UPDATE: Information in this article is accurate for bookings made up until December 13, 2022. The price and inclusions in these packages changes for bookings made starting December 14, 2022 with sail dates of February 20, 2023 or later.
Is there value in paying more for a more inclusive fare? These fare options have become quite popular because they can save passengers money but they are not worth it for everyone. In this post, I'm going to share with the details of what the various fares include, a few important considerations, and end with a link to a calculator that can help you make the right decision.
What are the three fare options? Princess offers three fare options: (1) Princess Standard, (2) Princess Plus, and (3) Princess Premier. The chart below outlines which each fare includes. (Note, all prices throughout this blog post and the linked calculator are in US dollars. Additionally, the inclusions listed may be slightly different in certain markets such as Australia where gratuities are always included in the cruise fare.)
| Princess Standard | Princess Plus | Princess Premier |
Cruise Fare (dining, accommodations, entertainment) | Included | Included | Included |
Crew Appreciation (gratuities) | | Included | Included |
Internet | | 1 Device per person | 4 Devices per person |
Beverage Package | | Plus (Drinks up to $12*) | Premier (Drinks up to $18*) |
Specialty Dining | | | 2 Meals per person |
Photo Package | | | Unlimited + 3 Prints |
Princess Prizes | | | Included |
Cost (per person / per day) | | +$50 | +$75 |
*For any drink above the maximum price of the beverage package, only the difference plus 18% of the difference is charged. For example, a $13 drink ordered by someone with the Plus Beverage Package will be charged $1.18.
How are third and fourth passengers in the same cabin handled? By default, Princess Plus and Princess Premier are only added for the first two passengers in a cabin. If you would like the third and fourth passengers to receive the same benefits, you or your travel agent will need to call Princess.
That said, there are a few things within Princess Premier that can be shared with third and fourth passengers even if only the first and second passengers have opted in. The internet package can be shared as long as no more than 8 devices total are connected at the same time (4 devices for passenger one and 4 devices for passenger two). Additionally, the 4 total specialty dining meals (2 meals for passenger one and 2 meals for passenger two) can be shared. Finally, the photo package includes a digital download of the photos taken of all guests in a cabin, including 3rd and 4th passengers.
So will Princess Plus or Princess Premier be a value to you personally? I've created a calculator to help you estimate based on your cruising habits but before I send you there, I want to make a few last comments.
This calculator factors in everything except beverages so the total number at the end will give you the average amount you would need to spend on beverages on a daily basis to break even. Keep in mind how port intensive your itinerary is as you are likely to drink less on busy port days.
I have designed this calculator to give you a combined dollar amount for both passengers one and two because it is not uncommon for one person to drink a lot less than the other person. My husband drinks very little and is quite happy with the beverages included in the cruise fare so when I do this calculation for us, I take that into consideration and focus on whether I will drink enough to make up for what he will not drink.
Finally, having or not having a drink package can come with a value that is hard to put into dollars. For some, having the drink package gives them peace of mind that they will not have a big bill at the end. For those individuals as long as they come fairly close to breaking even, that peace of mind is worth getting the package.
On the flip side, for some not having a drink package encourages them to drink less (consume less calories, drink more responsibly, etc.). For those individuals, it may not be worth getting the bundled fare with the drink package even if they would come close to breaking even.
And now, the moment you have been waiting for, here is a link to the calculator.
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