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If you’ve already paid a gratuity charge, extra tipping on cruise ships isn’t typically necessary. On April 1, 2023, Carnival raised its services fees to $16.00 per person per day for those in standard staterooms. Every cruise line has a recommended amount that each guest should pay to the crew.
Drinks May Have Automatic Gratuities Added on
Celebrity Cruises increases gratuities for crew members on its cruise ships - Royal Caribbean Blog
Celebrity Cruises increases gratuities for crew members on its cruise ships.
Posted: Wed, 05 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Cruise lines that always include gratuities in their fare don’t generally call it “free prepaid gratuities” – they just say that the tips are included in what you pay. So if you see “free prepaid gratuities” it is more likely to be a sale or discounted offer. If you choose to show crew appreciation by raising the automatic gratuity charge, you can do so by visiting Guest Services. And some cruise lines charge a service charge on spa services, which goes towards the spa staff.
Cruise Lines Without Automatic Gratuities
& Ireland passengers from October 2019, gratuities are still applied to U.S. cruisers' bills. Auto-gratuities vary by destination and onboard currency (USD or euros). Costa Cruises applies a fee of €11 euro per passenger, per night for all travelers aged 15 and over. Children aged 4 to 14 are charged €5.50 per passenger, per night. However, some people disagree with paying a gratuity before they’ve received any service – so this is a matter of personal preference.
FAQs about tipping on a cruise
People who cruise from the UK are usually happier to pay one upfront cost with gratuities included. Cruise lines register their cruise ships in foreign countries so that they can take advantage of rules in areas of the world where labour is the cheapest. Some cruise lines have discounted rates for children and many do not charge for babies/very young children.
The tips for drink purchases will show up as part of your total drink bill. For one, Viking’s bar menu includes complimentary wine and beer at lunch at dinner. Free self-serve laundry, one free shore excursion in each port and free WiFi are also included.
When you’re on a cruise, you shouldn’t tip the captain or the officers. These cruise line employees are highly compensated, and offering a tip isn’t necessary. Even if you try, they’ll likely graciously turn down your offer. Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week.
Step 1 – The Cruise Line Will Ask if You Want to Pre-Pay
When cruising, understanding the tipping guidelines for various on-board services can enhance the experience for both you and the crew serving you. From room service to specialty dining, proper tipping ensures acknowledgment of the hard work and dedication of the staff. Many people wonder how tips work for other crew members on a cruise ship, such as housekeeping, laundry, or spa staff. While it may vary depending on the cruise line and its policies, these tips are often pooled together with the rest of the gratuities and distributed among crew members.
Understanding Cruise Gratuities and Service Charges
Beyond the standard service charges put forth by the cruise line, we always tip above and beyond for excellent service. An 18% Bar Service Charge is automatically added to bar charges and Dining Room wine purchases. Whether you opt for pre-paying cruise gratuities, having them added to your charges during the voyage or passing out tips along the way, bring small bills (lots of them!). Waiting in line to exchange large denominations at guest services can be a hassle. The second option is to allow the charge to be added each day to your onboard account. All expenses accrued (and not included in the price of your trip) will be due at the end of the voyage.
How much extra to tip cruise staff?
Then they did a turn around and kept talking to every one about Ratings and the dining staff reminded us everyday of the last 3 days about giving them 10 stars in the rating. And sometimes you can choose to prepay these tips, which means that you’ll avoid any surprise charges when you check out. However, most cruise ships welcome an extra gratuity if a particular staff member exceeds your expectations; this is usually at your discretion. Tips are included in the fare on Virgin Voyages cruises, so you don’t need to worry about any extra charges.
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. If you choose to not prepay, then either a daily amount will be charged to your account or it will be tacked on in full at the end of the cruise. When it’s time to settle your bill, the gratuity charge is paid for with the credit card on file. Cruise lines charge each passenger a set daily fee — usually around $16 per person, per day — that is then distributed to the staff.
For example, passengers were once assigned a dining table and saw the same wait staff throughout the voyage. Today, we can eat in any number of venues and have a host of different servers. You may also want to create a hybrid method by combining the basic options. For example, you can pre-pay and supplement with cash to those crew members who are above-and-beyond in their service skills. The stated reason for the latter (compulsory nature of this fee) is to ensure that all passengers pay their fair share.
Tipping cabin stewards and the rest of the crew also varies, depending on the river cruise company. On average, onboard gratuities amount to about $210 USD per couple per cabin for a one-week cruise; more for a suite. These tips are usually either pre-paid or paid in full at the end of a cruise, and they’re typically split among the crew. But the line indicates that gratuities (paid at the end of your cruise) will be shared among the onboard crew, and it recommends the following (quite hefty) tips.
Understanding these policies will help you manage your onboard expenses and ensure you're appropriately thanking those who make your cruise a memorable experience. When you're enjoying a cruise, you may find occasions where the standard tipping policy doesn't fully express your gratitude for excellent service. In such cases, additional tipping can further acknowledge the hard work and special attention you've received.
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