Princess Cruises has just changed its two most popular add-on packages — Princess Premier and Princess Plus — for cruises departing in 2026 and beyond. On paper, the changes look fairly subtle. But once we dug into the fine print, we realised they’re actually shifting focus quite a bit.

Some benefits have been removed, others added, and — for the first time — shore excursion credit is being bundled into one of the packages. Whether this ends up being good news for you really depends on how you cruise and which perks you use most.

Here’s a full breakdown of what’s changing, what’s staying, and whether these packages are still worth the daily price tag.

What’s Actually New?

Princess Premier Package – Now With Shore Excursion Credit

Price if purchased before your cruise:

$100 USD / £75 per person, per day
$105 USD / £80 per person, per day on Sun Princess and Star Princess

Price if purchased onboard:

$105 USD per person, per day
$110 USD per person, per day on Sun Princess and Star Princess

The Premier Package has always been the “everything but the kitchen sink” option — and for many cruisers, it’s paid for itself just in drinks, specialty dining, and Wi-Fi. For 2026, Princess is adding a shore excursion credit that varies depending on the length of your cruise:

$100 USD for 6–9 night cruises
$200 USD for 10–20 nights
$300 USD for 21+ night sailings

That’s a useful addition if you usually book Princess-run excursions. However, keep in mind that excursions booked directly through the cruise line are often significantly more expensive than third-party options — so that $100 credit may not stretch very far.

We often recommend booking through Shore Excursions Group instead — they offer a wide range of tours (often at lower prices), and we’ve had great experiences with them ourselves.

The rest of the Premier Package stays the same, including:

Unlimited Premier Beverage Package (drinks up to $20 USD)
Unlimited specialty and casual dining (yes, truly unlimited)
Wi-Fi for up to four devices
No extra charge for OceanNow delivery or room service
Unlimited digital photos from the ship’s photographers
Reserved seating for production shows
Daily crew appreciation (gratuities) included

*Princess Plus now includes up to four casual dining meals.*

Princess Plus Package

Price if purchased before your cruise:

$65 USD / £50 per person, per day
$70 USD / £55 per person, per day on Sun Princess and Star Princess

Price if purchased onboard:

$70 USD per person, per day
$75 USD per person, per day on Sun Princess and Star Princess

This mid-tier package used to include two casual dining meals per cruise — but for 2026, that’s been bumped up to four. That gives you more chances to try Princess’s popular upcharge venues like Alfredo’s, Gigi’s, or the Salty Dog.

One notable change is the wording around drinks. The Plus Beverage Package now clearly states it includes up to 15 drinks of any type per day — not just alcoholic ones. That includes specialty coffee, cocktails, wine, beer, spirits, fountain sodas, and zero-alcohol cocktails, all up to $15 per drink. Bottled water (up to 500ml) is now separately limited to 12 bottles per day. Previously, the 15-drink limit only applied to alcoholic beverages, so this change helps clarify exactly what’s included.

The rest of the Plus Package remains unchanged:

Wi-Fi for one device
No charge for room service or OceanNow delivery
Daily gratuities included

Still simple, still solid value for most cruisers.

*Free Medallion accessory shipping has been removed.*

What’s Been Quietly Removed

Princess has retired several benefits it says weren’t being used enough. These include:

Drink limits now include Soft drinks
Premium desserts (like sundaes, gelato, etc.)
Juice bar access
Fitness classes
Princess Prizes (the scratch-card-style giveaways)
Free Medallion accessory shipping

While we agree that some of these were more “nice to have” than “must-have,” the dessert removal might sting a bit — especially if you were a fan of those Instagrammable ice cream creations. Fitness classes were also very popular — in fact, too popular. On our recent Royal Princess cruise, we found it difficult to book into them because they were always full.

Princess has said that guests who booked a package before July 22, 2025 for a 2026 cruise will still receive all the original perks, including the ones now removed. So if you’re already locked in — you’re covered.

So… Is It Still Worth It?

That depends on how you cruise. But here’s our honest take:

The Premier Package

Still one of the most comprehensive cruise packages out there. If you:

Like two or three alcoholic drinks a day
Plan to dine in specialty restaurants more than once
Want fast Wi-Fi across multiple devices

…it still represents good value. But it may be less useful for those who don’t drink alcohol or only use one device.

The Plus Package

This continues to be the sweet spot for many cruisers. If you:

Like two or three alcoholic drinks a day
Just want one Wi-Fi device, and tips covered
Want to try a few premium dining options without splashing out on the full Premier tier

…the boost from two to four casual meals is small but welcome!

Our Final Thoughts

The addition of shore excursion credit is a small — and some will say insignificant — update, especially considering the removal of more popular perks like premium desserts and fitness classes. However, upping the casual dining allowance gives guests more freedom without having to pay full specialty dining prices.

Yes, some perks are gone — and some people will miss them. But if you’re someone who maximises the included benefits, these packages still offer solid savings.

That said, if you don’t drink, prefer booking your own tours, or aren’t fussed about dining outside the main dining room, these packages can quickly become poor value. It’s worth doing the maths based on your own cruising habits.

Princess Cruises Has Changed Its Premier & Plus Packages for 2026 – Here’s What You Need to Know