Is the Princess Premier package a dream come true or just an expensive add-on for your next vacation? With the 2026 Princess Cruises package changes now in full effect—including the $100 daily price and the new shore excursion credits—we decided to put the "unlimited" claims to the ultimate 54-day test.
We didn't just "try" the package; we lived it. We skipped the Main Dining Room to eat at specialty restaurants virtually every night, conducted side-by-side Wi-Fi speed tests, and even ran a "blind taste test" on the Wagner Family of Wines (featuring Caymus and Mer Soleil). In this review, we’re sharing the "secret" perks—like how we got custom cauliflower crust pizzas at Alfredo's—and the honest math behind a $5,400 investment. If you want to know if the Princess Cruises all-inclusive upgrade is worth it for your 2026 or 2027 itinerary, here is the unfiltered truth from 54 days at sea.
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| Crown Grill on Island Princess 54 Day Cruise |
The 2026 Landscape: What’s Changed?
Before we dive into our 54-day journey, we have to talk about the "New Premier." For 2026, Princess shifted the package dynamics. The price moved to $100 per person, per day (or $105 on Sphere-class ships), but they added a crucial perk for long-haul cruisers: the Shore Excursion Credit.
For a voyage of 21+ days like ours, we received a $300 per person credit. While Princess removed some "under-utilized" perks like the juice bar, premium desserts and fitness classes, they doubled down on what we actually use: food, wine, and excursions. Here is how that played out over nearly two months at sea.
With the new 2026 package structure now locked in, Princess Cruises has committed to these specific rates and benefits through at least the end of 2027, giving us a rare, stable window to see if the $100-a-day Premier upgrade truly delivers on its promise.
The Premier Beverage Package: Is it Really "Unlimited"?
On a 54-day cruise, the 15-drink limit on the standard Plus package can start to feel like a leash between coffee, bottled water, sodas and drinks. With Premier, that leash is gone—especially for non-alcoholic drinks.
The Wagner Family Connection: One of the standout features of the Premier package is the curated access to the Wagner Family of Wines. Princess has a deep partnership with Chuck Wagner, which means you’ll frequently see heavy hitters like Caymus, Mer Soleil, and Emmolo featured on the menus.
Specifics Matter: What’s by the Glass? Looking at the 2026 Crown Grill menu, the value proposition becomes clear. While the Plus package limits you to $12–$15 glasses, the Premier package covers almost the entire "by the glass" list. We were regularly enjoying:
Sea Sun Pinot Noir ($18/glass)
Bonanza Cabernet Sauvignon ($18/glass)
Conundrum Red or White Blends ($18/glass)
Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc ($18/glass)
Beau Joie Brut Champagne ($20/glass)
The "Premier Pour" Advantage: We are regular wine drinkers, and we can tell the difference between a house pour and a reserve bottle. One evening, our wine was accidentally switched with friends who had the Plus package. The difference was immediate. The "Premier Pour" (up to $20/glass) offers a depth and complexity that the standard package simply doesn't reach. If you want to step up to the Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) or the Emmolo Sparkling, they are listed at $26–$30 a glass. On Premier, you only pay the difference (about $6–$10), whereas on Plus, you’d be paying nearly double that per glass.
The Daily Routine: We didn't just use it for alcohol. Having 12 bottles of water delivered to our room daily and unlimited specialty coffees at the International Café became the bedrock of our routine.
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| The wine list at Crown Grill—note the $18-20 glasses included with Premier. |
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| The wine list at Crown Grill—note the $18-20 glasses included with Premier. |
Dining Like Royalty: Why We Chose Specialty Every Night
The biggest "power move" we made on this 54-day trip was deciding to dine at specialty restaurants virtually every night. While many worry about "menu burnout," we found the benefits far outweighed the repetition.
The Personal Connection: We spent most of our nights at Crown Grill (our absolute favorite) and Sabatini’s. Because we were there so often, the servers weren't just staff; they became friends. They learned our names and drink preferences instantly.
The "Regular" Perks: Because the staff got to know us as "regulars," they started surprising us. They knew we loved sorbet for dessert, and even if it wasn't on the menu that night, it was waiting for us. That level of personal touch is hard to find in the bustling Main Dining Room (MDR).
Beating the Crowd: The MDR can often feel overwhelmed, leading to longer wait times. In specialty dining, the pace was perfect. We always finished our meal with plenty of time to get a great seat for the theater shows.
Because we had unlimited access, we never felt the pressure to overindulge just to 'get our money’s worth' as you might if you were paying the $55 cover charge plus 20% gratuity for every individual visit; we could simply relax and enjoy the quality of the meal at our own pace.
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| Sabatini's |
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| Special Order Cauliflower Crust Pizza |
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| Crown Grill Filet Mignon |
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| O'Malley's Dessert |
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| Alfredo's Pizzeria |
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| Sabatini's Tiramisu |
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| Crown Grill Steak Tartare Appetizer |
Casual Dining: The Secret to a Stress-Free Lunch
While the specialty dinners were our evening highlight, the unlimited casual dining included in the Premier package was our secret to a relaxed daytime schedule. We had full access to venues like the Salty Dog Gastropub, Alfredo’s Pizzeria, and O’Malley’s, which allowed us to enjoy high-quality meals at a much slower, more intentional pace.
Efficiency and Variety: The service at these venues was consistently efficient, and the menus were varied enough to make lunch feel like a special event without the stress of a surcharge every time we sat down. It gave us the freedom to grab a gourmet burger or an authentic pizza whenever the mood struck.
