Choosing Between Princess Standard versus Princess Plus versus Princess Premier: Which Cruise Package is Right for You?

Princess Plus v Princess Premier Australia.

Planning a cruise can be as thrilling as the journey itself! With so many options available, especially when it comes to cruise packages, it's crucial to choose the one that fits your needs best. If you're considering a trip with Princess Cruises, you've likely come across the Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages. But how do you decide which one is right for your cruise experience? Let's break it down!

What is Princess Standard?

If you have selected a cruise with Princess then the minimum package is Princess Standard, you will receive that and many people they stop there as it is the cheapest option and if you don't drink much and don't need wifi that is probably the best for you. Princess Standard means you enjoy the same cruise, same entertainment, same complimentary dining as everyone else.

There is plenty of complimentary dining onboard including the main dining rooms, buffets and the various areas serving fast food pizzas, burgers and chips. There are also drink stations for juices, water, tea and filter coffee.

Medallion net referred to in the image above is the on-board technology that acts as your all-in-one room key , on-board payments and even can be used to find the location of your friends and family (opt in is optional for that feature).

The $25 on-board credit referred to is not part of any of the package but is a variable offer available at certain booking periods.

What is Princess Plus?

The Princess Plus package is all about enhancing your Princess Standard cruise with additions to make your journey more enjoyable and hassle-free. With this package, you get a selection of inclusions. The current cost is Aus $65 per day.

Note that the international price is higher at $60 US dollars, this is higher as it includes Crew Appreciation (tips) which is a key benefit. The Crew Appreciation does not apply for Australian cruises to/from Australian ports as the tips are included in the fare so check which package you need for your cruise and whether the package and /or the fare includes tips.

• A drinks package that covers a variety of beverages (up to a $22 each (Australian $, $15 USD) with a maximum of 15 drinks per day.

  • This is going to cover most alcoholic drinks and cocktails

  • It also covers speciality barista made coffee, perfect for those who love their coffees plus teas and other hot drinks.

  • Soft drinks and mocktails are all covered and the Juice bar for fresh juice and smoothies. It also covers Red Bull for those needing a booster for the next evening.

  • There is a limit of 15 alcoholic drinks per day, not sure too many people need more than that!

  • It also covers a 25 per cent discount off a bottle of wine (and 1 litre water bottles), just buy by the glass instead and if you are a wine connoisseur then suggest upgrading to the premium package.

  • Soft drink cans are an extra cost in a recent change from Princess.

• Wifi for 1 device per guest

  • This is the superfast Medallion Net and the best package on-board

  • Perfect for those who need to maintain access at sea

• Fitness Classes ( 2 per cruise)

  • Princess do run a range of fitness classes on-board, think Yoga Six, Cycle Bar, Stretch Lab, Club Pilates and Pure Barre (whatever that is!).

  • If you want to keep fit and in shape then this might help offset some of the food and indulgence.

• Premium deserts (2 per day)

  • One of the strangest benefits, I will post a picture of a premium desert below. If anyone is eating 2 of these a cruise never mind 2 per day I would be surprised but its on the benefits list, think a very big ice-cream with toppings or to use an old term knickerbockerglory.

• Casual dining (2 per cruise)

  • Princess has 3 tiers of dining, complimentary (standard), causal and speciality

  • Casual depending on the ship is the mid-tier Italian restaurants (Alfredo's , Gigis), Pub Dinings (O'Malley's ,Salty Dog Gastropub) , Ocean Terrace Sushi and Plank's BBQ.

    • As an aside who in marketing at Princess used the word Gastro in the name of the Salty Dog Gastropub. Gastro and cruise ships are surely a marketing no go!

  • These are not available on all ships in Australia though all will have at lease one Casual Dining and that will include one of the Pizza Pasta restaurants.

  • Cost without the package is Aus $22.99 or USD $14.99

  • Anyway, after all that you get 2 of these casual dining meals for free instead of an on-board charge

  • They are a great alternative to the other options particularly at lunch times.

• Ocean now and room service delivery

  • Another bonus to have this included with delivery of food and drinks to where you are on the ship. Great for those who are lazy or those who hate queuing or waiting in lines. Also nice for a breakfast in the cabin, maybe sat on your balcony.

  • Cost without the package is $22.99 (USD $14.99) which then gives you unlimited onboard deliver. I certainly wouldn't pay for that outside of a package.

What is Princess Premier?

If you’re looking for an even more luxurious experience, you might want to consider the Princess Premier package. This package includes everything that Princess Plus offers, but steps it up a notch with additional benefits. Imagine having an upgraded drink package that includes top-shelf options and unlimited speciality dining, you will probably go home with no additional bill at the end, well other than your excursion costs and spa. Oh well it's still going to help. What can it possibly add to the Plus package, let's find out. The costs is $100 (Aus $ per night) so $35 extra on Princess Plus.

