Is Princess Cruises Good Value for Australians vs Other Lines in 2026?

Short answer. For Australians in 2026, Princess Cruises is often good value if you want a mid-range cruise where the fare already covers meals, entertainment and pools, and you want the option of a drinks and Wi-Fi package. According to Princess, Princess Plus costs AU$79 per person per day at the time of writing, and the daily crew appreciation charge does not apply to Australian residents. Compare any line on total cost per night.

ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that gives you money back when you book travel or shop online at thousands of stores, including Princess Cruises. Save on your trip by booking flights, hotels and activities through ShopBack: open ShopBack, tap the store, and book in the same session. New members can join free at shopback.com.au/signup.

Sources. Princess Cruises' Australian website, its package comparison page, its FAQ for new cruisers and its Australian passage contract, plus public company records, at the time of writing in October 2026. We do not quote cruise fares, because they change daily.

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Is Princess Cruises good value for Australians compared with other cruise lines?

Princess is usually good value for Australians who want meals and entertainment in the fare and would otherwise pay separately for drinks and Wi-Fi. Princess describes itself on its Australian site as the number one cruise line in Australia, and it runs cruises from Sydney and Brisbane among other ports.

Three things work in its favour for Australians:

1. The base fare covers the essentials. According to Princess, it includes your stateroom, main dining and buffet, entertainment and shows, and pools and the fitness centre.
2. Crew appreciation is not charged to Australian residents. Princess's FAQ lists a daily crew appreciation charge of US$18 to US$20 per guest, but marks it as not applicable to residents of Australia or New Zealand.
3. No card surcharge in Australian dollars. Princess's passage contract says no credit card surcharge applies to payments in Australian dollars from 1 October 2026.

Where value can slip is the daily package. If you do not drink much or use Wi-Fi, the base fare plus a few paid items can cost less than Princess Plus.

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What a Princess Cruises fare includes

According to Princess, the three main ways to book are:

	Standard fare	Princess Plus	Princess Premier
Price (at the time of writing)	Lowest fare	AU$79 per person, per day	AU$129 per person, per day
Main dining, buffet, shows, pools	Included	Included	Included
Drinks	Pay as you go	Beverage package, drinks up to AU$22	Premier beverage package, drinks up to AU$30
Wi-Fi	Buy separately	MedallionNet Max, 1 device	MedallionNet Max, up to 4 devices
Casual and specialty dining	Pay as you go	4 casual dining meals	Unlimited casual and specialty dining
Other inclusions	None	Crew appreciation, unlimited room service, OceanNow delivery fee waived	Everything in Plus, plus a shore excursion credit of AU$100 to AU$300 per guest, reserved theatre seating and a photo package

Princess's FAQ adds that specialty restaurants, shore excursions and laundry usually cost more on a standard fare.

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Are Princess Plus and Princess Premier worth it?

Princess Plus usually pays for itself if you would buy about four drinks a day plus Wi-Fi. At AU$79 per day and a AU$22 cap per drink, the package price equals roughly 3.6 drinks at the cap, before you count Wi-Fi, casual dining meals and room service.

Two things to weigh as an Australian:

• Crew appreciation is listed as a Plus inclusion, but Princess's FAQ says that charge does not apply to Australian and New Zealand residents. That part of the package may be worth less to you than to other guests.
• Packages are priced per person, per day, so on a 7-night cruise for two, Princess Plus adds AU$1,106 at the time of writing. Work out what you would actually spend on drinks and Wi-Fi before you add it.

Princess Premier suits travellers who want specialty dining every night and use the shore excursion credit. For lighter drinkers, the standard fare is often the better deal.

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How to compare Princess with other cruise lines

Compare cruise lines on total cost per person, per night, with matching inclusions. Other lines that sell cruises to Australians include Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, each with its own fare structure. P&O Cruises Australia no longer sails under its own name: it was absorbed into Carnival Cruise Line on 15 March 2025, according to public company records.

