p.pete

Is a 'chocolate cookie iced chocolate' a drink? sounds amazing, if anyone could elaborate on what it is!

Similarish - I am able to say all of the above but will still probably have a plus package. I don't cruise very often, my next time will be my third, so it's definitely a case of spoiling myself. I think if it was a longer cruise, or I had the luxury of spending more time cruising, I would definitely be assessing the cost of the packages differently - per day it definitely adds up quickly. I accept that it's a service industry - I'm paying more to not be sat at home drinking cheap plonk from a dirty glass I've bought and poured myself. Anyone ridiculing you for speaking sense, more fool them!

Absolutely - while I'd still assert that they're plucking numbers from the air, they are definitely doing it with all the information possible at their disposal. It's quite impressive that we subject ourselves to this level of digitisation for someone else's benefit. At home I'm nearly buying two bottles of wine for the equivalent of $15 (obviously vastly different when I drink somewhere beyond my front door), whereas they're making me do (simple) math that makes me think I come out ahead if I have only 3-4 glasses of the stuff. They're doing a very different math that involves wholesale prices and how we consume more or less if they can shift us round to different parts of the ship at different times of the day. Given we're only likely to have one (point-five to two) lunch(es) per day, it probably costs them more or less the same amount for us to go to the MDR or the buffet as Alfredos. If they filled Alfredos - selling the same product for $5 instead of $15 - they could have the MDR be the quiet place, or ease the bunfight for seats at the buffet, and have Alfredos generating money. It is more important to them to advertise the Plus & Premium packages as including free visits to Alfredos, even though the anecdotal evidence here is that they are empty. They are looking at a different picture than we are. Interesting all the same.

Yes, I think that I've heard from previous posts that there is a hit on your 15 drinks when you have a boozy desert - What happens when you're on you're third 'special' boozy desert of the day 😄

Simple math from my and your perspectives - I'm going to have x drinks, and I'm going to pay gratuities - I do or don't value having wifi, classes, desserts, casual dining etc - what are they each worth to me and add it all up. Less simple for Princess. They have to consider who is going to put their hand in their pocket and stump up $15 for a 'casual' pizza when the alternative is perfectly good choice of food for free from multiple locations elsewhere. They are plucking numbers from the air, they can make it $30 dollars and some people who don't do the math as well as we do would think wow, that alone is paying for a full day of my Plus package - they still wouldn't sell any pizzas. Or they could charge $5, sell a few more but probably there's more food waste at the buffet and people think why have they bothered to include that in a Plus package. I assume it's a full time job for someone to worry about these things, and if you're reading this as part of that job - well done.

So they used to be free, and were popular and busy. Now they're fully included with Premier, partially with Plus, and they're empty - yet we reckon ~70+% of people are on a package? Definitely making money off them now if they're being subsidised by people buying packages and then not using them. I'm looking forward to giving them a try at least 🙂 <edit> I guess they've totally got the price structure wrong for people who don't want to buy a package / trying to make it seem like more of a saving than it really is for people adding up the value of a package [I know the sensible people here only add up the things they assign value to when doing the math]

Sir's nuts even

Someone posted this yesterday - seems like you would definitely want to check onboard first, and maybe speak to a manager if it's the opposite to what you're hoping for.

Gelato definitely something I could have twice a day 😛

I didn't paste the Asterix 😄 "*Discount will be applied on board in the form of an onboard credit."

I think I would prefer free minutes too, rather than it be part of a package or paying outright to have it. I know if I have access I'll be using it, and I'd be happier if forced to switch off! Free minutes is a nice medium, it'd be useful to have it for emergencies but you'd be inclined to leave it alone otherwise.

"Choose from one-device or four-device packages starting from just $14.99 USD. Packages are available with additional savings as part of our Princess Plus and Princess Premier Packages. They can also be purchased pre-cruise and on board through the MedallionClass app. Platinum and Elite guests get an exclusive discount of 50% off*.

