Well Adrian I totally agree Alfredo’s should be unlimited for princess plus and regards elite which we are it’s a great idea to have a few more eating included,thanks for the video
As you noted, for newer to Princess cruisers (like me) the changes aren’t a big deal because we haven’t had anything taken away from us. Like you, Princess plus is the sweet spot for us, though I am intrigued about the new unlimited speciality dining with premier - my only concern is that they can’t cope with the demand. I do agree re casual dining being limited to 2 per cruise regardless of length, so I hope that changes. So far when I compare princess to others, bang for buck princess still comes out on top, even with premier added.
Thanks Adrian for the rundown on all the changes. I haven't cruised since 2019 but have two cruises booked on Princess in the next couple of years - with Plus booked on both. The second being a two-month cruise so it's certainly ridiculous that only two casual dining meals and two fitness classes are included. They need to do something about that on longer offerings, maybe two of each per week or fortnight on Plus. I also think the '2x premium desserts' daily on Plus is a throw in. I would maybe have 1x per cruise! They've also done away with or severely reduced the Elite perks. Something which previously kept people loyal to Princess.
Plus is a great all-rounder, but the limits on casual dining and fitness classes on longer cruises just seems like a strange oversight... I'm sure it's not, it would be revenue driven, but I don't understand the thinking behind it. It clearly irritates people, and those that are sailing with the line for weeks or months at a time are typically their most loyal cruisers. Hmm. Enjoy your cruises!
Princess always works out cheaper for us . We literally have no bill at the end of our cruise and I like that . Premier all the way and we indulge to the fullest .
Totally agree with you Adrian. Taking Alfredo’s off the free dining options was a mistake. We now go to the MDR for all meals. Surely giving me a pizza is cheaper for Princess than a three course meal. Shrinking the product like this is a slap in the face for loyal customers. Sadly, the best cruise I had with Princess was 12 years ago. They have been getting ‘cheaper’ but more expensive every time. I still like the product but it’s testing my loyalty. Longer cruises should be credited as multiple cruises as they were years ago. Then the perks should accumulate.
It will be my first time with Princess this coming Feb on Diamond, and again next Nov on Crown. My cousin who travels with me, has been on Princess several X, hence the reason we are trying it. We have taken the standard package. We don’t drink enough, + like the idea of being offline, uncontactable for a change. The difference in price between standard and Plus stretches our budget when we cruise at least 3x per year.
First of all - thanks for your content. Being Australian and having cruise content from a travel expert is appreciated. I’ve only travelled Princess and P&O exclusively. (From Australian ports) I have Platinum status and while those perks were once okay, I recently travelled with friends in a suite who were Elite status. I did notice a big difference in service. Drinks packages (basic and premium) as well as service (whilst dining in main dining rooms and general service) were similar, access to seating in shows/events (once included) and basic amenities were lacking. Premium were able to walk in to restaurants while I had to wait - even though we were in the same cabin/suite. *Note we booked at the same time however only two people could access the premium fare. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still an advocate for Australian cruise departures and our cruise industry however if companies (Princess Australia) are forcing a tiered approach I honestly think they’ve got their marketing wrong. On our cruise the passengers of Elite and Platinum level was ‘a lot’. Perhaps changing the rewards program might be a gentler solution…
We agree with you. This is the best comparison I have seen. We now pay for what was free with our loyalty, so much for loyalty. We got caught out on a cruise we booked with one program, and when we sailed, there was a change to our program, so we didn't get what was promised. We are sick of being taken for fools. An excellent video, Adrian ❤ from Queensland
We have cruised with Princess 24 times now and are Elite loyalty level. We do not choose Plus or Premier packages as for us non drinkers, there is no value for money. We never have the need for specialty dining and can get by with WIFI for one device. Yes we know about the auto gratuity charges but often that is covered by generous on board credits. We love Princess because primarily it knows how to get us to see the world with ease. Long May it prosper even without any extra dollars from us.
I love the new Premier. I stayed away from Princess because of the 15-drink limit and cruise a lot with Celebrity. I will be on Sun in a few days, and I have a feeling Princess will now pull some of my cruises from Celebrity. I want to pay one price and have no limits to anything. Basically, an all-inclusive resort at sea.
I typically like to cruise that way as well - pay upfront, and then enjoy myself without thinking about a bill at the end! Enjoy your cruise on Sun, she's quite the ship.
@@Steven-e6x If you are on Princess with the new enhanced Premier package, there are unlimited drinks. Celebrity, Royal and NCL does not have drink limits. Carnival does.
Check out some of my Princess Cruise reviews - Diamond Princess ruclips.net/video/lmj2fAoLHIo/видео.html Sun Princess ruclips.net/video/eEvRUY-vc78/видео.html Royal Princess ruclips.net/video/atscZjrYdyQ/видео.html Majestic Princess ruclips.net/video/DfRhAHboldg/видео.html Lots more on my channel including ship and cabin tours
I haven’t cruised much, we have our second and third cruises coming up in December. However if you compare Princess to Royal Caribbean Princess is cheaper if you want drinks, wifi etc. The cruises we have coming up are one on Princess and one on Royal - they are the same number of days and it is costing us more for the drinks package on Royal (which does not include wifi or specialty restaurants etc) than Princess. We actually got our drinks package on Royal for $92 per person per day during the Father’s Day special but the cost of just the drinks package was around $1200 as opposed to around $1800 for all the inclusions on Princess (drinks, wifi, casual dining etc). I know where I’d rather cruise.
