1st Timer on Princess - Discovery

[ScottsSweetie]

We are frequent cruisers but this will be our first time on Princess. We are cruising Discovery next week and I have a few questions.

 

1. What time are rooms ready on the ship?

 

2. Is there any beer on tap on the Discovery (or on any Princess ship, for future knowledge).

 

3. I have read lots of info on the "Fastest Internet at Sea" 🙄. We did not purchase a cruise-long internet package. Does Princess sell internet by the day (and is that a 24 hour version)? We have a need to pull email and be able to respond. 

 

4. When does Princess do room assignments? We sail on Saturday and have no room assigned yet (booked an inside guaranty).

 

5. Will there be a Thanksgiving dinner served on Thursday? That happens to be our 2nd formal night so I'm curious how that will work. Would there typically be Thanksgiving type offerings in the buffet during lunch?

 

6. We are in the "green lane" on the app and have received our medallions in the mail. From reading threads here, it looks like people acquire boarding times but they aren't really observed or required? How do I get a boarding time?

 

7. I have made our dinner reservations on the app for each night. Is there anything else I need to do pre-boarding? 

 

Thanks to anyone who can help!!

 

[voljeep]

10 minutes ago, ScottsSweetie said:

We are frequent cruisers but this will be our first time on Princess. We are cruising Discovery next week and I have a few questions.

 

1. What time are rooms ready on the ship?

 

2. Is there any beer on tap on the Discovery (or on any Princess ship, for future knowledge).

 

3. I have read lots of info on the "Fastest Internet at Sea" 🙄. We did not purchase a cruise-long internet package. Does Princess sell internet by the day (and is that a 24 hour version)? We have a need to pull email and be able to respond. 

 

4. When does Princess do room assignments? We sail on Saturday and have no room assigned yet (booked an inside guaranty).

 

5. Will there be a Thanksgiving dinner served on Thursday? That happens to be our 2nd formal night so I'm curious how that will work. Would there typically be Thanksgiving type offerings in the buffet during lunch?

 

6. We are in the "green lane" on the app and have received our medallions in the mail. From reading threads here, it looks like people acquire boarding times but they aren't really observed or required? How do I get a boarding time?

 

7. I have made our dinner reservations on the app for each night. Is there anything else I need to do pre-boarding? 

 

Thanks to anyone who can help!!

 

you need internet - somewhat

and may like a few beers - somewhat

 

did you consider or purchase the Princess Plus fare?

[Coffeeluvr05]

We just got off of the Discovery.  You will enjoy her.  Do not plan on doing anything other than email on the internet.  It's not anything near fast and definitely not the fastest! lol

 

Room assignments can be anytime right up to the day you sail.  Just keep checking.

 

I've sailed during Thanksgiving and they have done turkey and stuff in the MDR.  Not sure about buffet, but I would imagine it would be in there too.

 

It doesn't matter if you choose a boarding time.  You board based on where you are in line when you show up to the pier.  Seriously, boarding times are garbage. 

 

Rooms will be available around 1:30 so when you Board, just got grab yourself a cocktail and have lunch and they should be ready by then.

 

As far as dinner reservations go, if you like having the same waiter/same table every night, you can ask the head water of the MDR to set that up for you on the first night after dinner.  We have done that and they do their best to accommodate.

 

Oh, not sure about beers on tap.  I know they have bottles of Blue Moon.  I think there is a bar menu somewhere around here.  

[Rick&Jeannie]

18 minutes ago, ScottsSweetie said:

3. I have read lots of info on the "Fastest Internet at Sea" 🙄.

 

Take this piece of sales hype with a BOULDER of salt!  Depending on your location/itinerary...you may have somewhat decent internet.  Most people are of the opinion that *something* has changed since Princess started their campaign touting "the fastest internet at sea".  It borders on fraudulent advertising at times.  This campaign started in early 2020, just at the beginning of the pandemic.  The common perception is that Princess has either scaled way back on the service tier from the satellite provider OR is no longer dealing with the provider selected in 2020 and is scrambling to get any type of service they can.  Obviously...they do not address such items publicly.

 

After doing a quick search, it *appears* that you are doing a Mexican Riviera sailing?  If so...you may see some halfway decent response times given the latitudes you will be sailing.

[Astro Flyer]

Princess recently had a news release about their new holiday menus.

