How a lot do you have to tip on a cruise? It is a query that journeys up many first-timers. That is as a result of some cruise traces tack every day service charges onto passenger payments — but many vacationers nonetheless hand out more money gratuities, both as a matter in fact or for exemplary service.
The additional price of the automated gratuity costs is usually a shock to first-time cruisers. At some traces, these costs run as excessive as $25 per day. And, not like the everyday service payment or resort fee discovered at a land resort, automated gratuity costs on cruise ships usually are not per room. They’re per particular person.
At some huge traces, equivalent to Royal Caribbean, it is not unusual for a household of 4 staying in a single cabin to see greater than $70 a day in service charges added to their payments. On a typical seven-night cruise, that is round $500 in charges.
That is earlier than you add in any further ideas you want to give to your room service supplier or favourite bartender, or automated gratuities tacked on to bar, restaurant and spa payments.
Nonetheless, not all traces have service charges that top. Some do not cost a service payment in any respect. And, in lots of circumstances, the service costs are adjustable.
Tipping on a cruise doesn’t need to be difficult, however it is advisable perceive the massive image to funds in your trip appropriately. Learn on to be taught all about cruise ship tipping tradition and the way a lot you may have to tip in your subsequent cruise, based mostly on which cruise line you are crusing.
Tipping on a cruise ship: The large image
Many of the largest cruise traces routinely add some sort of service or gratuity payment onto passenger payments. Traces with such automated costs embody each of the 2 giants of the cruise enterprise, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, in addition to the following three largest traces — MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises.
That mentioned, the overall variety of traces with a service payment has been shrinking over time. Many smaller and higher-end cruise operators are folding ideas and gratuities into their base fares.
For instance, Oceania Cruises eliminated its automatic gratuity fee in 2025 and now consists of gratuities paid to shipboard employees in its base fare.
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Different traces that now cowl gratuities of their fares embody Azamara, Ponant Explorations, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Scenic Luxurious Cruises & Excursions, Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Membership, Silversea Cruises and Virgin Voyages.
For traces that do have them, service and gratuity costs are touted as a handy different to the follow of money tipping on cruise ships — one thing that after was frequent.
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Cruise traces say they go the cash collected from service costs to the shipboard crew. They are saying the cash is shared not simply with front-of-house crew, equivalent to room attendants and waitstaff, but additionally with behind-the-scenes staff. In that sense, the present system is extra equitable than the previous system of money tipping, which favored sure staff, traces say.
Nonetheless, some critics see the costs as a sneaky manner for cruise traces to make their fares seem decrease than they are surely. On this line of considering, traces with these costs are primarily breaking out a superb chunk of onboard labor prices as a separate line merchandise in your invoice.
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How service costs are levied
At many traces, you possibly can pay your service costs earlier than crusing (on the identical time you pay your cruise fare). Alternatively, you possibly can have the costs added to your room invoice on board.
The large benefit to paying cruise ideas prematurely is that you just lock within the present price. In case your line raises the speed between the time you pay and the time you sail, you will not pay extra.
Some folks additionally wish to pay their service costs prematurely for budgeting functions. It will be one much less factor in your ultimate invoice on the finish of the cruise.
When you favor to pay for ideas when you’re on board your cruise, you may typically discover that the gratuities routinely seem in your invoice. You do not have to do something.
That mentioned, if you wish to, you possibly can usually alter the costs (both up or down) whilst you’re on board by visiting the visitor relations desk. In case you are adjusting a gratuity cost downward, count on to be requested in regards to the causes behind the adjustment. The visitor relations employees will need to know for those who’ve skilled explicit service points.
When you depart the service cost in your room invoice, you aren’t anticipated to go away further cruise ideas in your room attendant or waiters. That is the entire level of the service cost.
Equally, for those who’re on a higher-end ship that lists gratuities as being included within the fare, which means simply what it says. You do not have to tip on these cruises as a result of the road is already paying gratuities to the employees in your behalf. Extra money presents usually are not anticipated.
Nonetheless, some folks do depart just a little further for crew members who go above and past. Others tip their room service or waitstaff at their favourite bar, both early within the cruise within the hope of getting higher service or on the finish to thank them for enhancing the holiday expertise. How a lot to tip further on a cruise is fully as much as you as a result of it’s under no circumstances required.
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Included cruise ideas as a reserving perk
When you dislike tipping on cruise ships however cannot afford to sail on an all-inclusive line, search for promotions when cruise traces with service costs throw in free gratuities as a reserving incentive.
Moreover, a number of main traces up to now couple of years have begun providing bundle pricing to prospects who pay for cruise ideas, Wi-Fi costs and an onboard drink bundle suddenly prematurely of crusing, doubtlessly at a reduction.
