Luxury Cruising Editorial

Princess Cruises has responded to guest criticism by updating its recently revised Plus add-on package – a move that came just days after the original changes were introduced.

The cruise line, part of the Carnival Corporation family, initially sparked backlash by adjusting its beverage policy so that non-alcoholic drinks would count toward the 15-drink daily limit under the Plus package.

Previously, only alcoholic beverages were included in that cap.

But the cruise line has now issued a press release with updates to that limit.

“We wanted to share an update following the Premier and Plus Packages changes earlier this week. In listening to our Princess community, we have made a change – specialty coffee and teas are now unlimited in our Plus package and will not count towards the 15-drink daily limit.”

Mixed Reactions as Soft Drinks Remain Limited

Despite the adjustment, many guests remain unhappy.

Soft drinks such as Coca-Cola or Diet Coke will still count toward the 15-drink daily maximum, even though alcoholic beverages and soft drinks are both unlimited under the Premier package, which costs more.

“Been on 11 Princess Cruises and already booked numbers 12 and 13… very, very disappointed with Princess’ decision to have [soft drinks] count towards 15 a day,” one long-time cruiser wrote. “Princess seems to be pushing everyone towards the Premium package.”

Others pointed out how the update favours coffee and tea drinkers over those who prefer fizzy drinks or water.

“That’s lovely for coffee and tea drinkers, but you are disadvantaging those of us who drink neither and prefer Diet Coke or water,” said another guest. “Wish you could identify as a non-coffee drinker and get cans of soda not counting towards the day’s total.”

Price Increases and Added Perks in 2026 Sailings

The revised Premier and Plus packages went on sale on 22nd July 2025 and will apply to voyages sailing in 2026 and beyond.

The updates include price increases for US guests, although UK passengers will only see increases on select ships:

• Premier Package: Now $100/£75 per person per day (US price up $10), with unlimited drinks (alcoholic and soft), shore excursion credits from $100 to $300 depending on cruise length, and other perks.
• Plus Package: Now $65/£50 per person per day (US price up $5), offering 15 drinks per day (including now unlimited specialty coffees/teas), four casual dining meals per cruise (up from two), and basic WiFi.

On the new Sphere Class ships – Sun Princess and the upcoming Star Princess – both packages will cost an additional $5/£5 per day.

Guest Feedback Still Influencing Policy

While not all passengers are satisfied, many applauded the cruise line for listening to feedback and responding quickly.

Princess Cruises has positioned these changes as part of a wider effort to enhance onboard flexibility and value, especially for travellers looking to personalise their cruise experience.

Expanding casual dining access and increasing shore excursion benefits were aimed at making the packages more attractive without making them compulsory.

Still, with soft drinks remaining limited under the Plus plan, the debate continues – and the cruise line may need to make further tweaks to strike the right balance.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

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A recent Norwegian Cruise Line passenger has caused a stir online after sharing a medical bill from the ship’s onboard clinic totalling close to $10,000 – significantly more than many cruise fares themselves.

The charges were incurred during Norwegian Escape’s Western Caribbean voyage that departed Miami on 13th July 2025.

The passenger, who remains anonymous, posted the bill on Reddit with the caption: “Don’t get sick on a cruise ship”, sparking over 1,300 comments in a matter of hours.

While no details were provided regarding the medical emergency or the treatment received, the bill was clearly marked “EMERGENCY CARE” and dated 19th July 2025, indicating the treatment occurred during the voyage and was charged to the guest’s onboard folio.

Eye-Watering Breakdown of Charges

Though only the first page of the four-page document was shared, it reveals a striking list of expenses:

• $199 – New patient consultation
• $43 – Blood draw
• $274 – SARS-CoV-2, flu, and RSV testing
• $109 – Pulse oximetry
• $131 (×8) – IV infusions
• $380.27 – Medical supplies
• $618.59 – Medications

Among the most frequently questioned costs were eight separate charges for IV infusions, each at $131, suggesting a potentially duplicated or excessive billing for routine treatment.

One commenter, self-identified as a physician, pointed out that multiple entries like these, along with identical $219 charges for both “admission doctor consult” and “admission to medical centre,” may indicate duplicate billing.

If challenged successfully, such disputes could reduce the total owed significantly – though not eliminate it entirely.

Insurance, Accountability, and a Cautionary Tale

The post has reignited debate about the need for comprehensive travel insurance, particularly on cruises where access to medical care is limited to onboard facilities – often operated by third-party providers and not included in the standard cruise fare.

