No more double pour, no more soda – cruisers unhappy as Princess changes drinks packages

• Princess has made some key changes to its drink package offerings.
• For example, while canned soda has been previously included, or at least allowed as part of a drinks package, now only fountain soda will be included.
• Furthermore, double pours of liquor will no longer be allowed under the drinks packages.

Some key changes to Princess packages have plenty of cruisers talking, with some seeing the tweaks to packages as penny-pinching from the line.

The website Crew Center revealed that crew members on Princess ships have been given strict instructions for new policies and enforcement on drinks packages.

The line has also recently revoked the inclusion of soda cans from the drinks packages. 

Some of the changes are as follows: 

• Passengers can only order one drink at a time.
• Double pours of spirits are no longer allowed. 
• Soda cans are no longer included in drink packages. 

While many Princess cruisers don’t directly buy a drinks package, they do opt for Princess Plus or Princess Premier packages, which include beverages within them, as well as specialty dining, WiFi, and more. 

While cracking down on those who attempt to abuse their drinks package in necessary for every cruise line to do, some cruisers feel unhappy with the latest restrictions placed by Princess. 

For example, while soda cans are a small part of the package, some cruisers don’t understand why soda is not included when they are paying for packages.

One cruiser wrote: “It’s the ‘nickel and diming’ aspect of it that’s annoying so many. I’ve spent nearly $10,000 to go to Alaska with the Plus package (it’s a 16-day cruise), and after several years of being able to get cans of whatever you wanted, now they’ve decided to cut them? It’s also much easier for the bar and delivery staff. Quite a few of us like to keep a few cans in our fridge to drink whenever.”

The cruise line will also no longer allow one person to order multiple drinks at the bar for other people in their travel party.

One cruiser wrote on a Reddit thread: “So if I sit at a table with my wife, I can’t go and get a drink for both of us? If this is the case, they better step up greatly in the speed of table service.”

Another Reddit user wrote: “That’s ridiculous. We travel as four people and all have the package. Now we have to place four orders and have multiple waiters come with one drink at a time. Previously, we could order four altogether off one person’s app, and all four would come at once. They better get more waiters!”

The rule against double pours also has cruisers upset.

“This seems crazy. So if I want a double whiskey, I need to order a single, wait a few minutes, and order another?”

Princess packages are popular as they provide great value, often making a Princess cruise overall much more comparable in final cost to Royal Caribbean or Carnival, for those who like to get drinks packages and have Wifi onboard.

However, while small changes such as these often seem insignificant, they can upset cruisers who feel they put a lot of hard-earned money towards their package, and don’t want to feel like it is reducing in its value or utility. 

Some cruisers have already reported workarounds to the rule of not buying multiple drinks at once. They are taking everyone’s medallions to the bar. The crackdown on canned soda and double pours though, has appeared to enrage the Princess cruise community.