Latest news with #DiscoveryPrincess
USA Today
4 days ago
- USA Today
Cruise passenger allegedly posed as US citizen with fake ID and birth certificate
Cruise passenger allegedly posed as US citizen with fake ID and birth certificate Show Caption Hide Caption How to find the best price, perks when booking a cruise Find the cruise that works for your budget with these tips. Problem Solved A Philippine national legally residing in the U.S. allegedly used a stolen identity to board a Princess Cruises ship in Alaska. Enrico Ronquillo is accused of using counterfeit documents and a fraudulent IRS form with a victim's personal information. He faces charges of false impersonation, making and using a false document, and aggravated identity theft. A man allegedly used a stolen identity to board a Princess Cruises ship in Alaska. Enrico Ronquillo, 37, was indicted for using a counterfeit driver's license and a birth certificate – both from California – to impersonate a U.S. citizen from May 11 to 14, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Alaska said in a June 16 news release. He is a Philippine national residing legally in the U.S. Ronquillo was onboard the Discovery Princess ship at the time, according to the indictment. He also allegedly 'made and used a fraudulent IRS Form W-9 that contained the victim's name, signature, address and social security number' during the cruise, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Ronquillo is charged with one count each of false impersonation of a U.S. citizen and making and using a false document, as well as two counts of aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for the first two charges and two years in prison for each of the latter counts. An attorney for Ronquillo declined to comment. Princess did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@
Sydney Morning Herald
13-06-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
On board the modern version of the Love Boat headed for Australia
Via the app on my phone, I easily connect to MedallionNet, the ship's Wi-Fi. Having encountered many frustrating challenges when connecting to Wi-Fi on other ships, this instantly puts me in a good mood. The design All that cruisers know and love of other Royal Class ships in the Princess fleet (including Majestic Princess and Royal Princess) is on Discovery Princess, only better. There are even more open deck areas, more premium accommodation, new dining venues and new entertainment productions. The colour scheme is lighter and brighter, creating a sunny ambience with sand-coloured carpets, light wood and neutral curtains that make spaces feel bigger. The heart of the ship is The Piazza, a grand atrium that spans several decks and features spiral staircases, glass-walled lifts and several bars and cafes. There's always something happening in this area, including daily dance classes, live music and the captain's champagne welcome. The spaces Something for everyone, from the party atmosphere of the main pool deck to the tech-forward kids' club, to the tranquil thermal spa, and the glitzy Princess Theatre with capacity for close to 1000 guests. Princess understands that multi-generational groups and travellers of all ages are their demographic, and they design accordingly. I enjoy the adults-only pool and bar area for quiet swimming and reading time. Nearby is The Retreat, a bougie bargain at $30 for half-day access to a peaceful, private area with sun lounges, cabanas, jacuzzi, afternoon tea and a special menu of cocktails and food. The stateroom There are 1830 staterooms, including two Sky Suites featuring Princess' largest balconies at sea. I'm in a Balcony Cabin on Deck 10, one of 753 on the ship. This category ranges in size from 214 to 222 square feet (20 to 20.6 square metres), including the outdoor space, which accommodates a table and two chairs. Again the colour scheme leans into the beige/bone/sand palette. A queen-sized bed can be converted to two twin beds. There's a desk with chair, a minibar fridge, a flat-screen TV and an enormous open-style wardrobe. There is plenty of storage on shelves, in drawers and in cleverly designed spaces. This, plus the abundance of USB and power outlets, gets my tick of approval. The bathroom is on the squeezy side. The food I've cruised on luxury ships that cost much more than Princess and eaten food that isn't half as good. Included in the fare are three main dining rooms, a vast buffet at World Fresh Marketplace, pizza at Slice, poolside burgers, Swirls Ice Cream Bar, and pub fare at O'Malleys Irish Pub. International Cafe is a popular 24/7 takeaway venue, serving toasted sandwiches, pies, croissants and snacks. No need to spend extra on specialty dining if you don't want to, though you probably will want to, in which case it's smart to upgrade to the Princess Premier package (from $100 a person, a day) as it includes unlimited specialty meals. The Crown Grill steakhouse is reliably good, but