Is Princess Premier Worth It? Full Cost and Value Breakdown

Princess Premier has evolved into one of the most all inclusive mainstream cruise add ons at sea, bundling drinks, Wi Fi, dining, gratuities and more into a single daily rate.

With Princess Cruises announcing fresh price hikes and new benefits for 2026 sailings, many travelers are asking whether Princess Premier still represents strong value or if Princess Plus or the base fare now make more financial sense.

This in depth guide walks through what Princess Premier includes today, what it costs, how it compares with Princess Plus and paying a la carte, and when it is genuinely worth it for your style of cruising.

What Exactly Is Princess Premier?

Princess Premier is Princess Cruises top tier add on package, designed to turn a standard cruise fare into an almost all inclusive experience. It builds on the mid tier Princess Plus package by including a more generous beverage plan, faster and broader Wi Fi access, unlimited specialty dining, a full photo package, reserved theater seating and now shore excursion credit on 2026 sailings and beyond. Instead of tracking separate charges for cocktails, coffee, tips and restaurants, you pay one fixed daily fee per person.

There are now two slightly different versions of Princess Premier to understand. One applies to cruises through the 2025 season, and a refreshed version with higher pricing and added shore excursion credit begins with voyages in 2026 that are sold from July 22, 2025 onward. The value equation is different depending on when and where you sail, so it is important to understand the current details that match your booking.

Current Pricing For Princess Premier

For most 2025 sailings, Princess Premier is priced at approximately 90 dollars per person per day when purchased before embarkation on non Sphere class ships, and around 105 dollars per person per day on the new Sphere class ships Sun Princess and Star Princess. That rate bundles a package of benefits that, when purchased individually, often totals 160 to 180 dollars per person per day for typical users.

Beginning with 2026 cruises sold from July 22, 2025 onward, Princess has announced a price increase. The pre cruise Princess Premier rate moves to 100 dollars per person per day on the main fleet, and 105 dollars per person per day on Sphere class ships. Travelers who wait to buy onboard within four days of sailing can expect to pay a premium over the pre cruise rate for both Premier and Plus, which further tilts the math toward purchasing early if you know you will use the inclusions.

Key Inclusions In Princess Premier (2025 Sailings)

On 2025 voyages, Princess Premier typically includes the following bundled benefits for each guest booked on the package:

• Premier Beverage Package covering alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks up to 20 dollars per serving
• Unlimited MedallionNet Wi Fi for up to four devices per person
• Daily crew appreciation (gratuities) across your stateroom
• Unlimited specialty dining at most onboard for fee restaurants
• Unlimited casual dining at venues that otherwise charge a cover
• Unlimited professional digital photo downloads plus three printed photos per person
• Reserved seating in the Princess Theater for production shows
• Waived delivery fees for OceanNow and room service orders
• Access to premium desserts, juice bar and fitness classes on older versions of the package on select sailings

The combination of an upper tier beverage package, Wi Fi across multiple devices, all gratuities and essentially dine anywhere flexibility is what gives Premier its reputation as a near all inclusive cruise product.

New Benefits And Changes For 2026 Sailings

For voyages in 2026 and beyond, sold on or after July 22, 2025, Princess has refreshed Premier with both enhancements and trims. The headline upgrade is the introduction of shore excursion credit layered into the package.

Under the new structure, guests receive a tiered excursion credit based on voyage length, generally around 100 dollars per person on 6 to 9 night cruises, around 200 dollars on 10 to 20 night itineraries and a larger credit on very long cruises.

At the same time, Princess has removed several lower usage perks that were bundled previously, such as complimentary premium desserts, dedicated juice bar access, included fitness classes, Medallion accessories and game entries in the Princess Prizes promotion.

In practice, many guests did not fully use these fringe benefits, while almost everyone makes use of drinks, Wi Fi, dining and gratuities. The line positions this as a refocusing of value rather than a pure cut, although whether that feels true depends on your habits.

Princess Premier vs Princess Plus vs Standard Fare

Before deciding if Princess Premier is worth it, you have to see how it stacks up against Princess Plus and a bare bones cruise fare with everything purchased a la carte. The best choice varies sharply depending on how much you drink, how often you dine in specialty venues, how many devices you connect to Wi Fi and how important photos and reserved seating are to you.

