Discovery Princess

    Princess Cruises

    Discovery Princess

    Majestic Princess

    Princess Cruises

    Majestic Princess

    vs

    Ship Comparison

    Discovery Princess vs Majestic Princess

    For those weighing modern comforts against classic charm, Discovery Princess and Majestic Princess each offer a distinctive take on the cherished Princess experience.

    The verdict

    Both Discovery Princess and Majestic Princess uphold the Princess Cruises' commitment to comfortable, quality cruising. Discovery Princess, as a newer Royal-class ship, leans into modern elegance with enhanced personalized service features and unique spaces like the Take Five jazz lounge. Majestic Princess, having undergone a significant refurbishment in 2025, beautifully blends classic Princess elements with updated dining and relaxation venues, ensuring a robust, social, yet often quieter evening experience. Your choice will likely come down to a preference for a slightly more contemporary feel versus a refreshed classic, both promising excellent food and attentive service.

    Choose Discovery Princess if…

    The Discovery Princess is ideal for the Value-Conscious Foodie seeking diverse culinary experiences, the Relaxed Explorer desiring unhurried and enriching voyages, the Social Seeker looking for vibrant hubs and camaraderie, the Princess Loyalist who appreciates consistent quality, the Alaska Enthusiast eager for regional immersion, and Multi-Generational Families seeking inclusive fun.

    Best for

    • Value-conscious foodies seeking diverse culinary options, including specialty dining at a good price.
    • Relaxed explorers who appreciate a laid-back pace, live jazz, and serene adults-only spaces.
    • Social seekers looking for vibrant central hubs and opportunities for camaraderie with fellow passengers.
    • Princess loyalists who value consistent quality and a familiar, comfortable cruising experience.
    • Alaska enthusiasts eager for regional culinary experiences and voyages to Alaskan ports.
    • Multi-generational families benefiting from dedicated kids' clubs and inclusive entertainment like Movies Under the Stars.

    Avoid if

    • Seeking high-energy attractions like waterslides, ziplines, or virtual gaming centers.
    • Expecting flawless, instant service from all digital applications, as OceanNow can be inconsistent.
    • Desiring a completely quiet balcony experience on Deck 8 forward or Deck 17 forward, due to potential wind or obstructed views.
    • Looking for a groundbreaking, radically new ship design and experience.

    Choose Majestic Princess if…

    The Majestic Princess suits the Social Explorer (Adult Groups) desiring lively early evenings and diverse bars, the Classic Cruiser Couple valuing traditional elegance and live music, the Wellness & Relaxation Seeker looking for serene adults-only spaces and spa amenities, the Culinary Connoisseur prioritizing exceptional dining, and Families with Young Children appreciating dedicated kids' clubs and family-friendly activities.

    Best for

    • Adult groups seeking diverse dining, lively early evening entertainment, and social pub atmospheres.
    • Classic cruiser couples who appreciate traditional elegance, live music, and a generally quieter nightlife.
    • Wellness and relaxation seekers looking for serene adults-only pools, spas, and thermal suites.
    • Culinary connoisseurs prioritizing exceptional and diverse dining, including highly-rated specialty restaurants.
    • Families with young children who benefit from excellent kids' and teens' clubs and family-friendly movie nights.

    Avoid if

    • Primarily seeking a vibrant, late-night clubbing scene.
    • Expecting cutting-edge 'whizz-bang' features found on newer, more adventurous ships.
    • Wishing for spa access to The Enclave thermal suite to be included with individual spa treatments.
    • Sensitive to potential noise in cabins on Deck 15 due to proximity to high-traffic public areas.

    Overall Vibe

    Discovery Princess

    Launched in 2021 as the final Royal-class vessel, Discovery Princess exudes an upscale, modern, and comfortable ambiance. Spanning 15 decks and accommodating up to 3,660 guests, she offers a familiar yet refined Princess experience. Her design emphasizes contemporary elegance, featuring innovations like the Sky Suites with their expansive 270-degree balconies. While not drastically reinventing the Princess formula, she provides a high-quality cruise at a compelling value, appealing to guests who appreciate a laid-back sophistication and a welcoming atmosphere. The ship's overall feel is bright, inviting, and geared towards effortless, personalized service.

