After 50 cruises I know they really mean it! The industry should pay fair wages so that our tips are in fact tips and not wages. This is a convenient option for cruise passengers that dont want to think about extra charges once onboard. Credit: Royal Caribbean Show-Stopping Entertainment There is no charge for children under 2 years of age. Youll want to factor in the cruise line gratuity charge, sometimes called on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). ~ janet The practice of tipping is controversial, even in the United States where paying tips is part of the culture. I go into more detail about this topic in this post:Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise? Cash is rarely required on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as all payments onboard are made via your SeaPass account. Or do you remove them altogether? Up the tip to $20. Cruise lines usually add a service charge, usually 15-18%, to all beverages that arent complimentary. Gave them US 5 each three nights and US 10 each last night. That is a very personal question. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you found this helpful, please dont keep it to yourself ;-). However, if you prefer to pay off your account and daily gratuities in cash, you can do so by going to guest services. Our Stateroom Attendant on cruise #5 was fabulous, and I showed my appreciation by leaving him (thanks Mahbob!) I have to say, we simply prepay or leave the tips as is, so I really dont pay attention these days. Even if you try, theyll likely graciously turn down your offer. 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. For some of them, depending . In addition, weve included a list of daily gratuities per cruise line and who else you may wish to tip. Grand Suite and above cabin categories pay USD 18,50 pp per day gratuities. 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. It includes who to tip, who not to tip, and some tips to help as you plan your cruise vacation. 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. Cruise Tipping and Salaries Dissected, Tipping On Cruises: Cruise Line Policies Revealed, Tipping on Ships: An Australian Culture Clash, Cabin Stewards on a Cruise: What to Expect, How Not to Be Rude on a Cruise: 10 Ways to Make the Crew Love You. 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. 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. While most people know it for being a cruise destination, shadowing the coastline to see the glaciers, there is so much 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. Viking Cruises gratuities are $15.00 per person, per day for all staterooms. If you feel you would like to give more that is fine and I am sure they will appreciate anything you decide to tip beyond the daily gratuity. 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. Hi All, I just wanted to share something with new cruisers (and old if they do not know this). Once you book your cruise, there are some things you'll need to do in advance to prepare. On disembarkation day, you probably wont find your fave crew members in their usual spots! They might feel that it gives them more control over tipping, rewarding the crew based on their level of service. December 8, 2010. We always tip cruise staff but in cash not automatic tipping. Cruises from Europe and Australia will still use the US dollar as the official onboard currency, but you should make purchases in port with the destinations local currency. People associate umbrella drinks and colorful tropical concoctions with cruising, and fancy-looking martinis have become a nighttime staple at sea. But if your excursions include free time where you eat lunch on your own, its a good idea to research the local tipping customs in the countries youll be visiting before your cruise. The drink package works at all onboard bars, restaurants, and even Royal Caribbean's private island CocoCay. Normally, we tip between $5 to $7 additionally per day for the two of us at the end of the cruise. There are 2 adults and 1 child in the room, if this. Check out the latest web stories from Should Be Cruising! | Royal Caribbean Blog www.royalcaribbeanblog.com. I generally tip extra, mostly because I come from a customer service back round and know how hard these people work, compared to their pay. Although cards are widely accepted, you may still encounter establishments that do not accept card payments. Thanks so much for sharing your experience! 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. The cost is $13.50 per person, per day for guests in Grill Class suites. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. separately, near the end of the cruise. You dont need to write a noveljust a few sentences about how the crew member made your cruise even better will do. You may want to give them a tip per drink or a larger tip at the end or even the beginning of your cruise. Since most cruise passengers follow the tipping guidelines, that amounts to an increase $13.30 . Here are the top travel tips for a Royal Caribbean cruise from the experts themselves: At the AquaTheater, acrobats, high divers, slackliners and more put on shows that make a splash. 