princess cruise specialty dining cost

A Cruise Dining Experience That's Something Extra

Reconnect over a meal in our award-winning specialty restaurants.

Celebrate a birthday, anniversary or just the simple joy of sitting down with your favorite people – over steaks cut on board by our butchers in Crown Grill, handmade pasta in Sabatini's Italian Trattoria, or French bistro-style dining at Bistro Sur La Mer. Whatever cruise restaurant you choose, you’ll enjoy the meal and the moments spent together.

Specialty restaurant cover charge applies. Specialty restaurants, pricing, and menu items vary by ship and are subject to change.

A refined steakhouse that serves aged and hand cut, cooked-to-order steaks and premium seafood, including grilled shrimp and lobster. With a rich wood décor and a theater-style open kitchen, no wonder this specialty restaurant was named among the "Best Cruise Ship Steakhouses" by USA TODAY .

Watch Crown Grill Restaurant Video

Sample Menu: Crown Grill Menu (PDF)

Love Sabatini’s? (Or really good Italian dinners?) You’ll be happy to hear this popular specialty restaurant has returned to its roots. Think traditional Italian comfort cuisine. We have a new menu that embraces the old: tried-and-true family recipes our chefs brought with them from Italy, plus exquisite Italian wines and cocktails. You can even enjoy some shareable plates exclusively at Sabatini’s Trattoria on Enchanted Princess®. ​

Learn more about Sabatini's Italian Trattoria

Watch Sabataini's Italian Trattoria Video

Sample Menus: Dinner Menu (PDF) | Beverage Menu (PDF)

Seafood lovers, rejoice! Chef Rudi Sodamin, head of culinary arts, created a restaurant that’s just for you. It’s a celebration of our connection with the sea, featuring a menu with everything from broils to bakes to bisques. Choose from seasonal dishes made with local ingredients (and love), a catch of the day, lobster and raw seafood bar. ​

Sample Menu: The Catch by Rudi Menu (PDF)

Available on Enchanted Princess®, Majestic Princess®, and Sky Princess®.

This is more than just a traditional steakhouse, serving the highest quality cuts of beef, including New York strip steak, Porterhouse and Filet Mignon. Voted among the "Best Cruise Ship Steakhouses" by USA TODAY .

Available on Sapphire Princess®

Sample Menu: Sterling Steakhouse Menu (PDF)

Exclusively on Discovery Princess ® and Enchanted Princess ® .

Learn more about 360: An Extraordinary Experience

The Chef’s Table and Chef’s Table Lumiere are extraordinary treats for both gastronomes and gourmet novices. Enjoy chatting with the Executive Chef and other guests with Champagne and hors d'oeuvres, followed by an extravagant multicourse dinner complete with wine pairings. The Executive Chef hosts the evening and provides culinary details about the menu as well as stories about career experiences.

Learn more about the Chef's Table

Available on Diamond Princess®. 

Sample Menu: Kai Sushi Menu (PDF)

Watch O'Malley's Irish Pub Video

Available on Enchanted Princess®.

Additional charge applies.

Seafood lovers, the Shack is back! This fan favorite returns in Alaska in all its shell-cracking glory with casual seafood options you won’t want to miss. Tuck into a four-course meal of whatever tickles those taste buds – popcorn shrimp, clam chowder, even an Alaska-inspired steamer pot full of crab legs, shrimp, clams and mussels. You’ll find this pop-up dining event in the World Fresh Marketplace on select ships.

Available on the Discovery Princess®, Majestic Princess®, Royal Princess®, Crown Princess®, Ruby Princess®, Grand Princess®, and Sapphire Princess® on Alaska voyages.

Harmony, a Chinese culinary journey dining experience, features an innovative menu of contemporary Chinese cuisine with a masterful balance of ingredients and flavors.

Available on Majestic Princess®.

Sample Menu: Harmony menu (PDF)

A warm, inviting and easygoing gastropub. Try one of our innovative gourmet creations inspired by local pub favorites or devour a signature crafted burger. Offering a unique variety of beer, whiskey and cocktail selections, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Sample Menu: The Salty Dog Gastropub menu (PDF)

Available on Discovery Princess®, Crown Princess®, Emerald Princess®, and Ruby Princess®.

Enjoy classic steakhouse cuisine and premium seafood in a casual setting that recalls New Orleans. Relax with a crafted cocktail or glass of wine while settling in for live musical performances on select evenings.

Available on Coral Princess® and Island Princess®. 

Sample Menu: Bayou Cafe menu (PDF)

Choose a luxurious breakfast or experience the "ultimate" romantic dinner at sea: a sumptuous four-course meal, including succulent lobster tail and juicy steak, your beverage of choice, hors d’oeuvres, all served right on your balcony served by our dedicated waitstaff.

This experience may be purchased pre-cruise in Cruise Personalizer online or on board by contacting room service or inquiring with a member of Food & Beverage team.

Learn more about Ultimate Balcony Dining

Available on Enchanted, Regal, Royal and Sky Princess® in the piazza, Diamond Princess® while in Japan (served in the dining room).

Take your sweet tooth on a trip to the cafés of Florence with our authentic Italian gelato. (How authentic? It’s the only one at sea certified by “Ospitalita Italian.”) Handcrafted and prepared fresh daily, this yummy treat honors Bernardo Buontalenti, the man who created it, in a shop with hand-painted tiles and other Florentine flourishes.

Learn about our Certified Italian Gelato

*Gelateria currently on board Enchanted Princess. Gelato currently on board Discovery, Regal, Royal and Sky Princess®. Additional charge applies

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Food & Dining

Award-winning and made from scratch.

What's Included

A world of dining options at no extra cost.

Beverage Packages

Quality packages at a great value!

Princess Cruises Specialty Dining

(Nominal Charges apply. Specialty Restaurants vary by ship and are subject to change.)

SHARE, By Curtis Stone $39 per person

Chef Curtis Stone’s first restaurant at sea, SHARE, gives you an exclusive opportunity to enjoy the world-class cuisine of this award-winning chef and restaurateur. Featuring the finest ingredients at sea, Chef Stone’s exquisite menu offers enticing charcuterie, composed salads, handmade pastas, premium quality meats and decadent desserts, for a meal you’ll savor for years to come.

(Available on Ruby Princess, Emerald Princess and Sun Princess.)

Salty Dog Gastropub $12 per person

A warm, inviting gastropub developed in collaboration with Ernesto Uchimura, a founding chef of the original Umami Burger. Try one of our innovative gourmet creations inspired by pub favorites or devour The “Ernesto,”  a savory rib eye burger crafted exclusively for Princess by Chef Uchimura. Offering a unique variety of beer, whiskey and cocktail selections, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Sabatinis  $29 per person

Across the Princess fleet, more Executive Chefs hail from Italy than from any other nation. Savor signature Italian pastas and delicious seafood specialties inspired by these Italian culinary experts at arguably one of the “Best Cruise Ship Specialty Restaurants” at sea (USA Today).

Crown Grill $29 per person

A refined steakhouse that serves aged and hand cut, cooked-to-order steaks and premium seafood, including grilled shrimp and lobster. With a rich wood décor and a theater-style open kitchen, no wonder this specialty restaurant was named among the “Best Cruise Ship Steakhouses” by USA Today.

Sterling Steakhouse $29 per person

This is more than just a traditional steakhouse, serving the highest quality cuts of beef, including New York strip steak, Porterhouse and Filet Mignon. Voted among the “Best Cruise Ship Steakhouses” by USA Today.

Chefs Table (Please check with your travel agent for the per person cost)

The Chef’s Table is an extraordinary treat for both gastronomes and gourmet novices. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes galley tour with Champagne and hors d’oeuvres, followed by an extravagant multi-course dinner created and hosted by the executive chef.

Kai Sushi (Items sold a la carte)

An exquisitely decorated traditional sushi bar, serving up sushi and sashimi expertly prepared before your eyes. Dine at the sushi bar or enjoy an elegant restaurant experience.

(Available on Diamond Princess and Sun Princess.)

Bayou Cafe $29 per person

The first New Orleans-inspired specialty restaurant at sea, Bayou Café offers fresh and authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine, N’Awlins crawfish “mud bug” bisque, peel-and-eat shrimp, smothered gator ribs, chicken and chorizo jambalaya, and Porterhouse steak.

(Available on Coral Princess and Island Princess. )

Ultimate Balcony Dining (There are different packages that can be purchased, price varies)

Choose a luxurious breakfast or experience the “ultimate” romantic dinner at sea: a sumptuous four-course meal, including succulent lobster tail and juicy steak, your beverage of choice, hors d’oeuvres, all served right on your balcony served by Princess’ dedicated waitstaff.

Premium Chocolate Experiences – With Love

Norman Love—whose exquisite, silky, rich confections have been recognized by InStyle Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, and O, the Oprah Magazine—has designed some of the most decadent, hand-crafted treats in partnership with Princess for its exclusive Chocolate Journeys program, available onboard fleetwide. Trained in France, and named the Inaugural Inductee into the Chocolatier Hall of Fame by Dessert Professional Magazine, Love’s creations blend premium quality chocolate, unique flavors and artful designs that are perfect for any chocolate lover!

Please note that dining choices may vary by ship and prices are subject to change so check with your travel agent for details.

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Worth It? Everything to Know About Specialty Dining on a Cruise

Not sure what to expect when it comes to specialty dining on a cruise? That’s understandable. After all, these restaurants operate a little differently than others on the ship. Fortunately, we can walk you through any major questions you have, including if they are worth booking or not.

From exactly what specialty dining is on your cruise to reservations to saving money on these meals, we have you covered below…

What Is Specialty Dining on a Cruise?

First things first, what exactly is meant by “specialty dining”? Well, it used to be that you bought your cruise, paid the fare, and then you ate what you wanted on the ship. Over the years, cruise lines have continued to add more restaurants. Now with many more options, many of these restaurants now specialize in a specific type of cuisine (Italian, Mexican, steak, Asian, etc.) and charge a fee for you to eat there.

So you can dine in the dining room or buffet for no extra charge, or pay extra to eat in one of these restaurants.

Why Would I Want to Pay for Food When the Dining Room/Buffet Is Free?

Of course, it begs the question of why would you pay extra for a meal when you can just eat for no charge at a number of places around the ship? This includes the main dining room and the buffet.

The appeal of a specialty restaurant is several fold. Our favorite reason to dine there is that it’s our opinion that the food is simply better. Consider that the main dining room seats hundreds, if not more than one thousand people at once. Feeding that many people at once is a challenge, and it’s no surprise that there may be some reduction when it comes to quality. That’s not to say the food is bad, but we find it to be hit and miss.

Specialty restaurants serve far fewer people at once, and we think that improves the overall quality of dining. So instead of the crew in the kitchen pumping out literally hundreds of a certain kind of dish, your meal will have significantly more care taken to prepare it.

