Cruise lines have implemented automatic gratuities, options to prepay gratuities and some popular cruise lines have begun including tips in your cruise fare. Given that most , all ? I think its pretty bad when thats the only night they make their presence be known. At some North American ports, youll see signs stating that the porters do not accept tips. Prior to your cruise, youll connect your onboard account with a credit or debit card, and all payments will be charged to that card at the end of the cruise. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. We like to prepay gratuities when we make our final payment for our cruise, but this is optional. Im a little over a month out before my next cruise, and while its a little early to start packing (is it though? If youre new to cruising, or its been a while since your last cruise, its important to know about cruise tipping guidelines before you sail. We sail Celebrity and opt to prepay gratuities. Although cash isnt required for onboard purchases, there are a few scenarios where youll want to have cash available. The staff learns real quick who tips extra, and who does not. One notable exception is Norwegian Cruise Line. Here are some daily automatic gratuity costs for several popular ocean cruise lines in USD (prices accurate as of summer 2021): Unlike with the deals you can get for prepaying for drink packages and some other add-ons, you wont get a discount for prepaying your automatic gratuities. Tips are of course a personal decision. On top of that, there's an 18% gratuity fee. On a cruise, most guests bring between $100-$120 in cash per day to be spent on transportation, tips, gifts, food, and shopping. Many ships also have an abundance of kids' activities including kids clubs that . The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. Most cruise ships have ATMs, and some have currency exchanges on board. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. I think this depends on who it is and what their job is. Cruising can be such a relaxing vacation as well as so much fun. You can choose to pay in local currency, too, but obtaining money in 3+ currencies before a cruise is not necessary. Cruise line tipping policies vary from one cruise company to another. Since most cruise passengers follow the tipping guidelines, that amounts to an increase $13.30 . Some guests may bring $200 extra for gratuities whereas others may bring $50. ATMs usually charge a $5-6 fee per transaction. Maybe your cabin attendant delivered when you made a special request, or you loved how your steward always sweetly arranged your children's stuffed animals before bed every night -- or maybe you just want to show a little extra appreciation in the universal language of money. Even if you prepay for your shore excursions directly through the cruise line, its customary to tip your tour guides and drivers in cash after each excursion. Tipped crew on many cruise lines include housekeeping, dining, and laundry workers. If sailing in a reg. Alaska is such a beautiful destination. Bar, spa and in-room dining for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara have an 18 per cent gratuity charge. One of the most luxurious aspects of cruising is the service of room stewards -- that team of people who often go unseen in their daily mission to keep your cruise cabin sparkling fresh and clean. The best advice I can give Americans and Canadians, if they are tipping questions arise either on the ship or ashore, follow the lead of Aussies and ask their advice. Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise? Ive been cruising for over 15 years, and the practice of tipping on a cruise has certainly evolved. Something to note is that although daily gratuities arent charged, there may be a service fee or tip added to certain services onboard. Some cruise lines allow you to use your cruise card to deposit money in the casino. Your glowing review can help a hardworking crew member earn a promotion or raise. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The Dream pioneered the innovative and fun cruise ships that are standard today from Carnival Cruise Lines. 2% would be a shoddy tip, but it's fine for the "extra tip" line if that 2% was to bring the 18% service charge up to 20%. a $200 gratuity on top of my prepaid gratuities. IMPORTANT: Since September 7, 2022, Royal Caribbean International (RCI) cruise ship passengers pay USD 16 pp per day in tips (service charge for staterooms Junior Suites and below). frequentfloaters.com - That Guy. How to Pay: Paid in cruise fare at the time of purchase. What currency should you use to tip on a cruise? You can also adjust your gratuities up or down. Tip amount: Gratuities amount to $13.50 per person per day (including children 3 and older) in standard rooms and $15.50 per person in suites. The price increases during August to approximately $773 (619) per person, excluding taxes. They did a really good job and I would like to tip them. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? I ALWAYS tip extra to the outstanding employees on every cruise I have ever taken. This fee ranges anywhere from $12.50 to upward of $20 per person, per day, depending on the cruise line -- usually on the higher end if you're staying in a suite. I just arrived on board for our 6th cruise, after my 5th cruise just 2 months ago. Not only will it improve your cruise experience, but youre also allowing the cruise ship staff the opportunity to make things right. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? See details here: Ultimate Cruise Planner -Whats Included, What to Pack for a Caribbean Cruise (with packing list), 7 Cruises to Avoid and What to Do Instead, Cruise Line Stocks Shareholder Benefits for Cruisers (FREE onboard credit). There aren't any hard-and-fast guidelines for this type of tip since it's contingent on your experience, but $25 to $40 on behalf of a couple roughly works out to an extra $2 to $3 per person,. However, there are a few common practices and guidelines. | Royal Caribbean Blog www.royalcaribbeanblog.com. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. The amount is very personal. Clear editor. Additionally, shouldbecruising.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes receive a commission from purchases made through our links. By It is best to drink 9 to 13 cups of water before donating money in the 24 hours preceding the event. New York state residents who wish to purchase the product may visit https://travelcruisecare.com to enroll directly with . Thats up to you! The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. Passengers sometimes plan in advance to bring small gifts to leave with their cabin stewards, either at the beginning or end of the cruise. We had the my time diningsame waiter and assistant every night. Grand Suite and above cabin categories pay USD 18,50 pp per day gratuities. For example, Royal Caribbean (www.royalcaribbean.com) recently increased its tip recommendations and now suggests $3.75 per day for your main waiter, $5 per day for the cabin housekeeping staff, $2.15 per day for the assistant waiter, and $0.75 per day for the head waiter. However, youll want to make sure youve notified your bank that you will be out of the country. I guess I was looking for some kind of scale like we have atrestaurants on land. Thanks so much for sharing your experience! 1) Get a Free Balcony Upgrade Promotion and How to Find Them Occasionally cruise lines will run special promotions on particular ships, itineraries, and/or destinations offering balcony staterooms at the same price as an outside or inside cabin. If youre booked with Celebritys Always Included, the gratuities are included. Heres what you should know about cash on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Crew members work really hard and make the difference between an ok and a memorable cruise vacation. If you opt for a specialty restaurant, the tip isnt usually included. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_8',602,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');With the autograt system, many crew members who rarely received tips before now get a sharelike the laundry or kitchen staff on some cruise lines. Keep in mind that cruise crew members live in tight quarters, so small (and edible) gifts are preferred. If you want to avoid any ATM charges, though, you can theoretically take money out via the casino. Up the tip to $20. This amount varies by cruise line, however the average daily gratuity is $14-15 US per day, per passenger for a standard cabin and $17-18 a day for guests in suites. The items and service are provided free of charge (except midnight - 5am when there is a nominal delivery fee). You can adjust this based on the length and complexity of the tour. While not obligatory, there are some of the workers you may want to recognize with a tip when cruising. For favorite bartenders or waitstaff, I give about $20 to each for a seven-day cruise. Many passengers rave long after their hoilday is over about the service of stewards who go above and beyond. But honestly, theyd prefer cash over a gift basketno matter how yummy your treats are! Royal Caribbean raised the service fees on its ships in August by more than 10% to $16 per person per day for those staying in most cabins. Credit: Royal Caribbean Show-Stopping Entertainment On NCL, passengers who dont want to pay autograts need to file a claim for reimbursement after the cruise. Holland Americas daily gratuity is $14.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $16.00 per person, per day for guests in suites. In addition, weve included a list of daily gratuities per cruise line and who else you may wish to tip. The average price of a 7 night Caribbean cruise, on a mainstream cruise line, in April is approximately $616 (493) per person, excluding taxes. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Your article has done a lot to change my philosophy and increase my understanding of why there is this charge and what the implications of reducing it might be. So why dont cruise lines just increase the price of fares, and pay their crew a living wage with a decent hourly rate? However, if you prefer to pay off your account and daily gratuities in cash, you can do so by going to guest services. Giving service staff tips in a currency they cant easily use means theyll have to pay a fee to change your cash tip into another currency. With the exception of a couple cruise lines on this list, most cruises that include gratuities are luxury lines. I almost alwaysgive my dining staff a bit extra, my kids generally have some special requests that take extra time and effort for the wait staff. Please let me know in the comments below. RCCL Crown & Anchor Diamond Member at the end of this cruise! There's a wide variety of services that you will receive during your cruise. Thanks so much! Many luxury all-inclusive cruise lines include gratuities in their cruise fares, or have a tips neither expected nor required policy.