Latest news with #DiscoveryPrincess
NZ Herald
21-07-2025
- NZ Herald
Hot travel deals: Stays for NZFW, European culture, Pacific islands, Disney thrills and Antarctic exploration
Luxury meets the farming life Covering ten cities across four countries, this 15-day Specialist European Agri-Tour blends agriculture, luxury and culture. Enjoy five nights in four-star hotels in Amsterdam, Basel and Zurich, and cruise in style for seven nights onboard AmaWaterways' AmaViola. The itinerary includes guided tours in Amsterdam, a visit to the John Deere Tractor Factory, a Swiss dairy and brewery tour, and stops in Strasbourg, Rüdesheim and the Rhine Gorge. Priced from $18,699 pp twin share, this tour includes return Economy Class flights from Auckland, all transfers, the services of a New Zealand-based escort and more. Departs May 5, 2026. Book by July 31, 2025 at Visit Amsterdam on this 15-day Europe tour. Photo / Unsplash Cruise the Pacific in style Hop aboard the Discovery Princess and enjoy 25 days of pure luxury as you travel the Pacific Ocean. Setting sail from Auckland, enjoy a stop on familiar shores with a call in to the Bay of Islands before crossing the international date line. Port in Tahiti and Moorea, French Polynesia, where shore excursions include snorkelling in the crystal-clear ocean and four-wheel driving tours! Sail into American waters with stops in Hawaii and Los Angeles, where the sun shines and stars walk the streets. End your cruise in two of the most beautiful cities in the world – Victoria and Vancouver, Canada. Priced from $4179 per person, share twin for a Princess Standard fare, which includes standard dining, accommodation and entertainment. Flights are additional. Cruise departs Auckland, New Zealand, on Sunday, April 12, 2026. Prices are correct at the date and time supplied to the media outlet and are subject to change. Visit or call 0800 780 717. Spend 25 days travelling from Auckland to Canada aboard the Discovery Princess. Photo / Discovery Princess From Disney fun to harbour views Combine culture, luxury, and Disney magic on this five-night Hong Kong escape. Enjoy three nights at the 1920s expedition-themed Disney Explorers Lodge, featuring four globally inspired wings, immersive decor, three restaurants, and a fun-filled Rain Drop Pool. Plus, get into the spirit of 'The Most Magical Party of All' as Hong Kong Disneyland celebrates its 20th anniversary with an upgraded castle show, new night-time spectacular and the biggest parade yet. Then, relax for two nights at the five-star Harbour Grand Kowloon, a deluxe waterfront hotel with harbour views, rooftop pool and easy city access. From $3425 pp twin share, the package includes return Economy Class airfares with Air New Zealand from Auckland, five nights' accommodation, daily breakfast, and a two-day Non Stop Fun Ticket (Tier 4) to Hong Kong Disneyland. This also includes a bonus one-night stay at Disney Explorers Lodge with a stay three, pay two offer. Valid for travel from October 13 to November 19, 2025. Book by August 10, 2025, at Experience the magic of Hong Kong Disneyland and the culture of Kowloon city in one stay. Photo / Supplied Explore Earth's last frontier Discover the 'last continent' with Viking's 13-day Antarctic Explorer voyage from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia. Experience towering glaciers, sweeping icebergs, snow-covered wilderness and unforgettable wildlife encounters on the world's last true frontier. This ultimate adventure is built around flexibility, allowing daily itinerary changes to ensure the best wildlife viewings in one of the planet's most remote destinations. Travel aboard a purpose-built expedition ship equipped with zodiacs, kayaks and even submarines to get you closer to the action. This package is priced from $19,495 pp in a Nordic Balcony Stateroom. Travellers can save $3000 per couple when booking one or more extensions, including the four-night Iguazú Falls tour or the five-night Gateway to Patagonia journey, both from $7499 pp. Bookings are available now via Viking. For more information, visit or contact your preferred travel agent.
