Deciding which cabin to select for a cruise can be difficult. For our recent sailing on Princess Cruises’ newest ship, we were guests of the cruise line so were assigned a Discovery Princess Balcony Cabin, cabin R241.
Reviewing the deck plans, this starboard side balcony cabin is considered a BB category balcony stateroom, located on Deck 14 (Riviera Deck). This is the same category cabin that we had during our previous cruise to Alaska on Majestic Princess.
For cruisers comparing the different stateroom options on this ship, we have put together our Discovery Princess Balcony Cabin Review.
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Discovery Princess Balcony Cabin Review
Given that we had sailed in a similar cabin on Majestic Princess just last year, we were eager to see how this stateroom on the brand new Discovery Princess compared.
Our cabin was conveniently located nearby the forward bank of elevators. Being on Deck 14, it was just two decks below the Lido Deck. Though, it was quite a hike down to the Atrium area on Decks 5, 6, and 7.
Luckily, we never had too much of an issue securing an elevator.
According to Princess Cruises’ website, this Discovery Princess Balcony cabin measures in at 222 square feet with a 41 square foot balcony.
One great feature of all staterooms on Princess Cruises is the MedallionClass technology. Your Medallion pendant acts as your key card, unlocking your door for you as you approach the stateroom. This makes entering your room with luggage, or a handful of coffee and breakfast pastries, much easier.
Layout of a Discovery Princess Balcony Cabin
At first glance, we noticed a similar setup to our stateroom on Majestic Princess.
Immediately entering our stateroom, the bathroom and closet were off to the right of the cabin in their own little corner offset from the rest of the room.
Beyond the bathroom and closest was the main cabin area with a queen-sized bed on the right wall (facing forward). There was a small night stand on each side of the bed, each with two drawers for storage and a USB outlet within the lamp.
Across from the bed was the television with on-demand TV.
Continuing past the bed was the desk and a small chest housing the mini-fridge.
In this Discovery Princess balcony cabin, the desk was immediately beyond the bed on the right wall and abutting essentially right up to the balcony door. The desk was on par with size to comparable megaships. Although, it lacked any above desk shelving. It did have power outlets (2 US and 2 European) and three drawers for storage.
With these being the ONLY outlets in the room and limited space at the desk, we had to get creative for storing and charging all our devices.
Across from the desk was a small cabinet that housed the mini-fridge. It contained a few narrow exterior shelves but not much in terms of additional storage space. Further, there were no additional outlets here.
While exactly like our cabin on Majestic Princess, this is atypical compared to competitor brands that usually offer more of a dresser setup.
Further, there was not a traditional seating area in this Discovery Princess balcony cabin. There was no loveseat or coffee table. Reviewing the Princess Cruises balcony category options, it appears you need to upgrade to a Deluxe Balcony cabin or a mini-suite to get the setup to which we have become accustomed on other lines.
At the far end of the room was the balcony. The balcony features two upright chairs and a small table. In terms of size, it is comparable to most standard cruise ship balconies.
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Inside the Discovery Princess Balcony Cabin
Bathroom/Closet Area
The bathroom in the Discovery Princess Balcony Cabin was fairly typical, though a bit smaller than some newer ships from competitor cruise lines.
The bathroom had the toilet positioned between the shower and the vanity area. The shower itself had a curtain and felt a bit small as well. It did feature a narrow, full length shelf at the far end, as well as shampoo and body wash dispensers.
The vanity area contains a few small shelves to the right and some counter space. Overall, there was adequate storage for the week. It also helps that we always bring an over-the-door shoe organizer to store toiletries and other small items.
The closet configuration provided plenty of storage for the two of us on a 7-day cruise. It consisted of a full length clothes bar with plenty of hangers. There was also an additional shelving unit with 5 shelves and the safe.
Main Cabin Area
The Princess Luxury bed in this Discovery Princess Balcony Cabin provided adequate comfort during our trip. We had no issues falling asleep after our long days and nights on the ship. We also appreciated the USB outlets near the bed for charging our phones overnight.
While the desk area had a mirror, adequate counter space, and outlets, it served mostly as my spot to get ready each day.
We did miss the traditional sitting area, as hubby usually uses the sofa and coffee table as his work station. Instead, he utilized the top of the mini-fridge cabinet to store his electronics and needed to share the desk when working. It would have been nice to at least have a few power outlets here.
Further, we missed the additional storage in this section of the stateroom. The desk did have three small drawers, with one housing the hair dryer, but there was no additional dresser.
Balcony
Lastly, the balcony contained two upright chairs and a small table. There was enough space for the two of us to enjoy the ocean views and sail in and out of ports. It was also a great spot to get some work done in the afternoons.
Overall, it was the average sized balcony that we have come to expect from a contemporary cruise line, maybe just slightly narrower.
Recap of Our Discovery Princess Balcony Cabin Review
This Discovery Princess balcony cabin was very similar to our experiences on Majestic Princess last year. Though, it did have an updated color palette for a more upscale feel. It included very neutral tones, with light woods and soft blue accents.
The location of this cabin was very convenient being right next to a bank of elevators. Yet, it was not noisy as a result.
The overall size of the cabin was on par with other cruise lines minus the sitting area. While we were happy with the closet space, storage and outlets in the main cabin area were a bit lacking for a new cruise ship. The bathroom did feel a bit smaller as well.
With less furniture and less storage space in this main cabin area, it took some creative unpacking to fit all our gear. Still, we did manage to find a way to get things situated in our home away from home for the week.
Comments
Have you sailed in a balcony cabin on a Princess cruise ship? What is your preferred cabin category when you cruise? Drop us an anchor below with your review of this stateroom category.
Great choice! Tower Defense games are always fun.
On Sun Princess cabin is located at rear end of ship, any concerns or comments
Hi Connie, great question. We wouldn’t have any concerns, but the ship’s movement doesn’t impact us. Sun Princess is the first ship in the Princess fleet with stabilizers, so the ship has a very smooth ride. You should be okay, but let us know your experience. Safe travels!