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I’ve been cruising for over 15 years, and the practice of tipping on a cruise has certainly evolved. Cruise lines have implemented automatic gratuities, options to prepay gratuities and some popular cruise lines have begun including tips in your cruise fare. When tipping on a cruise ship, bartenders and baristas are an important part of your vacation experience. Carnival Cruise Line, for example, charges an 18 percent gratuity for drinks – any additional tip is appreciated. Additionally, some cruise lines offer prepaid packages that include daily cruise gratuities in the overall cost of your voyage.
Should I tip ship bartenders?
The cruise line calls this “Crew Appreciation” which is the most appropriate across all cruise lines. Read the full automatic gratuity policy at the Royal Caribbean website. Remember, while tipping is discretionary, it rewards the hard work of those dedicated to making your cruise experience enjoyable.
Key Takeaways for Cruise Tipping
Virgin's New Adults-Only Cruise Ship Will Have a No Tipping Policy - PEOPLE
Virgin's New Adults-Only Cruise Ship Will Have a No Tipping Policy.
Posted: Tue, 29 Jan 2019 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Some passengers just choose to tip extra to feel like they’re getting priority service, but in reality, I rarely see anyone get served ahead of another customer because they’re tippers. Passengers, especially those from the United States equate bar service with tipping. Therefore, it’s not uncommon to see bartenders getting tipped frequently on a cruise. Passengers are welcome to tip cruise line crew as they see fit. So, if it is unclear, it is acceptable to ask if and which tips have been automatically charged to your bill. This will allow you to add an appropriate gratuity AND avoid double tipping.
Is it mandatory to tip the stateroom steward on a cruise ship?
These hardworking individuals go above and beyond to make your cruise memorable, and tipping is a way to show appreciation for their efforts. It is worth noting that some cruise lines have a culture of tipping, while others prefer not to tip at all. Don’t assume that all cruise lines operate in the same manner. It’s important to have cash on hand for these tips, and US dollars are usually the currency of choice for the cruise lines mentioned above. It’s considered poor form to tip the ship’s professional sailing members, such as the cruise director, executive chef, and captain.
Everything You Need to Know About Tipping on a Cruise - Condé Nast Traveler
Everything You Need to Know About Tipping on a Cruise.
Posted: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 07:00:00 GMT [source]
& Ireland passengers from October 2019, gratuities are still applied to U.S. cruisers' bills. Auto-gratuities vary by destination and onboard currency (USD or euros). Passengers are at liberty to tip staff members personally if they wish to do so, and envelopes for this purpose are available at reception.
Some cruise lines may call this a “Guest Services Fee” on your onboard account statement. If you agree to the automatic gratuities, the people who tend to you the most—your housekeeping and dining teams—get the largest share. To help you sort things out, the following guidelines will give you an idea of what to expect with tipping on cruises and provide some answers to frequently asked questions.
Having to add in gratuity costs to these advertised rates could make them less attractive to potential cruisers. On the other hand, many people choose to instead pay the gratuity charges automatically through their onboard account once on the ship. Each day there will be a gratuity charge — or a lump sum added at the end of the trip.
Can You Prepay Cruise Ship Gratuities?
Passengers who are impressed by the service they received might add more, if they make any adjustment at all. By tipping with cash, the money goes directly to the crew member you want to recognize instead of being pooled. If your shore excursion includes lunch, you generally don’t have to leave a tip—the tour company takes care of the lunch bill. The only charges that should appear on my final tab are any extras I decided to add on during the voyage. Cruise lines typically flag their ships in countries with lax employment laws.
Final Note on Cruise Gratuities
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. Even if you prepay for your shore excursions directly through the cruise line, it’s customary to tip your tour guides and drivers in cash after each excursion. Cruise lines just have contracts with their preferred shore excursion companies—the guides and drivers aren’t employees of the line. During your cruise vacation, you’ll probably receive services from other people who aren’t cruise line employees—but you might not realize it!
For most people, the service they receive on a cruise is outstanding. They recognize that the staff goes above and beyond to make their vacation enjoyable. With millions of passengers sailing every year, there’s inevitably going to be someone who feels they received poor service. Depending on your cruise line, you might find different language used than the word “gratuities.” We’ve seen these charges called tips, gratuities, crew incentives, or service charges. Instead, gratuities on a cruise ship are highly automated, with most people just electing to prepay or being charged a set amount for each day on the ship.
If our room steward goes out of their way for anything, I’ll tip extra… and if they frequently go out of their way, I’ll possibly leave an extra $75 regardless of the cruise length. Room service on a cruise – Remember, it’s never required to tip, but usually people who make use of onboard room service leave a small tip of $1-$5 per delivery. Costa Cruises applies a fee of €11 euro per passenger, per night for all travelers aged 15 and over. Children aged 4 to 14 are charged €5.50 per passenger, per night.
If you prepay gratuities and the price increases before your cruise, you won’t have to pay the new daily rate. Royal Caribbean’s 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. The service charge on MSC Cruises is $12.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins.
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