A Mediterranean cruise on Princess is a fantastic first cruise choice — budget $200–$350/person/day all-in (cabin + gratuities + drinks + excursions), with Princess Plus the smartest starting package at roughly $60–$80/day extra per person covering drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Most first-time cruisers wildly underestimate what a Mediterranean cruise actually costs when you factor in everything beyond the cabin fare. The brochure price is just the beginning — gratuities, drinks, Wi-Fi, and shore excursions can easily double what you budgeted. Here's the honest breakdown so you don't get blindsided on your first sailing.
What a Princess Mediterranean Cruise Actually Costs All-In
Princess is one of the most popular lines for first-time Mediterranean cruisers, and for good reason — the ships are mid-to-large, the itineraries hit the classic ports (Rome, Athens, Santorini, Barcelona, Dubrovnik), and the onboard experience is polished without being overwhelming. But the total cost depends heavily on which fare bundle you choose.
| Cost Category | Budget (Base Fare Only) | Mid-Range (Princess Plus) | Splurge (Princess Premier) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabin fare (7-night, per person) | $700–$1,200 interior | $1,200–$1,800 balcony | $2,500–$4,500+ mini-suite |
| Gratuities (18–19/day) | $126–$133 added on top | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Drinks package | $76–$100/day if added | ✅ Included (Plus Beverage) | ✅ Included (Premier Beverage) |
| Wi-Fi (MedallionNet) | $15/day if added | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| Specialty dining (1–2 dinners) | $35–$50/person/cover | 2 meals included | Unlimited specialty dining |
| Shore excursions (7 ports) | $80–$200/person/port | $80–$200/person/port | $80–$200/person/port |
| Flights to/from Europe | $600–$1,400 roundtrip | $600–$1,400 roundtrip | $600–$1,400 roundtrip |
| Estimated 7-night total (per person) | $2,500–$4,000 | $3,200–$5,000 | $5,500–$9,000+ |
Cabin fares are per person based on double occupancy. Flights vary enormously — book early and separately.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
The Factors That Drive Your Real Cost Up
1. Princess Plus vs. Base Fare — This Is the Big Decision The Princess Plus bundle adds roughly $60–$80/person/day to your fare but includes MedallionNet Wi-Fi ($15/day value), the Plus Beverage Package ($76.69/day value with 20% service charge), crew gratuities ($18–$19/day), and two specialty dining meals. For almost every first-time cruiser, Princess Plus pays for itself before you finish day two. The math is simple: Wi-Fi + tips + 4–5 drinks/day already breaks even.
2. Princess's Non-Drinker Policy Is a Rare Win Unlike most cruise lines that force both adults in a cabin to buy the same package, Princess allows one non-drinker in a cabin to skip the beverage package. If one of you doesn't drink alcohol, this saves you $76+/day. That's meaningful money over 7–12 nights.
3. Shore Excursions Are the Biggest Wildcard The Mediterranean is port-intensive — a typical 7-night sailing hits 5–7 ports. If you book Princess-branded excursions for every port, budget $100–$200/person/port for guided tours. Over 6 ports, that's $600–$1,200/person just in excursions. Independent tours and local operators typically run 30–50% cheaper for the same experience.
4. Service Charges Stack Up at the Bar As of March 2026, Princess raised its service charge to 20% on bar purchases, specialty dining, spa, and salon. A $13.50 signature cocktail actually costs you $16.20 before you reach for your wallet. If you're buying drinks à la carte without a package, this adds up fast.
5. Flights to the Med Aren't Cheap Budget $600–$1,400 roundtrip per person from the US for economy flights to embarkation cities like Rome (Civitavecchia), Barcelona, or Athens. Book at least 3–4 months out. Consider flying in a day early — missing your ship because of a delayed flight is a first-cruiser disaster that happens more than you'd think.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Practical Tips to Manage Costs on Your First Mediterranean Cruise
Book Princess Plus, Not Base Fare For first-timers, the predictability alone is worth it. You won't be nickel-and-dimed at the bar or shocked by a gratuity line on your bill. The Plus bundle turns the onboard experience into something genuinely all-inclusive.
Do Your Homework on Shore Excursions Sites like Viator, GetYourGuide, and local tour operators in Santorini, Dubrovnik, and the Amalfi Coast offer excellent half-day tours for $40–$80/person vs. $120–$180 through Princess. The downside: if your ship is delayed, independent tours won't wait. For tender ports (Santorini is one), stick with ship excursions or go completely independent on foot.
Pre-Purchase Specialty Dining in the Cruise Planner If you skip Plus/Premier and want a Crown Grill steakhouse dinner ($39 cover) or Sabatini's Italian ($35 cover), book it in the Cruise Planner before sailing — prices are the same but you'll lock in the reservation and won't fight for tables on embarkation night.
Set a Daily Onboard Budget Even with Plus, you'll spend money on things not included: spa treatments, casino, premium cocktails above the package limit, gelato in port, and souvenirs. A realistic daily onboard budget beyond your package is $30–$60/person/day for a typical cruiser.
Consider a 10–12 Night Itinerary Over 7 Nights Counter-intuitively, longer Mediterranean sailings often have a lower per-night cabin cost, and you spend fewer nights at sea proportionally. A 10-night sailing from Rome to Barcelona that hits 8 ports gives you dramatically more value per dollar than a rushed 7-night.
Which Princess Ships and Itineraries Work Best for First-Timers
For Mediterranean first-timers on Princess, the Sun Princess (launched 2024) and Regal Princess are the go-to ships. Sun Princess is Princess's newest flagship, loaded with dining options and updated technology — ideal if you want a wow-factor first cruise. Regal Princess runs classic Western Med itineraries hitting Rome, Florence/Pisa, Cannes, Barcelona, and Gibraltar.
Western Mediterranean (Barcelona or Rome roundtrip) is the better choice for first-timers over Eastern Med — the port cities are more walkable independently, flights from the US are easier, and the iconic ports (Cinque Terre, Amalfi, Monaco) deliver maximum first-cruise impact.
Eastern Mediterranean (Athens-based, hitting Santorini, Mykonos, Ephesus, Dubrovnik) is equally spectacular but involves more logistics — ferries, tender ports, and longer transfer times in port. Save it for cruise #2 when you know what you're doing.
If you want to lock in pricing now, Princess sailings for 2025–2026 are bookable through the CruiseHub booking partner — worth comparing current fares before Princess adjusts pricing closer to sail date.
For a full breakdown of what every line charges for drinks, tips, Wi-Fi, and specialty dining before you commit to Princess, run the numbers through CruiseMutiny — it's built specifically to show you total cruise cost, not just the cabin price.