Princess Cruises raises key onboard fees
Princess cruisers will want to take note of these increases to some onboard costs.
Princess Cruises is rolling out two big changes on board its ships, bringing additional costs for some popular onboard extras.
One change has already taken effect, while the other is slated to begin May 1.
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There is some good news for passengers who planned ahead. If you booked your onboard extras prior to the change, you’re locked in at the previous lower prices.
If not, adding some premium perks to your Princess cruise experience is about to get more expensive. If you want to add one or two premium dining experiences to your cruise, or if you wait until the last minute to decide to enhance your vacation with an onboard cruise package, you’re about to pay more for it.
There is, however, a way to make your money go farther, if you're looking for a carefree, more all-inclusive type of cruise experience.
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Princess Cruises increases specialty dining cover charges
As of April 15, Princess Cruises specialty dining restaurant cover charges have increased fleetwide. For most ships, the cost went from $45 per person to $55 per person, plus 18% gratuity. The cover charge is $27.50 for children ages three to 12. Specialty dining restaurants aboard Sun Princess and the upcoming Star Princess now carry a cover charge of $60 for adults and $30 for children.
The price increase applies to specialty dining venues including Crown Grill, Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria, Churrascaria Brazilian Grill, and The Catch by Rudi, as well Sun- and Star Princess-exclusive dining venues Umai Teppanyaki, Makoto Ocean, and The Butcher’s Block by Dario.
One benefit of the specialty dining update is that the cost for Love by Britto, the artistic-inspired dining experience on Sun Princess and the upcoming Star Princess, has decreased. Now $60 per person as a specialty dining venue, Love by Britto previously carried a cover charge of $79 per person.
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For passengers interested in specialty dining and other onboard extras, these price changes make the cruise line’s Princess Premier bundled cruise package an even better buy.
One of two bundled cruise packages offered by Princess, the Princess Premier package, includes unlimited specialty dining meals, along with unlimited premium drinks, WiFi, “crew appreciation” gratuities (prepaid tips for crew members), and more. The Princess Premier package costs $90 per day per passenger, offering savings of $220 per day per passenger, according to Princess Cruises.
Passengers who want to take advantage of the more all-inclusive cruise experience and savings that the package offers should make sure to book the package prior to their cruise. Waiting until embarkation day to book your package is about to cost extra.
Princess Premier, Plus packages will cost more if booked on board
Beginning May 1, passengers who book the Princess Premier and Princess Plus packages once on board their cruise will be charged $5 more per day.
A more limited cruise package that still offers substantial savings, the Princess Plus package costs $60 per person per day when booked in advance. It offers a savings of $93 per day per guest, according to Princess Cruises. Although it doesn’t include specialty dining like Princess Premier, the Princess Plus package is very popular with cruisers for the value it offers at a lower cost.
Related: Princess Cruises passengers say cruise add-on is well worth cost
The Princess Plus package includes WiFi for one device, a beverage package, daily crew appreciation gratuities, and other perks. Many cruisers find the value offered by Princess Plus package extra appealing because it covers prepaid gratuities.
If not prepaid with a cruise package, crew appreciation is automatically added to passengers’ onboard accounts at a rate of $17 per person per day for most stateroom categories.
(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a cruise.)
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