performances along with comedians, illusionists, and possibly acrobats. This is something I now really miss when traveling on land. I’ve become accustomed to attending a show before or after dinner – by the way, included in the cost. And yes, while larger ships may have actual Broadway shows, (seeing Six: The Musical on the Norwegian Bliss was amazing!) the shows on smaller ships are likely to feature a wildly talented cast and are a delightful way to spend part of the evening.
Learning about a place, its history and culture. The process of doing this is simplified by joining a shore excursion (and no, these are not created equal!). We have had some fabulous guides on excursions, whether helping us understand the native culture in Ketchikan, Alaska, or explaining the way that history has shaped the island of Corfu, Greece. Shore excursions can compress weeks worth of reading and research into hours of delightful exploration.
So for me, cruising is an efficient way to see multiple locations without the hassle involved in managing separate reservations for each place, and includes the added benefits of entertainment and the ability to explore with a guiding hand. And I didn’t even mention the benefits of a fabulous room attendant and twice-daily housekeeping!
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