That's a major contrast to the early days of the return to sailing after the cruise line's 15-month . On a 7 day cruise we usually give $50 to the waiter and $30 to the asst. Often the recommended tips, which run from about $10 to $20 per passenger per day, are published either in the cruise brochure or on the cruise line web page. Our concern is that the cruise lines take advantage by paying lower wages and then guilting passengers into higher tips. Cruise lines typically flag their ships in countries with lax employment laws. Some guests may bring $200 extra for gratuities whereas others may bring $50. In some service industries where wages are substandard, customers are expected to pay a gratuity, typically 15 to 20% of the bill, to augment the workers low hourly wages. Please check Costas website for details. If cruising from Australia to the South Pacific, Australian dollars are widely accepted. If theres a crew member who goes above and beyond for you, there are some other ways to show your appreciation. #4. Cruise Ship Engine Power, Propulsion, Fuel, Royal Caribbean Drinks Prices, Beverage Menus, Alcohol Policy, Carnival Cruise WiFi Internet Packages Prices. For many cruises that operate in the Australian market where tipping isnt part of the culture, automatic gratuities arent added on to passenger bills. Youre right an 18% gratuity is added each time you purchase a drink. You can also adjust your gratuities up or down. These feedback cards mean a lot and sometimes lead to a stellar crew member getting a raise or even a promotion! If you tip extra, you will get FABULOUS service! Your articles are so helpful at navigating the cruise world. 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. Cindi We also always tip bar staff even when drinks are complimentary. Ill explain everything you need to know about cruise gratuitiesfrom who you should tip, how much you should tip, and who you should never tip on a cruise ship. However, your cruise vacation expenses wont end there. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Cruise Line Gratuities: What's the Point? I think this depends on who it is and what their job is. I had prepaid my gratuities, and I assumed the porter was a cruise line employee, so I didnt tip him. Robinson said mainstream cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Holland America Line charge gratuities on a per person, per day basis. Tips are added automatically to the onboard account (SeaPass) on a daily basis. 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. 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). On a cruise, most guests bring between $100-$120 in cash per day to be spent on transportation, tips, gifts, food, and shopping. (Want to get the most from your cabin steward? I'm so glad you found my post! Most mainstream cruise lines have their headquarters in the US. How much cash should you bring on a cruise? For some of them, depending . 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. Ill definitely look into it and see how I can best do that on this site. How much tip receive in cruise royal caribbean? 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. A couple should budget about $200 in gratuities for a 7 day cruise. However, most cruisers do tip them for their service. They will seldom steer you wrong. 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. Although cash isnt required for onboard purchases, there are a few scenarios where youll want to have cash available. I'm sure the crew appreciated your extra tips - they all work so hard! 15% being the rough standard for satisfactoryservice. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. I love reading your blog and learning, but I dont often have time to sit down at the computer to read. 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. 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. (Learn more about when and when not to pay auto-gratuities.). Most cruise lines charge for children as well, although there are some exceptions for very young children on select cruise lines. Each passenger is charged for these tips, including kids. Hi All, Im Ilana. You can raise them, lower them, or remove them altogether. There is no charge for children under 2 years of age. Your previous content has been restored. 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. 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. 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. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. If mainstream cruise lines decided to abolish tipping and pay all crew members a reasonable rate per hour, they would have to significantly raise the cost of cruise fares. Having small bills handy is helpful if you plan to tip crew members throughout your sailing. I prefer waiting to see how the service is before deciding on an extra tip, but thats just my preference. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-leader-3','ezslot_16',605,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-leader-3-0');For other cruise lines, youll be able to adjust your autogratuities at the Passenger Services desk. Display as a link instead, I have to say, we simply prepay or leave the tips as is, so I really dont pay attention these days. I put together a 47 page printable cruise travel planner that has everything you need as you plan and get ready for your cruise. Depending on your bank, the ATM transaction fee may be waived. Cunards daily gratuities are set at $11.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. There are different service charges for certain itineraries. Pasted as rich text. 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. Automatic gratuities, also called autogratuities or autograts, is the cruise term for the system most cruise lines now use to simplify tipping for passengers. Please let me know in the comments below. We had the my time diningsame waiter and assistant every night. Up the tip to $20. If youre going on a cruise, you can expect daily gratuities to be charged automatically to your onboard account. For more info, please read myDisclosure Policy. Theres no need to add an extra tip for each drink. I give my room steward $5 at the very beginning of the cruise. In reality, the cruise staff on board want you to be satisfied, so this is the time address a problem. I dont tend to tip in advance, so this is an interesting way of doing things. Cruise line employees are extremely hard working, I agree, and they go above and beyond so often. 