Let’s be honest, we all go on cruises to have a great time. Not to keep a mental tab of how much we’ve spent. That’s why, for many guests, investing in an all-inclusive package before sailing away is money well spent.
By bundling a range of dining, drinks, Wi-Fi and service elements into one daily rate, Princess Cruises’ Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages aim to make life simpler at sea.
The packages have been recently updated for 2026 sailings to focus on the services and products that guests value most. That means more meals in casual venues for Princess Plus guests and new shore excursion credits for Princess Premier guests.
What to expect with the Princess Plus package
Princess Plus includes up to 15 beverages per day up to $15 each, unlimited speciality tea and coffee, and up to four meals per guest at the ship’s casual dining venues (up from two, previously). This gives you a chance to try places like the Salty Dog Gastropub or Alfredo’s Pizzeria.
Guests can also expect fast, reliable MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi for one device, pre-paid crew appreciation and no delivery charges for OceanNow orders or room service.
The aim is to cover the extras most guests would otherwise buy individually, so you can budget once before you leave and avoid small costs adding up while you’re away.
If you pre-book before your cruise, the Princess Plus packages cost £50 per person per day, or £55 per person per day if you sail on one of the line’s newest ships, Sun Princess and Star Princess.
What to expect with the Princess Premier package
Princess Premier is the more inclusive option. It offers unlimited drinks (up to $20 each), unlimited meals in both casual and speciality dining venues, and MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi for up to four devices, ideal for families or guests travelling with multiple gadgets.
Premier guests also benefit from unlimited professional digital photos plus three printed copies to take home, reserved theatre seating for production shows and the new addition of shore excursion credits: $100 on cruises of six to nine days, $200 on voyages of 10 to 20 days and $300 for sailings of 21 days or longer.
Crew appreciation is included, as are delivery fees for food and drink ordered via room service or OceanNow.
If you pre-book before your cruise, the Princess Premier packages cost £75 per person per day, or £80 per person per day if you sail on one of the line’s newest ships, Sun Princess and Star Princess.
Why packages matter
Cruise holidays are already designed to be more inclusive than many other forms of travel, but there are always elements – drinks, Wi-Fi, service charges – that can surprise guests when they see the final bill. These packages take most of those recurring extras and roll them into one.
That means you can choose your wine at dinner without thinking about the cost, send photos home without worrying about data use, and order lunch to your lounger without checking if there’s a fee. It’s about turning those small, everyday decisions into moments you can enjoy freely, without calculation.
But it’s not just about peace of mind: it’s about saving money too. Wi-Fi for one device starts at $24.99 per day, while the crew appreciation fee costs from $17-$19 per day, depending on your accommodation. Add a couple of cocktails at $15 each and a cappuccino, and the Princess Plus package has already paid for itself.
Similarly, with meals at speciality dining venues costing around $55 per person, it’s easy to see how the Princess Premier package can easily save you money over the course of a cruise.
Value beyond the numbers
While there’s a clear financial benefit in buying a package rather than paying for each item separately, the real value is in the simplicity. There’s a certain peace of mind in knowing you’ve settled the main costs before stepping aboard. For families and groups, it removes the need to split bills or keep tabs on who owes what. For solo travellers, it offers a clear view of the total spend from the start.
Booking before you sail locks in the best deal, another reason to think about it when you confirm your itinerary, rather than waiting until you’re onboard.
Which to choose?
The decision often comes down to how you prefer to spend your time at sea. If your days are spent visiting the ports of call independently and evenings in the main dining room, Princess Plus might cover everything you want.
Suppose you enjoy trying different speciality restaurants, ordering premium drinks or making the most of onboard entertainment and photography services. In that case, Princess Premier offers the maximum savings on the best dining and drinks.
Either way, both packages are designed to make your cruise feel more like a seamless holiday and less like a series of transactions. With the planning done early, you can step aboard and let the days unfold.
A smoother way to cruise
Whether you’re heading for the sun-drenched islands of the Caribbean, the dramatic landscapes of Alaska or a voyage across the Pacific, the appeal of these packages is the same: fewer decisions about cost, more freedom to enjoy what’s in front of you.
The ship will take care of the travel. The crew will take care of the service. The packages take care of the rest. All that’s left is for you to decide where to be when the sun sets, cocktail in hand, perhaps, knowing it’s already covered.
My experience with Princess Cruises’ packages
I enjoyed the benefits of the Princess Premier package on a recent sailing to Alaska aboard Discovery Princess; it was a definite hit with the whole family and something we’d struggle to sail without in the future.
My wife, an avid coffee drinker, loved being able to order her morning cappucino from the Princess Cruises app and getting it delivered to our stateroom. And I enjoyed being able to work my way through the cocktail menu without worrying about costs.
But the main benefit was the inclusion of dining at both casual and speciality restaurants. The food on board was excellent across the board, but thanks to the Princess Premier package, we could freely experience most dining options on board without thinking twice about the cost.
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