As well, we think there is an advantage when it comes to atmosphere. Instead of a massive dining hall or crowded buffet, the specialty restaurants are much smaller and more intimate. That makes them great for a “date night” or special occasion. It’s just like dining at a restaurant on land instead of sharing a room with hundreds of others.

How Does Pricing Work?

If you go to a restaurant on land, you’ll open up a menu and see the prices listed. Your bill will depend on what you order. Some specialty restaurants on cruise ships work the same way. However, most of them work on a flat-fee basis.

For example, say you go to the steakhouse on the ship. There, you’ll see a cover charge of, say, $49 per person. Then when you open the menu, you won’t see prices listed. Instead, you just order an appetizer, main dish, and a dessert, and it’s all covered under the charge. There’s no worry about seeing a huge bill at the end of your meal. You’ll know exactly what you’re going to pay.

How Much Do Restaurants Cost on the Ship?

The price you pay for specialty restaurants on the ship can vary widely based on where you want to eat. Some cruise lines like Royal Caribbean have low-end burger spots like Johnny Rockets where you can eat for a fee of around $10. Then there are places like hibachi grills or steakhouses that can be in the $40-50 per person range. Sometimes there are even exclusive seatings with head chefs and multi-course meals that can run upwards of $100 per person.

In other words, it’s not simple to say exactly what you’ll pay. It will be different based on the restaurant and cruise line you sail. As a rule of thumb, however, we’d suggest budgeting $30-60 per person for an evening meal.

Is Gratuity Included?

Head to a bar and get a drink and you’ll pay the menu price, plus an extra gratuity charge (typically around 18%). The same can apply to specialty dining, but you’ll want to read the fine print.

On some cruises, gratuity will be added to the cover charge. So a $40 meal will have an additional charge. At 18%, that would mean the $40 bill would actually be $47.20 all told.

Other cruise lines will have the total cover charge include the gratuity charge. In that case, the $40 charge will be all you pay in total. There will be a line for an additional tip on the bill, but you aren’t obligated to pay more if you don’t want to.

Are Drinks Included in the Cost of Dinner?

Unfortunately, drinks are not included in the price you pay to dine. Your charge covers only the food (and possibly gratuity). Basic drinks like water and tea will be free of charge. Cocktails, beer, soda, and others will be charged at the normal menu price.

If you have a drink package, you will be able to use it in the specialty restaurant just like you would at any bar.

Do I Need to Make a Reservation?

One pain about eating at specialty restaurants is that they can fill up quickly. It’s customary to need a reservation in order to eat at most spots if they are sit-down restaurants. Often, this is something you’ll need to make even before you board or at least well before the day you want to dine.

We’ve found that reservations can fill up quickly, so as soon as you know you want to eat somewhere, make the call or go online to book a spot.

That said, there are some extra fee spots that are more casual. In this case, you can simply walk up, order, and grab a seat. For those, you don’t need to reserve ahead of time.

Can I Eat Without a Reservation?

Say there is a spot you want to eat but you find all the reservations are filled. In that case, you might be out of luck, but there is still a shot you could eat. We’d suggest heading down to the restaurant either early in the evening or later when it’s closer to closing. You can let the host know you don’t have a reservation and ask if there might still be any space available.

It definitely doesn’t work every time, but there have been instances where we’ve been able to dine despite not having a reservation for that night.

What’s the Dress Code?

Not sure what to wear? It can be a little confusing for specialty restaurants. Some will specify a certain dress code but others leave it up to you. In general, you can use some common sense to know what to wear.

Booked for a meal at the inexpensive burger spot? Then you can assume it will be casual. Dining at the fancy steakhouse? Sure, you’ll want to dress up a little bit.

No matter what though, remember that it’s a cruise. Unless you wear something completely out of line (like a tank top and flip flops to a high-end restaurant), it’s likely to be just fine. Simply wear what you would wear to the main dining room and you’ll be ok.

Is There a Way to Eat at Specialty Restaurants for Less Money?

Want to try a restaurant but aren’t sure about spending the money? There are a couple of ways to save.

First, cruise lines often offer discounts for booking packages ahead of time. There may be a discount for a restaurant compared to the onboard price. Or there may be a multi-meal package that provides several meals in specialty restaurants at a discount to what they would cost individually.

Second, cruise lines sometimes offer lunch dining at a restaurant for a cheaper price than it costs for dinner. So you can go and get the same meal, but for considerably less than if you were to eat in the evening.

Are Specialty Restaurants Worth It?

There’s no doubt that having to pay more to eat at certain restaurants… after you’ve already paid hundreds or thousands for your cruise fare… can rub some passengers the wrong way.

Even so, specialty restaurants are now a fact of life on most cruise ships. You don’t have to eat there, but if you want the most options, then you’ll have to pay up.

The good news is that for a 7-day cruise, we’ve found it well worth it to eat at these restaurants 1-3 times. As mentioned above, we think the food in the main dining room can be hit or miss given the mass production of meals. As well, eating the buffet meal after meal quickly grows old.

So while we don’t love having to pay more, the value of eating an individually prepared meal in a much smaller setting is worth it to us. We also like the ability to eat a certain style of food when we crave it versus hoping we find something on the dining room menu, which is more broad.

That said, eating most or every meal in a specialty restaurant would pile up some significant charges at the end of your cruise. Instead, we think using it as a special treat here and there gives you the best plan of eating well without paying a lot.

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Princess Cruises: What Food is Included and What’s Extra?

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If you’re planning a Princess Cruise, you might be wondering which food is included or “free”, what drinks are included, and what extra charges you can expect at specialty restaurants.

While most meals and snacks are included on Princess Cruises , there are also few extras to be aware of. That said, the specialty restaurant options are quite good, and you might enjoy the experience and find the extra cost worth it.

In this post, I’ll share the Princess dining options that you’ll definitely want to be aware of!

What Food is Included on Princess Cruise Ships?

Out of all the mainstream cruise lines, Princess Cruises has some of the best choices of food available, for “free” or included. Most meals and snacks are included on Princess. As well, there are some drinks included with your cruise fare.

In this post you’ll find:

• Restaurant choices – fine dining and casual options
• Special food “events”
• Specialty Dining (not included) 
• Free drinks available

Please note that restaurant and food venues can vary from one cruise ship to another, as well as by itinerary.

Princess Dining Options – Our Experience

It’s no secret that my husband and I are Princess Cruises fans. We’ve had some amazing cruise experiences both as a couple, as a family with children and even on a large multi generational cruise .

One of our favorite parts about cruising is the cruise food! We love trying different meals and appetizers in the dining room, enjoying dessert at the International Cafe, and even ordering the free room service on occasion.

Princess Cruises is one of our favorite cruise lines, in part because the “free food” is really so good and the choices are plentiful.

While we occasionally go a specialty restaurant, we know most of our breakfasts, lunches, dinner and snacks will be the restaurants that are included.

We definitely have our favorite meals and dishes, and look forward to having them on every cruise!

I hope you’ll find this list of restaurants and foods which are included on a Princess Cruise helpful, as you plan your own cruise vacation.

Princess Cruises Dining – What’s Included

Main dining room – fine dining.

On Princess ships, you’ll have a choice of both traditional seating (early or late) or Anytime Dining, a flexible open dining option. The main dining room serves a 4 course meal each evening between about 5 and 9 pm. 

You’ll have a choice of several menu items that change nightly – appetizers, soups and salads, main dishes and desserts. There’s always a “heathier” option available as well as a vegetarian dish.

In addition to the nightly menu, you’ll find a few “Princess favorites” which are available each night.

Some Princess classics include the famous Fettuccine Alfredo, which can be ordered as a main meal or appetizer portion, Ceaser salad, and delicious broiled salmon.

Pro tip – If more than one option appeals to you, feel free to order more than one meal, appetizer or dessert. You may even want to order an item to share with your table.

Main Dining Room Lunch

If you enjoy a more leisurely midday meal, lunch is served in the main dining room on sea days. In contrast to the dining room in the evening, there isn’t a dress code , and resort casual is perfect.

Pro tip – Avoid the buffet on embarkation day , and instead, head to the Main Dining Room (MDR) for a more relaxing and delicious first day lunch.

The main dining room is open for a sit down breakfast. If you enjoy being served and taking your time, I think you’ll appreciate breakfast in the MDR ( cruise lingo acronym ).

Menu items include tradional American breakfast items like pancakes, omelets, and my favorites eggs benedict and bagels and smoked salmon or lox. As well, fresh fruit, cereals, yogurt and pastries are available.

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International Cafe

The International Cafe is located in the Piazza, the beautiful Atrium and central hub on Princess Cruise ships. It’s an absolute favorite for for Princess cruisers! 

Open 24 hours a day (yes, perfect for night owls and early risers), the International Cafe serves some of the most delicious casual food at sea.

In the morning you’ll find pastries and other baked goods, hot egg sandwiches, yogurt parfaits and fresh fruit bowls.

Don’t miss the “Chocolate Journeys” pastries by Norman Love.

My favorite? The nutella donuts!! While unfortunately not available every day, they are worth every single calorie!

At lunch, there is an excellent choice of salads, such as shrimp with fennel, greek salad, waldorf chicken salad, watermelon and goat cheese and more. As well, you can grab a sandwich or delicious grilled panini, just like at a cafe at home, except you won’t be charged!

Don’t you love that feeling?

Of course, there are also desserts and treats served through the day and evening.

Almost everything at the International Cafe is free, so no need to pay extra.

The exception is that there is Gelato available for a small charge as well as chocolate covered strawberries – so these items aren’t included with the cruise fare.

International Cafe – Beverages

While coffee and tea is available free of charge in the buffet, the main dining room and even in room service, the specialty and brewed coffee at the International Cafe has an additional charge .

If you’re a coffee lover, I highly suggest buying a New Grounds Coffee Package . The package includes a limited amount of specialty coffees or teas, and unlimited brewed coffee throughout your cruise vacation.

If you love fresh brewed coffee, this is well worth it!

Recommended:   Princess Cruises Drink Packages (with bar menus and drink photos)

The Buffet: Horizon Court/World Fresh Marketplace

On Princess cruise ships, you’ll have a large choice of food available at the buffet. Depending on the ship, the buffet may be called Horizon Court Buffet, Caribe Cafe or World Fresh Marketplace.

There’s a large choice of food available at breakfast, lunch, dinner, daytime and late night snacks. Desserts including ice cream and pastries are also available.

The choices at the buffet are plentiful for breakfast, and include an omelet station, bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon, pancakes, french toast and bacon, fruits, cereals, and yogurts.

You can also find vegetarian choices as well as gluten-free options.

Lunch and Dinner

Lunch and dinner will have hot food choices including roast meats, fish, pasta and other side dishes, pizza and a good size salad bar. Often, there will be an Italian or German theme, with regional food specialties.

24 hour Free Room Service

Princess Cruises FREE room service is really worth noting. While many mainstream cruise lines have started charging a fee for room service, this is still included on a Princess Cruise.