What Princess Plus Includes Today

Princess Plus is the mid level add on package that many casual cruisers gravitate toward. On 2025 sailings, and with updated benefits announced for 2026, Princess Plus generally includes:

• Plus Beverage Package covering drinks up to around 15 dollars
• Unlimited MedallionNet Wi Fi for one device per guest
• Daily crew appreciation (gratuities)
• Four casual dining meals per voyage on the updated 2026 version
• Waived OceanNow and room service delivery fees

The price point for Princess Plus is typically about 60 to 65 dollars per person per day before the 2026 changes, moving to roughly 65 dollars per day for 2026 sailings when purchased ahead, and slightly more onboard. It strips out premium desserts, fitness classes and juice bar access compared with some older iterations, but retains the essentials of drinks, Wi Fi, tips and basic extra dining.

Side By Side: Premier vs Plus

When you compare Premier and Plus, the structure is straightforward. Princess Premier includes everything that Plus does, then layers on a number of higher tier perks. The most important practical differences are:

• Drinks: Premier covers cocktails and other beverages priced up to 20 dollars; Plus stops at a lower price point, and you pay the difference for higher end choices.
• Wi Fi: Premier supports up to four devices per passenger, ideal for couples with multiple phones, tablets and laptops; Plus is limited to one device at a time.
• Dining: Premier includes unlimited access to most specialty restaurants plus unlimited casual dining venues; Plus does not include specialty dining and provides only a limited number of casual dining credits.
• Photos: Premier bundles unlimited digital photo downloads for each guest plus several printed shots; Plus offers no included photo package.
• Theater seating: Premier provides reserved seating for production shows; Plus guests queue with the general audience.
• Shore excursions: On 2026 voyages and beyond, Premier will include a tiered excursion credit; Plus does not.

The price gap between the two packages is usually about 35 dollars per person per day on non Sphere class ships and around 35 dollars on Sphere class vessels under the 2026 structure. The value question is whether those extra Premier benefits are worth that daily premium for how you actually cruise.

Standard Fare And A La Carte Pricing

Sailing on a standard Princess fare with no upgrade package leaves you paying individually for all beverages, Wi Fi, specialty dining, casual venues with a cover charge, crew appreciation, photos and many onboard services. Princess pricing fluctuates but typical a la carte rates include:

• Alcoholic cocktails and wine by the glass in the 10 to 16 dollar range before service charge
• Daily crew appreciation of roughly 17 to 19 dollars per guest depending on cabin type
• MedallionNet Wi Fi day passes often costing 15 to 25 dollars per device per day for unlimited use
• Specialty restaurants commonly priced around 39 to 45 dollars per person per meal
• Casual dining venues with a cover fee in the 15 to 20 dollar range
• Professional photo packages that can easily reach 150 dollars or more per cabin

For light drinkers who rarely buy specialty coffees, skip premium dining and do not care about Wi Fi, staying on a standard fare can make sense. But for anyone who expects to purchase several of these extras each day, the math typically moves in favor of Plus or Premier once you pass certain usage thresholds.

What Princess Premier Actually Costs You Per Day

The published price of Princess Premier is only the starting point. What matters for value is your effective net cost after subtracting the approximate price of benefits you would have bought anyway. You can think of it as a bundled discount structure where some elements, such as gratuities, are essential and others are only nice to have.

Breaking Down The Daily Value Of Inclusions

To get a realistic view of what you are paying for Princess Premier, it helps to estimate the normal a la carte daily cost of its core components. The following are typical ranges, which you should adjust based on your own habits:

• Crew appreciation: 17 to 19 dollars per day
• Wi Fi for up to four devices: 20 to 40 dollars per day if sold as individual passes
• Premier Beverage Package: Often priced around 85 to 90 dollars per person per day including service if purchased separately
• One specialty restaurant dinner every other night: Roughly 20 dollars per day averaged across the cruise
• Casual dining venue fees: 5 to 10 dollars per day if you visit several times per sailing
• Photo package: When averaged across a 7 night cruise, perhaps 15 to 25 dollars per day
• Shore excursion credit on 2026 sailings: About 15 to 30 dollars per day depending on voyage length and credit tier

Adding only the big ticket items a typical Premier guest might otherwise buy individually, it is not hard to reach a theoretical daily total well north of 150 dollars. Against a Premier rate of 90 to 100 dollars, that makes the package look attractive on paper.

