Discovery Princess
Product brand
UnclaimedDiscovery Princess is a Royal-class cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises.
Last updated August 25, 2026
Overview
Discovery Princess is a Royal-class cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises, the cruise brand within Carnival Corporation & plc. The vessel is the sixth and final Royal-class ship in the Princess fleet and was designed for large-scale international leisure cruising, combining resort-style accommodation, dining, entertainment, and port-intensive itineraries. At approximately 145,000 gross tons and 330 metres long, it is one of the larger ships in the Princess fleet. The ship contains 1,830 passenger cabins and 757 crew cabins, with balconies available on most passenger accommodations. Its maximum combined passenger-and-crew capacity is approximately 5,800 people. The ship was ordered from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in January 2017 as a sixth Royal-class newbuild. Its development took place during a period of major disruption in the global cruise and shipbuilding industries. Steel cutting began on 14 February 2019 at Fincantieri's Castellammare di Stabia facility in Italy. Princess Cruises publicly announced the ship's name, Discovery Princess, on 4 October 2019. A large bow section was launched in July 2020 and transported to Fincantieri's Monfalcone yard for integration with the remainder of the vessel. The COVID-19 pandemic affected both Fincantieri's construction schedule and Carnival Corporation's newbuild financing and delivery plans. Discovery Princess was initially expected to enter service in November 2021, with a planned Mediterranean debut followed by Caribbean and South American repositioning voyages before reaching California. Delivery was subsequently deferred, and the original inaugural program was cancelled. The ship completed interior outfitting after floating out in March 2021, undertook five days of sea trials in December 2021, and was handed over to Princess Cruises at Monfalcone on 28 January 2022. After leaving Italy in February 2022, the ship travelled eastward through the Suez Canal and stopped in Singapore for additional supplies before crossing the Pacific. Its first revenue voyage began on 27 March 2022 from Los Angeles as a seven-day Mexican Riviera sailing. Los Angeles served as its initial homeport, after which the ship moved to Seattle for its first summer deployment, operating cruises through the Alaska Inside Passage. The vessel was formally christened at the Port of Los Angeles on 29 April 2022. Its godparents were designer Randy Fenoli, chef Alex Guarnaschelli, special-effects designer Adam Savage, and real-estate agent Page Turner. Discovery Princess represents Princess Cruises' large contemporary-ship proposition: a ship intended to function as both a destination and a base for regional itineraries. Its diesel-electric propulsion system uses four Wärtsilä engines with a combined output of 62.4 megawatts, driving two electric propulsion motors. The service speed is approximately 21.9 knots, with a reported maximum speed of 23 knots. In commercial terms, the ship extends Princess Cruises' capacity in the North American cruise market, particularly for sailings from Los Angeles to Mexico and from Seattle to Alaska. Its operating identity is therefore tied less to a standalone consumer product brand than to the Princess Cruises fleet and the broader Carnival cruise portfolio.
History
Discovery Princess was conceived as the sixth Royal-class ship for Princess Cruises. Carnival Corporation placed the order with Fincantieri in January 2017, continuing Princess's expansion of a ship class developed for large-capacity international cruising. Early descriptions indicated that the new vessel would closely follow the design of its Royal-class sisters and accommodate approximately 3,660 passengers under the standard guest-capacity measure. Construction began with steel cutting on 14 February 2019 at Fincantieri's Castellammare di Stabia shipyard. Princess Cruises announced the name Discovery Princess on 4 October 2019. The ship's construction involved more than one Italian facility. A 130-metre bow section was launched at Castellammare di Stabia on 31 July 2020 and later transported to Monfalcone, where it was joined to the rest of the hull and the ship underwent further assembly and interior work. The vessel's construction and delivery schedule were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The disruption affected shipyard operations as well as Carnival Corporation's liquidity and newbuild planning. In early 2021, Carnival announced that it had renegotiated delivery schedules for vessels under construction. Discovery Princess was among the ships whose timetable was extended. The original plan called for the ship to enter service in November 2021 from Civitavecchia, operate in the Mediterranean, reposition to Port Everglades for Caribbean cruises, and then undertake a long South American voyage before reaching Los Angeles. Those plans were abandoned when delivery was postponed. Discovery Princess floated out from dry dock on 18 March 2021 to begin interior outfitting. It completed five days of sea trials in December 2021 and was delivered to Princess Cruises at Monfalcone on 28 January 2022. Fincantieri identified it as the first vessel it delivered in 2022 and the 75th Fincantieri vessel classified and registered by Lloyd's Register. To reach its intended North American deployment, the ship left the Italian shipyard in February 2022 and travelled east through the Suez Canal. It stopped in Singapore for additional supplies before undertaking the transpacific crossing. The delayed inaugural voyage began from Los Angeles on 27 March 2022 as a week-long cruise to the Mexican Riviera. After approximately a month based in Los Angeles, Discovery Princess moved to Seattle for its first summer schedule of Alaska Inside Passage cruises. The ship was christened at the Port of Los Angeles on 29 April 2022. Its selected godparents came from television, culinary, design, special effects, and real-estate backgrounds: Randy Fenoli, Alex Guarnaschelli, Adam Savage, and Page Turner. The event linked the vessel's launch to the Los Angeles market in which it began commercial service. Discovery Princess is approximately 145,000 gross tons and 330 metres long, with a beam of 38.38 metres and a draft of 8.49 metres. Four Wärtsilä engines generate a combined 62.4 megawatts for its diesel-electric system. Two electric motors drive the propellers, giving the vessel a reported service speed of 21.9 knots and maximum speed of 23 knots. It has 1,830 passenger cabins and 757 crew cabins, and approximately 81 percent of passenger cabins have balconies. As the sixth and final Royal-class ship in the Princess fleet, Discovery Princess completed the class's planned series while also adding capacity to Princess's California and Alaska programs.
