In February of 2023, Princess introduced updated packages that included added features like premium desserts and Xponential Fitness classes (Wait a minute, don’t the desserts and fitness classes just cancel each other out and you end up with nothing but the extra 10 lbs you’ve always disembarked a Princess cruise with?). And then in August of 2023, Princess introduced additional (highly controversial) changes to the packages including new “casual dining” options for Princess Plus and Princess Premier guests and the elimination of complimentary meals at Alfredo’s/Gigi’s sit-down pizza restaurants and complimentary room service and OceanNow delivery for Princess Standard guests.
An additional perk for Plus and Premier guests, MedallionNet Max, was announced in August 2024. MedallionNet Max wifi offers the highest performance bandwidth available anywhere in the world. MedallionNet Max will only be available within the inclusive Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages. Guests who opt for the Standard Princess package will still be able to purchase MedallionNet Classic connectivity with no change to pricing ($24.99 per day for a single device plan and $44.99 per day for a multi-device plan).
Here are the basics of the updated Princess cruise packages followed by more detail on each offering to help you decide which is right for you:
Here are detailed descriptions and links to menus, reviews, and further information for each of Princess’s package options: Princess Standard, Princess Plus, and Princess Premier.
Believe it or not, there are some of us who are perfectly content enjoying a basic cruise experience, one without an extensive bar tab, 42 internet-connected devices in order to force upon the world live videos of ourselves consuming every drink on said bar tab as we grow increasingly loose lipped and inappropriately dressed, and “exclusive” dining experiences so we may snub our noses at those underlings dining on $5 strip steak in the MDR.
Nah, just give me a lounger with a view of the ocean, a promenade deck to walk, unlimited starch-based food products and average quality desserts, some live music, and a decent show or two, and I’m happy. I mean, I might splurge from time to time and order a martini and I usually offer a bribe to anyone who can get me a private audience with the Captain, but on more than one occasion I’ve disembarked a cruise with a negative balance on my shipboard account. #truestory
Call me basic. Or in this case, “standard.” You too? Well you probably don’t need to purchase an upgraded package on Princess. If you typically spend less than $60 per day on “extras,” go with “Princess Standard” and just pay à la carte for any items that add to your cruise experience. Keep in mind that you will still pay “crew appreciation” which is $16 per person/per day for non-suite guests ($17 for mini-suite guests and $18 for suite guests).
Important August 2023 Update for Princess Standard Guests: Alfredo’s/Gigi’s Pizza is no longer complimentary for Princess Standard guests. Princess Standard guests will also now pay a one-time per cruise $14.99 activation fee to use OceanNow food and beverage delivery and $5 per room service order placed via their cabin phone.
Despite everything I just said above, I’ll be purchasing the Princess Plus package for my next Princess cruise so I can review the new casual dining options. I’m doing it for you, people! But if I’m going to spend $60 a day, you better believe I’ll be getting my money’s worth in drinks. So you may want to avoid me after my third martini unless you’re prepared to join me tabletop, as the Sonny to my Cher, for a little impromptu karaoke: “I got you babe.”
Anyway, here’s what the Princess Plus package includes for $60 per person/per day in addition to the standard cruise experience:
The Plus Beverage Package includes the following beverages priced up to $15:
-Beer
-Cocktails
-Frappes at Coffee & Cones
-Hot chocolate
-Juice
-Milkshakes
-Red Bull energy drinks
-Smoothies
-Sodas
-Specialty coffees and teas
-Water
-Wine
Also, a 25% discount is offered on the following excluded items: all bottles of wine, one-liter bottles of water, canned soda and bottled juices.
All service charges (gratuities) are also included in the package price.
The Plus Beverage Package does not include mini bar items, beverages offered via self-service or vending machines, or souvenir glassware.
For beverages priced above $15, the guest will only pay for anything above $15.
The package has a daily limit on alcoholic beverages of 15 over a 24-hour period (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.).
Single device upgraded MedallionNet Max wifi. “Single device” means you can only use wi-fi on one device at a time (not one device for your entire cruise). You’ll need to log off one device (your phone, let’s say) before logging onto anther (your laptop or tablet or another phone).
Gratuities will be paid to crew on your behalf as part of your package. Without a package the rate is $16 per person/per day for non-suite guests, $17 for mini-suite guests, and $18 for suite guests.