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. How much tip receive in cruise royal caribbean? Whether to or not and then how much. As a cruise passenger, you want to be aware and set your budget expectations to include these amounts for the cruise ship staff. Royal Caribbean cruise ships have been sailing at nearly 100% capacity for the past few months. You may also like: A Cruise Glossary: Cruise Terms You Should Know. Although cash isnt required for onboard purchases, there are a few scenarios where youll want to have cash available. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The Dream pioneered the innovative and fun cruise ships that are standard today from Carnival Cruise Lines. Celebrity Cruises now includes daily gratuities in its Always Included cruise fare. But I also feel like people will think Im rude for not doing so in reality tho, they are already being tipped 18%. Outdoor Activities If outdoor fun is your thing, the Carnival Dream offers a near endless array of ways to fill both day and night with fun. 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. However, cruisers dont always see all of the crew who work behind the scenes for them, like the kitchen and laundry workers. Your articles are so helpful at navigating the cruise world. Depending on your bank, the ATM transaction fee may be waived. Upload or insert images from URL. Hi Alex, thanks so much for your lovely comment. 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. When we tip them individually, do they get to keep the entire amount for themselvesor do they have to share that too? Tips on Cruise Ship Tipping - Who and How Much to Tip! 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). Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. There is no service charge applied for children under 2 years of age. April 16, 2019 in Royal Caribbean Dining. Beyond leaving a cash tip for your cabin steward, or favorite server or bartender, some other small gestures will go a long way. In addition to this, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to all drinks, spa and salon services. If you tip extra, you will get FABULOUS service! Get access to the best last minute hotel rates in the USA by becoming a registered member online today. Read our best tips.). Your previous content has been restored. Tipping extra is not necessary, and theres no right or wrong amount to give a crew member. The extra cash may or may not end up in your steward's pocket, but he'll appreciate the gesture nonetheless. The price increases during August to approximately $773 (619) per person, excluding taxes. This fee ranges anywhere from $12.50 to upward of $20 per person, per day, depending on the cruise line -- usually on the higher end if you're staying in a suite. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. Some cruise lines allow you to use your cruise card to deposit money in the casino. Royal Caribbean offers three all-inclusive drink packages, a premium coffee package and a water package. With the exception of a couple cruise lines on this list, most cruises that include gratuities are luxury lines. Our concern is that the cruise lines take advantage by paying lower wages and then guilting passengers into higher tips. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Cruise Line Gratuities: What's the Point? Manchester 3. But honestly, theyd prefer cash over a gift basketno matter how yummy your treats are! if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_13',603,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');Most mainstream cruise lines will charge you about $14 to $15 per person per day for automatic gratuities. cost cruise much does caribbean royal excursions treatments fees consider drinks spa government Royal Caribbean states the current pricing for 2022 sailings is between $12.99 and $15.00 per day of the cruise. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. 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. Just remember that cruise ship crew live in very tight quarters, without much room for personal belongings. If you want to avoid any ATM charges, though, you can theoretically take money out via the casino. Virgin Voyages does a lot of things differently than its mainstream peers. On a 7 day cruise we usually give $50 to the waiter and $30 to the asst. When planning your cruise, check with your travel agent or the cruise line about the tipping policy. Tips are of course a personal decision. Here's how to get the most out of Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package (or Prime Casino Royale free drinks in the casino). This is a good question. I think its pretty bad when thats the only night they make their presence be known. In fact, I think most would agree that cruise line staff make a huge difference in the cruise experience. What you cant do is adjust or remove automatic gratuities for a specific crew member. One notable exception is Norwegian Cruise Line. If you are one to give your room attendant a little extra (on top of auto gratuities), how much do you typically give. For this reason, I have always found being expected to pay tips, on an already expensive cruise, very irritating and have sometimes had them reduced at the service desk. W. HomeBlogCruise Tips Cruise News Cruise DestinationsAboutContactResourcesFeatured PressPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyDisclosure PolicyTerms of Use. Clear editor. Happy cruising :). We like to keep a few dollars handy for this purpose as we board our cruise ship. Cruise lines typically flag their ships in countries with lax employment laws. If youre sailing from the United States to the Caribbean, US dollars are widely accepted in popular cruise ports. Given that most , all ? 