The Independent
09-07-2025
- The Independent
Cinematic landscapes, epic wildlife spotting and plenty of ice – our unforgettable family cruise through Alaska
Icebergs and cruises may seem like uneasy companions, but at 5am on board Discovery Princess, nobody seems particularly concerned as sheets of ice float silently alongside our ship as if they are joining us for breakfast. Far from panicking, passengers are wide awake and leaning over balconies, smartphones in hand, snapping away like paparazzi on a polar red carpet. This is not a dream sequence or the set of a disaster movie – although the snow-capped peaks and icy fjords could easily fool you. There's no Leonardo DiCaprio balancing on the rails of the Titanic, no Kate Winslet clutching pearls or a raft with room for two. Just the raw and cinematic landscapes of Alaska, where snow-capped mountains kiss the clouds and floating icebergs – known as growlers – as well as the chance to spot wildlife such as bears, eagles and whales draw your eyes and ears to the great outdoors. We're sailing through Endicott Arm, a 30-mile-long fjord in the south east of Alaska that is among the gems of our Princess Cruises ' Inside Passage itinerary. It is enough to get my 10- and 12-year-old daughters out of bed early to direct their smartphones away from Snapchat and towards the sea. Chunks of ice drift gracefully like modern art installations. Now and then, there's a low rumble in the distance, followed by a splash – the thunder of ancient ice falling off the nearby Dawes Glacier. Thousands of years of geological history peeling away in front of our eyes. It's just one of many moments on our sailing where I find myself quoting Disney's Frozen under my breath: 'Now that's ice!' And for once, the kids don't roll their eyes. More than 1.7 million cruise passengers visited Alaska last year, up 3.8 per cent annually, according to the Cruise Lines International Association. It is one of the fastest-growing routes for cruise ships and passengers, with regular departures from ports such as Seattle, San Francisco and Vancouver. After a week on board, it was easy to see why visitors keep coming. Princess Cruises' on-board naturalist and Alaska expert Mike Modzelewski advises guests early on in our sailing that the sites and sounds of Alaska will 'slather your soul with special effects that Hollywood can't create' and warns us to keep our camera memory clear. More than 1,100 pictures later, my smartphone and I now understand what he meant. With 1,400 balcony cabins – the most in the Princess fleet – Discovery Princess is a perfect ship for Alaska. It's designed for viewing, not just cruising. The Sky Suites offer sweeping 270-degree balconies, which means you don't have to jostle for position when the scenery starts performing. Out in the public areas, the captain even announces wildlife sightings on the tannoy, prompting passengers to dash from one side of the ship to another, binoculars in hand, in the hope of spotting nearby groups of whales and even a submarine at one point. Wildlife spotting takes priority, with plenty of bars and open spaces where you can sit eagle-eyed by a window looking out to sea. Where else in the world can you say, 'Sorry I was late for dinner, but a whale sailed past my balcony and I just managed to catch a picture of its tail'? This isn't just a cruise for adult explorers, though. Alaska cruises are as family-friendly as any traditional Mediterranean or Caribbean destination when it comes to entertainment and excursions, just with less risk of sunburn. There is a saying that it rains for 74 days of the month in Alaska and that the region has two seasons, winter and July. It felt like we experienced a whole season of rain in Ketchikan as we wrapped ourselves in waterproofs and optimism after transferring to an excursion on a smaller boat, determined to get closer to the local furry and winged wildlife. Our binoculars spied plenty of eagles drying off their wings high in trees and our cameras started snapping as a deer with its young fowl emerged on the banks of the Nichols Passage, south of Ketchikan. But despite scanning every soggy corner, none of the headline bears or whales fancied making a cameo in the downpour. We barely noticed the rain