Many luxury all-inclusive cruise lines include gratuities in their cruise fares, or have a tips neither expected nor required policy. Some cruise lines point out that you may wish to tip the kids club staff. 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. Your previous content has been restored. This is a good question. Originally formed in 1988 by the Chandris Group in Greece, Celebrity Cruises was acquired by Royal Caribbean Group in 1997. Luxury cruise lines have a higher upfront cost than most popular cruise lines, however theyll often include many valuable extras. Many cruisers opt to give extra cash tips to crew members who made their vacation that much more enjoyable. The onboard price of this package varies from $63 to $89 a day, plus an 18% gratuity. It May be Time for Some Royal Caribbean Elites to Reconsider Paying for Drink Packages. See details here: Ultimate Cruise Planner -Whats Included, What to Pack for a Caribbean Cruise (with packing list), 7 Cruises to Avoid and What to Do Instead, Cruise Line Stocks Shareholder Benefits for Cruisers (FREE onboard credit). When youre on a cruise, you shouldnt tip the captain or the officers. Should you prepay automatic gratuities? But many cruisers (including myself) choose to prepay to avoid a big charge at the end of the cruise. (Learn more about when and when not to pay auto-gratuities.). 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). The practice of tipping is controversial, even in the United States where paying tips is part of the culture. In their case "tipping" doesn't mean "extra" - it means "salary". The drink package works at all onboard bars, restaurants, and even Royal Caribbean's private island CocoCay. Plus, for a limited time, its $10 off. Typically, this is associated with your credit card which youll be prompted to set up when you complete your online check in. If you havent notified your bank, they will usually send you a fraud alert or temporarily freeze your card. The worst thing you can do is wait until you are home from your cruise to address it. frequentfloaters.com - That Guy. Still confused . Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. 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. In the main dining room, buffet, specialty restaurants, and other dining venues, your tip is included in the 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. 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. separately, near the end of the cruise. Grand Suite and above cabin categories pay USD 18,50 pp per day gratuities. HomeBlogCruise Tips Cruise News Cruise DestinationsAboutContactResourcesFeatured PressPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyDisclosure PolicyTerms of Use. This is a convenient option for cruise passengers that dont want to think about extra charges once onboard. Why taking a weekend cruise is a great escape, 11 of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, How to get to Royal Caribbean's cruise terminals and how much parking will cost, Top 16 things on a Royal Caribbean cruise everyone needs to do at least once. 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. Rather than reducing the amount payed, they point out on their website that they will work to resolve any service issues experienced. Cunards daily gratuities are set at $11.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. Want to give something beyond cash? 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. Cruisers would have to tip each of their service personnel (the cabin steward, restaurant servers, bartenders, etc.) These feedback cards mean a lot and sometimes lead to a stellar crew member getting a raise or even a promotion! 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. 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. Here's how it works on Royal Caribbean: As of September 7 th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in non-suites staterooms, or $18.50 USD per. We are a middle class, retirement age couple (63 and 62) who are not retired with no plans to in the near future. 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. In the wake of the increase, a family of four in a . Ive been cruising for over 15 years, and the practice of tipping on a cruise has certainly evolved. On top of that, there's an 18% gratuity fee. That's a major contrast to the early days of the return to sailing after the cruise line's 15-month . Either way, expect to spend about $15-20 per day. Critics of this system (which has evolved in the last several decades from strictly cash-based gratuities) say that under this tip pooling arrangement, cabin attendants and wait staff aren't getting recognized for exemplary work the same as they were in the old days. 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. 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. 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. There are also usually comment cards available at the purser's desk or online for additional recognition -- or post a review on Cruise Critic. I give my room steward $5 at the very beginning of the cruise. Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). Most cruise lines allow guests to remove automatic gratuities. Royal Caribbean says it is raising its suggested crew gratuities by nearly $2 per passenger, per day. You may want to give them a tip per drink or a larger tip at the end or even the beginning of your cruise. Cruises in Europe are charged in Euros. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. cost cruise much does caribbean royal excursions treatments fees consider drinks spa government The only exception is for passengers with prepaid gratuities (they won't be charged daily). For many cruise passengers, bars play a pretty large role in their experiences. Stay in one of the Royal Suites and room service is included. I have to say, we simply prepay or leave the tips as is, so I really dont pay attention these days. This is an excellent article, which really clearly explains all the issues around tipping. While you pay daily gratuities before your cruise ($16 per person, per day in most staterooms), many cruisers like to give something extra. The amount you tip is up to youI generally give about $5 per person per day to my stateroom steward. During your cruise vacation, youll probably receive services from other people who arent cruise line employeesbut you might not realize it! Some vendors may process your personal data on the basis of legitimate interest, which you can object to by managing your options below. On Costa Cruises, service charges of $12.50 per person, per day are charged for cruises departing from the US. The price increases during August to approximately $773 (619) per person, excluding taxes. Royal Caribbean Cruises Tipping Policy As of September 7th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in non-suites staterooms, or $18.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Suites, will be applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. If you dont see the cards in your room, ask at the Passenger Services desk, or leave the feedback in your post-cruise survey. While each cruise line is different, many include alcoholic drinks, soda and specialty coffee, gratuities, specialty dining and some shore excursions. 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. Princess Cruises also has the Princess Plus fare, which includes gratuities or the crew incentive, Medallion Net wifi and Princess premium beverage package. What you cant do is adjust or remove automatic gratuities for a specific crew member. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. Although cash isnt required for onboard purchases, there are a few scenarios where youll want to have cash available. The bar service personnel still gets their 15% tips from each bar sale. The COST Series: Cruise Ship TIPPING | Who to tip on a cruise and how much | Royal Caribbean Tipping The Weekend Cruiser 8.96K subscribers Subscribe 588 Share 10K views 8 months ago. 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. Normally, we tip between $5 to $7 additionally per day for the two of us at the end of the cruise. Tipping on a cruise ship can be a confusing endeavor, especially for those sailing for the first time. Royal Caribbean offers three all-inclusive drink packages, a premium coffee package and a water package. 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. On NCL, passengers who dont want to pay autograts need to file a claim for reimbursement after the cruise. Read our best tips.). Cruise line employees are extremely hard working, I agree, and they go above and beyond so often. When booking a Celebrity cruise, tips are included in their Always Included program. 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. Depending on your cruise ship, you may be able to use the Royal . Cruise gratuities are divided among your cruise cabin steward, waiters and other crew members who work as support behind the scenes. What Is a Cabin Steward on a Cruise Ship? 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. Some cruise lines refer to these tips as a service charge. Some cruisers swear by tipping at the beginning of the cruise to ensure excellent service. Just did 8 nights on Voyager. 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. Credit: Royal Caribbean Show-Stopping Entertainment The time when youll need the most cash on a cruise vacation is when youre in port. After combing through my notes, here's the best tips and tricks for taking a Royal Caribbean cruise. Then you can take your deposit out in cash at the casino cashier. 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. If you go to any slot machine, youre able to transfer money to the game via your onboard account, which is connected to your credit or debit card. If you tip extra, you will get FABULOUS service! Cruises in Europe, World cruises and those departing from a non-US Caribbean port charge 10 Euros per person, per day. Its important to note that, especially on the luxury lines, tipping is not expected. 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. Do I need to tip on a cruise or pay service charges, is a question that comes up often. Thanks! It was just the two of us. Its customary to tip the waiters generously at specialty restaurants. In North America, most cruise terminal porters are longshoremen. raahc and lovecruising!!! By With the exception of a couple cruise lines on this list, most cruises that include gratuities are luxury lines. Thats up to you! Tips on Cruise Ship Tipping - Who and How Much to Tip! On the flip side, passengers have less control over where their money goes with autogratuities. 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. on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). Tipping on a cruise ship: The big picture. Love this! #1 Bring a bathing suit on embarkation day On embarkation day, the pools are open so be sure to pack a bathing suit in your carry-on luggage so that you can enjoy them with less crowds! I purchased the package pre-cruise for $76, this equates to just over $25 per day. I also tip constantly while on the cruise. 