Or do you remove them altogether? Hi All, I just wanted to share something with new cruisers (and old if they do not know this). 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. Any chance of that? Typically, this is associated with your credit card which youll be prompted to set up when you complete your online check in. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_8',602,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');With the autograt system, many crew members who rarely received tips before now get a sharelike the laundry or kitchen staff on some cruise lines. If you opt for a specialty restaurant, the tip isnt usually included. That's a major contrast to the early days of the return to sailing after the cruise line's 15-month . The average daily gratuity on a cruise is $14-15 USD per person approximately $30 per day, per couple in a cabin. The cruise director will also remind passengers about how much and whom the cruise . I give my room steward $5 at the very beginning of the cruise. The only exception is for passengers with prepaid gratuities (they won't be charged daily). While not obligatory, there are some of the workers you may want to recognize with a tip when cruising. Rather than reducing the amount payed, they point out on their website that they will work to resolve any service issues experienced. For both of us, we usually tip between $30-$50 for head waiter, and slightly less for assistant waiter and then even slightly less for the drink waiter (as we are non-drinkers but still want to. Some cruise lines allow you to use your cruise card to deposit money in the casino. Cruise lines typically flag their ships in countries with lax employment laws. The time when youll need the most cash on a cruise vacation is when youre in port. There are a number of factors which people use to decide how much to tip their Genie. There are also usually comment cards available at the purser's desk or online for additional recognition -- or post a review on Cruise Critic. I also tipped my wait staff very generously in the main dining room and specialty restaurants, as well as my drink waiters! You can adjust this based on the length and complexity of the tour. How Much Should I Tip My Room Steward on a Cruise? 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. Typical extra tips may be $15-20 per passenger for a seven-day cruise paid to the cabin steward for exceptional work, or an extra $10-20 per passenger to a waiter who offered spectacular dining. MTD and ate in MDR 5 nights. 1 Royal Caribbean Travel Protection is an optional travel protection add-on to your cruise booking and is available through Royal Caribbean for residents in all states except New York. Even if you prepay for your shore excursions directly through the cruise line, its customary to tip your tour guides and drivers in cash after each excursion. When youre tipping in cash on a cruise, its always best to use the official currency on the ship. It is best to drink 9 to 13 cups of water before donating money in the 24 hours preceding the event. Children under 4 are not charged. Youll want to factor in the cruise line gratuity charge, sometimes called on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). The price increases during August to approximately $773 (619) per person, excluding taxes. I love reading your blog and learning, but I dont often have time to sit down at the computer to read. Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? As much as some people opt to remove gratuities on their account, some give extra. Tipping is not required, however, customarily some people do choose to tip anywhere from $1 - $5 per order. Tips are of course a personal decision. One notable exception is Norwegian Cruise Line. About $1-2 (or the equivalent in local currency) per bag is fine. Tipping extra is not necessary, and theres no right or wrong amount to give a crew member. Its also a nice gesture to tip the matre d or head waiter in the main dining room, especially if they were helpful with special menus or seating arrangements. What Is a Cabin Steward on a Cruise Ship? In addition, weve included a list of daily gratuities per cruise line and who else you may wish to tip. This includes drinks at the bar or cafe, spa services and salon visits. Don't be Held Back on Arrival Royal Caribbean requires you to do an online check-in, at least three days before your published sail date. cost cruise much does caribbean royal excursions treatments fees consider drinks spa government Cruise gratuities are divided among your cruise cabin steward, waiters and other crew members who work as support behind the scenes. Thank you, Carrie Ann. 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. What I can say, on a personal level, is that we have found that the majority of cabin stewards, waiters, assistant waiters and ship staff have given us amazing service. There is no service charge applied for children under 2 years of age. 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. Royal Caribbean Cruise Holiday Deals 2020 & 2021 - Cruise Nation www.cruisenation.com. So they follow this model with many of their crew members who perform services for passengers. The onboard price of this package varies from $63 to $89 a day, plus an 18% gratuity. That lets him / her know upfront that we tip, and there is more to come at the end of the cruise! 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. Cindi Treasure Coast of Florida. Related: Cruise Line. Royal Caribbeans 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. Your previous content has been restored. $10-20 at the end of the cruise is a nice gratuity for their service. On top of that, there's an 18% gratuity fee. We usually do the prepaid tipping and also give some extra at the end of our cruises. Some cruise lines employ a sommelier or wine steward in the main dining rooms, who isnt included in the tipping pool. