There’s nothing worse than being hit with an unexpectedly sizable bill on the last day of your sailing. It’s important to budget for extras like drinks, Wi-Fi and crew gratuities — the drinks especially can really add up and surprise even the most seasoned cruisers.
That’s why Princess Cruises offers a variety of drink packages. You can pay up front to avoid nasty surprises later. The options range from nonalcoholic and soda packages to inclusive plans that bundle together additional services for more comprehensive savings. But are you really saving money versus purchasing your soft drinks and cocktails a la carte?
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Let’s dive into the four options, corresponding costs and what’s included so you can determine if a Princess Cruises drink package or all-inclusive bundle is worth booking.
What are the various Princess Cruises drink packages? PRINCESS CRUISES
Princess Cruises offers four drink packages, including a couple of nonalcoholic drink plans. Each is designed to help you save money and not worry about the price of individual drink orders throughout your cruise.
However, it’s important to note that Princess does things a bit unconventionally for the industry: There is no option to buy a stand-alone alcoholic drink package. If you want an inclusive alcohol package, you’ll have to pay for the all-inclusive package that includes drinks alongside Wi-Fi, prepaid gratuities and access to such additional perks as specialty dining, fitness classes and free room service delivery.
Each package is available for purchase on board during the first two days of the sailing or pre-cruise through the Cruise Personalizer booking platform. (Packages are not available for pre-purchase within three days of sailing — if you’ve waited that long to decide, you’ll need to make the purchase on board.)
Packages must be purchased for every day a passenger is sailing (you can’t pick and choose days), they may not be shared and they are nontransferable and nonrefundable.
Zero-Alcohol Package
Love indulging in specialty coffees and teas, fizzy sodas, fresh juices and smoothies, cozy hot chocolate, zero-proof mocktails, bottled water and Red Bull energy drinks? Then the Zero-Alcohol Package (previously known as the Coffee & Soda Package) is primed to please your palate. This package is also a great way to get your fill of sparkling and still water bottles, which can be handy for pouring into your reusable bottle and taking ashore on excursions.
There is no age restriction for this package, and it may be used on Princess’ private islands and at all onboard dining venues, bars and public spaces with beverage service.
Classic Soda Package
For those with a serious fountain or canned soda habit who don’t dabble in fancy coffees or crave bottled water, the Classic Soda Package delivers much-needed refreshment. Beyond the unlimited sodas, this package includes canned fruit juices (excluding the fresh juice bar), mocktails and smoothies.
As with the Zero Alcohol Package, this package has no age restrictions, and it may be used on Princess’ private islands or anywhere on board that offers beverage service.
Princess Plus Package PRINCESS CRUISES
Princess’ entry-level bundled drink package offers guests a savings of 54% (based on a seven-night cruise) on several of the cruise line’s extra-fee offerings.
First, let’s look at the drinks included with Princess Plus: all the nonalcoholic beverages included in the Zero-Alcohol Package, plus cocktails, spirits, wine and beer up to $15 each. (Items selected beyond this price will be charged only the difference in price.) Interested in purchasing a bottle of wine? You’ll get 25% off as part of your package perks, and this discount also applies to one-liter bottles of water.
Age restrictions do apply to this package, and exclusions to this package include minibar items, souvenir glassware and bottles of spirits or wine.
Now, let’s examine what else comes with the Princess Plus Package because the beverages are just the beginning:
Wi-Fi: You get internet access, including streaming and video chat, on a single device.
Crew gratuities: The Plus Package includes pre-paid gratuities (which the line calls “crew appreciation”), saving you $16 to $18 per day (depending on cabin type).
Premium desserts: Indulge your sweet tooth twice a day with complimentary desserts from the Gelateria, Swirls or Coffee & Cones.
Unlimited juice bar: Choose from four juice blends and two power shots (ginger and turmeric), including antioxidants (fruit only), cleansing (vegetables only), immunity (fruit and vegetable) and energy boost. Each juice is a 6-ounce serving.
Fitness classes: Work off those premium desserts with two complimentary fitness classes from Xponential during your sailing. Options include Pure Barre, Yoga Six and Stretch Lab.
Casual dining meals: Dine out twice at no extra charge at casual sit-down restaurants, such as Alfredo’s (pizza), Kai Sushi and pop-ups like Planks and Steamers.
OceanNow delivery and room service delivery: Craving a cocktail at the pool? A snack while you read in the library? Just order and it’ll be delivered to you, no matter where you are on the ship — including your room. (You’ll still pay the cost of the food, drink or OceanNow device; the line will waive the delivery fee.)
Princess Premier Package
Impressed with what you see in the Princess Plus Package but want even more? The Princess Premier Package offers guests savings of 66% off because of the extra value in bundling together even more perks.
