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+). There are some exceptions. In fact, I think most would agree that cruise line staff make a huge difference in the cruise experience. Afrikaans; Alemannisch; ; ; Azrbaycanca; ; Banjar; ; () I always prepay the gratuities. Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Cruise Line Gratuities: What's the Point? Cruises in Europe, World cruises and those departing from a non-US Caribbean port charge 10 Euros per person, per day. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. On top of that, there's an 18% gratuity fee. Display as a link instead, 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. Some people are retired or on a fixed income, some are well off, some have to save for years for a cruise. Thanks so much for your input on this. We also always tip bar staff even when drinks are complimentary. Royal Caribbean charges a gratuity of $16.00 per person, per day. However, most cruisers do tip them for their service. W. Ren de Lambert. Having worked in the service industry, if people want to extra tip, then doing it at the beginning is the way to go. I had prepaid my gratuities, and I assumed the porter was a cruise line employee, so I didnt tip him. 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. You can, of course, increase that amount based on your experience on the excursion. If you dont have a drink package, theyll add the price of each drink plus the service fee to your onboard tab. But if you dont want to prepay, thats fine too. Even though cruise gratuities technically arent mandatory, they are customary on most mainstream cruise lines. Many ships also have an abundance of kids' activities including kids clubs that . Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? How Much Water Should I Drink Before Donating Plasma. Cruise lines have implemented automatic gratuities, options to prepay gratuities and some popular cruise lines have begun including tips in your cruise fare. Who else should you tip on a cruise ship? But the sticker price of their fares tends to scare off many budget-minded travelers. You can read more about me and about Should Be Cruising here. Not based on what we "should" give, more on the fact that they provided very good service. During your cruise vacation, youll probably receive services from other people who arent cruise line employeesbut you might not realize it! Learn how your comment data is processed. . 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. Your glowing review can help a hardworking crew member earn a promotion or raise. 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. As a cruise passenger, you want to be aware and set your budget expectations to include these amounts for the cruise ship staff. Each passenger is charged for these tips, including kids. 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.. At the base level, one person can use the service, and the price rises as you add more logins. The items and service are provided free of charge (except midnight - 5am when there is a nominal delivery fee). But honestly, theyd prefer cash over a gift basketno matter how yummy your treats are! Now, with automatic gratuities, the process is much simpler and you dont need to carry all that cash. What to Expect: Tipping Crew Members on a Cruise. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. On NCL, passengers who dont want to pay autograts need to file a claim for reimbursement after the cruise. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. 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. Sometimes it cannot be helped ! will be more appreciated than something they would have to store. Read more: Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? Lines with such charges include both of the two giants of the cruise business, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, as well as Norwegian, MSC Cruises and Princess Cruises. Just did 8 nights on Voyager. 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. Many cruisers opt to give extra cash tips to crew members who made their vacation that much more enjoyable. Should Be Cruising is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. However, cruisers dont always see all of the crew who work behind the scenes for them, like the kitchen and laundry workers. They will seldom steer you wrong. In this post, weve gone over how tipping works on a cruise. This is an excellent article, which really clearly explains all the issues around tipping. 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. On most cruise lines that collect automatic gratuities, youre able to remove or adjust the charges by visiting the passenger services desk. .WONDER OF THE SEAS. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 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. How much cash should you bring on a cruise? Which currency you should bring with you on a cruise depends on your departure port and itinerary. Youll want to factor in the cruise line gratuity charge, sometimes called on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). 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! You can post now and register later. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. However, a few lines dont add autogratuities for babies and toddlers under age two or three. Payments on cruise ships have almost entirely gone digital, but there are still a few situations where cash comes in handy. With all of your meals and the fun activities on the ship, easily accessible and planned, you won't have to do much work once you are on vacation. If youre sailing from the United States to the Caribbean, US dollars are widely accepted in popular cruise ports. Cruise lines typically flag their ships in countries with lax employment laws. Princess Cruises also has the Princess Plus fare, which includes gratuities or the crew incentive, Medallion Net wifi and Princess premium beverage package. You also shouldnt tip the cruise director, the entertainment staff, or any independent entertainers like musical guests, comedians, or magicians. Should you tip extra on a cruise? At some North American ports, youll see signs stating that the porters do not accept tips. Royal Caribbean raised the service fees on its ships in August by more than 10% to $16 per person per day for those staying in most cabins. Royal Caribbean offers three all-inclusive drink packages, a premium coffee package and a water package. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. They did a really good job and I would like to tip them. Im a little over a month out before my next cruise, and while its a little early to start packing (is it though? Thats up to you! How Much Does A Cruise Cost? 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 finishings are top notch, and the bathroom, in particular, is well-designed with a separate water closet. Thanks for sharing your view on this. 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. cost cruise much does caribbean royal excursions treatments fees consider drinks spa government How much are automatic gratuities on a cruise? Some cruise ship spas, like those on NCL and Royal Caribbean, add on a service fee or gratuity, usually about 18%. Other itineraries may differ. I believe this to be true, too. If cruising from Australia to the South Pacific, Australian dollars are widely accepted. 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. 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. Since this is the current pay structure for most major cruise lines, removing tips really affects the cruise line workers. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. 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. With the exception of a couple cruise lines on this list, most cruises that include gratuities are luxury lines. 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. Some guests may bring $200 extra for gratuities whereas others may bring $50. There are different service charges for certain itineraries. If you want to avoid any ATM charges, though, you can theoretically take money out via the casino. Cunards daily gratuities are set at $11.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. Have some small bills handy for these times. Luxury cruise lines have a higher upfront cost than most popular cruise lines, however theyll often include many valuable extras. on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). How Much Does a Caribbean Cruise Cost? Royal Caribbean International What's Included: Dining, stateroom, and other key crew members. What else can you do to show the crew your appreciation? Hi Alex, thanks so much for your lovely comment. About $1-2 (or the equivalent in local currency) per bag is fine. 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. There are also usually comment cards available at the purser's desk or online for additional recognition -- or post a review on Cruise Critic. Bar, spa and in-room dining for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara have an 18 per cent gratuity charge. I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. Just remember that a cash tip goes to your server, and a charged tip gets added to the tip pool. Our Stateroom Attendant on cruise #5 was fabulous, and I showed my appreciation by leaving him (thanks Mahbob!) In addition, weve included a list of daily gratuities per cruise line and who else you may wish to tip. It May be Time for Some Royal Caribbean Elites to Reconsider Paying for Drink Packages. Today is day 10 of a 12 day cruise on grandeur. This practice can eat into the regular wages and livelihood of hardworking crew and is not advised. (For line by line information, read more about cruise line tipping policies.). Having the articles in a printable format is a really interesting idea. Cruisers would have to tip each of their service personnel (the cabin steward, restaurant servers, bartenders, etc.) flipped into Ren de Lambert. Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. If theres a crew member who goes above and beyond for you, there are some other ways to show your appreciation. Thank you, Carrie Ann. separately, near the end of the cruise. Outdoor Activities If outdoor fun is your thing, the Carnival Dream offers a near endless array of ways to fill both day and night with fun. Hi All, Im Ilana. The porters will assist with your luggage and its customary to tip for their service. Royal Caribbean Royal Caribbean charges a $7.95 service fee and room service is available 24-hours a day. Some cruise lines refer to the gratuities as a crew incentive or a service fee, but essentially these are tips for crew members that are used to augment their low wages. If you found this helpful, please dont keep it to yourself ;-). Hi this was helpful, thank you. There is no charge for children under 2 years of age. On Costa Cruises, service charges of $12.50 per person, per day are charged for cruises departing from the US. You might want to reward your cabin steward, favorite bartender or MDR server, or any other crew member you think did a great job. You may also like: 26 Hidden Cruise Fees You Should Know About. If you tip extra, you will get FABULOUS service! 