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. Thoughts? Please note that gratuities are charged in US dollars for Caribbean, US and Canada cruises. 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. They have the insider tips to match so that you can make the most of everything that'll be at your fingertips. Whether to or not and then how much. 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. Payments on cruise ships have almost entirely gone digital, but there are still a few situations where cash comes in handy. The premium cruise line's fleet of 15 ships sail around the world, from the Galapagos to the Caribbean. 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. UK lines such as Fred. Like what you see? In-suite parties are a huge amount of work for the Genie and room attendants. Royal Caribbean's VOOM service has two different levels of service with two different prices. If you want to give an additional tip to your cabin steward (or two), Im sure its very appreciated. Who else should you tip on a cruise ship? This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. There are 2 adults and 1 child in the room, if this. However, there are a few common practices and guidelines. However ,usually you can have at least 2 cabin stewards. 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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Cruise lines just have contracts with their preferred shore excursion companiesthe guides and drivers arent employees of the line. 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. Automatic gratuities cover just about every tipped crew member on the ship. 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. Your email address will not be published. Cruise lines have implemented automatic gratuities, options to prepay gratuities and some popular cruise lines have begun including tips in your cruise fare. Want to give something beyond cash? Just remember that cruise ship crew live in very tight quarters, without much room for personal belongings. The staff learns real quick who tips extra, and who does not. There are some exceptions. Thank you, Carrie Ann. If your shore excursion includes lunch, you generally dont have to leave a tipthe tour company takes care of the lunch bill. The automatic service gratuity is $14.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Junior Suites and below, or $17.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Grand Suites and above, applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? Some cruise lines refer to these tips as a service charge. I was very surprised. You also shouldnt tip the cruise director, the entertainment staff, or any independent entertainers like musical guests, comedians, or magicians. Tips are of course a personal decision. You can adjust this based on the length and complexity of the tour. Could you possibly make your articles printable? However, if you prefer to pay off your account and daily gratuities in cash, you can do so by going to guest services. Its unlikely to do any good by this point. separately, near the end of the cruise. The extra cash may or may not end up in your steward's pocket, but he'll appreciate the gesture nonetheless. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. On disembarkation day, you probably wont find your fave crew members in their usual spots! We sail Celebrity and opt to prepay gratuities. This is a review of RCI-Royal Caribbean International's gratuities (paid for the crew services), tipping policy and tips (per day/reduced/removed). Children aged 2-11 will be charged $6.25 per day. Most cruisers wouldnt dream of removing the automatic gratuities. (Youll often see a survey pop up in your email inbox a few days after your cruise.). Also, if free gratuities are an amenity, youre not expected to go beyond it unless someone goes way beyond whats normally expected. flipped into Ren de Lambert. Your cruise in April sounds amazing! Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Here's how to get the most out of Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package (or Prime Casino Royale free drinks in the casino). 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. If you want to avoid any ATM charges, though, you can theoretically take money out via the casino. 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. I purchased the package pre-cruise for $76, this equates to just over $25 per day. Having worked in the service industry, if people want to extra tip, then doing it at the beginning is the way to go. What to Expect: Tipping Crew Members on a Cruise. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. It is best to drink 9 to 13 cups of water before donating money in the 24 hours preceding the event. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_20',609,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0');In for-a-fee specialty dining restaurants, you might see a spot on your bill (if you get one) to add a tip. 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. They are always pleasant and willing to do whatever they can for you. Royal Caribbean Royal Caribbean charges a $7.95 service fee and room service is available 24-hours a day. a $200 gratuity on top of my prepaid gratuities. Happy cruising :). There is no charge for children under 3 years of age. Unless they are below average and that has happened only one time. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. 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. 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. 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. Disney cruises has a suggested daily gratuity charge of $13.50 per person, per day for all guests. You can do so by going to guest services and making the request. We rarely do the parties anymore. Knowing how much cash to bring on a cruise can help you plan your vacation budget and avoid pesky ATM fees along the way. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. 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. There are instances of passengers who prefer not to tip, usually either because they disagree with tipping on principle or they've experienced unsatisfactory service. Princess: $14.50 per person, per day ($15.50 for mini-suite guests and $16.50 for suite guests). If you enjoy tipping in cash, consider giving an extra cash tip to the crew members who gave you excellent service on your cruise. Manage Settings How much do people tip a Royal Genie? This may be rare, however if theres a problem with service or you have a complaint on your cruise, that you should bring this to the attention of the staff member, supervisor, or guest services when it occurs. This practice can eat into the regular wages and livelihood of hardworking crew and is not advised. The amount is based on the service received of course. Although cards are widely accepted, you may still encounter establishments that do not accept card payments. 