Latest news with #DiscoveryPrincess
NZ Herald
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Cruising: 5 things 20-somethings will love on a cruise holiday
1. Brilliant entertainment From comedy to the casino, most cruises feature an array of first-rate entertainment. Onboard the Discovery Princess, you can oscillate between sophistication and good-old-fashioned self-indulgence. On Friday, enjoy a Broadway-calibre musical at the Princess Theatre, followed by martinis in the jazz lounge. On Saturday, hit the casino or comedy club for adults-only fun, followed by a night of mixing and mingling at O'Malley's Irish Pub or Bellini's Cocktail Bar. There's plenty of live music to enjoy, as well as silent discos, trivia nights, and even street performers at the Piazza. The best part? No surge-fare Uber or crashing on a stranger's couch: simply catch that aforementioned elevator back to your stateroom when the night is over. 2. An abundance of wellness experiences On a regular holiday, health and fitness are like the outfits you pack but, deep down, know you'll never reach for, despite your best intentions. On a Princess cruise, not only will you get your steps in simply by navigating a behemoth of a ship, but wellness is encouraged. A night of partying can be tempered with a green juice at the World Fresh Marketplace the next morning, followed by Pilates or a spinning class, a trip to the state-of-the-art gym, or the al fresco jogging track. Alternatively, you can spend the day unwinding at the Lotus Spa with a hot-stone massage or detoxifying ocean wrap. With so many dining options to choose from, it's also easy to eat well on board. From salad bars to fresh smoothies (or a delicious poolside burger), it's all about #balance, after all. 3. Designed for socialising While I personally have not partaken in hanky-panky on the high seas, it's clear cruises are an ideal setting for hook-ups or holiday flings. The ships are social by nature: it's incredibly easy to meet people at the bars, buffet, or even while sharing a hot tub. With everything at your doorstep, cruises are also more laissez-faire than traditional travel, which means everyone aboard is typically relaxed and friendly. Sure, cruises often attract families and couples, but there are plenty of single holidaymakers – some of whom will be up for an at-sea dalliance. Trust me when I say: it's called a 'love boat' for a reason. 4. A foodie's paradise Pizza by the pool? Popcorn and ice cream with a movie beneath the stars? The finest filet mignon at Crown Grill steakhouse? Food and drink options differ between cruise lines, of course, but on a Princess cruise, dining is integral to its brand. Being on board is a great excuse for a week of gourmandism: I for one felt like I had to roll myself down the gangway. There is a raft of high-calibre eateries, from fine-dining restaurants to cafes and a steakhouse. The chefs are well-versed in catering for allergies and as a coeliac, I was always taken care of. We 20-somethings are known for our range of dietary requirements, and rest assured, there are clearly marked vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free (etc) options available. 5. Big on value While cruising is often viewed as a pastime of the affluent and elderly, a holiday on the high seas doesn't have to break the bank. In fact, it can be a fairly affordable way to travel when you consider what's included. For example, the Princess Premier package, which includes Wi-Fi, beverages, fitness classes, meals, and room service, works out at A$100 ($108) per day, per guest. When you think about how much dinner, drinks and taxi fare alone will cost you on a standard holiday, that's not a bad offer. Cruises also typically offer generous discounts for activities and excursions on port days, which can net you serious savings. For a 20-something young professional, cruising isn't the cheapest way to see the world, but it definitely can be done on a budget. DETAILS For more information on Discovery Princess' seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise, visit
NZ Herald
07-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Destinations to save and book from Rarotonga to Japan