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. As for tipping above and beyond prepaid gratuities, I agree completely that there is no expectation. Based on the amount of the bill. For some of them, depending . 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. Do you have a favorite bartender? How much to tip waiter and his assistant? We usually tip between $500-700 depending on what we do. You can, of course, increase that amount based on your experience on the excursion. I do think its a very personal choice, but we can talk about this in a future video for sure! Come join my Facebook Cruise Community Thanks for reading and Happy Cruising!! Keep in mind that cruise crew members live in tight quarters, so small (and edible) gifts are preferred. Whether in Mexico, St. Maarten, Italy, or Vanuatu, having cash is recommended. Manage Settings After 50 cruises I know they really mean it! Im so glad youre here! Prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and cruise line gratuities may be referred to a daily service charge or crew incentive. The service charge on MSC Cruises is $12.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. How Much Should You Budget for Cruise Gratuities? Its a good idea to hand over your tips the day before disembarkation. Youll likely get much better service by doing that instead of just removing the tip! i understand what you are saying.and I know we are paying roughly 15 dollars a day each as a tip already. You can adjust this based on the length and complexity of the tour. If youre sailing from the United States to the Caribbean, US dollars are widely accepted in popular cruise ports. If your kids have had a great time and youve appreciated the service, a few extra dollars are surely appreciated. Great points about luxury lines and that gratuities are included. One of these differences is that cruise gratuities are included. Depending on your bank, the ATM transaction fee may be waived. Theres no need to add an extra tip for each drink. In this post, weve gone over how tipping works on a cruise. You will get great service either way. 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. I'm so glad you found my post! Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. But the sticker price of their fares tends to scare off many budget-minded travelers. A kind word or a drawing costs nothing and is always appreciated. Not only will it improve your cruise experience, but youre also allowing the cruise ship staff the opportunity to make things right. 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. Continue with Recommended Cookies. When planning your cruise, check with your travel agent or the cruise line about the tipping policy. While planning a, The weekend is the perfect time to take a short break, so why not go on a cruise too? 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. Its unlikely to do any good by this point. I was very surprised. US$13,50 (increased from US$12,95) for standard cabins and US$16,50 (increased from US$15.95) for upper-tier suites. 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. They might feel that it gives them more control over tipping, rewarding the crew based on their level of service. I put together a 47 page printable cruise travel planner that has everything you need as you plan and get ready for your cruise. A tip of 15%-20% is common, so check the bottom of your bill before adding an additional amount. For guests staying in Grand Suites and above, the fee is $18.50 per person, per day. 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. There is a lot of included dining location so how do you know which ones to che. Also, if free gratuities are an amenity, youre not expected to go beyond it unless someone goes way beyond whats normally expected. Often cruise lines provide additional envelopes to tuck a little extra cash at the end of the cruise just for this purpose. Unless they are below average and that has happened only one time. 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. It's all on the room service menu. | Royal Caribbean Blog www.royalcaribbeanblog.com. If you could use cruise packing lists, to-do checklists, shore excursion forms and more, youll love the Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner. Some things are free, other items are fee-based. However ,usually you can have at least 2 cabin stewards. A couple should budget about $200 in gratuities for a 7 day cruise. All rights reserved. ATMs usually charge a $5-6 fee per transaction. Automatic gratuities cover just about every tipped crew member on the ship. Here is a list of the daily gratuity charges by major cruise lines for 2021-22. Since this is the current pay structure for most major cruise lines, removing tips really affects the cruise line workers. It has one large sink with two faucets and a large shower with a tub. 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. You can just hand over folded cash, or use the tip envelopes youll find in your stateroom or at Passenger Services. 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. Here's how to get the most out of Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package (or Prime Casino Royale free drinks in the casino). Read more: Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? . 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.