Princess Cruises are not all-inclusive — your ticket covers the ship and basic meals, but onboard spending adds up quickly
When you buy a Princess cruise ticket, you get your cabin, access to the ship's public areas, dining room meals, and most entertainment shows. You do not get drinks, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, casino use, spa services, or most activities that cost extra. The base fare is lower than an all-inclusive resort, but the final bill depends entirely on what you choose to buy once aboard.
The confusion happens because Princess includes more than some cruise lines and less than others. Royal Caribbean and Carnival work the same way — you pay for the cruise, then pay again for extras. Disney Cruise Line includes more beverages and some activities in the base price. All-inclusive cruise lines like Regent Seven Seas or Seabourn include almost everything, but their starting fares are two to three times higher than Princess.
Key Takeaways
- Your Princess cruise fare covers your cabin, main dining room meals, basic entertainment, and access to most ship facilities, but not drinks or specialty dining.
- Drinks, specialty restaurants, shore excursions, spa treatments, and casino use all cost extra and can easily add $50 to $150 per person per day.
- Princess offers beverage packages that cover most drinks for a flat daily rate, which saves money if you plan to drink regularly.
- You can bring your own non-alcoholic beverages in your cabin, but alcohol and glass containers are prohibited.
- Budgeting for extras before you book helps you understand the real cost and avoid surprises at the end of your cruise.
What the cruise fare actually covers
Your Princess ticket includes your cabin for the duration of the cruise, all meals in the main dining room (usually dinner, breakfast, and lunch), and access to the buffet and casual dining venues. You can eat as much as you want in these spaces at no additional charge. The ship's theaters, fitness center, most pools, and entertainment shows are also included.
You also get basic activities like trivia contests, dance classes, and some fitness classes. Kids' clubs and teen programs are included if you have children. Wi-Fi is not included in the base fare — you buy it separately by the day or for the whole cruise. Gratuities (tips for cabin stewards, dining staff, and bartenders) are not included and typically run $15 to $16 per person per day, though you can adjust this amount.
What costs extra on a Princess cruise
Alcoholic drinks are the biggest variable expense. A beer or cocktail at a bar costs $8 to $14. Wine by the glass runs $8 to $18. If you drink regularly, a beverage package saves money — Princess offers packages starting around $18 per person per day for beer, wine, and basic spirits, and higher tiers that include premium brands and coffee drinks.
Specialty restaurants on the ship charge $15 to $30 per person per meal on top of your cruise fare. These are steakhouses, Italian restaurants, or seafood venues with smaller menus and quieter settings than the main dining room. Many cruisers budget for one or two specialty dinners during a week-long cruise.
Shore excursions — organized tours at ports — are sold separately and range from $50 for a straightforward beach visit to $300 or more for full-day activities like zip-lining or snorkeling. You can explore ports on your own for free, but the ship-organized tours handle transportation and timing so you do not miss the ship's departure.
Spa services (massages, facials, body treatments) cost $150 to $400 per service. The casino, if you gamble, is entirely your choice. Onboard shopping, photos taken by the ship's photographer, and childcare services beyond the included kids' club also add to the bill.
How beverage packages work and whether they save money
Princess offers three main beverage packages. The Classic package covers beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic drinks at bars and restaurants — roughly $18 to $22 per person per day depending on the cruise length and when you book. The Premium package adds top-shelf liquor and specialty cocktails for about $28 to $32 per day. The Coffee and Tea package is around $10 per day if you just want specialty coffee drinks.
The math is straightforward: if you order two or three drinks per day, the package pays for itself. If you drink one drink every other day, you are better off paying as you go. Packages are per-person and per-day, so a couple on a seven-day cruise spending $20 per day each would pay $280 total — versus roughly $150 to $200 if they each had three drinks per day at individual prices.
You can also bring your own non-alcoholic beverages in your cabin — bottled water, juice, soda — and drink them in your room or at the pool. Alcohol and glass containers are not permitted in cabins or on deck, so you cannot bring your own wine or beer.