Princess describes these as “elaborate confections overflowing with gelato, pastry and candy mixtures that will be available within Gelateria, Swirls or Coffee and Cones.” You can find the menu HERE.
There are also premium cakes available on some ships.
Princess has a partnership with Xponential Fitness, a global franchisor of boutique fitness brands. Classes offered include:
• Pure Barre: a full-body workout focused on low-impact, moderate to high-intensity movements that improve strength and flexibility.
• YogaSix: a full sensory yoga experience accessible to all, with a variety of classes targeting strength, agility, flexibility and balance.
• StretchLab is a unique wellness concept offering assisted stretching sessions with customized flexibility services.
• Club Pilates: a low-impact, full-body Reformer Pilates workout with a variety of classes that build strength, mobility and stability.
• CycleBar: an inclusive, immersive and inspiring low-impact, high-intensity indoor cycling experience for all ages and body types.
• STRIDE Fitness: a treadmill-based interval training concept, delivering a total body cardio and strength workout.
You must sign up for individual classes onboard by visiting the fitness center. Be sure to do that on embarkation day as classes can fill up. You can also pay for classes a la carte, if you don’t want to purchase a package. Read my review of the new classes here:
Unlimited fresh pressed juice is included as part of the beverage plus package.
See the Juice Bar menu here:
Each juice is 6oz and will be unlimited for guests with a package. They will also be sold a la carte for $8-$12 for guests with no package. The juice bar is only available at breakfast and lunch during the opening hours of the World Fresh Marketplace or other adjacent location at which juice is served. It is not valid using OceanNow feature within the MedallionClass app.
Plus cruisers will receive two three-course prix fixe meals in their ship’s available casual dining restaurants including Vines, Salty Dog Pub, O’Malleys, Ocean Terrace, Planks, Steamers, and Alfredo/GiGi’s. Menus available by ship can be found HERE.
The standard $14.99 one-time activation fee to use OceanNow food and beverage delivery (allowing guests to have an extensive menu of food and beverages delivered almost anywhere on the ship) will be waved for those with the plus package.
See the OceanNow food delivery menu here.
See the OceanNow beverage delivery menu here.
The $5 per order room service fee will be waved for those with the plus package.
If you enjoy top shelf liquor or dining at a few specialty restaurants on your cruise, the Premier package may make more sense for you. Here’s what the Premier package includes for $80 per person/per day in addition to the standard cruise experience:
The Premier Beverage Package includes the following beverages priced up to $20:
-Beer
-Cocktails
-Frappes at Coffee & Cones
-Hot chocolate
-Juice
-Milkshakes
-Red Bull energy drinks
-Smoothies
-Sodas
-Specialty coffees and teas
-Water
-Wine
Also, a 25% discount is offered on the following excluded items: all bottles of wine, one-liter bottles of water, canned soda and bottled juices.
All service charges (gratuities) are also included in the package.
The Premier Beverage Package does not include mini bar items, beverages offered via self-service or vending machines, or souvenir glassware.
The package has a daily limit on alcoholic beverages of 15 over a 24-hour period (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.).
Multi-device upgraded MedallionNet Max wifi. Four device wi-fi means you can have up to four devices connected to wi-fi at the same time.
Gratuities will be paid to crew on your behalf as part of your package. Guests without a package will pay $16 per person/per day for non-suite guests, $17 for mini-suite guests, and $18 for suite guests.
Note that the specialty dining included in Princess Premier does not include items with extra charges on the menus (you can order those items, but will have to pay the extra charge).
The photo package includes digital downloads of all images taken by onboard Princess photographers and three prints, up to 8×10, of any photo. The photo package does not apply to Platinum Studio, weddings, portraits, or group special events.
Princess Prizes is a promotion that allows guests to win prizes through their stateroom door portal. The prize portal is activated when a guest opens their stateroom door using their Medallion device. Prizes currently include entry into an end-of-cruise drawing for $5,000 or more in cash, onboard credits, onboard dining experiences, free cruises, and $100,000 cash.
So, with the Premier plan you could actually order all of these every day (too bad the plan doesn’t also include unlimited visits to the medical center). You can find the menu here:
There are also premium cakes available on some ships.
But it does include unlimited fitness classes! Princess launched a new partnership with Xponential Fitness, a global franchisor of boutique fitness brands. Classes offered include:
• Pure Barre: a full-body workout focused on low-impact, moderate to high-intensity movements that improve strength and flexibility.
