Enjoy the Princess Drinks Package for a Memorable Celebration

Did you know that opting for a fixed beverage option can cut surprise charges at the end of your cruise by up to half for many UK travellers? That figure captures why so many choose certainty over tallying every glass.

This brief guide explains how fare bundles and stand‑alone options work today, so you board knowing where real value lies. Plus and Premier bundles now include crew appreciation, upgraded Wi‑Fi and dining perks, while the Plus beverage package caps alcoholic drinks at 15 per 24 hours and Premier removes that cap with a higher per‑drink limit.

Note the practical changes: new main dining formats began in September 2024 and MedallionNet Max arrived in August 2024. Remember an obligatory 18% service charge applies to drinks, packages and speciality dining, so factor that into the final price.

Use this short overview to decide whether to bundle for convenience or choose pay‑as‑you‑go, and to plan days on board and in port with confidence about what’s included on your ship.

Key Takeaways

• Bundling vs pay‑as‑you‑go: choose based on convenience and expected consumption.
• Plus vs Premier: Plus limits alcoholic items; Premier raises per‑drink value and removes the cap.
• New dining and Wi‑Fi rules from 2024 affect onboard experience.
• An 18% service charge increases the final price for most purchases.
• Packages help UK guests fix daily spend and reduce surprises at disembarkation.

Buyer’s Guide overview: how to choose the right beverage value on Princess Cruises

Start by weighing how many drinks and extras you actually use each day aboard to see where value lies. Count morning coffees, specialty cocktails, fresh juices, sodas and bottled water. Match that against the advertised per day, per person cost to test the maths.

Plus fares typically list about £50 per person per day if bought pre‑cruise; Premier sits near £75 per person per day, with onboard purchases usually around £5 more each day. Factor in how many glasses you expect and whether high‑value cocktails or bottles matter to your plans.

Also weigh non‑drink benefits. If you need reliable Wi‑Fi, photo bundles or speciality dining credits, a fare that bundles extras may tilt the value in your favour. For light drinkers on longer sailings, pay‑as‑you‑go plus free buffet water and coffee can be cheaper.

Plan with your cabin mate: bundles apply per person across the cabin, so choose an option that both will use. Finally, remember an 18% service charge and any local taxes, include these when comparing final price and true value.

What’s already included in your cruise fare before any package

You might be surprised how much is already provided on a ship before any add‑ons are chosen. Standard fare covers a range of no‑charge beverages and casual dining options that meet most daily needs.

Complimentary drinks on board and where to find them

Help yourself to water, iced tea, lemonade, brewed coffee and hot tea in the buffet and main dining rooms all day. Fill a reusable bottle at beverage stations to stay hydrated between activities.

The International Café serves included pastries and snacks, but its specialty coffees and teas are chargeable unless your chosen beverage package covers them.

Included dining venues and what’s covered

Main dining rooms and the buffet are part of the standard fare, with pool‑deck pizza by the slice, a burger grill and soft‑serve ice cream for casual no‑fee options.

These outlets make it easy to grab food and free sodas between excursions, especially on port days when time ashore reduces dining windows.

New main dining room formats from September 2024

From 1 September 2024, dining operates in three formats: traditional fixed seating (early/late), flexible reservable dining, and walk‑in any‑time options. Use the app to book after final payment.

Priority access for Captain’s Circle Elite/Platinum members, Reserve Collection and suite guests reduces waits at peak times. Think about how often you use included coffees, juices or bar items across a day to decide if a paid option adds value.

Princess Drinks Package: what’s in the Plus and Premier beverage tiers

Understanding the two tiers helps you decide whether steady daily access or premium choices suit your voyage.

Plus tier - steady daily use

Plus Beverage Package is aimed at regular users. It costs about £50 per person per day if bought before sailing (around $65 onboard early days).

It covers up to 15 alcoholic drinks in a 24‑hour window and drinks priced up to $15 per glass. Included items span cocktails, wine, beer, mocktails, fountain sodas, bottled water, specialty coffees, fresh juices, smoothies and energy drinks like Red Bull.

Premier tier - premium options

Premier Beverage Package starts near £75 per person per day pre‑cruise. The per‑drink ceiling rises to $20 and there is no daily alcoholic cap.

Expect a larger range: 75+ spirits, 40+ wines by the glass and high‑end cocktails, plus select reserve bottles such as Woodford Reserve and Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel.

Limits, discounts and where it works

Both tiers include a 25% discount on wine bottles and larger water sizes. One drink per order per person applies and staff won’t serve two alcoholic drinks at once.