Princess Plus is definitely good value, and even Premier if you take into account the cost separate packages on competitor lines such as RCI like you noted. Enjoy your upcoming cruises.
Agree with you completely Adrian. I too have followed many comments in some of the facebook forums about the changes to the Princess fare structure. I would like to see your suggestion to reward loyal customers with a casual meal or access to ocean now activation. Not to much to ask considering the cost to get to elite status. I also agree that the plus package is good value but in our case you have to take into account that you may double up some of the benefits. Only one of us would need internet access as we can swap between devices and one does not consume alcohol. We will continue to do a cost analysis on which is the best value depending on destination and length of cruise. Better on cruises out of overseas port when they charge gratuities which are basically included on Australian cruises.
Couldn’t agree more. We always get the Plus we see no reason for the Premier. We are long time Princess cruisers. I finally tried one of those Premium desserts a few days ago and it was revolting - way too sweet and way too much. Give me 2 extra casual dining meals because I’m never going to use the Desserts . I agree with what you said about the limits as well. 2 Casual Dining for a 100 night or 2 for a 2 night is ridiculous. The free internet for loyalty members was good but very slow and time limited. I’m happy to keep paying for the Plus at the current price point but will review if things keep changing.
Wow, so insightful. I took for granted that Alredos was always a dining option but sadly isn't any more And 2 casual dining options per cruise would make me rethink a half world cruise with princess.
Thanks for a great explanation! Even for the 12 night cruise we took this spring, two casual visits isn’t much. This was my first time on Princess. A friend had booked herself a balcony on my Royal cruise to the Norway fjords so I booked a cabin on her side by side Princess cruise. It was my third cruise in a row so I didn’t book a package. I paid the gratuity and pre-ordered, at a discount, some Diet Coke cans and water bottles from Princess. I also brought on the allowed 12 pack of Coke Zero and my friend brought some on for me that she didn’t need as she got the Plus. Enjoyed Princess’s European Capitols cruise. Just felt a bit like Princess has created a new class system with the Premier being first class, Plus is second class and the Standard fare is now third class. Going to spring for Plus to Alaska next year.
Tis very simple for us, we go Standard all the way, as I don't touch alcohol and we get the free mini bar as Elite Passengers. We then switch the spirits to beers for the hubby and soft drinks all switched to Diet Coke for me. Don't need the Internet, but quite happy to purchase a 24 hour segment if desperate. Can live without the fancy meals and fitness classes, as we like the International cafe for our sweet nibblies and the MDR and buffet is ok for us as well. Makes it a lot easier when booking Princess cruises for sure.
What a timely video!! I booked Princess Plus yesterday! That represented the best value for us. I dont think we would take advantage of all the perks of thr Premier Package so it's not worth the cost for us, while the value fare is much too Spartan. And agree that they need to offer a little bit more to the value ticket than they currently do.
I really feel like a captive marketing opportunity rather than a passenger these days - am now Elite status and take Princess Plus-- but am rethinking my way of taking holidays altogether! The "kids travel free" thing will definitely get me offboard in a hurry. And there is nothing worse, especially on a wet day- to set myself up in somewhere like Crown Grill Bar for the afternoon-- only to find that someone comes in and sets up a video screen and using a microphone hammers us with a sales pitch for anti-wrinkle cream for 45 minutes !!! (for example). You can't enjoy your evening meal without some poor crew member trying to sell you some package or shot glasses at your table just so they can get an extra hour off ship. On a recent cruise on Sun Princess I think it was about and extra $500 AU a day to get the use of an area that was child free! I don't appreciate the feeling of being little other than a walking wallet when onboard.
I have to agree that the sales pitches get quite old, quite quickly. Especially when you think you’ve found a nice spot to relax in and then *boom*, time to learn about spa services 🥴
We recently completed a Mediterranean cruise it’s Viking. We compared prices with Royal Princess and NCL but found that Viking was better value as everything was included in the upfront cost. Bonus was the smaller ship experience.
My wife and I most definitely fall into the ‘There are some’ category. 😂 All the add ons don’t really concern us so if we were to sail Princess in the future we’d probably look forward to our Elite level status and enjoy free laundry.😂 The fact that what was considered part of your cruise fare is now charged eg room service seems a bit rich but then sailing Celebrity Cruises you pay for room service anyway. I do agree with Adrian that Princess may be leaving their loyal customers a bit underwhelmed, I know my wife chose Celebrity for our past 2 sailings based on feedback on the Facebook Princess Elite forums which didn’t paint Princess in good light. Although in saying all that people are going to book whatever suits their needs, if you don’t want internet, specialty dinning or a drinks package that’s fine if you do that’s fine as well, it’s your money as long as you have a pleasant voyage that’s the bottom line. You will never go hungry or thirsty on any cruise package or no package that’s for sure.
Good video. princess should have a no alcohol discount for its drinks package in the plus pack. it makes the whole thing not worth it for those doesn't drink wine. They would actually do it in forms of refunded spending $. if no wine options ticked. So people still pay the same package price but gets 20 per day as credits etc.