In your cruise cabin, you’ll find a menu of breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack options. You can also order from your Ocean Medallion app right from your phone.

Poolside Grill

The poolside grill offers fresh “fast food” like hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, veggie burgers, chicken burgers, nachos and chili fries. It’s a very popular place for casual food from noon through evening.

Pizzeria (by the Pool)

Princess Pizza has been voted the “best pizza at sea” by USA Today, and more importantly (in my opinion), by many real Princess Cruisers!

Each day, the poolside pizzeria serves amazing freshly made pizza. 

On a recent cruise, they also had stromboli, california flatbreads and meatballs, so do take a look for what’s new on the menu.

Soft Serve Ice Cream

Also by the pool, soft serve ice cream in vanilla, chocolate and twist is available free of charge.

However, milkshakes are not included in your cruise fare. Consider one of Princess’ beverage packages , where this is included.

Alfredo’s Pizzeria

Alfredo’s Pizzeria is one of our all-time favorite cruise ship restaurants. Beyond pizza, Alfredo’s has a delicious menu which includes a caprese salad, veal stuffed baked ravioli, a very flavorful calzone, tiramisu and more!

Alfredo’s isn’t available on all Princess Cruise ships, but we were fortunate to have one on Regal Princess.

If you are going on Regal Princess or another ship with an Alfredo’s, I highly suggest reading my review here for tips you can use.

Afternoon Tea on Sea Days

Have you ever wanted to have afternoon tea in the main dining room during your cruise? We had for several years, but somehow we were always busy on sea days.

Finally, on a Back to Back cruise on Regal Princess , we tried it.

We were so glad we did!

During afternoon tea, small tea sandwiches were served, along with scones and cream and jam, as well as petites fours and small pastries.

It was really lovely and worth going.

To note, for an even more “special” experience, you may want to reserve a more intimate afternoon tea option. While there’s an extra charge, it was definitely more “fancy”. There was an option for champagne included, which was a nice touch.

Read our Regal Princess cruise review HERE

Princess Cruise Video

Here’s a video where I share 10 things we love about Princess Cruises , including the cruise food. If you enjoy cruise related content, please consider subscribing to the Life Well Cruised channel.

British Pub Lunch on Sea Days

It seems not many people know about this. On sea days, Princess cruise ships have a British Pub Lunch which is often served in the Wheelhouse Bar.

Some of the menu items include fish and chips, prawns and chips (this is breaded shrimp and french fries), bangers and mash and some other traditional British Pub food.

It’s a nice change from the buffet and poolside grill, and is a fun casual food option that we’ve only found on Princess.

Pro tip – Make sure to check your Princess Patter and arrive a few minutes early, as there will be a line up.

Vines Sushi and Tapas

While not officially a free food option, Vines Wine Bar does offer complimentary sushi and tapas with a wine purchase. It has a wonderful  atmosphere and a great place for a pre-dinner stop.

Princess Cruises Specialty Dining – Not Included in the Cruise Fare

While specialty restaurants aren’t included in your Princess cruise fare, these options might be worth splurging on during your cruise. If you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply want a romantic dining experience , I think you’ll enjoy these options.

Here are some favorite Princess Cruises restaurants and food options that have an extra charge:

Sabatinis is an elegant restaurant with a delicious menu of traditional Italian dishes; antipasti, fresh pasta dishes, meat and fish dishes, and decadent dessert. It’s a favorite for special occasions.

Price: $29 USD per person, $14.50 per child ages 3-12.

Crown Grill

A favorite cruise ship steakhouse, Crown Grill serves the best cuts of steak, chops and seafood. The side dishes, soups, salads and desserts are also delicious.

When dining at Crown Grill, you’ll also have a choice of sea salt blends to complement your steak or main meal.

*Menus will be at the bottom of this post

Share by Curtis Stone

The Curtis Stone restaurant on Princess Cruises, SHARE, serves a 6 course meal with a “fresh approach to fine dining”. Not available on all Princess Cruise ships, Curtis Stone dishes are available, for free, on the main dining room menu nightly.

Price: 29$ USD per person

Ultimate Balcony Dining (Breakfast & Dinner)

Ultimate Balcony Dining is a very special experience on Princess Cruises! This upgraded room service experience is available for both breakfast and dinner and is perfect for a romantic couples cruise .

Ultimate Balcony Dining Dinner

The Ultimate Balcony Dinner includes a gourmet 4 course meal, served elegantly on your private balcony by your very own waiter. The dinner menu includes steak and lobster dishes, although menu options can be substituted for preference and dietary restrictions.

Also included, is a glass of champagne or wine to start, and a decadent dessert to finish the meal. You’ll even have some fresh flowers to set the mood.

Price: $100 USD per couple

Ultimate Balcony Breakfast

Although continental breakfast is available for free on Princess, the Ultimate Balcony Breakfast is a little bit of extra luxury!

You’ll be served an expanded menu of pastries, fresh fruit, smoked salmon and quiche, as well as a half bottle of chilled champagne.

Price: $45 USD per couple

Princess Cruises Chef’s Table

For a very special experience, consider signing up for the Chef’s Table Lumiere.

You’ll visit the ship’s galley for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, and enjoy a multi-course dinner hosted by the executive chef. Guests rave about this!!

The Chef’s Table experience is limited capacity at 12 people per seating, so sign up early if you’d like to be partake.

*Price: $90-$110 USD p/p

*Price with wine/alcohol: $110-125 USD p/p

*The price may vary depending on the cruise ship

Crab Shack is a pop up restaurant of sorts that is usually located in the Horizon Court Buffet. It features a wide selection of seafood, including clams, shrimp, crab legs and more!

Crab Shack will be offered on select nights of your sailing, so check once you board to reserve a place.

Price: $29 USD per person

Free Drinks on Princess Cruises

Many people ask what drinks are included on Princess Cruise ships.

Coffee, tea, unsweetened ice tea, lemonade and water (not bottled) are included on Princess Cruises. As well, milk and fruit juice is available in the morning in the buffet.

Soft drinks, all alcohol including wine, beer and cocktails, milkshakes, bottled water, and specialty coffees are not included on Princess Cruises.

Please be aware that brewed,  as well as specialty coffee and tea served in the International Cafe is not included, and has an additional charge.

Princess does have several drink packages available to suit your preferences.

I highly recommended reading this post for more info: What’s Included in Princess Cruises Drink Packages

Bringing Wine Onboard

Princess cruises allows you to bring your own wine onboard. While you can bring 1 bottle per adult in your carry on bag on embarkation day, Princess actually will allow you to bring additional bottles, and will simply charge a $15 corkage fee as you board.

A corkage fee may be applied if you bring your wine bottle to the main dining room or any restaurants.

Bringing water bottles and soft drinks is permitted. Bringing hard alcohol (liqueur and spirits) is not allowed and can be confiscated if you do.

Are there any “free drinks” on Princess?

Complimentary cocktails and sparkling wine are served at Captain’s Club parties (invite only). You can also head to an art auction where sparkling wine is often served. On a formal night, you’ll find the Champagne Waterfall in the Piazza and sparkling wine is often served as well.

Always check your Ocean Medallion app or Princess Patter for activity details and so you don’t miss a thing!

If you’re going on a Princess Cruise, check out this blog post or YouTube video with the Best Princess Tips & Secrets.

A BIG thank you to members of the Princess Cruise Lovers Facebook Group and Life Well Cruised Community who contributed some wonderful and delicious looking photos!

Recap: What Foods are included on Princess Cruises?

In this this post I shared food and restaurant options that are free or included on Princess Cruise ships. Beyond the main dining room and buffet, there are many great options for breakfast, lunch and dinner – and snacks!

The 24 hour International Cafe has something delicious to eat literally all day and night! Plus, don’t forget to try the afternoon tea or British Pub Lunch.

In addition to the food options that are included, Princess has some amazing specialty restaurants and experiences that have an additional charge. These specialty dining options offer a more romantic experience , and are perfect for celebrating a special occasion.

Related Princess Cruises posts to read next:

Princess Cruises: 15 Tips, Tricks and Insider Secrets

21 Things You Need to Know About Ocean Medallion

Princess Cruises Ocean Medallion: Updates & New Features

12 Top Reasons to Cruise with Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises Drink Packages (with bar menus and drink photos)

Princess Plus: What’s Included and Is it Worth it?

Have you cruised with Princess before? What’s one of your favorite restaurants or food options on board? If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments below.

*Please see below for sample menus (more added over time so please check back)

Happy cruising!

P.S. If you’ve enjoyed this, please don’t keep it to yourself ;-)! Please share it with a friend, on Facebook or save for later on Pinterest. Thanks so much!

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Well written and a joy to read. I miss cruising and I am looking forward to cruising resuming soon. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks May! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I’m missing cruising as well… Hopefully it won’t be too much longer

Thanks for all your advise! I’ve been on 17 cruises (5 with Princess) and I still learn new things from your posts and videos. Now if we could actually go on a ship and sail somewhere that would be great. I have a cruise tour booked on the Enchanted Princess in June 2021 to Italy and the Western Med that I hope doesn’t get cancelled or not allow Americans. This cruise has been on my bucket list for a long time. Keep up the good work and I enjoy the pictures of you and your family.

So glad you enjoyed this and it could be helpful, even for a seasoned cruiser like you! That cruise sounds amazing,and I sincerely hope things improve and you’re able to go!

Thanks so much for your kind words and for taking the time to comment.

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The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises ships and itineraries

Call it the cruise line for people who want a big amenity-filled ship that isn't a floating amusement park.

Princess Cruises operates relatively large, reasonably priced vessels. But unlike many of its competitors in that space — most notably Royal Caribbean , Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises — it doesn't load them up with sprawling water parks, go-kart tracks, laser tag courses and other flashy, family-focused diversions.

Compared to most of its big ship-operating rivals, Princess is known for a more serene, almost old-school style of cruising that isn't about a lot of gee-whiz attractions.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

As Princess executives like to say, the line is all about warm and gracious service in an atmosphere of comfortable elegance designed to spark connections among passengers.

Instead of bustling attractions, the top decks on the typical Princess ships offer lots of quiet and relaxing pool and lounge areas where you can enjoy the experience of being at sea without a lot of hustle and bustle. Inside, the experience revolves around dining, classic showroom entertainment and a classy bar and music scene — just as it has on Princess ships for years.

This is, notably, just the way Princess customers like it. Popular with middle-aged couples, retirees and multigenerational families, the "Love Boat" line caters to people who like a more traditional type of cruising than you'll find on the vessels of most other big-ship lines.

Related: Which cruise brand is right for you? A guide to the most popular lines

3 things TPG loves about Princess Cruises

• The abundance of outdoor pool and lounge areas on its ships
• Its expansive spas
• Its far-flung itineraries

What we could do without

• The lack of big suites on most of its vessels

The Princess Cruises fleet

Princess has downsized its fleet considerably in recent years with the removal of five vessels, but it's still the world's fifth-biggest cruise line by passenger capacity, with 16 ships that together offer roughly 50,000 berths.