    Majestic Princess

    Majestic Princess, built in 2017 and significantly refurbished in 2025, presents a fun, relaxed, and social atmosphere that skillfully blends traditional Grand Class features with Royal-class modernity. Carrying 3,560 guests across 15 decks, she offers a classic cruise experience with a strong focus on diverse dining and abundant live music. The recent updates have enhanced her appeal, particularly with additions like the adults-only Hollywood Pool Club and various new bars, ensuring a well-rounded and engaging journey. She caters well to couples and adult groups seeking a vibrant, yet often quieter, evening experience, providing a refreshed take on the beloved Princess style.

    Atmosphere & Crowd

    Discovery Princess

    Discovery Princess fosters a comfortable and social ambiance, attracting a mix of multi-generational families, couples, and social groups with its laid-back attitude. With a passenger capacity of 3,660 served by 1,346 crew members, the ship maintains a balanced crew-to-guest ratio of approximately 1:2.72. The central Piazza Atrium serves as a lively social hub, complemented by various bars and lounges like Crooner's and the intimate Take Five jazz lounge, encouraging a sense of camaraderie. Dedicated Camp Discovery programs for children (The Treehouse), tweens (The Lodge), and teens (The Beach House) ensure a family-friendly environment without feeling overly rambunctious.

    Majestic Princess

    Majestic Princess offers a fun, relaxed, and social atmosphere that, while welcoming families, tends to be quieter at night, making it particularly suitable for couples and adult groups. With 3,560 passengers and 1,346 crew members, the ship boasts a favorable crew-to-guest ratio of about 1:2.64, hinting at attentive service. The ship's vibrant Piazza hosts daily activities and live music, while new additions like O’Malley’s Irish Pub enhance social opportunities. Children and teens are well-catered for with 'excellent kids’ and teens’ clubs' (The Treehouse, The Lodge, The Beach House), along with group babysitting, ensuring a diverse yet harmonious crowd onboard.

    Dining

    Discovery Princess

    Discovery Princess offers a diverse culinary journey with numerous complimentary options, including Gigi's Pizzeria for hand-tossed pizzas, the extensive World Fresh Marketplace buffet, and the 24-hour International Café. Guests can also enjoy The Salty Dog Grill for gourmet burgers and Afternoon Tea. For an additional charge, specialty restaurants like Crown Grill provide excellent steakhouse fare, Sabatini's Italian Trattoria offers handmade pasta, and Bistro Sur La Mer delivers French bistro-style dishes. The Chef's Table Lumiere promises an exclusive multi-course experience, while Ocean Terrace provides à la carte sushi, ensuring a wide array of choices for every palate.

    Majestic Princess

    Majestic Princess emphasizes outstanding dining with a blend of complimentary and specialty venues. Guests can enjoy the 'massive and bountiful' World Fresh Marketplace buffet, the 24-hour International Café, and poolside options like Alfredo’s Slice and The Salty Dog Cafe. The Allegro, Symphony, and Concerto Dining Rooms offer traditional waiter service. For a fee, the Crown Grill serves excellent steakhouse dishes, Sabatini's provides refined Italian cuisine, and The Catch by Rudi specializes in fresh seafood. Unique experiences like the Chef's Table Lumiere and the Winemaker's Dinner are available, alongside the newly added O'Malley's Irish Pub offering pub fare at reasonable prices.

    Entertainment & Nightlife

    Discovery Princess

    Entertainment on Discovery Princess caters to a broad audience, featuring grand-scale original musical productions in the state-of-the-art Princess Theatre and live acts in Princess Live! Café. The signature Movies Under the Stars offers an open-air cinematic experience on the pool deck. For live music, guests can enjoy performances in the lively Piazza Atrium, the sophisticated Take Five jazz lounge, or the popular Crooners bar. The Vista Show Lounge hosts comedians, illusionists, and live bands, while Top Deck Parties and Festivals of the World add a celebratory flair. The Vegas Style Casino offers gaming excitement.

    Majestic Princess

    Majestic Princess provides a robust entertainment program, though it tends to wind down earlier in the evening compared to some ships. The Princess Theatre showcases Broadway-style productions and featured guest entertainers, while Princess Live! offers interactive game shows and live concerts. Movies Under the Stars® is a popular poolside attraction for all ages. Live music is abundant, found in the Piazza Atrium, Crooners, and the Crown Grill Bar, with an Irish duo performing in O’Malley’s Irish Pub. The Grand Casino offers gaming, and the Vista Lounge hosts comedians and illusionists, alongside mahjong tables. The Hollywood Pool Club hosts dance parties on select evenings, and a DJ plays in the Piazza around 11:30 p.m.