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. Some vendors may process your personal data on the basis of legitimate interest, which you can object to by managing your options below. We also always tip bar staff even when drinks are complimentary. That lets him / her know upfront that we tip, and there is more to come at the end of the cruise! 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. What Is The Average Amount of Cash to Bring on a Cruise? By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. Most cruise ships have ATMs, and some have currency exchanges on board. 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. However ,usually you can have at least 2 cabin stewards. Required fields are marked *. I'm sure the crew appreciated your extra tips - they all work so hard! You may want to give a small tip to the person who delivers your room service order. I dont tend to tip in advance, so this is an interesting way of doing things. Tipping on a cruise ship isnt mandatory, but it is customary, and many crew members rely on tips as a large part of their income. Depending on what you plan to do in port, you might need cash for the following: We recommend bringing around $100-200 in cash with you on a port day. You can do so by going to guest services and making the request. Having the articles in a printable format is a really interesting idea. ), it, So youre planning a family cruise with a $2000 budget is it possible? On a cruise, most guests bring between $100-$120 in cash per day to be spent on transportation, tips, gifts, food, and shopping. 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. How Much Should You Budget for Cruise Gratuities? What Is a Cabin Steward on a Cruise Ship? 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. The average daily gratuity on a cruise is $14-15 USD per person approximately $30 per day, per couple in a cabin. Id love to connect with you on Instagram and Facebook @lifewellcruised. Typically, this is associated with your credit card which youll be prompted to set up when you complete your online check in. Ive been surprisedor I probably should say I had forgottenhow many hands have been extended for a tip on these shore excursions. These feedback cards mean a lot and sometimes lead to a stellar crew member getting a raise or even a promotion! You wont require cash for 99% of purchases on a cruise, whether specialty restaurants, cocktails, or souvenirs. As much as some people opt to remove gratuities on their account, some give extra. 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. Most cruisers wouldnt dream of removing the automatic gratuities. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',199,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-medrectangle-4-0');Tipping is supposed to encourage excellent customer service from workers, because (in theory at least) customers will tip generously for friendly, prompt service. Most cruise lines charge for children as well, although there are some exceptions for very young children on select cruise lines. On top of that, there's an 18% gratuity fee. Its important to note that, especially on the luxury lines, tipping is not expected. A kind word or a drawing costs nothing and is always appreciated. 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). We are a middle class, retirement age couple (63 and 62) who are not retired with no plans to in the near future. For many cruises that operate in the Australian market where tipping isnt part of the culture, automatic gratuities arent added on to passenger bills. Though cruise lines usually state up front that tipping is still at the discretion of the passenger, keep in mind: As with most employees in the service industry (at least in the U.S.), most of the wages cruise employees make come from these tips. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. However, most cruisers do tip them for their service. If you put your tips on your seapass you will get a voucher for each envelope. You might want to reward your cabin steward, favorite bartender or MDR server, or any other crew member you think did a great job. The amount you tip is up to youI generally give about $5 per person per day to my stateroom steward. (Want to get the most from your cabin steward? Obviously, if you tip a room attendant, that money will go directly to him/her. I ALWAYS tip extra to the outstanding employees on every cruise I have ever taken. 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. How much to tip waiter and his assistant? If you choose to pay tips in cash, there are usually some envelopes available at the guest service desk. It's always up to you to adjust the number of gratuities at any time while onboard the ship and your tips will be deemed undisputed. For more info, please read myDisclosure Policy. Children under 4 are not charged. In-suite parties are a huge amount of work for the Genie and room attendants. 1 1 Quote Cindi Members 12 Author Posted April 16, 2019 The automatic service gratuity is $14.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Junior Suites and below, or $17.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Grand Suites and above, applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. The new RCI tips per day are added to each guest's SeaPass card (shipboard account) automatically.