The Three-Tier Puzzle
Princess Cruises has divided its pricing into three distinct tiers: the base fare, Princess Plus at $65 per person per day, and Princess Premier at $100 per person per day. The base fare gets you the cabin, main dining, and entertainment. Plus adds the drink package, WiFi, and crew gratuities. Premier adds everything in Plus, plus premium WiFi, two specialty dinners, a photo package, and fitness classes.
A 7-night Caribbean sailing on Princess starts at $599 to $899 per person for a balcony stateroom at the base fare. Adding Princess Plus brings the daily cost to $664 to $964. Premier pushes it to $699 to $999. For two adults over seven nights, the tier difference is $910 for Plus and $1,400 for Premier on top of the base fare. The right tier depends entirely on which add-ons you would buy anyway.
Princess Plus: $65/Day for Drinks, WiFi, and Tips
Princess Plus includes the Premier Beverage Package (unlimited cocktails, beer, wine, specialty coffees), MedallionNet WiFi for one device, and crew gratuities at $18 per person per day. At $65 per day, the bundle is competitive. Purchased separately, the drink package runs $65 to $80 per day, WiFi costs $15 to $20 per day, and gratuities are $18 per day. That is $98 to $118 per day a la carte versus $65 bundled.
The math is clear: if you were going to buy the drink package, Princess Plus saves $33 to $53 per person per day. Over seven nights for two adults, that is $462 to $742 in savings. Even if you only wanted drinks and tips without WiFi, Plus still beats a la carte pricing. Princess Plus is one of the best bundle deals in the cruise industry.
Princess Premier: $100/Day for Everything
Princess Premier adds premium WiFi (streaming speed, multiple devices), two specialty dining meals, a photo package, unlimited juice bar, and fitness classes on top of everything in Plus. The incremental $35 per day over Plus represents $245 per person over seven nights.
The value check: two specialty dinners are worth $80 to $100 per person, the photo package is worth $100 to $150, and the WiFi upgrade is worth $35 to $70 for the week. That totals $215 to $320 in a la carte value for $245 in Premier upgrade cost. It is close to breakeven, which means Premier is worthwhile only if you would definitely use all three extras. If you would skip specialty dining or the photo package, stick with Plus.
Gratuities and Extras Beyond the Tiers
If you choose the base fare without Plus or Premier, Princess charges $18 per person per day in mandatory gratuities for standard staterooms. Suite guests pay $20 per day. The 18% bar service charge applies to individual drink purchases but is included in the Plus and Premier drink package pricing.
Shore excursions through Princess average $85 to $140 per person per port. Princess EXcursions tend to emphasize cultural and immersive experiences over pure adventure, reflecting the line's older-skewing demographic. Spa treatments run $130 to $200 for standard massages. The casino, art auctions, and onboard shopping are additional revenue streams that can add $100 to $500 to your folio if you participate.
Which Tier Should You Book?
Book the base fare only if you genuinely do not drink, do not need WiFi, and are content with the main dining room exclusively. This saves money but puts you at a disadvantage versus Plus pricing on gratuities alone. Book Princess Plus if you drink socially, want basic WiFi, and prefer the simplicity of included gratuities. This is the sweet spot for most passengers. Book Princess Premier if you want specialty dining, professional photos, and streaming WiFi in addition to everything in Plus.
For two adults on a 7-night cruise, base fare plus a la carte add-ons costs $2,800 to $4,200. Princess Plus all-in costs $2,400 to $3,600. Princess Premier all-in costs $2,900 to $4,100. Yes, Princess Plus is often cheaper than the base fare with a la carte purchases. Run your specific numbers in CruiseKit's True Cost Calculator to confirm which tier saves you the most.