The Ins and Outs of Tipping On a Cruise | Tasty Itinerary (2024)

What’s the deal with tipping on a cruise? Are you supposed to tip on a cruise? Are cruise gratuities mandatory? Should you prepay gratuities? In this guide, we answer all these questions and more.

When planning and budgeting for your cruise vacation, one of the things you’ll need to think about is tipping.

Tipping is a customary way of showing your appreciation for good service.

Paying for cruise gratuities is something that cruise passengers are expected to do. Gratuities are typically added to your onboard account and paid at the end of your cruise – this always surprises first-time cruisers when they receive their bill on disembarkation day.

You can also choose to prepay gratuities before embarkation day.

Cruise gratuities typically are as low as $14.50 per person per day and as high as $25 per person per day, depending on your cruise ship cabin.

Any additional tipping on the cruise is not mandatory. The amount you decide to tip on top of cruise ship gratuities is entirely up to you. It is a way of showing appreciation for the hard work of the ship’s staff.

As people who have worked in the service industry, we understand the significance of tipping. When we embark on our travels, we tend to be generous with our gratuities. Of course, we always respect the customs and traditions of the cultures we visit and adjust our tipping practices accordingly.

You’ll understand why cruise gratuities are important once you see how hard crew members work on cruise ships. The ship is always being cleaned. Drinks and food are being served. Guests are being looked after, some more than others.

Running a cruise ship takes a lot of hard work by hundreds of crew members to maintain the ship and ensure guests are happy.

Gratuities are well-deserved, and we don’t mind paying them. Tipping beyond that is always appreciated but never expected.

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This article answers the ins and outs of tipping on a cruise. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about cruise gratuities, from what’s mandatory to when you should consider tipping extra.

Tipping on a Cruise

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Are you supposed to tip on a cruise?

While paying the gratuity charge is required by most cruise lines, any additional tipping is at your discretion.

You may want to tip extra for outstanding service or if you receive special treatment during your cruise vacation. Tipping is also a way of showing appreciation for the hard work of the ship’s staff.

What happens if you don’t tip on a cruise?

If you request a refund for cruise gratuities, this will ultimately affect the crew members working on the ship. The gratuity charges are considered part of a cruise ship worker’s salary. The crew members are the ones who suffer.

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And, even if you booked a cruise that isn’t charging you a service charge separately, it probably is already included as part of your cruise fare.

For example, gratuities are included in luxury cruise lines like the Regent Seven Seas Cruises cruise fare, except for spa services.

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Are there any additional gratuities that are not included?

Yes, additional gratuities may not be included in the cruise gratuities you’re charged daily. For example, gratuities for spa services, specialty dining, drink packages, drinks ordered outside of a drink package, and certain onboard activities may not be included and must be paid separately. It’s important to check with the specific cruise line for their policies on gratuities and what is included in the fare.

Normally, it would be an automatic gratuity of 18-20% of the total cost.

Here are some additional gratuities, but not limited to:

• Room Service
• Spa Services
• Specialty Foods
• Specialty Restaurants
• Drinks
• Drink Packages
• Corkage Fee
• Featured Cruise Activities

If you’re booking from the United States, after you book your cruise, you can prepay for your cruise gratuities before boarding.

You can avoid worrying about paying them at the end of your cruise vacation. Prepaying tips may also guarantee that the gratuity amount doesn’t increase during your cruise vacation.

Cruise lines sometimes offer discounts if you prepay gratuities, so it’s worth checking.

If you live abroad, like in Europe, your gratuities are already included in your cruise fare when you book. Tipping on a cruise is not customary in Europe, like in America.

Is it better to prepay gratuities for a cruise?

There are a few reasons why it might be better to prepay your gratuities on a cruise.

• It’s one less thing you must think about while on vacation.
• You can budget for it and pay it off in advance.
• You can lock in the current gratuity rate by paying in advance, as they are subject to change.

Free at Sea Offer Gratuities

Norwegian Cruise Line has a “Free at Sea” offer where sometimes one of the free perks is free cruise gratuities. With this promotion, you can save money, making tipping on a cruise one less thing to worry about. However, this is a unicorn promotion that happens once a year.

Other cruise lines will sometimes have a similar special promotion.

Many cruisers like to take advantage of this special offer when it does come up. It doesn’t always come up, but it’s worth considering. Sometimes, it can be great savings. Other times, the cruise lines seem to roll the cruise gratuities into the fare.

Read more: Norwegian Cruise Line’s Free at-Sea Promotion

Cruise Tipping: Other FAQs

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Do you save your smaller bills for cruise tipping?

Aside from the cruise gratuities, additional tipping on a cruise is a controversial topic. Especially depending on where you’re coming from and your budget.

Some of the high-end cruise lines have different tipping policies. Usually, no tipping is encouraged as it’s already part of your cruise fare.

A lot of cruisers don’t mind paying the additional tips. They feel it’s worth having good service throughout their cruise vacation. Now, that’s not saying you won’t receive good service, but when you tip extra, it ensures excellent service for the next time.

Some believe the cruise gratuities cover it all, and there is no need to hand other further tips.

While we don’t have a strong opinion, we think it’s worth considering. If you can afford it and receive excellent service, a few extra dollars here and there for the staff can go a long way.

How much do you have to tip on a cruise?

There is no set additional amount you have to tip on a cruise. Additional tipping is completely at your discretion.

Regardless, if you are still looking for guidance on how much extra to tip on a cruise, check out our cruise tipping table below. Note that this is on top of the cruise gratuities.

How much should you tip cruise waiter?

The cruise gratuities cover the wait staff, so you’re not obligated to give them any more of a cash tip. However, if you received outstanding service from a waiter and would like to show them your appreciation with a cash tip, $5 per day per passenger is the suggested amount.

Sometimes, cruisers like to stick with the same waiter and table throughout the week. This way, they become familiar during their cruise, and their waiter gets to know their likes and dislikes. At the end of their cruise, they’ll provide a cash tip to show their gratitude.

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How much to tip your cruise steward?

While your cruise steward is being tipped out of the paid cruise gratuities, this is one crew member you may want to tip extra. They clean your cabin daily, storing it with towels, amenities, and anything you need.

If your cruise steward goes above and beyond, a cash tip at the end of your stay to show your appreciation. We recommend tipping your cruise steward $3-5 per person daily.

How much to tip the cruise butler?

A cruise butler is a luxury option. Butlers are an extra perk on higher-end cruise lines or if you booked a suite. It all depends on how much you request from your butler and how much they do for you.

Sometimes butlers go above and beyond, even unpacking your suitcase, ironing your clothes, running around, and ensuring your cruise vacation is special.

A nice cash tip at the end of your stay is appropriate. We recommend tipping your cruise butler $10-$20 per person daily.

– Don’t Miss: Cruise vs. All-Inclusive Resort: What’s the Difference? –

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