don't overlook Gigi's Pizzeria, Sabatini's Italian Trattoria (order the huge veal Milanese) and Ocean Terrace Sushi. When the ship comes to Australia, as many as 70 new menu items will be added to suit local preferences. That means more seafood, roast dinners, pavlova and Vegemite, among other things. Wellness No excuse to skip a workout: the 24-hour gym on Discovery Princess is better than most expensive city gyms. As well as the latest equipment and fitness machines, there are daily classes from well-known franchises including CycleBar, StretchLab and PureBarre. For outdoor exercise and recreation, make use of the swimming pools, jogging track and basketball court. At The Lotus Spa, enjoy massages, facials, acupuncture, nail and hair services, and a range of 'anti-ageing' treatments, including Thermage non-invasive facelifts. The extra-fee thermal suite, The Enclave, has a sauna, steam room, hydrotherapy pool and rain shower. If you plan to visit more than twice, it's better value to buy a pass for the entire voyage. Entertainment It's showtime in the Princess Theatre, with all-singing, all-dancing cast productions. A new show, Viva La Musica, celebrates the best of Latin music. There's comedy in the Laugh Lounge, movies under the stars, a raucous crowd-participation game of Deal or No Deal, and plenty of live music around the ship. Dance classes in the Piazza are popular, as are culinary demonstrations and wine tasting. The crew gets in on the act with creative towel-folding demos, 'meet the crew' Q+As and a formal night hosted by the officers. The crew The friendly crew members of Discovery Princess work cohesively to create a carefree holiday environment for guests. The boss sets the tone of an organisation, and in this case, it's Captain Alessandro Genzo, a charming Italian mariner who leads by example with warmth and humility. Listen for his 'ciao, ciao' sign-off on future sailings in Australia. Special mention to the spa therapists, who create such a convivial experience, I sign up for two more treatments after a fun manicure. The verdict There's a lot to love on this Love Boat. The ship is designed to be an all-round crowd-pleaser, catering for families, couples, solos and friend groups of all ages. Even at full capacity, there's room for everyone to do their thing. Dive into the onboard entertainment and dining options, and consider upgrading to the Plus or Premier package for inclusions such as Wi-Fi, specialty dining, drinks and fitness classes. Loading The Princess MedallionClass app, not as intuitive as it could be, has room for improvement. We'd like to be able to make spa appointments in the app, and it would be handy to see all restaurant opening hours at a glance. The details From December 2025, Discovery Princess will call Sydney home for a debut summer season of voyages to New Zealand and Australian ports. This home port in the harbour city will mark 50 years since the first Princess ship sailed into Sydney in 1975. From $2149 a person, twin share, for a 14-night New Zealand itinerary from Sydney. See Our rating out of five ★★★★½ Swell Isn't it great when things just work? There's an easygoing 'no worries' vibe onboard that encourages guests and crew to relax, smile and go with the ocean flow. Not so swell It's handy to order food and drinks on the app, but irksome when deliveries take a long time or arrive incomplete (no milk for the tea, no condiments for the fries).
The Age
13-06-2025
- The Age
On board the modern version of the Love Boat headed for Australia
Via the app on my phone, I easily connect to MedallionNet, the ship's Wi-Fi. Having encountered many frustrating challenges when connecting to Wi-Fi on other ships, this instantly puts me in a good mood. The design All that cruisers know and love of other Royal Class ships in the Princess fleet (including Majestic Princess and Royal Princess) is on Discovery Princess, only better. There are even more open deck areas, more premium accommodation, new dining venues and new entertainment productions. The colour scheme is lighter and brighter, creating a sunny ambience with sand-coloured carpets, light wood and neutral curtains that make spaces feel bigger. The heart of the ship is The Piazza, a grand atrium that spans several decks and features spiral staircases, glass-walled lifts and several bars and cafes. There's always something happening in this area, including daily dance classes, live music and the captain's champagne welcome. The spaces Something for everyone, from the party atmosphere of the main pool deck to the tech-forward kids' club, to the tranquil thermal spa, and the glitzy Princess Theatre with capacity for close to 1000 guests. Princess understands that multi-generational groups and travellers of all ages are their demographic, and they design accordingly. I enjoy the adults-only pool and bar area for quiet swimming and reading time. Nearby is The Retreat, a bougie bargain at $30 for half-day access to a