When planning your dream cruise vacation, it’s easy to focus on destinations, excursions, and onboard activities. However, one aspect of cruising that often catches travelers off guard is the tipping policy. Understanding how much tips will add to your bill—and who to tip—can save you from any unpleasant surprises at the end of your journey.
In this blog post, we’ll break down how much you can expect to tip on a cruise, how the tipping process works, and a few tips (pun intended) for making the most of your experience!
1. Understanding Cruise Tipping Policies
Tipping policies on cruises vary depending on the cruise line, the region, and the type of service provided. Most mainstream cruise lines automatically add gratuities to your onboard account, while luxury lines might include them in the overall fare. It’s essential to know the specific policy of your cruise company before setting sail.
- Automatic Gratuities: Many cruise lines charge a set daily gratuity per person, usually ranging from $14 to $20 per day. This fee typically covers tips for waitstaff, housekeeping, and other service personnel.
- Luxury Cruises: On high-end cruises, gratuities are often included in the price of the ticket. This provides a more all-inclusive experience, but it’s always good to double-check if any additional tipping is expected for exceptional service.
For specific tipping policies of popular cruise lines, check out these guides:
- Royal Caribbean Tipping Guide
- Carnival Cruises Gratuity Information
- Norwegian Cruise Line Service Charges
2. Who Receives Tips on a Cruise?
The tips you provide on a cruise typically go to a variety of staff members who work hard to ensure your trip is enjoyable. Here’s a quick breakdown of who generally benefits from your gratuities:
- Cabin Stewards: These are the people who clean your room, provide fresh towels, and often leave fun towel animals for your amusement.
- Dining Staff: Waiters, assistant waiters, and maître d’s who serve you in the main dining room or specialty restaurants typically receive tips.
- Bartenders: If you enjoy drinks at the bar, bartenders are usually included in the automatic gratuity, but extra tipping is common for exceptional service.
- Other Crew Members: Depending on the cruise line, tips may also be distributed to spa attendants, concierge staff, and room service delivery personnel.
3. How Much Are Typical Cruise Tips?
As a general rule, most mainstream cruise lines charge between $14 to $20 per person, per day, for gratuities. This amount is automatically added to your onboard account, but you can adjust it by visiting the guest services desk if necessary.
Here’s a rough breakdown of common tipping rates:
- Budget Cruises: Around $14-$15 per person, per day
- Mid-Range Cruises: $16-$18 per person, per day
- Luxury Cruises: Tips may be included, but if not, expect around $20+ per person, per day
For a family of four on a seven-day cruise, this means tipping could add anywhere from $392 to $560 to your final bill, so it’s essential to plan for these costs ahead of time.
4. Additional Tipping Situations
While the automatic gratuity covers many of the service personnel, there are some additional situations where tipping is either customary or appreciated.
- Shore Excursions: If you book a shore excursion through the cruise line, tipping your tour guide or driver is often appreciated. Depending on the length of the tour and the service provided, consider tipping between $5 to $20 per person.
- Spa Services: Gratuities for spa treatments are often not included in the price, so be prepared to tip between 15-20% of the service cost.
- Room Service: While some cruise lines include room service tips in the daily gratuity, others do not. A small tip of $2-$5 per delivery is customary if gratuities aren’t already added.
For more details on tipping guidelines for specific services, check out this helpful resource from Cruise Critic.
5. How to Handle Gratuities on Your Cruise
Most cruise lines give you a few options for handling gratuities:
- Prepaying Gratuities: Some travelers prefer to prepay gratuities before their trip. This can be done at the time of booking or before the final payment. Prepaying makes it easier to budget for the trip, and it also locks in the current gratuity rate in case it rises later.
- Adjusting Tips: If you feel that the service has been exceptional—or subpar—you can adjust the automatic gratuity by visiting guest services. You can increase or decrease the amount based on your satisfaction, though it’s generally a good idea to leave the base gratuity intact, as it supports many behind-the-scenes workers.
- Tipping in Cash: While many cruise lines automate the tipping process, giving cash tips directly to crew members who go above and beyond can make a personal impact.
6. Final Thoughts on Cruise Tipping
Tipping is an important part of the cruise experience and is a way to show appreciation for the hardworking staff who make your vacation enjoyable. By budgeting for gratuities and understanding the specific tipping policies of your cruise line, you can avoid any surprises and focus on enjoying your time at sea.
Planning a cruise? Check out this guide for first-timers to ensure you’re fully prepared for your next adventure!
By preparing ahead for tips, you can ensure smooth sailing and show gratitude for the excellent service you’ll likely receive. If you’re looking for more advice on cruise budgeting, check out our guide on how to save money on your next cruise.
Happy cruising!