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. How Much Water Should I Drink Before Donating Plasma. Cruise line tipping policies vary from one cruise company to another. 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. The amount is the only thing that tends to vary on service levels. After 50 cruises I know they really mean it! Others just prefer the face-to-face experience of handing over a cash tip. On NCL, passengers who dont want to pay autograts need to file a claim for reimbursement after the cruise. 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. Just remember that cruise ship crew live in very tight quarters, without much room for personal belongings. I believe that often the bartenders will pool their tips b/c there are so many working the crowd but I think it's an individual choice on their parts as to how they handle this. I was very surprised. 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. Thanks! Hi All, Im Ilana. Related: Whats included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare. When you book your cruise, youll be charged your cruise fare, port fees and taxes. | Royal Caribbean Blog www.royalcaribbeanblog.com. If your kids had a great time at the kids club on board, giving a tip at the end of the cruise to their favorite staff members is always appreciated. Youll often receive change back in local currency even when paying with USD. Note that we are Australian, so therefore not inclined to tip unless the service warrants it. Thanks so much for sharing your experience! Most US lines that base ships in the UK over the summer -- Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, for example -- offer automated gratuity options that charge a standard daily gratuity fee to the credit card you've placed on file for each day of your cruise. We sail Celebrity and opt to prepay gratuities. I had prepaid my gratuities, and I assumed the porter was a cruise line employee, so I didnt tip him. Tipped crew on many cruise lines include housekeeping, dining, and laundry workers. If you dont have a drink package, theyll add the price of each drink plus the service fee to your onboard tab. If you feel that you wish to give an extra amount to anyone who you feel has done a great job, they will be appreciative. However, the price of getting online can be expensive. Pasted as rich text. 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. The cruise line will assess your fee each day, then theyll charge your credit card on file at the end of the cruise. You'll find an extensive selection of options all over Canada How much are automatic gratuities on a cruise? They will seldom steer you wrong. Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. Most cruise lines charge for children as well, although there are some exceptions for very young children on select cruise lines. Not based on what we "should" give, more on the fact that they provided very good service. 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. Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner, YouTube at Life Well Cruised (Vlogs and cruise tips). If youre booked with Celebritys Always Included, the gratuities are included. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. Celebrity Cruises isnt a luxury cruise line, however it is a top premium cruise line that markets itself as modern luxury. Love this! In this post, weve gone over how tipping works on a cruise. Here are some other people you should tip during your cruise. The items and service are provided free of charge (except midnight - 5am when there is a nominal delivery fee). A tip of 15%-20% is common, so check the bottom of your bill before adding an additional amount. But lets say you have a negative experience with your server in the dining room, or you feel that the cabin steward isnt doing their job. So something edible (maybe a favorite candy or snack from your home region?) Get access to the best last minute hotel rates in the USA by becoming a registered member online today. If you dont see the cards in your room, ask at the Passenger Services desk, or leave the feedback in your post-cruise survey. They might feel that it gives them more control over tipping, rewarding the crew based on their level of service. Automatic gratuities, also called autogratuities or autograts, is the cruise term for the system most cruise lines now use to simplify tipping for passengers. RCCL Crown & Anchor Diamond Member at the end of this cruise! However, most cruisers do tip them for their service. 1. Royal Caribbean cruise ships have been sailing at nearly 100% capacity for the past few months. Want to give something beyond cash? Like what you see? What you cant do is adjust or remove automatic gratuities for a specific crew member. Between May 1, 2016, and Jan 2, 2018, passengers on RCI boats paid US$13,50 (increased from US$12,95) for standard cabins and US$16,50 (increased from US$15.95) for upper-tier suites. 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. Here's how it works on Royal Caribbean: As of September 7 th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in non-suites staterooms, or $18.50 USD per. Tips are either covered by the autogratuities or theres a service fee tacked on, so you dont need to tip again. Plus, for a limited time, its $10 off. The Dream pioneered the innovative and fun cruise ships that are standard today from Carnival Cruise Lines. The cost is $13.50 per person, per day for guests in Grill Class suites. The practice of tipping is controversial, even in the United States where paying tips is part of the culture. On most cruise lines that collect automatic gratuities, youre able to remove or adjust the charges by visiting the passenger services desk. These cruise line employees are highly compensated, and offering a tip isnt necessary. If theres a crew member who goes above and beyond for you, there are some other ways to show your appreciation. Robinson said mainstream cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Holland America Line charge gratuities on a per person, per day basis. 