 

THANKSGIVING 2022

~ The Captain and Culinary Staff
Wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving! ~

OUR DAILY GIFT OF BREAD

Maple Corn Bread ~ Whole Wheat – Rye Rolls

WHET THE APPETITE

Chilled Winter Citrus Supreme
blood orange, pink grapefruit, satsuma tangerine
chili lime zest

Seafood Martini
poached shrimp, calamari, scallops, basil lemon vinaigrette

Duck and Pistachio Pate
autumn lettuces, roasted cherry vinaigrette

Roasted Pumpkin Soup
toasted almond oil, pumpkin seeds

Chilled Carrot Dill Soup
cranberry coulis

FROM BOUNTIFUL GARDENS AND FIELDS

Autumn Mesclun Salad
sliced apple, crumbled feta, candied walnuts, maple champagne vinaigrette

MAIN OFFERINGS FROM SEA AND SHORE

Potato Gnocchi
roasted butternut squash, caramelized shallots, sage leaves, shaved parmesan

Grilled Jumbo Shrimp and Seared Sea Scallops
jasmine rice timbale, snow peas and red bell pepper, tomato-caper beurre blanc

Traditional Thanksgiving Turkey
tender breast slices, caramelized sweet potato, apple sage dressing, steamed broccoli,
roasted brussel sprouts, giblet gravy, whole cranberry sauce

Pineapple-glazed Ham spiked with Cloves
pineapple-bourbon sauce, mashed yams, broccoli and carrots

Grilled Vegetable Mille Feuille
flaky puff pastry, arugula, red-pepper sauce, balsamic reduction, basil-infused oil

TO COMPLETE THE FEAST
Traditional Pumpkin Pie	Cinnamon Apple Pie
whipped cream	a la mode
Bourbon Pecan Pie	Sugar-free Strawberry Napoleon
a la mode	mascarpone cream

 

Princess Holiday Menus.pdf

[ScottsSweetie]

One more question please - as there is no Vines on Discovery, where would be the next best place to get a great glass of wine? I believe some have mentioned the bar at the Crown Grill? Will different bars have different wine lists?

[Coffeeluvr05]

1 hour ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Take this piece of sales hype with a BOULDER of salt!  Depending on your location/itinerary...you may have somewhat decent internet.  Most people are of the opinion that *something* has changed since Princess started their campaign touting "the fastest internet at sea".  It borders on fraudulent advertising at times.  This campaign started in early 2020, just at the beginning of the pandemic.  The common perception is that Princess has either scaled way back on the service tier from the satellite provider OR is no longer dealing with the provider selected in 2020 and is scrambling to get any type of service they can.  Obviously...they do not address such items publicly.

 

After doing a quick search, it *appears* that you are doing a Mexican Riviera sailing?  If so...you may see some halfway decent response times given the latitudes you will be sailing.

I just did the Mexican Riviera on the Discovery...I can assure you there were no decent response times experienced.  We only had good response times when we were in port and turned off airplane mode and used our phones cellular service.  At the end of our cruise we asked for a refund of the wifi portion of PP as the internet was so dismal.  We received the refund.  Something has definitely changed because we were on the inaugural transatlantic of the Sky in 2019 and we had AMAZING internet.  We were streaming video, shopping, all the interwebs browsing our hearts desired!  I'm thinking Princess needed to save some money and downgraded their bandwidth.  Seems like the only logical explanation.

[iamaqt2]

2. Is there any beer on tap on the Discovery (or on any Princess ship, for future knowledge).

 

The only place I'm aware of that has beer on tap is the Salty Dog Gastropub.  According to their menu they have 
Strongbow Cider 
Heineken  
Newcastle 
Affligem Blonde

available in 12 or 20 oz pours.

[avonlady6390]

While you wait for your cabin have lunch in the mdr it's the one that is on deck 6 midship.  Also there is an Italian pizza sit down restaurant on deck 7 mid that is not an up charge restaurant.  There is also a bar on deck 5 mid named good spirits that on specialises in special cocktails but I'm sure they have wine as well.  I was just on last month same itenary as you you will probably get better cell service in port. I believe you have to purchase internet for whole week.  It maybe cheaper to purchase ahead of cruise at 10.00 a day. Have a wonderful cruise.

[Rick&Jeannie]

The Italian pizza spot referred to above is Alfredo's.  It is GREAT!  Complementary...no charge and they have the absolute best pizza on the sea!

[that]

27 minutes ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

The Italian pizza spot referred to above is Alfredo's.  It is GREAT!  Complementary...no charge and they have the absolute best pizza on the sea!

GiGi’s on Discovery Princess?

[startedwithamouse]

46 minutes ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

The Italian pizza spot referred to above is Alfredo's.  It is GREAT!  Complementary...no charge and they have the absolute best pizza on the sea!

Gigis is on Discovery  

[travelin.sisters]

you can get a boarding time if you want: 

• in the app under the green lane box 
• click Personal Information & Documents
• scroll down to the suggested section
• click arrivals
• then click on your cruise 
• then arrival group
• & pick the one you want

but as people have said they haven't been checking them since even before the pause & the app...we always arrive at the port in San Pedro between 10:30 & 11 (get the trip started as early as possible) & unless there is a problem (in Feb there was a surprise Coast Guard inspection) we are on very quickly (sometimes rooms are ready, sometimes they are not but often you can drop off your carry-ons even if they are not done)

 

have a wonderful trip

[caribill]

5 hours ago, avonlady6390 said:

 I believe you have to purchase internet for whole week.  It maybe cheaper to purchase ahead of cruise at 10.00 a day. Have a wonderful cruise.

 

Available for purchase for 24 hour periods.