Princess Plus vs. Princess Premier: Let’s Do the Real Math for 2026

May 20

If you are looking at a Princess cruise, you’ve probably realized pretty quickly that the base fare is just the beginning. The moment you start booking, you’re hit with a big question: Should you add Princess Plus or Princess Premier? Princess completely overhauled these packages, and honestly, they aren’t cheap. But if you hate the feeling of being nickeled-and-dimed the second you step foot on a ship, adding one of these is usually a smart move.

The secret is knowing which one fits the way you actually vacation, because nobody wants to waste money on perks they won't use. Let's break down the real numbers and the honest differences so you can decide.

The Cost Upfront

Princess prices these packages per person, per day, and the price actually changes depending on which ship you’re sailing:

Standard Ships(like Discovery, Majestic, or Regal Princess): Princess Plus is $65 a day; Princess Premier is $100 a day.
The New Sphere-Class Ships(Sun Princess and Star Princess): Princess Plus is $70 a day; Princess Premier is $105 a day.

Pro-tip: Buy it before you board. If you wait until you're on the ship, they tack on an extra $5 a day.

The Sweet Spot: What You Get with Princess Plus

For about 80% of the clients I work with, Princess Plus is the absolute sweet spot. It covers the core things that usually inflate your onboard bill at the end of the week.

Here is exactly what you get:

Your Daily Gratuities: This is huge. The mandatory crew appreciation fees are completely covered.
The Plus Drink Package: You get cocktails, wine, and beer up to $15 a glass (up to 15 drinks a day).
Unlimited Coffee & Tea: A massive upgrade—premium espresso drinks, lattes, and specialty teas are now completely unlimited and don't count toward your 15-drink alcohol limit.
Wi-Fi: High-speed internet for one device.
Casual Dining: You get four casual dining meals per cruise (places like Gigi’s Pizzeria or the pub) instead of the old limit of two.
Free Delivery: It waives the room service delivery fees and the $15 activation fee for the OceanNow app (where you can order a drink directly to your pool lounger).

What they cut: To keep the price from skyrocketing with these new perks, Princess did remove premium gelato, fitness classes, and juice bar access from this tier. If you don't care about boutique workouts or fancy desserts, you won't miss them.

The "Everything’s Covered" Tier: Princess Premier

If you want the ultimate luxury treatment where you never have to think about a budget or look at a price tag for a single second, Premier is built for you.

Here is what you get when you step up to Premier:

The Premier Drink Package: Top-shelf spirits and luxury cocktails up to $20 each, and there is no daily limit on alcoholic drinks.
Unlimited Dining: You get unlimited casual dining meals and unlimited specialty dining at the high-end venues like Crown Grill Steakhouse or Sabatini’s. You could literally eat a premium steak every single night if you wanted to.
Multi-Device Wi-Fi: Internet access for four devices instead of one, which is perfect if you need to stay connected or share data with family.
Shore Excursion Credits: This is a fantastic addition. Depending on how long your cruise is, you get an automatic credit on your account to spend on excursions ($100 for 6–9 day trips, $200 for 10–20 days, and $300 for 21+ days).
Photos & Extras: Unlimited digital photos taken by the ship's photographers (plus three prints) and reserved seating in the main theater so you never have to rush to grab a spot before a show.

The Verdict: Which One is Actually Worth It?

Go with Princess Plus if: You want a seamless, stress-free vacation where the essentials are covered. If you need Wi-Fi, start your morning with a latte, and enjoy a few cocktails or glasses of wine throughout the day, this package easily pays for itself and saves you a ton of money compared to paying a la carte.

Upgrade to Princess Premier if: You love great food and want to eat at the specialty restaurants multiple nights. It's also the clear winner if you plan on booking shore excursions through the cruise line anyway, prefer top-shelf liquor, or need to have multiple devices connected to the internet at the same time.

Let's Get Your Next Cruise Planned—Minus the Overwhelm

Trying to parse through cabin layouts, ship differences, and package fine print can feel like a full-time job. When you map out your trip with me, you get a real human partner to handle the logistics, coordinate directly with the cruise line, and make sure you are getting the absolute best value.

What I Do For Your Trip:

Nail the Details: Find the perfect cabin location and match the right package to how you actually travel.
VIP Treatment: Gain access to exclusive promotions, price-monitoring, and resort perks if you are adding a hotel stay before or after your cruise.
Zero Stress: Real 1:1 human communication from the day you start dreaming to the day you unpack your bags.

Click here to head to my contact page so we can chat about your upcoming trip.