peaceful, private area with sun lounges, cabanas, jacuzzi, afternoon tea and a special menu of cocktails and food. The stateroom There are 1830 staterooms, including two Sky Suites featuring Princess' largest balconies at sea. I'm in a Balcony Cabin on Deck 10, one of 753 on the ship. This category ranges in size from 214 to 222 square feet (20 to 20.6 square metres), including the outdoor space, which accommodates a table and two chairs. Again the colour scheme leans into the beige/bone/sand palette. A queen-sized bed can be converted to two twin beds. There's a desk with chair, a minibar fridge, a flat-screen TV and an enormous open-style wardrobe. There is plenty of storage on shelves, in drawers and in cleverly designed spaces. This, plus the abundance of USB and power outlets, gets my tick of approval. The bathroom is on the squeezy side. The food I've cruised on luxury ships that cost much more than Princess and eaten food that isn't half as good. Included in the fare are three main dining rooms, a vast buffet at World Fresh Marketplace, pizza at Slice, poolside burgers, Swirls Ice Cream Bar, and pub fare at O'Malleys Irish Pub. International Cafe is a popular 24/7 takeaway venue, serving toasted sandwiches, pies, croissants and snacks. No need to spend extra on specialty dining if you don't want to, though you probably will want to, in which case it's smart to upgrade to the Princess Premier package (from $100 a person, a day) as it includes unlimited specialty meals. The Crown Grill steakhouse is reliably good, but don't overlook Gigi's Pizzeria, Sabatini's Italian Trattoria (order the huge veal Milanese) and Ocean Terrace Sushi. When the ship comes to Australia, as many as 70 new menu items will be added to suit local preferences. That means more seafood, roast dinners, pavlova and Vegemite, among other things. Wellness No excuse to skip a workout: the 24-hour gym on Discovery Princess is better than most expensive city gyms. As well as the latest equipment and fitness machines, there are daily classes from well-known franchises including CycleBar, StretchLab and PureBarre. For outdoor exercise and recreation, make use of the swimming pools, jogging track and basketball court. At The Lotus Spa, enjoy massages, facials, acupuncture, nail and hair services, and a range of 'anti-ageing' treatments, including Thermage non-invasive facelifts. The extra-fee thermal suite, The Enclave, has a sauna, steam room, hydrotherapy pool and rain shower. If you plan to visit more than twice, it's better value to buy a pass for the entire voyage. Entertainment It's showtime in the Princess Theatre, with all-singing, all-dancing cast productions. A new show, Viva La Musica, celebrates the best of Latin music. There's comedy in the Laugh Lounge, movies under the stars, a raucous crowd-participation game of Deal or No Deal, and plenty of live music around the ship. Dance classes in the Piazza are popular, as are culinary demonstrations and wine tasting. The crew gets in on the act with creative towel-folding demos, 'meet the crew' Q+As and a formal night hosted by the officers. The crew The friendly crew members of Discovery Princess work cohesively to create a carefree holiday environment for guests. The boss sets the tone of an organisation, and in this case, it's Captain Alessandro Genzo, a charming Italian mariner who leads by example with warmth and humility. Listen for his 'ciao, ciao' sign-off on future sailings in Australia. Special mention to the spa therapists, who create such a convivial experience, I sign up for two more treatments after a fun manicure. The verdict There's a lot to love on this Love Boat. The ship is designed to be an all-round crowd-pleaser, catering for families, couples, solos and friend groups of all ages. Even at full capacity, there's room for everyone to do their thing. Dive into the onboard entertainment and dining options, and consider upgrading to the Plus or Premier package for inclusions such as Wi-Fi, specialty dining, drinks and fitness classes. Loading The Princess MedallionClass app, not as intuitive as it could be, has room for improvement. We'd like to be able to make spa appointments in the app, and it would be handy to see all restaurant opening hours at a glance. The details From December 2025, Discovery Princess will call Sydney home for a debut summer season of voyages to New Zealand and Australian ports. This home port in the harbour city will mark 50 years since the first Princess ship sailed into Sydney in 1975. From $2149 a person, twin share, for a 14-night New Zealand itinerary from Sydney. See Our rating out of five ★★★★½ Swell Isn't it great when things just work? There's an easygoing 'no worries' vibe onboard that encourages guests and crew to relax, smile and go with the ocean flow. Not so swell It's handy to order food and drinks on the app, but irksome when deliveries take a long time or arrive incomplete (no milk for the tea, no condiments for the fries).
