Tipping on a cruise: What to know about cruise ship gratuities
Table Of Content
If you buy a “Speciality Restaurant Package” – where you can eat at a certain number of restaurants for a reduced price – you will be charged an extra 20% on the cost of the package. For all hotel services provided on board, a service charge will be added daily to the Guest’s onboard account. The service charge is an integral part of the cruise and therefore the amount cannot be altered. Stateroom attendants receive approximately 25% of cruise gratuities paid by guests. Dining room staff receive 43% and the remaining 32% is split between other hotel services. Some guests prefer to remove the automatic gratuities, preferring instead to tip with cash.
What to do if you’re not satisfied with the service on your cruise
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 some cruise lines charge a service charge on spa services, which goes towards the spa staff. You can monitor your daily onboard account through the cruise lines app, guest services, or the stateroom television. It’s common for passengers to be unaware of the daily gratuity charge. It’s safe to say they are surprised when they see their onboard account balance at the end of the cruise.
Another Carnival-Owned Cruise Line Increasing Service Charges - Cruise Hive
Another Carnival-Owned Cruise Line Increasing Service Charges.
Posted: Wed, 07 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Gratuities on Speciality Meals and Speciality Meal Packages
Another way is if you choose a cruise line that already includes gratuities in the price of the ticket. The average across all major cruise lines is $14 per person, per day. If you book in a higher class room, like a suite or a penthouse, auto-gratuities are charged 20% higher. That said tips aren’t mandatory on the majority of river cruise lines and guests are free to choose what they would like to do. 73% of our Facebook community members who have had a spa treatment on a cruise reported that an automatic gratuity was added. Many cruise lines add a gratuity onto the Spa price lists, this usually costs between 15-20% of the treatment cost.
Advantages and disadvantages of onboard tipping
The average daily gratuity on a cruise is $14-15 USD per person – approximately $30 per day, per couple in a cabin. A couple should budget about $200 in gratuities for a 7 day cruise. Most cruise lines charge for children as well, although there are some exceptions for very young children on select cruise lines. If you choose to show crew appreciation by raising the automatic gratuity charge, you can do so by visiting Guest Services.
Step 1 – Select ‘No’ When Asked if You’d Like To Pre-pay
What I can say, on a personal level, is that we have found that the majority of cabin stewards, waiters, assistant waiters and ship staff have given us amazing service. In fact, I think most would agree that cruise line staff make a huge difference in the cruise experience. You may want to give them a tip per drink or a larger tip at the end or even the beginning of your cruise. There will be an 18-20% tip automatically charged when ordering an individual drink, so no need to add more in most cases.
Tips for staying informed about gratuity updates
Automatic gratuities are usually added to your onboard account and these fees can vary depending on the cruise line, the length of your trip, and the type of cabin you choose. On cruise lines where gratuities are not included, you can monitor the charges on your shipboard bill either from the Front Desk or on your stateroom TV. I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. Now, with automatic gratuities, the process is much simpler and you don’t need to carry all that cash. The cruise line assesses a daily fee and divides the money among the tipped crew. So they follow this model with many of their crew members who perform services for passengers.
In recent years, some cruise lines have experimented with alternative gratuity systems. These alternatives may include all-inclusive fares that incorporate gratuities or service charges, eliminating the need for additional gratuities. Additionally, some cruise lines have transitioned to a 'no tipping' policy, where gratuities are included in the fare, simplifying the payment process for passengers.
These charges are added to your onboard account, typically on a per person per day basis, and are distributed among the crew members involved in providing services throughout your cruise. Automatic gratuities ensure that a fair distribution is made to all the individuals who contribute to your overall cruise experience. If you’re going on a cruise, you can expect daily gratuities to be charged automatically to your onboard account. 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. Cruise gratuities are divided among your cruise cabin steward, waiters and other crew members who work as support behind the scenes. Here’s what you will pay per person per day for cruise ship gratuities/service fees/crew appreciation as of this writing.
The staff who delivers your room service may not participate in the automatic gratuity. While many cruise lines charge a room service delivery fee, it may not be shared with the crew member delivering your meal. Cruise gratuities are, on average, between $11.50 and $20 per passenger, per day. The gratuity charge is often automatically added to your onboard account each day of sailing.
Never feel pressured to add an extra tip when you've already paid one. Most of the biggest cruise lines automatically add some type of service or gratuity fee onto passenger bills. When you book the cruise you’ll have the ability to prepay gratuities.
Research the gratuity customs of your cruise destinations to ensure that you are respectful of local practices and expectations. While specific cruise lines may have their own recommended gratuity amounts, there are general guidelines that can help you navigate the process. As a starting point, it is common to allocate around $10 to $15 per person per day for gratuities.
The majority of river cruise lines do not charge automatic gratuities. If you are from the US and book a cruise which includes a ‘free’ drinks package you may have to pay the gratuities which can be 15-20% of the drinks package cost. If you were to book a cruise with a free drinks promotion from the UK there are usually no additional gratuities to pay. It’s important to remember that the salary of the crew on a cruise ship can be incredibly low compared to US pay rates, and many crew members depend on tips to support their families at home. Royal Caribbean, Princess, Celebrity, and Holland America charge all passengers regardless of age. The majority of cruise lines will ask you at the time of booking if you would like to pre-pay the gratuities.
Tips are either covered by the autogratuities or there’s a service fee tacked on, so you don’t need to tip again. Just remember that a cash tip goes to your server, and a charged tip gets added to the tip pool. Many luxury all-inclusive cruise lines include gratuities in their cruise fares, or have a “tips neither expected nor required” policy. But the sticker price of their fares tends to scare off many budget-minded travelers. However, you might end up paying a similar total price on a mainstream line when you factor in gratuities, drink packages, shore excursions, and the like.
However, if you receive exceptional service, it’s always appreciated to leave a little extra if you can. Gratuity charges are applied to your onboard account on a daily basis. This means that you don’t have to worry about remembering to tip your servers, housekeeping staff, or other crew members during your trip. When in Europe, Euros are the preferred currency for tipping on both ocean and river cruises. Or you can usually put the gratuities directly onto your onboard account and credit card.
Each day there will be a gratuity charge — or a lump sum added at the end of the trip. Norwegian Cruise Line charges a daily service fee of $15.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $18.50 per person per day for guests in suites and The Haven. For example, Norwegian offers a complimentary Open Bar drinks package for travelers who book its Free at Sea promotion. That means two people sharing a room on a seven-night cruise would pay $308 in tips for an otherwise free drinks package — on top of their daily service charge fees.
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. There is no need for you to pay extra and go to a speciality restaurant at all – the food in the ship’s main dining rooms is normally very good. Diane’s experience is very common, especially on some of the larger American cruise lines. Removing gratuities isn’t an option on Costa Cruises and all guests must pay them. If you are paying gratuities you may want to know how they are broken down and split between the staff members.
Comments
Post a Comment