This is for a good reason as it ensures that proper. 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. This is a convenient option for cruise passengers that dont want to think about extra charges once onboard. I just arrived on board for our 6th cruise, after my 5th cruise just 2 months ago. Hi All, Im Ilana. 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. Most cruise lines allow guests to remove automatic gratuities. Payments on cruise ships have almost entirely gone digital, but there are still a few situations where cash comes in handy. Youre welcome to use a credit or debit card to make purchases in ports of call whenever possible. Tipped crew make the majority of their income from gratuities! 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. Originally formed in 1988 by the Chandris Group in Greece, Celebrity Cruises was acquired by Royal Caribbean Group in 1997. Those can range from about $15 to upwards of $20 for each . Like what you see? 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. Extra tipping doesnt give you the right to be a jerk, but if you are a jerk, you had better extra tip! The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. These feedback cards mean a lot and sometimes lead to a stellar crew member getting a raise or even a promotion! Still confused . Either way, expect to spend about $15-20 per day. Im Carrie Ann, the writer behind Should Be Cruising. For guests staying in Grand Suites and above, the fee is $18.50 per person, per day. cost cruise much does caribbean royal excursions treatments fees consider drinks spa government If you havent notified your bank, they will usually send you a fraud alert or temporarily freeze your card. Norwegian Cruise Line. Its customary to tip the waiters generously at specialty restaurants. Cruises in Europe, World cruises and those departing from a non-US Caribbean port charge 10 Euros per person, per day. I think its pretty bad when thats the only night they make their presence be known. Before that, in 2015 RCI upped its gratuities from USD 12 to USD 12,95 (standard cabins) and from USD 14,25 to USD 15,95 (suites). This is an excellent article, which really clearly explains all the issues around tipping. I dont think anyone will think youre rude for not tipping over and above this. However, the price of getting online can be expensive. Here are some other people you should tip during your cruise. Each person you tip gets their own envelope. Love this! Hope you enjoy! What Is a Cabin Steward on a Cruise Ship? 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. This includes drinks at the bar or cafe, spa services and salon visits. However, most cruisers do tip them for their service. The amount you tip is up to youI generally give about $5 per person per day to my stateroom steward. After combing through my notes, here's the best tips and tricks for taking a Royal Caribbean cruise. A couple should budget about $200 in gratuities for a 7 day cruise. Cruise line employees work their butts off to earn those tips. Tipping on a cruise ship: The big picture. They will do extra for you after they realize you are a tipper! Related: Cruise Line. Thanks for sharing your view on this. Disney cruises has a suggested daily gratuity charge of $13.50 per person, per day for all guests. However, there are a few common practices and guidelines. 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. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. While you pay daily gratuities before your cruise ($16 per person, per day in most staterooms), many cruisers like to give something extra. What do you think about the custom of tipping on a cruise ship? If you go on a tour or shore excursion, its nice to tip the driver or shore excursion staff if youve appreciated their service. If youre going on a cruise, you can expect daily gratuities to be charged automatically to your onboard account. Tipping is not required, however, customarily some people do choose to tip anywhere from $1 - $5 per order. The cruise where fun means everything. I believe this to be true, too. How Much Water Should I Drink Before Donating Plasma. They cheerfully attend to your requests, tidying your home away from home from the moment you leave in the morning to the last turn-down before bed. When youre tipping in cash on a cruise, its always best to use the official currency on the ship. 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 to tip waiter and his assistant? Many luxury all-inclusive cruise lines include gratuities in their cruise fares, or have a tips neither expected nor required policy. There is no charge for children under 3 years of age. I also tip constantly while on the cruise. Up the tip to $20. Carnival cruise gratuities are automatically added to onboard accounts for those in all rooms. (Admit it: You tend to miss those nightly pillow chocolates and towel animals after you get home.) 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). 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. Thanks so much for sharing your experience! Children under 4 are not charged. I always prepay the gratuities. 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. When planning your cruise, check with your travel agent or the cruise line about the tipping policy. 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. This cruise ship was the first of Carnival's unique Dream Class cruise ships. 1. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. 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. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and leave a comment! The porters will assist with your luggage and its customary to tip for their service. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-leader-3','ezslot_16',605,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-leader-3-0');For other cruise lines, youll be able to adjust your autogratuities at the Passenger Services desk. If you choose to pay tips in cash, there are usually some envelopes available at the guest service desk. Treasure Coast of Florida. Others just prefer the face-to-face experience of handing over a cash tip. I put together a 47 page printable cruise travel planner that has everything you need as you plan and get ready for your cruise. Learn how your comment data is processed. Tips are either covered by the autogratuities or theres a service fee tacked on, so you dont need to tip again. 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. Your email address will not be published. Robinson said mainstream cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Holland America Line charge gratuities on a per person, per day basis. On embarkation day of my very first cruise, a porter came up to my taxi and whisked my luggage away, seconds after I got out of the car. Many passengers rave long after their hoilday is over about the service of stewards who go above and beyond. How Much Should You Budget for Cruise Gratuities? Hi Janet! I guess I was looking for some kind of scale like we have atrestaurants on land. Today is day 10 of a 12 day cruise on grandeur. Stay in one of the Royal Suites and room service is included. Beyond leaving a cash tip for your cabin steward, or favorite server or bartender, some other small gestures will go a long way. As a cruise passenger, you want to be aware and set your budget expectations to include these amounts for the cruise ship staff. Instead, passengers can tipor notat their own discretion. Hi All, I just wanted to share something with new cruisers (and old if they do not know this). The industry should pay fair wages so that our tips are in fact tips and not wages. Though automated gratuities are the easiest and most common way to tip, some passengers prefer to instead tip their attendants in cash, either in addition to the automated gratuity or in place of it. 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. The price increases during August to approximately $773 (619) per person, excluding taxes. We sail Celebrity and opt to prepay gratuities. You can read more about me and about Should Be Cruising here. Youll likely get much better service by doing that instead of just removing the tip! On the flip side, passengers have less control over where their money goes with autogratuities. Tips on Cruise Ship Tipping - Who and How Much to Tip! 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. The Dream pioneered the innovative and fun cruise ships that are standard today from Carnival Cruise Lines. If you enjoy tipping in cash, consider giving an extra cash tip to the crew members who gave you excellent service on your cruise. However, extra tipping and being a jerk do not go hand in hand. In reality, the cruise staff on board want you to be satisfied, so this is the time address a problem. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Cruise Line Gratuities: What's the Point? 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). You may want to give them a tip per drink or a larger tip at the end or even the beginning of your 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. You wont require cash for 99% of purchases on a cruise, whether specialty restaurants, cocktails, or souvenirs. There is a lot of included dining location so how do you know which ones to che. And just like with the Carnival case, this will reflect directly on the ship's serving staff (cabin stewards, Room Service, and Main Dining Room wait staff, as well as kitchen, entertainment, passenger services and other hotel personnel). With the exception of a couple cruise lines on this list, most cruises that include gratuities are luxury lines. Im so glad youre here! Here's how to get the most out of Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package (or Prime Casino Royale free drinks in the casino). Tips are of course a personal decision. Below are just some of the people you may want to tip in this way, and some rough guidelines regarding how much - though know this is very subjective, and of course should be commensurate with the level of service that a given person provided. Your articles are so helpful at navigating the cruise world. 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. We rarely do the parties anymore. You may also like: Eight Things That Will Surprise First Time Cruisers. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Do you tip above and beyond the automatic gratuities? If you feel that you want to tip above and beyond the cruise tipping guidelines, go for it. Alaska is such a beautiful destination. Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner, YouTube at Life Well Cruised (Vlogs and cruise tips). Theres no need to add an extra tip for each drink. Most cruise ships have ATMs, and some have currency exchanges on board. If you opt for a specialty restaurant, the tip isnt usually included. 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). (For line by line information, read more about cruise line tipping policies.). You can purchase the drink package online pre-cruise or once onboard during the first day (or two) of your trip. The amount is the only thing that tends to vary on service levels. Keep in mind, the venues are not always the same between Royal Caribbean ships, but each of my tips can. I had prepaid my gratuities, and I assumed the porter was a cruise line employee, so I didnt tip him. #4. Norwegian Cruise Line charges a daily service fee of $15.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $18.50 per person per day for guests in suites and The Haven. One exception is the piano player in the loungemost accept tips for song requests or if you enjoyed their music. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. There are a number of factors which people use to decide how much to tip their Genie. The best advice I can give Americans and Canadians, if they are tipping questions arise either on the ship or ashore, follow the lead of Aussies and ask their advice. They have the insider tips to match so that you can make the most of everything that'll be at your fingertips. 