Many seasoned cruisers in the Reddit thread strongly advocated for securing adequate insurance before any voyage.

However, experts caution that policies vary, and not all cover emergency care or medical repatriation.

Reimbursement may depend on policy terms, what procedures were authorised, and whether duplicates can be clarified or removed.

The incident also serves as a reminder for travellers to carefully review their onboard account before disembarking.

Mistaken charges for drinks, spa services, or excursions are not uncommon and are difficult to dispute once the cruise has ended.

Guests can verify charges through their stateroom televisions, onboard kiosks, or directly at Guest Services.

Large Medical Bills Not Uncommon

Other guests in the past have shared their own stories of unexpectedly high medical bills on a cruise.

One US couple’s dream cruise turned into a financial nightmare when a flu diagnosis resulted in a $47,000 medical bill aboard Norwegian Encore.

Mike Cameron and his partner Tamra Masterman had won the Caribbean cruise, but after Cameron fell ill and needed treatment over several days, the cruise line charged two credit cards on file – maxing both out – and left them with a remaining balance of $21,000.

Despite having purchased travel insurance through Norwegian Cruise Line, the couple struggled to get any reimbursement.

Their insurer required them to claim through their domestic health provider first, which refused to cover the treatment because it was received abroad.

This left the couple in limbo, dealing with mounting interest and concerns about long-term financial consequences.

Norwegian Cruise Line defended its pricing, stating the charges were in line with industry norms, though later acknowledged it was reviewing whether the fees were typical for flu care.

The case highlights both the high cost of onboard medical services and the potential gaps in cruise insurance coverage – particularly when it comes to coordination with national health systems.

Onboard Medical Costs at Sea

Cruise ship medical facilities are usually well-equipped for emergencies, but they are private operations and function outside national healthcare systems.

Treatment costs can be high, often comparable to private emergency care rates on land – particularly in US dollars.

Norwegian Escape, one of Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway-Plus class ships, can carry over 4,200 guests and sails varied Caribbean itineraries from Miami.

The onboard medical team is trained to handle a wide range of issues, but passengers are ultimately responsible for all associated costs unless covered by insurance.

This case underscores the financial risks of needing care at sea and adds to ongoing discussions about transparency and oversight in cruise ship healthcare pricing.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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Guests and crew aboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas experienced a distressing emergency on Thursday evening, 24th July 2025, when a crew member was reported overboard while the ship was at sea near the Bahamas.

Despite an immediate and coordinated rescue operation which saw the crew member recovered from the water, it was later confirmed that they had died.

The overboard alert was issued around 7 pm with the sounding of the “Oscar” code – the maritime emergency signal for a man overboard – broadcast over the ship’s public address system.

The vessel, the world’s largest cruise ship at 248,663 gross tons, responded immediately by slowing and reversing course to the last known location.

Some videos were circulated on social media showing the moments that the crew member had gone overboard and their recovery.

In a statement, Royal Caribbean confirmed:

“Our crew immediately initiated a search and rescue operation, but unfortunately the crew member passed away. We extend our condolences to the crew member’s family and loved ones. To respect their privacy, we have no additional details to share.”

Satellite tracking confirms the ship altered course northeast of San Salvador Island, approximately 200 miles from Nassau, as part of the rescue operation.

Eyewitnesses reported that the individual had gone overboard from the port side and that life preservers were quickly deployed to mark the area.

Guests also noted that portions of the outer decks were closed off as the crew launched a rescue craft.

The crew member, reportedly wearing a uniform, was located and recovered, but sadly could not be saved. This was later confirmed by the cruise line.

Itinerary Unimpacted

Despite the seriousness of the incident, Icon of the Seas resumed its course within the hour.

The ship is currently on a 7-night Eastern Caribbean sailing that departed Miami on Saturday, 19th July.

So far, the itinerary has included stops in St. Maarten and St. Thomas, with a final call at Perfect Day at CocoCay on Friday 25th July.

No itinerary delays are expected at this time.

An Emotional Moment Onboard

Guests described the incident as harrowing, noting the quick and calm professionalism of the crew during the emergency.

A follow-up announcement was made by the ship’s captain confirming the individual had been recovered, though no additional information was shared with guests onboard.

While overboard incidents remain rare, they are almost always met with an immediate and well-drilled response from cruise ship crews. In this case, despite every effort, the outcome was a tragic one.

This marks another sombre reminder of the risks at sea, following a similar incident in March 2025 when a guest went overboard from Explorer of the Seas and was never recovered.

Royal Caribbean and the broader cruise community are now mourning the loss of one of their own.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

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