Cruise travelers often expect a few extra charges once they step onboard, but sometimes those fees change quietly without much fanfare.
Princess Cruises has recently made one of those adjustments, and it’s something passengers may notice the next time they order a drink or enjoy specialty dining during their cruise.
The cruise line has increased its onboard food and beverage service charge from 18% to 20%, a change that is now rolling out across the fleet.
While the increase may seem small at first glance, it applies to many everyday purchases made during a cruise vacation.
Here’s a closer look at what the change means for passengers sailing with Princess Cruises.
The New 20% Service Charge Is Now Rolling Out
Princess Cruises began implementing the updated service charge on its ships in early March 2026.
Instead of applying the change all at once across the fleet, the cruise line is introducing the increase gradually as ships begin new sailings.
That means the adjustment won’t affect guests who are already in the middle of their cruise.
However, travelers boarding upcoming sailings may notice the new rate on their onboard purchases.
The updated service charge is automatically applied to certain purchases made during the cruise.
The new charge applies to:
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
- Dining room purchases outside the included options.
- Specialty restaurants.
- Private group dining or events.
- Certain optional services and onboard amenities.
In simple terms, if you buy food, beverages, or certain optional experiences that aren’t included in the cruise fare, the 20% service charge will now appear on the bill.
What the Service Charge Does — and Does Not — Apply To
It’s important to note that this charge is specific to food and beverage purchases.
Some onboard expenses are not affected by this increase.
Items not included in the service charge:
- Retail purchases in onboard shops.
- Merchandise or souvenirs.
- Certain specialty items purchased for later delivery.
It is also still unclear whether the service charge applies to bottles of alcohol purchased onboard to take home after the cruise, something many travelers like to buy at the duty-free shops.
This Is Not the Same as Crew Gratuities
One thing that can cause confusion for cruise guests is the difference between service charges and gratuities.
Although they both appear as additional fees, they serve different purposes.
The daily crew appreciation gratuity is a separate charge that goes toward the crew members who take care of passengers throughout the voyage.
Current daily gratuity rates on Princess Cruises are:
| Cabin Type | Daily Gratuity |
|---|---|
| Standard staterooms | $18 per person per day |
| Mini-suites, cabanas, Reserve Collection | $19 per person per day |
| Suites | $20 per person per day |
Unlike the new service charge, these gratuities can sometimes be adjusted at the guest’s request.
However, the 20% service charge on food and beverage purchases is mandatory and cannot be removed.
Guests With All-Inclusive Packages Won’t See Extra Charges
There is one bit of good news for travelers who have purchased Princess Cruises’ bundled packages.
Passengers who already prepaid service charges through an all-inclusive or beverage package will not be required to pay the additional increase.
According to the cruise line, guests who booked these packages will not see any additional adjustments applied to their onboard accounts.
In other words, if the service charge was already included in the package price, it will stay covered.
Another Recent Fee Increase From Princess
The service charge adjustment isn’t the only recent price change from Princess Cruises.
Just days before this announcement, the cruise line also increased the shipping fee for its OceanMedallion devices, which guests can choose to have mailed to their home before their cruise.
That delivery cost increased by $10 per address, depending on the region.
While each change may seem relatively minor on its own, some passengers have noticed that small fee increases appear to be happening more frequently across the cruise industry.
Other Cruise Lines Are Raising Fees Too
Princess Cruises isn’t the only company introducing new charges or adjusting existing ones.
Several cruise lines have made similar changes recently.
For example:
- Carnival Cruise Line increased its service charge from 18% to 20% in late 2025.
- Norwegian Cruise Line introduced a $45 fee for an exclusive show on one of its newest ships.
- Royal Caribbean now charges $5 for a Coca-Cola Freestyle cup with certain drink packages.
Because Princess and Carnival are both part of Carnival Corporation, many travelers were not surprised to see the service charge adjustment follow a similar move by Carnival.
At the moment, other brands under the same corporate umbrella still have slightly lower rates.
Current service charges across some brands:
- Princess Cruises – 20%
- Carnival Cruise Line – 20%
- Holland America Line – 18%
- Cunard – 15%
However, cruise pricing policies can change at any time.
Why Small Fee Increases Can Add Up
On paper, the jump from 18% to 20% may not seem like a major change.
For example:
- A $15 drink with an 18% service charge adds $2.70.
- With the new 20% charge, that same drink adds $3.00.
The difference is just 30 cents.
But those small increases can add up over the course of a week-long cruise, especially when guests are ordering multiple drinks, enjoying specialty dining, or purchasing extra experiences.
Many passengers say it’s not necessarily the amount that bothers them, but the growing list of fees that seem to appear over time.
Some Guests Are Voicing Concerns
As news of the change spread online, some travelers shared their frustrations about the increasing number of onboard charges.
Several passengers pointed out that while individual fees may be small, the cumulative effect can make cruises feel more expensive than expected.
One cruiser summed up the feeling many travelers have expressed online, noting that it sometimes feels like prices keep creeping up while onboard offerings stay the same.
For travelers planning future cruises, it’s simply another reminder to review the full breakdown of costs — including drinks, specialty dining, and service charges — when budgeting for a vacation at sea.
What This Means for Future Princess Cruises
Despite the fee adjustment, Princess Cruises continues to offer the same dining experiences, bars, and onboard services that many guests enjoy.
For most travelers, the difference in cost will likely be small, but it’s still something to keep in mind when planning onboard spending.
As cruise lines continue introducing new ships, upgraded experiences, and expanded amenities, changes to service charges and onboard pricing may remain part of the evolving cruise industry.
For now, guests sailing with Princess should simply expect to see a 20% service charge applied to food and beverage purchases starting in early March 2026.
