Cruise Gratuities An Honest Guide To Cruise Ship Gratuities

Table Of Content

• Princess Plus & Premier Offers: Package Details and if it’s Worth it
• How Much Do Cruise Gratuities Cost?
• Gratuities on Speciality Meals and Speciality Meal Packages
• Which Roles Don’t Receive Part of the Automatic Gratuity?
• Here are our thoughts on extra tipping for cruise ship bartenders:
• Revealed: The Most Expensive Carnival Cruise You Can Buy (And Cheapest, Too!)
• Complete Guide to Cruise Ship Gratuities for 2024

If you didn’t pre-pay, the gratuity charges will be added to your total balance. From the housekeeping staff to the waiters and bartenders, the crew members are the backbone of the ship. By charging gratuities, cruise lines can recognize the hard work of the crew and ensure that they are rewarded for their efforts over and above their standard rate of pay. Note that if you purchase a dining or beverage package, most cruise lines will charge you gratuities based on a percentage of the package price.

Princess Plus & Premier Offers: Package Details and if it’s Worth it

If you purchase a beverage package, you must pre-pay the gratuity amount for the package’s total. 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.

How Much Do Cruise Gratuities Cost?

Not only will it improve your cruise experience, but you’re also allowing the cruise ship staff the opportunity to make things right. Disney cruises has a suggested daily gratuity charge of $13.50 per person, per day for all guests. Most cruise lines charge between 15-20% on top of drinks prices as a gratuity.

Gratuities on Speciality Meals and Speciality Meal Packages

Take a breath…stop for a local meal and a glass of wine along the way. Tipping on a cruise isn’t really complicated but it’s something good to know before you go. If you don’t have small bills, you can ask Guest Services to break down larger bills.

Which Roles Don’t Receive Part of the Automatic Gratuity?

($10-$20) If the bartender(s) do something special, we’ll often leave more. However, if we’re on a cruise where we literally just have a beer here and there or a glass of wine on occasion, we’re less likely to tip much extra if any at all. You pay an extra 18% service charge for all beverage, mini-bar purchases, spa and salon purchases (added separately at the time of purchase). For most luxury lines, there’s no separate (additional) automatic gratuity charge on cruises. Navigating gratuity expectations can be both rewarding and challenging.

Overall, tipping on a cruise is an important part of showing appreciation for the hardworking crew members who make your vacation possible. If you want to adjust the amount of gratuities you pay (either up or down), you cando so at the guest services desk. Overall, it’s always a good idea to research the gratuity policies of your chosen cruise line before booking your vacation. This way, you can budget accordingly and avoid any surprises during your trip. Gratuity charges are added to your onboard account, which is like a credit card that you use to pay for all your onboard expenses. By charging a set gratuity amount, cruise lines can ensure that all crew members are compensated fairly and consistently.

Revealed: The Most Expensive Carnival Cruise You Can Buy (And Cheapest, Too!)

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]

And since they are an extra charge that many people don’t expect, that leads to questions about exactly what gratuities are on a cruise and how they work. Experienced cruisers often have valuable tips and advice when it comes to navigating cruise ship gratuities. Their insights may include budgeting strategies, ways to ensure fair and equitable distribution of gratuities among crew members, or even suggestions for non-monetary gestures of appreciation. Taking into consideration the tips from experienced cruisers can enhance your overall understanding and approach to cruise ship gratuities. 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).

Carnival Cruise Line makes a clear statement on 'mandatory' tips - TheStreet

Carnival Cruise Line makes a clear statement on 'mandatory' tips.

Posted: Sat, 26 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Complete Guide to Cruise Ship Gratuities for 2024

Each cruise line has its own tipping policies; therefore, it's vital to research before your trip. Some lines include gratuities in your fare, while others will charge them to your account. Understanding these policies will help you manage your onboard expenses and ensure you're appropriately thanking those who make your cruise a memorable experience. One thing to be aware of is the potential for double tips on your bills. In the case of shipboard personnel like bartenders and spa workers, you’ll find a service charge tacked on to whatever you purchase.

Windstar Cruises daily gratuities are $12.00 per person, per day for all cabin types. In this post, I’ll be going through the cruise tipping policies by cruise line and answer some of the most common questions people have about gratuities on a cruise. If you’re new to cruising, you might be wondering who to tip on a cruise, how much to tip, and exactly how onboard gratuities work. On the second river cruise I took with Saga I felt as though I was expected to tip as tipping envelopes were left in my cabin. We were directed where to put these and it was mentioned a couple of times. It is important to check the small print with the cruise line you are travelling with, to see if you will incur these extra charges.

As is common, a beverage service charge (18% for Windstar) is automatically added to your bar bill and any wine/beer you order in the dining room. However, if you don’t want the daily gratuity charge added automatically, you can visit reception and sign a form to waive these charges (or change the suggested amount). Tipping on Holland America, which jumped on February 1, 2023, is recorded daily. And, as is customary, the line’s “hotel service charge” is automatically added to your shipboard account. We’ve put together the protocol for cruise tipping around the world, along with a breakdown of how much 18 of the most popular cruise lines charge for cruise gratuities.

The length and type of your cruise can also influence the gratuity amounts. Longer cruises typically involve a longer duration of service from the crew members, warranting higher gratuity amounts. Additionally, luxury cruises and specialty cruises may have higher recommended gratuity amounts due to the elevated level of service and personalized attention provided to passengers.

These cruise gratuities also apply to all guests regardless of your dining options. Cruisers who opt to only eat in the buffet, who select anytime dining, or who choose more traditional dining will all pay the same amount based on their stateroom category. Room service fees have become the norm on many major cruise lines. Room service waiters are also part of the tip pool for autogratuities.