Princess Cruise Upgrades: What's Actually Worth Paying For

Planning a Princess Cruise can feel surprisingly overwhelming once you start adding everything up.

Princess Plus. Princess Premier. Specialty dining. Wi-Fi. Excursions. Balcony cabins. Spa treatments. The Sanctuary.

Suddenly your “simple cruise vacation” has turned into a giant list of upgrades and add-ons, all promising to make your trip better.

But here’s the good news: you absolutely do not need to pay for everything to have an amazing cruise.

Some extras are genuinely worth the money depending on your travel style. Others? You may barely use them.

So today, let’s break down what’s actually worth paying for on a Princess Cruise — especially if this is your first time cruising with Princess.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Princess Plus and Premier packages are worth it if you'll use multiple included features — drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and dining. If you use few of these, pay as you go.

• Specialty dining is one of the best upgrades on Princess, especially if you're already considering Premier — the unlimited dining option makes it strong value.

• Balcony cabins are worth it for scenic itineraries (Alaska, Norway, Mediterranean) or if you enjoy private outdoor space. On port-heavy itineraries where you're rarely in your cabin, they may not earn the extra cost.

• Princess-sponsored excursions include a "back to ship" guarantee — if the excursion runs late, the ship waits. Third-party excursions don't have this protection.

• The Sanctuary is worth it for introverts and travelers who value quiet, uncrowded space. If you enjoy the energy of the main pool deck, skip it.

• On Sun Princess and Star Princess, Sanctuary access is tied to specific cabin categories rather than purchased separately — worth knowing before you book.

• You don't need every upgrade to have a great cruise. The right upgrades depend entirely on your travel style and priorities.

Are Princess Plus or Princess Premier Worth It?

For many travelers, yes — especially if you plan to use several of the included features.

The Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages bundle together many of the things that normally cost extra onboard, including:

• Drinks (including specialty coffee, soda, bottled water, cocktails, and more)

• Wi-Fi

• Crew gratuities

• Casual dining

• Specialty dining (Premier)

• Fitness classes

• Premium desserts and juices

• Other onboard extras

If you already know you’ll:

• drink specialty coffee daily

• order cocktails or soda

• use Wi-Fi

• dine at specialty restaurants

• want gratuities included upfront

…then these packages can absolutely save money and simplify the experience.

However, if you:

• rarely drink

• don’t care about Wi-Fi

• are happy with included dining

• prefer a lower upfront cruise cost

…you may be perfectly fine skipping the package and paying only for what you use.

This is one of those situations where your personal travel style matters far more than what influencers online tell you to buy.

Is Specialty Dining Worth It on Princess Cruises?

If you enjoy food experiences even a little bit, I personally think specialty dining is one of the best upgrades on Princess Cruises.

Now, to be clear: the included food on Princess is already quite good. You can absolutely enjoy your entire vacation eating at:

• the main dining rooms

• the buffet

• the International Café

• poolside burgers and pizza

• soft serve ice cream

But the specialty restaurants offer a noticeably elevated experience.

Some favorites include:

• Crown Grill steakhouse

• Sabatini’s Italian Trattoria

• Alfredo’s Pizzeria

• Butcher’s Block by Dario

• Makoto Ocean (available on select ships)

Princess has even earned awards for several of its dining venues, and honestly, some of the meals are genuinely excellent.

If you only plan to try one or two specialty meals, paying à la carte may make more sense.

But if you’re already considering Princess Premier, unlimited specialty dining can become a huge value.

Is Princess Cruise Wi-Fi Worth Paying For?

This really depends on how connected you want to stay during your cruise.

Princess offers surprisingly solid Wi-Fi compared to many cruise lines, especially with the upgraded MedallionNet service included in the packages.

If you only need to:

• occasionally check email

• send messages

• look up information

…you may be fine purchasing Wi-Fi separately or even disconnecting entirely for the week.

But if you:

• work remotely

• stream content

• upload photos

• stay heavily connected

…then the package usually makes more financial sense.

Because standalone Wi-Fi can become expensive very quickly, many travelers find the Plus or Premier package ends up being the better overall value.

Are Balcony Cabins Worth It?

For me personally? Absolutely yes.

One of my favorite cruise experiences is simply sitting on the balcony in the morning with coffee while watching the ocean go by.

That said, balcony cabins are not automatically worth it for everyone.

An Inside Cabin Might Be Perfect If:

• you mainly use your room to sleep

• you spend all day exploring the ship or ports

• you want the lowest possible cruise price

A Balcony Cabin Is Worth It If:

• you enjoy quiet private space

• you love ocean views

• you want fresh air and natural light

• you’re cruising somewhere scenic like Alaska, Norway, or the Mediterranean

• you enjoy slow mornings or sunset drinks

Even upgrading from an inside cabin to an oceanview cabin with a window can make a huge difference for some travelers.

Cruising is very personal, and cabin choice should reflect how you vacation.

Are Excursions Worth It?

I strongly recommend taking at least one excursion during your cruise.

Yes, you can absolutely explore ports independently. Sometimes that’s the better option.

But excursions often give you:

• deeper cultural experiences

• local guides

• historical context

• food experiences

• adventure activities

• transportation logistics handled for you

Princess also offers a major benefit:

The “back to ship” guarantee.

If your Princess-sponsored excursion runs late, the ship will wait for you.

That safety net matters.

