When booking a Celebrity cruise, tips are included in their Always Included program. Cruises in Europe are charged in Euros. Price: $14.50 per person/day in standard cabins, $17.50 per person/day in suites, and 18% on beverages and spa and salon services. However, the price of getting online can be expensive. 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. The items and service are provided free of charge (except midnight - 5am when there is a nominal delivery fee). The article also reviews major changes in the RCI's gratuities policy implemented fleetwide/on all liners. Though automated gratuities are the easiest and most common way to tip, some passengers prefer to instead tip their attendants in cash, either in addition to the automated gratuity or in place of it. And if the problem still remains unsolved - then adjust the tips. Cruising can be such a relaxing vacation as well as so much fun. 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). Most cruise lines allow guests to remove automatic gratuities. You may also like: Do You Need to Bring Cash on a Cruise? Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise? Often cruise lines provide additional envelopes to tuck a little extra cash at the end of the cruise just for this purpose. The onboard price of this package varies from $63 to $89 a day, plus an 18% gratuity. Children under 4 are not charged. The only exception is for passengers with prepaid gratuities (they won't be charged daily). Royal Caribbean cruise ships have been sailing at nearly 100% capacity for the past few months. You can post now and register later. Because plasma accounts for approximately 90% of total fluid volume, drinking plenty of water after receiving a transplant is beneficial to your body. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! When people think of cruises,, Theres nothing quite like relaxing on a Caribbean beach with no worries in the world except deciding which tropical, A lot of cruise ship passengers will drive to their port of embarkation, whether with their own vehicle or in a ride, Royal Caribbean cruises are known for the wide-array of entertainment, dining and things to do onboard, and it got us. For both of us, we usually tip between $30-$50 for head waiter, and slightly less for assistant waiter and then even slightly less for the drink waiter (as we are non-drinkers but still want to. Below are just some of the people you may want to tip in this way, and some rough guidelines regarding how much - though know this is very subjective, and of course should be commensurate with the level of service that a given person provided. Also, if free gratuities are an amenity, youre not expected to go beyond it unless someone goes way beyond whats normally expected. | Royal Caribbean Blog www.royalcaribbeanblog.com. I also tipped my wait staff very generously in the main dining room and specialty restaurants, as well as my drink waiters! The cruise where fun means everything. Once you book your cruise, there are some things you'll need to do in advance to prepare. Should Be Cruising is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. raahc and lovecruising!!! One notable exception is Norwegian Cruise Line. As much as some people opt to remove gratuities on their account, some give extra. In fact, I think most would agree that cruise line staff make a huge difference in the cruise experience. With all of your meals and the fun activities on the ship, easily accessible and planned, you won't have to do much work once you are on vacation. Your cruise in April sounds amazing! I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. There is no charge for children under 3 years of age. If you feel you would like to give more that is fine and I am sure they will appreciate anything you decide to tip beyond the daily gratuity. separately, near the end of the cruise. Viking Cruises gratuities are $15.00 per person, per day for all staterooms. Whats included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare, 30 Do's and Don'ts for the first day of your cruise, The 20 worst cruise mistakes that will ruin your cruise vacation, The best cruise itineraries for every type of traveler, How to plan a Royal Caribbean cruise on any budget, Best shore excursion in every Caribbean cruise port. Hope you enjoy! Ive been surprisedor I probably should say I had forgottenhow many hands have been extended for a tip on these shore excursions. For more info, please read myDisclosure Policy. I would imagine wed see prices increase overall if they did this, but perhaps it amounts to this anyway. But you should know, that the ship's service staff don't make a salary - your tips are their wages. A cruise only rate may be available on select cruises, which would not include gratuities. According to Royal Caribbean, the last increase put the company "in line with its competitors in the industry and recognize the exceptional work that Royal Caribbean's staff and crew does to deliver unforgettable vacations every day.". Royal Caribbean charges a gratuity of $16.00 per person, per day. Im so glad youre here! Thank you, Carrie Ann. Princess Cruises will automatically charge a crew incentive of $14.50 per person, per day for guests in inside ocean view and balcony cabins. 