The Princess Plus package and its bigger sibling, Princess Premier, are the two Princess Cruises packages that bundle your drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities and more into one daily rate. They can make a real difference to how much you spend onboard, but Princess refreshed both packages for 2026 sailings, and a lot of the information online is now out of date.
Here is what Princess Plus and Princess Premier include now, what changed, how they compare with booking cruise only, and how to work out which one makes sense for the way you like to cruise.
What are the Princess Plus and Premier packages?
Both are optional packages you add to your Princess cruise fare. Instead of paying separately for each drink, your Wi-Fi and your gratuities, you pay one rate per person per day and most of those everyday extras are covered.
- Princess Plus is the entry-level bundle, covering the essentials most cruisers use every day
- Princess Premier is the top tier, adding unlimited speciality dining, more Wi-Fi devices and a long list of extra perks
On some fares and promotions a package is already built in, so always check what your booking includes before buying one separately. Our team can tell you exactly what is in any Princess fare you are looking at.
What is included in the Princess Plus package?
- Plus Beverage Package: cocktails, beers, wines by the glass, soft drinks, speciality coffees and more, up to a set value per drink
- Wi-Fi for one device
- Daily crew appreciation (gratuities)
- Four casual dining meals per voyage, at venues such as Alfredo’s Pizzeria and the Salty Dog Grill
- Waived service fees on items covered by the package
The casual dining allowance is the main upgrade for 2026, rising to four meals per voyage. Plus does not include the full speciality restaurants, such as the steakhouse.
What is included in the Princess Premier package?
- Premier Beverage Package: a higher per-drink limit than Plus, covering a wider range of premium spirits, cocktails and wines by the glass
- Unlimited casual and speciality dining
- Wi-Fi for up to four devices
- Daily crew appreciation (gratuities)
- Waived delivery fees for room service and OceanNow orders
- Unlimited digital photos
- Reserved theatre seating
- A shore excursion credit, which increases with the length of your voyage
The shore excursion credit is new for 2026 and makes Premier noticeably more appealing on longer voyages, where the credit is at its highest.
What changed with Princess Plus and Premier for 2026?
Princess refreshed both packages for sailings from 2026. The headline changes:
- Plus now includes four casual dining meals per voyage, up from two
- Premier now includes a shore excursion credit based on voyage length
- Premium desserts, juice bar access, fitness classes and Princess Prizes have been removed from the packages
- Daily package rates went up, and are higher again on the Sphere Class ships, Sun Princess and Star Princess
If you have read an older guide or sailed with Princess before 2026, these changes are worth knowing, as some of the perks people remember are no longer part of the deal.
Princess Plus vs Premier: the key differences
- Drinks: Plus covers a wide range of everyday drinks; Premier raises the per-drink limit so more premium options are covered
- Dining: Plus gives you four casual dining meals; Premier gives you unlimited casual and speciality dining
- Wi-Fi: one device on Plus, up to four on Premier
- Extras: Premier adds photos, reserved theatre seats, waived delivery fees and a shore excursion credit
- Gratuities: included on both
Is the Princess Plus package worth it compared with cruise only?
A quick way to decide is to think honestly about a typical day onboard. Add up roughly what you would spend on drinks, your share of the Wi-Fi and the daily gratuities, and compare it with the package rate.
- Cruise only tends to suit light drinkers, people happy to switch off from Wi-Fi, and those who stick to the main dining rooms and buffet
- Plus tends to suit people who enjoy a few drinks a day, want to stay connected and like having gratuities sorted in advance
- Premier tends to suit those who love trying the speciality restaurants, enjoy premium drinks, are travelling with several devices, or are on a longer voyage where the excursion credit adds up
There is also the peace of mind factor. Many of our customers like knowing most of their holiday is paid for before they leave home, with no surprise bill on the last night.
Things to know before you buy a Princess Cruises package
- Princess generally expects everyone sharing a cabin to have the same package, so check this if only one of you is a big drinker
- Buying before you sail is usually better value than buying onboard
- Packages are priced per person per day, so the total grows with the length of your cruise
- Some fares and offers include Plus or Premier as standard, so do not pay twice
- Drinks above the per-drink limit can still be bought, usually with the covered amount taken off
Package rules can change, so we always check the latest terms against your booking.
Sailing with Princess from the UK
Princess is a popular choice with UK cruisers thanks to its relaxed style, its OceanMedallion technology that speeds up everything from boarding to ordering a drink, and sailings that range from the Mediterranean and Northern Europe to Alaska, Japan and Australia. If you are sailing from Southampton, Princess guests can use the CPS valet service covered in our Southampton cruise parking guide. You can see more about the line on our Princess Cruises page, or compare it with other lines in our what cruise line is right for you guide.
If you are weighing up fare types with other British favourites, our guide to P&O Cruises fares explains how their options work, and our exclusive deals page shows what our team currently has on offer.
Frequently asked questions about the Princess Plus package and Premier
What is the difference between Princess Plus and Premier?
Plus covers the essentials: drinks up to a set value, Wi-Fi for one device, gratuities and four casual dining meals. Premier adds a higher drinks limit, unlimited speciality dining, Wi-Fi for four devices, photos, reserved theatre seating and a shore excursion credit.
Are gratuities included in the Princess Plus package?
Yes. Both Princess Plus and Princess Premier include daily crew appreciation, which is Princess’s name for gratuities.
Is the Princess Premier package worth it?
It is worth it if you plan to use the speciality restaurants, enjoy premium drinks or need Wi-Fi on several devices. The new shore excursion credit also makes it better value on longer voyages.
Does Princess Plus include speciality dining?
Not the full speciality restaurants. Plus includes four casual dining meals per voyage at venues such as Alfredo’s Pizzeria, while unlimited speciality dining is only included with Premier.
Do both people in a cabin have to buy Princess Plus?
Generally, yes. Princess usually requires everyone in the same cabin to have the same package, so it is worth deciding together before you book.
Can I add Princess Plus or Premier after booking?
Yes, you can usually add a package after booking and before you sail, and our team can arrange it for you. Buying in advance is generally better value than waiting until you are onboard.
Choosing between the Princess Plus package and Premier
The Princess Plus package and Premier can both be great value, but the right choice depends on how you like to spend your days onboard. Tell us how you cruise and we will compare the options against your sailing, check what is already in your fare and get everything booked for you. Call the team on 01724 808800, contact us here, or message us on live chat.
