Full Guide to Cruise Ship Gratuities for 2024 Amounts, Etiquette, and More

Table Of Content

• Cruise Gratuities – Guide to Tipping on a Cruise Ship
• Benefits and considerations of prepaid gratuities
• How Much Should You Budget for Cruise Gratuities?
• Why do cruise lines raise gratuity rates?
• Cruise Lines that Include Gratuities
• Bottled Water Packages – What They Cost on Different Cruise Lines
• Changes in gratuity policies across cruise lines

That said, the total number of lines with a service fee has been shrinking over the years. Many smaller and higher-end cruise operators are folding tips and gratuities into their base fares. Conversely, some guests who are familiar with and follow the tipping guidelines, prefer to hand out cash-filled envelopes to crew members. You would think that paying a hefty daily tip would cover everyone on the ship. In fact, there are a couple of instances where paying additional gratuity is recommended or automatic. Passengers can also typically lock in the old rate if prepaid gratuities are added to a booking before the new rate takes effect.

Cruise Gratuities – Guide to Tipping on a Cruise Ship

So, if it is unclear, it is acceptable to ask if and which tips have been automatically charged to your bill. This will allow you to add an appropriate gratuity AND avoid double tipping. When planning for your next adventure on the high seas, leave an opening in your budget for cruise gratuities. This is an expense that many travelers overlook when tallying the cost of a voyage. Yet, it can add hundreds of dollars to the final numbers and falls into the category of an important item for most passengers. Did you spot any omissions or questions we didn’t cover – then please let us know in the comments.

Benefits and considerations of prepaid gratuities

How gratuities are paid depends on the type of cruise line you are sailing. Luxury lines may include gratuities in the price of your cruise, while it’s a separate charge on mainstream cruise lines. You booked your cruise and are diving into the planning phase, but what about the cruise gratuities?

How Much Should You Budget for Cruise Gratuities?

When you book your cruise, you’ll be charged your cruise fare, port fees and taxes. You’ll want to factor in the cruise line gratuity charge, sometimes called on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). Gratuities are not added to spa bills, so passengers can tip at their discretion. Guests sailing on Windstar Cruises should expect to pay cruise gratuities as well. This hotel service charge is $16 per passenger, per day and is automatically added to each guest’s onboard account.

Royal Caribbean Raising Gratuity Rates for All Passengers - Cruise Hive

Royal Caribbean Raising Gratuity Rates for All Passengers.

Posted: Wed, 01 Nov 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Why do cruise lines raise gratuity rates?

All trick, no treat: Royal Caribbean quietly raises automatic gratuity charges - The Points Guy

All trick, no treat: Royal Caribbean quietly raises automatic gratuity charges.

Posted: Tue, 31 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

If you don’t have small bills, you can ask Guest Services to break down larger bills. Simply bring a $20, $50, or $100 bill to Guest Services and they will be happy to give you change. Guests staying in Concierge Staterooms and Suites are recommended a gratuity amount of $15.50 per night. If you are cruising to another destination with MSC, you will want to visit the cruise line’s website.

Crew perspectives on gratuities

Here’s what you will pay per person per day for cruise ship gratuities/service fees/crew appreciation as of this writing. Many luxury cruise lines have gratuities included with the cruise fares. Guests may tip additionally at their discretion, but tipping beyond the automatic gratuity isn’t mandatory or expected. Personal experiences can provide valuable insights into the world of cruise ship gratuities.

These are usually calculated on a per person/per day (or night) basis by the cruise lines. It’s important to note that some cruise lines like Royal Caribbean and Carnival also offer drinks packages that include gratuities for bar staff. Make sure to check the details of your drinks package to see if gratuities are included.

When tipping in the cruise line spa, it’s important to remember that a standard gratuity fee is often automatically added to your bill each day. For instance, an added gratuity of 18 to 20 percent will be included if you purchase a massage or salon service. When tipping on a cruise ship, showing appreciation for the hardworking crew members who make your cruise vacation enjoyable is important. Stateroom stewards are the ones who keep your room clean and tidy throughout your stay, so it’s appreciated–though not mandatory–to tip them an additional $5 per day per person. While automatic gratuity charges may be convenient for some passengers, others prefer alternative tipping onboard.

Further, cruises to Hawaii also have a 4.275% service tax applied. In addition, guests will pay an 18% gratuity on all beverages, mini bar items, and spa & salon purchases. One alternative tipping strategy is to prepay your gratuities before departing on your cruise. This can help you budget for additional costs and ensure that all crew members receive their fair share of tips. Some cruise lines offer discounts or incentives for prepaid tipping. The second option is to allow the charge to be added each day to your onboard account.

This way, you’re ready to personally hand it to the room service delivery person. You can get the charge out of the way early, or hold onto your money until you actually sail. If you’ve never cruised, then there is no doubt that these questions and more might be floating through your head. To help explain everything about cruise line gratuities, we’ve answered a number of common questions that will make everything clearer before you set sail.

While most non-alcoholic beverages are included in your cruise fare, alcoholic drinks cost extra. Most premium drink packages include unlimited alcohol (or a 15-drink limit over 24 hours). If you purchase a beverage package, you must pre-pay the gratuity amount for the package’s total.

Note that there are also gratuities applied automatically and separately to some optional onboard services, like drinks at the bar or spa and salon services. In short, gratuities should not be viewed as an optional extra, but more as a required service fee, which ensures fare wages for the hardworking cruise crew. Accordingly, when planning your cruise vacation budget, be sure to factor in the estimated cost of gratuities for the duration of your sailing.

Cruise line policies play a significant role in determining the calculation and distribution of cruise ship gratuities. Each cruise line may have its own unique approach, guidelines, and recommended gratuity amounts. It is essential to review and understand the gratuity policies of your chosen cruise line to ensure that you are adequately informed about the expected gratuity amounts and distribution methods. Norwegian Cruise Line has onboard service charge will is charged automatically for guests 3 and up, and distributed among staff that serve you in various ways. Rather than reducing the amount payed, they point out on their website that they will work to resolve any service issues experienced. Princess Cruises will automatically charge a crew incentive of $14.50 per person, per day for guests in inside ocean view and balcony cabins.