A New Way of Defining Luxury Cruising
Following up on guest requests, Princess Cruises has modified several of its popular cruise packages for the 2026 season. Here’s what they had to say: ALL NEW EXCLUSIVE Enhancements to Most Popular Packages Princess has enhanced its most popular offer with the addition of even more value. These changes will offer more value for guests who want to upgrade their experience onboard and with more culinary offerings and shore excursion credits. The service improvements have come just days before the line officially sets off on July 22, demonstrating the line’s commitment to making things better for everyone.
What’s changed in the Princess Premier Package?
Princess Cruises have Overhauled their Princess Premier Package and have made a significant improvement in particular, to the shore excursion credits. Instead in addition to the new benefits, guests will receive shore excursion credits based on how long the voyage is:
- $100 for 6 to 9 day cruising $150 for 10 day or longer cruising.
- $200 voyages 10-20 days
- $300 maximum credit for cruises 21 days or longer
This is an enormous value-add, with guests having an easy entry into authentic local life, as well as enhanced shore activities. The Premier package has kept its remaining must-have features, which are:
- Unlimited Premier Beverage Package
- Unlimited casual and specialty dining
- Wi-Fi for up to four devices
- Room service and OceanNow included areas and service and OceanNow fees per guest. room service includes quick bites and fresh fruit are fresh fruit; surcharge applied to other items to drink in the Ocean.
- Unlimited digital professional photos
- Reserved seating at theater shows
- Daily crew appreciation tips
Princess Plus: More Dining Options
Meanwhile, the Princess Plus Package sees a small price hike along with new inclusions. In response to guest demand, the cruise line is adding four casual dining meals per voyage, double the previous number.
The updated package still includes:
- Plus Beverage Package
- Single-device Wi-Fi
- Complimentary OceanNow® delivery and room service fees
- Daily crew appreciation tips
Updated Pricing for 2026
Pricing for the new for 2026 20210 packages reflects the changes and is as follows:
Princess Premier:
- $100 per person/day on Standard Ships
- $105 per person/day on Sphere Class Ships (Sun/Star Princess)
Princess Plus:
- $65 per person/day on Vehicles of Standard Design
- $70 per person, per day on Sphere Class Ships
And even with the aforementioned price hikes that see packages for $5 to $10 more per person a day, these deals still run 30 – 70 percent cheaper for consumers than reserving the services a la carte, therefore making them an attractive travel alternative for folks willing to pay a little extra for premium experiences.
What’s Being Removed?
To make room for these enhancements in value for the packages, Princess Cruises will be eliminating some of the less popular options including:
- Premium desserts
- Juice bar access
- Medallion shipping
- Fitness classes
- Princess Prizes game access
This consolidation is intended to improve product, and cut obsolete benefits, so that each element is a meaningful part of the value proposition.
An Emphasis on Value and Flexibility
“These changes are in line with Princess Cruises’ goal of providing guests more personalized and more rewarding cruise vacations. Through additional shore excursion credits as well as extended dining options, more of Shore Excursions Group’s premium offerings are now that much more appealing. With convenience and flexibility in mind, this strategic move provides an enhanced onboard experience and more opportunities for travelers to experience destinations throughout the region.
Princess Cruises continues to reward guest loyalty by offering special benefits to frequent cruisers based on their level of Captain’s Circle membership and the number of cruise days taken. While providing travelers more choice and control over their experience, the cruise line continues to maintain its leadership role as an industry leader in guest satisfaction.
Similar Packages Offered By Other Cruise Lines
As the demand for cruising further develops, Other cruises are also providing similar privileges. Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises all offer packages that bundle in benefits such as dining, shore excursions and drink packages. But Princess Cruises is unique for its emphasis on the length of the voyage to which the shore excursion credits are attached, tailoring to deliver better value for each single sailing.
A Glimpse of 2026 and Beyond
These improvements to the Princess Premier and Princess Plus packages not only offer greater flexibility, but increased value for guests to book cruises in 2026 and beyond. With new vessels such as the Sun Princess and the Star Princess now set to launch, passengers can anticipate an even more up-to-date and lavish experience on board. The Sphere Class Ships will offer new and advanced features on board, and passengers on these vessels will benefit from an enhanced onboard offer with the packaged fare.
The cruise industry is evolving further toward a more personalized experience, and by deploying these enhancements, Princess Cruises is shaping this expectation with a new affordable product at sea.
Tags: Luxury Cruising, cruise industry, Unlimited Premier Beverage Package, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean