Image credit: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0), Sky Princess at Liverpool. License: CC BY-SA 4.0.
Princess Cruises raised Medallion home-shipping fees again on August 20, 2026.
New U.S. shipping orders are now 22 dollars, and Canada shipping is 27 dollars, according to cruise-trade reporting of the line’s updated charges.
Orders placed before August 20 keep the prior fee. Port pickup remains free, which is the clean traveler bypass if you do not need the wearable before embarkation day.
- Effective date: August 20, 2026 for new Medallion shipping orders.
- U.S. fee: 22 dollars for home delivery.
- Canada fee: 27 dollars for home delivery.
- Grandfathering: Orders placed before August 20 keep the old shipping price.
- Decision rule: Skip shipping and pick up at the terminal unless you need the Medallion early.
What changed on August 20
Cruise Fever reported that Princess raised Medallion shipping again on August 20, 2026, after an earlier 2026 increase that moved U.S. shipping from 10 dollars to 20 dollars. This latest step adds 2 dollars in the United States and sets Canada at 27 dollars.
The same report says existing orders placed before August 20 stay at the previous shipping fee. Only new shipping requests processed on or after that date take the updated price.
Princess’s own Medallion FAQ still confirms that home delivery is available for residential addresses in the United States, Puerto Rico, or Canada when guests complete the Medallion step during online check-in at least 13 days before sailing. The FAQ does not itself publish the new dollar amounts, so the fee figures rest on the trade reporting of the August 20 change.
What the Medallion is actually for
On Princess ships, the Medallion replaces the cruise card for stateroom access, boarding credentials, onboard payments, and crew service identification.
Guests who skip home shipping still receive a Medallion at the terminal after completing OceanReady check-in steps.
Princess says home shipping is currently limited to the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada. Guests outside those markets are directed to port pickup.
The wearable is waterproof and can be worn in the pool. Lost devices are disabled and replaced onboard at no cost once reported to crew, according to the FAQ.
Three checks before you pay for shipping
First, decide whether you truly need the Medallion before embarkation day. If not, choose port pickup and avoid the shipping fee entirely.
Second, if you do want home delivery, complete the Medallion shipping step at least 13 days before sailing and confirm the fee shown in the app before you submit a new order after August 20.
Third, if you already submitted shipping before August 20, keep your confirmation. The trade reports say those orders keep the prior fee.
Those three checks turn a fee headline into an action. Paying 22 dollars only makes sense when early delivery is worth more to you than a free terminal pickup.
How this fits the broader Princess prep stack
Princess pushes guests to finish OceanReady steps in the app for faster terminal lanes. Ordering and customizing a Medallion is one of those steps for eligible U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada residents.
Completing personal info, travel documents, MedallionPay, acknowledgements, security photos, and emergency information still matters even if you refuse home shipping. Port pickup guests can finish the checklist without paying postage.
Families should decide per guest. Shipping multiple Medallions multiplies the fee quickly, while terminal pickup remains free for each guest who waits.
For line-level planning beyond this fee change, Deep Arrival’s Princess Cruises hub remains the place to compare ships and itinerary basics before you lock a fare.
Context from the earlier 2026 shipping jump
Cruise Critic earlier reported that Princess had already moved Medallion shipping from 10 dollars to 20 dollars in February 2026.
The August 20 change is therefore a second postage step in the same year, not the first time guests have seen this fee climb.
That history matters for traveler expectations. A 2 dollar bump looks small alone. Stacked on top of the earlier doubling, the full-year shipping path has moved from a 10 dollar charge to a 22 dollar U.S. fee for new orders.
Princess still presents the Medallion as core to the shipboard product. The fee debate is about delivery convenience, not about whether the wearable exists. Guests who refuse shipping are not opting out of MedallionClass itself.
If you booked under older package language that once bundled free shipping, verify your specific voyage terms. Package rules and postage rules have not always moved on the same calendar.
What is confirmed versus still soft
Confirmed by Princess FAQ: home shipping exists for U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada addresses, with a 13-day lead recommendation, and port pickup remains available.
Confirmed by cruise-trade reporting of the August 20 update: new U.S. shipping is 22 dollars, Canada is 27 dollars, and earlier orders keep the prior fee.
Still soft until Princess publishes the dollar amounts on a passenger-facing page: the exact in-app fee string every guest will see. If your app shows a different number, trust the live checkout screen and screenshot it.
When shipping still makes sense
Home delivery can still be worth it for guests who want to practice wearing the Medallion, attach an accessory before travel, or avoid one more terminal desk stop with kids.
It can also help guests who arrive late to the pier and want every OceanReady step finished, including a wearable already in hand. That convenience is real.
It is less compelling for solo travelers with simple embarkation plans, guests staying near the port the night before, or parties that would pay shipping for four or five Medallions. Free terminal pickup scales better for large cabins.
International guests already outside the shipping countries do not face a new choice. Their path remains port pickup under the current FAQ.
How to avoid fee surprises in the app
Open the Medallion step only when you are ready to confirm the live shipping price. Screenshot the fee before you submit if you are documenting a company reimbursement or comparing against an older booking email.
If the app offers accessories such as bands or clips, treat those as separate purchases from the shipping fee itself. Accessory upsells can dwarf a 2 dollar postage bump.
Complete the rest of OceanReady even if you decline shipping. Missing photos or payment setup can still push you into a slower terminal lane regardless of postage.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Do not need the Medallion before sail day | Skip home shipping and pick it up at the terminal for free. |
| Want home delivery after Aug 20 | Expect 22 dollars in the U.S. or 27 dollars in Canada on new orders. |
| Already ordered shipping before Aug 20 | Keep confirmation; trade reports say the prior fee is grandfathered. |
| Live outside U.S., Puerto Rico, or Canada | Plan on port pickup; home shipping is not offered there. |
- Before you pay: Ask whether early delivery is worth 22 or 27 dollars.
- In the app: Complete OceanReady steps even if you refuse shipping.
- At the terminal: Use the Blue Arrival path guidance Princess gives for port Medallion pickup.
- For families: Multiply the fee by every guest you ship to, or pick up free for all.
Pay for shipping only when early delivery is useful. Otherwise take the free terminal Medallion and keep the cash for embarkation day.
How much does Princess Medallion shipping cost after August 20, 2026?
Cruise-trade reporting of the Princess update puts new U.S. shipping at 22 dollars and Canada shipping at 27 dollars.
Can I still get a Medallion without paying shipping?
Yes. Princess says you can complete online check-in and pick up the Medallion at the terminal at no shipping charge.
Do older shipping orders keep the previous fee?
Trade reports say orders placed before August 20, 2026 remain at the prior shipping fee.
Where is home shipping available?
Princess says Medallion home delivery is currently available for residential addresses in the United States, Puerto Rico, or Canada.