But these figures assume you genuinely use the beverage package heavily, dine in specialty venues multiple times, download photos and connect several devices. If you do not, the real world value shrinks.

Understanding The Effective Premium Over Princess Plus

A more practical way to analyze Premier is to view it as an upgrade surcharge on top of Princess Plus. On many sailings, Princess Plus clocks in around 60 to 65 dollars per person per day, while Premier is 90 to 100 dollars. That means you are paying an extra 30 to 40 dollars daily for the incremental perks Premier offers beyond Plus.

Those incremental perks primarily include the higher drink ceiling, extra Wi Fi device capacity, unlimited specialty dining, unlimited casual dining instead of a limited number of meals, photos, reserved seating and now shore excursion credit. If you can reasonably assign at least 30 to 40 dollars of value to those additions per day, Premier can be justified. If not, Princess Plus is likely the smarter buy.

Sphere Class Pricing Nuances

On Sun Princess and Star Princess, the Sphere class ships, add on packages are slightly more expensive because of higher onboard demand and enhanced venues. The announced pre cruise Premier rate on these vessels for 2026 sailings is around 105 dollars per person per day, versus about 70 dollars for Princess Plus.

The key difference in this context is that Sphere class ships often feature an expanded range of dining and entertainment, meaning guests might be more tempted to use unlimited specialty options and photo packages to the fullest.

If you are sailing a Sphere class ship specifically for its new restaurants and entertainment, that can tilt your calculus toward Premier. If you mostly plan to enjoy the main dining room and a modest number of bar drinks, Plus or even base fare with selected add ons will likely be more efficient.

Who Gets The Most Value From Princess Premier?

Whether Princess Premier is worth the money depends heavily on your cruising style. Some travelers will easily unlock savings, while others may be paying for inclusions they barely notice. Think through how you normally behave on vacation to see if you match the target profile for Premier.

Heavy Beverage Consumers

If you enjoy several alcoholic drinks each day, along with specialty coffees, bottled water, sodas and mocktails, Premier quickly becomes compelling. The standalone Premier beverage package on many sailings costs close to what Premier itself does when you factor in gratuity.

If you were already prepared to buy a drink package, layering on Wi Fi, gratuities, dining and photos for a relatively modest additional cost turns Premier into a strong value proposition.

For moderate drinkers who might consume one or two alcoholic beverages per day plus some soft drinks and coffees, Princess Plus is usually enough. The higher per drink ceiling and removal of daily drink limits in Premier will not matter if you rarely bump against Plus thresholds. Drink less than that and neither package will be financially driven, making a la carte purchasing more sensible.

Food Focused Cruisers Who Love Specialty Dining

Princess Premier shines for travelers who treat the ship as a culinary playground. If you plan to dine at Crown Grill, Sabatinis, The Catch by Rudi or other alternative venues multiple times during a cruise, unlimited specialty dining unlocks excellent value.

With restaurant covers regularly approaching 40 to 45 dollars per person, visiting just three or four times can effectively cover a large part of your Premier upgrade cost over Plus.

Cruisers who are happy with the main dining room and buffet, or who might only splurge on one specialty dinner per sailing, will not see the same benefit. In those cases, paying for the occasional restaurant separately will cost less than upgrading everyone in the cabin to Premier for the entire cruise.

Digital Nomads And Connected Families

Premier’s four device Wi Fi allowance is a quiet but meaningful perk. For remote workers, content creators or families who juggle multiple phones, tablets and laptops, the ability to keep everything online without juggling log ins is a significant convenience.

Buying individual device plans can rival the daily cost difference between Plus and Premier, especially if more than one person needs to be connected at the same time.

If you only care about connecting a single phone occasionally to check emails or social media, the single device Wi Fi included with Princess Plus is usually sufficient. In that case, you should not lean on Premier purely for internet access.

Photo Lovers And Milestone Celebrations

The unlimited digital photo package baked into Premier adds meaningful value for guests on honeymoons, anniversaries, family reunions or multi generational trips. Professional photographers are a fixture throughout Princess ships, and a comprehensive photo bundle can easily run into triple digits if purchased for a cabin. With Premier, every guest on the package benefits from unrestricted digital downloads and a set of prints.

