Keep a few dollars handy to tip the cruise porters on embarkation day. Having worked in the service industry, if people want to extra tip, then doing it at the beginning is the way to go. Norwegian Cruise Line. On disembarkation day, you probably wont find your fave crew members in their usual spots! Some things are free, other items are fee-based. Just did 8 nights on Voyager. Alaska is such a beautiful destination. On top of that, there's an 18% gratuity fee. That's a major contrast to the early days of the return to sailing after the cruise line's 15-month . Cruise line employees are extremely hard working, I agree, and they go above and beyond so often. A The automatic service gratuity is $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in Junior Suites and below, or $18.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Grand Suites and above, applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. 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. Great points about luxury lines and that gratuities are included. Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. 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. While planning a, The weekend is the perfect time to take a short break, so why not go on a cruise too? Our last few cruises on Celebrity and Princess, we actually had lots of interaction from the Maitred and we did appreciate the work they did. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. (Want to get the most from your cabin steward? $15.99 per person per day for guests in suites. That lets him / her know upfront that we tip, and there is more to come at the end of the cruise! Cruise gratuities are divided among your cruise cabin steward, waiters and other crew members who work as support behind the scenes. Your email address will not be published. The cost is $13.50 per person, per day for guests in Grill Class suites. You could also tip based on the length of the tour. I don't actually agree with th. There are a couple of exceptions, though. For many cruise passengers, bars play a pretty large role in their experiences. You may also like: Do You Need to Bring Cash on a Cruise? Near the end of your cruise, youll probably receive some comment cards in your stateroom that you can use to leave feedback about a member of the crew. Most cruisers tip anywhere from $2-$10 per person (or the equivalent in the local currency) to the tour guide, and hand a couple of dollars to the driver. For more info, please read myDisclosure Policy. ~ janet Follow me on Facebook at Life Well Cruised, Follow me onYouTube at Life Well Cruised (Vlogs and cruise tips), Follow me on Pinterest at Life Well Cruised, Follow me on Instagram at Life Well Cruised. Hi Alex, thanks so much for your lovely comment. Though cruise lines usually state up front that tipping is still at the discretion of the passenger, keep in mind: As with most employees in the service industry (at least in the U.S.), most of the wages cruise employees make come from these tips. If your shore excursion includes lunch, you generally dont have to leave a tipthe tour company takes care of the lunch bill. The gratuities on Oceania Cruises are $16.00 per person, per day for most staterooms and $23.00 per person, per day for guests in suites. This is a convenient option for cruise passengers that dont want to think about extra charges once onboard. Required fields are marked *. A better solution is to have a discreet word with the crew members supervisor about your concerns. 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). However, cruisers dont always see all of the crew who work behind the scenes for them, like the kitchen and laundry workers. Check your bill after your services to see if your tip is already included. If you feel that you wish to give an extra amount to anyone who you feel has done a great job, they will be appreciative. If you opt for a specialty restaurant, the tip isnt usually included. Cunards daily gratuities are set at $11.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. Most are experienced cruisers and, as a group, theyre very well-liked. 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. Even if you try, theyll likely graciously turn down your offer. Cindi Some claim they are making less money than they formerly did with cash tips. I do think its a very personal choice, but we can talk about this in a future video for sure! For example, you might give the guide $5 to $10 for a half-day excursion or $10 to $20 for a full-day tour. If your kids have had a great time and youve appreciated the service, a few extra dollars are surely appreciated. There may be cases where you'd like to tip your cabin steward more than what he or she will receive after your automated gratuity is pooled and shared out. Which currency you should bring with you on a cruise depends on your departure port and itinerary. Id love to connect with you on Instagram and Facebook @lifewellcruised. Have some small bills handy for these times. If you dont prepay your gratuities, they will be added to your onboard account. However, if you prefer to pay off your account and daily gratuities in cash, you can do so by going to guest services. However, a few