Fiji Stay five nights at the 4.5-star Warwick Fiji on the Coral Coast with a family-friendly package that includes a daily buffet breakfast, a Coral Viewing Glass Bottom Boat trip and a Sigatoka Shopping Trip for two adults and two children (aged five to fifteen), three hours of nanny service, and one 60-minute massage per stay. Up to two children 12 years and under play free, and guests can enjoy free access to selected non-motorised water activities, the gym, tennis and squash courts, billiards, table tennis, and bicycles. This package is priced from $1175 pp based on two adults and two children (aged two to eleven years). Valid for travel from May 31 to June 19, 2025, July 23 to September 17, October 8 to October 24, November 3 to December 17, 2025, and January 14 to March 20, 2026, departing from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch. Book by May 10, 2025 by visiting Thailand and Vietnam Set sail with Royal Princess next November on a nine-day return trip from Singapore. Port in Cam Ranh and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, where the water is turquoise blue and the street food is to die for. Venture to the vibrant and bustling metropolis of Bangkok for two full days before your final stop in Ko Samui, a beautiful location known for its white sand beaches and breath-taking vistas. Priced from $2067 pp, share twin for a Princess Standard fare, this includes standard dining, accommodation, and entertainment. Flights are additional. Cruise departs Singapore on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Visit to book and for up-to-date pricing. Call 0800 780 717 for more information. Singapore and Malaysia This is the package that has it all! Flying return to Singapore via Air New Zealand, spend two nights at Hotel Miramar Singapore with daily breakfast before embarking on a five-night cruise onboard Discovery Princess in a balcony stateroom. Ports include Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi and Penang. Add Comprehensive Travel Insurance and save $500 per booking in-store with Bundle + Save. From $3715 pp twin share, this package is on sale until May 30. Flight departing Auckland October 26, 2025. Terms & Conditions apply. Book your tickets at or call 0800 427 555. Japan Experience Japan on this 12-day Intrepid tour that immerses you in this vibrant country. Explore bustling Tokyo, historic Kyoto, tranquil Hakone, and captivating Hiroshima. Discover local culture with guided tours, including sushi-making, sake tasting, Zen meditation, and a visit to Hiroshima's Peace Park. Expertly managed by a dedicated Travel Advisor, with daily breakfast included, get an additional $700pp travel credit to go towards your holiday. From $12,485 pp, this deal is on sale until May 30. Travel between June 12 to August 28, 2025. Airfares are additional. Visit or call 0800 951 655 to book your tickets today.
Vancouver Sun
05-05-2025
- Vancouver Sun
In my Princesss Cruise era
Article content Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Article content I didn't want to do much more than lounge in a deck chair when I planned my cruise on Discovery Princess. Yes there were excursions I had to do – ride a trolly in San Francisco, visit the San Diego Zoo, and see the La Bufadora in Ensenada, Mexico, a blowhole that shoots water metres into the air several times a minute – but those outings were planned by or for my daughter. I just wanted to get away from the office, eat good food and relax. Article content Article content Article content Discovery Princess proved to be worthy of the stewardship. Full disclosure: I sailed on the Sun Princess in 2023 and knew Princess Cruises was synonymous for — luxury, indulgence, pampering, and entertainment that didn't require I get out of a cushioned seat. Yes I was going to pack on a few pounds and be catered to while sailing along the California coast down to Mexico, at times just watching the horizon dip. Article content The Lotus Spa is located on deck 5, just past customer service. I was welcomed by the sound of babbling water, offered a cucumber-infused water and given a tour by a friendly hostess. Article content Article content There are treatment rooms for: massages, facials, pedicures, manicures, wraps, exfoliating scrubs and more treatments than I needed. I was more enticed by the large hydrotherapy pool at the heart of the spa. This is The Enclave – which anyone can use even if you don't get a spa treatment. A pass is required to use The Enclave or you can get a package that allows you access every day of your cruise. Article content Article content I booked a deep-tissue massage for the next day. My massage involved a lot of kneading, and just the right amount of pressure to leave me feeling like Gumby. From the massage table I drifted to The Enclave's three steam rooms one after another. The Hammam for a steam bath, the Laconium for its dry heat and finally the Roman-inspired Caladium. By the time I dipped into the hydrotherapy pool I was stress-free and swooning. From there I gathered myself long enough to take the short steps to a heated stone lounger. Article content I vacillated in the space between basking and dozing content to soak in the heat. It was only FOMO that got me off the lounger to check on happens elsewhere onboard.
