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Some cruise lines may call this a “Guest Services Fee” on your onboard account statement. The big advantage to paying cruise tips in advance is that you lock in the current rate. If your line raises the rate between the time you pay and the time you sail, you won't pay more. If you go on a tour or shore excursion, it’s nice to tip the driver or shore excursion staff if you’ve appreciated their service. Service charges for guests ages 4-14 are half of the adult rate. That said tips aren’t mandatory on the majority of river cruise lines and guests are free to choose what they would like to do.
Step 1 – The Cruise Line Will Ask if You Want to Pre-Pay
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. Cruise gratuities are divided among your cruise cabin steward, waiters and other crew members who work as support behind the scenes. Cruise ship gratuities are additional charges that are often automatically added to your onboard account to compensate the crew members for their services during your cruise. These gratuities, also referred to as tips, serve as a way for passengers to acknowledge and show appreciation for the hard work and exceptional service provided by the cruise staff.
Who Gets the Gratuities?
This helps to create a positive work environment and encourages crew members to provide excellent service. In the past, passengers were expected to pay the gratuities to each crew member individually in cash. Before you cruise, it’s important to understand how much you will be paying per day in gratuities and where that money goes. For this example, the amounts listed below are for standard (non-suite) staterooms, may vary by a dollar or so and subject to change every couple of years. Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian automatically add a room service delivery fee.
Can You Prepay Cruise Ship Gratuities?
You can also visit the casino cashier to break your larger bills. Bring envelopes (and thank you notes) from home in case the ship’s front desk doesn’t have any to give for tips. Bring a stack of small bills from home and keep separate from your other cash, to avoid the last night panic line at the Purser’s Desk. The top tier of crew recipients, however, are the waiters and stateroom attendants. Here’s another category that needs addressing; room service delivery fees. Savvy cruisers know that gratuities begin before you board your ship.
Tips & Guides
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. When you book the cruise you’ll have the ability to prepay gratuities. You simply pay this extra amount in full for your cruise as part of your cruise fare. Cash tipping can be handy for certain circumstances on a cruise. The amount of gratuity charges varies by cruise line, but it’s usually around $14 to $20 per person, per day. This means that if you’re traveling with a partner or family, you’ll be charged this amount for each person in your cabin, every day of your cruise.
Depending on where you book your cruise, gratuities may already be included in the price of your cruise fare. Australians booking cruises from Australia, for example, will not incur gratuities on top of their cruise fare, but the cruise fare reflects the price with gratuities added. The automatic daily gratuity is based on customary industry standards. Applying this charge automatically helps streamline the recognition process for the crew members who work to enhance your cruise. We hope you find the gratuity to be an accurate reflection of your satisfaction and thank you for your generous recognition of our staff. If you’re sailing to Hawaii, you’re also charged an additional 4.275% pre-paid service charge GET Tax.
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Having to add in gratuity costs to these advertised rates could make them less attractive to potential cruisers. On the other hand, many people choose to instead pay the gratuity charges automatically through their onboard account once on the ship. Each day there will be a gratuity charge — or a lump sum added at the end of the trip.
A 20% gratuity will still be automatically added to all beverages, mini bar purchases, spa and salon services. Though, guests will not pay gratuity for drinks that are part of the complimentary classic beverage package. There is an additional 20% gratuity for all spa and salon services. There is also a 20% service charge on all beverage purchases and all specialty restaurant dining and entertainment based dining.
You SHOULD expect an 18% gratuity on certain purchases
These fees will then be added into your total cruise fare and covered with your final payment. When you book your cruise, you’ll be charged your cruise fare, port fees and taxes. You’ll want to factor in the cruise line gratuity charge, sometimes called on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). Cruise lines establish their own tipping policies which can differ, so it's important for you to review the guidelines provided by your cruise line ahead of time. When handing out gratuities on a cruise ship, it is important to observe proper etiquette.
Another Carnival-Owned Cruise Line Increasing Service Charges - Cruise Hive
Another Carnival-Owned Cruise Line Increasing Service Charges.
Posted: Wed, 07 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
When that happens, I’ll generally leave an extra $10 +/- for a specialty dining restaurant tip. Automatic gratuities are the most common type of cruise ship gratuities. These charges are added to your onboard account, typically on a per person per day basis, and are distributed among the crew members involved in providing services throughout your cruise. Automatic gratuities ensure that a fair distribution is made to all the individuals who contribute to your overall cruise experience.
When sailing with a family of four on a 7-night cruise, gratuities can add nearly $500 on top of your cruise fare. Guests who have pre-paid their gratuity will not see a daily charge during their cruise. The "recommended" tipping amount for suites that's automatically added to your bill covers the butler service. For example, stay in a Queens Grill suite on a Cunard ship and you get a butler who can help with unpacking your suitcase to shining your shoes. Cruise gratuities are weekly or daily service charges paid by cruise guests. Cruise tipping etiquette generally includes automatic daily gratuities ranging from $14 to $18 per person, per day, covering service personnel like cabin stewards and dining staff.
Along with the April 2023 increase, the gratuity amount was last increased in May 2022. Cruise Radio prioritizes well-balanced cruise news coverage and accurate reporting, paired with ship reviews and tips. If you’re dissatisfied with the service, it’s always best to speak with the management before deciding not to leave a tip. The crew member may have had extenuating circumstances outside their control that affected their performance or the service they could deliver. Passengers sailing to Hawaii are charged an additional 4.275% Pre Paid Service Charge GET Tax. Disney Cruise Line gratuities start at $14.50 per person, per night for regular cabins and rise to $15.50 per person, per night for Concierge-class and Suite guests.
This includes drinks at the bar or cafe, spa services and salon visits. A tip of 15%-20% is common, so check the bottom of your bill before adding an additional amount. The vast majority of cruise ship passengers are charged an automatic gratuity. The cruise lines might call it a gratuity charge, service fee, or a similar name.
Staying updated with the cruise line's official communication channels, such as their website or newsletters, can help you stay informed about any changes in gratuity policies. To effectively manage your cruise ship gratuities, it is important to include them in your overall cruise budget. Consider the factors that may influence the gratuity amount, such as cruise length, cabin category, and any special requests or packages you anticipate availing. By factoring gratuities into your budget from the outset, you can ensure that you are adequately prepared and avoid any financial surprises during your cruise.
Keep in mind that gratuities will be deemed undisputed unless a request to modify is received prior to disembarking the ship. This fee is applied to each guest’s SeaPass account on a daily basis. Finally, if you order anything from room service, then it’s expected that you give a couple of bucks to the staff member that delivers the food. Be aware that when you sign the receipt there will be another line for an additional tip. From the passenger perspective, the gratuity amount is simple — pay a set amount per person, per day, and be done. That said, it’s unusual to adjust the gratuity amount, and the staff works extremely hard to make your trip enjoyable.
In addition, we’ve included a list of daily gratuities per cruise line and who else you may wish to tip. As a cruise passenger, you want to be aware and set your budget expectations to include these amounts for the cruise ship staff. Gratuities or a service charge are added onto some onboard services.
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