Princess Cruises made a controversial change to its drink packages by removing canned soda from its list of included beverages.
According to posts circulating on Facebook, Princess began charging for canned soda sometime around mid- to late-April.
Previously, unlimited soda was part of the Plus and Premier drink packages. Now, however, guests who want canned soda instead of fountain beverages must pay extra, though they'll receive a 25% discount.
One cruiser shared a response from Princess Cruises in the "Princess Cruises — Passenger Forum" Facebook group regarding the change.
"At the original launch of Princess Plus and Princess Premier, we did not include soda cans in the offering. We made a decision to try having the [canned] soda included but have recently made the decision to go back to excluding cans," the screenshot reads.
Princess' website has been updated to reflect the new rules, too. "Fountain sodas" are listed as part of the Plus and Premier packages, while there's a 25% discount on cans of soda. Without the discount, sodas — ranging from Diet Coke to Sprite Zero, Root Beer, and Ginger Ale — usually cost $3.00 aboard Princess ships.
Read more: I paid $60 per day to see if Princess Cruises' inclusive package was worth the cost
While seemingly small, the decision has sparked backlash from loyal cruisers
"So you can have an expensive cocktail but not a can of diet coke. Ridiculous as I hate soda fountain," commented one upset passenger.
Another added, "[S]ame I don’t care for soda from the fountain especially diet. Oh well I was looking forward to having a can a couple times- it was included when we pre paid for our cruise in May."
"Personally, I prefer the canned soda. From my experience, the fountain soda is usually flat & the taste is off," shared one guest.
A common complaint is that now it's harder to stock up on soda, as you can't grab multiple cans to take back to your cabin at night.
For example, one passenger wrote, "Not happy!! We would grab two cans from the bar at night so we could have some in our room at all times. Fountain soda sucks."
Another is that the terms were changed with little notice, with some passengers reporting the change took effect during an ongoing sailing.
"People have bought a package based on what’s included and now Princess have changed the terms of what you’ve bought," one cruiser pointed out.
"What!!! I think if you booked before the effective date you shouldn’t have to pay the up charged price!" commented another frustrated guest.
Conversely, the change doesn't bother a lot of Princess cruisers
Many seem to understand the change from an environmental standpoint.
"I have no issue with this. Fountain sodas are just fine. Less waste," said one Facebook user.
"I hope they continue to move towards more reusable, less waste. Most y'all act like you can't go a week or two without canned soda - that sounds like the real problem to me," added another.
Other changes coming to Princess Plus and Princess Premier
According to Crew Center, Princess is making other tweaks to its inclusive bundles. Effective May 9, 2025, guests may only order one drink per transaction. Additionally, double pours of spirits won't be allowed.
"I hope there's no limit on bottled water. We will be pretty upset if they start limiting water bottles. Water must be one of the cheapest drinks for the cruise line to purchase," said one guest on a Cruise Critic forum.
"We will also make a nuisance of ourselves to the bartenders if we have to run from bar to bar to collect enough water bottles for our cabin. And we will run from bar to bar!"
Should you still purchase a Princess drink package?
One of the best ways to make the most of your Princess cruise is to bundle your cruise fare with the Plus or Premier package, as they include more than drinks. Both include a drink package, though the latter is more akin to an all-inclusive experience.
For instance, there's a higher maximum value for each drink. Premier caps each drink at $20, while Plus limits alcoholic drinks to just $15. Not only that, but Premier includes unlimited alcoholic drinks, but Plus has a cap of 15 alcoholic beverages per day.
In addition to unlimited drinks, guests with Princess Premier can indulge in unlimited specialty dining, professional photos, fitness classes, reserved theater seating, Wi-Fi for up to four devices, and more.
Before the cruise, Princess Plus costs $60 per day, while Princess Premier costs $90. Prices are higher onboard.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she traveled frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas during her freshman year of high school. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