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. Keep a few dollars handy to tip the cruise porters on embarkation day. The amount is very personal. A cruise only rate may be available on select cruises, which would not include gratuities. Other people you should tip during your cruise, Nine Things You Need to Check Before Your Cruise, Eight Things That Will Surprise First Time Cruisers, How to Have the Best Embarkation Day on a Cruise, Giada De Laurentiis Named Godmother of Oceania Cruises New Ship Vista, Norwegian Cruise Line Announces 2023 Meet the Winemaker Series, P&O Arvia Naming Ceremony Will Feature Olly Murs, Carnival Now Offering Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagars Santo Tequila Fleetwide, Princess Cruises Introduces Welcome Home Program, https://shouldbecruising.com/privacy-policy/, A Cruise Glossary: Cruise Terms You Should Know, 26 Hidden Cruise Fees You Should Know About. Heres a video which answers many questions that you may have about cruise gratuities and tipping on a cruise ship. Thoughts? Most of the biggest cruise lines automatically add some type of service or gratuity fee onto passenger bills. $15.99 per person per day for guests in suites. 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. Other cruisers, often people who remember cruising before autogratuities, prefer tipping crew in cash. If you order room service, its customary to give the person that delivers your tray about $1-2 per meal. So why dont cruise lines just increase the price of fares, and pay their crew a living wage with a decent hourly rate? Every stateroom has a room service menu. Often, these crew members are part of the tip pool, and they lose part of their expected income each time a passenger removes autogratuities. Treasure Coast of Florida. 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. You dont need to write a noveljust a few sentences about how the crew member made your cruise even better will do. $10-20 at the end of the cruise is a nice gratuity for their service. You can just hand over folded cash, or use the tip envelopes youll find in your stateroom or at Passenger Services. 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. For guests staying in Grand Suites and above, the fee is $18.50 per person, per day. The gratuity applies to individual guests of all ages and . 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. 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. 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. 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. The only exception is for passengers with prepaid gratuities (they won't be charged daily). 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. Your articles are so helpful at navigating the cruise world. The rule of thumb is to tip the guide 10% to 20% of the tour cost, depending on how much you enjoyed the experience. We never gave him anything. But I also feel like people will think Im rude for not doing so in reality tho, they are already being tipped 18%. 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. Each person you tip gets their own envelope. 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). 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. You could also tip based on the length of the tour. I believe since these are pooled between everybody, additional tipping should only be done if you feel somebody has gone above and beyond. 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. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. You can always add extra for exceptional service, though! If you go on a tour or shore excursion, its nice to tip the driver or shore excursion staff if youve appreciated their service. The only charges that should appear on my final tab are any extras I decided to add on during the voyage. Royal Caribbean's drink packages include: Deluxe Beverage Package Refreshment Package (No alcohol) Classic Soda Package Some cruise lines refer to these tips as a service charge. Some cruise lines employ a sommelier or wine steward in the main dining rooms, who isnt included in the tipping pool. Princess: $14.50 per person, per day ($15.50 for mini-suite guests and $16.50 for suite guests). Just remember that cruise ship crew live in very tight quarters, without much room for personal belongings. While you pay daily gratuities before your cruise ($16 per person, per day in most staterooms), many cruisers like to give something extra. 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. Please check MSCs website for details. Your previous content has been restored. Do you need to tip for drinks, meals, or snacks on a cruise? if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_8',602,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');With the autograt system, many crew members who rarely received tips before now get a sharelike the laundry or kitchen staff on some cruise lines. 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. 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. Im an avid cruiser and have been giving out insider tips for more than 10 years! A kind word or a drawing costs nothing and is always appreciated. Weve been on 4 cruises with our 5th. 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. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. The premium cruise line's fleet of 15 ships sail around the world, from the Galapagos to the Caribbean. Robinson said mainstream cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Holland America Line charge gratuities on a per person, per day basis. 