Last Updated on 12/27/25 by Rose Palmer
Princess has instituted new rules for their Plus and Premier fare packages that apply to sailings in 2026. I have updated this article accordingly.
One of the most common questions I see about a Princess cruise is which of the Princess cruises drinks packages or fare packages is the best. I have put together this guide to help cruisers (especially first-time Princess cruisers) make that decision. I keep this post updated with the most current information from Princess.
After numerous holidays on many different Princess cruise ships, I have figured out what works best for me. Which package is best is an individual decision that needs to be made once the many options are thoroughly evaluated.
How to determine which of the Princess Cruises’ drink packages and fare packages is best?
It gets a little confusing because Princess offers 3 different fare packages (Standard, Plus, and Premier) and 6 different drinks packages (Plus, Premier, Alcohol Free, Classic Soda, Stateroom Soda, and Stateroom Water).
The Plus fare package bundles the Plus drinks package along with WiFi, crew appreciation, and other items (more details below).
The Premier fare package bundles the Premier drinks package along with WiFi, crew appreciation, and more items than in the Plus package (more details below).
I discuss all these packages in a lot of detail in this post.
These are some of the questions I consider when I am trying to decide on a package:
- How long is my cruise?
- How many special drinks per day total will I consume (alcoholic, specialty coffees, mocktails, fresh squeezed juice, bottled water, sodas)?
- Do I need/want WiFi?
- Do I want to eat at one or more casual restaurants?
- Do I want to eat at one or more specialty restaurants?
- Will my cabin mate be using the package equally, especially the drinks portion?
- Do I want photos of my trip?
I do like having WiFi while on the ship (I like to work on this blog during sea days). I also like to try the casual restaurants. This is how I calculated the cost-benefit of a Princess Plus package for my Princess cruise (but not on the Sun or Star Princess):
So, for anyone who thinks they will have one or more drinks per day during their cruise, the Plus fare package might be a good option.
For me, though, I don’t have more than a handful of fancy drinks or specialty coffees per cruise, so a Princess package doesn’t always make financial sense. For longer cruises, I do like to preorder a few six packs of soda for my cabin for convenience.
Why choose a package?
Most of us usually need to strike a balance between everything we want to do on a cruise and what we can afford to do on a cruise.
Some cruisers want to know exactly what it will cost up front and don’t want to be surprised with extra charges at the end of a cruise. They want the freedom to order whatever they want without worrying about any additional costs at the end of the trip.
Others may not want to pay for items included in a package that they will not use and may prefer to pay as they go. It’s not a one-size-fits-all choice.
This is a review of what is currently included in each of the Princess packages. It’s important to remember that there are Princess fare packages and Princess drinks packages and that these are different entities.
As I stated above, the Princess fare packages are Standard, Plus, and Premier. It’s usually best to decide which fare package I want when booking the cruise, though I may also be able to add it after it is booked. Purchasing the Plus or Premier fare package once I am on board is more expensive.
Again, the Princess beverage packages are Plus, Premier, Alcohol Free, Classic Soda, Stateroom Soda, and Stateroom Bottled Water packages. (Note that there is no longer a package just for coffee.)
Standard Fare Package – no extra prepaid fees
This is the package that comes with the basic fare and does not include any prepaid alcoholic or mocktail drinks, sodas, specialty coffee, gratuities, or anything else prepaid.
Included beverages
The beverages available to everyone on board at all times include water, iced tea, lemonade, hot tea, and regular brewed coffee served in the main dining rooms and at the buffet.
I cannot drink a lot of alcohol (unfortunately, I have developed a mild allergy to alcohol), so I usually get the standard fare. If I want an occasional cocktail, mocktail, soda, wine, or beer, I just pay for it. Same for the occasional latte or cappuccino. I find this to be more cost-effective for me, especially for the long cruises that I enjoy.
I pack an insulated mug so I can get a cup of hot tea at the buffet and bring it down to my room (from Amazon). I also like to bring some of my own special teas, and this allows me to get a mug of hot water to make my personal favorites.
I also pack a large collapsible cup, which I fill up with water, iced tea, or lemonade at the buffet (from Amazon). I especially like this cup because it also comes with a silicone straw. Of course, any personal refillable water bottle works just as well.
Included dining
The standard fare also includes all meals in the main dining rooms and at the buffets on all the ships. The food at the International Cafe is also included, but not any of the specialty coffees/teas served there.
The ships also have other included dining venues around the pool decks (pizza by the slice, burger grill, ice cream). The table below shows which dining venues are included on all the current Princess ships.
