Sharing is caring!

Are you planning a Princess Cruise and wondering how Princess Plus works and if it’s worth it? In this post, I’ll be going over the details of what’s included in the Princess Plus package and Princess Premier Package, as well as the cost and value. 

I’ll also share the most recent changes to the Princess Plus and Premier packages, so that you can determine if the current Princess packages are worth it for you.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click and buy that I may make a commission, at no cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy for details.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Princess Cruises New Package Updates: Princess Plus, Princess Premier and Princess Standard

Since it’s debut a few years ago, Princess Plus has been very popular with cruise passengers. Cruisers could upgrade their cruise with extra amenities including a beverage package, crew gratuities and wifi, for a more “all-inclusive” type cruise experience.

The Princess Plus package has gone through some changes since its inception, including the option to upgrade to Princess Premier, which includes even more perks.

Recently, Princess Cruises announced bigger changes to the Princess cruise packages, including adding a Princess Standard package (basic cruise fare). This makes the Princess Plus and Premier an even better value, since there are new dining options included, as well as other extra inclusions.

There are now 3 types of Princess packages

• Princess Standard
• Princess Plus
• Princess Premier

What’s included in each package has changed and its important to know how these changes might affect you as a cruise passenger.

In this article you’ll find the details of what’s included in each package, including the cost and value. Whether you’re a first time Princess cruiser or a cruise veteran, this information will be helpful as you plan your cruise.

What is the Princess Cruises Princess Plus Package and What’s Included?

Princess Plus isn’t a limited time promotion or sale, but rather a more inclusive fare type. With the new Princess Plus package, you’ll get these inclusions:

• Princess Plus beverage package (drinks up to $15 including tips)
• Unlimited Wi-Fi (1 device per guest)
• Crew appreciation (daily gratuities)
• 2 casual dining meals (NEW)
• Ocean Now Delivery (NEW)
• Free room service delivery (NEW)
• 2 fitness classes
• 2 premium desserts
• Unlimited juice bar
• Free Medallion shipping (US & Canada)

Princess Plus cost: $60 per person/per day

What’s Included in the Princess Premier Package

The Princess Premier package is the most all inclusive package you can get when sailing with Princess Cruises. Here’s what’s included with the enhanced package Princess Premier:

• Princess Premier beverage package (drinks up to $20 including tips)
• Unlimited Wi-Fi (up to 4 devices per guest)
• Crew appreciation (daily gratuities)
• 2 specialty dining meals
• Photo package (unlimited digital + 3 prints)
• Princess Prizes
• Unlimited casual dining meals (NEW)
• Ocean Now Delivery (NEW)
• Free room service delivery
• Unlimited fitness classes
• Unlimited premium desserts
• Unlimited juice bar
• Princess Premier reserved seating (for production shows)
• Medallion accessory
• Free Medallion shipping (US & Canada)

Princess Premier cost: $80 per person/per day

While Princess Plus and Princess Premier are a very good value, if you prefer a lower rate (without perks), this is still available. The “no extras” rate is now called Princess Standard.

If you’re wondering if Princess Plus is worth it, I’ll provide a cost comparison below where you can see if the value is there, for you.

What’s Included in the Princess Standard Package

The Princess Standard package is your basic cruise fare. For those who prefer to cruise without a beverage package and some of the extras, this can be the best value and most budget friendly Princess cruise option.

Princess Standard cruise fare includes your cruise ship cabin, all complimentary meals and drinks, entertainment, activities and Medallion class experience (medallion & lanyard, cruise line app & other features).

Complimentary meals on Princess Cruises include main dining rooms, the buffet, the International Cafe, a poolside pizza station, poolside grill (burgers etc.) and Swirls ice cream. Please note that venues may differ from ship to ship.

Not included in the Princess Standard fare

• Princess Standard package does not include Ocean Now Delivery. Guests can add this on for $14.99 (one-time activation fee)
• In cabin room service is $5 per delivery
• Casual dining meals (ie. Alfredo’s, Gigi’s & O’Malleys) are $14.99 for a 3 course prix fixe sit down meal
• Medallion shipping is not included

Cruise passengers sailing under the Princess Standard or basic fare can add these items separately.

Is Princess Plus Worth it? Cost Breakdown

At $60 per person, per day, there is a lot of value in the Princess Plus package. After all, the drink package, crew appreciation and wifi alone would add up to much more than $60 a day.