Packages are valid across the ship’s bars, restaurants and at Princess Cays. If a glass exceeds your tier value, you simply pay the difference plus service.

Princess Plus vs Princess Premier fare bundles: what you actually get beyond drinks

Choose the fare that matches how you spend time on board. One tier focuses on steady daily extras; the other scales up dining, photos and multi‑device Wi‑Fi for more ambitious itineraries.

What the plus fare includes

The princess plus fare bundles a Plus beverage package with MedallionNet Max for one device, four casual dining credits and two premium desserts each day.

It also covers crew appreciation, unlimited juice bar access, no OceanNow fee and unlimited room service delivery.

What the premier fare adds

The princess premier fare raises the scale: Wi‑Fi for up to four devices, unlimited casual and specialty dining, unlimited premium desserts and a full photo package, plus excursion credit of up to $300 per guest.

Other perks include reserved theatre seating, Princess Prizes and no OceanNow fee, useful on busy sailings.

Real‑world value and rules to know

For many UK guests, if you buy coffees, a few drinks and use casual dining regularly, plus delivers strong per day value.

For food‑forward travellers who favour multiple speciality dinners and premium labels, premier often justifies the extra cost.

Rules: fares apply per person and both primary guests in a cabin must buy the same fare. Third and fourth guests are exempt. Purchases must be made at least four days pre‑cruise, or onboard in days 1–2 at a higher rate. Drinks cannot be shared.

Non‑alcoholic options: Zero Alcohol, Classic Soda and stateroom bundles

Not drinking alcohol need not mean missing out. The cruise line offers two focused plans for soft beverages and a pair of convenient stateroom bundles to keep your cabin topped up on embarkation day.

Zero Alcohol plan: coffees, mocktails, juice and energy choices

Zero Alcohol costs $29.99 per person per day and covers premium coffees and teas, fountain and canned sodas, fresh juice and smoothies from the juice bar, hot chocolate, zero‑proof mocktails, 0.5L bottled water, small sparkling water, energy drinks and milkshakes.

It must be bought for every day of the cruise and is non‑shareable. You can pre‑purchase within three days of sailing or add it onboard on day 1 or 2.

Classic Soda: simple soft‑drink cover

The Classic Soda option is the budget soft‑drink plan at $14.99 per day (about $17.69 after the 18% service charge). It includes fountain and canned sodas, fruit juices (not from the juice bar), mocktails and smoothies.

This plan follows the same purchase rules and cannot be shared, making it a straightforward choice for light non‑alcoholic customers.

Stateroom soda and bottled water packs - Princess Drinks Package

For convenience, order a six‑can canned soda pack for $11.80 or a 12×500ml bottled water case for $24.00 to be waiting in your cabin.

Quick tip: pick Zero Alcohol if you expect multiple coffees, smoothies or energy cans per day. Choose Classic Soda for a cheaper daily rate if soft drinks and simple fruit juice meet your needs.

Pricing, limits and service charges: understanding “per person, per day”

Understanding how per day pricing works will help you compare value quickly. Pre‑purchase locks lower fares: Plus is about $60 per day pre‑cruise and Premier around $90 per day.

Buy onboard and expect a small uplift, Plus typically rises to $65 on embarkation day 1–2, Premier to $95. Purchase fares at least four days before sailing to secure the best price.

Daily pricing bands and when onboard purchase costs more

Pre‑cruise rates are generally cheaper than the onboard rate for the first day or two. Many guests prefer to pre‑buy to avoid the extra per day cost and simplify embarkation.

Drink limits, single‑serve ordering and sharing restrictions

Consumption rules matter. The Plus option allows up to 15 alcoholic items in a 24‑hour window (6am–6am). Premier removes the alcoholic cap.

Staff enforce one drink per order and one swipe per guest. Sharing is prohibited and teams will decline multiple serves in one transaction.

18% service charge, crew appreciation and how they appear on your folio

An 18% service charge applies to individual drinks, fare add‑ons and many extras. This appears itemised on the onboard folio so you can track total spend.

Daily crew appreciation posts automatically by stateroom type (for example $17 for interior/oceanview/balcony). Bundled fares usually include this amount, reducing separate end‑of‑cruise adjustments.

Check your balance in the app during the day to monitor extras if you pay as you go or add services beyond the bundle. That keeps surprises to a minimum.

Wi‑Fi, photos and dining: add‑on benefits that change the value equation

Decide by tallying the extras you would otherwise buy. MedallionNet and dining perks shift the true cost of a fare much more than a single beverage price does.