Like I said, it feels like there is less need to bother, now that I know more about the packages. But... since you asked, and maybe I'll end up talking myself back into definitely smuggling: - I might want to drink more of something not otherwise found onboard - we can bring onboard 12 cans of soda (actually, can we hide a few craft beers within these?) each, what am I going to drink these with? - After I've drank my one bottle of wine, and I want to drink something in my room, having something ready to hand would beat the faff of ordering from an app which I gather has a less extensive range than when you're physically at the bars, and may or may not turn up within an hour or two of ordering - Maybe 15 isn't enough some days (highly unlikely for me on any day, but not unimaginable) - It's a fun part of preparing for the cruise Another factor for the math - sure I might consume 3/4 drinks per day when I'm on holiday, but would I normally plan to spend $15 dollars on those drinks? If I'm having beers it's maybe more like 7 or 8 drinks before the math works out - I'm very happy drinking beer, wine or cocktails, so I'm still happy with the math. My guess is that a big intention of the packages is not necessarily to allow people to drink more freely, but to change their behaviour when they are on board. I'd be interested in, for people who smuggle on more drink and don't have a package, are they more likely to spend more time in their room or on their balcony? If I've smuggled less in, and have a package, then I assume I'm likely to spend more time at the bars, out in public, where I'm liable to start spending money on other things. All of a sudden in return for handing over $60 I get a few massively over-inflated drinks, and they get (in addition to keeping most of my $60) someone who has left their balcony and might now spend some money.

I have yet to go on a Princess Cruise and all this is definitely very interesting. Original question - very likely to get a package once onboard, so not booked yet. Very likely to be Plus, even on port days I can imagine us having 3+ drinks each; will give the pizza place a go to see what that (different kettle of interesting) is like; will probably use the fitness classes; and hey, I like sugar, I'll give the deserts ago. We'll probably try to smuggle extra booze on, but actually feels like less need to bother, knowing more about the packages... More interesting though is the amount of niggle the whole package question raises. Main themes seem to be: budget (boring, that's essentially would you order 3+ drinks from the bars / dining rooms, yes = package, no = no package) dislike of change - not the bargain it used to be, nickel & diming etc. - I'm in the very privileged position of having only done two previous cruises, pre 2020, so I'm likely to be able to enjoy it for what it is when I get there. I know, I'm lucky, but also interesting to hear the evolution of it all people wondering why it's anyone's business and can't we all get on with doing things in our own way without worrying about what others might be doing. Great, but, what else would we talk about?

You have me worried - I assumed the packages would cover any drink upto $15/$20 and you just pay the rest. Are there alcoholic drinks which are exceptions / exclusions? I can only think that, without looking at the price of sake ($10), @jwattle was just suggesting that of course it would be included, as it is alcohol, but only if it falls within the package's price limit. Separate but related question - is it possible to stop in at Ocean Terrace (and other casual and specialty dining locations) and just be there for drinks? E.g. at Ocean Terrace would stopping for just a sake be allowed, and if you were on a plus package would it instantly cost you one of your free bookings. Or is a $39 menu fee triggered if you stop at a premium restaurant, just wanting a coke?

Do you pay extra for consuming what is in your mini-bar fridge? I'm used to places having charges for anything you take from there! <edit> please ignore - able to search these things for myself but sometimes I forget that I can - I'm not 'elite' and won't be in a suite, so I won't expect a minibar 😄

In my experience (two cruises total, neither Princess) I would be very confident that the bar would serve soda.

My interpretation of the above is that the cafe does not have complementary water, but the bar very close to the cafe will have complementary water by the glass (both cafe and bar will have water by the bottle, 500ml, but that needs a package or else charged, and one of the two venues has larger bottles, and you pay extra for that regardless of package)

The luxury of time - you also get a cheaper cruise over 28 days than the OP's 7 day cruise. That's what I think a lot of people forget when grumbling about only 2 casual dining's included in the Plus package regardless of how long the cruise is - if you're on a longer cruise you're likely automatically getting a much bigger bargain already.

Is it possible to buy these Plus or Premium drinks packages without buying Plus & Premium? I know Plus comes with the Plus drinks package, and Premium with the Premium, but can they be separated out and if so, what is the cost for just the drinks package? I don't think I've seen it as an option anywhere to just get these as standalones (maybe a soft-drink only package...)

Does the Patter, or whatever it might be now, still exist in printed format, or is it only viewable on the app? Where is it available if it can be obtained - first time on (Sky) Princess will be next year!