- 2022
Delivery to Princess Cruises
[1]Fincantieri delivered the ship at Monfalcone on 28 January.
- 2022
Inaugural voyage from Los Angeles
[1]Discovery Princess began revenue service on 27 March with a week-long Mexican Riviera cruise.
- 2022
Los Angeles christening
[1]The ship was christened at the Port of Los Angeles on 29 April.
- 2021
Float-out and interior outfitting
[1]Discovery Princess floated out from dry dock on 18 March to begin interior outfitting.
- 2021
Sea trials completed
[1]The ship completed five days of sea trials in December after pandemic-related schedule changes.
- 2020
Bow section launched
[1]A 130-metre bow section was launched at Castellammare di Stabia and later moved to Monfalcone for assembly.
- 2019
Steel cutting begins
[1]Steel cutting for the then-unnamed ship took place at Fincantieri's Castellammare di Stabia facility on 14 February.
- 2019
Ship name announced
[1]Princess Cruises announced the name Discovery Princess on 4 October.
- 2017
Sixth Royal-class ship ordered
[1]Carnival Corporation ordered a sixth Royal-class vessel from Fincantieri for Princess Cruises.
Products and positioning
A large, contemporary Princess Cruises resort ship designed for North American regional cruising, with extensive onboard accommodation and leisure facilities and deployment across Mexico, California, and Alaska itineraries.
Cruise ship and onboard hospitality · 2022
Discovery Princess cruise vacations
Discovery Princess is a large Royal-class cruise ship offering accommodation, dining, entertainment, and recreational experiences as part of Princess Cruises itineraries. The vessel has 1,830 passenger cabins, including a high proportion of balcony cabins, and can carry up to approximately 5,800 passengers and crew in total. Its commercial role is to provide the shipboard platform for regional and seasonal cruises rather than to operate as an independently owned consumer brand.
Cruise itinerary · 2022
Mexican Riviera itineraries
The ship's inaugural revenue program consisted of a seven-day sailing from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera. Los Angeles served as the vessel's initial homeport, connecting Discovery Princess with Princess Cruises' California-based cruise offering.
Cruise itinerary · 2022
Alaska Inside Passage itineraries
After its initial Los Angeles deployment, Discovery Princess moved to Seattle for its first summer homeporting program. From there it operated cruises through Alaska's Inside Passage, making the ship part of Princess Cruises' seasonal Alaska deployment.
Brand decisions
2022
North American service launchProduct launchBackground
Following delayed delivery and a repositioning voyage from Italy through the Suez Canal and across the Pacific, the ship was ready for commercial service.
Action taken
Discovery Princess entered service from Los Angeles with a seven-day Mexican Riviera voyage on 27 March.
Aftermath
The ship then moved to Seattle for seasonal Alaska Inside Passage cruises.
2021
Newbuild delivery schedule renegotiatedStrategyBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic created operational and financial pressure for Carnival Corporation and disrupted shipyard construction schedules.
Action taken
Carnival Corporation renegotiated delivery arrangements for new vessels under construction, including Discovery Princess.
Aftermath
The ship's delivery and planned inaugural itinerary were delayed, requiring the originally announced Mediterranean, Caribbean, and South American schedule to be cancelled or replaced.
2017
Commissioning of the sixth Royal-class shipProduct launchBackground
Princess Cruises and its parent company expanded the Royal-class fleet with a sixth vessel to be built by Fincantieri.
Action taken
A new 145,000-gross-ton cruise ship was ordered and added to the Princess newbuild program.
Aftermath
The resulting ship became Discovery Princess and the sixth and final Royal-class vessel in the Princess fleet.
Recent events
- 2022
Discovery Princess is delivered to Princess Cruises[1]
Product launch
Fincantieri delivered Discovery Princess at Monfalcone on 28 January 2022 after completion of outfitting and sea trials.
- 2022
Discovery Princess begins its inaugural revenue voyage[1]
Product launch
The ship began a seven-day inaugural sailing from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera on 27 March 2022.
- 2022
Discovery Princess is christened in Los Angeles[1]
Other
The vessel was formally christened at the Port of Los Angeles, with Randy Fenoli, Alex Guarnaschelli, Adam Savage, and Page Turner serving as godparents.
- 2021
Pandemic disruption delays construction and delivery[1]
Other
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted Fincantieri's construction activities and Carnival Corporation's newbuild schedule, leading to a delayed delivery and postponed inaugural operations.
- 2019
Steel cutting begins for the future Discovery Princess[1]
Other
Fincantieri began steel cutting for the then-unnamed Royal-class ship at its Castellammare di Stabia facility.
- 2019
Princess reveals the Discovery Princess name[1]
Other
Princess Cruises announced Discovery Princess as the name of its sixth Royal-class vessel.
- 2017
Princess Cruises orders a sixth Royal-class ship[1]
Other
Carnival Corporation finalized an order with Fincantieri for a sixth Royal-class ship for Princess Cruises, the vessel that would later be named Discovery Princess.
Sources2 sources
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