However, let’s break it down to see the actual cost and value of what’s included in Princess Plus.

Princess Cruises Plus Beverage Package

What’s Included in the Plus Beverage Package?

Princess Cruises Plus Beverage Package includes beer, spirits, wine by the glass and cocktails up to $15 each. It also includes many non-alcoholic drinks including bottled water, fountain soda, freshly squeezed juice, specialty coffees and teas, frappe’s and milkshakes and energy drinks.

There is a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per person, per day. All other drinks all unlimited.

If you were to buy the Princess Plus drink package separately, the cost is $64.99 per person, per day, plus an 18% service charge. Therefore the actual cost, if you were to purchase the drink package on it’s own, is $76.70 per day.

There’s no reason to purchase the Princess Plus beverage package on it’s own. It’s actually cheaper to book with the Princess Plus package.

Important to note

The 18% service charge is included with Princess Plus. You won’t be charged extra “gratuities” when you book, or when you order a drink. However, crew will still be receiving the gratuities from Princess Cruises.

More information about all the Princess Drink Packages Packages can be found here. I’ve included details of the 4 drink packages, as well as photos of drinks and Princess bar menus.

What’s not included in the Princess Plus beverage package

The Princess Plus Beverage Package does not include wine bottles, one litre bottles of water, canned soda and juice bottles. However if you do wish to purchase any of these a 25% discount will be applied.

Also not included are souvenir glasses, room service and mini bar items.

Who can get the Princess Plus Beverage Package?

All passengers in the cabin can get the Premier Beverage Package, including third and fourth passengers. If those passengers are under 21 they will get the Zero-Alcohol Drink Package.

This non-alcoholic drink package includes all drinks in the Princess Plus Beverage Package, besides the alcohol. Mocktails are included. The regular price of the zero-alcohol drink package is $29.99 per person, per day (plus 18% gratuity).

Unlimited Wifi

Princess cruise ships are equipped with Ocean Medallion technology, which includes MedallionNet, fast and reasonably priced wifi/internet.

You can use the Wi-Fi to check emails go on social watch YouTube videos stream shows and video chat with loved ones back home.

The normal cost of MedallionNet is $9.99 per person, per day.

Related: 15 Cruise WiFi Tips, Secrets & Mistakes to Avoid

Crew Appreciation

Princess Plus includes the crew appreciation or daily gratuities/tips for those that serve you during your cruise. This includes your cabin steward, waiters, assistant waiters, Maître D and others working behind the scenes.

A service charge (crew appreciation) is normally charged daily to your shipboard account.

• $16.00 USD per person per day if you’re cruising in an inside, ocean view, or balcony stateroom
• $17.00 USD per day if you’re sailing in a mini suite or club class state room
• $18.00 USD per person per day if you’re sailing in a suite

Casual Dining Meals

With Princess Plus, 2 casual dining meals are included per person on a cruise. This includes 3 course (prix fixe) meals at the following casual dining venues on Princess cruise ships:

• Alfredo’s or Gigis
• Salty Dog Gastropub
• O’Malleys
• Ocean Terrace
• Planks
• Steamers
• Kai Sushi

*restaurants vary by cruise ship

The cost of the casual dining restaurants is 14.99 per person. 2 meals per person are included, which is a value of almost $30 per passenger.

Ocean Now Delivery

Ocean Now Delivery is a pretty great service that’s available on Princess Cruises. Cruise passengers can order food, drinks and other items from the Medallion app on their phones. These items will be delivered to guests almost anywhere on the cruise ship!

For guests who have the Standard package, the cost for a one time activation fee is $14.99.

Room Service

Guests with Princess Plus and Princess Premier get free room service delivery. The cost of room service delivery is regularly $5 per delivery.

Unlimited Juice Bar

The juice bar includes fresh fruit and vegetable juice blends including the Immune Booster, the Nutter and the Tropical Twist.

The drinks at then juice bar range in price between $8-12 each. If you had 3-4 fresh juices during a cruise, this would add up to approximately $30 per guest.

Fitness Classes

With Princess Plus, cruisers can participate in 2 free fitness classes. These complimentary fitness are part of an exclusive partnership between Princess Cruises and Xponential Fitness. The classes available include Stretch Lab, Club Pilates and Cycle Bar.