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. Have some small bills handy for these times. 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). ATMs usually charge a $5-6 fee per transaction. 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. A The automatic service gratuity is $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in Junior Suites and below, or $18.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Grand Suites and above, applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. Theres no need to add an extra tip for each drink. Celebrity Cruises is Royal Caribbean's sister brand that provides a slightly more upscale, refined experience onboard. 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. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Cruise Line Gratuities: What's the Point? Im an avid cruiser and have been giving out insider tips for more than 10 years! Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. That was the only time I didn't give an additional cash tip to the wait staff. Manchester 3. Between January 2, 2018, and Sept 7, 2022, RCI's daily (per passenger) crew gratuities were US$14,50 (standard staterooms) and US$17,50 (Grand Suites+). How much are gratuities on Royal Caribbean cruises? However, there are a few common practices and guidelines. There are 2 adults and 1 child in the room, if this. What do you think about the custom of tipping on a cruise ship? I was thinking of giving ours a $20 at the beginning, not sure if this is about the "norm", or if I should give a little more. will be more appreciated than something they would have to store. Those can range from about $15 to upwards of $20 for each . Your email address will not be published. It has one large sink with two faucets and a large shower with a tub. If you havent notified your bank, they will usually send you a fraud alert or temporarily freeze your card. Service charges for guests ages 4-14 are half of the adult rate. Its unlikely to do any good by this point. 2% would be a shoddy tip, but it's fine for the "extra tip" line if that 2% was to bring the 18% service charge up to 20%. People associate umbrella drinks and colorful tropical concoctions with cruising, and fancy-looking martinis have become a nighttime staple at sea. The cruise industry has worked this way for a long time, although the automatic gratuities are only the last few years. If you choose to pay tips in cash, there are usually some envelopes available at the guest service desk. The thing that gets me so mad is we never were approached by the Maitred..except the last night when the extra tipping comes in. First of all, don't neglect any post-cruise questionnaires, which provide an opportunity to rave about your cabin attendant directly to his or her employer. Later I learned that the porters outside of the cruise terminal are not cruise line employees at all! You dont need to write a noveljust a few sentences about how the crew member made your cruise even better will do. The drink package works at all onboard bars, restaurants, and even Royal Caribbean's private island CocoCay. I would imagine wed see prices increase overall if they did this, but perhaps it amounts to this anyway. Once you book your cruise, there are some things you'll need to do in advance to prepare. Who else should you tip on a cruise ship? 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. Im Carrie Ann, the writer behind Should Be Cruising. Pricing varies based on the ship, sail dates, and itinerary. Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise? Before Your Royal Caribbean Cruise . Cruise lines have implemented automatic gratuities, options to prepay gratuities and some popular cruise lines have begun including tips in your cruise fare. Required fields are marked *. 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. The auto gratuity goes not only to your cabin steward but is also shared among the entire crew that works to make your cruise successful: the dining room, buffet and specialty restaurant wait staff, cooks, laundry staff and the general housekeeping staff that cleans the ship's common areas, for example. Which currency you should bring with you on a cruise depends on your departure port and itinerary. The Sky Suite on Celebrity was a perfect size for two, at around 320 square feet. What Is The Average Amount of Cash to Bring on a Cruise? It really made my day! If you put your tips on your seapass you will get a voucher for each envelope. All ships have at least one ATM onboard, which is usually located in the Royal Promenade or Centrum. But I also feel like people will think Im rude for not doing so in reality tho, they are already being tipped 18%. Princess: $14.50 per person, per day ($15.50 for mini-suite guests and $16.50 for suite guests). Ive been surprisedor I probably should say I had forgottenhow many hands have been extended for a tip on these shore excursions. We usually tip between $500-700 depending on what we do. How much people tip a Royal Genie on their Royal Caribbean cruise tends to vary, although many American guests tend to fall at around the $75-$100 per day. Just did 8 nights on Voyager. Jan 6. 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. 