In general, Princess operates big ships, though they're not quite as big as the vessels operated by Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises — the two lines best known for giant ships. The biggest Princess vessel, the line's new Sun Princess , measures around 177,000 tons. That's about 29% smaller than the biggest ship operated by Royal Caribbean. The line's Royal Class vessels are more than 40% smaller than the biggest Royal Caribbean ships.

Sun Princess is, without a doubt, the belle of the ball in the Princess fleet. Newer, bigger and more venue-filled than the line's other ships, it debuted in early 2024 and carries 4,300 passengers at double occupancy.

Also relatively new and chock-full of lots of venues are the line's five Royal Class ships, which measure between 142,229 and 145,281 tons. These vessels began rolling out in 2013 and carry about 3,600 passengers apiece at double occupancy.

Still, the biggest cohort of ships in the Princess fleet are its seven Grand Class vessels. Unveiled between 1998 and 2008, the vessels in this class are smaller than Sun Princess and the Royal Class ships at around 107,000 to 116,000 tons in size. This smaller size allows them to operate a wider range of itineraries than the Royal Class ships, but they're still big enough to offer a lot of onboard venues. The Grand Class ships carry between 2,600 to 3,100 passengers at double occupancy.

Rounding out the Princess fleet are its two Coral Class ships, which, at around 92,000 tons, are the smallest of the line's ships. They each carry around 2,000 passengers at double occupancy.

The downsizing of the Princess fleet over the past few years had a lot to do with the COVID-19 pandemic. Three ships left the Princess fleet starting in 2020 as part of an effort to cut costs during the line's coronavirus-caused global shutdown. Another two vessels — Golden Princess and Star Princess — had been scheduled to leave the Princess fleet even before the pandemic began. They were transferred to one of the line's sister companies, P&O Cruises Australia.

The line currently has one more vessel on order that will be a sister to the recently unveiled Sun Princess. To be called Star Princess, it's due to debut in August 2025.

Destinations and itineraries

Princess Cruises sails to more than 100 countries on seven continents, from North America and Europe to Asia and Australia, and it offers a wide range of itineraries — around 170 in a typical year. The line's ships visit more than 380 different ports and destinations and take passengers to more than 100 UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Among the line's voyages, you'll find everything from three-day sampler cruises down the Pacific Coast to 116-day around-the-world voyages.

Princess is particularly known for cruises to Alaska , where it dominates the market for cruises along with sister line Holland America . In a typical year, Princess deploys seven or eight ships to Alaska in the summer — far more than most other lines. It also operates its own wilderness lodges in the state, as well as tourist trains and buses. It uses the lodges, trains and buses to offer a range of 10- to 17-night Alaska cruisetours that combine a cruise with land-based touring.

Princess also typically deploys five to seven ships to Europe in the summer, and it has a big presence in Australia, where it can deploy as many as six ships for parts of each year. In recent years, it has also become a major player in cruises around Japan that cater to both American and Japanese travelers, as well as Australians.

In North America, Princess ships sail out of Fort Lauderdale; Los Angeles; San Francisco; San Diego; Seattle; Galveston, Texas; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Whittier, Alaska. There are also some sailings that depart from New York City, Quebec City and Honolulu.

In Europe, Princess ships mostly sail out of Southampton in the United Kingdom; Copenhagen; Barcelona; Piraeus, Greece (the port for Athens); and Civitavecchia, Italy (the port for Rome).

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Princess Cruises ship

Who sails Princess Cruises

Princess appeals to an older demographic than lines such as Carnival and Norwegian. The average age of passengers is around 54, and you'll usually see a lot of couples on board in their 50s, 60s and 70s.

As noted above, these aren't people necessarily craving go-kart tracks and ropes courses at sea. They're people looking to explore the world in a comfortable, classy sort of way that also is relatively affordable. That last part is key. Princess offers a lot of globe-circling itineraries of the sort often available from high-end luxury lines. However, it does so at a much lower price.

While not the biggest line for families with young children, Princess does draw a lot of multigenerational family groups. It's the line you take if you want an affordable ship that'll appeal to your 70-year-old parents as much as your 12-year-old kid.

Princess also draws a lot of passengers celebrating milestones. The line markets heavily to people marking birthdays and anniversaries with special packages and programs. It's also a huge player in the market for destination weddings at sea, with a division that will help you arrange a ceremony on board or at an exotic location on land during a port call.

Princess was, notably, the first cruise line to host modern-day weddings on ships, offering ceremonies officiated by the ships' captains hosted in onboard chapels.

It is, after all, the "Love Boat" line.

Cabins and suites

When it comes to rooms, Princess is sort of the Marriott of the big-ship cruise world. Its rooms are comfortable and functional but a bit bland. Avant-garde style is not a Princess thing.

The vast majority of the accommodations on Princess ships fall into one of three broad categories: windowless inside cabins, oceanview cabins and balcony cabins. Balcony cabins, in particular, are widespread on Princess ships. Among mass-market lines, Princess was the pioneer in adding large numbers of balcony cabins to ships.

While balcony cabins are common on Princess ships, you'll find relatively few suites on them. Just 50 of 2,162 cabins on the line's new Sun Princess are suites, for instance, and that's a lot more suites than you'll find on most other Princess ships.

What this means is there aren't a lot of ways to live large on a Princess ship or to pack a lot of people into a single accommodation. Until the debut of Sky Princess in 2019, the line didn't have a single cabin that could accommodate more than four people.

That said, the Grand Class vessels each offer two Family Suites that can be created by connecting a Mini-Suite with an adjacent inside cabin to form a six- to eight-person complex.

Unveiled five years ago, Sky Princess featured the line's first truly large stand-alone suites, dubbed Sky Suites. Such suites were added to the line's Discovery Princess, too.

There are two of the suites on each of the ships, and they measure a generous 1,800 square feet (though more than half of that space is taken up by a huge wraparound balcony). With two bedrooms plus a living room with a pullout sofa, they're designed for up to five people.

The line's new Sun Princess also has several large suites that measure as much as 1,260 square feet.

Still, even the biggest suites of Sky Princess, Discovery Princess and Sun Princess aren't the truly epic suites with huge interior living spaces that you'll find on the latest Royal Caribbean or Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships. If that's what you're after, Princess isn't your line.

Related: The 7 best cruise ship suites — picked by someone who has seen them all

Restaurants and dining

Every Princess vessel has three main dining rooms where meals are included in the fare, and these dining rooms are at the heart of the dining experience on Princess ships. Many passengers have all or most of their dinners in a main dining room.

As of this year, the three main dining rooms on each Princess ship operate under different formats. At one of the main rooms, you can make a reservation for any time, provided a table at the time you want is available. To ensure the time you want, it's best to reserve a table far in advance of your sailing, which you can do online once you've paid for the cruise in full. You also can make reservations on board ships during your cruise.

At another of the main dining rooms, you can just show up for dinner at any time without a reservation and be seated on a space-available basis.

The third main dining room on every Princess ship offers a fixed-time "traditional" seating option where you can request the same table at the same time with the same waiter every night of a cruise.

Every vessel also has a casual buffet eatery where meals are included in the fare. Near the main pool area on most ships, it's usually called Horizon Court but is also known as the World Fresh Market or Panorama Buffet on some vessels.

Other covered options on at least some Princess ships include poolside pizza outlets and poolside grills serving burgers. Also, on sea days, Princess transforms a bar or dining venue at lunchtime into an included-in-the-fare English-style pub. It serves traditional pub food such as fish and chips and cottage pie, along with Bass Ale or Guinness (for an extra charge).

Every Princess ship also has at least a couple of extra-charge eateries. On most ships, you'll find the line's signature Italian restaurant, Sabatini's. It serves homemade pasta, seafood and other Italian specialties in an elegant setting and comes with a flat fee of $45 per person.

Most Princess ships also have a signature steakhouse. On most vessels, it's called Crown Grill and offers premium beef and seafood cooked to order in an open, theater-style kitchen. On two ships — Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess — it's called Sterling Steakhouse, where passengers choose their cut of steak from a tray presented by their waiter.

On two ships — Coral Princess and Island Princess — the steakhouse has a Cajun and Creole twist. In addition to steak dishes, the menu features New Orleans-style peel-and-eat shrimp, alligator ribs and gumbo. On those vessels, it's called the Bayou Cafe and Steakhouse.

All the steakhouses come with a flat fee of $45 per person.

Princess ships also offer a chef's table experience — a concept the line pioneered in the cruise world. Costing $95 to $115 per person, it includes pre-dinner cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the ship's galley with the executive chef before a main dining experience at a private table in the dining room.

Another dining option that recently began popping up on Princess ships is a seafood eatery called The Catch by Rudi, designed by Princess' head of culinary arts, Rudi Sodamin. (Holland America fans will remember Sodamin as that line's longtime master chef.)

The Catch by Rudi is only on Sun Princess, Enchanted Princess, Sky Princess, Majestic Princess and Discovery Princess. Like the Princess steakhouses, it has a $45 per person cover charge.

Related: Cruise ship restaurant nirvana: The 10 best meals you can have at sea

Entertainment and activities

Princess ships are loaded with entertainment that ranges from Broadway-style theater shows to street entertainers who appear in each vessel's central piazza. That said, they're not floating amusement parks. Unlike some big-ship lines, Princess isn't topping its vessels with waterslides, go-kart tracks, ropes courses and other family-focused attractions.

Theaters and shows

There's no shortage of theater and lounge entertainment on Princess ships. On a typical night, you might find a flashy, fast-paced production show playing in the main theater, a comedian performing in a secondary lounge and live music on offer in several more venues.

In many cases, the main theaters on Princess ships are quite elaborate, with Broadway-show-level lighting and special effects, and the productions housed within the theaters are elaborate, too.

Princess has upped its game with its theater productions in recent years through a partnership with Stephen Schwartz, the Tony Award-winning composer of "Wicked," "Godspell" and "Pippin."

Among new productions that Schwartz has worked on is "The Secret Silk," which features life-size puppetry from Jim Henson's Creature Shop, dancing and special effects. It was created and directed by John Tartaglia, a star of Broadway's "Avenue Q" and "Beauty and the Beast."

Princess is also known for its karaoke nights, and it holds a "The Voice of the Ocean" competition during cruises, which is a spinoff of the TV show. Passengers compete in a live performance after karaoke auditions and rehearsal sessions with the shipboard band and backup singers. A team of coaches sits in giant "I Want You" chairs, just like on the show, and passengers vote to choose the winner.

Other interior attractions and activities

In addition to entertainment spaces, the interiors of Princess ships are filled with other venues where passengers can kick back and let loose day and night, including a range of bars, lounges and nightspots.