lines dont add autogratuities for babies and toddlers under age two or three. Should you tip extra on a cruise? Its a good idea to hand over your tips the day before disembarkation. Here is a list of the daily gratuity charges by major cruise lines for 2021-22. Our Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips And Tricks. Display as a link instead, Our concern is that the cruise lines take advantage by paying lower wages and then guilting passengers into higher tips. They often work 7-10 months at a time and 12-14 hours per day for seven days straight before having a half or even a whole day off. I always prepay the gratuities. Prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and cruise line gratuities may be referred to a daily service charge or crew incentive. What else can you do to show the crew your appreciation? And just like with the Carnival case, this will reflect directly on the ship's serving staff (cabin stewards, Room Service, and Main Dining Room wait staff, as well as kitchen, entertainment, passenger services and other hotel personnel). As I am sure you are aware each cruiser will have gratuities & tips added to their SeaPass account every day (unless you have paid these in advance with your booking). The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. The cruise where fun means everything. We like to keep a few dollars handy for this purpose as we board our cruise ship. Our Hawaiian cruise in April will be the first weve been on in 15 years, so, obviously, things have changed a lot. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. Im so glad youre enjoying my blog and find the posts helpful and appreciate the feedback. They have the insider tips to match so that you can make the most of everything that'll be at your fingertips. Also, if free gratuities are an amenity, youre not expected to go beyond it unless someone goes way beyond whats normally expected. There is no charge for children under 3 years of age. Up the tip to $20. Your link has been automatically embedded. Don't be Held Back on Arrival Royal Caribbean requires you to do an online check-in, at least three days before your published sail date. Either way, expect to spend about $15-20 per day. The cruise line assesses a daily fee and divides the money among the tipped crew. A As of September 7 th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in non-suites staterooms, or $18.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Suites, will be applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. This cruise ship was the first of Carnival's unique Dream Class cruise ships. The new RCI tips per day are added to each guest's SeaPass card (shipboard account) automatically. Cash is rarely required on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as all payments onboard are made via your SeaPass account. Note that we are Australian, so therefore not inclined to tip unless the service warrants it. Its a part of our cruise vacation cost and helps the hardworking crew make a living. The tipping culture in North America and on cruise ships is flawed, but (as you mentioned) reducing or eliminating tips only hurts the hardworking crew and their families - and does nothing to change the system. Each passenger is charged for these tips, including kids. Ive been surprisedor I probably should say I had forgottenhow many hands have been extended for a tip on these shore excursions. Disney cruises has a suggested daily gratuity charge of $13.50 per person, per day for all guests. The cruise line makes no recommendation for tipping room service. On luxury cruise lines, such as Azamara, Crystal, Seabourn, Silversea, Tauck World Discovery and Uniworld, gratuities are already included in the cost of the cruise, and additional tipping is not expected. Come join my Facebook Cruise Community Thanks for reading and Happy Cruising!! They might feel that it gives them more control over tipping, rewarding the crew based on their level of service. Royal Caribbean's drink packages include: Deluxe Beverage Package Refreshment Package (No alcohol) Classic Soda Package Tips are added automatically to the onboard account (SeaPass) on a daily basis. In standard cabins, Carnival charges $14.50 per person, per day in tips. It has one large sink with two faucets and a large shower with a tub. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. However, there are a few common practices and guidelines. For this reason, I have always found being expected to pay tips, on an already expensive cruise, very irritating and have sometimes had them reduced at the service desk. The cruise director will also remind passengers about how much and whom the cruise . You can just hand over folded cash, or use the tip envelopes youll find in your stateroom or at Passenger Services. frequentfloaters.com - That Guy. We sail Celebrity and opt to prepay gratuities. Once you book your cruise, there are some things you'll need to do in advance to prepare. Another drink package option for Royal Caribbean cruisers is the Classic Soda package, which includes fountain soda and refills at any venue, Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages and even a Coca-Cola souvenir cup.