If you rarely stop for ship photographers or are content with smartphone snapshots, this inclusion will not move the needle for you. Consider honestly how many portraits or candid shots you will actually seek out before using Premier as a way to justify a photo spending spree.

When Princess Premier Might Not Be Worth It

It is just as important to know when to skip Princess Premier as when to say yes. In some scenarios, upgrading is more about peace of mind or indulgence than financial value, and it is helpful to recognize that explicitly before paying for something you will underuse.

Light Drinkers And Early To Bed Travelers

If you prefer a glass of wine at dinner and the occasional mocktail or soda during the day, you are unlikely to recover the cost of a high tier beverage package, let alone the full Premier bundle.

Princess bar menus are reasonably priced compared with some competitors, and paying per drink can be significantly cheaper than carrying a package you are determined to use solely to “get your money’s worth.”

Early risers who do not linger in lounges or attend late night shows also tend to drink less and spend less time in venues where package perks shine. In these cases, focus on Plus if you value gratuities and basic drinks, or remain on standard fare if your overall onboard spend is light.

Port Intensive Itineraries

Itineraries filled with long port days, overnight stays or extensive touring can drastically cut into the hours you spend on the ship. Mediterranean, Japan and some South America or Europe cruises fall into this category, where you are often ashore from morning until evening.

With limited time onboard to fully enjoy specialty restaurants, bars and entertainment, the math for Premier becomes less favorable.

In such cases, Princess Plus often hits a sweet spot, covering core needs like tips, Wi Fi and modest drinks without committing you to a top tier package you will barely use. Premier can still work for those who plan heavy evening usage, but you must be honest about how often you will choose the ship over evenings in port.

Short Cruises And Sampler Voyages

On very short sailings of three or four nights, the psychological pressure to squeeze value from a high priced package can be intense. You may find yourself over ordering drinks, booking extra photos or cramming in specialty dinners simply because you pre paid.

While Premier is available on many shorter voyages, the savings relative to Plus or base fare can be thinner once you spread photo and dining usage across just a few days.

Short cruises are often better suited to Princess Plus for those who want simplicity, or a targeted selection of a la carte add ons for travelers comfortable tracking their onboard spending in real time.

How To Calculate If Princess Premier Is Worth It For Your Cruise

Instead of relying on generalized advice or marketing claims of up to 70 percent savings, take 10 minutes to run your own personalized numbers. A simple worksheet can reveal whether Premier is a clear “yes,” a borderline decision or a package you can safely skip.

Step 1: Estimate Your Daily Consumption

Start by making conservative estimates of how many drinks you expect to order each day, including alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees, bottled water and sodas. Multiply by typical menu prices to get a rough daily drink spend.

Then estimate how often you will dine in specialty restaurants, how many casual venues with cover charges you plan to try, and whether you would likely buy a Wi Fi plan, photo package or both.

Be realistic rather than aspirational. If you rarely drink at home, do not suddenly assume you will develop a high tolerance onboard. If you are a foodie who loves trying multiple venues, lean into that. Your cruise style should drive the math, not the other way around.

Step 2: Compare A La Carte, Plus And Premier

Next, plug your estimated usage into three scenarios: standard fare with individual purchases, Princess Plus and Princess Premier. For each, total your expected daily spend:

• Standard fare: Add drinks, Wi Fi, tips, dining and any other extras
• Plus: Substitute the Plus daily rate for drinks, Wi Fi and tips, but keep a la carte pricing for anything Plus does not cover
• Premier: Substitute the Premier daily rate for all covered items, adding only extras outside the package

Once you have daily totals, multiply by your cruise length. The package that yields the lowest total cost for your realistic behavior is the financially optimal choice. If Premier costs slightly more but offers comfort and predictability you value, that small premium might still be worth it for you.

Step 3: Consider Intangibles And Risk Tolerance

Even if the numbers are close, there are intangible factors. Some travelers prize the feeling of an almost cashless, all inclusive vacation, where they are free to order what they want without mentally adding up each item.

Others enjoy the control and flexibility of paying only for what they use. Princess Premier leans strongly toward the first group, while standard fare appeals to the second.

Also consider your risk tolerance for price changes. Princess, like other lines, periodically adjusts onboard pricing for drinks, Wi Fi and services. A bundle like Premier can act as a hedge if you are concerned about rising a la carte costs in the future, though it is also subject to periodic price hikes of its own.