When it comes to beverages, you’ll get all the same access as the Plus Package, but with this selection, drinks up to $20 are covered (instead of being capped at $15). The package also covers a one-liter bottle of still or sparkling water each time you dine at a specialty restaurant.
As with the Plus Package, guests who choose the Premier Package will receive 25% off bottles of wine and one-liter bottles of water. Age restrictions apply to this package, and exclusions to this package include minibar items, souvenir glassware and bottles of spirits or wine.
Similarly to the Plus Package, the Premier Package also includes:
Prepaid crew gratuities
Unlimited juice bar
OceanNow delivery and room service delivery
You’ll also get access to even more services and experiences (some upgraded, removing limitations), including:
Wi-Fi: You’ll have access on four devices, instead of just one.
Premium desserts: You can order unlimited complimentary desserts (versus two per day).
Fitness classes: You can sign up for unlimited fitness classes fee-free (versus two per sailing). Casual dining meals: You can enjoy unlimited casual dining meals for free (versus two per sailing).
Specialty dining meals: This package includes two meals during your cruise, at Crown Grill, Sabatini’s or one of the line’s other specialty restaurants.
Photo package: You’ll get unlimited digital images downloaded to your device plus three prints as a keepsake souvenir.
Princess Prizes: With the Premier Package, you’re automatically enrolled in Princess Prizes. This is your chance to win cruise prizes (a seven-night cruise for two in a balcony stateroom is awarded on every cruise to one lucky player), shopping gift certificates, exclusive onboard experiences and more.
Medallion accessory: The Princess Medallion is a quarter-sized wearable device that speeds up embarkation, unlocks your stateroom door and enables onboard payments. This package includes a free accessory, such as a clip, so that you always have it handy.
Reserved theater seating: No more rushing to the production shows after dinner because you’ll have reserved seating. Seats are held in special sections and are marked with special seat covers.
Related: The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises ships and itineraries
What do Princess Cruises drink packages cost? PRINCESS CRUISES
Each of Princess’ four drink packages has a price that scales with its value. Here’s what you can expect to pay per guest, per day:
Classic Soda Package: $14.99
Zero-Alcohol Package: $29.99
Princess Plus Package: $60
Princess Premier Package: $80
The prices listed above do not include an automatic 18% service charge per day for the Classic Soda and Zero-Alcohol packages, so factor that into your travel budget if you decide to purchase a package.
When calculating cost, it’s important to note that the first and second guests in a cabin must each book the same Plus or Premier Package; however, the third and fourth guests are not obligated to do so, which saves money for a family traveling with children.
With the Premier plan, Wi-Fi, specialty dining and the photo package are shareable, which allows a family of four with two parents to have their children’s devices on Wi-Fi, take home family photo keepsakes and enjoy one specialty dining experience with their entire family.
One final point worth mentioning: The Plus and Premier plans aren’t unlimited when it comes to alcohol. There’s a limit of 15 alcoholic beverages over a 24-hour period, which runs from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Related: 7 extra-charge items on cruise ships that are worth the cost (and 7 that aren’t)
When’s the best time to buy Princess drink packages?
There’s no time like the present to purchase your drink package, so if you’re positive you’ll want it, feel free to select that option when booking your cruise — or any time prior to three days before your sailing.
Once on board, time is of the essence when it comes to purchasing a Princess drink package, as these bundled offers are only available for purchase on the first two days of your cruise (the day you embark and the next day of the voyage only). After that cutoff, it will be too late to take advantage of these packages.
Another reason to plan ahead? Both the Plus and Premier packages are capacity controlled and, if sold out, might not be available for all cabin categories at the time of booking.
You can either sign up during your first two days on board (you will see various crew members promoting the packages or you can upgrade directly through the cruise line’s app) or you can add these packages onto your booking ahead of the cruise by logging into your Cruise Personalizer. If you prebook a package, it is nonrefundable within three days of sailing.
Related: Which cruise ship activities should you book ahead of time?
What drinks are you allowed to bring on board? PRINCESS CRUISES
If you don’t want to purchase a plan, you might think you can BYOB in order to save money on drinks when you cruise. You have a few options, but they are limited.
For instance, if you were planning to bring your own soda, sparkling water or juices on board, you can do so on embarkation day if carried in your hand luggage (not checked). You are limited to a maximum of 12 sealed cans (not bottles) of 12 ounces each or less per person. Guests will be asked to discard open beverages in plastic containers prior to boarding (so don’t show up with a Big Gulp in hand).
