Discovery Princess will begin its maiden season in Australia and New Zealand next December. Photo / Lana Andelane / Composite
OPINION
Discovery Princess will embark on its maiden season in Australia and New Zealand next summer, offering travellers and locals alike a new way to see our little slice of paradise. Here is why Discovery is the cream of the cruising crop, writes the Herald’s Lana Andelane.
Two days into Discovery Princess’s week-long cruise of the Mexican Riviera, I was struggling. Sea legs I may have found, but ability to breathe, I had lost. Snuffling and sneezing, I made my way to the buffet to caffeinate ahead of a packed itinerary. On the stairs I bumped into Raymond Grills, the aptly named Australian director of food and beverage for Princess Cruises. Seeing my congested state, he immediately offered to have freshly made apple, carrot and ginger juices sent to my stateroom.
This is the standard of service you can expect on Discovery Princess, a 19-deck majesty set to traverse New Zealand’s seas in the summer of 2025-26. The 1830-room ship is a floating village, complete with more than 20 bars and restaurants (from high cuisine to casual eateries and specialty dining); a wide range of activities and entertainment (think fitness classes, art auctions, theatre productions and movie screenings beneath the stars); and of course, plenty of pools, sun loungers and hot tubs. That’s without mentioning the luxury spa, adults-only retreats, designer boutiques, jazz lounge, gym and casino, or the modern youth centre for teens, tweens and tots.
During her maiden season in Oceania, Discovery Princess will embark on 12 voyages spanning New Zealand, Australia, Fiji and New Caledonia from her Sydney homeport, beginning December 6, 2025 and concluding April 7, 2026. Five of the itineraries are 14-day voyages of New Zealand, offering denizens and newcomers alike a new opportunity to see and experience the motu.
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While it’s impossible to truly tell all within my word count, I can tell you this: the Discovery Princess offers a masterclass in cruising. I was lucky enough to experience Princess Cruises’ hospitality on a hosted seven-day cruise of the Mexican Riviera, and Discovery quickly became a home away from home. There’s all the cushy comforts one could ask for, from daily cabin cleaning to 24/7 room service, plus little tastes of local culture to explore away from your stateroom.
Of course, this isn’t even touching on the magic of sunny days docked at your destinations. During a port of call, step out for a day of self-guided fun or book a shore excursion at the service desk or via the intuitive app. After a day exploring, return to your room and drink in the portside views, catch a show at the Princess Theatre, or meet up with friends for cocktails followed by stand-up comedy. The best part about cruising is all the activities of a typical holiday are a mere elevator ride away: no rideshare or translator apps required.
Here’s what you can experience during Discovery’s maiden Australia-New Zealand season next summer.
Discovery Princess has 1830 guest staterooms: of these, 753 are classic staterooms with balconies, and only 340 are inside cabins. Other accommodation options include deluxe rooms, mini-suites, premium ocean-view offerings, classic suites, and the cream of the crop, the two Sky Suites.
Unless you’re a high-roller on the high seas, there’s no reason to splash your cash on a suite: a balcony stateroom is perfectly comfortable for one or two people, complete with a small private deck.
Each balcony stateroom features a queen bed (you can pick your bed configuration beforehand via the app); a small but functional bathroom (the only con is the shower curtain and the subsequent wet floor); a desk and chair; an open closet with plenty of storage; multiple mirrors, including full-length; bedside drawers; a mini-fridge; and importantly, multiple power outlets. There’s also a wall-mounted TV with a selection of films, TV shows and live sport.
The cabins are cleaned by the excellent staff twice daily, which can occasionally lead to awkward encounters if you’ve rushed back from breakfast to use the loo. Each room has an interactive screen outside the door that can be toggled to “Do Not Disturb” mode, if you wish to skip servicing. Your Medallion - a small token you are issued upon boarding - automatically unlocks and locks your door as you arrive and depart your quarters: very James Bond. It’s these little extras that make your stay onboard Discovery so seamless (unless, like me, you lose your Medallion in Mexico - rest assured a replacement was issued at no charge). More on the Medallion later.
