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You booked your cruise and are diving into the planning phase, but what about the cruise gratuities? One area that often prompts questions, even among veteran cruisers, is the topic of tipping and service charges. Further, there are no additional service charges on other items like beverages or spa services.
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MSC gratuities
You can also get onboard credit for some cruise lines if you’re a shareholder. Cruise gratuities are not a permanently fixed price, and for most cruise lines they typically rise every year. 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.
Why Cruise Lines Charge Gratuities on Cruise Ships – Everything You Need To Know
Cruise gratuities are tips that are automatically charged by the cruise line and go to the crew. Die-hard cruisers have been known to shun gratuity removers both online and in person. It’s become a hush-hush topic that leaves inquiring minds with little to no information. I can’t think of a more controversial cruise topic to write about.
Silversea Cruises
The difference might not be too bad if you’re sailing solo, but it could be costly if you’re paying for a group. That said, you should know that this is considered in poor taste in most cases. However, if you are removing or adjusting the amount simply because you think it is excessive, then you should know that the crew works hard and this is a factor in their compensation. Remember, while tipping is discretionary, it rewards the hard work of those dedicated to making your cruise experience enjoyable.
Cruise gratuities are sometimes added onto your cruise rate at the time of booking. As well, a tip of 15% to 18% is typically added onto drinks purchases. Scenic Cruises is an Australian based company offering luxury river cruises in Europe and Asia (as well as small ship expedition cruises). In addition, Norwegian Cruise Line charges an automatic service charge. And the reality is you might feel embarrassed trying to explain why you want to pay less than the automatic gratuity (or not tip at all). But in recent years, it’s become common to see cruise tips added automatically to your bill.
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Rewarding Exceptional Service
For both of these services, always check with your cruise line's tipping policy for guidance as policies vary. Your generosity helps acknowledge the dedicated service your family receives, ensuring a memorable experience for all. Remember, these are standard amounts; you might consider increasing the tip for exceptional service or if you are traveling with small kids that may require additional attention.
As well, you may wish to tip casino dealers and child-care staff. 18% is automatically added for beverage and spa purchases, as well as dinner at La Reserve. While tipping on Cunard is slightly less expensive than on most other cruises, Cunard also automatically bills you for gratuities. Also, if you book the Chef’s Table, an 18% gratuity is added to the cover charge for this multi-course dining experience.
If you prepay the tip charges when you buy the cruise, you are essentially giving the cruise line more of your money to hold, potentially months in advance of your trip. The biggest advantage is simply getting the charge out of the way. By paying the charge at the same time you pay your cruise, it’s one less cost that will hit your onboard account while you are cruising. That means you should expect that every passenger sailing the cruise line will see the crew appreciation charge when sailing. So a family of four in a balcony cabin will see a charge of $64 ($16 x 4) each day.
Holland America calls it a “Daily Service Fee.” Princess calls it “Crew Appreciation.” Basically, it’s a gratuity fee; how much you’ll pay for tips on a cruise ship. What follows are suggested out-of-pocket tip amounts for your cruise for excellent service. Note that there are also gratuities applied automatically and separately to some optional onboard services, like drinks at the bar or spa and salon services. You can pass these by hand or get a tip envelope from guest services. Most of the biggest cruise lines automatically add some type of service or gratuity fee onto passenger bills. Cruise lines usually add a service charge, usually 15-18%, to all beverages that aren’t complimentary.
Yes, if you have onboard credit it might make sense to put that towards gratuities instead. Some cruisers prefer to remove gratuities from their cruise account and instead hand out cash to crew members that they feel are most deserving of it. This may be in an envelope on the last day, or with a $2 bill for each drink. You may find an extra 20% gratuity is added to your onboard account.
Some cruise ship spas, like those on NCL and Royal Caribbean, add on a service fee or gratuity, usually about 18%. Check your bill after your services to see if your tip is already included. If not, 15-20% of the bill (excluding any products that you buy) is customary. In for-a-fee specialty dining restaurants, you might see a spot on your bill (if you get one) to add a tip. 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.
Gratuities are typically added to your cruise account automatically, but can also be prepaid. One alternative tipping strategy is to prepay your gratuities before departing on your cruise. This can help you budget for additional costs and ensure that all crew members receive their fair share of tips. Some cruise lines offer discounts or incentives for prepaid tipping. A 20% gratuity will still be automatically added to all beverages, mini bar purchases, spa and salon services.
You can view your account balance at any time by checking your cabin’s TV or using the cruise line’s app. If you’re sailing to Hawaii, you’re also charged an additional 4.275% pre-paid service charge GET Tax. An automatic 18% bar service charge is added for all Holland America drink packages, bar cocktails and dining room wine purchases. As with mainstream cruise lines, tips are automatically added to your onboard account when sailing with Mickey and his pals. Many cruise passengers from Britain and a few European countries where tipping isn’t a common practice, prefer to have the automatically-added tips removed from their account. Tipping on a cruise might be the most discussed and debated topic among both novice and seasoned cruisers.
Most lines charge $16 at the moment, but it steadily rises each year. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information. Piano bar regulars know that a cash tip will increase the chances of the pianist choosing and performing your song request. Additionally, shouldbecruising.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes receive a commission from purchases made through our links. 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. The only charges that should appear on my final tab are any extras I decided to add on during the voyage.
Gratuities on Princess Cruises are also automatic and shared among the waitstaff and housekeeping staff. If you’re heading out on a cruise, you might be wondering how much you should tip. Those hard-working crew members behind the scenes that you never see will get a small piece of the pie, too. This way, you’re ready to personally hand it to the room service delivery person. If you’re a solo traveler and only have one large bag to check, a $5 tip is appropriate. Do not tip the captain or other ship officers -- they are already well compensated, and the gesture would more likely be a source of embarrassment than flattery.
Did you spot any omissions or questions we didn’t cover – then please let us know in the comments. Overall, tipping on a cruise is an important part of showing appreciation for the hardworking crew members who make your vacation possible. If you want to adjust the amount of gratuities you pay (either up or down), you cando so at the guest services desk. While it may seem like an extra expense, it’s important to remember that these charges are standard practice in the cruise industry. By understanding how they work, you can budget for them and enjoy your trip without any surprises. Gratuity charges are added to your onboard account, which is like a credit card that you use to pay for all your onboard expenses.
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