On many ships, the hub of activity is the Piazza, a sprawling, multilevel space that serves as a central gathering place, like a square in Italy. The configuration of the Piazza varies by ship, but the area typically offers several shops, a coffee bar called International Cafe, a wine bar called Vines and (on some vessels) additional bars and eateries. The Piazza is also home to roving street performers.

Every Princess ship also has a casino, often just off the Piazza, and spas are big on Princess ships. The Lotus Spa complexes on the line's Royal Class ships offer nearly two dozen treatment rooms, an extensive beauty salon and a thermal suite with a hydrotherapy pool, heated stone beds, a Turkish-style steam bath and other steam chambers.

Several of the newer Princess ships, including Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess, have jazz clubs called Take 5.

In addition to such venues, Princess offers a lot of enrichment activities on its ships. The line has partnered with Discovery to offer a Discovery at Sea program on vessels that includes activities like stargazing with a specialist from a top deck. The program also brings destination specialists and naturalists on board in places such as Alaska to offer insights.

Inspired by Discovery's popular "Shark Week," Princess has also created Shark Week at Sea programming that runs on select sailings in the summer with activities and games designed to challenge both adults and kids on the myths and interesting facts about sharks.

Culinary demonstrations, wine tastings and dance classes also are popular on Princess ships.

Top-deck attractions

The top decks of most Princess ships are notable for what they don't have: There are no roller coasters or pedal-powered sky rides like you'll find on Carnival ships or the go-kart tracks that top some Norwegian vessels. There are no surfing simulators, sky diving simulators, rock climbing walls or zip lines of the sort found on Royal Caribbean vessels. For the most part, there aren't even waterslides or watery splash zones (two vessels, Caribbean Princess and Sun Princess, do have splash zones).

Princess executives long ago decided not to engage in what they call the "amusement park arms race" taking place among lines operating big resort-like ships.

Instead, the line has mostly stuck to the basics with its top decks. They are covered with relaxing pool and lounge zones — and lots of them.

On the last three Royal Class ships, for instance, there's a main pool area at the center of the top deck with two full pools and three hot tubs, plus a secondary pool area at the back of the ship with another pool. There's also an adults-only pool area toward the front of the vessel, along with an extra-charge, adults-only relaxation area called the Sanctuary.

Between all these pool and lounge areas running along the sides of the ship are additional sunning areas with lounge chairs and four more hot tubs.

In short, there is a ton of space for relaxing on the top deck of these newest Princess vessels — more than you'll find on any other ship of comparable size, save for their earlier sisters in the Royal Class.

The one big attraction that you will find on the top deck of Princess ships, always at the main pool area, is a giant Movies Under the Stars movie screen. A growing number of cruise ships now have movie screens on their pool decks, but Princess pioneered the concept.

The screens show movies, concerts and sporting events during the day, but at night, they really shine. In a longtime Princess tradition, the line turns the main pool areas of its ships into outdoor movie theaters at night by reconfiguring lounge chairs to face the screen and bringing out blankets to ward off the evening chill. They even serve popcorn.

Some ships also feature basketball courts, miniature golf putting courses, shuffleboard games and pingpong tables tucked into corners of their top decks.

Additionally, the new Sun Princess has a family-friendly play zone called Park19 with a hang-gliding-like ride experience, a ropes course and the previously mentioned splash zone — quite a bit more family-fun pizazz than has been the norm at the line. For now, it's the outlier in the Princess fleet when it comes to decktop amusements.

Children's programs

While it doesn't draw as many families with young children as Carnival or Royal Caribbean, Princess offers an extensive children's program that gets high marks from parents.

The Princess Youth and Teen centers were recently rebranded "Camp Discovery" as part of the line's partnership with Discovery Communications and offer free, supervised activities daily for children ages 3 to 17.

The line splits children in the program into three age groups: the Treehouse (ages 3 to 7 years), the Lodge (ages 8 to 12 years) and the Beach House (ages 13 to 17 years). Each age group often has its own separate facilities on ships. On some ships, the age groups may be further divided based on available space.

Each group has its own age-appropriate activities, with newly revamped experiences designed to "help young Princess explorers learn, play and create fun memories."

While the free programming for children ages 3 to 12 ends at 10 p.m., you can pay extra to leave your kids at shipboard Youth and Teen centers from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. During those hours, they're supervised in what is essentially a group child-sitting service.

The Youth and Teen centers also welcome children under the age of 3 if they are accompanied by an adult.

Related: The 15 best cruise ships for people who never want to grow up

What to know before you go

Required documents.

A passport is required for all international itineraries, including world cruises and sailings to Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, India, Central and South America, the Panama Canal (partial and full transit), Caribbean voyages that visit Martinique or Guadeloupe, the South Pacific and Tahiti.

If you're a U.S. citizen, you don't need a passport for many domestic itineraries (including Alaska, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, Hawaii and Mexico sailings). You can instead travel with an official copy of your birth certificate and a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification. A few other forms of identification, such as a passport card, are also acceptable. That said, Princess strongly recommends that all travelers bring a passport.

Passports must be valid for at least six months. The name on your reservation must be exactly as it is stated on your passport or other official proof of nationality.

Related: Where can I cruise without a passport?

Princess adds an automatic service gratuity of $16 to $18 per person, per day to final bills, depending on your cabin category. If you are unhappy with the service you receive, you can adjust this amount at the Guest Services desk before disembarking. (You can also increase the tip amount if so desired.) Also, an 18% gratuity is added to bills at bars, dining room wine accounts and spas.

Related: Tipping on a cruise: What to know about cruise ship gratuities

Princess has rolled out faster Wi-Fi systems with landlike speeds across its fleet in recent years, such that you now can stream video on ships. That's the upside. The downside is that such service costs a lot more than Wi-Fi access did in the past. Pricing changes over time, but the line was recently charging $24.99 per day to hook up a single device. That's an enormous increase from as recently as early 2023, when Wi-Fi access was available for just $9.99.

The faster Princess Wi-Fi system is called MedallionNet, and it's one of several technological upgrades that Princess has made to its ships in recent years under an umbrella called MedallionClass. MedallionClass also brings expedited embarkation, keyless cabin entry, on-demand food and beverage delivery, and the ability to locate friends and family on board — all via an app for mobile devices and a Princess-issued medallion that passengers carry while traveling.

Related: Wi-Fi on cruise ships: 5 things to know about internet use on board

Carry-on drinks policy

Princess allows you to bring one bottle of wine or Champagne per person onto ships at boarding at no charge (for consuming in your room; you'll be charged a $20 corkage fee if you want to bring it to an onboard restaurant or bar to drink). You can bring even more bottles of wine on board, but you will pay a $20 corkage fee per bottle.

Smoking policy

On all ships, smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is only allowed in designated outdoor areas and in cigar lounges, designated sections within nightclubs and at designated slot machines within casinos (for those who are playing). It's forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies. Passengers caught smoking in their cabins will be charged a $250 fine per occurrence. One exception to the above rule is that e-cigarettes are allowed in cabins (but not on cabin balconies).

Princess ships have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. There's a $3 per load charge to use a washer or dryer. The launderettes also have vending machines that dispense small boxes of detergent and water softener at $1.50 per box. Additionally, vessels offer extra-charge laundry and dry cleaning services.

Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry services

Electrical outlets

All vessels have standard North American-style, 110-volt outlets in rooms, and some also have European-style, 220-volt outlets and USB ports in cabins.

The currency used on most Princess itineraries is dollars. The exceptions are select sailings on ships based in Australia, where pricing is listed in Australian dollars. All vessels operate on a cashless system, with any onboard purchases you make posting automatically to your onboard account. You'll receive a medallion that you can use to make charges. This same card or medallion also is what lets you into your cabin.

Drinking age

You must be 21 to consume alcohol on many Princess itineraries. The exceptions include sailings between ports in Europe, China, Australia and New Zealand, and Singapore, where the drinking age is 18. For cruises between Japanese ports, the drinking age is 20.

During the day, there is no specific dress code, and people dress casually. If it's a sea day in a warm-weather destination, and you're bound for the top deck, that means looking like you're going to the beach — T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits (with a cover-up to go inside) are just fine.

At night, there is an official dress code that is enforced when entering restaurants. Most nights are designated as "smart casual," which Princess takes to mean pants and an open-neck shirt for men and skirts and dresses or slacks for women.

Beach attire, shorts, baseball caps and casual jeans (think: the fraying kind or those with holes) are not allowed. One or more nights per cruise, depending on the cruise length, will be designated as a "formal" night when men are expected to turn out in dark suits with a tie or even a tuxedo. The suggested attire for women on such nights is evening gowns or cocktail dresses.

Related: Cruise packing list: The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

Princess Cruises' loyalty program

Princess has a four-tier frequent cruiser program, the Captain's Circle, that is worth joining for the perks — if you're willing to bear with its convoluted tier qualifying structure.

You reach the first tier, Gold, by taking a single cruise. However, from there, you move to each successive tier either by accruing a certain number of "cruise credits" (which aren't necessarily the same as the number of cruises you've taken) or by sailing a certain number of days.

To reach the Ruby level, for instance, requires three cruise credits (more on those in a moment) or 30 days on Princess ships. Platinum status kicks in after five cruise credits or 50 days on ships.

Related: Princess Cruises' Captain's Circle loyalty program: Everything you need to know

In most cases, members earn one cruise credit for every cruise they take. However, members who book a suite or travel solo in a cabin meant for two will receive two cruise credits for the voyage. The number of cruise credits you have earned is thus often the same as the number of cruises you have taken, but not always.

As is typical with cruise line loyalty programs, lower tiers don't bring all that much in terms of truly valuable benefits. You'll receive things like an invite to a private party (at the Gold tier) and a free upgrade for your travel insurance package when buying it through the line (at the Ruby tier). However, higher levels of the program start to be enticing.

The second-to-highest tier, Platinum, brings such perks as priority check-in and boarding, and a free internet package.

The top Elite level (15 cruise credits or 151 cruise days) adds such things as an exclusive window to preview and book new itineraries, priority ship-to-shore water shuttle service, complimentary laundry and a complimentary minibar setup.

Members at all tier levels get access to special pricing on certain cruises. They also receive a monthly newsletter and a membership pin.

Note that, in contrast to airline frequent flyer programs, cruise line loyalty programs do not require you to requalify for status every year. So, yes, the perks with lower tiers aren't great. However, it's not as difficult as it might at first seem to hit the more rewarding higher-level tiers in just a few years if you're cruising a lot.

A Princess passenger staying in suites will hit the Platinum level after just three cruises. The top Elite level is reachable within just eight cruises for someone staying in suites.

Related: A beginners guide to cruise line loyalty programs

How much does a Princess cruise cost?

Princess ships are very reasonably priced. They're not the least expensive vessels out there, but they're not pricey by any means. It's possible to find Princess voyages to the Caribbean, the Bahamas or Mexico starting under $100 per person, per night, including all taxes and fees — at least in the offseason.

