Between the big port days, you'll have time to simply be on the ship — and Discovery Princess, the newest in the Princess fleet, is built for it. Order a coffee or a cocktail to wherever you're sitting using your OceanMedallion, find a chair with a view, and let Alaska slide by. Here's how to spend it.

Some of the best sea-day hours are the unscheduled ones. Claim a lounger at the aft Wakeview infinity pool and watch the wake unspool behind you, or upgrade to The Sanctuary — the adults-only retreat up top, with private cabanas and someone bringing you cold towels and chilled drinks. If you'd rather be pampered, the Lotus Spa and its Enclave thermal suite — heated loungers, steam, hydrotherapy — are made for a slow gray-sky morning.

Sea days are when the food really shines. Beyond the main dining rooms and the buffet, book a specialty table: Sabatini's for hand-made Italian pasta, the Crown Grill steakhouse, or The Catch by Rudi for seafood. For something you'll remember, 360: An Extraordinary Experience is an immersive multi-course dinner that surrounds you in sight and sound. Save room for gelato and afternoon tea.

Princess leans hard into its North to Alaska program, so sea days come with local flavor: talks from Alaskan experts, cultural performances, seafood cooking demos, and — a genuine crowd-favorite — Puppies in the Piazza, where sled-dog puppies visit the atrium. Yes, really. It's as good as it sounds.

• The Piazza — the three-deck atrium heart of the ship, with live music, street performers, and café tables. It's where the day naturally gathers.
• The SeaWalk — a glass-floored walkway cantilevered out over the water. Look down if you dare.
• Take Five — jazz at sea, cocktail in hand.
• Trivia, dance classes, art, and demos — the daily program is packed if you want it to be.
• The casino and the Phantom Bridge escape room for a little competition.

Evenings anchor around the two-deck Princess Theater and its Broadway-style productions, then spill out to live music around the ship. And don't miss Movies Under the Stars — the largest outdoor screen in the Royal class — with blankets, popcorn, and the occasional glacier on the horizon.