While Carnival owns Princess Cruises, it has always operated the cruise line a little bit differently. Princess passengers, for example, have the option to buy two premium packages that bundle a number of onboard extras.
Princess Plus costs $60 per guest per day. It includes one WiFi device, unlimited room service, two “casual meals at extra-fee restaurants, two fitness classes, your daily gratuities, and a beverage package.
The beverage package offers a wide selection of non-alcoholic soft drinks and premium Lavazza coffees. Cocktails, wine, and beer up to $15 each. 25% off bottles of wine. Power shots from the unlimited juice bar to boost your immunity and energy,” Princess shared on its website.
Alcoholic beverages, as they are on Carnival are limited to 15 per day with passengers cut off after that.
Princess’s Premium Package has just been raised from $80 to $90, but passengers get a lot for their money. In addition to getting access to the cruise line’s MedallionNet Max — a new tier of internet service — they also get unlimited specialty dining and a beverage package that includes drinks up to $20.
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Princess Cruises Premier package offers more perks
Under the old Premier package, passengers only got two specialty dining meals. Under the new program, that offer has moved to unlimited. Passengers can actually eat at both casual and sit-down added-fee restaurants and they get unlimited free desserts as part of the deal.
The top-tier packages also includes premium reserved theater seating and unlimited fitness classes (which may be needed with unlimited desserts offer).
“With the Princess Premier Package, we’re delivering the absolute greatest value in travel and making all-inclusive cruising super easy,” said Princess Cruises President John Padgett. “The most comprehensive package in cruise for an unmatched $90 a day ensures our guests can enjoy their vacation experience without any limitations.”
And, unlike its previous packages or Carnival’s Cheers beverage package, Princess Premier truly has no limit. And, in addition to not having a limit, the cruise line is making it easier for passengers to get a drink.
“The glass is always full for Premier guests, offering an unlimited number of drinks daily of up to $20 each. Princess Premier, which also comes with free OceanNow access, makes it easy for guests to enjoy their preferred drinks anytime and anywhere on the ship without worrying about additional costs,” according to the cruise line.
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Will Carnival follow Princess and go unlimited?
Carnival has always maintained that the 15-alcoholic drink limit was about passenger safety, not economics. And, for most people, 15 alcoholic drinks is plenty, but it really depends upon what you’re drinking and when.
A beer drinker who starts early and has one beer per hour from 8 a.m. onward will get shut off at 11 p.m. and may well be fairly sober. Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises, which both offer truly unlimited beverage packages, do reserve the right to limit customers if they appear notably intoxicated (and will readily do so).
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Carnival Brand Ambassador John Heald, however, has been adamant that the cruise line won’t be changing its 15-drink limit.
“Honestly, I do not get it but perhaps that’s because I don’t drink any alcohol. We are not changing anything despite the barrage of requests I have every week. We will stay at 15 drinks in a 24-hour period (unlimited non-alcoholic drinks) and despite requests like this I wanted to save you the trouble of writing to me and say again we will not be changing anything,” he shared on Aug. 4 on Facebook.
In many cases, rather than serving as a deterrent, the 15-drink limit becomes a goal for passengers looking to get their money’s worth. That can lead to bigger problems than having no limit, but cutting off (or slowing down) service when a guest’s condition ot behavior suggests they need to stop drinking.
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