2024 Princess Cruises Drinks Packages and Fare Packages - Which One is Best?

Last Updated on 07/08/24 by Rose Palmer

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 drinks 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 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 cruises:

Princess cruise package calculations as of Jan 22, 2024

I don’t have more than a handful of fancy drinks or specialty coffees per cruise, so a Princess drinks package does not always make financial sense for me. For longer cruises, I do like to preorder a few six packs of soda for my cabin for the 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.

Morning cup of tea on the balcony of the Sky Princess in Norway

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.

One of the craft cocktails on the Discovery Princess

As I stated above, the Princess fare packages are Standard, Plus, and Premier. I can decide on which fare package I want when booking the cruise and then can upgrade if I choose and pay the difference.

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.

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.

The buffet drinks station on the Discovery Princess

Water dispenser in the buffet on the Discovery Princess

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, beer, or fresh squeezed juice 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 also 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 are the included dining venues on all the current Princess ships.

Classic Princess Love Boat dessert served in the main dining room

Starting Sept. 1, 2024, Princess is instituting three types of dining experiences in their main dining rooms:

One dining room will have traditional dining with an early and a late seating every evening (reservations recommended).
A second dining room will offer flexible, reservable dining times that will allow changes in reservations as needed.
A third dining room will be available for walk in any time 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 on board 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).

Crew Appreciation

Crew appreciation fees vary depending on the cabin type: interior, ocean view and balcony are $16/per person per day, mini suite and reserve collection are $17/per person per day, and suites are $18/per person per day.

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.

- 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.

Working on my website while enjoying a deink at Take 5 on the Majestic Princess

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 on board credit. I can often also find free WiFi in port.

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 TMobile plan for cell and WiFi.

Room service fees

Getting room service breakfast delivered to my cabin

If I want room service or order anything via the Ocean Now app I choose to pay the $14.99 one time fee. The fee for room service via the phone is $5 for each order so I avoid doing that. Ordering morning breakfast delivery 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).

Princess Plus Fare Package – $60 per person per day

The Plus Fare Package includes the following per person:

Crew appreciation
WiFi for 1 device
Plus beverage package
Unlimited juice bar
2 premium desserts per day
2 fitness classes per cruise
2 casual dining meals per guest
No Ocean Now delivery charges
No room service delivery charges

Frozen margarita at good Spirits — Frozen margarita at Good Spirits on the Sapphire Princess

The Plus beverage package includes:

Drinks up to a value of $15 per drink including cocktails, wine, beer, mocktails, fountain sodas, bottled water, specialty coffees, fresh juice and smoothies from the juice bar
A selection of 50 spirits, 25 different wines by the glass, 25 different beers, all specialty coffees and non alcoholic drinks
25% discount on bottles of wine, large bottles of water, and cans of soda

If for example I ordered a drink that costs $18, I would be charged the $3 difference.

Princess values the Plus beverage package at $65 plus 18% service charge, or $76.69 per person per day which would be equivalent to roughly 4 alcoholic drinks, a specialty coffee, and a soda each day.

While I could buy the Plus Beverage package on its own, it makes more sense to get the bundled Plus Fare package instead.

Some of the drink offerings at the Princess Live bar on the Majestic Princess

Other package elements:

Premium desserts are frozen treats that include ice cream, candies, toppings, a pastry or cookie, and alcohol if desired. (Not sure I could eat two of these every day).

One of the specialty desserts on the Majestic Princess

Fitness classes can be chosen from 3 types of classes: StretchLab, Pure Barre and YogaSix.

The Plus Package also includes 2 casual dining restaurants. The newer Royal class ships have more options when it comes to the 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 and the Gelateria are not included as casual dining in either the Plus or Premium fare package.

