If you’re comparing Princess Plus vs Premier, you’re already asking the right question. These packages can make a Princess cruise feel simpler and more inclusive, but they do not fit every traveler the same way. The better choice depends on how you cruise, what you actually use onboard, and whether you want the lower upfront price or the package with fewer surprise add-ons later.
For many travelers, this decision comes down to avoiding nickel-and-dime charges. For others, it is about not overpaying for perks they will barely touch. That is where a careful look matters.
Princess Plus vs Premier at a glance
Both packages are designed to bundle common cruise extras into one daily price. Instead of paying separately for drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and a few onboard perks, you prepay for a package and know more of your vacation cost in advance.
Princess Plus is the mid-tier option. It is built for travelers who want the major basics covered without paying for every premium extra. Premier is the higher-tier option. It includes more, raises some limits, and adds benefits that matter most to guests who drink more, want specialty dining, or expect to use premium onboard features.
That sounds straightforward, but the value gap is not the same for every passenger. A couple who each have a few cocktails, use Wi-Fi daily, and want casual convenience may find Plus is the sweet spot. A traveler who wants top-shelf drinks, photos, specialty dining, and more premium inclusions may find Premier closes the gap quickly.
What is usually included in Princess Plus vs Premier
Princess updates package details from time to time, so exact inclusions can change by sailing date. Still, the structure stays fairly consistent.
Princess Plus typically includes a drinks package with a lower per-drink cap than Premier, crew appreciation, one-device Wi-Fi per guest, and a small group of added perks that can include casual dining or other onboard extras depending on the current offer.
Princess Premier usually expands on all of that. You generally get a higher-value drinks package, more Wi-Fi access, more specialty or casual dining benefits, and extra perks such as photos or reserved theater seating on some sailings. The key idea is simple – Plus covers the essentials well, while Premier aims to reduce even more out-of-pocket spending once you are onboard.
Because inclusions can shift, this is one of those areas where details matter more than the package name. A package that looked perfect last year may not be the best fit on the sailing you are booking now.
When Princess Plus is the better value
For a lot of cruisers, Princess Plus is the practical choice because it covers the charges many people were going to pay anyway. If you plan to use Wi-Fi, prepay gratuities, and enjoy a moderate number of drinks each day, Plus often starts making sense quickly.
It is especially appealing for travelers who want predictability without paying for luxury-level extras. Think of the couple who enjoys coffee in the morning, a glass of wine at dinner, a cocktail by the pool, and regular phone access for messages and social media. That guest is likely using enough built-in value to justify the package, but may not need the upgraded perks that come with Premier.
Plus also works well for travelers who care more about convenience than maximizing every inclusion. There is real value in boarding the ship knowing your tips, internet, and many drink charges are already handled. It makes the vacation feel easier.
Where Plus can fall short is with travelers who hit its limits. If you prefer higher-end spirits, order drinks that exceed the package cap, or know you will want several premium add-ons, the lower initial price can be less meaningful once onboard charges start stacking up.
When Princess Premier makes more sense
Premier tends to be worth it for heavier package users. If you know you will take full advantage of upgraded drinks, more dining benefits, premium desserts or juices if included, multiple device connectivity, and extra onboard perks, Premier can be the smarter buy.
This is also the package that often appeals to travelers who do not want to think about the bill during the trip. If your vacation style is to say yes to the photo package, yes to specialty dining, yes to stronger internet access, and yes to nicer drinks, Premier can be a cleaner financial decision than trying to build those items separately.
The catch is obvious – if you will not use those extra benefits, Premier can become an expensive comfort blanket. That is the trap many cruisers fall into. They like the idea of having the best package, but they never come close to using what they paid for.
Families and multigenerational groups should look especially carefully here. One person in the cabin may love every Premier perk while another barely uses Wi-Fi and drinks very little. The package can still work, but only if the overall math makes sense for the people who have to buy it.
The real question: what would you buy anyway?
The cleanest way to compare Princess Plus vs Premier is not to start with the package price. Start with your habits.
Ask yourself what you would honestly pay for if no package existed. Would you buy Wi-Fi every day? Prepay gratuities? Have multiple alcoholic drinks, sodas, bottled waters, or specialty coffees daily? Do you care about specialty dining or photos? Would you pay extra for stronger connectivity or premium beverages?
Once you answer those questions honestly, the better package usually becomes clearer.
This is where travelers save money by being realistic, not optimistic. If you tell yourself you will drink enough to justify Premier but you are really more of a one-cocktail-with-dinner person, Premier probably is not your best value. On the other hand, if you know you always buy the add-ons and hate feeling restricted, Plus may leave too much uncovered.
Hidden trade-offs most people miss
The biggest mistake is treating this as only a drinks-package decision. It is not. Gratuities and Wi-Fi carry real value on their own, and for some guests those two items alone do much of the heavy lifting.
Another trade-off is flexibility. Bundles are great when they match your behavior. They are less great when they lock you into paying for things you would skip. A port-intensive itinerary, for example, may reduce how much you drink onboard or how often you use ship internet. A sea-day-heavy cruise may make the package more attractive.
Length matters too. On a short cruise, you may not fully use the premium extras in Premier. On a longer sailing, those added perks may become more valuable because there are simply more opportunities to use them.
Then there is cabin pairing. If package rules require both guests in a cabin to purchase the same fare package, that can affect the math in a big way. One enthusiastic user can make a package look great on paper, but if the second guest has lighter habits, the combined cost may not land the same way.
Who should choose Plus, and who should choose Premier?
Choose Princess Plus if you want a more inclusive cruise, plan to use the core benefits, and prefer the lower package price. It is often the right fit for moderate drinkers, casual internet users, and travelers who want fewer extra charges without paying for every premium perk available.
Choose Princess Premier if you already know you like the upgraded experience and will use it. It is better for travelers who want more premium drinks, more dining value, stronger onboard inclusions, and a cruise that feels as prepaid as possible.
If you are on the fence, Plus is often the safer middle ground. You can still keep costs predictable without paying top-tier package pricing. But if your typical cruise pattern includes buying extras once onboard, Premier may save you from death by a thousand charges.
The smartest way to book either package
This is one of those cruise decisions where the fine print and current promotion matter. Princess can adjust what is included, and the best value can change based on the base fare, current offers, and your specific sailing. Sometimes the package itself is the value. Sometimes the better move is choosing the right cabin and promotion first, then deciding whether Plus or Premier still makes sense.
That is why experienced support matters. A good cruise advisor is not there just to book the cabin. They help compare the total vacation cost, watch for price drops or promotion changes, and make sure you are not paying for perks that look impressive but do not fit your trip.
If you want the simplest rule of thumb, it is this: buy Princess Plus when you want the basics bundled well, and buy Premier when you know you will actually use the upgrades. The best package is not the one with the longest list. It is the one that leaves you feeling taken care of without paying for somebody else’s vacation style.
