⭐ Princess Plus vs Premier (2026): The Definitive NPLB Mega Hub
What’s actually included, what changed, and how to choose the right package for your Princess cruise.
If you’ve ever tried to compare Princess Plus and Princess Premier, you already know the problem: the internet is full of outdated charts. Premium desserts? Gone. Fitness classes? Gone. Princess Prizes? Gone. Medallion accessories? Also gone.
This guide is your 2026 authoritative hub — the real inclusions, the real differences, and the real value based on actual sailings, not recycled marketing copy.
I cruise Princess 4–5 times a year, and even I get confused sometimes. Packages change, ships vary, and perks quietly disappear. This post is my best‑faith effort, built from my own receipts, onboard experience, and real‑world testing. Please know: I tried. And I’ll keep updating this as Princess evolves.
If you’re planning a Princess cruise, you can explore all my guides — dining, ports, cabins, packages, and ship reviews — in the Princess Cruises Hub.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, I only recommend products and services I personally use and love. Thank you for supporting No Point Left Behind.
⭐ Quick Answer
Princess Plus = Best value for most cruisers
Princess Premier = Best for foodies, premium drinkers, and anyone who wants unlimited specialty dining + photos
If you want the deep dive, keep reading — this is the full breakdown.
⚓ Princess Plus (2026)
Princess Plus is the package most travelers book — and for good reason. It bundles the three things almost everyone uses: Wi‑Fi, drinks, and gratuities.
✔ What’s Included (Accurate 2026 List)
Drinks up to $15
Wi‑Fi (1 device)
Gratuities included
OceanNow delivery (no fee) If you’re new to OceanNow or wondering how it differs from Room Service, here’s my full OceanNow vs Room Service Guide — with real menus, screenshots, and what actually happened on our Sun Princess sailing.
Room service delivery fee waived. Standard guests still pay the delivery fee. If you want to see the full Room Service menu and how the fee works, here’s my Room Service Review.
Casual dining meals (varies by ship)
❌ What’s NOT Included Anymore
These perks were removed — but many blogs still list them.
Premium desserts
Fitness classes
Princess Prizes
Medallion accessories - if these are included, I have never seen them!
Photo package
💡 Who Plus Is Best For
Cocktail + coffee drinkers
Anyone who wants Wi‑Fi
Couples who want predictable pricing
Families who want to avoid surprise charges
Most cruisers on most itineraries
If you drink 2–3 cocktails/day or want Wi‑Fi, Plus pays for itself.
For the full Plus deep dive, see Princess Plus Guide.
🍽️ Princess Premier (2026)
Premier is the top‑tier package — and it’s built for foodies, premium drinkers, and anyone who wants the “everything included” feeling.
✔ What’s Included (Accurate 2026 List)
Everything in Plus, plus:
Drinks up to $20
Wi‑Fi for up to 4 devices
Unlimited specialty dining
Unlimited digital photos
OceanNow delivery
Room service delivery fee waived
❌ What’s NOT Included Anymore
These perks were removed — but still appear in outdated charts.
Premium desserts
Fitness classes
Princess Prizes
Medallion accessories
Reserved seating (only on select ships)
💡 Who Premier Is Best For
Foodies
Premium cocktail drinkers
Wi‑Fi‑heavy travelers
Groups or families
Anyone sailing Sun Princess or Star Princess
Travelers who want unlimited photos
For your real-world Premier experience, see Premier Trip Review.
If you’re packing for a Princess cruise, here are my favorite cruise essentials - the real items I pack cruise after cruise.
🍽️ The Real Premier Math (Per Person, Based on How I Actually Cruise)
Premier on Sun Princess and Star Princess is $105 per person per day, so here’s how I look at it based on my real habits:
Specialty dining with gratuity: $72/day
Wi‑Fi: $25/day
Gratuities: $18–$20/day
I’m already at $115–$117/day before I even think about drinks.
