If you’ve sailed with Princess Cruises recently, you probably know that the cruise line offers the option to have your OceanMedallion shipped directly to your home before the cruise.
It’s a convenient perk that lets you skip some of the embarkation-day setup and walk onto the ship ready to go.
However, Princess has quietly made a change that some cruisers might notice when preparing for their next trip.
As of February 27, 2026, Princess Cruises has increased the shipping fee for sending Medallions to guests’ homes in several regions.
The price adjustment affects passengers living in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada who choose the pre-cruise delivery option.
While the Medallion itself is still included with your cruise, the cost of getting it shipped ahead of time has now gone up.
New Medallion Shipping Prices for North American Guests
The updated pricing applies to guests who prefer to receive their Medallions before they travel to the cruise port.
Here are the new shipping fees now in place:
Updated Shipping Costs
- United States & Puerto Rico: $20 per order (previously $10).
- Canada: $25 per order (previously $15).
All prices are charged in U.S. dollars.
That means the cost of shipping the wearable device to your home has effectively doubled for many cruisers in the U.S., while Canadian passengers are also seeing a noticeable increase.
Although the change isn’t huge compared to the overall cost of a cruise vacation, it’s something travelers will want to keep in mind when planning their pre-cruise preparations.
What Exactly Is the Princess OceanMedallion?
If you’re new to Princess Cruises, the OceanMedallion is one of the cruise line’s most recognizable features.
Instead of traditional cruise key cards, Princess ships use this small wearable device to power many onboard services.
The Medallion works using smart technology that connects guests to the ship’s digital systems.
With it, passengers can do things like:
- Unlock their stateroom door automatically.
- Pay for drinks, shopping, and specialty dining.
- Order food and drinks anywhere on the ship.
- Locate friends and family onboard.
- Speed up embarkation and check-in.
Many cruisers wear the Medallion on a wristband or lanyard, while others simply keep it in their pocket.
Because it replaces the traditional cruise card, it’s an essential item that every Princess passenger receives before boarding.
How Medallion Shipping Orders Work
One thing many cruisers don’t realize is that the shipping fee is charged per order, not per person.
That means a single shipment can include several Medallions if everyone in the booking shares the same delivery address.
Princess currently allows:
- 1 to 4 Medallions per shipment.
- All devices must be sent to the same address.
- They must also be placed under the same order.
This setup can help families save money on shipping.
However, if guests decide to send their Medallions to different addresses, the cruise line will charge separate shipping fees for each order.
For example:
• A family of four shipping to one house → one shipping fee
• Two couples sending to different homes → two shipping fees
So it’s worth coordinating your delivery details before placing the order.
Why Princess Cruises Increased the Shipping Fee
According to Princess Cruises, the price adjustment was introduced to help support reliable delivery services and align the pricing structure for Medallion shipments.
Shipping costs across the travel industry have increased in recent years, especially when it comes to secure delivery services and tracking systems.
Princess explained that the adjustment helps ensure:
- Reliable shipping timelines.
- High-quality delivery services.
- Consistent pricing across regions.
For a cruise line that sends thousands of Medallions to guests ahead of every sailing, even small increases in logistics costs can add up quickly.
Guests Still Have a Free Option
If paying for shipping doesn’t sound appealing, there’s good news — Princess still offers a completely free alternative.
Cruisers can simply pick up their Medallion at the cruise terminal on embarkation day.
This option remains popular with travelers who:
- Live close to the cruise port.
- Book their cruise close to the sailing date.
- Prefer not to worry about deliveries arriving on time.
When choosing terminal pickup, passengers receive their Medallion during the check-in process before boarding the ship.
While this can add a few minutes to the embarkation process, many travelers find it perfectly convenient.
Where Medallion Shipping Is Available
Right now, the pre-cruise shipping option is limited to a few regions.
Princess Cruises currently offers Medallion delivery only for residents of:
- United States
- Canada
- Puerto Rico
Passengers traveling from other parts of the world will still receive their Medallions at the port before boarding.
As the technology continues expanding across the Princess fleet, some cruisers hope the shipping option may eventually become available in additional countries.
Is Shipping the Medallion Worth It?
Many experienced Princess cruisers say having the Medallion delivered ahead of time can make embarkation day feel much smoother.
When the device arrives before the cruise, travelers can:
- Complete parts of their OceanReady check-in earlier.
- Skip some steps at the terminal.
- Walk onto the ship faster.
- Start using onboard services right away.
However, others prefer saving the extra money and simply collecting the device when they arrive at the port.
In the end, it comes down to personal preference.
Some cruisers love the extra convenience, while others are perfectly happy with the free terminal pickup option.
