Written by A Decade Away, a Voyage to Remember: How Discovery Princess Redefined Cruise Dining—and Rekindled a Veteran’s Love for Life at Sea
Written By: Tom Ogg, Co-Founder and Co-Owner – HomeBasedTravelAgent.com
After three decades in the cruise industry, training thousands of travel agents, and personally experiencing over 300 voyages, I thought I had seen it all. The endless buffets, the predictable port calls, the same entertainment formats, it all began to blur together into a symphony of sameness that eventually drove me to hang up my sea legs for nearly a decade.
Then life threw me a curveball that would change everything. Open heart surgery has a way of putting things into perspective, and as I recovered, Joanie gently suggested we take a cruise aboard Princess Cruises’ Discovery Princess. “Just one more,” she said, probably sensing my reluctance. Little did either of us know that this would be the voyage that would rekindle my love affair with cruising in ways I never expected.
The 360 Awakening
The first night aboard Discovery Princess, we made our way to 360 and from the moment we stepped through those doors, something magical happened. It wasn’t just the perfectly prepared cuisine or the impeccable service, though both were exceptional. It was the realization that while I had been away, the cruise industry had evolved dramatically.
The 360 experience reminded me why I fell in love with cruising in the first place. Here was a restaurant that could rival any high-end establishment in Manhattan or London, yet it was floating in the middle of the ocean. The ambiance was sophisticated without being stuffy, the wine pairing was thoughtfully curated, and the staff demonstrated that level of intuitive service that separates good from extraordinary.
360 embraces technology which not only displays 360 images, but also to introduce fragrances of the currant destination being featured. Greece, Italy, Spain and France are featured with local dishes which are fantastic.
However, for me each presentation bought back so many memories from visiting these destinations with groups of travel professionals, it was almost overwhelming. If you ever cruise on one of the ships Princess operates that offers the 360 dining experience, my recommendation is to not miss it.
As I savored my perfectly prepared dishes memories came flooding back, not of the cruise industry I had grown tired of, but of the wonder I felt during my first voyage decades ago which also happened to be on Princess. The excitement of being pampered while exploring the world, the unique community that forms aboard ship, the magical moment when you realize you’re dining on fine cuisine while watching the sun set over endless ocean.
Joanie noticed the change immediately. “You’re smiling,” she said, and she was right. For the first time in years, I was genuinely excited about being on a cruise ship.
The Catch: Innovation in Action
The next evening, we ventured to The Catch by Rudi, Princess’s seafood-focused specialty restaurant. As someone who had witnessed the evolution of cruise dining from the days of basic buffets to today’s sophisticated culinary programs, I was genuinely impressed by what Princess had achieved.
The Catch represented everything I love about the modern cruise experience: innovation, quality, and attention to detail. The lobster bisque was restaurant-quality, the pan-seared halibut was cooked to perfection, and the service team clearly understood that they were part of creating an experience, not just serving a meal.
What struck me most was how this wasn’t just about the food, it was about storytelling. Each dish had a narrative, each ingredient was chosen with purpose, and the presentation elevated the entire experience. This was the kind of dining that travel agents dream of describing to their clients, the type of experience that creates cruise converts.
Sabatini’s: A Lesson in Consistency
Our third specialty dining experience took us to Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria, and here’s where my industry experience really kicked in. Sabatini’s has been a Princess staple for years, and I was curious to see how it had evolved. The answer? It had perfected itself.
The homemade pasta was exceptional, the osso buck melted off the bone, and the tiramisu was authentically Italian. But what impressed me most was the consistency. This wasn’t a one-off great meal this was a restaurant that had clearly refined its operations to deliver excellence night after night.
While the food and service was wonderful the noise from the Piazza (the main atrium area), located on deck five was a little invasive. My advice would be to request a window table which is far enough away from the source of the entertainment.
Crown Grill: The Final Revelation
Our final specialty dining experience was at Crown Grill, and by this point, I was fully convinced that Princess had cracked the code on cruise dining. The dry-aged steaks were perfectly prepared, the sides were creative and flavorful, and the overall experience was seamless.
But more importantly, I realized that each of these restaurants told a different story while maintaining the same high standards. 360 was about sophistication and wine pairings, The Catch celebrated fresh seafood and ocean-to-table concepts, Sabatini’s offered authentic Italian comfort, and Crown Grill delivered classic American steakhouse excellence.
This wasn’t just about having multiple restaurants, it was about creating diverse experiences that could appeal to different moods, occasions, and preferences. It was exactly the kind of sophisticated approach to hospitality that I had always hoped the cruise industry would embrace.
The Reawakening
As our cruise progressed, I found myself doing something I hadn’t done in years: taking notes. Not because I had to, but because I wanted to. I was rediscovering the joy of experiencing cruising through fresh eyes, and I was excited about sharing these discoveries with others.
The decade away had given me perspective, but it was these dining experiences that reminded me why cruising remains one of the most compelling vacation options available. Where else can you enjoy world-class cuisine while visiting multiple destinations, all while your floating hotel takes care of every detail?
The Next Cruise
As we disembarked Discovery Princess, I turned to my wife and said something that surprised even me: “When can we book the next one?” The passion was back, the excitement was renewed, and I found myself eager to explore what other cruise lines were doing to elevate the experience. We cancelled our September trip to Hawaii (for our anniversary, as we were married in Hawaii) and booked another cruise.
The cruise industry I returned to was more sophisticated, more culinarily ambitious, and more focused on creating memorable experiences than the one I had left. Princess Cruises, through these four exceptional dining venues, had shown me that the art of hospitality at sea had reached new heights.
For travel agents reading this, take note: the cruise industry has evolved dramatically in the past decade. The dining experiences alone on modern ships like Discovery Princess are selling points that can convert even the most skeptical land-based travelers. When you can confidently tell clients they’ll enjoy restaurant-quality meals that rival shore-side establishments, you’re not just selling a cruise, you’re selling an experience.
My decade-long sabbatical from cruising is officially over, and I have Princess Cruises to thank for reminding me why I fell in love with the sea in the first place.