Princess Cruises has a drink package that goes far beyond unlimited Rum Runners. I’ve been on 20+ cruises but I’m usually not a fan of drink packages because I don’t feel like I “drink my money’s worth.” Drink packages, which can run from $60-$100 per passenger, per day, include nearly unlimited alcohol and premium nonalcoholic beverages, like specialty coffees and smoothies. Princess Premier is different and I’m wholly impressed with the value. If you’re looking at booking a cruise with Princess, here are the benefits of the Princess Premier package broken down.
The writer was hosted by Princess Cruises.
Princess Offers Two Drink Packages
The Princess Plus package is more in line with a traditional cruise ship drink package. It’s a good deal and less expensive than Princess Premier – $65 per day versus $100* per day if purchased before your cruise – but the Princess Premier has many other perks, and that’s what makes it such an exceptional value.
*Approximate amounts; actual price may vary.
SheBuysTravel Tip: While you can buy this package on board Princess Cruises (better late than never) you’ll save money by getting it before your cruise.
What’s Included in the Princess Premier Package
Unlimited Drinks
- Unlimited drinks means unlimited drinks. Some drink packages limit you to 15 drinks per day, but Princess Premier is truly limitless. I know. Unlimited is a lot of drinks.
- Includes alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks up to $20, including coffee and tea.
- Up to 12 bottles of water per day.
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Premium Dining
- Unlimited casual and specialty dining meals – the dining on the ship not included in the price of a cruise, i.e., meals in the main dining room, buffet and quick service food on deck, such as hamburgers and pizza.
- Casual dining refers to extra dining options that do not require a reservation, varying by ship. We loved Gigi’s Discovery Princess.
- Specialty dining is sit-down restaurants with an upcharge, serving upscale dinner and requiring a reservation.
- Differentiating between casual and specialty on Princess Cruises can be confusing but in general, casual doesn’t require a reservation and is available at lunchtime. At any rate, it’s all covered by Princess Premier.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Make reservations for your specialty dining – spots fill up fast!
OceanNow Delivery
- OceanNow is Princess’s on-demand food and drink delivery service.
- Order from the Princess app and the delivery person will find you based on the location-enabled medallion that acts as your room key and digital access point.
- OceanNow is available to all passengers but Princess Premier waives the delivery fee.
Other Princess Premier Benefits
- Room service delivery
- WiFi – up to four devices
- Crew tips
- Professional photos
- Reserved seating section for theatrical shows
- Up to $300 shore excursion credit
Is Princess Premier Worth the Price?
- You’ll have to look at how you cruise. The biggest question is “Do you drink alcohol?” If you don’t, this may not be a stellar deal but take a look at the other benefits before deciding.
- For a seven-night cruise, expect to pay $1,400 for two people.
- Aside from the alcohol, the big draws for me were specialty dining, WiFi and photos.
- Specialty dining on Princess involves a $40-$50+ per person upcharge, which Princess Premier covers. Drinks range from $7 for a beer to $15+ for a specialty cocktail. Add it up.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Add up what you’re likely to spend and compare that to the cost of the package. If you enjoy having a few drinks and elevated meals, the savings probably swing in your favor.
Cons
- You might not be into everything offered. I didn’t order room service or use OceanNow, although there’s always a next time.
- Not all drinks are covered. While most drinks fall within the $20 or less range, there are a few exceptions. Bottles of wine or champagne also aren’t included.
- Harder to justify on shorter cruises. If you’re going to be exploring off the ship, you may not have enough time to use all of the Princess Premier amenities on board.
Would I Buy the Princess Premier Package Again?
- 100 percent yes. I had Princess Premier on my first Princess cruise and my husband and I have purchased it for our upcoming Princess cruise.
- The specialty dining was the big deciding factor for us. While we enjoyed the buffet and dining rooms, the Princess specialty restaurants have the kind of elevated meals we enjoy on vacation.
- Overall, I liked not having to mentally add up my onboard purchases and guess how much my bill at the end of the cruise was going to be.
More About Alaska Cruises on Princess
- My husband and I sailed on a seven-night Alaska cruise from Seattle with stops in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria BC.
- We enjoyed exploring the ports but our time on board viewing wildlife, glaciers and majestic landscapes was the highlight of our cruise.
- Princess has just released their 2027 lineup of Alaska sailings that includes a fleet of eight ships and 17 destinations, including four glacier viewing experiences and Glacier Bay National Park.
- Princess Cruises also offers the opportunity to pair an Alaska cruise with a land adventure in custom-built wilderness lodges near Denali, Kenai Fjords and Wrangell-St. Elias National Parks.
- Early booking = best savings.
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