On a recent cruise onboard the Enchanted Princess, we tried a Stretch Club class and really enjoyed it!

The cost of each fitness class, if purchased a la carte is $30. 2 classes have a value of $60 per passenger, per cruise.

Premium Desserts

Premium desserts are decadent ice cream sundae like elaborate confections. Although you can have up to 2 premium desserts per day, I don’t think many people do (they are sweet!).

Premium desserts are $12 each. The value of this really depends on how many you want to try. There are currently 6 flavors, plus an option to add an “adult” twist. For $2 extra you can add a shot of liquor to your Princess premier dessert.

Medallion Shipping

Guests who book with the Princess Plus or Premier packages get free shipping of their medallion to their home before their cruise. Included Medallion shipping is available to cruise passengers in the US, and more recently, in Canada.

How Much Does Princess Plus Cost and Is it Worth it?

Since Princess gives passengers a choice between a lower cruise only Standard package fare and one with “perks”, Princess Plus will be more expensive. However, for many passengers, the Princess Plus value is worth the additional cost.

Currently, the cost of Princess Plus is an additional $60 USD per person, per day. According to Princess Cruises, this is more than a 50% savings over buying each item separately.

Cost breakdown estimate if you were to purchase each item separately:

• Plus beverage package – $76.70 per person, per day (including 18% service charge)
• Unlimited Wifi – $9.99 per person, per day
• Prepaid gratuities – $16.00-18.00 per person, per day (depends on cabin type)
• 2 Casual dining meals – $30 per person
• Ocean Now delivery – $14.99 per person
• Room Service delivery – $5 per delivery (estimated at $25)
• New juice bar – $8-12 per drink (estimated $30)
• 2 Fitness Classes – $60 per person
• 2 Premium Desserts – $12-14 each
• Medallion shipping – $10

TOTAL VALUE of PRINCESS PLUS = approximately $130 per person, per day

*For those not drinking alcohol, the value of the premium or coffee and soda package is $29.99 USD per person, per day, plus an 18% service charge.

Planning a cruise? Suggested post: 50 Most Popular Cruise Essentials (recommended by avid cruisers)

Is Princess Plus Worth it?

If you drink 2 drinks or more per day, plan on paying crew gratuities and will purchase a wifi package, Princess Plus is most definitely worth it. However, when I did the math, even for those who don’t drink alcohol, there is still a lot of value in the benefits of the Princess Plus package.

With some of the new changes to the standard Princess cruise fare, Princess Plus has actually increased in value. At $60 per person per day, included room service delivery, Ocean Now delivery and casual dining options are things many Princess cruisers appreciate.

Other benefits, including fitness classes and premium desserts, will have more or less value to different passengers, depending on what you enjoy most on a cruise.

That being said, for many cruise passengers the biggest benefit of Princess Plus is the ease and enjoyment of knowing so much is included in their cruise.

Princess Plus vs Princess Premier

There are a several differences between Princess Plus and Princess Premier. While many cruise passengers say that Princess Plus is worth it, there’s more debate on the value of Princess Premier.

That being said, since the recent changes to the Princess Packages, including more dining options, you may find that Princess Premier is worth it to you.

What’s Included in Princess Premier & Is it Worth it?

At $80 per person, per day, the Princess Premier package is the most all-inclusive package cruise travelers can book. It includes everything in the Princess Plus package, plus these extras:

Crew Appreciation

The crew appreciation, or crew gratuities/tips are included with Princess Premier.

Unlimited Wifi for 4 devices

In contrast to the Princess Plus package which includes unlimited wifi for 1 device per guest, Princess Premier allows passengers to use up to 4 devices at the same time.

Premium Beverage Package

Princess Cruises Premier Beverage Package includes top shelf premium drinks up to $20 each. Princess Plus is limited to drinks up to $15 each. Guests with Princess Plus can pay the difference if they wish.

The Premier drink package includes beer, spirits, wine by the glass and cocktails. It also includes many non-alcoholic drinks including bottled water, fountain soda, freshly squeezed juice, specialty coffees and teas, frappe’s and milkshakes and energy drinks.

There is a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per person, per day. All other drinks all unlimited.

If you were to buy the Princess Plus drink package separately, the cost is $84.99 per person, per day, plus an 18% service charge.

Specialty Dining Meals

2 specialty dining options are included with the Princess Premier Package. The specialty dining restaurants on Princess cruise ships include Crown Grill, Sabatinis, The Catch by Rudi and more. Most specialty restaurants on Princess Cruises are $39 per person.