Shore excursions and what to budget for ports
At each port, you have three options: book a Princess-organized shore excursion, hire a local tour operator or taxi independently, or explore on your own. The ship-organized tours are more expensive but may provide you get back before the ship leaves — if you book independently and get delayed, the ship will not wait.
A basic organized tour (walking tour, beach visit, local market) typically costs $50 to $100 per person. A half-day activity like snorkeling or a guided hike runs $80 to $150. Full-day excursions with lunch included can reach $200 to $300. Some ports have very little to do within walking distance, making an excursion more necessary; others have beaches, shops, and restaurants a short walk from the dock.
You can research each port before you book the cruise and decide which excursions matter to you. This helps you budget realistically and avoid the feeling that you have to book everything once you are aboard and the pressure is on.
Comparing Princess to other cruise lines
Royal Caribbean and Carnival operate on the same model as Princess — base fare covers cabin and main dining, everything else costs extra. Norwegian Cruise Line is similar but includes more casual dining venues in some packages. Disney Cruise Line includes more beverages (non-alcoholic drinks and coffee at most venues) and some activities, so the base fare is higher but the extras are lower.
Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, and Silversea are true all-inclusive lines — drinks, specialty dining, shore excursions, and gratuities are all included in the ticket price. Their starting fares are $400 to $600 per person per day or higher, compared to Princess starting fares of $100 to $250 per person per day depending on the cruise length and season.
The choice depends on your budget and preferences. If you want to know the total cost upfront with no surprises, an all-inclusive line is worth the higher ticket price. If you prefer to pay less upfront and control your spending, Princess and similar lines let you do that — but you have to be disciplined about it.
How to budget for a Princess cruise realistically
Start with the base fare, then add gratuities (roughly $15 per person per day), a beverage package if you drink (or estimate drink costs), one or two specialty dinners if you want them, and shore excursions for ports that interest you. A realistic budget for a seven-day Princess cruise might look like this: base fare of $1,200 per person, gratuities of $105, a beverage package of $140, one specialty dinner of $25, and two shore excursions totaling $200. That brings the real cost to roughly $1,670 per person for the week, or about $240 per day.
If you skip the beverage package, specialty dining, and most excursions, you can keep it closer to $1,400 per person. If you book premium excursions, multiple specialty restaurants, and premium beverages, it can reach $2,000 or more per person. The key is deciding your priorities before you board, not discovering them when the bill arrives.
Many cruisers set a daily spending limit for extras and stick to it. Others prepay for packages (beverages, excursions, spa credits) before the cruise to lock in the price and avoid overspending once aboard. Princess allows you to add these to your booking before you sail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my own food and drinks on a Princess cruise?
You can bring non-alcoholic beverages and snacks in your cabin. You cannot bring alcohol, glass containers, or hot plates. Many cruisers pack bottled water and snacks to save money. Food from ports can be brought aboard, though perishables should be eaten quickly.
Do I have to book shore excursions through Princess?
No. You can book tours independently or explore on your own. The advantage of Princess excursions is that the ship will not leave without you if you are on an official tour. If you book independently and get delayed, the ship departs on schedule and you are responsible for catching up at the next port.
What happens if I do not want to eat in the main dining room?
You can eat at the buffet or casual dining venues instead, which are included. You can also order room service (some items are free, others cost extra). Specialty restaurants require an additional charge per meal, but the main dining room and buffet are always free.
Are kids' activities and childcare included?
Kids' clubs and teen programs are included in the cruise fare. Supervised childcare in the evening (so parents can dine or go to shows) costs extra, typically $10 to $15 per hour per child. Babysitting in your cabin is also available for an additional fee.
Can I purchase a beverage package after I board the ship?
Yes, you can buy a beverage package onboard, though the price is usually higher than if you purchase it before the cruise. It is cheaper to add it when you book or during the final payment period before you sail.