I was always a Plus purchaser. The cost is value for me is now a big consideration especially on longer voyages (over 7 nights). Princess remains one of my favourite lines thanks to the Medallion tech.
Awesome content and excuse me while I'm taking an aspirin. Glad I cruised a few decades ago when I'm pretty sure water was free and there was no wifi to fuss around with. Don't you think they should have water stations for people to refill their own, instead of the waste of so many plastic bottles? I was looking into a celebrity edge cruise but adding up the "real cost" was too much of a headache. Happy Sailing to you and thanks so much for the honest and concise information.
Thanks Gigi. Appreciate your comment. Iced (ship's tap) water is available at no cost, but sometimes the taste can be a bit... off. I cruised on Celebrity Edge earlier this year, and made it a point that I didn't want to spend anything extra onboard. We purchased one of the All-Included packages which gave us internet and drinks, and made do with all of the included dining venues. You can watch that here if you haven't seen it: ruclips.net/video/nyg6esI4EcQ/видео.html
@@TheCruiseandTravelGuy Thank you; when I called directly to Celebrity, I was told that I could pre-purchase liters of water by the 12-pack. I have my own powdered celcius and propel packets, so it's just problematic for me to get the ice (probably by tipping every time) and so forth. Also, I don't want anyone in my room at all it creeps me out. I guess I'm not cut out to be a solo cruiser. Your videos are delightful, and I'm grateful for your insight.
@@TheCruiseandTravelGuy Is it just the taste of the tap water or do you think it's unhealthy? I've got a special straw insert for that; it's called a lifestraw which I used in certain regions of ecuador and the galapagos last year. I guess it worked; amazing adventures. Why do you cruise instead of land-based tours? That would be an interesting comparison/challenge. TYVM
@@TheCruiseandTravelGuy Hmm Interesting, when I called Edge/Celebrity they said free water was not an option for the great barrier reef sailing; it was per liter twelve pack . The professional on the phone was a bit taken aback that I would even ask such a question; I was in turn perplexed by her lack of basic english/american language skills. Thumbs down to celebrity for farming out basic customer service. BOO. It's Scary, Celebrity that you are so cheap...especially in these Halloween times
Always the most informative videos thank you. I have booked our first cruise on Princess in March 2025 and while checking the other day the same cabin type was $1400 cheaper, even though it showed Standard instead of Plus it actually showed the inclusions to be the same, wifi, drinks etc. I rang them to price match and they said it was an error on their site and they do not price match. I reminded them that if I booked it online I would get the cheaper deal, they said yes but I would lose 20% when cancelling my other booking. Not a great start to my first cruise on Princess, might be my last.\
Thanks for watching! I've heard of similar issues with the Princess website displaying incorrect information, deals and sales lately. It's something I hope they work out soon.
Dont really care if they want to make money, thats what they exist to do, ours is to accept whether its a good deal or not. Also not to worried about what was, as there is a myriad of things like that. What surprises me thou is they dont seem to follow this revenue chasing fully. As in they dont have more flexible deals in particular, they dont offer a package to the non drinker, without this, none of the deals ever make sense. Its weird to me because similar package with just Soda/Coffee etc would get my money which they otherwise really dont get.
True things have changed but it’s still a much better deal than other cruise lines who only give drinks package, no additional dining or wifi so I’m still happy with the package.
Packages are a scam because you pay for what you may or may not use on your cruise. The sales pitch makes it sound like you really will use more than you actually will. Pay a la carte and the price will be less than the package price. WiFi can be purchased by the day and does not have to be for the entire cruise. Of course I would get a day package for drinks, but you must pay for the entire cruise.
Packages ultimately benefit the cruise lines, as they’re not in the business of losing money but they can be good value for a cruiser if they enjoy certain things. I always opt for Plus and it does suit us well.
We did recent Transpacific on Grand from Auckland to Vancouver, a handful of others did from Sydney. This was counted as 1 cruise for the Plus package. If those boarding at start did Syd to Auck, Auck to Honolulu, Honolulu to San Francisco, & SF to Vancouver they'd have had 8 Casual Dining meals instead of 2 and 4 cruises added to their loyalty count (rather than 2 & 1). Cruise lines will price to how it looks most convenient & easy for the passenger, but don't make it obvious what you could miss out on.
I don't know. All these changes in general after the shutdown have turned me off cruising. I was mainly a Carnival cruiser but at the point of cruise resumption, I did my second P&O cruise (June 2022) and I was just grateful a ship was sailing. A few days later I took my first Princess cruise onboard Coral. That was brilliant and was such good value with the packages you mentioned. Carnival came back and it was my first time aboard Splendor in early 2023. I don't know if it was the ship or the general changes I mentioned, but I just have no desire to cruise at all. Five years ago, I would always be checking prices, itineraries, etc and was fixated on my next cruise; I was always so eager to find my next cruise. Nowadays, meh.🤷♀
I can understand that. I think finding the right cruise line and the right packages is more important than ever. Paying a bit more upfront (for a package like Princess Plus/Premier) can be an easy way to have a relaxing (semi or all-inclusive) holiday experience.
I do feel like the perks of loyalty have been erased by these packages. We usually go basic and PAYG, and that works out OK, but if internet is not included now as Platinum/Elite, even with the 50% off, it's making the packages look better. Which is what they are trying to do, I guess. I think we just have to move with the times!
