Princess Plus costs $60 per person per day and bundles drinks, Wi-Fi, crew appreciation (gratuities), and a few extras — for most cruisers who drink 2+ alcoholic beverages a day, it pays for itself and then some.
Photo: Royal Caribbean International
Princess Plus sounds like a marketing gimmick until you actually do the math. For many cruisers, it quietly saves $40–$80 per person per day compared to buying each component separately — but only if you actually use what's in the package.
What Is Princess Plus, and What Does It Cost?
Princess Plus is Princess Cruises' mid-tier all-inclusive bundle, priced at $60 per person per day (as of 2025). It sits between the base fare (no extras) and Princess Premier, which runs $80 per person per day.
Here's exactly what Princess Plus includes:
- Plus Beverage Package — alcoholic drinks, specialty coffees, juices, sodas, and bottled water up to $15/drink
- MedallionNet Wi-Fi — one device per person
- Crew Appreciation (gratuities) — covers the standard daily service charge (~$18/person/day)
- Two casual dining meals per cruise (e.g., Alfredo's, O'Malleys)
- Fitness classes — two per cruise
- Premium desserts — two per cruise
Princess Premier at $80/day adds unlimited casual dining, OceanNow delivery, premium Wi-Fi (faster, multi-device), photo packages, and the Reserve Collection dining room tier.
| Package | Cost Per Person/Day | Drinks | Wi-Fi | Gratuities | Casual Dining |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (no package) | $0 upfront | À la carte | À la carte | ~$18/day add-on | À la carte |
| Princess Plus | $60/day | Included (up to $15/drink) | 1 device | Included | 2 meals/cruise |
| Princess Premier | $80/day | Included (up to $20/drink) | Multi-device, faster | Included | Unlimited |
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
What Drives the Value (or Kills It)
Gratuities alone are $16–$18/person/day on Princess. That means the moment you add Princess Plus, you're really only paying $42–$44/day for drinks, Wi-Fi, and dining perks — not $60.
Wi-Fi on Princess runs $24.99–$29.99/day if purchased separately, or around $15–$20/day if pre-purchased before sailing. With Plus, that's effectively included in your $42-ish remaining budget.
Once you back out gratuities and Wi-Fi, you're paying roughly $18–$27/day for the beverage package — which retails at $65–$75/person/day if bought standalone. That's where Plus becomes a no-brainer for drinkers.
The math breaks down if:
- You're a non-drinker or light drinker (1 drink/day or fewer)
- You don't need Wi-Fi at sea
- You planned to pre-pay gratuities and skip the drink package anyway
| Traveler Type | Separate Cost Estimate | Princess Plus Cost | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy drinker, needs Wi-Fi | ~$110–$125/day | $60/day | Buy Plus, save $50+/day |
| Moderate drinker (2–3 drinks/day), needs Wi-Fi | ~$90–$105/day | $60/day | Buy Plus, save $30–$45/day |
| Light drinker (1 drink/day), needs Wi-Fi | ~$60–$75/day | $60/day | Breakeven — marginal |
| Non-drinker, no Wi-Fi needed | ~$18/day (just gratuities) | $60/day | Skip it — overpaying |
Photo: Carnival Cruise Line
Practical Tips to Get the Most Out of Princess Plus
Book Plus before you board. Princess sometimes offers promotional pricing when Plus is bundled into the initial fare rather than added post-booking. Watch for sales that drop the effective per-day cost even lower.
Use the specialty coffee allowance every day. A Lavazza espresso drink at Good Spirits or the International Café runs $5–$7. Two of those per day adds up fast — all covered under Plus.
Don't ignore the casual dining meals. Two complimentary meals at Alfredo's Pizzeria or O'Malleys Tavern & Grill would cost $14–$20/person each if paid à la carte. Use them.
Maximize the $15/drink cap. Most cocktails, wines by the glass, and beers fall under the $15 limit. Premium wines and top-shelf spirits may exceed it — you pay the difference. Stick to the menu sweet spot and you'll rarely hit the cap.
Compare Premier carefully on longer sailings. On a 14-night cruise, the $20/day jump to Premier ($280/person extra) might be worth it if you'll use unlimited casual dining heavily. On a 7-night sailing, Plus almost always wins on value.
Consider skipping both on ultra-short sailings. On a 3–4 night Baja or Caribbean quick cruise, buying a few drinks à la carte and using the ship's free dining options might undercut Plus entirely.
Is Princess Premier Worth the Extra $20/Day?
Premier is the right call for a specific type of cruiser:
- Foodies who plan to eat specialty casual every single day (unlimited casual dining with Premier vs. just 2 meals with Plus)
- Families or couples who need multiple Wi-Fi devices simultaneously
- Photo buyers — the photo package alone can run $200–$400 if purchased separately
- Anyone who wants OceanNow delivery for drinks to any location on the ship
For everyone else, Plus is the sweet spot. Premier charges you for features many people use once or twice and then forget about.
| Feature | Princess Plus ($60/day) | Princess Premier ($80/day) |
|---|---|---|
| Beverages up to... | $15/drink | $20/drink |
| Wi-Fi | 1 device | Multi-device, faster |
| Casual dining | 2 meals/cruise | Unlimited |
| OceanNow delivery | ❌ | ✅ |
| Photo package | ❌ | ✅ |
| Fitness classes | 2/cruise | Unlimited |
| Crew appreciation | ✅ | ✅ |
Bottom line: Princess Plus pays for itself for any cruiser who drinks moderately, needs Wi-Fi, and was going to pay gratuities anyway — which is the vast majority of people. The only travelers who should skip it entirely are non-drinkers who don't need connectivity and are comfortable managing costs à la carte. Run your own numbers before you sail using CruiseMutiny to see exactly where you land.