Carnivals daily gratuities are $13.99 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. The premium cruise line's fleet of 15 ships sail around the world, from the Galapagos to the Caribbean. Tips are added automatically to the onboard account (SeaPass) on a daily basis. 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. The time when youll need the most cash on a cruise vacation is when youre in port. I had prepaid my gratuities, and I assumed the porter was a cruise line employee, so I didnt tip him. All rights reserved. (Want to get the most from your cabin steward? Depending on your bank, the ATM transaction fee may be waived. If not, 15-20% of the bill (excluding any products that you buy) is customary. There is no charge for children under 2 years of age. Although cash isnt required for onboard purchases, there are a few scenarios where youll want to have cash available. Most mainstream cruise lines bill passengers between $12 and $15 per person, per day for. Are very professional, what should a tip look like at the end of a 10 day cruise? 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. Then (if your problem continues to bother you) contact the hotel manager. It really made my day! If you are one to give your room attendant a little extra (on top of auto gratuities), how much do you typically give. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. Luxury cruise lines have a higher upfront cost than most popular cruise lines, however theyll often include many valuable extras. On top of that, there's an 18% gratuity fee. Other cruisers, often people who remember cruising before autogratuities, prefer tipping crew in cash. Thanks so much! Thanks for sharing your view on this. For many cruise passengers, bars play a pretty large role in their experiences. Could you please go into tipping for the haven ncl staff , butlers and more. The average daily gratuity on a cruise is $14-15 USD per person approximately $30 per day, per couple in a cabin. No worries about "shoddy tips" since you have already paid the standard tip. As a cruise passenger, you want to be aware and set your budget expectations to include these amounts for the cruise ship staff. Porters: $1-5 per bag Room service delivery: $2-4 per tray I also tip constantly while on the cruise. The auto gratuity goes not only to your cabin steward but is also shared among the entire crew that works to make your cruise successful: the dining room, buffet and specialty restaurant wait staff, cooks, laundry staff and the general housekeeping staff that cleans the ship's common areas, for example. You just cant help being extra nice or helpful when you know the people are going to be extra nice to you, ie the extra tips. 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. . While each cruise line is different, many include alcoholic drinks, soda and specialty coffee, gratuities, specialty dining and some shore excursions. So glad this was helpful. Something to note is that although daily gratuities arent charged, there may be a service fee or tip added to certain services onboard. Im so glad youre here! Upload or insert images from URL. Just did 8 nights on Voyager. Similarly, in the main dining room, we tip our waiter around $6 to $8 per day for the two of us, averaging around $50 for a 7-night cruise. 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. The only exception is for passengers with prepaid gratuities (they won't be charged daily). The amount is based on the service received of course. But I also feel like people will think Im rude for not doing so in reality tho, they are already being tipped 18%. I purchased the package pre-cruise for $76, this equates to just over $25 per day. Most cruise lines allow guests to remove automatic gratuities. Want to give something beyond cash? If you buy a $5 souvenir with a $20 bill in Mexico, for example, youll receive change in Mexican pesos. Cruise gratuities are divided among your cruise cabin steward, waiters and other crew members who work as support behind the scenes. We had the my time diningsame waiter and assistant every night. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? The finishings are top notch, and the bathroom, in particular, is well-designed with a separate water closet. The extra cash may or may not end up in your steward's pocket, but he'll appreciate the gesture nonetheless. Many ships also have an abundance of kids' activities including kids clubs that . If you dont have a drink package, theyll add the price of each drink plus the service fee to your onboard tab. I was even more surprised that it was a Disney cruise, where they are used to kids, and generally have a good reputation for service. Instead, passengers can tipor notat their own discretion. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. I was very surprised. A kind word or a drawing costs nothing and is always appreciated. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. The cruise line assesses a daily fee and divides the money among the tipped crew. Of course, as always, its at your discretion. If your kids have had a great time and youve appreciated the service, a few extra dollars are surely appreciated. Princess Cruises will automatically charge a crew incentive of $14.50 per person, per day for guests in inside ocean view and balcony cabins. If you enjoy tipping in cash, consider giving an extra cash tip to the crew members who gave you excellent service on your cruise. Thanks so much for your input on this. The service charge on MSC Cruises is $12.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. For example, you might give the guide $5 to $10 for a half-day excursion or $10 to $20 for a full-day tour. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. I choose to add the gratuities ahead, just to get them out of the way. However ,usually you can have at least 2 cabin stewards. We always tip cruise staff but in cash not automatic tipping. Norwegian Cruise Line has onboard service charge will is charged automatically for guests 3 and up, and distributed among staff that serve you in various ways. In their case "tipping" doesn't mean "extra" - it means "salary". On a 7 day cruise we usually give $50 to the waiter and $30 to the asst. When youre on a cruise, you shouldnt tip the captain or the officers. Holland Americas daily gratuity is $14.