Princess Cruises’ new Princess Premier package bundles unlimited WiFi, premium beverages, onboard photos, specialty dining and crew gratuities for a daily add-on cost of $75 per person.
Princess Premier is a step up from the existing Princess Plus package, which has been offered for $40 per person per day. The Princess Plus program will now be an intermediate level bundle, with the price bumped up to $50 per day as of May 25. That’s the same day that Princess Premier goes on sale.
“It’s the same model but taken up to the next level,” John Padgett, Princess Cruises president, told reporters during a May 11 press briefing.
Princess Plus also offers unlimited WiFi, but Princess Premier extends connectivity to up to four devices.
Princess Premier’s premium/top-shelf beverage plan includes unlimited drinks priced at up to $18 at onboard bars, compared to a $12 cap for Princess Plus. Both plans also offer 25 percent off bottles of wine, specialty coffees, smoothies, and bottled water.
Guests who sign up for Princess Premier also get two dinners at specialty restaurants like Crown Grill and Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria. Princess Premier does not have any specialty dining benefits.
Also unique to Princess Premier is a photo program that includes unlimited digital downloads of all photos taken by professional staff on board, plus three prints of any size up to 8″ x 10″. Padgett noted that while passengers value the intrinsic value of onboard photos, they have been reluctant to pay for them separately. Including photos in the premier package makes it “priceless,” he said.
“Guests have overwhelmingly embraced the convenience and value offered in Princess Plus, so we are adding Princess Premier to take our inclusivity options to the next level,” said Padgett in a press release. “Princess Premier is our most inclusive package, offering guests sought-after onboard amenities at an incredible value. Whether a guest prefers a standalone cruise purchase or a fully inclusive vacation, Princess has hassle-free options for everyone. Every option is intended to provide great value.”
Premier Expected to Be Popular
Padgett told reporters that he anticipates that up to one in four Princess Cruises passengers will sign up for the Princess Premier package, with about half opting for Princess Plus and the remainder choosing to stick with the base Princess Standard amenities.
Princess Premier will be available on cruises departing June 25 or later. Guests who have already booked Princess Plus may upgrade to the top-level program for a fee of $25 per person. Guests who want to book Princess Plus can still do so at the old $40 rate between now and May 25.
Premier Prizes
Princess Premier guests also will be automatically entered into a drawing to win a cruise for two every year for a decade, and up to $100,000 in cash prizes. As part of the Princess Prizes promotion, guests will have a chance to win prices like a cruise for two in a balcony stateroom, onboard cruise credits from $25 up to $250, wine tastings, and chef’s table dinners each time a guest accesses their MedalllonClass stateroom.
Entries are generated when guests use their wearable Medallion key at the door. “Every time you go back to your room there will be the excitement and adrenaline that you might win a prize,” said Padgett. “Not everyone will win something, but a lot of people will,” he added.
Participation in Princess Prizes is included in the premier package but requires a one-time fee of $20 per stateroom per day for Princess Standard and Princess Plus guests. Guests also will qualify for an end-of-cruise drawing with prizes of at least $5,000 per voyage.
For more information, visit princess.com/cruisepackages.
