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Hi All, I just wanted to share something with new cruisers (and old if they do not know this). Your glowing review can help a hardworking crew member earn a promotion or raise. If cruising from Australia to the South Pacific, Australian dollars are widely accepted. If you go on a tour or shore excursion, its nice to tip the driver or shore excursion staff if youve appreciated their service. Im so glad youre here! If you havent notified your bank, they will usually send you a fraud alert or temporarily freeze your card. Its customary to tip the waiters generously at specialty restaurants. We usually tip between $500-700 depending on what we do. How much tip receive in cruise royal caribbean? April 16, 2019 in Royal Caribbean Dining. Im Carrie Ann, the writer behind Should Be Cruising. For more info, please read myDisclosure Policy. 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. Hi Janet! Although cash isnt required for onboard purchases, there are a few scenarios where youll want to have cash available. Tipped crew make the majority of their income from gratuities! Some cruise lines point out that you may wish to tip the kids club staff. So they follow this model with many of their crew members who perform services for passengers. So something edible (maybe a favorite candy or snack from your home region?) If you dont have a drink package, theyll add the price of each drink plus the service fee to your onboard tab. Congrats on reaching Diamond :) Happy cruising! 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. The balcony is a good size with two chairs. Disney cruises has a suggested daily gratuity charge of $13.50 per person, per day for all guests. I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. 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. Or you can plan ahead and take enough cash in the correct currency to cover any tips you might want to pay. Could you please go into tipping for the haven ncl staff , butlers and more. Celebrity Cruises now includes daily gratuities in its Always Included cruise fare. 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. The worst thing you can do is wait until you are home from your cruise to address it. We had the my time diningsame waiter and assistant every night. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Cruise Line Gratuities: What's the Point? Rather than reducing the amount payed, they point out on their website that they will work to resolve any service issues experienced. Your link has been automatically embedded. You will get great service either way. There was only one cruise where my sons special request was denied. The cruise where fun means everything. The average daily gratuity on a cruise is $14-15 USD per person approximately $30 per day, per couple in a cabin. Cindi What to Expect: Tipping Crew Members on a Cruise. 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! I believe this to be true, too. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. I was very surprised. Youll often receive change back in local currency even when paying with USD. By Many cruisers opt to give extra cash tips to crew members who made their vacation that much more enjoyable. Related: Cruise Line. About $1-2 (or the equivalent in local currency) per bag is fine. Here are some other people you should tip during your cruise. There are a couple of exceptions, though. 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. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. #4. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. If your kids have had a great time and youve appreciated the service, a few extra dollars are surely appreciated. 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. In addition to the automatic daily gratuities, a tip or service fee of 15-20% is added to drinks and/or drink packages as well as spa services on a cruise. 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. Some guests may bring $200 extra for gratuities whereas others may bring $50. If you dont see the cards in your room, ask at the Passenger Services desk, or leave the feedback in your post-cruise survey. After combing through my notes, here's the best tips and tricks for taking a Royal Caribbean cruise. The cruise director will also remind passengers about how much and whom the cruise . If sailing in a reg. A former flight attendant, she now prefers cruise ships over airplanes and spends several months each year cruising and exploring cruise ports. There are a number of factors which people use to decide how much to tip their Genie. $15.99 per person per day for guests in suites. We are a middle class, retirement age couple (63 and 62) who are not retired with no plans to in the near future. The new RCI tips per day are added to each guest's SeaPass card (shipboard account) automatically. They did a really good job and I would like to tip them. It's always up to you to adjust the number of gratuities at any time while onboard the ship and your tips will be deemed undisputed. Cruise lines typically flag their ships in countries with lax employment laws. The amount is very personal. Instead, passengers can tipor notat their own discretion. We always tip cruise staff but in cash not automatic tipping. The cruise line assesses a daily fee and divides the money among the tipped crew. Some cruisers swear by tipping at the beginning of the cruise to ensure excellent service. Something you will need cash for on a Royal Caribbean cruise are any extra tips you give to crew members. Many ships also have an abundance of kids' activities including kids clubs that . Even if you try, theyll likely graciously turn down your offer. flipped into Ren de Lambert. Some people are retired or on a fixed income, some are well off, some have to save for years for a cruise. Our Stateroom Attendant on cruise #5 was fabulous, and I showed my appreciation by leaving him (thanks Mahbob!) Keep in mind that cruise crew members live in tight quarters, so small (and edible) gifts are preferred. Often, these crew members are part of the tip pool, and they lose part of their expected income each time a passenger removes autogratuities. cruise. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? Then (if your problem continues to bother you) contact the hotel manager. Cruise line employees work their butts off to earn those tips. You can also adjust your gratuities up or down. After 50 cruises I know they really mean it! 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. I would imagine wed see prices increase overall if they did this, but perhaps it amounts to this anyway. Keep a few dollars handy to tip the cruise porters on embarkation day. As for tipping above and beyond prepaid gratuities, I agree completely that there is no expectation. Cruise line tipping policies vary from one cruise company to another. I love reading your blog and learning, but I dont often have time to sit down at the computer to read. It was just the two of us. Also, if free gratuities are an amenity, youre not expected to go beyond it unless someone goes way beyond whats normally expected. Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. But you should know, that the ship's service staff don't make a salary - your tips are their wages. 