Princess Cruises: Real Costs, Rules and Who It Suits

Where these numbers come from

Princess is a premium-traditional line with a strong Alaska and world-cruise presence. The fare covers the room, most food and entertainment. Crew charges, drinks and upgrades come next, and the company sells bundles called Plus and Premier that fold several of them together.

A fare tracker that logged sailings in early 2026 put the average 7-night inside cabin on Princess at about $949 per person, or $136 a night, plus $100 to $300 in taxes and port charges. Those are secondary averages, not Princess quotes. Try your real fare in the cruise cost calculator.

Here is a worked example for two adults on that 7-night inside sailing. Fare: 2 x $949 = $1,898. Taxes at an assumed $200 each: $400. Crew appreciation at $18 per person per day: 2 x 7 x $18 = $252. The total is $2,550 before drinks or upgrades. A mini-suite adds $1 per person per day, and a suite adds $2. Compare that with the Plus bundle at $65 pre-cruise: 2 x 7 x $65 = $910, which also prepays tips, so the net extra is about $658 for drinks and Wi-Fi after subtracting the $252 in crew charges. The gratuity calculator can rerun this.

Payment and cancellation are clear-cut. Final payment is due 120 days before departure. For cruises up to 44 days booked after September 2, 2026, cancelling 120 or more days out costs just the deposit. The fee then climbs to 25% at 119 to 113 days, 50% at 112 to 91, 75% at 90 to 61 and 100% at 60 or fewer. Bookings made before that date follow slightly different tiers, so read your own confirmation.

The 20% service charge is automatic on drinks and most paid extras, and Plus and Premier include the bar service charge for qualifying drinks. Crew appreciation can be raised or lowered on board until you settle the account, and it is not refundable after the cruise. For dress, the line describes daytime resort casual, smart casual evenings and formal nights, and it lists swimwear, gym shorts, ripped jeans and ball caps as out of place in the dining room. Casual venues stay open each evening.

Who is it best for? Couples and mixed-age groups who like traditional dining, scenic itineraries and a calmer pace. Read the Princess gratuity page and the Princess drink package page next, and run the which cruise line quiz to compare it with other lines.

Sources

• Princess crew appreciation and service charge policy
• Princess cancellation and refund policy
• Princess Plus and Premier packages
• Princess what to pack and dress code
• All Aboard Deals 7-night cruise cost tracker (secondary, March 10, 2026)

Figures checked on September 30, 2026.

This page is general information, not legal, insurance or travel-agent advice. Fees, rules and limits change, so confirm the figures with the official sources listed above before you book or travel.