on another wet stop in the Alaskan capital, Juneau, to learn about dog mushing – once a form of transportation in the mountains of Alaska, and now a state sport. The unique pastime involves 12 excited huskies pulling a sled in the snow. We experienced the fast-paced thrill of a puppy-powered ride in a cart through the rainy mountain trails, laughing hysterically as the dogs dashed through the rain, barking instructions at each other as if they were chasing a long-lost ball. We even got to pet the dogs at the end of the ride, after they managed to put their competitive natures aside for a cuddle. Aside from the wildlife, Alaska is also steeped in gold. The state is best known for the Klondike gold rush of 1896, where 100,000 people travelled through areas such as Skagway towards the Yukon Valley in Canada when news emerged of discoveries of the precious yellow metal. We followed in the footsteps of the hopeful miners of the 19th century, minus the pickaxes, on a stop near the Skagway river in Liarsville – named after journalists of the time who told false tales of people finding gold here rather than 500 miles away in the Klondike region of Canada. But we weren't fooled into trekking into the wild for a shiny reward – although a comfortable coach ride into the Yukon Valley and the Alaskan border with Canada meant we were able to see the snowy mountain views and rugged weather of the White Passage that the gold miners of the past would have met. It was also another opportunity to proclaim, 'Now that's ice!' Back in Liarsville, local guides taught us the art of gold panning, where you use a metallic bowl to sift through grains of mud for gold nuggets. We shook and swirled our pans excitedly at the promise that we could keep as much gold as we could find. Needless to say, I'm not ready to retire yet but did find some small nuggets and a very large sense of accomplishment. There are plenty of nods towards Alaskan culture across Discovery Princess as well, from (plastic) axe throwing competitions to rival the real lumberjack shows ashore to the food. The main dining rooms on board are named after Alaska hot (cold) spots such as Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan, where we enjoyed local delicacies such as Alaskan salmon and juicy halibut. Mike explains that while the lower 48 – the name Alaskans give to the rest of the US – dine on beef burgers, halibut burgers are actually the local dish of choice – and an option I would highly endorse. The ship also offered its own wildlife spotting adventures. Forget bears or gold, the most valuable commodity on a cruise ship, if you are a child, is rubber ducks. There is a tradition on cruise ships where passengers hide rubber ducks around the ship for fellow passengers to find. You can then either keep them, post a picture on social media or hide the object for someone else. It is a great way to pass the time on a wet sea day, and in many ways it was more exciting – and less messy – for my daughters than panning for gold. We may not have spotted any bears but our children were happy to have a haul of ducks and gold nuggets to take home with them as souvenirs. And while our clothes will get over the wet days, the sights and sounds of Alaska are something we will never forget. And that is an experience worth its weight in gold. Marc Shoffman was a guest of Princess Cruises. How to do it Several ships in the Princess Cruises fleet offer Alaska itineraries with roundtrip sailings throughout the year from Seattle, Vancouver and San Francisco. Passengers who are flying from Seattle Tacoma International Airport with British Airways can also try the expanded airport lounge, available to those in First Class, Club World or Club Europe, as well as silver and gold members of the airline's executive club. Refurbished in February, it offers bright, soft seating where you can charge devices and relax or work surrounded by captivating textile art by local artists such as Hannah Mason. There is also a sleek modern bar with a wide array of drinks and soft red leather bar stools, inviting you to the 180-degree views of the runway where you can raise a glass to the mountains ahead of your flight, the perfect way to prepare for a long flight home at the end of a cruise.