Princess, for instance, has added a Princess Plus plan as a reserving possibility. It provides passengers pay as you go gratuities (Princess calls these “crew appreciation” charges), a single-device Wi-Fi plan and a fundamental beverage bundle for a single bundled worth of $65 per particular person, per day for those who e-book it prematurely of crusing.
Princess additionally has an upgraded Princess Premier bundle possibility that features gratuities with much more included gadgets, equivalent to limitless eating at specialty eating places, for a single worth of $100 per particular person, per day for those who e-book it prematurely of crusing.
Don’t fret: When traces provide such offers, it does not imply the crew will obtain fewer ideas the week you cruise. The traces that supply these offers say they will pay a standard gratuity to the crew in your behalf.
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Extra cruise ship tipping
Each day service costs usually are not the one cruise ideas you’ll pay on board. Many cruise traces will tack an automated gratuity cost onto the invoice for extra-fee drinks, restaurant meals and spa remedies.
The included tip quantity varies by cruise line however is usually 15% to twenty% of the invoice. Be warned that the receipt usually features a line for a further gratuity, even when one is routinely added. This will trick many cruisers into tipping twice. By no means really feel pressured so as to add an additional tip while you’ve already paid one.
Be aware that if you are going to buy a eating or beverage bundle, most cruise traces will cost you gratuities based mostly on a proportion of the bundle worth. When you get certainly one of these packages for “free” as a reserving perk, you may nonetheless be required to pay the gratuities on the theoretical worth of this perk.
Cruisers must also deliver money to tip the porters who deliver their luggage onto the ship ($2 per bag is customary today), in addition to tour guides in port ($5 to $10 per particular person for half-day excursions, $10 to $20 for full-day excursions and $2 for nonguide drivers). Piano bar regulars know {that a} money tip will improve the probabilities of the pianist selecting and performing your tune request.
How a lot do you have to tip on every cruise line?
When you’re questioning how a lot you must tip on the particular cruise line you are contemplating or have already booked, we have compiled that info right here. Under is a line-by-line have a look at insurance policies for automated gratuity costs (referred to as service costs or crew appreciation costs at some traces). The charges listed are per particular person, per day. They have been correct as of the publishing of this story.
Do not forget that all further tipping is at your discretion. Any quantity is okay and might be appreciated by the hard-working crew.
Alaskan Dream Cruises
- Automated gratuity cost: None.
- Particulars: Gratuities for the crew usually are not included within the fare and are on the discretion of vacationers.
Azamara
- Automated gratuity cost: None.
- Particulars: Gratuities for the crew are included within the fare. One space of exception: An 18% gratuity is added to payments for spa companies.
Carnival Cruise Line
- Automated gratuity cost: $16 to $18 per particular person, per day.
- Particulars: Passengers in most cabins pay $16. These in suites pay $18. Youngsters youthful than 2 are exempt from the costs. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar payments, the quilt costs for the Chef’s Desk and Bonsai Teppanyaki eating places and the a la carte payment at Bonsai Sushi, Emeril’s Bistro, Man’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse and Seafood Shack.
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Movie star Cruises
- Automated gratuity cost: $18 per particular person, per day.
- Particulars: Passengers in most cabins pay $18. Passengers in Concierge Class and AquaClass cabins pay the next $19 price. Passengers in The Retreat suites pay $23. Be aware that Movie star now costs these charges even for passengers who e-book the road’s higher-priced All Included fares. Till just lately, these fares included gratuity costs, too. Moreover, a 20% gratuity is added when a passenger orders drinks or purchases a minibar merchandise. A 20% gratuity may also be added for spa and salon companies.
Celestyal Cruises
- Automated gratuity cost: None.
- Particulars: Gratuities for crew and bar employees are included within the fare.
Costa Cruises
- Automated gratuity cost: $12.50 to $17.50 per particular person, per day.
- Particulars: Passengers on ships working on the greenback typically pay $13.50. Ships working on the euro have an 11 euro cost ($12.92 at present change charges). On cruises departing from China, Japan and Singapore, the costs vary from $13.50 to $17.50, relying on the cabin class. Passengers youthful than 4 are exempt from the costs. Gratuities for kids between 4 and 14 (as much as 12 on cruises departing from Japan, China and Singapore) are half the grownup price. Moreover, a 15% gratuity is added to beverage purchases.
Cunard Line
- Automated gratuity cost: $17 to $19 per particular person, per day.
- Particulars: Passengers in most cabins pay $17. Passengers in Grill Class suites pay $19. Moreover, a 15% gratuity is added to bar, wine and salon payments.
Disney Cruise Line
- Automated gratuity cost: None.
- Particulars: Whereas Disney would not add an automated gratuity cost, it means that passengers staying in most cabins pay $16 per day in whole when tipping numerous eating employees and room attendants. The instructed quantity for passengers staying in concierge cabins and suites is $27.25. Passengers can prepay the quantity prematurely or on board. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service payments, and an 18% gratuity is added to payments for spa companies.
