Alright, let’s talk about this Princess Plus thing. I was booking my last cruise, you know, going through all the options, and this ‘Plus’ package kept popping up. My first thought? Probably just another way they try to squeeze more cash out of you.
Looking Into It
But I decided to actually look at what it offered. Okay, so they bundled in the Wi-Fi, which I knew I’d probably want anyway, at least to check emails and maybe post a picture or two. Then there were drinks – not just booze, but sodas, those fancy coffees I like in the morning, bottled water, stuff like that. And it covered the daily crew gratuities too. That caught my eye because I always factor that cost in anyway.
So, I started doing some quick math in my head. How much is the Wi-Fi per day usually? Then add the cost of a couple of sodas, a cappuccino, maybe a beer or cocktail in the evening, plus the daily tip amount. I roughed it out based on what I usually spend or would likely spend.
Taking the Plunge
It seemed like it might actually save a bit, or at least break even, but mostly it just sounded… easier. Less nickel-and-diming onboard. So, I went for it. Added the Princess Plus package when I finalized my booking. Felt a bit like a gamble, but hey, vacation’s meant to be relaxing, right?
Using it Onboard
Got on the ship, first thing I did was test the Wi-Fi. Connected my phone pretty easily using the medallion app thingy. It wasn’t lightning fast, you’re on a ship after all, but it worked fine for scrolling social media, sending messages, checking the news. Didn’t have to worry about paying per minute or buying a separate package, just logged in because I had Plus.
Then came the drinks. It was actually nice just walking up to a bar, ordering a soda, or grabbing a bottle of water, flashing my medallion, and walking away. No signing slips, no checking prices. Same for my morning specialty coffee. Later, sitting by the pool, ordered a cocktail. Again, just showed my card/medallion. It felt kinda freeing not having to mentally track every little purchase.
- Grabbed bottled water whenever I felt like it.
- Had my fancy coffee fix each morning.
- Enjoyed sodas with meals without a second thought.
- Had a few beers/cocktails in the evenings.
It also included some casual dining spots. We tried one of them one night instead of the main dining room. Pizza place, I think. Again, included with the Plus package, so no extra bill.
And the whole time, in the back of my mind, I knew the gratuities were already handled. No surprise charge on my account at the end for the crew appreciation. That was a nice relief.
So, Was It Worth It?
Looking back after the cruise, I thought about it again. If I had paid separately for Wi-Fi for the whole trip, plus all those individual drinks – the coffees, waters, sodas, a couple alcoholic drinks a day – and then added the standard daily gratuities… yeah, the Plus package definitely paid for itself for me. Probably saved me a little bit, honestly.
For me, the answer is yes. It was worth it, mainly for the convenience. I hate feeling nickeled and dimed on vacation. Just paying one price upfront for all those common extras made the trip simpler and more relaxed. I didn’t have to think about costs every time I wanted a drink or needed to go online.
Now, if you don’t drink much besides tap water, don’t care about Wi-Fi, and maybe prefer handling tips yourself, then maybe it’s not for you. But if you’re like me and enjoy having those things included, I found the Princess Plus package to be a pretty solid deal. It just took away a layer of hassle, and that’s what I want on a cruise.