Princess has a good reputation in Australia. There are a limited number of cruise lines that have provided Australians with "Australian'ised" cruises, in particular, offering AUD currency onboard. They also have a range of fairly comprehensive local itineraries, and during the pandemic they were excellent to deal with when it came to cancellations, refunds, credits and the like. They've certainly earned favour with local cruisers.
My mum and I are sailing on the Diamond Princess in January. Neither of us drink alcohol, but at $65 aud per day each, Plus was a no brainer. Although, I looked on the app today and saw it advertised at $120 per day each. I probably wouldn't bother at that price.
I think it's good value, even for those who don't drink alcohol provided that you take advantage of the other perks and make the most of the included soft drinks, barista coffees, bottled water etc. Enjoy your cruise!
I also always get Princess Plus on every cruise, but I am a little upset that now I only get two casual dining options even on my 21-day cruise! I do like to have a few drinks and I need the internet so it works out as cost-effective for me, I also like not having to worry about adding the gratuities. I am sailing this Wednesday and am excited to try out the exercise classes as I have never done one before.
Yes, the Plus drinks package is limited to 15 alcoholic beverages every 24 hours, counted from 6am-6am. Here's the full list from the Princess website about what Plus covers (straight from the horse's mouth as it were) so that should hopefully clear things up for you: www.princess.com/en-au/cruise-deals-promotions/plus-premier-cruise-packages Casual dining on Diamond is basically just Kai Sushi. I've been told that Alfredo's has a pop up on some days in one of the main restaurants, but never saw this myself. In case you missed it, here's my Diamond Princess review: ruclips.net/video/lmj2fAoLHIo/видео.html And my Diamond Princess ship tour: ruclips.net/video/yZAIaqouJEg/видео.html
Still a big deal for us even as new Princess cruisers, $100 per day for 4 of us cruising is crazy, especially when none of us drink alcohol. We would barely drink anything other than soft drink or juice. I think I’m the only one that drinks coffee. Definitely think they need to do something for the longer cruises, 2 meals per cruise sounds ridiculous if you are doing one of the 3-4 month cruises.
I had the same line of thought when Alfredo's was removed as a complimentary venue... I suppose on balance, they must now be making money on the concept. Particularly with some of the extra charge items that aren't covered by either Plus or Premier.
Hey Terry. That’s incorrect. The Premier drinks package is *unlimited* - anyone reading this please note that only the Plus package is limited to 15 alcoholic beverages per 24 hour period (6am-6pm). This is an excerpt directly from the terms and conditions listed on the Princess website: “The upgraded ($90 USD / $100 AUD / £75 per person per day) Princess Premier® package includes all of the foregoing original Princess Premier package items except that: Premier Package beverages are unlimited per sailing; Specialty Meals are unlimited per sailing.”
Unfortunately everything moves towards decreased value for consumers, as companies strategise ever more ways to squeeze more money out of us for their shareholders!!
"Ready, fire and aim" That is Princess. By rolling out and rolling back almost a dozen conflicting and confusing pricing schemes within five years, Princess has demonstrated a profound lack of vision and focus. And this kind of shell-game is supposed to build loyalty?
The package prices can add up over a longer cruise in particular. Do keep in mind that the Plus package covers non-alcoholic drinks as well (and unlimited internet if that matters). Depending on the day, you could potentially "make it worthwhile" with a coffee or two, a few soft drinks or bottled waters and a cocktail or glass of wine with a meal. On other cruise lines where the drinks packages alone are sometimes in excess of $100 per day, I usually go without and typically it's the better choice financially (for me).
I call BS drinks and internet are not worth it because you still pay for it if on shore days. As a person who might only have 1 drink per day drinks no use. On shore days we can use normal internet
Good one Adrian, nice to know someone knows all of Princess' changes over the past 5 or so years, sometimes it's baffling.
Well Adrian I totally agree Alfredo’s should be unlimited for princess plus and regards elite which we are it’s a great idea to have a few more eating included,thanks for the video
As you noted, for newer to Princess cruisers (like me) the changes aren’t a big deal because we haven’t had anything taken away from us. Like you, Princess plus is the sweet spot for us, though I am intrigued about the new unlimited speciality dining with premier - my only concern is that they can’t cope with the demand. I do agree re casual dining being limited to 2 per cruise regardless of length, so I hope that changes. So far when I compare princess to others, bang for buck princess still comes out on top, even with premier added.
Thanks Adrian for the rundown on all the changes. I haven't cruised since 2019 but have two cruises booked on Princess in the next couple of years - with Plus booked on both. The second being a two-month cruise so it's certainly ridiculous that only two casual dining meals and two fitness classes are included. They need to do something about that on longer offerings, maybe two of each per week or fortnight on Plus.
I also think the '2x premium desserts' daily on Plus is a throw in. I would maybe have 1x per cruise!
They've also done away with or severely reduced the Elite perks. Something which previously kept people loyal to Princess.
Plus is a great all-rounder, but the limits on casual dining and fitness classes on longer cruises just seems like a strange oversight... I'm sure it's not, it would be revenue driven, but I don't understand the thinking behind it. It clearly irritates people, and those that are sailing with the line for weeks or months at a time are typically their most loyal cruisers. Hmm.