Holland America Line
- Automated gratuity cost: $17 to $19 per particular person, per day.
- Particulars: Passengers in most cabins pay $17 for what the road now calls a crew appreciation cost. Passengers staying in suites pay $19. Moreover, an 18% gratuity is added to bar payments and eating room wine purchases.
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Lindblad Expeditions
- Automated gratuity cost: None.
- Particulars: Gratuities are included within the fare for passengers on Nationwide Geographic Explorer, Nationwide Geographic Endurance and Nationwide Geographic Orion. On different ships, gratuities are on the passenger’s discretion.
MSC Cruises
- Automated gratuity cost: About $14.10 (12 euros) to $16 (round 15 euros).
- Particulars: Gratuity costs are $16 on voyages from and to the U.S., except sailings with pricing in euros, which have a gratuity cost of 12 euros ($14.10 at present change charges). Sailings in Europe additionally include a 12 euros gratuity cost. Sailings round South Africa are the outliers, the place gratuities are simply $10. Gratuities for kids between 2 and 11 are half the grownup price on most cruises. Gratuities usually are not charged for kids youthful than 2.
Norwegian Cruise Line
- Automated service cost: $20 to $25 per particular person, per day.
- Particulars: Passengers in most cabins pay $20. These in suites or The Haven pay $25. Passengers youthful than 3 are exempt from the costs. Moreover, a 20% gratuity is added to payments at bars, extra-charge specialty eating places and ship spas. Cruises to Hawaii may also pay a 4.275% pay as you go service cost referred to as a normal excise tax.
Oceania Cruises
- Automated gratuity cost: None.
- Particulars: As of January 2025, passengers on Oceania ships now not need to pay automated gratuity charges. Gratuity charges of as much as $25 per particular person, per day have been folded into a brand new “Your World Included” bundle of extra-charge gadgets that each one passengers will get totally free.
Paul Gauguin Cruises
- Automated gratuity cost: None.
- Particulars: Gratuities are included within the fare.
Ponant Explorations
- Automated gratuity cost: None.
- Particulars: Gratuities are included within the fare. Nevertheless, passengers can provide extra at their discretion; Ponant recommends 10 to 12 euros (about $12 to $14) per passenger, per day.
Princess Cruises
- Automated gratuity cost: $17 to $19 per particular person, per day.
- Particulars: Princess consists of gratuities within the fare for all passengers who buy certainly one of its inclusive Princess Plus or Princess Premier packages. For passengers not crusing on a Princess Plus or Princess Premier fare, Princess provides an automated service gratuity of $17 to $19 per particular person, per day to ultimate payments, relying in your cabin class. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to payments at bars, eating room wine accounts and spas.
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Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- Automated gratuity cost: None.
- Particulars: Gratuities are included within the fare.
Royal Caribbean
- Automated gratuity cost: $18.50 to $21 per particular person, per day.
- Particulars: Passengers staying in most cabins, together with junior suites, pay $18.50 per day. Passengers in higher-level suites pay $21. Moreover, an 18% gratuity is added to payments at bars, minibars, salons and spas.
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Scenic Luxurious Cruises & Excursions
- Automated gratuity cost: None.
- Particulars: Gratuities are included within the fare.
Seabourn
- Automated gratuity cost: None.
- Particulars: Gratuities are included within the fare.
SeaDream Yacht Membership
- Automated gratuity cost: None.
- Particulars: Gratuities are included within the fare.
Silversea Cruises
- Automated gratuity cost: None.
- Particulars: Gratuities are included within the fare, apart from magnificence salon companies and spa remedies.
Star Clippers
- Automated gratuity cost: None.
- Particulars: The road recommends that passengers pay 8 euros ($9.40 at present change charges) per day in gratuities, however the fee is on the passenger’s discretion. A 15% gratuity is added for bar purchases.
UnCruise Adventures
- Automated gratuity cost: None.
- Particulars: UnCruise recommends that passengers pay $45 per particular person, per day in gratuities, however the fee is on the passenger’s discretion.
Viking
- Automated gratuity cost: $20 per particular person, per day.
- Particulars: Passengers pay $20 in gratuities for all cabin sorts. Additionally, a 15% gratuity is added to bar payments.
Virgin Voyages
- Automated gratuity cost: None.
- Particulars: Gratuities are included within the fare.
Windstar Cruises
- Automated gratuity cost: $16 per particular person, per day.
- Particulars: Passengers pay a “resort service cost” of $16 for all cabin sorts. Moreover, an 18% gratuity is added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service payments. Alternately, Windstar cruisers can improve their bookings with an all-in bundle that features limitless drinks, Wi-Fi and the resort service cost for $99 per particular person, per day.
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