National Post
05-05-2025
- National Post
In my Princesss Cruise era
Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. Article content I didn't want to do much more than lounge in a deck chair when I planned my cruise on Discovery Princess. Yes there were excursions I had to do – ride a trolly in San Francisco, visit the San Diego Zoo, and see the La Bufadora in Ensenada, Mexico, a blowhole that shoots water metres into the air several times a minute – but those outings were planned by or for my daughter. I just wanted to get away from the office, eat good food and relax. Article content Article content Discovery Princess proved to be worthy of the stewardship. Full disclosure: I sailed on the Sun Princess in 2023 and knew Princess Cruises was synonymous for — luxury, indulgence, pampering, and entertainment that didn't require I get out of a cushioned seat. Yes I was going to pack on a few pounds and be catered to while sailing along the California coast down to Mexico, at times just watching the horizon dip. Article content The Lotus Spa is located on deck 5, just past customer service. I was welcomed by the sound of babbling water, offered a cucumber-infused water and given a tour by a friendly hostess. Article content Article content There are treatment rooms for: massages, facials, pedicures, manicures, wraps, exfoliating scrubs and more treatments than I needed. I was more enticed by the large hydrotherapy pool at the heart of the spa. This is The Enclave – which anyone can use even if you don't get a spa treatment. A pass is required to use The Enclave or you can get a package that allows you access every day of your cruise. Article content Article content I booked a deep-tissue massage for the next day. My massage involved a lot of kneading, and just the right amount of pressure to leave me feeling like Gumby. From the massage table I drifted to The Enclave's three steam rooms one after another. The Hammam for a steam bath, the Laconium for its dry heat and finally the Roman-inspired Caladium. By the time I dipped into the hydrotherapy pool I was stress-free and swooning. From there I gathered myself long enough to take the short steps to a heated stone lounger. Article content I vacillated in the space between basking and dozing content to soak in the heat. It was only FOMO that got me off the lounger to check on happens elsewhere onboard.
The Independent
14-03-2025
- The Independent
9 cruise holidays you must do in your lifetime
One of the main benefits of a cruise is that it can take you to a variety of amazing and once-in-a-lifetime destinations. Locations such as the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Greek islands may be popular for sun seekers or those who want a relaxing cruise, but there are other routes to consider for more bucket list and breathtaking experiences. A cruise line can get you to parts of the world that are restricted by foot or plane such as in Alaska and the Antarctic, while you can get breathtaking views of culture and history from the comfort of a cruise ship. You can moor up for excursions in more remote and rare parts of the world and enjoy majestic experiences such as witnessing the northern lights or getting close to nature and wildlife. The world is at your feet on a cruise and here are nine of the best routes around the world to experience in your lifetime. Alaska and the Inside Passage With glaciers to gaze at and wildlife to spot, Alaska is a bucket list destination for many. Cruising the state's Inside Passage helps explore the region and reach places that you simply cannot see by road. Typically departing from Seattle or Vancouver, Alaska's Inside Passage was carved out by glaciers during the ice age and a cruise will get you close to its thousands of islands, coves and fjords. Stops often include a visit to the gold rush town of Skagway, salmon fishing hotspot Ketchikan and Alaskan capital Juneau. It is the kind of cruise where an inside cabin could be a waste as you could wake up each morning next to massive glaciers, such as the famous Hubbard Glacier – stretching for 76 miles. Princess Cruises sails to Alaska and cruises alongside the Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier on the Inside Passage aboard Discovery Princess. Departs 17 August 2025; from £979pp. Book now Transatlantic Why fly across the Atlantic when you can cruise? Sailing from the UK and US may take longer than a flight but a transatlantic cruise provides a more memorable week, plus it can give you time to acclimatise to a new time zone without worrying about jet lag. The sailing typically takes seven or eight days, and destinations include Florida and New York. Some cruise lines may even offer longer round-trips. You will have more time to explore a ship and immerse yourself in the facilities and entertainment with almost every day being a sea day - plus there will be plenty of sunsets and sunrises to gaze at from the comfort of the deck or your cabin. Some cruise lines may have stops to break-up the sailing while others will just involve consecutive days at sea. The most well-known itinerary for the transatlantic route is aboard Queen Mary 2 with Cunard. Departing from Southampton, it has seven-night sailings to New York or a 15-night round-trip. A seven-night sailing to New York, departing on 16 May, starts at £899pp. Set sail for the best light show at sea. A northern lights cruise gives passengers a chance to see the beauty of the northern lights or aurora borealis from the clear skies of a cruise ship deck. One of the main northern lights hotspots to sail around is Norway, giving passengers the chance to explore the fjords of Bergen and also Alta and Tromso on what is known as the aurora belt - boosting your chances of seeing the dazzling spectacle. The best time to sail and see the light show is between late