Photo package

A nice benefit of the Princess Premier package is the photo package, which includes unlimited digital photos + 3 prints. This is a nice extra if you have the upgraded Princess package.

Princess Prizes

With Princess Prizes, cruise passengers have a chance to win prizes including a bouquet of flowers, wine tasting, Chef’s table dinner, free cruises and more. Guests with the Princess Premier package have a chance to play through their stateroom portal (outside the cabin door).

Unlimited Casual Dining Meals

Princess Plus includes only 2 meals at some of the popular casual dining restaurants onboard Princess cruise ships. With Princess Premier, casual dining is unlimited. So, you could eat at Alfredos or Kai Sushi as often as you want.

Ocean Now Delivery

Ocean Now Delivery is included for both Princess Plus and Premier packages.

Free Room Service Delivery

Complimentary room service delivery is included with the Princess Premier and Plus packages.

Unlimited Fitness Classes

Princess Premier offers unlimited fitness classes, which is great for anyone who plans on working out and keeping up their fitness routine during their cruise vacation. Princess Plus includes only 2 classes.

Unlimited Premium Desserts

With unlimited premium desserts, you can try every single one. They are sweet, decadent and instagram worthy!

Unlimited juice bar

Just like with the Princess Plus package, the juice bar (these are premium juice blends) is included and drinks are unlimited.

Princess Premier Reserved Seating

A nice bonus for those who opt for the Princess Premier package is reserved seating for production shows. Seats are well located and clearly marked.

Medallion Accessory

A special medallion accessory is provided to Princess Premium package guests. Guests with both the Standard package and Princess Plus receive a free lanyard and holder for their medallion.

Free Medallion shipping (US & Canada)

Princess Premier and Princess Plus package guests receive complimentary shipping of their medallion. This makes boarding on embarkation day fast and easy.

Princess Plus Value for Captain’s Circle Members

Is Princess Plus worth it for higher level Captain’s Circle members? This is a question many past passengers ask.

The loyalty program on Princess Cruises is pretty fantastic, making it one of the best reasons to keep cruising with Princess.

Captain Circle members who benefit from a discount on the wifi package and a free mini bar set up (ie. Elite members), have a decision to make.

Light drinkers and those that don’t use much internet, may find that the cost savings is better with the Princess Standard package option. You can pay as you go and add on items like casual dining and Ocean Now delivery as needed.

However, if you prefer a more carefree vacation where you don’t need to think about the cost of drinks, wifi or even casual dining, Princess Plus will likely be your best option.

Princess Cruise Package Frequently Asked Questions

Can I upgrade to Princess Plus or Premier after booking?

If you booked with the Princess Standard rate and change your mind, you can upgrade to Princess Plus for $60 a day and Princess Premier for $80 a day.

Can I Purchase Princess Plus or Premier once onboard?

Yes, you can upgrade to Princess Plus or Premier on embarkation day, the first day of your cruise, and through the second day of your cruise.

Is Princess Plus and Princess Premier Combinable with other promotions?

Princess Plus is combinable with many other promotions. Always check with the cruise line or your travel agent for the best cruise deals for you.

Related & Popular Posts

• 50+ Must-have Cruise Essentials from Amazon
• Princess Cruises: 15 Tips, Tricks and Insider Secrets
• Regal Princess Cruise Review: Holiday Sailing
• Princess Cruises Drink Package Options
• Princess Cruises: Best Cruise Food
• 12 Top Reasons to Cruise with Princess Cruises
• Princess Cruises Alfredo’s Pizzeria Review
• 21 Things You Need to Know About Ocean Medallion

Final Thoughts: Princess Plus and Princess Premier – What’s Included and Is it worth it?

In this post we’ve gone over what’s included with the Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages. This includes how the Princess cruise packages work, their cost, as well as the value.

While the question, “Is Princess Plus worth it?” is a subjective one, based on all that’s included with the Princess Plus package, it will be for most cruise passengers.

I hope that this information was helpful, as you are getting ready for your future Princess Cruise.

Have you cruised with princess before and do you like the idea of these all-inclusive packages? Please let me know in the comments below.

Happy Cruising!

Ilana

If you found this article helpful, please pass it along. Please feel free to share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). Thanks so much!