NZ Herald
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Cruising: 5 things 20-somethings will love on a cruise holiday
1. Brilliant entertainment From comedy to the casino, most cruises feature an array of first-rate entertainment. Onboard the Discovery Princess, you can oscillate between sophistication and good-old-fashioned self-indulgence. On Friday, enjoy a Broadway-calibre musical at the Princess Theatre, followed by martinis in the jazz lounge. On Saturday, hit the casino or comedy club for adults-only fun, followed by a night of mixing and mingling at O'Malley's Irish Pub or Bellini's Cocktail Bar. There's plenty of live music to enjoy, as well as silent discos, trivia nights, and even street performers at the Piazza. The best part? No surge-fare Uber or crashing on a stranger's couch: simply catch that aforementioned elevator back to your stateroom when the night is over. 2. An abundance of wellness experiences On a regular holiday, health and fitness are like the outfits you pack but, deep down, know you'll never reach for, despite your best intentions. On a Princess cruise, not only will you get your steps in simply by navigating a behemoth of a ship, but wellness is encouraged. A night of partying can be tempered with a green juice at the World Fresh Marketplace the next morning, followed by Pilates or a spinning class, a trip to the state-of-the-art gym, or the al fresco jogging track. Alternatively, you can spend the day unwinding at the Lotus Spa with a hot-stone massage or detoxifying ocean wrap. With so many dining options to choose from, it's also easy to eat well on board. From salad bars to fresh smoothies (or a delicious poolside burger), it's all about #balance, after all. 3. Designed for socialising While I personally have not partaken in hanky-panky on the high seas, it's clear cruises are an ideal setting for hook-ups or holiday flings. The ships are social by nature: it's incredibly easy to meet people at the bars, buffet, or even while sharing a hot tub. With everything at your doorstep, cruises are also more laissez-faire than traditional travel, which means everyone aboard is typically relaxed and friendly. Sure, cruises often attract families and couples, but there are plenty of single holidaymakers – some of whom will be up for an at-sea dalliance. Trust me when I say: it's called a 'love boat' for a reason. 4. A foodie's paradise Pizza by the pool? Popcorn and ice cream with a movie beneath the stars? The finest filet mignon at Crown Grill steakhouse? Food and drink options differ between cruise lines, of course, but on a Princess cruise, dining is integral to its brand. Being on board is a great excuse for a week of gourmandism: I for one felt like I had to roll myself down the gangway. There is a raft of high-calibre eateries, from fine-dining restaurants to cafes and a steakhouse. The chefs are well-versed in catering for allergies and as a coeliac, I was always taken care of. We 20-somethings are known for our range of dietary requirements, and rest assured, there are clearly marked vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free (etc) options available. 5. Big on value While cruising is often viewed as a pastime of the affluent and elderly, a holiday on the high seas doesn't have to break the bank. In fact, it can be a fairly affordable way to travel when you consider what's included. For example, the Princess Premier package, which includes Wi-Fi, beverages, fitness classes, meals, and room service, works out at A$100 ($108) per day, per guest. When you think about how much dinner, drinks and taxi fare alone will cost you on a standard holiday, that's not a bad offer. Cruises also typically offer generous discounts for activities and excursions on port days, which can net you serious savings. For a 20-something young professional, cruising isn't the cheapest way to see the world, but it definitely can be done on a budget. DETAILS For more information on Discovery Princess' seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise, visit
NZ Herald
07-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Destinations to save and book from Rarotonga to Japan
Fiji Stay five nights at the 4.5-star Warwick Fiji on the Coral Coast with a family-friendly package that includes a daily buffet breakfast, a Coral Viewing Glass Bottom Boat trip and a Sigatoka Shopping Trip for two adults and two children (aged five to fifteen), three hours of nanny service, and one 60-minute massage per stay. Up to two children 12 years and under play free, and guests can enjoy free access to selected non-motorised water activities, the gym, tennis and squash courts, billiards, table tennis, and bicycles. This package is priced from $1175 pp based on two adults and two children (aged two to eleven years). Valid for travel from May 31 to June 19, 2025, July 23 to September 17, October 8 to October 24, November 3 to December 17, 2025, and January 14 to March 20, 2026, departing from Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch. Book by May 10, 2025 by visiting Thailand and Vietnam Set sail with Royal Princess next November on a nine-day return trip from Singapore. Port in Cam Ranh and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, where the water is turquoise blue and the street food is to die for. Venture to the vibrant and bustling metropolis of Bangkok for two full days before your final stop in Ko Samui, a beautiful location known for its white sand beaches and breath-taking vistas. Priced from $2067 pp, share twin for a Princess Standard fare, this includes standard dining, accommodation, and entertainment. Flights are additional. Cruise departs Singapore on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Visit to book and for up-to-date pricing. Call 0800 780 717 for more information. Singapore and Malaysia This is the package that has it all! Flying return to Singapore via Air New Zealand, spend two nights at Hotel Miramar Singapore with daily breakfast before embarking on a five-night cruise onboard Discovery Princess in a balcony stateroom. Ports include Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi and Penang. Add Comprehensive Travel Insurance and save $500 per booking in-store with Bundle + Save. From $3715 pp twin share, this package is on sale until May 30. Flight departing Auckland October 26, 2025. Terms & Conditions apply. Book your tickets at or call 0800 427 555. Japan Experience Japan on this 12-day Intrepid tour that immerses you in this vibrant country. Explore bustling Tokyo, historic Kyoto, tranquil Hakone, and captivating Hiroshima. Discover local culture with guided tours, including sushi-making, sake tasting, Zen meditation, and a visit to Hiroshima's Peace Park. Expertly managed by a dedicated Travel Advisor, with daily breakfast included, get an additional $700pp travel credit to go towards your holiday. From $12,485 pp, this deal is on sale until May 30. Travel between June 12 to August 28, 2025. Airfares are additional. Visit or call 0800 951 655 to book your tickets today.