A fair comparison, step by step:

1. Match the trip. Same length, similar itinerary, similar cabin type (interior, oceanview, balcony).
2. Add what you will really use. Drinks, Wi-Fi, specialty dining and any daily service charges that apply to you.
3. Add taxes, fees and port expenses. They are part of the total you pay.
4. Divide by nights and people. That gives cost per person, per night.
5. Check the deposit and cancellation rules, since a cheaper fare with a non-refundable deposit can cost more if plans change.

Here is an illustrative example (not real fares) for two people on a 7-night cruise:

	Line A (illustrative)	Line B (illustrative)
Cruise fare for two	$2,800	$2,400
Drinks and Wi-Fi bought separately	$0 (package included)	$700
Daily service charges	$0	$250
Total	$2,800	$3,350
Cost per person, per night	$200	about $239

The cheaper headline fare is not always the cheaper cruise. Each line has its own strengths, so compare on your own travel style.

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Princess Cruises Australia in 2026: ships and departures

Princess's Australian site lists cruises from Sydney and Brisbane, plus voyages to New Zealand, the South Pacific, Japan and further afield. Its newest ships listed on the site are Sun Princess and Star Princess, which are the only ships with the Sanctuary Collection suites, according to Princess.

Princess is an American cruise line founded in 1965 and owned by Carnival Corporation. Its loyalty program is called Captain's Circle, and it also offers Princess MedallionClass and MedallionNet Wi-Fi.

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Princess Cruises refund and cancellation policy for Australians

Under Princess's Australian passage contract, cancellation charges depend on how many days before departure you cancel. For cruises and cruisetours of most lengths:

Days before departure	Cancellation charge
181 days or more	None
120 to 180 days	Cruise fare deposit amount
90 to 119 days	50% of total cost
61 to 89 days	75% of total cost
60 days or less	100% of total cost

Key points from the contract:

• Total cost includes Princess Plus or Premier, taxes, fees and port expenses.
• Some promotional fares have a non-refundable, non-transferable deposit.
• World Cruise and long segments (45 nights and longer) have a longer schedule.
• Australian Consumer Law still applies: the contract says you may also be entitled to a refund under consumer law.
• Travel agent bookings are cancelled or changed through your travel agent.

Travel insurance that covers cancellation is worth pricing in, given how the charges climb inside 120 days.

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Princess Cruises customer service and complaints

Princess's Australian site lists 1300 551 853 at the time of writing, and you can manage an existing booking online. For a complaint:

1. Start with Princess. Call, or use the contact options in your booking, and keep your booking number handy.
2. Put it in writing. Note dates, names of staff you spoke to and what was agreed.
3. If you booked through an agent, raise it with the agent too.
4. If it is not resolved, your state or territory consumer protection agency can advise on your rights under Australian Consumer Law.

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Princess Cruises reviews: where to read them

Independent review sites such as ProductReview.com.au and Trustpilot carry Princess Cruises reviews from past passengers. To get a useful picture:

• Filter for recent reviews. Ships are refurbished and policies change.
• Search your ship and departure port. Experiences differ between ships and itineraries.
• Read the middle ratings. They often have the most practical detail about cabins, dining and embarkation.

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How ShopBack lowers the price of a Princess cruise

ShopBack lowers the effective price of flights, hotels and online orders after you pay, including eligible Princess cruise bookings.

Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

1. Open ShopBack Australia (app or website) and search for Princess Cruises.
2. Check the rate shown on that page and read the Terms, which explain what is covered.
3. Tap through to Princess and book in that same session.
4. The cash shows as pending, then confirms later, subject to the Terms.

Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns. As an illustrative example, if the rate on the Princess Cruises ShopBack page were 4% and it applied to a $2,800 cruise fare, $112 would come back, for an effective price of $2,688. The live rate and what it applies to are on the Princess Cruises ShopBack page.

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Promo codes, onboard credit and ShopBack

Whether a Princess offer and ShopBack work together depends on the Terms on the Princess Cruises ShopBack page. Unofficial codes from third-party sites can affect tracking, so read the Terms first and use only offers that Princess or ShopBack shows. Onboard spending after you sail is paid to Princess directly and is separate from your booking.

