MV Discovery

First launched in 1971, the MV Discovery began life in the Flagship Cruises fleet as the Island Venture. In 1974, it was sold to Princess Cruises - and renamed the Island Princess - along with its sister ship, which was christened the Pacific Princess.

The Pacific Princess became famous as the setting of the television show "The Love Boat" - but since the two vessels were nearly identical, the Island Princess was often used as a stand-in when its sister was unavailable for filming.

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Over the years, the vessel went through a number of owners and new names before being purchased in 2002 by the Voyages of Discovery cruises operator. It was refurbished in 2003, a project that helped to bring the vessel up-to-date with the latest features and amenities, while also aiming to maintain its classic allure.

Voyages on the Discovery are the ideal choice for travellers who are looking for a sense of adventure and excitement on their holiday. It offers a tranquil and intimate environment, making it perfect for cruisers who don't especially like the glam and glitz associated with the bigger cruise lines.

In addition, the Discovery specialises in sailing to a range of unusual cruise destinations around the globe - many of which are not options on the larger mainstream vessels.

Just some of the popular ports of call include Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Manila, Bitung, Porbandar and Alexandria. Of course, it also stops in more frequented destinations like London, Sydney, Singapore, Mumbai, St Petersburg and Oslo.

Ship stats and features

Passenger capacity: 796
Year entered service: 1972
Beam (ship width): 80.7 feet
Draught (ship depth): 25.2 feet
Length: 553.6 feet
Tonnage: 21,186
Crew: 350
Maximum speed: 18 knots
Number of passenger decks: 8
Number of lifts: 4
Number of swimming pools: 2
Number of cabins: 355

Food, cuisine and dining

There are a number of dining options available to passengers on the Discovery, ranging from two formal restaurants to a cafe and casual buffet.

The main eatery is the Seven Continents Restaurant. It serves three meals a day, with open seating for breakfast and lunch and two dinner services. Meanwhile, the Yacht Club is the free alternative restaurant and there's also the Lido Cafe, which serves breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.

Menus are diverse, with options like beef Wellington, burgers and chicken dishes, as well as sandwiches, pasta and Asian entrees. They can also cater to a number of special dietary needs - from vegetarian or heart-healthy dishes, through to items specially prepared for diabetics (including sugar-free desserts), coeliacs and passengers with high blood pressure.

A midnight buffet is available at the Palm Court, offering some gastronomic delights for those in need of a late-night snack. Room service is provided until 23:00 every night.

On-board entertainment and activities

While the ports of call are the main highlight when cruising on the Discovery, the vessel also offers plenty to keep guests busy while on-board. These include four comfortable lounges and six bars, many of which offer live music in the evenings, not to mention some delightful places to relax and enjoy the view, your favourite cocktail and some friendly conversation.

The Carousel Showlounge is a large, comfortable venue with banquette seating and it hosts various performances like concerts and cabaret, as well as lectures and demonstrations throughout the day.

If you prefer more traditional cruise diversions, then plenty of options like shuffleboard, boules, bingo and dance classes are available. The vessel is also home to a cinema, a large library and a card room with various games on offer.

Spas and fitness facilities

A fully-equipped fitness centre is available on the Discovery and includes a large exercise room with treadmills, stair climbers and weight machines. Exercise classes are also available, such as aerobics, yoga and Pilates.

For the ultimate in relaxation, the Spa Atlantis is the place to go. Operated by Harding Brothers - a company well-known for providing the wellbeing facilities on cruise ships around the world - treatment options include massages, facials, body wraps, acupuncture and aromatherapy.

Elsewhere on the vessel, there are two pools - one with a magrodome sliding glass roof. There are also two open-air hot tubs, which are perfect for relieving tired muscles.

Cabins

The accommodation options on the Discovery might be considered basic by the standards set by modern cruise ships, but they are comfortable and offer just what you need to enjoy your voyage - no matter how long you're at sea.

That said, there are still 15 different price categories to choose from, with differences based mainly on the room size, bed size and location on the ship. Approximately 20 per cent of cabins are interior rooms, and these might be ideal for travellers seeking low-cost cruise deals. Meanwhile, suites are more spacious and there are also a few rooms for solo guests. There are no balconies in any of the rooms.

All rooms are equipped with a television and telephone, as well as a personal safe. A few are available with interconnecting doors, making them a good choice for families or groups who are travelling together.