Princess Cruises passengers angry over key drink package change
Some passengers say the cruise line is nickel-and-diming with this policy change.
Princess Cruises is often praised by its passengers for the remarkable value its onboard cruise packages, Princess Plus and Princess Premier, offer to cruisers seeking more of an all-inclusive type of cruise vacation.
These bundled packages include WiFi, a beverage package, daily gratuities, and other add-on perks that offer significant value over purchasing the add-ons separately.
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Although the packages offer substantial savings on desirable cruise add-ons, they aren’t inexpensive.
When booked in advance of a cruise, the Princess Plus package costs $60 per day per passenger, and the Princess Premier package, which offers the most premium perks, costs $90 per day per passenger. On a week-long cruise, the Princess Premier package adds more than $600 to the cruise cost per passenger.
For some passengers who purchase these packages to cruise in a more carefree way, a recent Princess Cruises policy change has created a problem that’s forcing them to pay too much attention to how they’re enjoying beverages during their vacation.
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Princess Cruises quietly changes soda policy
Many Princess cruisers have recently taken to Facebook groups and Reddit threads to complain and alert others about a Princess Cruises policy change regarding the sodas included with the Princess Plus and Princess Premier beverage packages.
Although cans of soda originally were not included when Princess launched the Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages, the cruise line later began including cans in the packages, along with fountain sodas.
Now, Princess has reverted back to enforcing its original policy that excludes cans of soda.
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Passengers are not happy about the change for multiple reasons, including preference for canned soda over fountain and the fact that some popular types of soda are only available in cans on board.
Now, passengers sailing with the Princess Plus or Princess Premier packages only get a 25% discount on cans of soda, while fountain sodas are still included.
“Currently on Sun Princess in Med. We are on the Premier package. Barman just told us yes, all packages are $3 per can of soda, less 25% discount,” ThomasBurley recently confirmed in a Reddit thread discussing the soda shakeup.
Some passengers say Princess Cruises is nickel-and-diming
If cans of soda had always been excluded from the packages, passengers may not have taken as much issue with the change. But some Princess cruisers have grown accustomed to drinking their favorite sodas from cans at no extra cost with the packages.
To these passengers, the change seems outrageous, considering how much they’re already spending on their cruise fare plus the $60 or $90 per day add-on for the Plus and Premier packages.
“It's the 'nickel and diming' aspect of it that's pissing off so many. Nearly $10k to go to Alaska with the Plus package (it's a 16 day) and after several years of being able to get cans of whatever you wanted, now they've decided to cut them? It's also much easier for the bar and delivery staff. Quite a few of us like to keep a few cans in our fridge to drink whenever,” Secret_Total6730 wrote on Reddit.
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“You just paid $60/90 a day and it includes unlimited drinks, but cans of soda are not included. I’m pissed with 29 days of cruising booked this summer. It’s nickel and diming at its worst,” spinone98 echoed.
Although this Princess Cruises soda policy change may seem inconvenient, keep in mind that there is one way to enjoy soda from a can on board without incurring an extra fee — bring it on board. On embarkation day, passengers are permitted to carry on up to 12 sealed, unopened cans of soda (or other non-alcoholic beverage) of 12 ounces each or less, per person.
Additionally, Princess Cruises' Classic Soda Package continues to include cans of soda.
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