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. 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. 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. We also always tip bar staff even when drinks are complimentary. If not, 15-20% of the bill (excluding any products that you buy) is customary. Happy cruising :). 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. Im not expecting him to kiss our butts, but come on. Or you can plan ahead and take enough cash in the correct currency to cover any tips you might want to pay. Typically, this is associated with your credit card which youll be prompted to set up when you complete your online check in. Here are some other people you should tip during your cruise. 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. (Want to get the most from your cabin steward? Other itineraries may differ. Do you prefer to prepay your gratuitiesor to pay in cash? The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. I'm sure the crew appreciated your extra tips - they all work so hard! 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. That is a very personal question. 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. About $1-2 (or the equivalent in local currency) per bag is fine. If you could use cruise packing lists, to-do checklists, shore excursion forms and more, youll love the Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner. We never gave him anything. Celebrity Cruises guide: Ships, itineraries, tips & more | Royal We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. When youre on a cruise, you shouldnt tip the captain or the officers. 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. 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. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Royal Caribbean Raises Cruise Tipping Guidelines - AOL One Key Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package Tip Cruisers Need to 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. Robinson said mainstream cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Holland America Line charge gratuities on a per person, per day basis. Or do you remove them altogether? But if you dont want to prepay, thats fine too. 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. Our Hawaiian cruise in April will be the first weve been on in 15 years, so, obviously, things have changed a lot. one in 2023. The staff learns real quick who tips extra, and who does not. Luxury cruise lines have a higher upfront cost than most popular cruise lines, however theyll often include many valuable extras. Complete guide to tipping on a cruise - Cruiseable However, your cruise vacation expenses wont end there. After 23 Royal Caribbean Cruises, What I've Learned About Tipping There are different service charges for certain itineraries. Tipping is not required, however, customarily some people do choose to tip anywhere from $1 - $5 per order. 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. But honestly, theyd prefer cash over a gift basketno matter how yummy your treats are! This is a good question. Cruising can be such a relaxing vacation as well as so much fun. They have the insider tips to match so that you can make the most of everything that'll be at your fingertips. You dont need to write a noveljust a few sentences about how the crew member made your cruise even better will do. If youre going on a cruise, you can expect daily gratuities to be charged automatically to your onboard account. Guide to Royal Caribbean's Unlimited Dining Package - Cruise Fever 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. Your personal data will be processed and information from your device (cookies, unique identifiers, and other device data) may be stored by, accessed by and shared with third party vendors, or used specifically by this site or app. However ,usually you can have at least 2 cabin stewards. will be more appreciated than something they would have to store. Royal Caribbean Gratuities,Tipping Policy,Tips | CruiseMapper I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. Here is a list of the daily gratuity charges by major cruise lines for 2021-22. Most cruise lines charge for children as well, although there are some exceptions for very young children on select cruise lines. In addition, weve included a list of daily gratuities per cruise line and who else you may wish to tip. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. In a survey of 850 cruisers, 71% stated that they took over $100 per person per day when cruising. MTD and ate in MDR 5 nights. The Sky Suite on Celebrity was a perfect size for two, at around 320 square feet. You may also like: A Cruise Glossary: Cruise Terms You Should Know. Having the articles in a printable format is a really interesting idea. Just remember that cruise ship crew live in very tight quarters, without much room for personal belongings. But if your excursions include free time where you eat lunch on your own, its a good idea to research the local tipping customs in the countries youll be visiting before your cruise. Learn how your comment data is processed. HomeBlogCruise Tips Cruise News Cruise DestinationsAboutContactResourcesFeatured PressPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyDisclosure PolicyTerms of Use. Im so glad youre enjoying my blog and find the posts helpful and appreciate the feedback. 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. Cruising in 2022: Why Onboard Tipping is More Important Than Ever, Cabin Stewardess on Princess Cruises (Photo: Princess Cruises), A Cash Tip Which is Common on Cruises (Photo: elwynn/Shutterstock). Before Your Royal Caribbean Cruise . You can just hand over folded cash, or use the tip envelopes youll find in your stateroom or at Passenger Services. 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. Celebrity Cruises isnt a luxury cruise line, however it is a top premium cruise line that markets itself as modern luxury. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. Most US lines that base ships in the UK over the summer -- Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, for example -- offer automated gratuity options that charge a standard daily gratuity fee to the credit card you've placed on file for each day of your cruise. I think its pretty bad when thats the only night they make their presence be known. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. Something you will need cash for on a Royal Caribbean cruise are any extra tips you give to crew members. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. Also, if free gratuities are an amenity, youre not expected to go beyond it unless someone goes way beyond whats normally expected. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. The amount is very personal. I believe this to be true, too. It really made my day! Cruise line employees work their butts off to earn those tips. In North America, most cruise terminal porters are longshoremen. Youll often receive change back in local currency even when paying with USD. They did a really good job and I would like to tip them. I wouldn't worry about giving "too little" extra, since you are already paying the auto gratuity. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. 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. After 50 cruises I know they really mean it! It has one large sink with two faucets and a large shower with a tub. 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. Although cash isnt required for onboard purchases, there are a few scenarios where youll want to have cash available. Many ships also have an abundance of kids' activities including kids clubs that . Jan 6. For many cruises that operate in the Australian market where tipping isnt part of the culture, automatic gratuities arent added on to passenger bills. I do think its a very personal choice, but we can talk about this in a future video for sure! Whether to or not and then how much. What do you think about the custom of tipping on a cruise ship? Because plasma accounts for approximately 90% of total fluid volume, drinking plenty of water after receiving a transplant is beneficial to your body. Who else should you tip on a cruise ship? The COST Series: Cruise Ship TIPPING - YouTube The price increases during August to approximately $773 (619) per person, excluding taxes. Tipped crew make the majority of their income from gratuities! Both beautiful cruise options! Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. They will do extra for you after they realize you are a tipper! Which currency you should bring with you on a cruise depends on your departure port and itinerary. The practice of tipping is controversial, even in the United States where paying tips is part of the culture. Norwegian Cruise Line charges a daily service fee of $15.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $18.50 per person per day for guests in suites and The Haven. 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. While most people know it for being a cruise destination, shadowing the coastline to see the glaciers, there is so much The porters will assist with your luggage and its customary to tip for their service. I like knowing that my bill is all set before I sail! Do you know about when you'd like to sail? 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. All ships have at least one ATM onboard, which is usually located in the Royal Promenade or Centrum. Now, with automatic gratuities, the process is much simpler and you dont need to carry all that cash. Unless they are below average and that has happened only one time. 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. There may be cases where you'd like to tip your cabin steward more than what he or she will receive after your automated gratuity is pooled and shared out. Im a little over a month out before my next cruise, and while its a little early to start packing (is it though? Credit: whmuc.blogspot.com. 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. Most cruisers wouldnt dream of removing the automatic gratuities. Have some small bills handy for these times. If you have a special in-room dining experience, like Ultimate Balcony Dining on Princess (which I highly recommend, by the way), its a nice gesture to add an extra cash tip for the servers who brought your meals up and made your dinner a special experience. The items and service are provided free of charge (except midnight - 5am when there is a nominal delivery fee). Stay in one of the Royal Suites and room service is included. 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. What you cant do is adjust or remove automatic gratuities for a specific crew member. How Much Cash Should I Bring on a Cruise? Budgeting Guide and Averages Then you can take your deposit out in cash at the casino cashier. Cruisers would have to tip each of their service personnel (the cabin steward, restaurant servers, bartenders, etc.) I purchased the package pre-cruise for $76, this equates to just over $25 per day. Travel Agent Finder - Australia on LinkedIn: Unforgettable Experiences The gratuities on Oceania Cruises are $16.00 per person, per day for most staterooms and $23.00 per person, per day for guests in suites. The drink package works at all onboard bars, restaurants, and even Royal Caribbean's private island CocoCay. Look for a link at the bottom of this page or in our privacy policy where you can withdraw consent. You wont require cash for 99% of purchases on a cruise, whether specialty restaurants, cocktails, or souvenirs. 50 Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips and Tricks Bond with your snorkel guide? That's a major contrast to the early days of the return to sailing after the cruise line's 15-month . How do cruise gratuities work? Do I have to tip? | Miami Herald The cost is $13.50 per person, per day for guests in Grill Class suites. For some of them, depending . Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise? I always prepay the gratuities. If sailing in a reg. Celebrity Cruises is Royal Caribbean's sister brand that provides a slightly more upscale, refined experience onboard. What do you think about cruise line gratuities and service onboard? 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.