There is a raft of entertainment onboard Discovery Princess, and you can enjoy as much or as little as you like. As Grills told our media group: “The beauty of cruising is you can make it as busy or as quiet as you want.”
Roger that.
An absolute must-do is a visit to Princess Theatre, the onboard playhouse and its series of top-tier musical productions, featuring a talented cast of triple-threats. We were lucky enough to see Spotlight Bar (the work of a prominent West End team), Rock Opera, and their newest addition, Viva La Musica: an electrifying, powerhouse production of Latin music and dance. Talk about rocking the boat.
Then there’s Movies Under the Stars, held poolside on the top deck beneath the night sky. Films are played on a large screen through a 69,000-watt sound system. You can order any number of treats to your exact location via the app, but if you’re feeling like old-fashioned cinema fare, fresh popcorn and soft serve are a stone’s throw away. Live sporting events are also often screened during the day and can be watched from the comfort of your sun lounger or hot tub.
Other entertainment offerings include the Laugh Lounge, which hosts an ever-rotating line-up of acclaimed comedians; demonstrations, dancers and live music at the Piazza, the heart of the ship and its food-and-drink hub; and plenty of scheduled activities, from silent discos to game shows and regular trivia sessions. There is truly something for everyone.
There is so much to sample onboard Discovery Princess, from melt-in-the-mouth filet mignon at Crown Grill steakhouse to seafood delights at Catch by Rudi. Whether you’re after a bite and a pint at O’Malley’s Irish Pub, a barista-made coffee or one of 600 cocktails, wining and dining are integral to the Discovery experience. A food court this is not: these are high-calibre restaurants headed by acclaimed chefs with top-notch service. More casual options like International Cafe or the World Fresh Marketplace buffet still serve high-quality food with plenty of flavour. You might have to roll yourself off the ship, but it’s worth it.
Importantly, the team aims to highlight the traditional cuisine of its destination country by working with local suppliers, while catering to the plethora of nationalities onboard - from home-style comfort food to pub grub and classic Mediterranean fare. I received a sneak preview of the upcoming Australia-New Zealand menu: expect local lamb, fish and chips, steak pie, and Louise cake among the offerings.
If you have dietary requirements, never fear: your preferences are loaded onto your Medallion via your profile, alerting staff to your needs. As we found during a tour of the galley, the chefs are well-versed in catering for a range of allergies and as a coeliac, I was always taken care of.
Although I would recommend trying everything once, an absolute must-do on Discovery is 360: An Extraordinary Experience. An immersive, specialty dining extravaganza, 360 presents a seven-course journey through the sights, sounds and scents of the Mediterranean. Enchanting storytelling and world-class cuisine are accompanied by interactive table displays and expertly paired wines. A reservation can be booked for an A$149 ($164) cover charge.
Discovery Princess is equipped with MedallionClass, an effortless, personalised approach to cruising. Guests are issued a wearable token at check-in that transmits an encrypted ID, enabling everything from contactless boarding to keyless room entry. Like an AirTag, the Medallion allows staff to view your location, meaning food and beverages can be delivered at the click of a button to wherever you are onboard.
MedallionPay is Princess’s cash-free, contactless payment method, allowing crew to securely authorise transactions digitally (and via your security photo) without the need for a PIN or physical card.
The companion Princess Cruise app allows you to update your preferences and details at any time, book reservations, schedule activities, order food and drink (whenever, wherever) and track your onboard expenses. If you get lost (as I did several times), your Medallion also interacts with digital portals around the ship, providing directions and information on the go.
Discovery’s 14-day New Zealand roundtrip from Sydney will start from $2369 for an interior room (Princess Standard package); Princess Plus starts at $3369. For more information on what the packages include, go to princess.com/en-au/cruise-deals-promotions/plus-premier-cruise-packages.
For more information visit princess.com/en-au
Lana Andelane travelled on the Discovery Princess seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise as a guest of Princess Cruises.
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