15% being the rough standard for satisfactoryservice. Posted September 17, 2021. 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. Any chance of that? I dont tend to tip in advance, so this is an interesting way of doing things. On luxury cruise lines, such as Azamara, Crystal, Seabourn, Silversea, Tauck World Discovery and Uniworld, gratuities are already included in the cost of the cruise, and additional tipping is not expected. What you cant do is adjust or remove automatic gratuities for a specific crew member. 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. Thats up to you! Most of the biggest cruise lines automatically add some type of service or gratuity fee onto passenger bills. Do I need to tip on a cruise or pay service charges, is a question that comes up often. Or you can plan ahead and take enough cash in the correct currency to cover any tips you might want to pay. I almost alwaysgive my dining staff a bit extra, my kids generally have some special requests that take extra time and effort for the wait staff. How Much Should I Tip My Room Steward on a Cruise? Viking Cruises gratuities are $15.00 per person, per day for all staterooms. HomeBlogCruise Tips Cruise News Cruise DestinationsAboutContactResourcesFeatured PressPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyDisclosure PolicyTerms of Use. Before Your Royal Caribbean Cruise . Most mainstream cruise lines bill passengers between $12 and $15 per person, per day for. Some vendors may process your personal data on the basis of legitimate interest, which you can object to by managing your options below. 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. On top of that, there's an 18% gratuity fee. Your glowing review can help a hardworking crew member earn a promotion or raise. Ive been cruising for over 15 years, and the practice of tipping on a cruise has certainly evolved. Bar, spa and in-room dining for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara have an 18 per cent gratuity charge. Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise? Grand Suite and above cabin categories pay USD 18,50 pp per day gratuities. cabin (not suite) recommended amount would be $39 pp times two equals $78 for a 4 night cruise. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. royal caribbean cruise cruises deals 2021. separately, near the end of the cruise. 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. 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. You'll find an extensive selection of options all over Canada You also shouldnt tip the cruise director, the entertainment staff, or any independent entertainers like musical guests, comedians, or magicians. The bar service personnel still gets their 15% tips from each bar sale. 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,. Read more: Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? Later I learned that the porters outside of the cruise terminal are not cruise line employees at all! 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. Do you need to tip at the spa on a cruise? 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. It has one large sink with two faucets and a large shower with a tub. Although cards are widely accepted, you may still encounter establishments that do not accept card payments. Gave them US 5 each three nights and US 10 each last night. 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. If theres a crew member who goes above and beyond for you, there are some other ways to show your appreciation. About $1-2 (or the equivalent in local currency) per bag is fine. Because plasma accounts for approximately 90% of total fluid volume, drinking plenty of water after receiving a transplant is beneficial to your body. 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. I was very surprised. Ive got you covered! Royal Caribbean offers three all-inclusive drink packages, a premium coffee package and a water package. As much as some people opt to remove gratuities on their account, some give extra. 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. Virgin Voyages does a lot of things differently than its mainstream peers. There are 2 adults and 1 child in the room, if this. On a cruise, most guests bring between $100-$120 in cash per day to be spent on transportation, tips, gifts, food, and shopping. 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. It really made my day! Should you tip extra on a cruise? Please note that gratuities are charged in US dollars for Caribbean, US and Canada cruises. Its a good idea to hand over your tips the day before disembarkation. (Want to get the most from your cabin steward? The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. 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. The extra cash may or may not end up in your steward's pocket, but he'll appreciate the gesture nonetheless. For many cruise passengers, bars play a pretty large role in their experiences. In their case "tipping" doesn't mean "extra" - it means "salary". It was just the two of us. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. Many ships also have an abundance of kids' activities including kids clubs that . Here's a guide to help you navigate ways to show your appreciation for these hard workers. Luxury cruise lines have a higher upfront cost than most popular cruise lines, however theyll often include many valuable extras. 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. Gratuities or a service charge are added onto some onboard services. I like knowing that my bill is all set before I sail! #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! We usually tip between $500-700 depending on what we do. Im a little over a month out before my next cruise, and while its a little early to start packing (is it though?