Enjoy your cruises!
Princess always works out cheaper for us . We literally have no bill at the end of our cruise and I like that . Premier all the way and we indulge to the fullest .
Spot on!!
There's nothing quite like the feeling of a no-bill end to a cruise! I love it too haha.
We love princess plus.
Absolutely agree with your comments about Princess Plus
Totally agree with you Adrian. Taking Alfredo’s off the free dining options was a mistake. We now go to the MDR for all meals. Surely giving me a pizza is cheaper for Princess than a three course meal. Shrinking the product like this is a slap in the face for loyal customers. Sadly, the best cruise I had with Princess was 12 years ago. They have been getting ‘cheaper’ but more expensive every time. I still like the product but it’s testing my loyalty. Longer cruises should be credited as multiple cruises as they were years ago. Then the perks should accumulate.
Getting “cheaper” but more expensive seems to be the overriding business model of cruise companies for the past several years.
It will be my first time with Princess this coming Feb on Diamond, and again next Nov on Crown. My cousin who travels with me, has been on Princess several X, hence the reason we are trying it. We have taken the standard package. We don’t drink enough, + like the idea of being offline, uncontactable for a change. The difference in price between standard and Plus stretches our budget when we cruise at least 3x per year.
First of all - thanks for your content. Being Australian and having cruise content from a travel expert is appreciated. I’ve only travelled Princess and P&O exclusively. (From Australian ports) I have Platinum status and while those perks were once okay, I recently travelled with friends in a suite who were Elite status. I did notice a big difference in service. Drinks packages (basic and premium) as well as service (whilst dining in main dining rooms and general service) were similar, access to seating in shows/events (once included) and basic amenities were lacking. Premium were able to walk in to restaurants while I had to wait - even though we were in the same cabin/suite. *Note we booked at the same time however only two people could access the premium fare.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still an advocate for Australian cruise departures and our cruise industry however if companies (Princess Australia) are forcing a tiered approach I honestly think they’ve got their marketing wrong.
On our cruise the passengers of Elite and Platinum level was ‘a lot’. Perhaps changing the rewards program might be a gentler solution…
Thanks for sharing your experience (and for watching!) Happy cruising.
We agree with you. This is the best comparison I have seen. We now pay for what was free with our loyalty, so much for loyalty. We got caught out on a cruise we booked with one program, and when we sailed, there was a change to our program, so we didn't get what was promised. We are sick of being taken for fools. An excellent video, Adrian ❤ from Queensland
Thanks Sue!
We have cruised with Princess 24 times now and are Elite loyalty level. We do not choose Plus or Premier packages as for us non drinkers, there is no value for money. We never have the need for specialty dining and can get by with WIFI for one device. Yes we know about the auto gratuity charges but often that is covered by generous on board credits. We love Princess because primarily it knows how to get us to see the world with ease. Long May it prosper even without any extra dollars from us.
iam traveling on princess for the first time and have princess plus. I prefer all inclusive as I hate bill at the end so hope its worth it.
It's a terrific feeling to walk off the ship at the end of the cruise without a bill!
I love the new Premier. I stayed away from Princess because of the 15-drink limit and cruise a lot with Celebrity. I will be on Sun in a few days, and I have a feeling Princess will now pull some of my cruises from Celebrity. I want to pay one price and have no limits to anything. Basically, an all-inclusive resort at sea.
I typically like to cruise that way as well - pay upfront, and then enjoy myself without thinking about a bill at the end! Enjoy your cruise on Sun, she's quite the ship.
John I will be on first cruise in January.
15 drinks...so if I have a treble whisky is that one drink or three?
@@Steven-e6x If you are on Princess with the new enhanced Premier package, there are unlimited drinks. Celebrity, Royal and NCL does not have drink limits. Carnival does.
@@Steven-e6x that should count as 3
Check out some of my Princess Cruise reviews -
Diamond Princess ruclips.net/video/lmj2fAoLHIo/видео.html
Sun Princess ruclips.net/video/eEvRUY-vc78/видео.html
Royal Princess ruclips.net/video/atscZjrYdyQ/видео.html
Majestic Princess ruclips.net/video/DfRhAHboldg/видео.html
Lots more on my channel including ship and cabin tours
I do like the all inclusive drink and internet package, better than a bill shock at the end of your holiday. Another helpful video.
Totally agree! Love a bill-free end to a cruise.
I haven’t cruised much, we have our second and third cruises coming up in December. However if you compare Princess to Royal Caribbean Princess is cheaper if you want drinks, wifi etc. The cruises we have coming up are one on Princess and one on Royal - they are the same number of days and it is costing us more for the drinks package on Royal (which does not include wifi or specialty restaurants etc) than Princess. We actually got our drinks package on Royal for $92 per person per day during the Father’s Day special but the cost of just the drinks package was around $1200 as opposed to around $1800 for all the inclusions on Princess (drinks, wifi, casual dining etc). I know where I’d rather cruise.
Princess Plus is definitely good value, and even Premier if you take into account the cost separate packages on competitor lines such as RCI like you noted. Enjoy your upcoming cruises.