Starting Sept. 1, 2024, Princess has instituted three types of dining experiences in their main dining rooms:
- One dining room has traditional dining with an early (usually 5:30) and late seating (usually 7:30) every evening (reservations required). Guests will have the same dedicated wait staff throughout the cruise.
- A second dining room offers flexible, reservable dining times that will allow changes in reservations as needed.
- A third dining room is available for walk-in anytime dining without reservations.
Guests can make dining reservations via the Princess app once the cruise is paid in full. Captains Circle Elite and Platinum members and guests with a Reserve Collection cabin or those staying in a full suite have early access to dining reservations.
With the standard package, WiFi is not included, and neither is the crew appreciation fee. I purchase WiFi once I am on board, and the daily crew appreciation is added to my folio each day. Any on-board credit that I have will be applied to these charges.
I can track my onboard charges via the Princess app. I have also been able to print out my folio at a kiosk by Guest Services using my medallion (not all ships have these kiosks). Or, Guest Services can also print out a copy of the folio throughout the cruise.
Crew Appreciation
Crew appreciation fees vary depending on the cabin type: interior, ocean view, and balcony are $17/per person per day, mini suite and reserve collection are $18/per person per day, and suites are $19/per person per day. These fees are added to my folio automatically once I am on board the ship.
Additional service charges
Also, with the standard fare, an additional 18% service fee is added for specialty dining, specialty food items, drink packages, drinks, corkage fee, private group functions, photos, and spa services that I purchase on board or before the cruise.
WiFi
WiFi starts at $25 per day, and is half price for Platinum and Elite loyalty members. WiFi can be purchased as a package for 1 device or 4 devices for the length of the cruise or just for one day as needed.
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- WiFi price for 1 device purchased for the length of the voyage is $25 per day.
- WiFi price for 1 device purchased for a single day is $30 per day.
- WiFi price for 4 devices purchased for the length of the voyage is $45 per day.
- WiFi price for 4 devices purchased for a single day is $55 per day.
I can pre-purchase my WiFi package via the app before the cruise, though I normally prefer to purchase it on board so that I can apply any onboard credit. I can often also find free WiFi in port.
Starting in August 2024, Princess started offering two tiers of MedallionNet WiFi service. MedallionNet Classic is the same Wifi service they have been providing. MedallionNet Max is an enhanced and higher-performing service that will only be available to guests with a Princess Premier fare package.
My experience with the MedallionNet classic WiFi has been fine for my needs. I have been able to work on this blog and take care of emails even in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Travel tip: I put my phone on airplane mode as soon as I board the ship to avoid expensive roaming charges while out at sea. In port, I can use my T-Mobile plan for cell and WiFi service.
Room service fees
If I want room service or order anything via the Ocean Now app, I choose to pay the $14.99 one time Ocean Now delivery fee. The fee for room service via the phone is $5 for each order placed over the phone, so I avoid doing that.
Ordering morning breakfast delivered to my cabin via the breakfast card is still free (as long as I remember to hang up the card outside my door before I go to bed at night).
Housekeeping items can also be ordered by phone or via the room steward without incurring a delivery fee.
Princess Plus Fare Package
$70 per person per day on the Sun and Star Princess
$75 per person per day if purchased on board the Sun and Star Princess on the first day of the cruise
$65 per person per day on all other ships
$70 per person per day for all other ships if purchased on board on the first day of the cruise
The Plus Fare Package includes the following per person:
- Daily crew appreciation
- WiFi for 1 device for the length of the cruise
- 15 drinks per day up to $15 each (includes cocktails, wine, beer, spirits, fountain soft drinks, zero alcohol mocktails)
- Unlimited specialty coffees and teas
- Up to 12 bottles of 500 mL bottled water per day
- 4 casual dining meals per guest for the length of the cruise
- No Ocean Now delivery charges for delivery anywhere on board the ship
- Unlimited room service with no delivery charges
Note that both guests in a cabin are required to purchase the same fare package. 3rd and 4th guests in the same cabin are not required to purchase the same fare package. The Plus Package needs to be purchased at least 4 days before the departure of the cruise.
The Plus Beverage Package
For those who only want to purchase a beverage package without any of the other add-ons, the Plus Beverage Package costs $76.70 per day including the service charge.