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. Do you have a favorite bartender? if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',199,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-medrectangle-4-0');Tipping is supposed to encourage excellent customer service from workers, because (in theory at least) customers will tip generously for friendly, prompt service. How Much Should You Budget for Cruise Gratuities? It's all on the room service menu. Could you possibly make your articles printable? They pay their crew (usually recruited from countries with limited economic opportunities) per contract, not by the hour. Most cruise lines charge for children as well, although there are some exceptions for very young children on select cruise lines. How much cash should you bring on a cruise? How to Pay: Paid in cruise fare at the time of purchase. You can do so by going to guest services and making the request. Are very professional, what should a tip look like at the end of a 10 day cruise? Cruise line employees work their butts off to earn those tips. It really made my day! Each passenger is charged for these tips, including kids. 1 Royal Caribbean Travel Protection is an optional travel protection add-on to your cruise booking and is available through Royal Caribbean for residents in all states except New York. Your previous content has been restored. Check out the latest web stories from Should Be Cruising! Tips are either covered by the autogratuities or theres a service fee tacked on, so you dont need to tip again. Manage Settings #1 Bring a bathing suit on embarkation day On embarkation day, the pools are open so be sure to pack a bathing suit in your carry-on luggage so that you can enjoy them with less crowds! The gratuity is $15.50 per person, per day for guests in mini-suites and $16.50 per person, per day for guests in suites. The cruise industry has worked this way for a long time, although the automatic gratuities are only the last few years. Tipping on a cruise ship isnt mandatory, but it is customary, and many crew members rely on tips as a large part of their income. If you wait to the end to tip, then the servers wont know and you possibly missed out of knowing how wonderful the cabin steward or others could be. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. Now, with automatic gratuities, the process is much simpler and you dont need to carry all that cash. Many passengers rave long after their hoilday is over about the service of stewards who go above and beyond. What you cant do is adjust or remove automatic gratuities for a specific crew member. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. New York state residents who wish to purchase the product may visit https://travelcruisecare.com to enroll directly with . Do you know about when you'd like to sail? You also shouldnt tip the cruise director, the entertainment staff, or any independent entertainers like musical guests, comedians, or magicians. Cindi The cruise line assesses a daily fee and divides the money among the tipped crew. The fact is, the tips that crew get from passengers make up a good part of their wage. 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). 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,. 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.. They are always pleasant and willing to do whatever they can for you. Some cruise lines employ a sommelier or wine steward in the main dining rooms, who isnt included in the tipping pool. In this post, weve gone over how tipping works on a cruise. The average price of a 7 night Caribbean cruise, on a mainstream cruise line, in April is approximately $616 (493) per person, excluding taxes. All rights reserved. Often, these crew members are part of the tip pool, and they lose part of their expected income each time a passenger removes autogratuities. How much shouldwe tip? I choose to add the gratuities ahead, just to get them out of the way. The Dream pioneered the innovative and fun cruise ships that are standard today from Carnival Cruise Lines. This is a convenient option for cruise passengers that dont want to think about extra charges once onboard. This is a personal decision and Im not sure if theres a tipping etiquette for it. The COST Series: Cruise Ship TIPPING | Who to tip on a cruise and how much | Royal Caribbean Tipping The Weekend Cruiser 8.96K subscribers Subscribe 588 Share 10K views 8 months ago. 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. Check your bill after your services to see if your tip is already included. If cruising from Australia to the South Pacific, Australian dollars are widely accepted. 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). There are a couple of exceptions, though. Cruise Tipping and Salaries Dissected, Tipping On Cruises: Cruise Line Policies Revealed, Tipping on Ships: An Australian Culture Clash, Cabin Stewards on a Cruise: What to Expect, How Not to Be Rude on a Cruise: 10 Ways to Make the Crew Love You. Holland America Line, whose ships Noordam and Maasdam are regular visitors to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, has the same tipping policy aboard all its ships. 