Agree with you completely Adrian. I too have followed many comments in some of the facebook forums about the changes to the Princess fare structure. I would like to see your suggestion to reward loyal customers with a casual meal or access to ocean now activation. Not to much to ask considering the cost to get to elite status. I also agree that the plus package is good value but in our case you have to take into account that you may double up some of the benefits. Only one of us would need internet access as we can swap between devices and one does not consume alcohol. We will continue to do a cost analysis on which is the best value depending on destination and length of cruise. Better on cruises out of overseas port when they charge gratuities which are basically included on Australian cruises.
Thank Brad. Good insight too re your own circumstances. I imagine there are many people in the same... boat. 😬 ...sorry, had to.
@@TheCruiseandTravelGuy As long as the same boat is not the Titanic.
Couldn’t agree more. We always get the Plus we see no reason for the Premier. We are long time Princess cruisers. I finally tried one of those Premium desserts a few days ago and it was revolting - way too sweet and way too much. Give me 2 extra casual dining meals because I’m never going to use the Desserts . I agree with what you said about the limits as well. 2 Casual Dining for a 100 night or 2 for a 2 night is ridiculous.
The free internet for loyalty members was good but very slow and time limited. I’m happy to keep paying for the Plus at the current price point but will review if things keep changing.
I can't eat those premium desserts haha! I ordered one purely for the novelty and had a bite but ah, won't be doing that again!
Great video, as always. We have finally become Elite no better off than a first time cruisers. Maybe a bit. Miss all those little extras.
Free laundry is hard to beat! And priority tender. They’re my favourite Elite perks.
Wow, so insightful. I took for granted that Alredos was always a dining option but sadly isn't any more And 2 casual dining options per cruise would make me rethink a half world cruise with princess.
Thanks for watching. Yes, the casual dining limits are certainly an issue for those cruising on extended duration voyages.
Thanks for a great explanation! Even for the 12 night cruise we took this spring, two casual visits isn’t much. This was my first time on Princess. A friend had booked herself a balcony on my Royal cruise to the Norway fjords so I booked a cabin on her side by side Princess cruise. It was my third cruise in a row so I didn’t book a package. I paid the gratuity and pre-ordered, at a discount, some Diet Coke cans and water bottles from Princess. I also brought on the allowed 12 pack of Coke Zero and my friend brought some on for me that she didn’t need as she got the Plus. Enjoyed Princess’s European Capitols cruise. Just felt a bit like Princess has created a new class system with the Premier being first class, Plus is second class and the Standard fare is now third class. Going to spring for Plus to Alaska next year.
Thanks for watching! Hope you enjoy your future cruises and your experience with Plus when you try it out b
Tis very simple for us, we go Standard all the way, as I don't touch alcohol and we get the free mini bar as Elite Passengers. We then switch the spirits to beers for the hubby and soft drinks all switched to Diet Coke for me. Don't need the Internet, but quite happy to purchase a 24 hour segment if desperate. Can live without the fancy meals and fitness classes, as we like the International cafe for our sweet nibblies and the MDR and buffet is ok for us as well. Makes it a lot easier when booking Princess cruises for sure.
Thanks for sharing your tips!
What a timely video!! I booked Princess Plus yesterday! That represented the best value for us.
I dont think we would take advantage of all the perks of thr Premier Package so it's not worth the cost for us, while the value fare is much too Spartan.
And agree that they need to offer a little bit more to the value ticket than they currently do.
Princess Plus is a terrific package, and good value for those that will use the associated perks. Enjoy your cruise.
I really feel like a captive marketing opportunity rather than a passenger these days - am now Elite status and take Princess Plus-- but am rethinking my way of taking holidays altogether! The "kids travel free" thing will definitely get me offboard in a hurry. And there is nothing worse, especially on a wet day- to set myself up in somewhere like Crown Grill Bar for the afternoon-- only to find that someone comes in and sets up a video screen and using a microphone hammers us with a sales pitch for anti-wrinkle cream for 45 minutes !!! (for example). You can't enjoy your evening meal without some poor crew member trying to sell you some package or shot glasses at your table just so they can get an extra hour off ship. On a recent cruise on Sun Princess I think it was about and extra $500 AU a day to get the use of an area that was child free! I don't appreciate the feeling of being little other than a walking wallet when onboard.
You are a walking atm
I have to agree that the sales pitches get quite old, quite quickly. Especially when you think you’ve found a nice spot to relax in and then *boom*, time to learn about spa services 🥴
I like the idea and I am sampling Princess plus on my next cruise on my next Princess cruise
Good choice! I think it’s solid value.
We recently completed a Mediterranean cruise it’s Viking. We compared prices with Royal Princess and NCL but found that Viking was better value as everything was included in the upfront cost. Bonus was the smaller ship experience.
Thanks for sharing. Viking is definitely on my list of cruise lines to try.
My wife and I most definitely fall into the ‘There are some’ category. 😂
All the add ons don’t really concern us so if we were to sail Princess in the future we’d probably look forward to our Elite level status and enjoy free laundry.😂
The fact that what was considered part of your cruise fare is now charged eg room service seems a bit rich but then sailing Celebrity Cruises you pay for room service anyway.
I do agree with Adrian that Princess may be leaving their loyal customers a bit underwhelmed,
I know my wife chose Celebrity for our past 2 sailings based on feedback on the Facebook Princess Elite forums which didn’t paint Princess in good light.