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $16.00 per person, per day for guests in suites. This includes drinks at the bar or cafe, spa services and salon visits. The big three, including Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean expect guests to foot the bill and tips are added to their onboard account. Royal Caribbean's drink packages include: Deluxe Beverage Package Refreshment Package (No alcohol) Classic Soda Package Your previous content has been restored. If you dont prepay your gratuities, they will be added to your onboard account. I prefer waiting to see how the service is before deciding on an extra tip, but thats just my preference. Which currency you should bring with you on a cruise depends on your departure port and itinerary. Great points about luxury lines and that gratuities are included. While you pay daily gratuities before your cruise ($16 per person, per day in most staterooms), many cruisers like to give something extra. But if you dont want to prepay, thats fine too. How much to tip waiter and his assistant? On Costa Cruises, service charges of $12.50 per person, per day are charged for cruises departing from the US. Any chance of that? Something you will need cash for on a Royal Caribbean cruise are any extra tips you give to crew members. Many cruisers opt to give extra cash tips to crew members who made their vacation that much more enjoyable. There are some exceptions. Since most cruise passengers follow the tipping guidelines, that amounts to an increase $13.30 . Service charges for guests ages 4-14 are half of the adult rate. The balcony is a good size with two chairs. That lets him / her know upfront that we tip, and there is more to come at the end of the cruise! I believe this to be true, too. Cruising can be such a relaxing vacation as well as so much fun. If youre new to cruising, you might be wondering who to tip on a cruise, how much to tip, and exactly how onboard gratuities work. 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. Here are the top travel tips for a Royal Caribbean cruise from the experts themselves: At the AquaTheater, acrobats, high divers, slackliners and more put on shows that make a splash. They cheerfully attend to your requests, tidying your home away from home from the moment you leave in the morning to the last turn-down before bed. 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. Whether $2 to a bartender, $20 to your waiter, or $50 to your stateroom attendant, it's common to tip crew members extra for excellent service. I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. Obviously, if you tip a room attendant, that money will go directly to him/her. I would imagine wed see prices increase overall if they did this, but perhaps it amounts to this anyway. a $200 gratuity on top of my prepaid gratuities. Could you possibly make your articles printable? This is an excellent article, which really clearly explains all the issues around tipping. Many luxury all-inclusive cruise lines include gratuities in their cruise fares, or have a tips neither expected nor required policy. I always prepay the gratuities. Here's a guide to help you navigate ways to show your appreciation for these hard workers. Some vendors may process your personal data on the basis of legitimate interest, which you can object to by managing your options below. Not based on what we "should" give, more on the fact that they provided very good service. In reality, the cruise staff on board want you to be satisfied, so this is the time address a problem. 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. 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+). You can, of course, increase that amount based on your experience on the excursion. It was just the two of us. Children aged 2-11 will be charged $6.25 per day. In this post, weve gone over how tipping works on a cruise. This is a review of RCI-Royal Caribbean International's gratuities (paid for the crew services), tipping policy and tips (per day/reduced/removed). 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. Cruise Ship Engine Power, Propulsion, Fuel, Royal Caribbean Drinks Prices, Beverage Menus, Alcohol Policy, Carnival Cruise WiFi Internet Packages Prices. However, a few lines dont add autogratuities for babies and toddlers under age two or three. They pay their crew (usually recruited from countries with limited economic opportunities) per contract, not by the hour. 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. However, the price of getting online can be expensive. 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. I generally tip extra, mostly because I come from a customer service back round and know how hard these people work, compared to their pay. This is a personal decision and Im not sure if theres a tipping etiquette for it. Up the tip to $20. W. I have a video on my YouTube channel about this and people have commented amounts they give so his could be helpful (just check YouTube and search cruise gratuities Life Well Cruised). Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner, YouTube at Life Well Cruised (Vlogs and cruise tips). Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. I do think its a very personal choice, but we can talk about this in a future video for sure! With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Pricing varies based on the ship, sail dates, and itinerary. What do you think about the custom of tipping on a cruise ship? You may want to give a small tip to the person who delivers your room service order. 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. Also, if free gratuities are an amenity, youre not expected to go beyond it unless someone goes way beyond whats normally expected. How much tip receive in cruise royal caribbean? 