If you decide to use third-party excursion companies instead, I highly recommend:

• choosing reputable providers

• carefully managing timing

• allowing plenty of buffer before all-aboard time

Because the ship absolutely can leave without you.

Are Spa Treatments Worth It?

If you enjoy massages, facials, thermal suites, or spa relaxation at all, I think this is one of the nicest cruise splurges.

Princess frequently runs:

• embarkation day specials

• port day discounts

• pre-cruise booking savings

So you often do not need to pay full onboard pricing.

The Enclave Is Especially Worth Considering

Available on select Princess ships, The Enclave includes:

• thermal pools

• heated stone loungers

• steam rooms

• saunas

• hydrotherapy features

For travelers who enjoy quieter relaxation spaces, this can become one of the best-value upgrades onboard.

Especially on sea days.

See our recent video for a quick tour of the Enclave >>HERE<<

Is The Sanctuary Worth Paying For?

If you’re an introvert like me, honestly… probably yes.

The Sanctuary is a private adults-only relaxation area available on many Princess ships.

It offers:

• reserved lounge seating

• private cabanas

• food and beverage service

• quieter atmosphere

• upgraded cushions and loungers

• a more luxury-resort feel

What I personally love most:

• no fighting for pool chairs

• fewer crowds

• quieter environment

• more personalized service

If you enjoy high-energy pool decks and social activity, you may not care about this upgrade at all.

But if your ideal vacation includes:

• peace

• quiet

• reading

• relaxing

• ocean views without crowds

…it can absolutely be worth the extra cost.

What About the Sanctuary Collection on Sun Princess and Star Princess?

These newer ships handle The Sanctuary differently.

Instead of reserving access separately, Sanctuary access is tied to specific cabin categories:

• Sanctuary Balcony

• Sanctuary Mini Suite

• Sanctuary Suite

These accommodations include:

• Sanctuary access

• enhanced dining access

• Premier package inclusions

• priority boarding

• priority disembarkation

• preferred entertainment seating

For travelers wanting a more premium experience without fully entering luxury cruise pricing, this can actually be a very compelling option.

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need Every Upgrade

One of the biggest mistakes first-time cruisers make is feeling like they need to buy every add-on to have a great vacation.

You don’t.

The best Princess Cruise experience is the one that fits:

• your budget

• your travel style

• your priorities

• your pace

For some travelers, that means:

• an inside cabin

• no packages

• simple port days

For others, it means:

• balcony cabins

• specialty dining

• The Sanctuary

• spa passes

• premium packages

Neither is wrong.

The goal is not to spend the most money.

The goal is to create the vacation experience you’ll actually enjoy.

FAQs

Is Princess Plus worth it for a first-time cruiser?It depends on how you vacation. Princess Plus bundles drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and casual dining into one upfront price. If you plan to drink specialty coffee or cocktails daily, use Wi-Fi, and want gratuities handled automatically, the package usually pays for itself. If you rarely drink, don't need Wi-Fi, and prefer a lower sticker price, you may spend less buying only what you use.

What's the difference between Princess Plus and Princess Premier?Both include drinks, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and casual dining. Princess Premier adds unlimited specialty dining, premium desserts and juices, fitness classes, and a few other extras. If specialty dining is important to you, Premier can be strong value — especially on longer sailings where you'd realistically use multiple specialty restaurants.

Is a balcony cabin worth the upgrade on Princess?On scenic itineraries like Alaska, Norway, or the Mediterranean, a balcony is almost always worth it — the views alone justify the cost. On port-heavy Caribbean itineraries where you're off the ship most of the day, an inside or ocean-view cabin can save real money without sacrificing much. Think honestly about how you'll use your cabin before upgrading.

Are Princess excursions better than booking independently?The main advantage of Princess-sponsored excursions is the back-to-ship guarantee — if the tour runs late, the ship won't leave without you. That peace of mind has real value, especially in busy ports. Independent tours can offer a more personal experience and sometimes lower prices, but timing becomes entirely your responsibility. The ship will leave without late passengers.

What is The Sanctuary on Princess Cruises?The Sanctuary is a private adults-only relaxation area available on many Princess ships. It offers reserved lounge chairs, private cabanas, food and beverage service, and a quieter atmosphere away from the main pool deck. It's worth the cost if you value peace and quiet over the social energy of the main pool. If you love the activity of the pool deck, it's probably not worth it for you.

Is specialty dining worth paying for on Princess?Yes, especially if food experiences matter to you. The included dining on Princess is already good, but specialty restaurants like Crown Grill and Sabatini's offer a noticeably elevated experience. If you're only considering one or two meals, paying à la carte makes sense. If you're on Premier, the unlimited specialty dining option can become excellent value over a longer sailing.

What is the Sanctuary Collection on Sun Princess and Star Princess?On these newer ships, Sanctuary access is built into specific cabin categories (Sanctuary Balcony, Mini Suite, and Suite) rather than sold separately. These cabins bundle Sanctuary access with enhanced dining, the Premier package, priority boarding, and preferred entertainment seating. For travelers wanting a premium experience without full luxury cruise pricing, it's worth comparing against standard cabin prices before booking.

Not sure which upgrades are right for your trip? Take the free 2-minute quiz to find out what kind of cruiser you are — it'll help you decide what's actually worth paying for based on your travel style.👉 Find My Cruise Style

Want help planning your Princess Cruise?I work with first-time and infrequent cruisers to cut through the overwhelm and figure out exactly what's worth your money — and what isn't. No sales pitch, just honest advice.👉 Work With Me