🛳️ Princess Packages Explained (2026)

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Standard vs Plus vs Premier — What’s Actually Included & Which One Is Worth It?

If you’re booking a Princess cruise in 2026, you’ve probably noticed there are three different fare types: Standard, Plus, and Premier. And while Princess does a decent job explaining them, the real question is:

Which package is actually worth it — and which one should you choose?

Here’s the full breakdown, written from real sailings, real receipts, and the exact math I use when choosing between Standard, Plus, and Premier.

Planning your first Princess cruise? Start with my full Princess Cruises Hub — it’s your one‑stop guide to ships, dining, packages, and everything new for 2026.

⭐ Quick Answer (for the skimmers)

• Standard is best if you don’t drink alcohol and don’t need Wi‑Fi.

• Plus is the best value for most travelers — Wi‑Fi, drinks, and gratuities are included.

• Premier is worth it if you want unlimited specialty dining, premium drinks, and multiple Wi‑Fi devices.

If you want the deeper breakdown (and the cost‑per‑day math), keep reading.

Cruise Essentials I Never Sail Without Whether you’re booking Standard, Plus, or Premier, these are the 10 things I pack for every Princess cruise — all tested on real sailings and linked below for easy shopping.

⚓ Princess Standard Package (Base Fare)

This is what you get when you book the lowest fare.

What’s Included

• Your cruise cabin

• All included dining (MDR, buffet, International Café, etc.)

• Entertainment

• Pools & lounges

• Kids clubs

• Fitness center

What’s Not Included

• Wi‑Fi

• Alcohol

• Specialty dining

• Gratuities

• Most coffee drinks

• Most mocktails

• Room service fee ($5 per order)

Who Standard Is Best For

• Travelers who don’t drink alcohol

• People who want a “no extras” cruise

• Anyone who plans to unplug and skip Wi‑Fi

• Budget travelers who prefer to pay à la carte

If you’re a light drinker and don’t need Wi‑Fi, Standard can save you money — but most people end up upgrading once onboard.

Curious what the Standard plan feels like in real life? Read our full experience here: Our Princess Standard Package Review— what worked, what didn’t, and how much we actually spent onboard.

🍹 Princess Plus Package (Best Value for Most Travelers)

This is the package I book the most often.

What’s Included

• 1‑device Wi‑Fi

• Drinks up to $15 (cocktails, mocktails, beer, wine, specialty coffee, soda)

• Gratuities included

• Free Ocean Now Delivery

• 4 casual dining meals (varies by ship)

Why Plus Is the Sweet Spot

If you drink 2–3 cocktails a day, enjoy lattes, or want Wi‑Fi, Plus pays for itself.

Who Plus Is Best For

• Most cruisers

• Anyone who wants Wi‑Fi

• Cocktail + coffee drinkers

• Couples who want predictable pricing

• Families who want to avoid surprise charges

👉 Want the full breakdown? Here’s my Princess Plus Package Guide.

🍽️ Princess Premier Package (For Foodies + Wi‑Fi Users)

Premier is the top‑tier package — and it’s loaded.

What’s Included

Everything in Plus, plus:

• 4‑device Wi‑Fi

• Premium drinks

• Unlimited specialty dining

• Photo package

• Reserved theater seating (on select ships)

Why Premier Is Worth It

If you plan to eat at Crown Grill, Catch by Rudi, Makoto Ocean,Umai Teppanyaki, or Love by Britto more than twice, Premier becomes a deal.

Who Premier Is Best For

• Foodies

• Wi‑Fi‑heavy travelers

• Groups who want premium cocktails

• Anyone sailing on Sun Princess or Star Princess (specialty dining is 🔥)

👉 Here’s my full Princess Premier Package Review.

💵 Cost‑Per‑Day Breakdown (Real Math)

These numbers are based on typical 2026 pricing.

If you buy everything à la carte:

• 2 cocktails/day = $30

• 1 latte = $6

• Gratuities = $16/day

• Wi‑Fi = $25/day

Total: $77/day (And that’s before mocktails, soda, or specialty dining.)

Princess Plus usually costs ~$60/day.

So if you drink 2 cocktails + 1 latte, Plus already saves money.

Premier is usually ~$80/day.

If you do specialty dining + premium drinks + photos, Premier wins easily.

🧭 Which Princess Package Should You Choose?

Choose Standard if…

• You don’t drink alcohol

• You don’t need Wi‑Fi

• You want the lowest possible fare

Choose Plus if…

• You drink 1–3 cocktails/day

• You want Wi‑Fi

• You want gratuities included

• You want predictable pricing

Choose Premier if…

• You love specialty dining

• You want premium cocktails

• You need multiple Wi‑Fi devices

• You want the photo package

🧳 Real Examples From My Cruises

When I choose Plus

On my friend cruises, I always choose Plus because I want:

• Wi‑Fi

• Lattes

• Cocktails

• Gratuities included

Plus saves me money every time.

When I choose Premier

On Sun Princess and Star Princess, I choose Premier because:

• The specialty dining is incredible

• I want premium cocktails

• I want multiple Wi‑Fi devices

• I love having the photo package

• Anytime I am traveling with my husband - he doesn’t cruise often so I want him to live his best life.

💳 Want to See the Cards I Use to Book Princess Cruises?

I keep all my personal referral links on one clean page:

👉 What’s In My Wallet (Not affiliate — just my personal referral links.)

❓ FAQs

Is Princess Plus worth it? Yes — if you drink 2–3 cocktails/day or want Wi‑Fi.

Is Premier worth it? Yes — if you want unlimited specialty dining or premium drinks.

Can I upgrade later? Yes — you can upgrade before sailing or once onboard. It does cost additional if you book on board.

Does Standard include coffee? Only basic drip coffee. Lattes and espresso drinks require Plus or Premier.

🎉 Final Thoughts

Princess makes it easy to customize your cruise — but the packages can feel confusing at first. The good news? Once you understand what’s included, choosing the right one becomes simple.

For most travelers, Plus is the sweet spot. For foodies and Wi‑Fi lovers, Premier is absolutely worth it. And if you’re a minimalist traveler, Standard works just fine.

Planning your Princess cruise? Don’t miss my Princess Dining Reservations Guideand Princess Lotus Spa Review— two of my most‑read Princess posts.

About the Author

Julie is the cruise‑obsessed creator behind No Point Left Behind — and Princess is her happy place. She’s sailed Princess more times than she can count, with four more Princess cruises already booked for 2026 and her first 2027 sailing on the calendar. She’s tried Standard, Plus, and Premier, eaten her way through the ships, and tested every perk so you don’t have to.

If you want honest, real‑world Princess comparisons from someone who actually sails the line, you’re in the right spot.