And on vacation? I don’t have “one glass of wine.” If I have a package, I go all in — bottled water, Coke Zero, nicer wines, and at least one margarita or Dirty Banana. That easily adds $40+ per day.
So my real daily value is $157–$159/day against a Premier cost of $105/day.
For me — especially when I’m cruising with my husband, and we’re doing specialty dining every night — Premier simply makes sense. It’s not about breaking even on one perk. It’s about the way we cruise: elevated dining, nicer drinks, Wi‑Fi, and not thinking about gratuities or delivery fees.
If you love Crown Grill, Catch by Rudi, Makoto Ocean, Umai Teppanyaki, or Love by Britto — Premier is the better deal every single time.
This is why my husband always chooses Premier: he loves the specialty dining, and Premier makes it unlimited.
💛 How Your Travel Companions Change the Package You Choose
One thing I’ve learned after dozens of Princess cruises is this: the “right” package isn’t just about the perks — it’s about who you’re traveling with and the vibe of the trip.
I cruise differently depending on whether I’m with my son, my best friend, my husband, or my parents. And that changes which package makes sense.
👦 When I’m traveling with my son
I often don’t get a package at all.
He doesn’t drink, we spend more time exploring ports, and our onboard days are usually low‑key. I’m not ordering cocktails by the pool or grabbing lattes every morning — so Plus doesn’t always make sense.
👯 When I’m traveling with friends
I almost always choose Plus.
We’re chatting over lattes, grabbing cocktails before dinner, sending photos back home, and using Wi‑Fi all day. Plus pays for itself instantly.
❤️ When I’m traveling with my husband
It’s Premier every single time.
He loves specialty dining, enjoys premium cocktails, and wants fast Wi‑Fi for multiple devices. And honestly? I want him to live his best life — he doesn’t cruise as often as I do.
👨👩👧 When I’m traveling with family
It depends.
Sometimes we all choose Plus. Sometimes only one person gets Premier. Sometimes we skip packages entirely and use my Lazy Girl Bar Hack.
Your travel companions shape your cruise habits — and your cruise habits shape which package is actually worth it.
🔍 Princess Plus vs Premier: The REAL Differences (2026)
Here’s the truth — the packages are simpler now.
The differences that actually matter:
Drink limit: $15 vs $20
Wi‑Fi devices: 1 vs 4
Specialty dining: none vs unlimited
Photos: none vs unlimited
OceanNow delivery: included in both
Room service delivery fee: waived in both
Everything else? Removed.
If you want to understand how OceanNow works (and why Plus/Premier make it better), here’s my OceanNow vs Room Service Guide.
🧭 Which Package Should You Choose?
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 unlimited photos
You’re sailing Sun Princess or Star Princess
Choose Standard if:
You don’t drink alcohol
You don’t need Wi‑Fi
You want the lowest possible fare
If you want to understand how delivery works with each package, here’s my OceanNow & Room Service Guide.
⭐ Related Resources
Everything you need to know about Princess packages & onboard experience:
🎉 Final Thoughts
Princess makes it easy to customize your cruise — but the packages can feel confusing because the perks have changed so much over the last few years.
The good news? Once you understand what’s actually included in 2026, choosing the right package 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.
And if you’re like me — cruising Princess 4–5 times a year and still occasionally confused — just know this guide is my best‑faith effort based on real experience. I’ll keep updating it as Princess evolves.
If you’re packing for your Princess cruise, here’s my full Lazy Girl Cruise Luggage set with all my favorite picks.
About the Author
Julie Davis is the travel advisor and creator behind NoPointLeftBehind.net, where she teaches cruisers and points‑and‑miles travelers how to explore the world for less — without sacrificing comfort. She cruises Princess 4–5 times a year and writes from real onboard experience, receipts, and testing, not recycled marketing copy. Her mission is simple: make travel easier, calmer, and more accessible for everyday travelers.