The Takeaway

Princess Premier can be an outstanding value for guests who drink freely, love specialty dining, use multiple devices, care about professional photos and want a nearly all inclusive feel.

With the addition of shore excursion credit on 2026 sailings, it becomes even more attractive for travelers who regularly book ship run tours. At its current price points, a typical heavy user can save significantly versus buying all those elements individually.

For light drinkers, port intensive itineraries or cruisers who are content with the main dining room and a modest internet presence, Princess Plus or even a carefully managed standard fare will generally be the smarter financial choice. The key is to avoid buying Premier aspirationally and instead anchor your decision in the way you actually travel.

Run your own numbers, weigh the soft benefits of a simplified experience and remember that both packages are optional. When matched to the right traveler and itinerary, Princess Premier more than earns its name. Used indiscriminately, it can quietly erode the very savings it promises.

FAQ

Q1. How much does Princess Premier cost per day right now?
For most 2025 sailings, Princess Premier is around 90 dollars per person per day on the main fleet and about 105 dollars on Sphere class ships when purchased before your cruise. For 2026 voyages sold from July 22, 2025 onward, the pre cruise rate rises to roughly 100 dollars per person per day on most ships and 105 dollars on Sun Princess and Star Princess.

Q2. Does Princess Premier include gratuities?
Yes. Daily crew appreciation is included in Princess Premier, so you do not see separate automatic gratuity charges on your onboard account for guests covered by the package. This can represent close to 20 dollars per person per day in value depending on your cabin category.

Q3. What is the difference between the Premier and Plus beverage packages?
The Premier beverage package, included with Princess Premier, covers a wider range of drinks at higher per glass prices than the Plus package and removes daily drink limits that previously applied to some plans. The Plus beverage package, bundled with Princess Plus, covers drinks up to a slightly lower price point and may require you to pay the difference if you order top shelf selections.

Q4. Does every guest in the cabin have to buy Princess Premier?
Princess generally requires that all adults in the same stateroom purchase the same add on package if one person takes it, to prevent sharing of drinks and other benefits. Exceptions may sometimes be made for guests who do not drink alcohol, but these must be arranged in advance and are not guaranteed.

Q5. Is Princess Premier worth it if I do not drink alcohol?
It can be, but the calculation changes. Without alcohol, the value must come from specialty dining, Wi Fi for multiple devices, gratuities, coffee and soft drinks, photos and reserved seating. Some non drinkers still find Premier worthwhile on longer voyages with heavy dining and photo usage, but many will be better served by Princess Plus or by buying selected extras a la carte.

Q6. What happens if I buy Princess Premier after boarding?
If you wait to purchase Princess Premier until you are onboard or within four days of sailing, Princess typically charges a higher onboard daily rate than the pre cruise price. The included benefits are the same, but your overall savings compared to buying components separately may be reduced, so it is usually wiser to decide before embarkation.

Q7. Does Princess Premier include shore excursion credit?
On 2026 sailings and beyond that are sold from July 22, 2025, Princess Premier includes a tiered shore excursion credit based on the length of your voyage. Shorter cruises receive a lower dollar amount and longer itineraries receive more substantial credit, which can be applied toward excursions booked through Princess.

Q8. Are specialty restaurants truly unlimited with Princess Premier?
On current iterations of the package, guests with Princess Premier can dine at most for fee specialty restaurants as often as they like without paying the usual cover charge, subject to availability and any specific venue limitations that may apply on a given ship. You still need to make reservations, and some very exclusive experiences or chef’s tables may not be fully covered.

Q9. Can I downgrade from Princess Premier to Princess Plus before my cruise?
In many cases you can change from Premier to Plus before final payment or within the modification window set by Princess or your travel advisor. After final payment or close to sailing, changes may be more restricted, and onboard downgrades are typically not allowed. Check the terms on your specific booking before assuming you can switch freely.

Q10. How do I decide quickly between Princess Plus and Princess Premier?
A quick rule of thumb is to choose Princess Premier if you plan to order several alcoholic drinks and specialty coffees daily, dine in specialty restaurants three or more times on a weeklong cruise, connect multiple devices and care about professional photos and reserved seating. If you mainly want basic drinks, Wi Fi for one device and gratuities covered, Princess Plus usually offers the best balance of value and simplicity.