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. 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. So something edible (maybe a favorite candy or snack from your home region?) 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. Some cruisers swear by tipping at the beginning of the cruise to ensure excellent service. The cruise director will also remind passengers about how much and whom the cruise . The industry should pay fair wages so that our tips are in fact tips and not wages. | Royal Caribbean Blog www.royalcaribbeanblog.com. Youre right an 18% gratuity is added each time you purchase a drink. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and leave a comment! On the flip side, passengers have less control over where their money goes with autogratuities. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Read our best tips.). I dont think anyone will think youre rude for not tipping over and above this. With a beverage package, youve already paid the service fee when you bought the package, so the tip is included. However, extra tipping and being a jerk do not go hand in hand. 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. 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. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. I love reading your blog and learning, but I dont often have time to sit down at the computer to read. Royal Caribbean cruise ships have been sailing at nearly 100% capacity for the past few months. Do you have a favorite bartender? Upload or insert images from URL. Happy cruising :). Royal Caribbean Cruise Holiday Deals 2020 & 2021 - Cruise Nation www.cruisenation.com. The balcony is a good size with two chairs. After combing through my notes, here's the best tips and tricks for taking a Royal Caribbean cruise. Originally formed in 1988 by the Chandris Group in Greece, Celebrity Cruises was acquired by Royal Caribbean Group in 1997. Look for a link at the bottom of this page or in our privacy policy where you can withdraw consent. Just like with the Carnival's tipping policy, under the new Royal Caribbean tipping policy guests who believe they've been serviced poorly while onboard their "Of The Seas" ship has the right to ask Guest Services personnel to reduce or even to remove their automatic gratuities. We did prepaid gratuities, and then I also see that bar tabs will have the auto 18% added so I feel like it wont be necessary to leave an extra tip on the bar tab. 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. I choose to add the gratuities ahead, just to get them out of the way. For example, you might give the guide $5 to $10 for a half-day excursion or $10 to $20 for a full-day tour. While most people know it for being a cruise destination, shadowing the coastline to see the glaciers, there is so much ATMs usually charge a $5-6 fee per transaction. So glad this was helpful. This is a personal decision and Im not sure if theres a tipping etiquette for it. Your cruise in April sounds amazing! Depending on your bank, the ATM transaction fee may be waived. Cash is rarely required on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as all payments onboard are made via your SeaPass account. Could you please go into tipping for the haven ncl staff , butlers and more. Check out the latest web stories from Should Be Cruising! Thanks so much! I wouldn't worry about giving "too little" extra, since you are already paying the auto gratuity. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Those can range from about $15 to upwards of $20 for each . Price: $14.50 per person/day in standard cabins, $17.50 per person/day in suites, and 18% on beverages and spa and salon services. Your article has done a lot to change my philosophy and increase my understanding of why there is this charge and what the implications of reducing it might be. The amount is based on the service received of course. 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. When youre on a cruise, you shouldnt tip the captain or the officers. I just arrived on board for our 6th cruise, after my 5th cruise just 2 months ago. Additionally, shouldbecruising.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes receive a commission from purchases made through our links. You cannot paste images directly. (Want to get the most from your cabin steward? 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. You will get great service either way. This includes drinks at the bar or cafe, spa services and salon visits. 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. Whether in Mexico, St. Maarten, Italy, or Vanuatu, having cash is recommended. Most mainstream cruise lines have their headquarters in the US. Whether to or not and then how much. New York state residents who wish to purchase the product may visit https://travelcruisecare.com to enroll directly with . Required fields are marked *. Service charges for guests ages 4-14 are half of the adult rate. Ive been surprisedor I probably should say I had forgottenhow many hands have been extended for a tip on these shore excursions. I would imagine wed see prices increase overall if they did this, but perhaps it amounts to this anyway. Or you can plan ahead and take enough cash in the correct currency to cover any tips you might want to pay. Thanks so much for sharing your 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.
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