Although in saying all that people are going to book whatever suits their needs, if you don’t want internet, specialty dinning or a drinks package that’s fine if you do that’s fine as well, it’s your money as long as you have a pleasant voyage that’s the bottom line.
You will never go hungry or thirsty on any cruise package or no package that’s for sure.
Good video. princess should have a no alcohol discount for its drinks package in the plus pack. it makes the whole thing not worth it for those doesn't drink wine. They would actually do it in forms of refunded spending $. if no wine options ticked. So people still pay the same package price but gets 20 per day as credits etc.
I was always a Plus purchaser. The cost is value for me is now a big consideration especially on longer voyages (over 7 nights). Princess remains one of my favourite lines thanks to the Medallion tech.
Totally agree! Medallion is awesome.
Well researched as usual thanks Mate
Glad you enjoyed it!
Awesome content and excuse me while I'm taking an aspirin. Glad I cruised a few decades ago when I'm pretty sure water was free and there was no wifi to fuss around with. Don't you think they should have water stations for people to refill their own, instead of the waste of so many plastic bottles? I was looking into a celebrity edge cruise but adding up the "real cost" was too much of a headache. Happy Sailing to you and thanks so much for the honest and concise information.
Thanks Gigi. Appreciate your comment. Iced (ship's tap) water is available at no cost, but sometimes the taste can be a bit... off.
I cruised on Celebrity Edge earlier this year, and made it a point that I didn't want to spend anything extra onboard. We purchased one of the All-Included packages which gave us internet and drinks, and made do with all of the included dining venues. You can watch that here if you haven't seen it: ruclips.net/video/nyg6esI4EcQ/видео.html
@@TheCruiseandTravelGuy Thank you; when I called directly to Celebrity, I was told that I could pre-purchase liters of water by the 12-pack. I have my own powdered celcius and propel packets, so it's just problematic for me to get the ice (probably by tipping every time) and so forth. Also, I don't want anyone in my room at all it creeps me out. I guess I'm not cut out to be a solo cruiser. Your videos are delightful, and I'm grateful for your insight.
@@TheCruiseandTravelGuy Is it just the taste of the tap water or do you think it's unhealthy? I've got a special straw insert for that; it's called a lifestraw which I used in certain regions of ecuador and the galapagos last year. I guess it worked; amazing adventures. Why do you cruise instead of land-based tours? That would be an interesting comparison/challenge. TYVM
@@TheCruiseandTravelGuy Hmm Interesting, when I called Edge/Celebrity they said free water was not an option for the great barrier reef sailing; it was per liter twelve pack . The professional on the phone was a bit taken aback that I would even ask such a question; I was in turn perplexed by her lack of basic english/american language skills. Thumbs down to celebrity for farming out basic customer service. BOO. It's Scary, Celebrity that you are so cheap...especially in these Halloween times
Always the most informative videos thank you. I have booked our first cruise on Princess in March 2025 and while checking the other day the same cabin type was $1400 cheaper, even though it showed Standard instead of Plus it actually showed the inclusions to be the same, wifi, drinks etc. I rang them to price match and they said it was an error on their site and they do not price match. I reminded them that if I booked it online I would get the cheaper deal, they said yes but I would lose 20% when cancelling my other booking. Not a great start to my first cruise on Princess, might be my last.\
Thanks for watching! I've heard of similar issues with the Princess website displaying incorrect information, deals and sales lately. It's something I hope they work out soon.
Dont really care if they want to make money, thats what they exist to do, ours is to accept whether its a good deal or not. Also not to worried about what was, as there is a myriad of things like that. What surprises me thou is they dont seem to follow this revenue chasing fully. As in they dont have more flexible deals in particular, they dont offer a package to the non drinker, without this, none of the deals ever make sense. Its weird to me because similar package with just Soda/Coffee etc would get my money which they otherwise really dont get.
I'm all for businesses making money. They wouldn't be here otherwise.
True things have changed but it’s still a much better deal than other cruise lines who only give drinks package, no additional dining or wifi so I’m still happy with the package.
I agree, and Plus is great value for most people who like to enjoy a few drinks and need or want access to reliable, fast internet.
Packages are a scam because you pay for what you may or may not use on your cruise. The sales pitch makes it sound like you really will use more than you actually will. Pay a la carte and the price will be less than the package price. WiFi can be purchased by the day and does not have to be for the entire cruise. Of course I would get a day package for drinks, but you must pay for the entire cruise.
Packages ultimately benefit the cruise lines, as they’re not in the business of losing money but they can be good value for a cruiser if they enjoy certain things. I always opt for Plus and it does suit us well.
We did recent Transpacific on Grand from Auckland to Vancouver, a handful of others did from Sydney. This was counted as 1 cruise for the Plus package. If those boarding at start did Syd to Auck, Auck to Honolulu, Honolulu to San Francisco, & SF to Vancouver they'd have had 8 Casual Dining meals instead of 2 and 4 cruises added to their loyalty count (rather than 2 & 1). Cruise lines will price to how it looks most convenient & easy for the passenger, but don't make it obvious what you could miss out on.
Very good point! Thanks for sharing.