Avoiding the MDR Slowness: We heard from many fellow passengers that the Main Dining Room lunch service was quite slow on this voyage. Because we had the Premier package, we never felt the need to step foot in the MDR for lunch.
The Buffet Alternative: On the days we didn't opt for a casual sit-down meal, we headed to the buffet. We were pleasantly surprised by the variety; there was something different for everyone every single day, making it a great "quick-stop" option that still felt fresh.
Connectivity & Convenience: Life with MedallionNet Max
For a 54-day journey, staying connected isn't a luxury; it’s a lifeline. The 2026 Premier package includes 4-device Wi-Fi per guest on the "Max" tier.
The Reality of the Speed Test: We put the "Max" tier to a side-by-side test against a device on the standard Plus package. While the raw data showed our Premier device had a faster download speed of 7.7 Mbps compared to the 6.5 Mbps on Plus, honestly, we didn't find the speed to be noticeably better in day-to-day use.
The Real Value (Device Count): For us, the "Max" tier wasn't about a boost in speed—it was about the 4-device limit. On a nearly two-month cruise, being able to have our phones and laptops connected simultaneously without the constant "log-in, log-out" dance was the real win.
Reliability: Regardless of the tier, the Starlink-backed connection remained consistent. We could catch up on emails or stream from our balcony, but don't expect a massive jump in performance just because you're on the Premier tier.
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| Premier package iPhone speed test |
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| Plus package iPhone speed test |
The "Hidden" Value: Photos and Shore Credits
Professional Memories: Over 54 days, the ship photographers took hundreds of photos of us. Because Premier includes unlimited digital photos, we walked away with a massive, professional digital scrapbook of our trip without paying $25 per image.
The Shore Excursion Credit: Having that $300 credit ready to go made booking our bucket-list excursions much easier. It didn't cover everything for a two-month trip, and Princess cruises' excursions have become noticeably more expensive in recent years, but it took a significant "bite" out of our final bill. Regardless, we took many DIY excursions on this cruise and used Viator frequently.
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| Formal night portrait on Princess Cruises included in the Premier unlimited digital photo package |
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| Using the $300 Princess Premier shore excursion credit in Fiji during a 54-day cruise |
The "Secure It Early" Strategy
One of the most important lessons we’ve learned from the recent changes is to secure your package as early as possible. When Princess overhauled the package structure on January 14, 2026, they honored the old, more affordable structure for everyone who had purchased before July 2025.
Lock it in: While you can always add the package later, our advice is to secure it at the time of booking. By doing this, you "freeze" the current terms and pricing.
Pay Later: Remember, you don’t necessarily have to pay the full amount for the package immediately, but having it attached to your booking protects you if Princess decides to adjust the benefits or pricing before you sail.
The Costco and OBC "Stack"
Since we haven't seen any direct "flash sales" on the Premier package in 2026, you have to create your own discount by stacking external benefits:
The Costco Rebate: Booking through Costco Travel is one of our favorite "back-door" savings methods. The Shop Card rebate you receive after your cruise (which can be up to 10% of the fare) essentially acts as a massive "cash back" reward that offsets the cost of your Premier investment.
Onboard Credit (OBC) Specials: We always look for booking windows that offer high OBC. Between military/veteran credits, shareholder benefits (for those with 100+ shares of Carnival Corp), and promotional "free money" from Princess, you can often accumulate enough credit to cover the daily cost of the package before you even step on the ship.
The Math: Was it Worth $5,400 Per Person?
Let’s be honest: $5,400 per person is a massive investment. However, we looked at it through the lens of quality and peace of mind.
While there were only two specialty restaurants on our ship, the MDR menu began to feel repetitive after about seven days anyway. We preferred the higher-quality ingredients and the quiet, attentive service of the specialty venues. When you add up the premium wine, the 4-device Wi-Fi, the gratuities, and the excursion credits, the math works in favor of the traveler who wants the best.
The $15,000 Comparison: Princess vs. Luxury Lines
All in, we paid around $15,000 per passenger for this 54 day journey from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia and back. Many wonder: "For $15,000 per person (Balcony + Premier), shouldn't I just book a luxury line?" * The Math: A 54-day cruise on an ultra-luxury line (Regent/Silversea) averages $900–$1,200 per day. Although we frequently find bargain luxury cruises, you still will find the price higher than we paid.
The Verdict: By choosing Princess Premier at $277 per day, we saved over $60,000 as a couple. We "hacked" the luxury experience by getting the same premium wines and personalized service for 30% of the price.
Final Verdict: The "Zero Balance" Luxury
After nearly two months at sea, our final verdict on the Princess Premier package comes down to one word: Relationship. While the data shows the Wi-Fi is technically 18% faster (even if you can't feel it), and the math proves you save $70+ a day if you drink premium wine, the real value was in the personal connection. By becoming "regulars" at the Crown Grill and Sabatini’s, we weren't just passengers—we were guests whose preferences, from sorbet to cauliflower crust, were known and honored.
We walked off the ship on Day 54 with a $0.00 balance on our folio and zero "bill anxiety." If you value high-end wines like Caymus, prefer an intimate dining pace that ensures you never miss a theater show, and want a truly all-inclusive experience, the Premier package isn't just an upgrade—it's a game-changer.
Our advice? Secure it early to lock in the 2026 terms, stack your Costco rebates and OBC, and prepare to be pampered and wine upgrade sound worth it to you? Let us know in the comments!