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. Keep a few dollars handy to tip the cruise porters on embarkation day. 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? Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? This is for a good reason as it ensures that proper. Princess Cruises also has the Princess Plus fare, which includes gratuities or the crew incentive, Medallion Net wifi and Princess premium beverage package. There are also usually comment cards available at the purser's desk or online for additional recognition -- or post a review on Cruise Critic. Related: Cruise Line. Hi Alex, thanks so much for your lovely comment. When youre on a cruise, you shouldnt tip the captain or the officers. 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. In this post, weve gone over how tipping works on a cruise. The cruise line will assess your fee each day, then theyll charge your credit card on file at the end of the cruise. If you're staying in a high-category suite, you may be expected to tip . Of course, as always, its at your discretion. You could also tip based on the length of the tour. If you choose to pay tips in cash, there are usually some envelopes available at the guest service desk. Jan 6. Some cruise ship spas, like those on NCL and Royal Caribbean, add on a service fee or gratuity, usually about 18%. For guests staying in Grand Suites and above, the fee is $18.50 per person, per day. The bar service personnel still gets their 15% tips from each bar sale. Still confused . Ren de Lambert. Should you tip extra on a cruise? 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. Thanks so much! This is a personal decision and Im not sure if theres a tipping etiquette for it. Some cruise lines employ a sommelier or wine steward in the main dining rooms, who isnt included in the tipping pool. On Costa Cruises, service charges of $12.50 per person, per day are charged for cruises departing from the US. Continue with Recommended Cookies. That lets him / her know upfront that we tip, and there is more to come at the end of the cruise! Royal Caribbean International What's Included: Dining, stateroom, and other key crew members. If you forgot to bring cash on your cruise, there are a few ways to get it once onboard. When booking a Celebrity cruise, tips are included in their Always Included program. Windstar Cruises daily gratuities are $12.00 per person, per day for all cabin types. If you found this helpful, please dont keep it to yourself ;-). Cruises in Europe, World cruises and those departing from a non-US Caribbean port charge 10 Euros per person, per day. Gave them US 5 each three nights and US 10 each last night. 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. Many luxury all-inclusive cruise lines include gratuities in their cruise fares, or have a tips neither expected nor required policy. 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. You cant choose how much each crew member gets. You can always add extra for exceptional service, though! The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. Other cruisers, often people who remember cruising before autogratuities, prefer tipping crew in cash. In addition, a portion of the tips are given to those who work behind the scenes or may serve you in different areas of the ship. 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. Other itineraries may differ. Typically, this is associated with your credit card which youll be prompted to set up when you complete your online check in. Ive got you covered! 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. 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. 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. 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. 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). 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. Should you prepay automatic gratuities? This includes drinks at the bar or cafe, spa services and salon visits. The amount is the only thing that tends to vary on service levels. In fact, I think most would agree that cruise line staff make a huge difference in the cruise experience. Pricing varies based on the ship, sail dates, and itinerary. On the flip side, passengers have less control over where their money goes with autogratuities. So glad this was helpful. However, the price of getting online can be expensive. Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. 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.. HomeBlogCruise Tips Cruise News Cruise DestinationsAboutContactResourcesFeatured PressPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyDisclosure PolicyTerms of Use. As a cruise passenger, you want to be aware and set your budget expectations to include these amounts for the cruise ship staff. 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. 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. Those can range from about $15 to upwards of $20 for each . There are a number of factors which people use to decide how much to tip their Genie. Based on the amount of the bill. 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. Most mainstream cruise lines bill passengers between $12 and $15 per person, per day for. All ships have at least one ATM onboard, which is usually located in the Royal Promenade or Centrum. I go into more detail about this topic in this post:Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise? We like to prepay gratuities when we make our final payment for our cruise, but this is optional. I always prepay the gratuities. cabin (not suite) recommended amount would be $39 pp times two equals $78 for a 4 night cruise. The average daily gratuity on a cruise is $14-15 USD per person approximately $30 per day, per couple in a cabin. I also tip constantly while on the cruise. A former flight attendant, she now prefers cruise ships over airplanes and spends several months each year cruising and exploring cruise ports. Until fairly recently, cruise passengers customarily tipped only in cash, in person. If you want to adjust the amount, go to the reception desk. 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.
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