A Culinary Adventure at Sea: Dining on the Discovery Princess
What is the food like on a cruise ship? Do passengers have to rely solely on the buffet? These questions are answered during an eight-night journey aboard the Discovery Princess, sailing from Sydney to Christchurch. The full voyage spans 14 days and 13 nights, extending to Dunedin and Fiordland before returning to Sydney, offering a chance to sample over 25 food and beverage outlets.
Planning Meals and Exploring Options
With limited time due to shore excursions and group dinners, strategic meal planning is essential. On a previous cruise in 2015, the goal was to eat six times daily, but this trip scaled back to three meals and one snack per day. The International Cafe, open 24 hours, tempted with coffee, cakes, and sandwiches, though sleep often won out. However, late-night visits for tea and lemon or raspberry pound cake became a cozy ritual.
The buffet areas include the World Fresh Marketplace, Horizon Grill, and The Pastry Shop, all bustling with activity. Fresh fruit, fried eggs, and breakfast potatoes were popular choices, enjoyed on deck. Despite reminders to sanitize, compliance waned over time. These venues are complimentary and always busy, making them a lively option.
Dining Rooms and Specialty Experiences
For a quieter meal, the main dining rooms—Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan—offer set times or walk-ins, as indicated on the Princess App. A British-themed lunch proved particularly enjoyable. Coffee queues at breakfast led to discovering the Princess Live! Cafe for quick service, and room service orders for coffee were a savvy tip from a cruise enthusiast. With no oat milk and subpar soy milk, almond milk flat whites became a favorite.
Shore excursions prompted early room service orders for pastries, fruit, and cereal, while a classic club sandwich and chips from room service provided a convenient, though lukewarm, dinner after long days.
Behind the Scenes: Logistics and Sustainability
The Discovery Princess accommodates an average of 3,660 passengers and 1,346 crew, requiring massive food production. A 24/7 bakery crafts 8,000 mini pastries daily and 18,000 dinner rolls weekly. The galley uses over 32,000 eggs every seven days and 60 tonnes of fruit and vegetables per cruise. Daily, about 42,000 plates and 18,000 glasses are washed.
More than 55% of staff work in food and beverage, with produce lists tailored to passenger nationalities. Food waste is monitored closely, aiming for no more than 400g per person daily, as part of efforts to enhance the culinary experience, according to executive chef Joel S. Directo.
Indulgent Splurges and Top Picks
Even without specialty packages, hunger is never an issue. For a luxurious treat, 360 Dining offers a seven-course immersive Mediterranean experience at $229 per person, capped at 20 diners for intimacy. After exploring most venues except O’Malley’s Irish Pub, here are the standout dishes:
- Best Casual Meal: Ocean Terrace Seafood Bar – chilled edamame, seaweed salad, nigiri, and seared spicy tuna sushi provide a light, fresh break from heavier fare. Included in the Princess Premier package or $23 per person.
- Best Entree: Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria – fritto misto alla Veneziana, featuring lightly fried prawns and calamari with grilled polenta and spicy marinara sauce, was so delicious it was ordered twice. A three-course meal costs $80 without the Premier package.
- Best Main: Crown Grill and Bar – broiled lobster tail with asparagus and pepper butter, served with impressive sides in plush surroundings, exemplifies old-school hospitality.
- Best Dessert: Crown Grill and Bar – baked New York cheesecake with macerated strawberries, a safe choice for nut allergies, as all restaurants accommodate dietary needs well.
- Best Drink: A tie between 360 Dining’s non-alcoholic flight, including a large virgin mojito, and Crooners’ Kylie Minogue No Alcoholic Sparkling Rosé.
This culinary journey showcases the variety and quality available on the Discovery Princess, ensuring a memorable dining experience at sea.