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, per day, for a seven-night cruise. You can just hand over folded cash, or use the tip envelopes youll find in your stateroom or at Passenger Services. It's all on the room service menu. Related: Whats included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare. Can you remove or adjust autogratuities on a cruise? 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. On embarkation day of my very first cruise, a porter came up to my taxi and whisked my luggage away, seconds after I got out of the car. How much cash should you bring on a cruise? We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Rather than reducing the amount payed, they point out on their website that they will work to resolve any service issues experienced. Tipping on a cruise ship can be a confusing endeavor, especially for those sailing for the first time. Even if you try, theyll likely graciously turn down your offer. Extra tipping doesnt give you the right to be a jerk, but if you are a jerk, you had better extra tip! Like what you see? To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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. Sometimes it cannot be helped ! Display as a link instead, These kind, helpful, generous, employees work extremely hard to make sure guests like myself have a fabulous time, and since I do, the very least I can do is show my appreciation in a way that benefits them the most! Windstar Cruises daily gratuities are $12.00 per person, per day for all cabin types. In addition to this, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to all drinks, spa and salon services. 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. The rule of thumb is to tip the guide 10% to 20% of the tour cost, depending on how much you enjoyed the experience. 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. Viking Cruises gratuities are $15.00 per person, per day for all staterooms. As much as some people opt to remove gratuities on their account, some give extra. 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). On a cruise, most guests bring between $100-$120 in cash per day to be spent on transportation, tips, gifts, food, and shopping. Look for a link at the bottom of this page or in our privacy policy where you can withdraw consent. Which family cruise can you book for $2000? Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. The fact is, the tips that crew get from passengers make up a good part of their wage. 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. Pasted as rich text. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. Other itineraries may differ. Often cruise lines provide additional envelopes to tuck a little extra cash at the end of the cruise just for this purpose. .WONDER OF THE SEAS. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. Credit: whmuc.blogspot.com. Please check MSCs website for details. This should provide enough money for transportation, food, and small souvenirs in port. Ive got you covered! You may also like: A Cruise Glossary: Cruise Terms You Should Know. Norwegian Cruise Line. Its customary to tip the waiters generously at specialty restaurants. Later I learned that the porters outside of the cruise terminal are not cruise line employees at all! Tipping extra is not necessary, and theres no right or wrong amount to give a crew member. US$13,50 (increased from US$12,95) for standard cabins and US$16,50 (increased from US$15.95) for upper-tier suites. A cruise only rate may be available on select cruises, which would not include gratuities. If your shore excursion includes lunch, you generally dont have to leave a tipthe tour company takes care of the lunch bill. The amount you tip is up to youI generally give about $5 per person per day to my stateroom steward. Im Carrie Ann, the writer behind Should Be Cruising. How much? You can choose to pay in local currency, too, but obtaining money in 3+ currencies before a cruise is not necessary. Weve been on 4 cruises with our 5th. So our "big tip" on this subject is this - if you guys have a service staff problem, speak first with your cabin attendant. Just remember that a cash tip goes to your server, and a charged tip gets added to the tip pool. Should you prepay automatic gratuities? 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. I believe that often the bartenders will pool their tips b/c there are so many working the crowd but I think it's an individual choice on their parts as to how they handle this. I also tipped my wait staff very generously in the main dining room and specialty restaurants, as well as my drink waiters! After combing through my notes, here's the best tips and tricks for taking a Royal Caribbean cruise. Still confused . 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. You may also like: Eight Things That Will Surprise First Time Cruisers. Olsen Cruise Lines and Cruise & Maritime Voyages charge substantially less -- 7 per person per day; while Marella, Saga and P&O Cruises now include tips (MSC Cruises also includes tips for its UK-based ship, Preziosa). There is no service charge applied for children under 2 years of age. There is a lot of included dining location so how do you know which ones to che. Hi All, Im Ilana. Do you prefer to prepay your gratuitiesor to pay in cash? Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. Prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and cruise line gratuities may be referred to a daily service charge or crew incentive. In the wake of the increase, a family of four in a . As it is with most cruise shipping companies, RCI's tourists can remove the daily gratuity but know that these tips are for all the housekeeping and dining staff. 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. 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). It would be so helpful if I could print just the blog to read at random timescar trip, etc. Hi Alex, thanks so much for your lovely comment. Or you can plan ahead and take enough cash in the correct currency to cover any tips you might want to pay. Ren de Lambert. Its important to note that, especially on the luxury lines, tipping is not expected. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. 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. Its also a nice gesture to tip the matre d or head waiter in the main dining room, especially if they were helpful with special menus or seating arrangements. I dont tend to tip in advance, so this is an interesting way of doing things. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. The Dream pioneered the innovative and fun cruise ships that are standard today from Carnival Cruise Lines. Gratuities or a service charge are added onto some onboard services. In North America, most cruise terminal porters are longshoremen. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_13',603,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');Most mainstream cruise lines will charge you about $14 to $15 per person per day for automatic gratuities. I believe since these are pooled between everybody, additional tipping should only be done if you feel somebody has gone above and beyond. Who else should you tip on a cruise ship? There are also usually comment cards available at the purser's desk or online for additional recognition -- or post a review on Cruise Critic. Given that most , all ? 4 Ways to Tip Extra on a Non-Tipping Cruise Ship, What to Expect on a Cruise: Onboard Spending, Service on a Luxury Cruise: What to Expect. Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. You will get great service either way. The gratuity applies to individual guests of all ages and . Our concern is that the cruise lines take advantage by paying lower wages and then guilting passengers into higher tips. If you go to any slot machine, youre able to transfer money to the game via your onboard account, which is connected to your credit or debit card. Automatic gratuities cover just about every tipped crew member on the ship. You may also like: 26 Hidden Cruise Fees You Should Know About. Based on the amount of the bill. I put together a 47 page printable cruise travel planner that has everything you need as you plan and get ready for your cruise. You dont need to write a noveljust a few sentences about how the crew member made your cruise even better will do. You cannot paste images directly. Royal Caribbean charges a gratuity of $16.00 per person, per day. If you go on a tour or shore excursion, its nice to tip the driver or shore excursion staff if youve appreciated their service. Ive been surprisedor I probably should say I had forgottenhow many hands have been extended for a tip on these shore excursions. The porters will assist with your luggage and its customary to tip for their service. That's a major contrast to the early days of the return to sailing after the cruise line's 15-month . Credit: Royal Caribbean Show-Stopping Entertainment Do you have a favorite bartender? i understand what you are saying.and I know we are paying roughly 15 dollars a day each as a tip already. Cruise lines typically flag their ships in countries with lax employment laws. There are a couple of exceptions, though. I think this depends on who it is and what their job is. How much you tip on cruise excursions is entirely up to you, but a suggested starting price is $3 per person for a half-day tour and $6 per person for a full-day tour for the guide and $1 to $2 for the bus driver. What Is The Average Amount of Cash to Bring on a Cruise? You also shouldnt tip the cruise director, the entertainment staff, or any independent entertainers like musical guests, comedians, or magicians. How much do people tip a Royal Genie? Some people are retired or on a fixed income, some are well off, some have to save for years for a cruise. If youre booked with Celebritys Always Included, the gratuities are included. Some cruise lines point out that you may wish to tip the kids club staff. 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. Its a good idea to hand over your tips the day before disembarkation. Now, with automatic gratuities, the process is much simpler and you dont need to carry all that cash. That is a very personal question. 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. These feedback cards mean a lot and sometimes lead to a stellar crew member getting a raise or even a promotion! I think it's more like when you go to a restaurant and they added the automatic service charge to the bill, but there is still a line for additional tipping. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Cruise Line Gratuities: What's the Point? I agree with Kelli. Check out the latest web stories from Should Be Cruising! if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-leader-2','ezslot_15',606,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-leader-2-0');Since you cant remove the automatic tips for just that one crew member, removing or lowering your automatic gratuities hurts all the tipped employees. But lets say you have a negative experience with your server in the dining room, or you feel that the cabin steward isnt doing their job. Note that paying in cash does not necessarily circumvent the pooling system -- attendants are officially required to turn in any cash gratuities to put toward the pool. I guess I was looking for some kind of scale like we have atrestaurants on land. Some cruise lines refer to these tips as a service charge. Our Stateroom Attendant on cruise #5 was fabulous, and I showed my appreciation by leaving him (thanks Mahbob!) Most mainstream cruise lines have their headquarters in the US. The amount is very personal. Royal Caribbean Cruise Holiday Deals 2020 & 2021 - Cruise Nation www.cruisenation.com. So something edible (maybe a favorite candy or snack from your home region?) ATMs usually charge a $5-6 fee per transaction. I have to say, we simply prepay or leave the tips as is, so I really dont pay attention these days. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away.