On a Princess cruise, budget $100–$150/person/day in spending money if you're on a standard fare, or $50–$75/day if you're on Princess Plus (which covers gratuities, drinks, and Wi-Fi). Your actual number depends heavily on shore excursions, specialty dining, and how much you drink.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Most Princess cruisers dramatically underestimate their onboard spending — then get wallwhacked by a final bill that looks nothing like what they planned. Here's exactly what you're likely to spend, broken down by how you cruise.
How Much Spending Money You Actually Need on Princess
The answer splits sharply depending on whether you're on a standard fare, Princess Plus, or Princess Premier bundle. Plus and Premier include gratuities, drinks, and Wi-Fi — so your daily out-of-pocket drops dramatically.
Dave's take: Don't math the drink package like you're on vacation — math it like you're actually on a cruise. I track what people actually consume versus what they think they'll consume, and the gap is massive. Unless you're genuinely averaging 5-6 drinks daily (including port days when you're off the ship), you're throwing money at Princess that walks straight to their bottom line.
— Dave Giovacchini, Travel Mutiny
| Expense Category | Standard Fare | Princess Plus | Princess Premier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gratuities (standard cabin) | $18/person/day | Included | Included |
| Beverage Package | $64.99+/day (before 20% service charge) | Included | Included |
| MedallionNet Wi-Fi | $15/day (voyage rate) | Included | Included |
| Specialty Dining (Crown Grill) | ~$39/person/visit | Included | Included |
| Shore Excursions | $50–$200+/person/port | $50–$200+/person/port | $50–$200+/person/port |
| Spa / Casino / Shopping | $0–$100+/day | $0–$100+/day | $0–$100+/day |
| Daily Total (moderate) | $150–$250/person/day | $75–$120/person/day | $50–$100/person/day |
Note on the beverage package: Princess raised its service charge to 20% as of March 8, 2026. The Plus Beverage Package runs $64.99/person/day before that charge — roughly $78/person/day all-in at today's rate. Premier runs $84.99/day before the charge, approximately $102/day all-in. Check your Cruise Planner for your exact sailing price, as these are dynamic.
Photo: Celebrity Cruises
The Costs That Eat Your Budget
1. Gratuities — $18–$20/person/day if not on Plus/Premier Standard cabin guests pay $18/day. Mini-suite, Cabana, and Reserve Collection guests pay $19/day. Sanctuary Suite guests pay $20/day. On a 7-night cruise, that's $126–$140 per person before you buy a single cocktail. This is the #1 budget surprise for first-timers.
2. Drinks — $9–$16 per cocktail before the 20% service charge A well cocktail runs around $11.50 before gratuity. A premium cocktail hits $13–$16. Add 20% to every single drink. Five drinks a day — including a morning specialty coffee and afternoon beer — puts you at roughly $65–$85/day without a package. At that consumption level, the Plus package ($78/day all-in) starts looking like a bargain.
One important Princess policy worth knowing: If one person in your cabin is a non-drinker, they do NOT have to purchase the beverage package. Princess is one of the few lines with this exception. The non-drinker can still get the Plus bundle for Wi-Fi and gratuities at a reduced standalone rate.
3. Shore Excursions — the wildcard This is where budgets explode. Booking through Princess is convenient but expensive. In San Juan, most attractions take credit cards, but carry $50–$100 cash for tips, street food, and small vendors. In Philipsburg (Sint Maarten), budget $35–$50 for a self-guided day (beach entry is free, casual lunch $12–$18). Beach chair rentals run $15–$25/day. Organized excursions range from $25 for the Yoda Guy Museum to $300 for UTV rentals to $450 for private sightseeing. Taxis in Philipsburg are cash-only — don't get caught short.
4. Specialty Dining Crown Grill runs about $39/person cover charge. Sabatini's is around $35/person. Both are included in Princess Premier. On a 7-night cruise, two specialty dinners per couple on a standard fare adds $148–$156 to your bill.
5. Spa — the sneakiest add-on Lotus Spa treatments are not cheap, and that 20% service charge now applies here too. A single massage can run $150–$200 before the surcharge. If you're a spa person, set a hard budget before you board.
Photo: Celebrity Cruises
Practical Tips to Keep Spending Under Control
Check your onboard account daily. Billing errors happen — a misscanned drink, a duplicate charge, a shore excursion double-booked. Catch it early through the MedallionClass app or a kiosk. Don't wait until disembarkation morning when the guest services line is 40 people deep.
Do the math on Princess Plus before you book. If you're spending $18/day on gratuities + $78/day on drinks + $15/day on Wi-Fi on a standard fare, that's $111/person/day for things Plus covers. If Plus costs less than that as an add-on, it's a no-brainer. Check your Cruise Planner — the price varies by sailing.
Book excursions independently in port. Princess excursions carry a significant markup. In Sint Maarten, the same beach club experience available for $59–$150 through independent operators often costs more through the ship. The ship-guaranteed return policy only matters if your excursion causes you to miss sail-away — and independent local operators have strong incentive to get you back on time.
Set a casino budget and leave your card in the cabin. The casino accepts your Medallion card, which means it's frictionlessly easy to blow $300 before you realize it. Bring physical cash if you plan to gamble.
Platinum and Elite Captain's Circle members get 50% off Wi-Fi. If you're a returning Princess loyalist, factor that in before buying a bundle just for the Wi-Fi.
Recommended Spending Money by Trip Type
| Traveler Type | 7-Night Budget (per person) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Budget cruiser, Princess Plus fare | $400–$600 | Mostly free activities, 1–2 port excursions, no spa |
| Moderate spender, Princess Plus fare | $700–$1,000 | Mix of independent and ship excursions, 1 specialty dinner |
| Full-experience, Princess Premier fare | $800–$1,200 | Higher-end excursions, spa day, casino budget |
| Standard fare, big spender | $1,500–$2,500+ | Drinks à la carte, multiple specialty dinners, excursions every port |
The single biggest variable is always shore excursions. Two people doing a private tour in every port on a 7-night Caribbean itinerary can easily drop $1,500–$2,000 on excursions alone.
Before you sail, run your specific itinerary through CruiseMutiny to get a port-by-port spending estimate and see whether Princess Plus or Premier actually pencils out for your drinking and dining habits. The math is different for every sailing — and the tool does it in about 30 seconds.
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