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. Do you have a favorite bartender? Ive got you covered! Here's how to get the most out of Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package (or Prime Casino Royale free drinks in the casino). Hope you enjoy! Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. 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. Youll want to factor in the cruise line gratuity charge, sometimes called on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). 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. This practice can eat into the regular wages and livelihood of hardworking crew and is not advised. This includes drinks at the bar or cafe, spa services and salon visits. Even though cruise gratuities technically arent mandatory, they are customary on most mainstream cruise lines. 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). You might want to reward your cabin steward, favorite bartender or MDR server, or any other crew member you think did a great job. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. 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. Once you book your cruise, there are some things you'll need to do in advance to prepare. 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. W. To avoid currency confusion, especially if youre traveling to multiple countries on one cruise, we recommend using a credit or debit card to make purchases in port whenever possible. While not obligatory, there are some of the workers you may want to recognize with a tip when cruising. In this post, weve gone over how tipping works on a cruise. (Want to get the most from your cabin steward? We sail Celebrity and opt to prepay gratuities. If you found this helpful, please dont keep it to yourself ;-). In a survey of 850 cruisers, 71% stated that they took over $100 per person per day when cruising. We like to keep a few dollars handy for this purpose as we board our cruise ship. As a cruise passenger, you want to be aware and set your budget expectations to include these amounts for the cruise ship staff. Grand Suite and above cabin categories pay USD 18,50 pp per day gratuities. 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. Windstar Cruises daily gratuities are $12.00 per person, per day for all cabin types. There will be an 18-20% tip automatically charged when ordering an individual drink, so no need to add more in most cases. Most cruisers wouldnt dream of removing the automatic gratuities. I do think its a very personal choice, but we can talk about this in a future video for sure! 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. There are different service charges for certain itineraries. By general rule of thumb, the big ship mainstream cruise lines charge it as an extra payment above and beyond the base cruise fare while luxury lines adopt an all-inclusive approach. Royal Caribbean: $14.50 per person, per day ($17.50 for guests in grand suites and above). I choose to add the gratuities ahead, just to get them out of the way. Either way, expect to spend about $15-20 per day. Up the tip to $20. Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission when you make a purchase from a link on this site, at no added charge to you. I believe since these are pooled between everybody, additional tipping should only be done if you feel somebody has gone above and beyond. How much are automatic gratuities on a cruise? The gratuity is $15.50 per person, per day for guests in mini-suites and $16.50 per person, per day for guests in suites. Tips are added automatically to the onboard account (SeaPass) on a daily basis. Cruise lines usually add a service charge, usually 15-18%, to all beverages that arent complimentary. Ill definitely look into it and see how I can best do that on this site. On a cruise, most guests bring between $100-$120 in cash per day to be spent on transportation, tips, gifts, food, and shopping. When planning your cruise, check with your travel agent or the cruise line about the tipping policy. Please note that gratuities are charged in US dollars for Caribbean, US and Canada cruises. UK lines such as Fred. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. You can do so by going to guest services and making the request. 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. Its a good idea to hand over your tips the day before disembarkation. Jan 6. However, extra tipping and being a jerk do not go hand in hand. Until fairly recently, cruise passengers customarily tipped only in cash, in person. Its unlikely to do any good by this point. Beyond leaving a cash tip for your cabin steward, or favorite server or bartender, some other small gestures will go a long way. Required fields are marked *. What Is a Cabin Steward on a Cruise Ship? 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. Thanks so much! Is it the 15 day or the 7 day from Honolulu? This is a convenient option for cruise passengers that dont want to think about extra charges once onboard. 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. For many cruise passengers, bars play a pretty large role in their experiences. Hi All, Im Ilana. MTD and ate in MDR 5 nights. I think this depends on who it is and what their job is. If you transfer money to the slot machine and immediately cash out, you can take your cashout slip to the casino cage and receive the listed amount in cash. 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. The article also reviews major changes in the RCI's gratuities policy implemented fleetwide/on all liners. But if you dont want to prepay, thats fine too. A kind word or a drawing costs nothing and is always appreciated. 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. Often cruise lines provide additional envelopes to tuck a little extra cash at the end of the cruise just for this purpose. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! But I also feel like people will think Im rude for not doing so in reality tho, they are already being tipped 18%. Celebrity Cruises isnt a luxury cruise line, however it is a top premium cruise line that markets itself as modern luxury. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',199,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-medrectangle-4-0');Tipping is supposed to encourage excellent customer service from workers, because (in theory at least) customers will tip generously for friendly, prompt service. ATMs usually charge a $5-6 fee per transaction. Id love to connect with you on Instagram and Facebook @lifewellcruised. Thoughts? Plus, youre never required to make any extra purchases in the first place if you take advantage of the complimentary options available on a Royal Caribbean cruise. There is a lot to know before you even step foot on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. The finishings are top notch, and the bathroom, in particular, is well-designed with a separate water closet. One of these differences is that cruise gratuities are included. How Much Does a Caribbean Cruise Cost? Now if someone goes over and above a little extra is due. There is no service charge applied for children under 2 years of age. Our Hawaiian cruise in April will be the first weve been on in 15 years, so, obviously, things have changed a lot. Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? Alaska is such a beautiful destination. The staff learns real quick who tips extra, and who does not. The cruise line makes no recommendation for tipping room service. However, a few lines dont add autogratuities for babies and toddlers under age two or three. It includes who to tip, who not to tip, and some tips to help as you plan your cruise vacation. You may want to give them a tip per drink or a larger tip at the end or even the beginning of your cruise. Service charges for guests ages 4-14 are half of the adult rate. If you choose to pay tips in cash, there are usually some envelopes available at the guest service desk. What you cant do is adjust or remove automatic gratuities for a specific crew member. The bar service personnel still gets their 15% tips from each bar sale. 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. Just did 8 nights on Voyager. Should you tip extra on a cruise? Every stateroom has a room service menu. 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. In fact, I think most would agree that cruise line staff make a huge difference in the cruise experience. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. Get access to the best last minute hotel rates in the USA by becoming a registered member online today. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. Prior to your cruise, youll connect your onboard account with a credit or debit card, and all payments will be charged to that card at the end of the cruise. separately, near the end of the cruise. Porters: $1-5 per bag Room service delivery: $2-4 per tray If you are one to give your room attendant a little extra (on top of auto gratuities), how much do you typically give. Since most cruise passengers follow the tipping guidelines, that amounts to an increase $13.30 . 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. Cunards daily gratuities are set at $11.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. Its important to note that, especially on the luxury lines, tipping is not expected. on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and leave a comment! 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. Read our best tips.). In addition, weve included a list of daily gratuities per cruise line and who else you may wish to tip. Automatic gratuities, also called autogratuities or autograts, is the cruise term for the system most cruise lines now use to simplify tipping for passengers. But honestly, theyd prefer cash over a gift basketno matter how yummy your treats are! Weve been on 4 cruises with our 5th. 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. So glad this was helpful. 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. If youre new to cruising, or its been a while since your last cruise, its important to know about cruise tipping guidelines before you sail. 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. Other itineraries may differ. I wouldn't worry about giving "too little" extra, since you are already paying the auto gratuity. You can also leave a small gift for your favorite crew member. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. Keep in mind, the venues are not always the same between Royal Caribbean ships, but each of my tips can. However, if you prefer to pay off your account and daily gratuities in cash, you can do so by going to guest services. It really made my day! They might feel that it gives them more control over tipping, rewarding the crew based on their level of service. How Much Water Should I Drink Before Donating Plasma. We also always tip bar staff even when drinks are complimentary. RCCL Crown & Anchor Diamond Member at the end of this cruise! 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. The thing that gets me so mad is we never were approached by the Maitred..except the last night when the extra tipping comes in. Princess Cruises will automatically charge a crew incentive of $14.50 per person, per day for guests in inside ocean view and balcony cabins. Unless they are below average and that has happened only one time. Cruises in Europe, World cruises and those departing from a non-US Caribbean port charge 10 Euros per person, per day. Normally, we tip between $5 to $7 additionally per day for the two of us at the end of the cruise. It would be so helpful if I could print just the blog to read at random timescar trip, etc. Depending on your bank, the ATM transaction fee may be waived. How Much Should You Budget for Cruise Gratuities? 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. 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+). We have also taken a few of the ship's "backstage" tours and could see where the crew members reside, dine, kick back to relax, etc. 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. Pasted as rich text. Id give a much larger tip to a knowledgeable tour guide who led us on an intensive nine-hour experience compared to a guide who did a basic three-hour city walking tour. When youre on a cruise, you shouldnt tip the captain or the officers. 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. Depending on what you plan to do in port, you might need cash for the following: We recommend bringing around $100-200 in cash with you on a port day. You may also like: A Cruise Glossary: Cruise Terms You Should Know. Grand Suite and above cabin categories pay USD 18,50 pp per day gratuities. If youre going on a cruise, you can expect daily gratuities to be charged automatically to your onboard account. Given that most , all ? 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. You might want to remove their tips as a punishment for poor service. What else can you do to show the crew your appreciation? Tips are added automatically to the onboard account (SeaPass) on a daily basis. Although gratuities arent mandatory, and in most cases you can go to guest services and have the amount adjusted, most cruise lines do tend to discourage it. Prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and cruise line gratuities may be referred to a daily service charge or crew incentive. Beyond that, consider writing a heartfelt note of thanks or a drawing from your child (many have children they do not see for months at a time). . Check out the latest web stories from Should Be Cruising! 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. 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. Most mainstream cruise lines have their headquarters in the US. Hi Alex, thanks so much for your lovely comment. 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. And while you dont need to visit a port with $1000 in your wallet, youll want to make sure you have enough money to account for expenses throughout the day. It's all on the room service menu. 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. Just remember that cruise ship crew live in very tight quarters, without much room for personal belongings. You can read more about me and about Should Be Cruising here. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. You may want to give a small tip to the person who delivers your room service order. In the wake of the increase, a family of four in a . Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away.