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. Are very professional, what should a tip look like at the end of a 10 day cruise? Having the articles in a printable format is a really interesting idea. For example, you might give the guide $5 to $10 for a half-day excursion or $10 to $20 for a full-day tour. Similarly, in the main dining room, we tip our waiter around $6 to $8 per day for the two of us, averaging around $50 for a 7-night cruise. Until fairly recently, cruise passengers customarily tipped only in cash, in person. Follow me on Facebook at Life Well Cruised, Follow me onYouTube at Life Well Cruised (Vlogs and cruise tips), Follow me on Pinterest at Life Well Cruised, Follow me on Instagram at Life Well Cruised. Maybe your cabin attendant delivered when you made a special request, or you loved how your steward always sweetly arranged your children's stuffed animals before bed every night -- or maybe you just want to show a little extra appreciation in the universal language of money. Wondering how much gratuities are on a cruise? 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. Also, if free gratuities are an amenity, youre not expected to go beyond it unless someone goes way beyond whats normally expected. Cruising can be such a relaxing vacation as well as so much fun. Please note that gratuities are charged in US dollars for Caribbean, US and Canada cruises. 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. I believe this to be true, too. How much cash should you bring on a cruise? Windstar Cruises daily gratuities are $12.00 per person, per day for all cabin types. The average daily gratuity on a cruise is $14-15 USD per person - approximately $30 per day, per couple in a cabin. Royal Caribbean's VOOM service has two different levels of service with two different prices. We rarely do the parties anymore. one in 2023. The cruise line makes no recommendation for tipping room service. Additionally, shouldbecruising.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes receive a commission from purchases made through our links. 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. Keep in mind, the venues are not always the same between Royal Caribbean ships, but each of my tips can. If you enjoy tipping in cash, consider giving an extra cash tip to the crew members who gave you excellent service on your cruise. You can do so by going to guest services and making the request. There are instances of passengers who prefer not to tip, usually either because they disagree with tipping on principle or they've experienced unsatisfactory service. You also shouldnt tip the cruise director, the entertainment staff, or any independent entertainers like musical guests, comedians, or magicians. 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). Sometimes it cannot be helped ! You can just hand over folded cash, or use the tip envelopes youll find in your stateroom or at Passenger Services. Do you need to tip at the spa on a cruise? Carnival cruise gratuities are automatically added to onboard accounts for those in all rooms. I guess I was looking for some kind of scale like we have atrestaurants on land. Princess Cruises also has the Princess Plus fare, which includes gratuities or the crew incentive, Medallion Net wifi and Princess premium beverage package. How to Pay: Paid in cruise fare at the time of purchase. However, your cruise vacation expenses wont end there. Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. 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,. So glad this was helpful. royal caribbean cruise cruises deals 2021. Or you can plan ahead and take enough cash in the correct currency to cover any tips you might want to pay. 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). First is the ATM. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and leave a comment! 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. At some North American ports, youll see signs stating that the porters do not accept tips. Viking Ocean: $15.00 per person, per day Virgin Voyages: includes gratuities in the fare. They have the insider tips to match so that you can make the most of everything that'll be at your fingertips. Should you prepay automatic gratuities? If cruising from Australia to the South Pacific, Australian dollars are widely accepted. P.S. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. As it is with most cruise shipping companies, RCI's tourists can remove the daily gratuity but know that these tips are for all the housekeeping and dining staff. If you are one to give your room attendant a little extra (on top of auto gratuities), how much do you typically give. Your personal data will be processed and information from your device (cookies, unique identifiers, and other device data) may be stored by, accessed by and shared with third party vendors, or used specifically by this site or app. cruise. Some cruise ship spas, like those on NCL and Royal Caribbean, add on a service fee or gratuity, usually about 18%. You may also like: Do You Need to Bring Cash on a Cruise? Thoughts? Cruise lines usually add a service charge, usually 15-18%, to all beverages that arent complimentary. Do I need to tip on a cruise or pay service charges, is a question that comes up often. Cruise lines pay these workers very low wages for the long hours that they work each day, and expect that passengers will tip to increase the crew members earnings to a reasonable rate. On the flip side, passengers have less control over where their money goes with autogratuities. Youre welcome to use a credit or debit card to make purchases in ports of call whenever possible. There is a lot of included dining location so how do you know which ones to che.