MedallionNet Classic vs MedallionNet Max

MedallionNet Classic remains the baseline Wi‑Fi for general use. From August 2024, MedallionNet Max is bundled with selected fares to give stronger connectivity at sea.

MedallionNet Max is included with princess plus for one device and with princess premier for up to four devices. That matters for families, guests working remotely, or anyone who plans heavy streaming on a sea day.

Casual and specialty dining differences

The two fare tiers diverge on food. Plus includes two casual dining credits per cruise, which suits light speciality diners.

Premier unlocks unlimited casual and unlimited specialty dining (some premium experiences excluded). If you enjoy multiple speciality meals, this inclusion quickly offsets extra daily costs.

Photo package, perks and reserved theatre seating

Premier adds a photo package with unlimited digital images and three prints. For milestone cruises, that saves on per‑image purchases and keeps memories simple.

Other premier perks include Princess Prizes and reserved theatre seating, reducing queue times and improving sightlines for popular productions.

Value check: add the notional cost of Wi‑Fi, dining and photos you would otherwise buy. For many UK guests the expanded inclusions make the higher fare good value on active itineraries, while plus suits light drinkers who still want reliable connectivity and occasional speciality dining.

UK buyer considerations: currency, age rules and bringing drinks on board

Simple rules on currency, age and carry‑on allowances can change the real value of a fare add‑on. UK buyers should note that fares and most add‑ons are quoted in USD, so check your card’s foreign‑exchange terms before you commit.

GBP pricing, Australian itinerary variations and age restrictions

Expect onboard billing in USD; some Australian sailings use AUD and may have different per‑drink ceilings. For budgeting in GBP, pre‑purchasing can lock a rate and avoid FX swings at the time of travel.

Age rules: alcoholic beverage packages require guests to be at least 21. Non‑alcoholic plans and family options have no age limit.

Bringing wine and non‑alcoholic cans on board: allowances and corkage

Each guest may bring one 750ml bottle of wine or Champagne without corkage if consumed in the stateroom. Additional bottles or bottles opened in public venues usually incur a $20 corkage fee.

You may hand‑carry up to 12 sealed cans or cartons (each up to 12 oz) of non‑alcoholic drinks on embarkation day. Other bottled soft drinks are not permitted.

Note: beer and spirits brought beyond stated allowances are not allowed. Buy these on the ship or select the relevant beverage package to cover them.

Per guest loyalty perks exist: Elite Captain’s Circle members often receive a complimentary minibar setup and can request swaps through the room steward to suit tastes.

Is a package worth it for you? Quick scenarios to guide your decision

Value is simple to test: estimate how many items you use in a typical sea day and compare that to the per day cost.

Occasional drinker who wants Wi‑Fi and convenience

If you want reliable MedallionNet and a couple of coffees plus one or two alcoholic items each day, the Plus fare often wins on value.

Why: it bundles single‑device Wi‑Fi and covers up to 15 alcoholic items in a 24‑hour window, reducing daily tallying and surprise bills.

Cocktail aficionado seeking premium spirits and specialty dining

Choose Premier when you favour premium labels, reserve wines by the glass and expect multiple speciality dinners.

Why: no alcoholic cap and a higher per‑drink ceiling mean better value for heavy users.

Alcohol‑free cruiser who loves coffees, smoothies and bottled water

Zero Alcohol suits guests who want specialty coffees, juices, smoothies, mocktails and bottled water each day.

If you mainly need sodas and occasional mocktails, the Classic Soda option may be the cheaper choice.

Light drinker on a longer voyage focusing on included fare and pay‑as‑you‑go

For long sailings where you use the buffet and main dining often, paying à‑la‑carte plus occasional stateroom soda or bottled water packs can be the best option.

Tip: families or tech‑heavy travellers may still favour Premier for multi‑device Wi‑Fi and photo perks even without heavy alcohol use.

Conclusion

A clear tally of daily habits, from morning coffee to evening cocktails, makes choosing a fare far easier.

Weigh how many coffees, smoothies and glasses you use in a typical sea day against the price per person. The plus beverage option ties Wi‑Fi, dining credits and crew appreciation to steady inclusions and caps alcoholic items at 15 per 24‑hour period with a $15 ceiling.

The premier beverage tier removes that cap, raises the per‑glass limit to $20 and expands spirits, wines and premium cocktails at the bar. Non‑alcoholic plans still cover coffee, mocktails and bottled water for those who prefer no alcohol.

Remember the 18% service charge and that packages are sold per person and non‑shareable. Match expected use to the total fare and choose the option that keeps your cruise spend predictable and simple.