Note that the international price is higher at $90 US dollars, this is higher as it includes Crew Appreciation (tips) which is a key benefit (worth $17 USD to $19 USD dependant on cabin type). International cruises also include Princess Prizes (not in the Australian packages), this gives spot prizes for the casino when you open your stateroom door.

• A drinks package that covers a variety of beverages (up to a $30 each (Australian $, $20 USD).

  • Unlike the Plus package this will cover almost all drinks, think the best wines, spirits and cocktails. There is even a premier drinks section on the menus.

  • It still covers all the same non-alcoholic as the Plus Package

  • The number of alcoholic drinks is now unlimited compared to the 15 alcoholic drinks per day on plus. Not judging but sheesh.

  • Soft drink cans are still an extra cost even with Princess Premier.

• Speciality Dining (unlimited)

  • This is a big benefit, all ships will have at least 2 speciality dining restaurants, typically Crown Grill (premium steak and meat cuts restaurant) and Sabatini's (premium Italian restaurants)

  • Others dependant on ship could include Churrascaria (Brazilian BBQ all you can eat - and it's a lot), Makoto Ocean (clue is in the name), The Butcher's Block by Dario (yes meat), Umai Teppanyaki (think crazy chefs who juggle food) and Crab Shack. Check your ship details.

  • You really can book unlimited times, but make sure book in before embarking to guarantee a reservation. You won't get money back if you don't use the benefit.

• Wifi for 4 devices per guest

  • The same as Plus but if you need more than one device per person then this covers it.

• Fitness Classes ( unlimited per cruise)

  • Might be what you need, but probably limited benefit for most cruisers

• Premium deserts (UNLIMITED)

  • Wow, you now can get unlimited. Maybe this was why the fitness classes are also unlimited, some form of sugar offsetting scheme.

  • Suggest you get someone in to widen the doors of your house for when you get home if you are taking full advantage of this perk

• Casual dining (unlimited per cruise)

  • This is a decent benefit, though more dependant on the number of dining options on your ship. Check out your ship to see which dining options are on there. We like this addition but usage will balances somewhat with the unlimited speciality dining

• Ocean now and room service delivery

  • Same as Princess Plus

• Photo Package

  • Unlimited digital prints and 3 prints

  • If you one of those people who loves getting stopped for photos every 5 minutes then here is the perk for you

  • For the rest of us who just love to move past quickly then probably not much of a benefit but nice to get a souvenir picture of two (hundred)

• Reserved Theatre Seating

  • Only for production shows

  • This is a nice little bonus with Princess Premier as there is a batch of seats reserved for up to 15 minutes before show time, saves rushing there 30 minutes to get a seat

  • I guess it depends how busy the ship and the number of production shows to decide the benefit

Which one to pick?

There is no exact answer here. Do the maths for Princess Plus v Princess Standard. Will you spend $65 / day on drinks and wifi is what I would ask, the other benefits are nice to haves for the cruise experience but not essential. This calculation may change if you have more / less sea days versus port days where you use the package less / more. It also may depend on whether you drink non-alcoholic v alcoholic drinks or beer v spirits and wines. We think the Princess Plus package is the sweet spot as it allows you to relax and not worry about your spend on-board, keep connected with the wifi and a few other bonuses.

Princess Premier v Princess Plus is a more difficult choice. This one could depend on how long your cruise is. Consider a 3 night cruise where you pay $35 per night extra on Plus so $105 per person. You then book the speciality dining for Crown Grill and Sabatini's at $45 each and get a a nice glass of wine in each and head down to your reserved theatre seat. I think that is a great return. Maybe less so on a longer cruise where you probably would not eat in speciality dining most nights. Who knows maybe you are that person who wants those unlimited speciality deserts and 500 digital photo prints.

If you do decide on a package, I would suggest buying before you board as it is $5 / day more expensive on board the ship to purchase. This also applies if bought less than 3 days before the departure date so buy early. Don't bother waiting for sales like Royal Caribbean do on their drinks packages, Princess hold the price, it is already much better value than other cruise lines to be fair to Princess.

Ultimately, whether you choose Princess Plus or Princess Premier, both packages enhance your cruising experience. They provide a range of options tailored to different preferences and budgets. To make the most of your purchase, consider what perks will truly enhance your voyage. After all, the best package is the one that aligns seamlessly with your vision of the perfect cruise adventure. Bon voyage!

As a footnote you may see differences on the non-Australian packages mentioning the inclusion of tips (crew appreciation). The Australian Princess Plus and Princess Premier do not include the tips as you already pay for those the cost of the cruise. That is also why the international version of the packages are more expensive.

Note also for international cruisers to Australia that on-board pricing unlike other cruise lines in Australian $.

Feel free to subscribe or email me any questions on the packages.

Princess Standard or Princess Standard or Princess Premier

Which package is right for you? Watch out for those premium desserts!