For instance, as of the date of this story's posting, six-night sailings from Galveston, Texas, to the Western Caribbean in February 2025 started at just $418 per person, not including taxes and fees of $138. That works out to just $93 per night, per person, with taxes and fees for a package that includes your lodging, transportation and meals.

As you might expect, pricing for ships will generally be lower during offseason periods such as September, October, November (not including Thanksgiving week) and parts of December.

When you book can also matter. Cruises book up much further in advance than airplanes or hotels. Many cruisers will tell you that the best pricing for any given sailing is often available when cruises first go on sale (which can be a good two years before a departure). Booking far in advance also gives you the best chance of getting your preferred cabin type and location on a ship.

Once on board a Princess ship, you'll pay extra for most drinks, extra-charge restaurants, spa services, shore excursions, internet service and a few other things — unless you've bought a package for some of these items in advance.

Specifically, the line now offers bundle pricing for extra-charge items such as gratuity fees, Wi-Fi fees and a few other fees for onboard items if passengers pay for them in advance.

The line's Princess Plus plan gives passengers prepaid gratuities, a single-device Wi-Fi plan, a basic beverage package and a few other freebies for a bundled price of $60 per person, per day.

An enhanced version of the above plan called Princess Premier gives you Wi-Fi access on more devices, a premium drinks package and other additional inclusions for $80 per person, per day.

Most onboard activities, such as theater shows, are included in the fare.

Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise

How to book

If you're sure you know what sort of cabin you want, on which ship, on which itinerary — and about a dozen other things — you can head over to Princess.com to make a booking directly.

That said, given the complexity of booking a cruise — there are a lot of decisions to make during the booking process, trust us — we recommend that you use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises.

A good travel agent will quiz you about your particular interests, travel style and preferences, and steer you to the perfect cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. They can also help you if something goes wrong just before, during or after your voyage.

If you're sure that Princess is your line, look for a travel agent who specializes in trips with the brand. You want someone who understands all the little quirks that are unique to Princess cabin categories and, preferably, has done ship inspections to see the cabins firsthand.

Related: How to book a cruise using points and miles

Whether you use a travel agent or not, make sure to maximize your credit card points when paying for the cruise by using a credit card that offers extra points for travel purchases . This could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , which offers 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and dining (excluding the annual up-to-$300 travel credit). There's also the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , which brings 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on dining.

Bottom line

Princess offers big, amenity-filled ships that are comfortable and classy at an affordable price.

If you're looking for a lot of top-deck fun zones — waterslides, go-kart tracks and the like — it's probably not the line for you. However, if you're on the hunt for not-too-expensive vessels that will take you to the farthest corners of the world in comfort, Princess ships should be on your shortlist.

It's also a great line if you're trying to put together a multigenerational trip, as its ships are designed to appeal to a wide range of age groups.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Princess Cruises is taking a page out of the ultra-luxury cruise industry with new all-inclusive, $3,000 cabins

• Princess Cruises says its new Sun Princess and upcoming Star Princess will have all-inclusive cabins.
• Guests who've booked the new Sanctuary Collection category would get an inclusive package and private lounge.
• It's a move that could appeal to ultra-luxury cruisers .

If you want to go on an all-inclusive vacation at sea, you no longer need to book an ultra-luxury, ultra-expensive cruise line .

Just sail on Princess Cruises' new ship instead.

In October, Princess says its two-month-old Sun Princess will debut in the US with the company's first-ever Sanctuary Collection, an adult-only lounge exclusive to guests who've booked one of the collection's high-end cabins. These luxurious accommodations comprise 10% of the ship's 2,157 staterooms, including all its suites.

But the Sanctuary's biggest perk arguably isn't the lounge's private pool and restaurant — it's the all-inclusiveness , a rarity among mass-market cruise lines.

It's the Carnival Corp. brand's latest appeal to ultra-luxury cruisers

Mass-market cruise lines like Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian typically follow the " budget airline " strategy: charge a cheap base fare and offer plenty of irresistible up-charged amenities (like specialty restaurants, as is the case of Sun Princess).

It's a stark contrast to the high-end cruise industry, where all-inclusivity is often considered the standard.

For example, luxury cruise line Explora Journey's fare includes alcoholic beverages, WiFi, and access to the spa — amenities that would typically cost extra on ships like Sun Princess. On Regent Seven Seas , all this, plus excursions, pre-cruise hotels, and roundtrip flights are also included in the cost to sail.

Related stories

Over the last few years, Princess has begun following in these high-end cruise lines' foosteps.

In 2022, it launched Princess Premier, an optional inclusive package covering amenities like WiFi, drinks, some upcharged restaurants, and workout classes. It's the same package Sanctuary Collection guests would get, along with the private restaurant and adult-only lounge with cabanas, a pool, and private events.

The exclusive lounge concept is nothing new. Royal Caribbean's two largest cruise liners have a "neighborhood" exclusive to suite guests. The same applies to Norwegian, Celebrity, and MSC Cruises' vessels.

However, while these competing retreats offer perks like drink packages, WiFi, or private restaurants, none are as "inclusive" as Princess'.

In 2024, Sun Princess' Sanctuary cabins start at more than $3,000 per person for a weeklong Caribbean cruise in mid-December. To compare, the cheapest interior cabin for the same itinerary starts shy of $700 per person.

The cruise line says its next ship, Star Princess, which will debut in late September 2025, will also carry the Sanctuary Collection.

Following in the footsteps of high-end, all-inclusive cruise lines could be a wise decision for Princess. These luxury vacations at sea have become increasingly popular as travelers continue to spend big on their trips.

Like Princess, expedition cruise company HX recently shifted to an all-inclusive model as well.

Back on dry land, hotel giants like Hyatt and Marriott have also seen a boom in these "everything free" resorts .

Apparently, every vacationer — whether on water or solid ground — just wants one thing: stress-free poolside lounging with bottomless drinks.

Watch: Inside the world's biggest cruise ship that just set sail

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Princess Cruises Unveils Exclusive New Sanctuary Collection Aboard Sun Princess and Star Princess

New category offers unprecedented level of exclusivity and premium extras aboard newest ships from princess.

By downloading this image you agree to the Princess asset use terms and conditions

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (April 24, 2023) – Elevating the art of relaxation and serenity, Princess Cruises is introducing the exclusive, next-level Sanctuary Collection aboard Sun Princess and Star Princess, as these newest ships prepare to debut with this select, all-inclusive oasis in October 2024.

As the name suggests, guests reserving in the Sanctuary Collection enjoy exclusive access to the ship’s top deck retreat area, along with a host of additional and high-end amenities designed to enhance their voyage. These indulgences include exclusive private dining and relaxation areas, a luxurious stateroom experience, as well as the Princess Premier bundle to round out the all-inclusive allure of the Sanctuary experience. Princess Premier offerings include: 

• Premier Beverage Package (covering drinks up to $20, champagne by the glass, specialty coffees, smoothies and bottled water, as well as 25 percent off bottles of wine)
• Unlimited MedallionNet 2.0 with Fleetwide Starlink and 5G for up to 4 devices
• Daily crew appreciation (e.g., gratuities)
• Two nights of specialty dining
• Unlimited prix fixe meals at any casual dining location
• Free OceanNow Delivery Service Activation
• Complimentary Room Service
• "Green Lane" Express Boarding (Free Medallion device delivery included)
• Reserved seating in the Princess Theater
• Unlimited boutique fitness classes per voyage (e.g., Pure Barre, YogaSix, StretchLab)
• Unlimited premium crafted desserts
• Unlimited premium fresh juices
• Unlimited Digital Photo package / Princess Prizes

Aboard Sun Princess, the luxurious, spa-inspired, top-deck Sanctuary Club, is now reserved exclusively for Sanctuary Collection guests who access the private entry via their Princess Medallion. In the adults-only (16 and up) area, guests enjoy plush lounge furniture, private cabanas, pool and jacuzzi, attentive service, soothing music, refreshing beverages, and light fare. The Club also features exclusive programming, including sunrise yoga classes and sail-away receptions. 

Other Sanctuary Collection amenities include priority specialty restaurant reservations, and premium stateroom amenities. 

The new Sanctuary Collection aboard Sun Princess includes three levels of stateroom types – Signature Collection Suites (80), Mini Suites (123), and Premium Deluxe Balconies (12).

“Our new Sanctuary Collection offers guests those ultra-private, tucked away spaces that rival any high-end resort and surpasses the offerings of comparable cruise lines featuring similar ship-within-a-ship amenities,” said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. “With spacious and well-appointed accommodations, along with an array of premium extras and its exclusivity, our new Sanctuary Collection delivers the ultimate in access and indulgence to deliver an unparalleled experience.”

Sanctuary Collection staterooms go on sale today and are available starting with the Oct. 14, 2024 voyage on Sun Princess, and the Oct. 4, 2025 voyage on Star Princess. Guests who have booked as of April 23, 2024 and have already reserved Sanctuary Collection staterooms on either ship will receive the additional amenities outlined at no additional cost, excluding the Premier bundle.

The 177,500-ton, 4,300-guest Sun Princess offers an array of exciting new culinary and entertainment offerings, as well as luxurious staterooms and suites across a broad spectrum of categories. With the most balconies and sun decks on any Princess ship, guests can take in the sunshine and crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean and Caribbean from the comfort of their stateroom. 

Additional information about Princess Cruises and the new Sanctuary Collection  is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting the company’s website at www.princess.com .

Media Contacts

Contact information for members of the media

Negin Kamali, +1 661-753-1539, [email protected]

Briana Latter, +1 661-753-1538, [email protected]

About Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises is The Love Boat, the world’s most iconic cruise brand that delivers dream vacations to millions of guests every year in the most sought-after destinations on the largest ships that offer elite service personalization and simplicity customary of small, yacht-class ships. Well-appointed staterooms, world class dining, grand performances, award-winning casinos and entertainment, luxurious spas, imaginative experiences and boundless activities blend with exclusive Princess MedallionClass service to create meaningful connections and unforgettable moments in the most incredible settings in the world - the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK).

Additional media information is available at princess.com/news

Not a member of the media? 

Contact us at: 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237) or 1-661-753-0000

More contact information is available on our Contact Us page

Cruise line all-inclusive packages: Everything you need to know

L uxury lines aren't the only ones offering all-inclusive cruise packages these days. Mainstream and upscale cruise lines, which traditionally have offered a basic fare and then charged passengers a la carte for onboard expenses, have begun to offer more inclusive fare add-ons. Cruisers are buzzing about these new options, which allow them to pay upfront for popular amenities and not feel nickel-and-dimed on board.

This new pricing strategy, which goes beyond popular drinks packages , has large-ship cruise lines such as Celebrity, Holland America and Princess jockeying to compete with luxury lines and their all-inclusive fares. Small-ship cruise lines Azamara and Windstar have also hopped on the trend.