USA Today
18-06-2025
- USA Today
Cruise passenger allegedly posed as US citizen with fake ID and birth certificate
Cruise passenger allegedly posed as US citizen with fake ID and birth certificate Show Caption Hide Caption How to find the best price, perks when booking a cruise Find the cruise that works for your budget with these tips. Problem Solved A Philippine national legally residing in the U.S. allegedly used a stolen identity to board a Princess Cruises ship in Alaska. Enrico Ronquillo is accused of using counterfeit documents and a fraudulent IRS form with a victim's personal information. He faces charges of false impersonation, making and using a false document, and aggravated identity theft. A man allegedly used a stolen identity to board a Princess Cruises ship in Alaska. Enrico Ronquillo, 37, was indicted for using a counterfeit driver's license and a birth certificate – both from California – to impersonate a U.S. citizen from May 11 to 14, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Alaska said in a June 16 news release. He is a Philippine national residing legally in the U.S. Ronquillo was onboard the Discovery Princess ship at the time, according to the indictment. He also allegedly 'made and used a fraudulent IRS Form W-9 that contained the victim's name, signature, address and social security number' during the cruise, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Ronquillo is charged with one count each of false impersonation of a U.S. citizen and making and using a false document, as well as two counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the first two charges and two years in prison for each of the latter counts. An attorney for Ronquillo declined to comment. Princess did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@
Sydney Morning Herald
13-06-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
On board the modern version of the Love Boat headed for Australia
Via the app on my phone, I easily connect to MedallionNet, the ship's Wi-Fi. Having encountered many frustrating challenges when connecting to Wi-Fi on other ships, this instantly puts me in a good mood. The design All that cruisers know and love of other Royal Class ships in the Princess fleet (including Majestic Princess and Royal Princess) is on Discovery Princess, only better. There are even more open deck areas, more premium accommodation, new dining venues and new entertainment productions. The colour scheme is lighter and brighter, creating a sunny ambience with sand-coloured carpets, light wood and neutral curtains that make spaces feel bigger. The heart of the ship is The Piazza, a grand atrium that spans several decks and features spiral staircases, glass-walled lifts and several bars and cafes. There's always something happening in this area, including daily dance classes, live music and the captain's champagne welcome. The spaces Something for everyone, from the party atmosphere of the main pool deck to the tech-forward kids' club, to the tranquil thermal spa, and the glitzy Princess Theatre with capacity for close to 1000 guests. Princess understands that multi-generational groups and travellers of all ages are their demographic, and they design accordingly. I enjoy the adults-only pool and bar area for quiet swimming and reading time. Nearby is The Retreat, a bougie bargain at $30 for half-day access to a peaceful, private area with sun lounges, cabanas, jacuzzi, afternoon tea and a special menu of cocktails and food. The stateroom There are 1830 staterooms, including two Sky Suites featuring Princess' largest balconies at sea. I'm in a Balcony Cabin on Deck 10, one of 753 on the ship. This category ranges in size from 214 to 222 square feet (20 to 20.6 square metres), including the outdoor space, which accommodates a table and two chairs. Again the colour scheme leans into the beige/bone/sand palette. A queen-sized bed can be converted to two twin beds. There's a desk with chair, a minibar fridge, a flat-screen TV and an enormous open-style wardrobe. There is plenty of storage on shelves, in drawers and in cleverly designed spaces. This, plus the abundance of USB and power outlets, gets my tick of approval. The bathroom is on the squeezy side. The food I've cruised on luxury ships that cost much more than Princess and eaten food that isn't half as good. Included in the fare are three main dining rooms, a vast buffet at World Fresh Marketplace, pizza at Slice, poolside burgers, Swirls Ice Cream Bar, and pub fare at O'Malleys Irish Pub. International Cafe is a popular 24/7 takeaway venue, serving toasted sandwiches, pies, croissants and snacks. No need to spend extra on specialty dining if you don't want to, though you probably will want to, in which case it's smart to upgrade to the Princess Premier package (from $100 a person, a day) as it includes unlimited specialty meals. The Crown Grill steakhouse is reliably good, but don't overlook Gigi's Pizzeria, Sabatini's