I don't know. All these changes in general after the shutdown have turned me off cruising. I was mainly a Carnival cruiser but at the point of cruise resumption, I did my second P&O cruise (June 2022) and I was just grateful a ship was sailing. A few days later I took my first Princess cruise onboard Coral. That was brilliant and was such good value with the packages you mentioned.
Carnival came back and it was my first time aboard Splendor in early 2023. I don't know if it was the ship or the general changes I mentioned, but I just have no desire to cruise at all. Five years ago, I would always be checking prices, itineraries, etc and was fixated on my next cruise; I was always so eager to find my next cruise. Nowadays, meh.🤷♀
I can understand that. I think finding the right cruise line and the right packages is more important than ever. Paying a bit more upfront (for a package like Princess Plus/Premier) can be an easy way to have a relaxing (semi or all-inclusive) holiday experience.
I do feel like the perks of loyalty have been erased by these packages. We usually go basic and PAYG, and that works out OK, but if internet is not included now as Platinum/Elite, even with the 50% off, it's making the packages look better. Which is what they are trying to do, I guess. I think we just have to move with the times!
Princess has a good reputation in Australia. There are a limited number of cruise lines that have provided Australians with "Australian'ised" cruises, in particular, offering AUD currency onboard. They also have a range of fairly comprehensive local itineraries, and during the pandemic they were excellent to deal with when it came to cancellations, refunds, credits and the like. They've certainly earned favour with local cruisers.
My mum and I are sailing on the Diamond Princess in January. Neither of us drink alcohol, but at $65 aud per day each, Plus was a no brainer. Although, I looked on the app today and saw it advertised at $120 per day each. I probably wouldn't bother at that price.
I think it's good value, even for those who don't drink alcohol provided that you take advantage of the other perks and make the most of the included soft drinks, barista coffees, bottled water etc. Enjoy your cruise!
I also always get Princess Plus on every cruise, but I am a little upset that now I only get two casual dining options even on my 21-day cruise! I do like to have a few drinks and I need the internet so it works out as cost-effective for me, I also like not having to worry about adding the gratuities. I am sailing this Wednesday and am excited to try out the exercise classes as I have never done one before.
The 2 casual meals is definitely a weird choice for longer voyages… doesn’t seem right. Thanks for watching and enjoy your cruise!
I am finding some of the info a little confusing… is the plus level a limit of 15 drinks?? And what are the “casual”options on diamond??
Yes, the Plus drinks package is limited to 15 alcoholic beverages every 24 hours, counted from 6am-6am. Here's the full list from the Princess website about what Plus covers (straight from the horse's mouth as it were) so that should hopefully clear things up for you: www.princess.com/en-au/cruise-deals-promotions/plus-premier-cruise-packages
Casual dining on Diamond is basically just Kai Sushi. I've been told that Alfredo's has a pop up on some days in one of the main restaurants, but never saw this myself. In case you missed it, here's my Diamond Princess review: ruclips.net/video/lmj2fAoLHIo/видео.html
And my Diamond Princess ship tour: ruclips.net/video/yZAIaqouJEg/видео.html
Still a big deal for us even as new Princess cruisers, $100 per day for 4 of us cruising is crazy, especially when none of us drink alcohol. We would barely drink anything other than soft drink or juice. I think I’m the only one that drinks coffee.
Definitely think they need to do something for the longer cruises, 2 meals per cruise sounds ridiculous if you are doing one of the 3-4 month cruises.
I had the same line of thought when Alfredo's was removed as a complimentary venue... I suppose on balance, they must now be making money on the concept. Particularly with some of the extra charge items that aren't covered by either Plus or Premier.
Just to clarify, the "unlimited" drinks on the Premier package are still limited to 15/day per the terms and conditions shown on the Princess website.
Hey Terry. That’s incorrect. The Premier drinks package is *unlimited* - anyone reading this please note that only the Plus package is limited to 15 alcoholic beverages per 24 hour period (6am-6pm).
This is an excerpt directly from the terms and conditions listed on the Princess website:
“The upgraded ($90 USD / $100 AUD / £75 per person per day) Princess Premier® package includes all of the foregoing original Princess Premier package items except that:
Premier Package beverages are unlimited per sailing;
Specialty Meals are unlimited per sailing.”
Unfortunately everything moves towards decreased value for consumers, as companies strategise ever more ways to squeeze more money out of us for their shareholders!!
"Ready, fire and aim" That is Princess. By rolling out and rolling back almost a dozen conflicting and confusing pricing schemes within five years, Princess has demonstrated a profound lack of vision and focus. And this kind of shell-game is supposed to build loyalty?
I'm trying out my first Princess cruise after covid. Not interested in these upgrades. Too expensive when you don't drink much.
The package prices can add up over a longer cruise in particular. Do keep in mind that the Plus package covers non-alcoholic drinks as well (and unlimited internet if that matters). Depending on the day, you could potentially "make it worthwhile" with a coffee or two, a few soft drinks or bottled waters and a cocktail or glass of wine with a meal. On other cruise lines where the drinks packages alone are sometimes in excess of $100 per day, I usually go without and typically it's the better choice financially (for me).
I call BS drinks and internet are not worth it because you still pay for it if on shore days. As a person who might only have 1 drink per day drinks no use. On shore days we can use normal internet
It's definitely not for everyone.
Don’t know if Princess Australia has a better reputation than in America, but, here, they’re kinda mediocre