If you wish to bring alcohol on board, Princess allows one bottle of wine or champagne (750mL in volume or less) per guest of legal drinking age, which must be presented to security during embarkation. A $20 corkage fee applies if guests wish to consume said bottle in the ship’s public areas. (It’s free to enjoy in your cabin).
Also, a $20 corkage fee also applies to each additional bottle beyond the one-bottle-per-guest-per-voyage allowance. How many bottles you can bring in total is unknown; the fine print simply says, “Limitations apply, and wine brought in quantities deemed to be excessive by the vessel or security will be refused.”
Finally, passengers agree to surrender alcoholic beverages that are purchased duty-free from the vessel’s gift shop or at ports of call. They’ll be delivered to your cabin prior to disembarking the voyage. (Be sure to account for those in your checked luggage on the way home.)
Related: Can I bring alcohol on a cruise ship? A line-by-line guide
Are Princess drink packages worth the money? PRINCESS CRUISES
You’ll need to do a bit of math to figure out if the drink packages are worth the price.
If you’re considering the Classic Soda or Zero Alcohol packages, start by calculating how many sodas, specialty coffees, juices, smoothies and mocktails you think you’ll drink on a daily basis. Then do the math: sodas typically cost $2.50 each, specialty coffees and teas $3-$4, juices $8 and smoothies $10. If it’s just two or three drinks each day, these plans likely won’t be worth it.
But if you drink at least six sodas each day, or several sodas and a mocktail or smoothie, the Classic Soda Package starts to make sense. Or, if you plan to start your day with a vanilla latte or energy drink, enjoy a few sodas with your meals and by the pool, hit the juice bar after the gym, and partake in a pre-dinner mocktail, then purchasing the Zero Alcohol Package could be the way to go. Just remember that you’ll need to keep up the same drinking pace on port days as you do on sea days to break even.
For the Plus and Premier packages, there’s a lot more to calculate, but the value of each is a no-brainer before you even get down to the nitty gritty numbers of each individual perk.
With the Plus Package, if you assume that most cocktails are $10-$15 each, beers are about $7 apiece and glasses of wine are $10-$20 each, it’s easy to spend $30 or more a day if you plan to have one beer by the pool, a glass of wine at dinner and a post-dinner nightcap. Once you add in the prepaid crew appreciation (a minimum of $16 per day), and Wi-Fi for one device (14.99 per day), you’re already paying $61 per day a la carte — yet the cost of this package is only $60 per day.
Related: 8 best drinks to order with a cruise ship beverage package (and 3 to avoid)
Without adding in the value of premium desserts, fitness classes, the unlimited juice bar, two casual dining meals ($14.99 each) and room service and OceanNow delivery, you’ve already come out ahead.
The value continues with the Premier Package. Let’s assume the same $30 per day on alcohol and $16 on crew appreciation, but now you have access to up to four devices on Wi-Fi ($40), bringing your total to $86 per day a la carte — yet this package only costs $80 per day. Add in the value of two specialty dining meals (starting at $35 per person), unlimited digital photos and three prints, unlimited premium desserts and fitness classes, unlimited juice bar and casual dining meals and Ocean Now and room service delivery, and you’ve found a great package deal.
It’s important to note that both guests sharing a cabin must purchase the same bundled package (Plus or Premier). Be sure to double that price in your calculations if you’re traveling as a couple, or discuss with your travel companion prior to the trip to ensure you’re on the same page about purchasing a package.
Bottom line: Is a Princess Cruises drink package right for you? PRINCESS CRUISE LINE
Now that you have all the facts and figures, take a look at your everyday lifestyle when it comes to beverage consumption — do you already have a Starbucks addiction or a four-soda-a-day habit, enjoy a glass or two of wine with dinner and seek out juices and smoothies when you’re feeling a bit low-energy? Your routines aren’t likely to trend downwards on a cruise. In fact, you’ll probably indulge a bit more since you’re on vacation and have easy access to plenty of options.
Unless you believe you’re going to be satisfied with the basic beverages included in the cruise fare — tap water, drip coffee, hot and iced tea, milk, lemonade and juice from a dispenser at breakfast — you will end up spending some amount of money on extra beverages. If you don’t enjoy the feeling of being nickled and dimed every time you place an order, the Classic Soda and Zero Alcohol packages will lead to a stress-free vacation with no ugly surprises on the last day.
As for the Plus and Premier packages, you have no choice but to pay the crew appreciation (as you should!) and there’s little chance you’ll go without Wi-Fi on a cruise — so if you plan on having any beverages at all, especially ones containing alcohol, you’ll see massive savings with these packages — Princess claims 54% and 66% respectively off the retail value on a seven-night voyage.
The choice is yours, so choose the option that will best enhance your vacation and save you stress and money. Remember that the more you save, the more future cruise vacations you can afford to book.
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