Princess Premier Fare Package – $80 per person per day

The Princess Premier Package includes the following per person:

Crew appreciation
WiFi for up to 4 devices
Premier beverage package
Unlimited juice bar
Unlimited premium desserts per day
Unlimited fitness classes per cruise
Photo package – unlimited digital and 3 prints
Princess prizes
2 specialty dining meals per guest
Unlimited casual dining meals
Reserved theater seating
No Ocean Now delivery charges
No room service delivery charges
a medallion accessory

Dessert and limoncello at Sbatini's Trattoria — Dessert and limoncello at Sabatini’s Trattoria on the Ruby Princess

The Premier beverage package includes:

Drinks up to a value of $20 per drink including cocktails, wine, beer, mocktails, fountain and canned sodas, 500 ml sparkling or still bottled water, specialty coffees, fresh juice and smoothies from the juice bar, Red Bull energy drinks
A selection of 75 spirits, 40+ different wines by the glass, 20+ high end cocktails
Premier wines by the glass
Private Woodford Reserve Bourbon Selection created exclusively for Princess
Personalized Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Single Barrel Select
25% discount on bottles of wine, 1 liter bottles of water

Princess values the Premier beverage package at $85 per person per day plus 18% service charge or $100.29. Again, I could buy just the Premier beverage package, but it is more logical to get the Premier fare package instead and get all the additional benefits.

The Premier Package also includes 2 specialty dining restaurants. The table below lists the specialty restaurant options on all the current Princess ships.

Special Rules for the Plus and Premier Fare packages

Fresh juice from the juice bar on the Discovery Princess

The rates I have listed are all in US dollars. Rates in Australian dollars will be different (see Princess website).
Limited to 15 alcoholic drinks per person per day (a day is the 24 hour period from 6 AM to 6 AM).
There are no limits to the number of other drinks like specialty coffees and juices consumed
Prior to the cruise, the packages have to be pre purchased at least four days prior to boarding
Princess Plus and Princess Premier are also available for purchase on board on embarkation day (and usually the next day as well).
Princess Plus and Princess Premier are not available for purchase as individual components

Some of the drink options at the Take 5 bar on the Majestic Princess

Partial / prorated packages or purchase for segments of a guest’s voyage are not accepted.
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. Free shipping for Medallion® devices can also be shared across all guests in the stateroom when shipped at once to the same address.
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.

Enjoying sushi and a beer at the Ocean Terrace restaurant on the Regal Princess — Enjoying sushi and a Japanese beer at the Ocean Terrace restaurant on the Regal Princess

Other beverage packages available

Not everyone wants or can drink alcohol, so Princess offers other drinks packages as well. I can order these packages through the Onboard Services tab on the My Account page on the Princess website (easier to do on my computer) for my booked cruise or also through the Princess Cruises app.

Zero Alcohol Package – $35.39 per person per day

With this package I get unlimited premium and specialty coffees and teas along with fountain and canned sodas, fresh juices and smoothies (from the juice bar), hot chocolate, “zero-proof” mocktails, 0.5L bottles of water, small bottles of sparkling water, energy drinks and milk shakes.

The package must be purchased for every day of the cruise and must be purchased within 3 days of sailing. It can also be purchased on board on the first two days of a cruise. Package cannot be shared.

Getting a freshly made fruit smoothie on the Majestic Princess — Getting a freshly made fruit smoothie

Classic Soda Package – $17.69 per person per day

This package includes all fountain and cans of 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 3 days of sailing. It can also be purchased on board on the first two days of a cruise. Package cannot be shared.

Stateroom canned soda package – $11.80 for 6 cans

I have used this to pre-order diet coke and soda water for my stateroom. Once on board I called room service to arrange for delivery.

Choices are six cans of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Diet Sprite, orange soda, soda water, tonic water, or ginger ale per order.

Enjoying a burger and a soda on my balcony

Stateroom bottled water package – $7.08 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.

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 subjected to a $20 per bottle corkage fee.

Toasting a beautiful sunset with a glass of wine

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 board. 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. Unwanted minibar items can be exchanged for preferred items.

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.

Celebrating my birthday with a special drink — Celebrating my birthday with a special mocktail on the Sapphire Princess

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 will be more likely to drink more cappuccinos, mocktails, and sodas. Every cruise is different.

Every cruiser will need to make their own choice on which of the 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.