Per the Princess website, the Plus Beverage Package is described as follows:
“Effective January 14, 2026, the Plus Beverage Package includes beer, spirits, wine by the glass, alcohol and zero-alcohol cocktails up to $15 USD / $22 AUD. All non-alcoholic beverages, including fountain sodas, specialty coffees and teas, frappes at Coffee & Cones, sparkling or still bottled water (500ml or less) and Red Bull energy drinks are also included. The package includes the additional benefit of a 25% discount on the following excluded items: all bottles of wine, one-liter bottles of water and canned soda. The Plus Beverage Package may be used on Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays, excludes Celebration Key, all onboard food and beverage venues, and other onboard areas such as the theater or public spaces that offer beverage service. The Plus Beverage Package has a daily limit of 15 beverages over a 24-hour period (i.e. 6 a.m. to 6 a.m.) and includes all beverages mentioned above, excluding specialty coffees and teas, which do not count toward any daily beverage limit, and sparkling or still bottled water (500ml or less), which do not count toward the 15 beverage limit, but are separately limited to no more than 12 per day. ”
While I could buy the Plus Beverage package on its own, it makes more sense to get the bundled Plus Fare Package instead. The one time it might make sense to buy the beverage package is if one guest in a cabin wants to drink, but the other guest does not.
Other package elements:
The Plus Package also includes 4 casual dining restaurants. The newer Royal Class ships and the newest Sphere Class ships have more options when it comes to casual dining restaurants than the smaller, older ships, but they all offer at least 2 choices. The table below lists the casual restaurant options on all the current Princess ships.
Note that the Crab Shack is a pop-up dining option and is not included as casual dining (or specialty dining) in either the Plus or Premium fare package.
Princess Premier Fare Package
$105 per person per day on the Sun and Star Princess
$110 per person per day if purchased on board the Sun and Star Princess on the first day of the cruise
$100 per person per day on all other ships
$105 per person per day for all other ships if purchased on the first day of the cruise
The Princess Premier Package includes the following per person:
- Crew appreciation for each day of the cruise
- WiFi for up to 4 devices using MedallionNet Max
- Unlimited drinks up to $20 each (includes cocktails, wine, beer, spirits, fountain soft drinks, zero alcohol mocktails)
- Unlimited specialty coffees and teas
- Up to 12 bottles of 500 mL bottled water per day
- Unlimited casual dining per guest for the length of the cruise
- Unlimited specialty dining per guest
- $300 shore excursion credit per guest
- Photo package – unlimited digital images and 3 prints
- No Ocean Now delivery charges
- Unlimited room service with no delivery charges
- Reserved theater seating
The Premier Beverage Package:
For those who only want to purchase a beverage package without any of the other add-ons, the Premier Beverage Package costs $100.30 per day, including the service charge.
Per the Princess website, the Plus Beverage Package is described as follows:
“Effective January 14, 2026, the Premier Beverage Package includes an unlimited premium selection of beer, spirits, wine by the glass, alcohol and zero-alcohol cocktails up to a $20 USD / $30 AUD value each. All non-alcoholic beverages, including fountain sodas, specialty coffees and teas, frappes at Coffee & Cones, and Red Bull energy drinks are also included. In addition, up to 12 bottles of sparkling or still bottled water (500ml or less) are included per day. Bar service charges are included in this package. The package includes the additional benefit of a 25% discount on the following excluded items: all bottles of wine, one-liter bottles of water and canned soda. The Premier Beverage Package may be used on Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays, excludes Celebration Key, all onboard food and beverage venues, and other onboard areas such as the theater or public spaces that offer beverage service. If dining at a specialty dining venue, a large (one liter) bottle of still or sparkling water is covered by the package.”
Other package elements:
The Premier Package also includes unlimited dining at both the casual and the specialty restaurants. The table below lists the specialty restaurant options on all the current Princess ships.
When I sailed on the Star Princess, I had the Premier Package, and even though I don’t drink a lot of alcohol, I enjoyed eating at a different specialty restaurant every day.
Note that unlimited specialty dining does not include the Special Dining Experiences like the Chef’s Table, the 360, or Balcony Dining.
Special Rules for the Plus and Premier Fare packages
- The rates listed are all in US dollars. Rates in Australian dollars will be different (see Princess website).
- Prior to the cruise, the packages have to be pre purchased at least four days before boarding
- Princess Plus and Princess Premier are also available for purchase on board on embarkation day (and often the next day as well), but will cost more.
- The Plus and Premier drinks packages are also available for purchase on the first full day of the cruise.
- Princess Plus and Princess Premier are not available for purchase as individual components.
- The package may be used on Half Moon Cay and Princess Cays, excludes Celebration Key, all onboard food and beverage venues, and other onboard areas such as the theater or public spaces that offer beverage service.
- If one person in a cabin purchases a plus or premium fare package, the second guest is required to also purchase the same package.
