Discovery Princess is a floating feast – here are my picks on where to dine

• As Princess Cruises sends its biggest and youngest ship yet to Australia, one of the biggest surprises is the food.
• From classy standards like Crown Grill to newcomers Catch by Rudi and 360, it’s food, glorious food.
• Editor in Chief Peter Lynch loosened his belt and ordered all he could!

Princess Cruises‘ food has always been a cut above. But Discovery Princess is a lip-smacking, culinary surprise, with specialty dining that can rival the best.

The last Royal-class ship in the Princess fleet is in dry dock right now, preparing for her four-month Sydney sojourn. On shore, chefs are busily preparing to Aussify the ship’s galleys.

They’ve been planning the Australian menus for 14 months. That means shoals of barramundi, a herd of wagyu beef and tonnes of fresh produce from Australian farms.

They will be sourcing 90 per cent of their produce from Aussie producers. The chefs on board cook everything from scratch, and waste next to nothing.

But their grocery bill is still colossal. Here are just a few of the things in the ship’s supermarket trolley:

• 9,000 bread rolls served nightly.
• All meat, seafood and vegetables, which will be sourced from Australia.
• 6,000 eggs per day.
• 3,000 pounds of Lobster served per cruise (150 a day in specialty dining).
• 142 kg of rib-eye served each day

A cellar master oversees the extensive onboard wine program. Wine lists will feature Aussie wines while in the region  

The ship also features the first comedy duo in charge of catering – Portuguese Carlos Marques, director of restaurant operations, and Spaniard Henrique Sparrow, executive chef.

While the jokes come thick and fast, so do the delicious starters, mains and desserts. They try to visit every food venue each night and wisecrack their way through an unusual check on guest feedback.

These are my favourites – and yes, there’s a gym and running track to shed those extra pounds (or try the steam room in the Enclave).

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Crown Grill: The Art of the Perfect Steak

My go-to steak house: think Rich wood panelling, leather banquettes, and an open-flame kitchen create a warm glow that feels more Manhattan chophouse than mid-Pacific liner. Call me a traditionalist, but my filet mignon with a lobster tail was flawlessly seared and tender, complemented by a side of truffle fries. The Crown Grill’s menu celebrates premium cuts of beef and seafood, and the service—polished but never pretentious—makes each meal feel like a special occasion. Don’t forget the key lime pie for dessert.

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Sabatini’s: Italian Comfort with Contemporary Flair

Like mumma used to make? I should be so lucky. Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria does feel a little like Sunday dinner at your Nonna’s house – if Nonna happened to be a Michelin chef. The multi-course menu balances rustic comfort and modern finesse. House-made pasta steals the show: ribbons of pappardelle, lobster tortelloni in saffron cream. The wine list showcases Italy’s regional diversity. Warm, attentive staff complete the experience with that distinctly Italian sense of benvenuto – you’re family here.

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Catch by Rudi: A Signature at Sea

The Catch by Rudi stands apart – not just as a specialty restaurant, but as a statement of culinary philosophy. Created by Discovery Princess’s Head of Culinary Arts, Chef Rudi Sodamin, this seafood-focused restaurant celebrates the ocean’s bounty with artistry and humour. Dishes arrive like edible sculptures: a “Seafood Tower” that resembles coral reefs, and Rudi’s signature “Catch of the Day” plated atop hand-painted fish-shaped dishes. I had to have the dovetr soul, and I wasn’t disappointed. De-boned at the table, it was delicate and flavourful. Every course harmonised texture, colour, and flavour – proof that Sodamin approaches cuisine as performance art.

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Ocean Terrace Sushi Bar: Precision and Purity

Perched above the atrium, which means you get the benefit of the live acts down below, the Ocean Terrace Sushi Bar offers purity: fresh sashimi, hand-rolled maki, and expertly sliced nigiri prepared à la minute. I watched the chef’s knife flash across glistening tuna as he explained that much of the fish is sourced from sustainable fisheries. Pairing the meal with chilled sake.

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Juneau Dining Room: Refined Tradition

The main dining rooms—Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan—offer different settings but share the same dedication to elevated service and menu variety. My breakfast in the Juneau Dining Room was a reminder that “included” doesn’t mean “ordinary.” The experience balances tradition with flexibility: guests can choose fixed seating or a more relaxed “Dine My Way” option through the Princess app.

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360: An Extraordinary Dining Experience

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Casual yet global

Beyond the headline venues, Discovery Princess caters to every appetite. The World Fresh Marketplace buffet sprawls with stations inspired by Asia, the Mediterranean, and the Americas, while the International Café, open 24 hours, tempts night owls with pastries, sandwiches, and excellent coffee.

Up on deck, Gigi’s Pizzeria and Slice serve some of the best pizza at sea, baked fresh with hand-tossed dough and inventive toppings. The Salty Dog Grill turns poolside bites into gourmet indulgence—think Wagyu beef burgers and loaded hot dogs worthy of a gastropub.

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A philosophy of pleasure

What sets Discovery Princess apart isn’t just quantity or quality—it’s intention. Each venue reflects a culinary philosophy that values freshness, creativity, and guest experience. Chef Rudi Sodamin’s influence permeates the entire ship: vibrant presentation, global flavour combinations, and an insistence that dining should delight all the senses.

From espresso at dawn to late-night sushi, every meal feels like a curated moment. The crew’s genuine enthusiasm enhances the experience; they remember preferences, suggest pairings, and share stories about ingredients sourced from around the world.

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The verdict: A destination for food lovers

For the modern traveller, Discovery Princess offers something rare: the chance to explore the world through cuisine without ever leaving the table. Whether you’re indulging in Italian comfort, savouring seafood artistry, or grabbing a slice of pizza under the stars, the ship transforms dining into a discovery.

For more, go here.

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WIN $10,000 worth of future Cruise Credits

Princess guests can win a big future cruise credit prize if you upgrade your Princess booking. The line is launching a new competition for cruisers wanting to upgrade.

The major prize: a $10,000 FCCs; second prize is ten $1,000 FCC’s.

How to Enter

1. To enter during the Promotional Period, individuals must:
   1. upgrade a Princess Cruises deposited booking from Princess Standard to Princess Plus, or Princess Plus to Princess Premier during the Promotional Period; or
   2. make a new Princess Cruises deposited booking on Princess Plus or Princess Premier during the Promotional Period; or
   3. have a deposited Princess Cruises booking on Princess Plus or Princess Premier .