Italian Trattoria (order the huge veal Milanese) and Ocean Terrace Sushi. When the ship comes to Australia, as many as 70 new menu items will be added to suit local preferences. That means more seafood, roast dinners, pavlova and Vegemite, among other things. Wellness No excuse to skip a workout: the 24-hour gym on Discovery Princess is better than most expensive city gyms. As well as the latest equipment and fitness machines, there are daily classes from well-known franchises including CycleBar, StretchLab and PureBarre. For outdoor exercise and recreation, make use of the swimming pools, jogging track and basketball court. At The Lotus Spa, enjoy massages, facials, acupuncture, nail and hair services, and a range of 'anti-ageing' treatments, including Thermage non-invasive facelifts. The extra-fee thermal suite, The Enclave, has a sauna, steam room, hydrotherapy pool and rain shower. If you plan to visit more than twice, it's better value to buy a pass for the entire voyage. Entertainment It's showtime in the Princess Theatre, with all-singing, all-dancing cast productions. A new show, Viva La Musica, celebrates the best of Latin music. There's comedy in the Laugh Lounge, movies under the stars, a raucous crowd-participation game of Deal or No Deal, and plenty of live music around the ship. Dance classes in the Piazza are popular, as are culinary demonstrations and wine tasting. The crew gets in on the act with creative towel-folding demos, 'meet the crew' Q+As and a formal night hosted by the officers. The crew The friendly crew members of Discovery Princess work cohesively to create a carefree holiday environment for guests. The boss sets the tone of an organisation, and in this case, it's Captain Alessandro Genzo, a charming Italian mariner who leads by example with warmth and humility. Listen for his 'ciao, ciao' sign-off on future sailings in Australia. Special mention to the spa therapists, who create such a convivial experience, I sign up for two more treatments after a fun manicure. The verdict There's a lot to love on this Love Boat. The ship is designed to be an all-round crowd-pleaser, catering for families, couples, solos and friend groups of all ages. Even at full capacity, there's room for everyone to do their thing. Dive into the onboard entertainment and dining options, and consider upgrading to the Plus or Premier package for inclusions such as Wi-Fi, specialty dining, drinks and fitness classes. Loading The Princess MedallionClass app, not as intuitive as it could be, has room for improvement. We'd like to be able to make spa appointments in the app, and it would be handy to see all restaurant opening hours at a glance. The details From December 2025, Discovery Princess will call Sydney home for a debut summer season of voyages to New Zealand and Australian ports. This home port in the harbour city will mark 50 years since the first Princess ship sailed into Sydney in 1975. From $2149 a person, twin share, for a 14-night New Zealand itinerary from Sydney. See Our rating out of five ★★★★½ Swell Isn't it great when things just work? There's an easygoing 'no worries' vibe onboard that encourages guests and crew to relax, smile and go with the ocean flow. Not so swell It's handy to order food and drinks on the app, but irksome when deliveries take a long time or arrive incomplete (no milk for the tea, no condiments for the fries).
The Age
13-06-2025
- The Age
On board the modern version of the Love Boat headed for Australia
Via the app on my phone, I easily connect to MedallionNet, the ship's Wi-Fi. Having encountered many frustrating challenges when connecting to Wi-Fi on other ships, this instantly puts me in a good mood. The design All that cruisers know and love of other Royal Class ships in the Princess fleet (including Majestic Princess and Royal Princess) is on Discovery Princess, only better. There are even more open deck areas, more premium accommodation, new dining venues and new entertainment productions. The colour scheme is lighter and brighter, creating a sunny ambience with sand-coloured carpets, light wood and neutral curtains that make spaces feel bigger. The heart of the ship is The Piazza, a grand atrium that spans several decks and features spiral staircases, glass-walled lifts and several bars and cafes. There's always something happening in this area, including daily dance classes, live music and the captain's champagne welcome. The spaces Something for everyone, from the party atmosphere of the main pool deck to the tech-forward kids' club, to the tranquil thermal spa, and the glitzy Princess Theatre with capacity for close to 1000 guests. Princess understands that multi-generational groups and travellers of all ages are their demographic, and they design accordingly. I enjoy the adults-only pool and bar area for quiet swimming and reading time. Nearby is The Retreat, a bougie bargain at $30 for half-day access to a peaceful, private area