Princess Plus and Premier Packages: Are They Worth the Extra Cost?
When planning a cruise with Princess Cruise Line, you’re likely to come across their enticing Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages. These all-inclusive options promise to elevate your cruise experience with various perks and conveniences. But is the extra cost really worth it? Let’s dive into the details and help you decide if upgrading to one of these packages fits your travel style and budget.
What is Included in the Princess Packages?
Princess Standard Package
Included with your cruise fare, the standard package covers essential cruise amenities: luxurious staterooms, a variety of dining, world-class entertainment, and more. This package provides a great foundation for a fantastic cruise experience without any additional cost.
Princess Plus Package
For an additional $60 per day, the Princess Plus package bundles several perks:
- Wi-Fi: access to the MedallionNet Max for 1 device
- Beverages: drinks with a menu price of up to $15 each
- Crew Gratuities
- Casual Dining: 2 meals per sailing
- Premium Desserts: 2 desserts per day
- OceanNow and Room Service delivery
- Fitness Classes: 2 classes per sailing
Princess Premier Package
At $90 extra per day, the Premier package offers everything in the Plus package on an unlimited basis:
- Unlimited Wi-Fi: access to the MedallionNet Max for up to 4 devices
- Unlimited Beverages with a menu price of up to $20 each
- Unlimited Casual and Specialty Dining
- Unlimited Premium Desserts
- Unlimited Fitness Classes
- Unlimited Digital Photos and three 8” x 10” prints
The Premier Package also includes some exclusive perks, such as a unique medallion accessory, reserved theater seating, and the chance to win an assortment of Princess Prizes.
The True Value of the Princess Packages
To help you evaluate the value of these packages, let’s break down the costs and benefits:
Medallion Device
With the Plus and Premier packages, shipping for the Medallion device is free, saving you $10 if you choose to have it sent to your home. Having the Medallion early can save you time on embarkation day, which might be worth it if you dislike waiting in long lines.
Crew Gratuities
Standard gratuities start at $16 per day, so if you’re considering the Plus package, this perk gives 25% value of its daily cost. However, it is worth noting that crew appreciation is already included in the base fare of cruises in Australia and New Zealand. Princess does not adjust the cost of the packages, so guests on these cruises are not getting any added value out of a key package perk.
Wi-Fi
The Princess Plus and Premier packages give guests access to Princess’s prioritized internet service, MedallionNet Max. This level of WiFi is not available without a package. However, guests may purchase a MedallionNet Classic plan. A 1-device plan costs $24.95 per day and a 4-device plan is $44.95 per day. Discounts are available for booking in advance and for Platinum and Elite level guests. The WiFi plans come with a passcode that may be shared between devices. If you can manage with just one or two devices, you might save by purchasing Wi-Fi separately or opting for a discount if you book in advance.
OceanNow Delivery and Room Service
The Plus and Premier packages waive the $14.99 activation fee for OceanNow delivery, allowing you to order items to be delivered anywhere on the ship. While room service delivery fees are also waived, note that not all items are free; some specialty items have additional costs.
Beverage Packages
The standard Princess cruise fare includes non-bottled water, basic coffee, hot water for tea or instant hot chocolate, orange juice, lemonade, and iced tea. Other beverages may be ordered from restaurants or bars at an additional cost charged to your stateroom account.
With the Plus and Premier packages, guests may order beverages up to a set value at no additional charge. This includes all specialty coffees, teas, fresh squeezed juice, smoothies, and of course, alcoholic beverages. The Plus Package includes drinks with a menu price of up to $15. The Premier Package increases that limit to $20, which opens up the selection for a wider range of fine wines and champagnes. Depending on your drinking habits, this can be a substantial saving compared to paying a la carte prices.
It is worth noting that while non-alcoholic drinks are unlimited, alcoholic drinks are capped at 15 per 24 hour period. If you order a drink that exceeds your package allotment, you will be charged the difference plus an 18% gratuity. For instance, a Plus Package holder who orders a $20 glass of wine would be charged $5 plus a $0.90 gratuity.
Dining Options
Princess offers a wide range of dining options on their cruise ships. All ships have several complimentary venues, including the main dining restaurants, the buffet, and a poolside area offering pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, and soft-serve ice cream. Most Princess ships also have an International Cafe, which is open 24 hours.
For guests who wish for a more upscale experience, Princess offers both casual dining restaurants and specialty dining. These venues are available for an extra cost and vary by ship.
Casual Dining
Casual dining venues cost $14.99 plus gratuity per person for a prix fixe menu, although guests may also order individual items a la carte. The Plus package includes two free casual meals per sailing, and the Premier package offers unlimited access. Casual dining restaurants include Alfredo’s Pizzeria, O’Malley’s Irish Pub, Vines Wine Bar, and the Salty Dog GastroPub. These venues are often open for lunch as well as dinner.
Specialty Dining
The pricing at specialty dining restaurants starts at $39 plus gratuity. Unlimited specialty dining is included with the Premier Package, although guests are advised to make reservations early to ensure a table at their preferred time. If you prefer to eat at these specialty restaurants, this perk can justify the extra cost of the Premier Package.
Premium Deserts
While there are never a shortage of sweets available at the various dining venues, Princess has designed a handful of premium deserts that “take the cake”. These sugar-filled concoctions are served in a chocolate-glazed sundae glass. They start with some sort of cake on the bottom, are topped with a few scoops of gelato or ice cream, then are covered in syrup and sprinkles, and have a decorative cookie on top. Princess also offers giant slices of cake and, on some ships, scoops of gelato as premium desserts. These deserts cost $12 for a sundae, $4.50 for a giant slice of cake, and $2 per scoop of gelato. An 18% gratuity is added to all of these a la carte prices. The Princess Plus package includes two premium deserts per day – and for the Premier package, they’re unlimited.
Fitness Classes
Princess cruise ships all have a well-outfitted fitness center with plenty of treadmills, stairmasters, and weight-lifting machines. The fitness center is open for everyone and is included with the standard cruise package. For those cruisers who want to take their exercise routine to the next level, Princess Cruises has partnered with Xponential Fitness to provide 30-minute boutique fitness classes like Pure Barre, YogaSix, Stretch Lab, and Club Pilates. These special classes cost $30 apiece. Two free fitness classes are included with the Plus Package, and unlimited classes with the Premier Package.
Exlusive Premier Package Perks
Reserved Theater Seating
Princess Premier Package holders get access to reserved theater seating for production shows. There are a few caveats to this perk. First, guests must arrive at least fifteen minutes before the show to claim a seat. Second, the reserved seating is only for “Broadway-style shows with singers and dancers”. Seats are not reserved for comedians or one-man variety acts.
Photo Package
Princess Premier package holders get unlimited digital photos and three 8” x 10” prints each. Guests may purchase a photo package separately from the Premier Package. Options start at $99.
Princess Prizes
Exclusive to the Premier package, Princess Prizes offer chances to win various rewards, adding a fun and potentially valuable element to your cruise experience. Prizes include a bouquet of flowers, onboard credit between $25 to $250, and a free seven day cruise for two.
Are the Princess Plus and Premier packages worth it?
The decision to upgrade to the Princess Plus or Premier packages depends on your preferences and travel habits. If you frequently use Wi-Fi, enjoy premium beverages, and want to make the most of specialty dining, these packages could offer significant value. However, if you prefer to keep things simple and budget-friendly, the standard package still provides a fantastic cruise experience.
Consider your cruising style, the length of your trip, and what perks matter most to you. With all the details laid out, you’re better equipped to decide if the extra cost for these packages is worth it for your next Princess Cruise.