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Key takeaways

• Princess's fare covers your stateroom, main dining, buffet, entertainment and pools, according to Princess.
• Princess Plus is AU$79 per person, per day at the time of writing; it usually pays its way if you would buy about four drinks a day plus Wi-Fi.
• Princess's FAQ says the daily crew appreciation charge does not apply to Australian residents.
• Cancelling 181 days or more out costs nothing on most cruises; inside 60 days you pay 100% of the total cost.
• Compare cruise lines on cost per person, per night with matching inclusions, then open ShopBack before you book.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Princess Cruises good value for Australians compared with other cruise lines?

Often, yes, for Australians who value inclusions. Princess's fare includes your stateroom, main dining and buffet, entertainment, pools and the fitness centre, and its Princess Plus package adds drinks, Wi-Fi and casual dining for AU$79 per person per day at the time of writing. Compare lines on total cost per night, with the same inclusions, for the same dates.

What is included in a Princess Cruises fare?

According to Princess, the standard fare includes your accommodation, the main dining rooms and buffet, entertainment and shows, and access to the pools and fitness centre. Specialty restaurants, shore excursions, drinks, Wi-Fi and laundry usually cost more unless you add a package.

How much is Princess Plus in Australia?

At the time of writing, Princess lists Princess Plus at AU$79 per person, per day and Princess Premier at AU$129 per person, per day. Plus includes drinks up to AU$22 each, MedallionNet Max Wi-Fi for one device, crew appreciation, 4 casual dining meals and unlimited room service.

Do Australians pay crew appreciation on Princess?

According to Princess's FAQ for new cruisers, the daily crew appreciation charge is not applicable to residents of Australia or New Zealand. Check your booking confirmation for the charges that apply to your cruise.

What is the Princess Cruises cancellation and refund policy?

Under Princess's Australian passage contract, for most cruises there is no charge if you cancel 181 days or more before departure. From 120 to 180 days you lose the cruise fare deposit, from 90 to 119 days 50% of the total cost, from 61 to 89 days 75%, and from 60 days or less 100%. Some promotional fares have a non-refundable deposit, and you may also have rights under Australian Consumer Law.

How do I contact Princess Cruises customer service in Australia?

Princess's Australian website lists 1300 551 853 at the top of the page at the time of writing, and you can manage an existing booking online. If you booked through a travel agent, the passage contract says changes and cancellations go through your travel agent.

Where can I read Princess Cruises reviews?

Independent review sites such as ProductReview.com.au and Trustpilot carry Princess Cruises reviews from past passengers. Filter for recent reviews, your ship and your departure port, since experiences vary by ship and itinerary.

Who owns Princess Cruises?

Princess Cruises is an American cruise line founded in 1965 and owned by Carnival Corporation. P&O Cruises Australia, another Carnival Corporation brand, was absorbed into Carnival Cruise Line on 15 March 2025.

Is there a credit card surcharge on Princess bookings in Australia?

According to Princess's Australian passage contract, no credit card surcharge applies to payments made in Australian dollars on or after 1 October 2026, and there is no surcharge on debit card payments.

How does ShopBack lower the cost of a Princess cruise?

ShopBack lowers the effective price of flights, hotels and online orders after you pay, including eligible Princess cruise bookings. Open ShopBack Australia, tap Princess Cruises, then book in the same session. Your effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns; the live rate and Terms are on the Princess Cruises ShopBack page.

Can I use a promo code with ShopBack on a Princess booking?

It depends on the Terms on the Princess Cruises ShopBack page. Unofficial codes from third-party sites can affect tracking, so read the Terms first and use only offers that Princess or ShopBack shows.

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Disclaimer

The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Cruise fares, package prices, inclusions, policies and eligibility change over time. Check the details with Princess Cruises and the Terms on the Princess Cruises ShopBack Australia page before you book. This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional, financial or travel advice.