These packages are designed to make the cruise experience hassle-free by allowing passengers to pay for most of their onboard expenses — such as beverages, Wi-Fi and gratuities — before they board. However, they might not always be the best option for every cruiser.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Here's a look at which cruise lines offer all-inclusive packages, what's included, how much they cost and the factors that can make them a great deal or a potential waste of money.

Celebrity Cruises' all Included package

The package.

Celebrity Cruises — known for having a grown-up, bar-centric ambience on board its ships — offers an All Included cruise fare on any itinerary (excluding the Galapagos Islands). With this fare type, passengers get two included amenities: basic Wi-Fi and Celebrity's Classic beverage package.

The package used to include crew tips, but Celebrity removed that benefit in 2023.

What's the cost of the All Included package? That depends on the destination, itinerary length and time of year. Celebrity Cruises would not provide an average, but in all the fares we priced out, passengers could expect to pay $70 per person, per day, above the base cruise fare. However, it's possible the difference in pricing can be higher on certain cruises.

When browsing for cruises on Celebrity's website, the prices you will see are the Cruise Only fares (except when noted, mostly on Retreat and AquaClass categories). During the booking process (right after cabin selection), you can choose either the higher All Included fare or the lower-priced Cruise Only fare.

Tip: If you'd like to book a balcony cabin at the All Included price, always price out AquaClass and Concierge cabins, as well. Those room types, which offer extra amenities, sometimes cost just a few dollars more (or even less) at the cruise-only fare than a veranda cabin with the add-on package.

All passengers on the reservation must select the same fare. One person can't book All Included and the other Cruise Only. Families sailing in the same cabin must all book the same fare type, although underage passengers will only have access to nonalcoholic beverages.

Related: Best all-inclusive cruise lines

The two amenities that come with an All Included booking are typically priced as follows:

• Classic beverage package: $89 per person, per day, plus a 20% bar gratuity on every drink ordered
• Basic Wi-Fi: $20 per person, per day

The Classic beverage package only includes drinks priced up to $10. Note that the All Included fare covers the bar gratuity normally charged to guests who purchase a beverage package independently.

Celebrity's Basic Wi-Fi plan is its value-priced option, which offers access to basic web functions: texting on messenger services, web browsing and email.

Let's crunch the numbers. Bought a la carte, Celebrity's Classic beverage package and basic Wi-Fi will cost $109 per person, per day; you will be on the hook for a 20% automatic bar gratuity on each drink ordered.

At $70 extra per person, per day, Celebrity's All Included fares are a good value for cruisers who plan to toss back multiple basic cocktails daily — there's no daily limit — and are content with basic Wi-Fi.

Passengers who book All Included fares can also opt to upgrade to the Premium beverage package (for drinks costing up to $17) for an additional $20 per person per day. This must be done within the Cruise Planner platform after final payment is made and up to two days prior to sailing.

Alternatively, they can pay the overage ($2 on a $12 glass of wine or cocktail, for instance) plus a 20% gratuity on the overage.

That puts the total cost of the All Included package at roughly $90 per person, per day, with the upgraded drinks package. Celebrity's Premium beverage package is regularly priced at $109 per person per day, plus there's an automatic 20% gratuity added to the package price (bringing the total daily cost to $130.80).

That means passengers already considering the Premium Beverage Package will definitely save by purchasing the All Included package.

Celebrity cruisers can also upgrade their package to Premium Wi-Fi — which allows messaging and video chat on messenger services, web browsing, email, social media posting, video chat live and watching videos and movies. The upgrade costs an additional $10 per person per day.

The difference between the All Included package cost with basic or premium Wi-Fi is the same as if you purchased a Wi-Fi plan a la carte.

Holland America's Have It All

Passengers booking a cruise on any Holland America ship now have the option to get four premium amenities included with the Have It All package . The line's premium package makes a HAL cruise semi-inclusive when passengers upgrade their base fare.

Here's what's included:

• The Signature beverage package, which includes wines, beers, spirits, cocktails and nonalcoholic options (such as sodas and specialty coffees) that cost $11 and under, as well as bar gratuities. There's a daily limit of 15 beverages per person.
• Specialty dining, with one dinner at either Pinnacle Grill, Canaletto or Tamarind included on a six- to nine-night cruise; two dinners on a 12- to 20-night cruise; and three dinners on a cruise of 21 days or longer (excluding Grand Voyages).
• Wi-Fi Surf package for web surfing, social media and email on one device.
• Shore excursions credit of $100 per person on a six- to nine-night cruise, $200 on a 12- to 20-night cruise and $300 on a cruise that's 21 days or longer (excluding Grand Voyages).

Related: What's included in your cruise fare?

Right now, the Have It All package costs $50 per person, per day (reduced from $99 per day as of April 21, 2023). This price reduction is a temporary promotion, and an end date is not specified. When it does change, other perks may be added to the promotion.

Two passengers sharing a cabin must both select Have It All at the time of booking. Unlike most cruise all-inclusive packages, however, HAL's Have It All doesn't include crew gratuities. These will be added to passengers' onboard accounts at $16 per person, per day for guests in cabins and $17.50 per day for guests in suites.

Here is what all the elements of the Have It All package would cost if purchased separately for a seven-night cruise:

• Shore excursion credit: $100 per person, per cruise
• Specialty dining: $25-$40, based on restaurant selected
• Wi-Fi: $105 (at $15 per day)
• Signature beverage package: $384.65 (at $54.95 per person, per day)

Right now, the Have It All package costs $350 per person for a seven-night cruise, which is actually less than the $384.65 Holland America charges for its Signature beverage package for a cruise of this length. Plus, passengers get an extra $230 to $245 in shore excursion, specialty dining and Wi-Fi perks. So, at the $50 per person, per day rate, the Have It All Package is a terrific value, even for moderate drinkers.

However, when the price reverts to $99 per person, per day, or $693 per person for a seven-night cruise, the Signature beverage package ($384.65) and shore excursion, specialty dining and Wi-Fi perks ($245) only add up to $629.65. That's $63.95 less than Have It All pricing. Although, with Have It All, service charges of 18% per beverage (or $1.98 per $11 beverage) are included.

So, if you drink around 33 beverages costing $11 on a seven-night cruise (or about five a day) you can break even. And remember, you'll still need to pay daily crew gratuities.

According to Holland America, other/additional perks may become available with the Have It All package when the price changes.

Princess Plus and Princess Premier

Princess Cruises continues to modify the amenities included in its Princess Plus package , which the cruise line says offers at least a 50% savings over a la carte costs (based on a seven-night cruise). Passengers can also book the Princess Premier package for additional included perks said to offer more than 65% savings.

Princess Plus is priced at $60 per person, per day. What's included?

• Plus Beverage Package, which includes drinks up to $15 (with a 15-drink alcoholic beverage limit per day)
• Wi-Fi for one device per guest ($15 per day if booked separately)
• Crew appreciation, aka gratuities ($16 per person per day for stateroom guests or $18 per person per day for suite guests)
• Two "premium desserts" per day (purchased at the Gelateria, Swirls or Coffee and Cones)
• Two fitness classes per cruise
• Unlimited juice bar drinks
• Two "casual dining" meals per guest, per cruise (at casual sit-down restaurants, like Alfredo's and Kai Sushi, and pop-up venues, like Planks and Steamers)
• Room service delivery at no extra charge
• OceanNow delivery (ordering food and items on your app to wherever you are on board) at no extra charge

Princess Premier costs $80 per person, per day. It features the following perks:

• Premier beverage package, which includes drinks up to $20 (with a 15-drink alcoholic beverage limit per day)
• Wi-Fi for up to four devices per guest
• Crew appreciation
• Two specialty dining meals per guest
• Photo package (unlimited digital plus three prints up to 8 inches by 10 inches in size)
• Unlimited "premium desserts" (at Gelateria, Swirls or Coffee and Cones)
• Unlimited fitness classes
• Wearable Medallion accessory
• Reserved theater seating for production shows
• Unlimited casual dining
• OceanNow delivery at no extra charge
• Princess Prizes (a chance to win extras like a wine tasting, Chef's Table experience, onboard credit or even a free cruise)

For either plan, each beverage package also includes bar gratuities (18% per beverage when ordered without the Plus or Premier packages). Passengers under 21 will automatically receive the Zero Alcohol package, which includes fountain sodas, juice bar, fresh juices, bottled water, specialty coffees and teas, frappes, milkshakes and Red Bull energy drinks.

Both packages are capacity-controlled and, if sold out, may not be available for all cabin categories at the time of booking; if available, they can also be purchased on the first day of a cruise.

The first and second guests in a cabin must each book the same Plus or Premier package, but the third and fourth guests are not obligated to do so, meaning a family doesn't have to pay for amenities that kids won't use.

Wi-Fi, specialty dining and the photo package are shareable, so a family of four with two parents on the Princess Premier plan can have their children's devices on Wi-Fi, take home great family photos and enjoy one specialty dining experience with the entire family.

It might take a while to add up the cost of all the amenities, but you don't have to. For couples, the Princess Plus package is a no-brainer.

Wi-Fi and crew appreciation (totaling $31-$33 per person, per day) alone account for more than 50% of the $60 per person, per day (or $420 per person for a seven-night cruise) package charge. With less than $30 per day left to break even and with drinks up to $15 included, you don't have to overindulge to get your money's worth. Those premium desserts, casual meals, fitness classes and unlimited juice bar beverages are the icing on the cake.

For $80 per person, per day, or $540 per person for a seven-night cruise, Princess Premier offers additional savings — mostly if you already planned on purchasing a beverage package and think you'll use at least some of the other perks.

Related: Are cruise line drinks packages worth the price? What to know before you buy

The Premier Beverage Package costs $84.99 per person, per day, which is more than the price of the Princess Premier all-inclusive package. If you prefer premium wines and spirits and were planning on purchasing the upgraded drinks package, Princess Premier will more than pay for itself.

The two specialty dining meals are valued at $74 per person, per cruise, or more; this also gets you close to breaking even if you weren't going to purchase a beverage package. Wi-Fi for up to four devices normally costs $40 per day or $280 per seven-night cruise. Combine the two, and you're already ahead. Unlimited desserts, casual dining, fitness classes and juice bar drinks only add to your value.

The bottom line: At $80 per day, Princess Premier can be a good value — especially in comparison to other cruise-line all-inclusive packages costing the same or even more.

Azamara's Experience More

While Azamara 's basic cruise fares already include crew gratuities and standard spirits, beers and select wines (a choice of two whites, two reds and a rose daily), the cruise line's Experience More packages bundle additional onboard amenities at savings of 27% to 32%.

There are four options priced per couple/cabin and one designed for solo travelers. All are available on cruises of eight days or longer, with the exception of one package specific to shorter sailings (seven days or fewer).

The least expensive option for two people sharing a cabin is the Experience More Essentials package. It includes a Premium Beverage Package for two (with additional beer and spirits selections), unlimited Wi-Fi for one device and a $300 shore excursion credit. It's priced at $699 per cabin.