September and March. But there is no guarantee of seeing the northern lights as it depends on weather and how clear the skies are; some cruise brands, such as Hurtigruten and Havila Voyages, will offer a refund during peak viewing season if there are no sightings. Havila Voyages has a 12-day sailing around the northern lights hotpots of Norway, departing from Bergen on 31 October 2025 from £1,313pp. It has a money-back guarantee if they don't appear during sailings between October and March. Antarctica A visit to the white continent is another bucket list cruise for many. You could find yourself stepping onto the Antarctic ice on a hike, playing with penguins or stepping into rig or kayak to get closer to wildlife such as leopard seals. The more adventurous could even go polar diving into the icy waters. Onboard, there may be lectures on the landscape and history of the region amid the backdrop of giant glistening icebergs and don't forget to look out for humpback whales swimming by. Most sailings to Antarctica take place between November and March, due to the cold climate and there are limits on how many cruise ships and visitors can be on the ice at a time to protect the region, making it an even more special place to visit. Departures are typically from South America and often follow the famous Drake Passage, named after explorer Sir Francis Drake. You can visit Antarctica on Scenic Eclipse. The expedition ship carries 228 passengers, plus two H130 helicopters for excursions. It also has its own submarine that dives to a 1,000 feet down below. Prices for a 13-day Antarctica cruise, departing on 11 November 2025 from Buenos Aries, from £15,487pp. Galapagos Islands Follow in the footsteps of Darwin with a visit to the Galapagos Islands. It is an ideal cruise for nature lovers, with its giant tortoises and more than 150 species of birds to see. While a land visit restricts you to just a few towns and hotels, an expedition cruise can take you to the more remote islands of the archipelago, including Santa Cruz, Isabela, Floreana, Bartolomé, and Genovesa, all accompanied by expert guides. Depending on the time of year, you could see Galapagos penguins on the western route or albatross when heading to the north. These are typically busy expedition-style cruises, with two excursions a day to explore the variety of nature and wildlife on offer. With the Galapagos National Park restricting visitors to 100 at a time, this isn't a destination for those who just want to sit on a cruise ship. You can visit the Galapagos Islands with Celebrity Cruises. It has a seven day round-trip, departing from Baltra Island on 27 September, costing from £6,016pp. Mekong River A cruise on the Mekong River will take you to the heart of Vietnam and Cambodia, a comfortable way to get close to the various villages and culture of south-east Asia at a gentle pace compared with exploring on land. Both river cruise brands and smaller ocean-going ships have itineraries on this route. Sailings usually depart from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and visit the floating markets and beautiful landscapes of the Mekong Delta as well as the ancient temples of Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Windstar's newest ship, Star Seeker, has a 10-day Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand cruise that departs on 27 December 2026. It includes overnight stops in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi Halong Bay, with prices starting from $4,599. A cruise on the River Nile is an ideal way to get immersed in Egyptian history and culture. Typically starting from Cairo, you can gaze at landmarks on the riverbank such as the Luxor Temple and Valley of the Kings from the comfort of your cruise ship. There are also chances to explore further, often on camel back, on excursions to the pyramids of Giza and the spice markets of Aswan. Many cruises will have Egyptologists on board to keep you informed about the history and culture of your surroundings. Viking has a Pharaoh and Pyramids river cruise that departs from Cairo on 30 September; from £7,895pp. African safari An Africa safari cruise offers a great way to go wildlife watching on land and sea – all without having to worry about choosing the best park to spot the 'Big Five'. Itineraries tend to focus on a mix of land safaris and sea in destinations such as South Africa, where you could climb Table Mountain in Cape Town before visiting penguin colonies in Simon's Town, In the Western cape or Port Elizabeth, excursions may include a boat trip to see bottlenose dolphins or a visit to parks such as the Shamwari Private Game Reserve or Kariega Game Reserve to go lion and buffalo spotting. Some South Africa safari cruises may even arrange visits to the country's largest wildlife sanctuary, Kruger National Park. There are other Africa cruises focusing on the east of the continent, including Kenya 's Masai Mara National Reserve or Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater. Azamara Cruises has a 15-night Africa Cruise that has the option of staying at the Kruger National Park beforehand. It departs on 20 December 2025; from £3,489pp. Book now Panama Canal A Panama Canal cruise is a brilliant opportunity to marvel at the feat of human engineering while sailing on it. Passengers can cross from the Atlantic to the Pacific, or vice versa, and routes can include stops in the Caribbean, central America and Mexico as well as Panama City. The 50-mile trip in the canal will take you to Lake Gatun, the Culebra Cut valley and three locks on two seas, Gatun on the Atlantic and Pedro Miguel and Miraflores on the Pacific Ocean, Holland America Line has a 12-day cruise that visits the Panama Canal as well as Costa Rica and the Greater Antilles. It departs from Fort Lauderdale on 1 March with prices starting from £1,259pp.