    Cabins & Suites

    Discovery Princess

    Discovery Princess offers 1,475 cabins, ranging from economical 158-162 sq. ft. Interior Staterooms to the luxurious, two-bedroom, two-bathroom Sky Suites spanning up to 1,873 sq. ft. with a 270-degree balcony. The most common are the 753 Balcony Staterooms (214-222 sq. ft.) and 374 Mini-Suites (323 sq. ft.), which include a separate sitting area and a complimentary welcome glass of bubbly. All cabins feature a Princess Luxury Bed, interactive flat-panel TVs, and Medallion-enabled door unlocking. Guests should note that some forward-facing balconies on Deck 8 and Deck 17 may experience obstructed views or strong winds when underway.

    Majestic Princess

    Majestic Princess offers a comfortable selection of staterooms and suites with a clean, fresh decor in warm tones. Interior Staterooms are approximately 158-162 sq. ft., while Balcony Staterooms range from 214-222 sq. ft. Mini-Suites, at around 323 sq. ft., are substantially larger and feature a separate sitting area and a shower/tub combination in the bathroom. Suite options, from Penthouse to Owner's Suites, offer generous space and enhanced amenities like complimentary laundry and Concierge Lounge access. All cabins include the Princess Luxury Bed and Medallion-enabled door unlocking. Guests should be aware of potential obstructed views on some Deck 8, 15, and 16 balconies, and possible noise in Deck 15 cabins due to proximity to public areas.

    Service & Onboard Style

    Discovery Princess

    Discovery Princess is designed around the 'effortless, personalized service of the MedallionClass® experience,' aiming to make guests feel at home with attentive staff. The ship’s modern ambiance is reflected in features like the dedicated Suite Experience Manager for Sky Suite guests, offering seamless curb-to-suite service. While the MedallionNet Wi-Fi is generally strong, the OceanNow app for food delivery was noted to work 'about half of the time,' indicating that direct interaction with the friendly crew often remains a reliable and valued aspect of service. Priority embarkation and disembarkation are among the perks for suite occupants.

    Majestic Princess

    Majestic Princess delivers a classic Princess service experience, emphasizing excellent food and attentive crew. The 2025 refurbishment enhanced onboard style with new venues like O’Malley’s Irish Pub and the Hollywood Pool Club, contributing to a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Medallion technology streamlines experiences such as automatic cabin door unlocking and app-based reservations. While Sabatini's service could occasionally be slow, overall dining and bar service are well-regarded. Suite guests benefit from perks like complimentary laundry and a Concierge Lounge, reflecting a commitment to guest comfort. The crew-to-guest ratio of 1:2.64 supports a high level of personalized attention.

    Best Itineraries

    Discovery Princess

    Discovery Princess is particularly well-suited for Alaskan itineraries, catering to "The Alaska Enthusiast" with specific 'Wild for Alaska Seafood' menus in main dining rooms and the buffet, alongside regional drink offerings. Her voyages include numerous Alaskan ports, providing an immersive experience for those passionate about the region's majestic landscapes and unique culture. Guests on these sailings can expect a blend of scenic cruising and enriching port explorations, though MedallionNet connectivity may be limited in mountainous areas like Glacier Bay National Park, encouraging a focus on the natural surroundings.

    Majestic Princess

    Majestic Princess, with its blend of diverse dining, abundant live music, and dedicated adults-only and family spaces, is well-suited for a variety of mainstream itineraries where the ship itself is a significant part of the destination. Her 'fun, relaxed' atmosphere and extensive onboard amenities, including the Hollywood Pool Club and various entertainment lounges, make her an excellent choice for guests seeking a balanced experience of relaxation and engagement, regardless of the specific geographic route. She particularly appeals to adult groups and families looking for a classic cruise journey with a refreshed and comfortable environment.

    What reviewers say

    Discovery Princess

    4.5/5

    Discovery Princess is a comfortable, classy place to spend a week – or more – living the good life at sea. It provides a quality cruise experience at a great price, ticking all the right boxes for passengers.

    Majestic Princess

    4/5

    Majestic Princess offers a classic cruise experience, with excellent food and service. While it may not have the cutting-edge features of more modern ships, its wide range of venues, entertainment, and outstanding dining ensure a very good voyage.

    Itineraries to compare

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