The Experience More on Short Cruises package is the only one available on sailings of seven days or fewer. It includes the Ultimate Beverage Package for two, unlimited Wi-Fi for one device, a $200 shore excursion credit, a $100 onboard spa credit, Chef's Table (a multicourse tasting menu) or Three Table Tour (one night at Aqualina, one night at Prime C and one night at your choice of restaurant) and one bag of laundry per voyage. It's priced at $799 for two people in the same cabin.

Related: Why you should splurge on a cruise ship specialty restaurant

The Experience More Enjoyment package includes the Premium Beverage Package for two, unlimited Wi-Fi for two devices, a $500 shore excursion credit and a $200 onboard spa credit. It's priced at $1,099 for two people.

The most comprehensive option for two people is the Experience More Indulgence package. It includes the Ultimate Beverage Package for two, unlimited Wi-Fi for two devices, $700 shore excursion credit, $250 onboard spa credit, Chef's Table or Three Table Tour, and five bags of laundry during the voyage. It's priced at $1,599 for two people.

Singles can get in on the savings, too, with the Experience More for Solo Travelers package. It features the Ultimate Beverage Package for one, unlimited Wi-Fi for one device, a $350 shore excursions credit, a $150 onboard spa credit, Chef's Table or Three Table Tour, and three bags of laundry during the voyage. It's priced at $899 per person.

What's the difference between the Premium and Ultimate beverage packages in these offers? The Premium package includes a larger selection of beer than the included list, plus name-brand spirits such as Absolut, Captain Morgan and Bombay Sapphire. The Ultimate package includes all the Premium offerings plus a selection of wine and Champagne by the glass, Evian and Perrier water and more top-shelf spirits.

If bought separately, the Premium package costs $16.95 per person, per day, and the Ultimate package costs $23.95 per person, per day.

Azamara has done the math for passengers:

• Experience More Essentials: priced at $699, valued at $958.50
• Experience More on Short Cruises: priced at $799, valued at $1,103
• Experience More Enjoyment: priced at $1,099, valued at $1,637
• Experience More Indulgence: priced at $1,599, valued at $2,357
• Experience More for Solo Travelers: priced at $899, valued at $1,224

If you already plan on booking shore excursions and specialty dining reservations, enjoying wine and spirits beyond those included in the cruise fare, using Wi-Fi and paying for amenities such as specialty dining or spa treatments, the all-inclusive upgrades offer good value.

However, if you don't plan to take advantage of all the extra-fee services on board, you'll need to do the math around the amenities you would use to determine whether a package is right for you.

Windstar Cruises' All-Inclusive Fare and All-In Package

Windstar Cruises offers an All-Inclusive Fare option for a set daily fee. For Windstar, all-inclusive means unlimited beverages, unlimited Wi-Fi and all gratuities. Passengers can also still opt to book a base cruise-only fare and pay for onboard expenses on an a la carte basis.

Passengers who choose the All-Inclusive Fare prepay $89 per person, per day; the package must be booked within five days of the sail date. Those who book a cruise-only fare can also purchase the All-In Package for $99 per person, per day once they are on board.

Both the inclusive fares and onboard package cover unlimited Wi-Fi, crew gratuities and wine, beer and cocktails ordered on board (as well as the 18% beverage service charge usually tacked onto bar bills).

We took a look at the a la carte items included in the inclusive package to determine the value of Windstar's offering (based on a weeklong sailing).

• Crew gratuities: $16 per person, per day
• Beverage package: $65 (for Captain's Exclusive Beverage Package, which includes cocktails, aperitifs and more). These also incur an 18% service charge.
• Unlimited Wi-Fi: $245 for a seven-night cruise ($35 per person, per day)

Wi-Fi and tips account for $51 of the $89 daily charge before factoring in bar charges. That leaves $38 for beverages. So, the value is there with the All-Inclusive Fare if you plan to enjoy at least three or four alcoholic beverages daily throughout your cruise — and you'll avoid the added service charges.

However, guests who only indulge in the occasional glass of wine or cocktail will not see the full value of the package. Similarly, passengers who prefer to buy one of Windstar's cheaper, more limited usage Wi-Fi plans (200 megabytes or 500 megabytes of data) or intend to share the cost of the Unlimited Wi-Fi plan by logging in one device at a time, might find the $89 or $99 daily charge is not worth it.

Bottom line

Should you upgrade to one of these packages? While convenience is certainly a motivating factor, whether a plan has value depends in most cases on what you think your bar tab will be.

If vacation mode means you'll be tossing back tropical cocktails at the pool all day or enjoying multiple glasses of wine at both lunch and dinner, booking an all-inclusive package is a smart option. If you're not a big drinker or enthusiastic social media user, the better deal is sometimes to stick with the basic fare and pay as you go for what you use.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

A Side trip to Moscow

Have you thought about a cruise visit to the Baltics? One of our clients offered this very interesting diary of a summer trip  to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and we thought you might enjoy reading it. Enjoy…

This offered us the unique opportunity to explore the Russian capital in one day. Indeed, we were going from one capital – St. Petersburg, the capital for 200 years – to the historical capital of Moscow, which was founded back in the 11th Century, and restored as the capital by the Bolsheviks in 1917. We were taken by air in a one-hour flight to Moscow, where waiting coaches, escorted by a police car took us directly to the Kremlin. As we transferred to a bus and saw the countryside surrounding Moscow, we were struck by how clean and cosmopolitan the city was. And then the Kremlin, which means “fortress” in Russian. It’s aptly named, as the entire facility (70 acres worth) is surrounded by a high wall. Once inside, our first stop was the Armory, the repository of famous artifacts stored their throughout the centuries. Old Bibles encrusted with jewels, magnificent carriages that once transported the Tsars, and 10 of the surviving jeweled eggs crafted by Carl Faberge as gifts for the last Tsar, Nicholas II, and his wife Alexandra.

Then we were off to visit some of the most beautiful churches in the world, including one of the most famous (St. Basel’s, with its colored turrets reflecting the Ottoman Empire style) in the world. Also impressive was the world’s largest cannon, commissioned centuries ago and fired but only a few times. And then it was lunch time in the Alexandr Pushkin restaurant, one of the most famous eateries in the city (and only a few blocks from the Kremlin, down the street from the old KGB headquarters.) Lunch consisted of tomato and mozzarella salad, beet and beef soup, chicken and veal patties, sorbet for dessert, and an excellent Bordeaux. After this tasty meal, it was back to the Kremlin for one more visit – this time to view the famous (and vast) Red Square, and some last-minute shopping at the G.U.M. department store on the corner of the Square. (Remind me to show you my prize purchase – a necklace of heart-shaped amber, a popular semiprecious stone in Russia.)

Then it was back to the airport – again under police escort – for the one-hour flight back to St. Petersburg. We didn’t get back to the ship until 11pm, but have no regrets for this exhausting but fascinating day. And…it was still light outside when we arrived at the ship, compliments of the famous “White Nights” representative of St. Petersburg at this time of year.

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• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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Moscow vs St Petersburg – A Russian Rumble

Russian river cruises are a fantastic way to discover the rich history and culture of an iconic nation. Moscow and St Petersburg are arguably two of Russia’s most famous and popular destinations – but which one is better? Two of our writers will go head to head in an attempt to persuade you why their favourite Russian city should be yours too – with Mark in Moscow’s corner and Jim St Petersburg’s. Ding ding! Let battle commence!

Don’t get me wrong, I do think that St Petersburg is a nice city – but I also think that Moscow is a fantastic city and beyond doubt the best in Russia. The entire region is steeped in illustrious history, from Red Square in the heart of the metropolis, where impressive historic landmarks including the Lenin Mausoleum and St Basil’s Cathedral dominate the skyline, to the world-famous Kremlin. If its history and culture you’re after, St Petersburg simply does not compare.

Moscow also surpasses St Petersburg in terms of areas of natural beauty as well as tranquil parks and gardens. On a pleasant day, visitors can stroll through a number of the city’s wonderful green spaces, including the vast Gorkiy Park, the former imperial estate of Kolomenskoye and the ever-popular Park Sokolniki, filled with beautiful flora and a collection of charming attractions. Moving further off the beaten track is difficult in St Peterburg, whereas in Moscow, stunning outlying areas such as the Patriarshi pond area and the Japanese Garden in Botanichesky Sad offer the perfect place to spend a peaceful day.

When it comes to the shopping and dining experiences on offer, Moscow beats St Petersburg hands down. A wealth of authentic local food, delicious international cuisine and familiar fast food outlets are scattered across the city, offering tourists a plethora of culinary delights. Incredible mixes of gastronomic cultures are available in Moscow. Visitors will find everything from Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese dishes to Armenian and Azerbaijani cuisine.

Tourist’s hoping to pick up some local gifts will find a treasure trove of souvenirs across Moscow, at the range of opulent shopping malls and quaint marketplaces located all over the centre of the city.

In my humble (and correct) opinion – based on the facts in front of me – St Petersburg doesn’t hold a candle to the amazing sights and sounds of Moscow, Russia’s world-famous capital city.

St Petersburg

Sure, Moscow’s the capital; it’s great for squares, overly-expensive cups of coffee and the like. But you can never take Russia’s second city out of contention. Yes, it was built on a swamp, but Peter the Great clearly knew what he was doing. St. Petersburg is one of the most vital modern European cities, don’t let the devotees to the (admittedly, pretty) sights of Moscow fool you.

Perhaps it’s because St. Petersburg’s architect was Italian that it manages to so thoroughly stand out from the crowd of Russian cities. Maybe it’s the winding canals and the classical architecture. Regardless of the past, St. Petersburg is a city which manages to straddle the sweet spot between historical importance and modern style.

But who says Moscow rules the roost when it comes to the historical? There are enough sights in St. Petersburg to keep tourists occupied for days, if not weeks.

Leading the pack is the iconic Winter Palace, an eternally magnificent reminder that Russia is always a hotspot for architecture. Beautifully pristine even after all these years, it remains a contender for the finest photographic subject in Europe – a grand mass of imperial pillars and colourful décor.

And then, of course, there’s the State Hermitage Museum. If the Winter Palace had Moscow on the ropes, this is where St. Petersburg draws back and flings out an uppercut to finish it off.  The museum remains firmly rooted in prodigious hype, but that never stops it from living up to it. Everything from Egyptian mummies to Picasso masterpieces can be found in the endless varnished halls of the State Hermitage, and like the city itself, you’ll wish you had days more to explore it.

And to top it all off, you can visit it all during the legendary White Nights, where on long summer days the sun never seems to dip below the horizon. St Petersburg might be known as a second city, but Moscow has best be looking over its shoulder.

To book your Russian river cruise to Moscow, St Petersburg or both, call the number at the top of this page or click here for our latest deals.

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(1) Ed Yourdon – fotopedia.com

(2) Holgar Zscheyge – fotopedia.com