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. How much are gratuities on Royal Caribbean cruises? For guests staying in Grand Suites and above, the fee is $18.50 per person, per day. Youll want to factor in the cruise line gratuity charge, sometimes called on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission when you make a purchase from a link on this site, at no added charge to you. Your glowing review can help a hardworking crew member earn a promotion or raise. Travelers in suites are. Although cards are widely accepted, you may still encounter establishments that do not accept card payments. However, extra tipping and being a jerk do not go hand in hand. This is an excellent article, which really clearly explains all the issues around tipping. 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. The worst thing you can do is wait until you are home from your cruise to address it. The industry should pay fair wages so that our tips are in fact tips and not wages. 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. Thanks for sharing your view on this. Our concern is that the cruise lines take advantage by paying lower wages and then guilting passengers into higher tips. The cost is $13.50 per person, per day for guests in Grill Class suites. Between January 2, 2018, and Sept 7, 2022, RCI's daily (per passenger) crew gratuities were US$14,50 (standard staterooms) and US$17,50 (Grand Suites+). Our Hawaiian cruise in April will be the first weve been on in 15 years, so, obviously, things have changed a lot. Obviously, if you tip a room attendant, that money will go directly to him/her. 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. Royal Caribbean Royal Caribbean charges a $7.95 service fee and room service is available 24-hours a day. If your kids had a great time at the kids club on board, giving a tip at the end of the cruise to their favorite staff members is always appreciated. I prefer waiting to see how the service is before deciding on an extra tip, but thats just my preference. P.S. Youre welcome to use a credit or debit card to make purchases in ports of call whenever possible. Credit: whmuc.blogspot.com. Related: Whats included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare. Tipping on a cruise ship: The big picture. Some cruise lines refer to these tips as a service charge. You may also like: 26 Hidden Cruise Fees You Should Know About. Ive got you covered! Up the tip to $20. Do you need to tip for drinks, meals, or snacks on a cruise? Luxury cruise lines have a higher upfront cost than most popular cruise lines, however theyll often include many valuable extras. ~ janet Ren de Lambert. Posted March 5, 2007. Then (if your problem continues to bother you) contact the hotel manager. There will be an 18-20% tip automatically charged when ordering an individual drink, so no need to add more in most cases. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_21',676,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0');Tip: Want to avoid paying hefty ATM fees on the cruise ship to get cash for tips? 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. Or do you remove them altogether? We also always tip bar staff even when drinks are complimentary. How Much Does A Cruise Cost? Some cruisers swear by tipping at the beginning of the cruise to ensure excellent service. How much are automatic gratuities on a cruise? I'm so glad you found my post! Others just prefer the face-to-face experience of handing over a cash tip. 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 had prepaid my gratuities, and I assumed the porter was a cruise line employee, so I didnt tip him. Upload or insert images from URL. If you dont prepay your gratuities, they will be added to your onboard account. The average daily gratuity on a cruise is $14-15 USD per person approximately $30 per day, per couple in a cabin. You cannot paste images directly. Hi All, I just wanted to share something with new cruisers (and old if they do not know this). Treasure Coast of Florida. i understand what you are saying.and I know we are paying roughly 15 dollars a day each as a tip already. In reality, the cruise staff on board want you to be satisfied, so this is the time address a problem. If your kids have had a great time and youve appreciated the service, a few extra dollars are surely appreciated. You can always add extra for exceptional service, though! Look for a link at the bottom of this page or in our privacy policy where you can withdraw consent. When we tip them individually, do they get to keep the entire amount for themselvesor do they have to share that too? Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. Thanks so much for your input on this. Those can range from about $15 to upwards of $20 for each . Royal Caribbeans daily automatic gratuities are set at $14.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $17.50 per person, per day for guests in suites. What Is The Average Amount of Cash to Bring on a Cruise? The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. I go into more detail about this topic in this post:Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise? So glad this was helpful. