When planning a Princess cruise, choosing your ship and itinerary is only the beginning. You’ll also have the option to upgrade your vacation with Princess Plus® or Princess Premier® , two packages designed to bundle many of the extras you may already plan to purchase onboard.
Both packages can make your cruise feel more inclusive by covering things like beverages, Wi-Fi and crew appreciation. But is Princess Plus enough, or is it worth upgrading to Princess Premier?
Here’s what you need to know about Princess Plus vs. Princess Premier for cruises in 2026 and beyond.
What Is Princess Plus?
Princess Plus is a great middle ground for travelers who want many of their everyday cruise expenses covered without paying for all of the premium extras.
For most Princess ships, Princess Plus is currently $65 per guest, per day when purchased before your cruise. On Sun Princess® and Star Princess®, the pre-cruise price is $70 per guest, per day.
Princess Plus includes:
Plus Beverage Package — Enjoy cocktails, wine by the glass, beer, spirits and other eligible beverages valued at up to $15 each, with a limit of 15 included alcoholic beverages per day. Specialty coffees and teas are also included and do not count toward that 15-drink limit.
MedallionNet® Max Wi-Fi for one device per guest — Stay connected, share your vacation and keep in touch while at sea.
Crew Appreciation — Daily crew gratuities are already covered as part of your package.
Four Casual Dining Meals — Each guest receives four prix fixe meals at participating casual dining restaurants during the voyage.
Room Service Delivery — The standard room service delivery fee is included.
OceanNow® Delivery — The one-time activation fee is waived, allowing you to order food and drinks through the Princess app for delivery to select locations around the ship.
For many cruisers, Plus covers the extras they are most likely to use anyway, especially drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities.
What Is Princess Premier?
Princess Premier takes those inclusions a step further. It includes many of the benefits of Plus while adding premium beverages, significantly more dining, additional Wi-Fi devices and other perks.
For most Princess ships, Princess Premier is currently $100 per guest, per day when purchased before sailing. On Sun Princess and Star Princess, it is $105 per guest, per day.
Princess Premier includes:
Premier Beverage Package — Enjoy an expanded selection of eligible cocktails, wine by the glass, beer and spirits valued at up to $20 each, with no daily limit on included alcoholic beverages.
MedallionNet® Max Wi-Fi for up to four devices per guest — A major perk if you travel with multiple phones, tablets or laptops.
Unlimited Specialty Dining — One of the biggest differences between the two packages. Premier guests can enjoy specialty dining throughout their cruise, subject to availability and package terms.
Unlimited Casual Dining — Rather than the four meals included with Plus, Premier includes unlimited eligible casual dining.
Up to $300 in Shore Excursion Credit Per Guest — Premier guests receive a shore excursion credit, with the amount varying based on voyage length.
Professional Photo Package — Unlimited digital images taken by Princess photographers plus three prints are included.
Reserved Theater Seating — Access a reserved Premier seating section for Princess theatrical productions.
Crew Appreciation — Just like Plus, your crew appreciation is covered.
OceanNow® and Room Service Delivery — Delivery fees are covered with the package.
Princess Plus vs. Princess Premier at a Glance
Princess Plus
- Beverages up to $15 each
- 15 alcoholic beverages per day
- Wi-Fi for 1 device per guest
- Crew appreciation
- 4 casual dining meals per voyage
- Room service delivery included
- OceanNow delivery activation fee waived
Princess Premier
- Beverages up to $20 each
- No daily limit on included alcoholic beverages
- Wi-Fi for up to 4 devices per guest
- Crew appreciation
- Unlimited casual dining
- Unlimited specialty dining
- Up to $300 shore excursion credit per guest
- Professional photo package
- Reserved theater seating
- Room service and OceanNow delivery included
So, Which Princess Package Is Worth It?
The answer really comes down to how you like to cruise.
Princess Plus may be the better fit if you primarily want drinks, Wi-Fi and gratuities covered and plan to eat mostly at the complimentary restaurants. You still get several casual dining experiences without paying for benefits you may not use.
Princess Premier may be worth the upgrade if dining is a big part of your vacation, you prefer higher-priced premium beverages, use multiple connected devices or know you’ll take advantage of perks like specialty dining, shore excursions, professional photos and reserved theater seating.
For a traveler who plans to dine at specialty restaurants frequently, Premier can become especially appealing. For someone who simply wants the major onboard expenses bundled together, Plus may provide everything they need.
What About Princess Standard?
You don’t have to purchase either package. Princess Standard includes the essentials of your cruise vacation, including your accommodations, complimentary dining at venues such as the main dining rooms and buffet, entertainment and access to pools and the fitness center.
You can then purchase beverages, Wi-Fi, specialty dining and other extras individually.
This can make Standard a good choice for travelers who don’t drink much, prefer to disconnect while at sea or simply won’t use enough of the package benefits to justify the daily cost.
Let Us Help You Choose
There isn’t one Princess package that works best for every traveler and that’s exactly why having a travel advisor in your corner can make planning so much easier.
An Academy Travel advisor can help you compare Princess Standard, Princess Plus and Princess Premier based on your itinerary, vacation style and the extras you actually plan to use. Your advisor can also help you choose the right ship, stateroom and itinerary while keeping an eye on available Princess offers and promotions.
Ready to start planning your next Princess cruise? Connect with an Academy Travel advisor today and let us help you create the cruise vacation that fits you best.
