Have you booked a cruise with Princess Cruises and aren’t sure whether or not to purchase a beverage package? This is probably the most common question most people have when planning a cruise vacation.
While Princess Cruises beverage packages can be of great value to some while cruising, for others they may not be worth the money. It is really a very personal decision, based on what you plan to do while onboard, and ultimately, what kind of a drinker you are.
Princess Cruises offers a number of different beverage packages, as well as a couple of more all-inclusive packages that you should definitely be aware of when planning your Princess Cruise. So if you are trying to make a decision on what package is best-suited to you for your upcoming cruise, you have come to the right place! This guide has everything you need to know about Princess Cruises Beverage Packages for 2023.
Table of Contents
Plus Beverage Package
The Plus Beverage Package covers drinks up to $15 USD, including:
- cocktails
- wines by the glass
- beer
- specialty coffees & teas
- non-alcoholic beverages
In addition to the drinks above, you will also receive:
- 25% discount on all bottles of wine
- 25% discount on large bottles of water and cans of soda
Price as of August 2023: $64.99 USD plus 18% service charge per guest, per day (so a total of $76.70 USD per day) for all itineraries except Australia. For Australian itineraries, it includes beverages priced up to $22 AUD and the cost is $110.00 AUD per day, which includes gratuities.
Premier Beverage Package
The Premier Beverage Package covers drinks up to $20 USD, including:
- Everything in the Plus Beverage package
- Top-shelf spirits
- Premier wines by the glass
- High-end crafted cocktails
- Private Woodford Reserve Bourbon Selection
- Personalized Jack Daniel’s Whiskey Barrel Select
Please note: This package has a daily limit of 15 alcoholic beverages per day (6am – 6am).
Price as of August 2023: $84.99 USD plus 18% service charge per guest, per day (so a total of $100.30 USD per day) for all itineraries, with the exception of Australia. Australian itineraries include beverages up to $30 AUD and the cost is $140.00 AUD per day, which includes gratuities.
Zero-Alcohol Drink Package
The zero-alcohol drink package is for those who would like to enjoy all the same type of beverages as in the alcoholic beverage packages, minus the alcohol. This package includes:
- Specialty coffee, teas and hot chocolate
- Fountain & canned sodas
- Juices & healthy smoothies
- small bottles of still or sparkling water (500ml)
- Mocktails
- Red Bull & energy drinks
- Milkshakes
Price as of August 2023: $29.99 USD plus 18% service charge per guest, per day (so, total of $35.39 USD per day) for all itineraries with the exception of Australia. The Australian package is $45 AUD per day, which includes gratuities.
Classic Soda Package
The Classic Soda Package is a much simpler and less expensive non-alcoholic beverage package. This packages includes:
- Fountain and canned sodas
- Juices (excluding juice bar), mocktails and smoothies
Price as of August 2023: $14.99 USD plus 18% service charge per guest, per day (total of $17.69 USD per day) for all itineraries, with the exception of Australia. The Australian package is $23 AUD per day, which includes gratuities.
Bottled Water Package
The Bottled Water Package is only available for pre-purchase and not available for sale onboard. It includes:
- 12 – 500ml bottles of water which will be delivered to guest’s stateroom prior to sailing
Price as of August 2023: $7.08 (Special Service Item #0480). Not available for purchase on ships operating in AUD currency (Australia/New Zealand).
Stateroom Canned Soda Package
The Stateroom Canned Soda Package includes the following:
- Any six sodas for the price of five
- Choices are Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, Diet Sprite, Orange Soda, Soda Water, Tonic Water, Ginger Ale
Price as of August 2023: $11.80 USD. Package is not offered on voyages sailing to or from Australia and New Zealand.
Princess Plus All-Inclusive Package
Now, for the all-inclusive package options.
The Princess Plus Package includes:
- Plus Beverage Package (drinks up to $15 each)
- Wi-Fi (1 device per guest)
- Crew Appreciation Fee
- 2 premium desserts per day (although nobody should eat one of these, let alone two a day)
- 2 Fitness classes per cruise (these will be especially necessary if you eat the premium desserts)
Also, for sailings as of August 2, 2023 it includes the following new additions:
- 2 casual dining meals per guest
- OceanNow delivery
- Room service delivery
Price as of August 2023: $60 USD per guest, per day ($65 AUD).
Please note: There is a limit of 15 alcoholic beverages per 24 hour period (6am to 6am), although if 15 alcoholic beverages isn’t enough for you in one day, purchasing a drink package may be the least of your worries.
In addition, all guests staying in the same cabin must purchase the same package, unless guests are underage in which case they must purchase the zero-proof package.
Princess Premier All-Inclusive Package
The Princess Premier Package includes:
- Premier Beverage Package (drinks up to $20 each)
- Wi-Fi (1 device per guest)
- Crew Appreciation Fee
- Unlimited premium desserts per day (because two per day isn’t enough?!)
- Unlimited Fitness classes per cruise (understandable considering all the desserts)
- Photo package
- Princess prizes
- 2 specialty dining meals per guest
- Medallion accessory
- Reserved theater seating for production shows
Also, for sailings as of August 2, 2023, the following new additions are included:
- Unlimited casual dining meals
- OceanNow delivery
- Room service delivery
Price as of August 2023: $80 USD per guest, per day ($95 AUD).
Please note: There is a limit of 15 alcoholic beverages per 24 hour period (6am to 6am).
In addition, all guests staying in the same cabin must purchase the same package, unless guests are underage in which case they must purchase the zero-proof package.
What Package Should You Buy?
So should you buy a Princess Cruises beverage package? Only you can make that decision based on your personal drinking habits and how you plan to spend your time on your cruise. Also, it is important to keep your cruise itinerary in mind when making your decision, as if you will be spending most of your time in ports of call you may not have a lot of time to relax with drinks onboard.
If you are considering purchasing either the Plus or Premier Beverage Package, you should definitely purchase the comparable all-inclusive package instead. The Princess Plus Package will save you $16.70 USD per person, per day, while the Princess Premier Package will save you $20.30 per person, per day.
In addition to the savings, you will also get a lot of extras that don’t come with the beverage packages alone, so these packages definitely provide the most value for the money.
Finally, having paid all of your fees upfront is a bonus as it allows you to relax and enjoy yourself (and whatever beverages you choose) without having to worry about getting a bill at the end of your vacation.
