I recently sailed northbound from Vancouver to Whittier on Discovery Princess. I've cruised with several lines before, most recently Disney Treasure, and overall we had a wonderful trip despite a few frustrations.
The Alaska itinerary was fantastic. Aside from heavy rain during embarkation in Vancouver, the weather was excellent and much warmer than expected. We enjoyed highlights such as Mendenhall Glacier, dog sledding, whale watching, and the lumberjack show. Throughout the trip, we spotted bears, whales, bald eagles, otters, and even witnessed glacier calving at College Fjord.
Embarkation and logistics:
Boarding was slow and took more than an hour, partly due to security and US customs processing. Our cabin was ready upon boarding, and our luggage arrived fairly quickly, although some members of our group did not receive theirs until early evening. Getting on and off the ship at ports was efficient, but the elevators were often slow, with waits of up to five minutes.
Cabin:
Our mini suite was spacious and comfortable, with plenty of storage and a nice shower and tub combination. The biggest drawback was the lack of convenient outlets, especially near the bed. The only bedside charging options were two slow USB ports built into the lamps.
Dining:
The main dining room was the biggest disappointment. Despite having a 5 p.m. reservation, dinner often stretched beyond two hours. While the beef dishes were generally good, many of the chicken, duck, and seafood options were underwhelming. Service was extremely slow, and drinks regularly took more than 20 minutes to arrive.
The sushi venue offered a nice change of pace, although service was again slow and the atrium location made it difficult to enjoy due to the noise.
Crowne Grill delivered the best meal of the cruise, supported by excellent service, though dinner still lasted around two and a half hours.
The buffet became our preferred option because of the delays elsewhere. It offered a good variety, especially at breakfast. Slice Pizza stood out as the best cruise ship pizza we've had. The International Café was convenient but relied heavily on pork-based options, while the gelato lacked flavor.
Service:
The crew worked hard and remained friendly, but they seemed stretched too thin. Room attendants reportedly managed 18 cabins twice a day, and long waits for drinks and assistance were common. It felt more like a staffing issue than a lack of effort from the employees.
Atmosphere:
The atrium was excessively loud. Live entertainment often made nearby venues difficult to enjoy, with noise levels high enough to disrupt meals.
Spa, fitness, and kids' activities:
The Enclave spa was excellent and worth the visit, although the hot tub could have been warmer. The gym and walking track were both impressive.
Our children, ages 3 and 8, enjoyed the kids club, but our older child preferred Disney's offerings because there were fewer activities available on Princess. The arcade was overpriced and underwhelming, and the ship could benefit from having a dedicated movie theater.
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