Discovery Princess

The main pool deck has two pools big enough for laps, three hot tubs, and loungers in both sun and shade that face the giant Movies Under the Stars screen, a concept Princess pioneered. First-run films and big games play at night, with popcorn, warm cookies and milk, and blankets on Alaska sailings. Pool bars sit on either side, with Slice Pizzeria, the Salty Dog Grill and Swirls soft-serve close by.

The Retreat is an adults-only pool area with a lap-size pool, a ledge for dipping your toes in and the Retreat Bar. One level up are two hot tubs and glass-screened cabana-style loungers, free but first come, first served. At the very front of the ship, The Sanctuary is a paid adults-only space, sold by the half day, full day or whole cruise, with food and drink service, a soaking tub, private cabanas and open-air spa cabanas.

The buffet is massive, with matching lines on both sides and smaller stations in the middle for salads, cereal, cheese, fruit and made-to-order sandwiches. Themed dinners rotate, from Italy to Asia, and there is good Indian food too. The Pastry Shop doubles as a coffee bar, with gluten-free and sugar-free desserts. Out back, the Wake View Bar and an infinity-edge pool look over the ship’s wake, Danny’s favorite spot on any ship.

Princess’s youth program splits kids by age, with counselors who have backgrounds in child development. The Treehouse (ages 3 to 7) has reading time, arts and crafts, an Xbox, a jungle gym with a slide and an outdoor tricycle track. The Lodge (8 to 12) adds air hockey, foosball, skee-ball and science experiments. Teens get the Beach House, with surfboard tables, video games and a dance floor. Programming ties into Discovery and Animal Planet.

Crown Grill is Princess’s classic specialty steakhouse, with an open kitchen you can smell as you walk in. The menu covers steakhouse favorites, from a wide range of steaks to chicken, fish and seafood. Booths and tables suit couples and larger groups, and a private Wine Room works well for birthdays and anniversaries. Next door, the Crown Grill Bar has a piano, big sofas and quieter corners for a drink before or after dinner.

Modeled on an Italian town square, the Piazza spans decks five to seven, with glass spiral staircases, a chandelier, and live music every day. The International Café serves pastries, breakfast sandwiches, quiches and pot pies around the clock, next to a coffee bar. Good Spirits at Sea pours Rob Floyd’s mixology creations and hosts classes, and the gelato bar makes waffle cones fresh. Bellini’s Bar and the Ocean Terrace Seafood Bar look down from above.

Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria sits across from Guest Services, with a look-through kitchen at the entrance where cooks make fresh pasta every morning. The menu runs from handmade pastas to steaks and seafood, all built around a classic Italian meal. Seating ranges from booths and window tables to tables for two and four that can be pushed together for big groups. Danny has dined at Sabatini’s two or three dozen times.

The Lotus Spa covers massages, facials, seaweed wraps and acupuncture, plus a salon, a barber shop and pedicure chairs. Couples villas add a steam shower, a soaking tub and a lounge for an all-day treatment. The Enclave thermal suite, sold by the day or the cruise, has 12 heated stone loungers, a large therapy pool with bubble benches and waterfalls, a hammam, a steam room, a sauna and hot-and-cold experience showers.