• YogaSix: a full sensory yoga experience with a variety of classes targeting strength, agility, flexibility and balance.
• StretchLab is a unique wellness concept offering assisted stretching sessions with customized flexibility services.
• Club Pilates: a low-impact, full-body Reformer Pilates workout with a variety of classes that build strength, mobility and stability.
• CycleBar: an inclusive, immersive and inspiring low-impact, high-intensity indoor cycling experience for all ages and body types.
• STRIDE Fitness: a treadmill-based interval training concept, delivering a total body cardio and strength workout.
While you can participate in unlimited classes with the Premier plan, you must sign up for individual classes onboard by visiting the fitness center. Be sure to do that on embarkation day as classes can fill up. Read my review of these new classes HERE.
Unlimited fresh pressed juice is included as part of the premier beverage package.
See the Juice Bar menu HERE.
Each juice is 6oz and will be unlimited for guests with a package. They will also be sold a la carte for $8-$12 for guests with no package. The juice bar is only available at breakfast and lunch during the opening hours of the World Fresh Marketplace or other adjacent location at which juice is served. It is not valid using OceanNow feature within the MedallionClass app.
As part of the Premier package, you will receive a clip accessory to hold your Medallion. It will be in your stateroom when you arrive. Please note that this accessory cannot be returned or exchanged for something else.
As part of the Premier package, guests will have access to a section of reserved seating in the Princess Theater for production shows only (Broadway-style shows with singers and dancers). Seats in this section are available on a first-come, first-served basis and will be held until 15 minutes before the performance start time and then released. All guests in your stateroom will be able to sit with you in this reserved section. However, if you are traveling with others in a different stateroom who are not Premier package guests, they will not be able to join you in this reserved section.
Premier cruisers will receive unlimited three-course prix fixe meals in their ship’s available casual dining restaurants including Vines, Salty Dog Pub, O’Malleys, Ocean Terrace, Planks, Steamers, and Alfredo/GiGi’s. Menus available by ship can be found here:
The standard $14.99 one-time activation fee to use OceanNow food and beverage delivery (allowing guests to have an extensive menu of food and beverages delivered almost anywhere on the ship) will be waved for those with the premier package.
See the OceanNow food delivery menu here.
See the OceanNow beverage delivery menu here.
The $5 per order room service fee will be waved for those with the premier package.
Q: Can I purchase Princess Plus or Princess Premier onboard using onboard credit?
A: Yes! I fact, that’s what I plan on doing. You can purchase a package in advance or once onboard. You can also upgrade from Plus to Premier onboard.
Q: Are the first and second guests in a stateroom both required to purchase the same package?
A: Yes.
Q: Are third and fourth guests required to purchase the same package (Princess Plus or Princess Premier)?
A: Third and fourth guests are not required or defaulted to the selected package of first and second guests in a stateroom. Contact Princess or your travel agent to have a packaged added for an additional guest (or do it once onboard).
Q: What if one or both guests in a cabin aren’t of legal drinking age (21 or older) or if they don’t drink alcohol?
A: Guests who are under 21 will receive the Zero-Alcohol Package, previously called Coffee & Soda Package. This package type will be assigned prior to sailing based on the age of the guest. For guests 21 or over who don’t drink alcohol, both the Plus Beverage Package and Premier Beverage Package include fountain sodas, the new Juice Bar, fresh juices, bottled water, specialty coffees & teas, frappes, milkshakes and Red Bull energy drinks, with pre-paid 18% service charge included for these items. In the event that you don’t want the Plus Beverage Package or Premier Beverage Package, no substitutions or discounts will be offered.
Q: How does a bartender or waiter know I have the Plus or Premier Beverage Package?
A: The ship systems recognize the package attached to a guest’s booking and notifies the crew at the time of each transaction.
Q: What items in Princess Premier can be shared across all guests in the stateroom, even if 3rd and 4th guests don’t have Princess Premier?
A: The following items can be shared across all guests in a single stateroom: Wi-Fi for 4 devices per Princess Premier guest, two specialty dining meals per Princess Premier guest, the digital photo portion of the Photo Package, reserved theater seating, and Medallion devices accessories. The meals shared with the 3rd and 4th guests will be counted towards the total four specialty dining meals included for the 1st and 2nd guests in Princess Premier. Beverage packages cannot be shared with guests who have not purchased a package.
And with that…
Class Dismissed!
Homework (10 points): Share your questions and thoughts on these Princess packages to the comments.
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