Princess Adds Fees for Pre-Cruise Medallion Shipping, OceanNow Anywhere Delivery
by Dori Saltzman
Effective August 12, Princess Cruises will begin charging for some food and services that previously didn’t cost anything. This includes pizza at Aldredo’s (and Gigi’s), pre-cruise at-home delivery of Princess Medallions, as well as OceanNow anywhere delivery of food and drinks.
Simultaneously, the line has added a slate of new perks to its Princess Plus and Princess Premier fare add-ons, including waiving these new fees, along with complimentary prix fixe dining in several locations around the ship, priority embarkation, and free room service delivery.
New charges
The biggest change Princess loyalists will need to confront come August 12 is a new charge to eat at Alfredo’s (or Gigi’s on the newer ships). The fee is $14.99 and includes appetizer, pizza or pasta, and dessert. There is no option to only pay for pizza. The fee is waived for Princess Plus and Princess Premier cruisers — up to two times for Plus, but unlimited for Premier. Complimentary pizza for everybody is still available at Slices.
Additionally, cruisers looking to have food and drinks delivered to them anywhere onboard their cruise ship via the OceanNow on-demand, location-based delivery service will have to pay a one-time activation fee of $14.99 for the service. As part of a new slate of perks added to Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages, guests with either of those packages will have that activation fee waived.
The same holds true for the new $10 per stateroom fee that Princess is now charging to have Medallions shipped to cruisers’ homes before they sail. The $10 fee also provides “Green Lane” access at the port – so long as all travel information and documents have been completed ahead of time.
Green Lane access enables cruisers to proceed directly to the ship with no lines.
Cruisers without Princess Plus or Princess Premier who choose not to pay the $10 fee will not be given “Green Lane” status, even if they’ve filled everything out on the Princess app ahead of time.
More casual dining options, no additional cost for Plus/Premier
Also starting August 12, guests with either package will be able to partake in complimentary three-course prix fixe dining options in the ship’s casual specialty dining venues, including Salty Dog Pub, Ocean Terrace, Vines, O’Malleys, Planks, Steamers, and as mentioned above, Alfredo’s, and GiGi’s. Cruisers with Princess Plus are entitled to two free prix fix meals, while those with Princess Premier are granted unlimited casual dining prix fix meals.
For those without Princess Plus or Princess Premier – and Plus cruisers who have already used their two free meals – the prix fixe menu will cost $14.99, with individual selections still available at a la carte pricing.
“Great food is fundamental to the Princess Cruises experience,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. “By incorporating our casual dining experiences into the Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages, guests can now indulge in more memorable meals tailored to their dining style preferences without hesitation, all while enjoying unparalleled value.”
Complimentary room service delivery for Plus/Premier
Another new perk for Princess Plus and Princess Premier cruisers will be the waiving of the $5 per delivery room service fee. All guests will continue to enjoy complimentary traditional stateroom breakfast room service using the classic door hangar menu.
