Princess Cruise Deals

The bundle decision, honestly

Princess prices every sailing three ways: the bare fare, Plus (about $60 per person per day adding drinks to a limit, wifi, gratuities and some extras) and Premier (about $90 adding premium drinks, more wifi devices, specialty dining and photos). The honest math mirrors every bundle at sea: two travelers who drink socially, tip standard and need wifi consume more than the Plus price almost automatically, while light drinkers overpay. One Princess-specific wrinkle: gratuities alone run about $18 per day, so Plus effectively prices its drinks and wifi at about $42, which is cheaper than buying either separately. Couples who want any package usually do better on Plus than buying components.

On top of whichever fare: Captain's Circle rates for past guests, state resident flash fares, military benefits, and the quiet one, drop-and-go pricing inside 45 days on undersold sailings, which Princess distributes mainly through agents. Our desk checks all four on every quote, which is routinely 10 to 20 percent under the public price.

Where Princess deals cluster

• Alaska shoulder dates from San Francisco and Seattle: the line's own backyard, discounted hardest in May and September.
• Mexican Riviera in late January and February, after the holiday surge.
• California coastal 3 to 5 night sailings: the cheapest way to try Princess, often under $450.
• Repositioning and Panama Canal legs each spring and fall, covered on our repositioning page.