with sun lounges, cabanas, jacuzzi, afternoon tea and a special menu of cocktails and food. The stateroom There are 1830 staterooms, including two Sky Suites featuring Princess' largest balconies at sea. I'm in a Balcony Cabin on Deck 10, one of 753 on the ship. This category ranges in size from 214 to 222 square feet (20 to 20.6 square metres), including the outdoor space, which accommodates a table and two chairs. Again the colour scheme leans into the beige/bone/sand palette. A queen-sized bed can be converted to two twin beds. There's a desk with chair, a minibar fridge, a flat-screen TV and an enormous open-style wardrobe. There is plenty of storage on shelves, in drawers and in cleverly designed spaces. This, plus the abundance of USB and power outlets, gets my tick of approval. The bathroom is on the squeezy side. The food I've cruised on luxury ships that cost much more than Princess and eaten food that isn't half as good. Included in the fare are three main dining rooms, a vast buffet at World Fresh Marketplace, pizza at Slice, poolside burgers, Swirls Ice Cream Bar, and pub fare at O'Malleys Irish Pub. International Cafe is a popular 24/7 takeaway venue, serving toasted sandwiches, pies, croissants and snacks. No need to spend extra on specialty dining if you don't want to, though you probably will want to, in which case it's smart to upgrade to the Princess Premier package (from $100 a person, a day) as it includes unlimited specialty meals. The Crown Grill steakhouse is reliably good, but don't overlook Gigi's Pizzeria, Sabatini's Italian Trattoria (order the huge veal Milanese) and Ocean Terrace Sushi. When the ship comes to Australia, as many as 70 new menu items will be added to suit local preferences. That means more seafood, roast dinners, pavlova and Vegemite, among other things. Wellness No excuse to skip a workout: the 24-hour gym on Discovery Princess is better than most expensive city gyms. As well as the latest equipment and fitness machines, there are daily classes from well-known franchises including CycleBar, StretchLab and PureBarre. For outdoor exercise and recreation, make use of the swimming pools, jogging track and basketball court. At The Lotus Spa, enjoy massages, facials, acupuncture, nail and hair services, and a range of 'anti-ageing' treatments, including Thermage non-invasive facelifts. The extra-fee thermal suite, The Enclave, has a sauna, steam room, hydrotherapy pool and rain shower. If you plan to visit more than twice, it's better value to buy a pass for the entire voyage. Entertainment It's showtime in the Princess Theatre, with all-singing, all-dancing cast productions. A new show, Viva La Musica, celebrates the best of Latin music. There's comedy in the Laugh Lounge, movies under the stars, a raucous crowd-participation game of Deal or No Deal, and plenty of live music around the ship. Dance classes in the Piazza are popular, as are culinary demonstrations and wine tasting. The crew gets in on the act with creative towel-folding demos, 'meet the crew' Q+As and a formal night hosted by the officers. The crew The friendly crew members of Discovery Princess work cohesively to create a carefree holiday environment for guests. The boss sets the tone of an organisation, and in this case, it's Captain Alessandro Genzo, a charming Italian mariner who leads by example with warmth and humility. Listen for his 'ciao, ciao' sign-off on future sailings in Australia. Special mention to the spa therapists, who create such a convivial experience, I sign up for two more treatments after a fun manicure. The verdict There's a lot to love on this Love Boat. The ship is designed to be an all-round crowd-pleaser, catering for families, couples, solos and friend groups of all ages. Even at full capacity, there's room for everyone to do their thing. Dive into the onboard entertainment and dining options, and consider upgrading to the Plus or Premier package for inclusions such as Wi-Fi, specialty dining, drinks and fitness classes. Loading The Princess MedallionClass app, not as intuitive as it could be, has room for improvement. We'd like to be able to make spa appointments in the app, and it would be handy to see all restaurant opening hours at a glance. The details From December 2025, Discovery Princess will call Sydney home for a debut summer season of voyages to New Zealand and Australian ports. This home port in the harbour city will mark 50 years since the first Princess ship sailed into Sydney in 1975. From $2149 a person, twin share, for a 14-night New Zealand itinerary from Sydney. See Our rating out of five ★★★★½ Swell Isn't it great when things just work? There's an easygoing 'no worries' vibe onboard that encourages guests and crew to relax, smile and go with the ocean flow. Not so swell It's handy to order food and drinks on the app, but irksome when deliveries take a long time or arrive incomplete (no milk for the tea, no condiments for the fries).
