Discovery Cruise Line
by Paul MotterCompany Overview Discovery Cruise Lines is a small, niche cruise offering that only sails one-day cruises from Ft. Lauderdale to Nassau, Bahamas, and back. It also offers "cruise and stay" options for people who want to cruise to Nassau, stay in a hotel for a few days, and then sail back to Fort Lauderdale.
The ship, also called Discovery, sails every day except Wednesdays departing at 7:45 a.m. for the five-hour crossing. The return trip is scheduled to sail from Nassau at 4:45 p.m., arriving back in Ft. Lauderdale at 10:00 p.m.
The Discovery Experience: The starting fare for the roundtrip cruise is $99 per person for basic "ferry service," with no stateroom. Prices are slightly higher on Saturday, $109.99 per person. But no matter when you cruise, you can take advantage of the ship's facilities such as:
- All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Breakfast & Dinner Onboard
- Entertainment, Games & Shows
- Las Vegas Rules Casino & Slots
- Bars, Clubs, & Video Arcade
- Club Discovery Kids' Club
- Swimming Pool and Sun Decks
- Shopping
- Live Music, Karaoke & Dancing
Discovery is a small, authentic liner-style cruise vessel. The ship has two casinos as well as regular activities such as bingo, raffle drawings, and deck parties with buffet barbecue and tropical drinks. The Starlight Lounge offers audience participation entertainment like the newlywed game and bingo.
There are four lounges onboard; the Tropical Lounge has Karaoke, the Bar & Grill features live music, and the disco is "Club Illusions."
On deck you will find shuffleboard and beer-drinking contests.
Dining: The ship has two dining rooms, both serving meals included in the cruise fare. Breakfast is served buffet-style while dinner is regular dining service. If you want, you can opt to pay $21 per person for the Deluxe Dining option, which includes a seven-course dinner. The meal is served on the return portion of the cruise in a dining room overlooking the ocean. Courses include a hot or cold appetizer, soup, salad, entree with side dishes, cheese platter, dessert and coffee. The menu may include duck, lamb, New York strip steak, lobster or other daily specialties.
Cabins: If you want a place to kick back in private (highly recommended), you can select from a number of stateroom category. Prices are per room, not per person, and each has a shower and sleeping accommodations for two people. There are five categories - some with windows but none with balconies. Here are the prices:
- Inside stateroom with one twin size bed - $50
- Oceanview cabin with one twin size bed - $65
- Oceanview cabin with two twin size beds - $80
- Oceanview cabin with full size bed - $105
- Oceanview Suite with queen size bed, couch, coffee table and additional seating - $135.
Fellow Passengers: Discovery carries a wide cross-section of regular Americans: high-rolling, single twenty-somethings; young parents with toddlers; and baby boomers. During summer and school breaks, the ship can be overrun with young people. In fact, the line actively recruits college-aged spring-break revelers.
Shore Excursions: The line offers a number of shore excursion options, which are just onboard sales of tours one can easily find on the island. Most are targeted to people spending a few days in Nassau on the "cruise ' stay" option. The cruise line will arrange hotel accommodations and tours for you ahead of time, or you can make these arrangements on your own.
Taking the Kids: Club Discovery is the onboard space designed for children ages 6-12. The focus of Club Discovery is to provide a learning experience for children sailing on Discovery, with an emphasis on marine life and marine experiences. Games encourage children to seek out more knowledge about a variety of marine life, not only while on board but later as well. Club Discovery mascots include a blue whale, a red octopus, a yellow starfish and a pink conch.
Additional activities include arts and crafts, face painting, X Box Games, board games, cartoons, movies and more.
Past Passenger Program: There is no specific past passenger program, but there is a Discovery Plus VIP Service offered to adult travelers on Cruise 'N Stay Vacation Packages. Special VIP options include:
- Priority embarkation and debarkation
- Transfers to and from your hotel.
- Access to the exclusive Florida room onboard, with all the convenience and amenities of a private club: Newspapers, flat screen TV, beverage service and more.
- Champagne breakfast, a la carte lunch and seven-course gourmet dining in the Grand Bahama Grill on the return cruise.
Special Programs: The Wedding Program by Discovery makes it affordable to get married on shore and have your reception on the ship, including a champagne breakfast, a la carte lunch and seven-course dining in the Grand Bahama Grill.
Same-day roundtrip transportation will be available to your guests at a group rate if the wedding party is 15 people or more. Discovery provides all the amenities of a traditional cruise and your guests can choose their own activities.
Attire: Attire is casual on every cruise. No specific dress code is in force. If you plan to take the special dinner, you should go country club casual. If you are just taking the "ferry service," dress anyway you please. Tipping: Tipping is at your discretion when a service is rendered. Cash is used onboard; there is no shipboard account system.