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. There are some exceptions. Some vendors may process your personal data on the basis of legitimate interest, which you can object to by managing your options below. If you feel you would like to give more that is fine and I am sure they will appreciate anything you decide to tip beyond the daily gratuity. You can adjust this based on the length and complexity of the tour. So why dont cruise lines just increase the price of fares, and pay their crew a living wage with a decent hourly rate? It has one large sink with two faucets and a large shower with a tub. Theres no need to add an extra tip for each drink. Plus, for a limited time, its $10 off. The service charge on MSC Cruises is $12.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. Porters: $1-5 per bag Room service delivery: $2-4 per tray Even if you try, theyll likely graciously turn down your offer. Even though cruise gratuities technically arent mandatory, they are customary on most mainstream cruise lines. We have also taken a few of the ship's "backstage" tours and could see where the crew members reside, dine, kick back to relax, etc. You can choose to pay in local currency, too, but obtaining money in 3+ currencies before a cruise is not necessary. US$13,50 (increased from US$12,95) for standard cabins and US$16,50 (increased from US$15.95) for upper-tier suites. Do you need to tip at the spa on a cruise? 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. I also tip constantly while on the cruise. Ill definitely look into it and see how I can best do that on this site. If you go on a tour or shore excursion, its nice to tip the driver or shore excursion staff if youve appreciated their service. In addition to this, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to all drinks, spa and salon services. Our Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips And Tricks. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. When planning your cruise, check with your travel agent or the cruise line about the tipping policy. In the main dining room, buffet, specialty restaurants, and other dining venues, your tip is included in the automatic gratuities. Automatic gratuities, also called autogratuities or autograts, is the cruise term for the system most cruise lines now use to simplify tipping for passengers. The amount is based on the service received of course. Typical extra tips may be $15-20 per passenger for a seven-day cruise paid to the cabin steward for exceptional work, or an extra $10-20 per passenger to a waiter who offered spectacular dining. Cruises from Europe and Australia will still use the US dollar as the official onboard currency, but you should make purchases in port with the destinations local currency. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. Thanks! Here is a list of the daily gratuity charges by major cruise lines for 2021-22. We always tip cruise staff but in cash not automatic tipping. It includes who to tip, who not to tip, and some tips to help as you plan your cruise vacation. As a cruise passenger, you want to be aware and set your budget expectations to include these amounts for the cruise ship staff. Tips on Cruise Ship Tipping - Who and How Much to Tip! Tipping is not required, however, customarily some people do choose to tip anywhere from $1 - $5 per order. There's a wide variety of services that you will receive during your cruise. Later I learned that the porters outside of the cruise terminal are not cruise line employees at all! April 16, 2019 in Royal Caribbean Dining. Learn how your comment data is processed. Plus, youre never required to make any extra purchases in the first place if you take advantage of the complimentary options available on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Celebrity Cruises is Royal Caribbean's sister brand that provides a slightly more upscale, refined experience onboard. First of all, don't neglect any post-cruise questionnaires, which provide an opportunity to rave about your cabin attendant directly to his or her employer. If youre sailing from the United States to the Caribbean, US dollars are widely accepted in popular cruise ports. Some cruise lines refer to the gratuities as a crew incentive or a service fee, but essentially these are tips for crew members that are used to augment their low wages. But I also feel like people will think Im rude for not doing so in reality tho, they are already being tipped 18%. They will do extra for you after they realize you are a tipper! 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. Now if someone goes over and above a little extra is due. Keep in mind that cruise crew members live in tight quarters, so small (and edible) gifts are preferred. For favorite bartenders or waitstaff, I give about $20 to each for a seven-day cruise. The amount is very personal. Why taking a weekend cruise is a great escape, 11 of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, How to get to Royal Caribbean's cruise terminals and how much parking will cost, Top 16 things on a Royal Caribbean cruise everyone needs to do at least once. Ive been cruising for over 15 years, and the practice of tipping on a cruise has certainly evolved. Your link has been automatically embedded. Could you please go into tipping for the haven ncl staff , butlers and more. Typically, this is associated with your credit card which youll be prompted to set up when you complete your online check in. If you buy a $5 souvenir with a $20 bill in Mexico, for example, youll receive change in Mexican pesos. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. Both beautiful cruise options! A better solution is to have a discreet word with the crew members supervisor about your concerns. Cruise lines have implemented automatic gratuities, options to prepay gratuities and some popular cruise lines have begun including tips in your cruise fare. Weve been on 4 cruises with our 5th. You might want to reward your cabin steward, favorite bartender or MDR server, or any other crew member you think did a great job. I give my room steward $5 at the very beginning of the cruise. According to RCI's website, of the 2016-updated gratuities (US$13.50), nearly US$8.30 goes to dining / culinary services; suite attendants receive US$6,85; stateroom attendants get US$3,85, and housekeeping service staff - US$1.35. 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. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. 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. Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. Grand Suite and above cabin categories pay USD 18,50 pp per day gratuities. Royal Caribbean Cruises Tipping Policy As of September 7th, 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. Between May 1, 2016, and Jan 2, 2018, passengers on RCI boats paid US$13,50 (increased from US$12,95) for standard cabins and US$16,50 (increased from US$15.95) for upper-tier suites. 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. (Admit it: You tend to miss those nightly pillow chocolates and towel animals after you get home.) Thanks so much! Payments on cruise ships have almost entirely gone digital, but there are still a few situations where cash comes in handy. 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. If you're staying in a high-category suite, you may be expected to tip . Stay in one of the Royal Suites and room service is included. Cruise lines pay these workers very low wages for the long hours that they work each day, and expect that passengers will tip to increase the crew members earnings to a reasonable rate. Youre right an 18% gratuity is added each time you purchase a drink. Its unlikely to do any good by this point. Most cruisers wouldnt dream of removing the automatic gratuities. You can purchase the drink package online pre-cruise or once onboard during the first day (or two) of your trip. Its a part of our cruise vacation cost and helps the hardworking crew make a living. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Im an avid cruiser and have been giving out insider tips for more than 10 years! 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. Most mainstream cruise lines bill passengers between $12 and $15 per person, per day for. Do you tip above and beyond the automatic gratuities? Read more: Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? The new RCI tips per day are added to each guest's SeaPass card (shipboard account) automatically. Im so glad youre enjoying my blog and find the posts helpful and appreciate the feedback. Outdoor Activities If outdoor fun is your thing, the Carnival Dream offers a near endless array of ways to fill both day and night with fun. In addition to the automatic daily gratuities, a tip or service fee of 15-20% is added to drinks and/or drink packages as well as spa services on a cruise. You can raise them, lower them, or remove them altogether. While each cruise line is different, many include alcoholic drinks, soda and specialty coffee, gratuities, specialty dining and some shore excursions. How much people tip a Royal Genie on their Royal Caribbean cruise tends to vary, although many American guests tend to fall at around the $75-$100 per day. Children aged 2-11 will be charged $6.25 per day. Continue with Recommended Cookies. You could also tip based on the length of the tour. Come join my Facebook Cruise Community Thanks for reading and Happy Cruising!! Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. They have the insider tips to match so that you can make the most of everything that'll be at your fingertips. Cruise line tipping policies vary from one cruise company to another. Some things are free, other items are fee-based. 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%. Cunards daily gratuities are set at $11.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. A tip of 15%-20% is common, so check the bottom of your bill before adding an additional amount. Just for comparison, by the old RCCL tipping guidelines, the Royal Caribbean suggested tips/gratuities were a total of USD 11,65 per day per passenger (respectively USD 13,90 for suite passengers) and also guests could pay onboard either in cash or via their shipboard account.