- Drinks cannot be shared with other guests.
- WiFi for 4 devices per guest, the digital photo portion of the Photo Package and reserved theater seating can be shared.
- The specialty dining credits are available only for the current voyage, are non-refundable if not used, and cannot be redeemed for cash.
- Physical prints and digital photos are not available after the cruise ends.
Other beverage packages are available
Not everyone wants or can drink alcohol, so Princess offers other drink packages as well. Underage guests will automatically be assigned the Zero Alcohol package.
I can order these other drink packages by logging into the My Account page on a desktop computer, then going to Manage my Booking, and then going to the Food and Drink tab. Or I can also order through the Princess Cruises app for each specific booking.
Zero Alcohol Package
$35.39 per person per day (including the service charge)
With this package I get unlimited premium and specialty coffees and teas along with fountain sodas, hot chocolate, “zero-proof” mocktails, frappes, still and sparkling water, and Red Bull energy drinks.
Classic Soda Package
$17.69 per person per day
This package includes all fountain sodas, fruit juices (but not from the juice bar), mocktails, and smoothies. The package is $14.99 per day plus an 18% service charge, which brings it to $17.69.
As with the other packages, the package must be purchased for every day of the cruise and has to be purchased within 4 days of sailing. It can also be purchased on board on the first two days of a cruise. The package cannot be shared.
Stateroom canned soda package
$17.70 for 6 cans
I have used this package to pre-order Diet Coke and soda water for my stateroom. Once I was on board, I called room service to arrange for delivery.
Choices are cans of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Diet Sprite, orange soda, soda water, tonic water, or ginger ale.
Stateroom bottled water package
$24.00 for 12 (500 mL) bottles
As with the sodas, I can pre-order bottled water to be delivered to my room upon embarkation. I don’t normally do this, as I think the tap water on board is fine, and I do not want to unnecessarily add to the plastic water bottle pollution.
Bringing your own drinks on board the ship
Each guest is allowed to bring one 750 mL bottle of wine or champagne per voyage without a corkage fee, and it has to be consumed in the cabin (I can pour a glass of wine in the cabin and take the glass with me to dinner). I can bring additional bottles on board, which will be subject to a $20 per bottle corkage fee.
Some people I’ve spoken to prefer to bring their own wine and pay for the corkage fee because it ends up costing them less than paying for a bottle of wine on board the ship. This way, they also get to drink the wines that they know they like.
Other bottled drinks of any type are not allowed to be brought on boar
Each person is allowed to bring a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans or cartons (up to 12 ounces each) of non-alcoholic drinks (i.e., sparkling water, sodas, juice, milk). It has to be carried in hand luggage on embarkation day and should not be put in the checked luggage.
The benefits of Captain’s Circle Elite levels
Captain’s Circle Elite level members get a complimentary minibar set up once per cruise or per cruise segment if doing back-to-back cruises. The mini bar comes with a mix of sodas and alcohol. It may be possible to exchange unwanted minibar items for preferred items – I talk to my room steward to make the exchange.
Elite members can also order in-room afternoon tea to be delivered to the stateroom, as well as other goodies on formal nights.
There is a cocktail hour for Platinum and Elite members every afternoon that offers nice nibbles and discounted drinks. Once per cruise, there is also the Captain’s Circle presentation for Platinum and Elite members with complimentary drinks.
For each cruise I book, I think about what I will be doing on the cruise and evaluate which fare package and which drinks package will work best.
If it’s a shorter cruise with a lot of port days, I won’t have time for a lot of drinks on board. If it’s a longer cruise with a lot of sea days, I may be more likely to drink more cappuccinos, mocktails, and sodas. Each cruise is different.
Every cruiser will need to make their own choice on which of the Princess Fare Packages or Princess cruises drink packages works best for them. I hope this guide provides the information to make the best-informed decision for an enjoyable cruise.
Other Princess cruising stories:
Discovery Princess Review: Discovering New Horizons With Princess – A Complete Discovery Princess Review With Photos
Majestic Princess review: My Most Memorable Princess Cruise – A Complete Majestic Princess Review With Photos
Regal Princess Review: Cruising Like A Princess – A Complete Regal Princess Review With Photos
Ruby Princess review: Living Like Royalty On A Princess Cruise – A Ruby Princess Review With Photos
Sapphire Princess review: Finding My Blue Heaven on a Princess Cruise – A Detailed Sapphire Princess Review with Photos
Sky Princess review: Cruising Sky HIgh with Princess – A Complete Sky Princess Review with Photos
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
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