Our complete guide to cruise line gratuities
Confused by cruise ship gratuities and tips? This handy guide will answer all your questions.
Tips and gratuities (or crew appreciation fees, as the cruise industry sometimes refers to them) are payments made by guests for the crew.
The money generally goes into a pot and is then shared among bartenders, the waiting and restaurant staff, cabin stewards and others.
Gratuities used to be omnipresent in cruising. But now, a split has appeared between operators continuing to charge them and others integrating them into the base fare.
Why the change? Tipping culture is not universal. For some nations (we're looking at you, Britain), gratuities do not come naturally. Several cruise lines have realised that integrating gratuities in their fares has the potential for market expansion.
Cynics argue that operators exclude gratuities from their base fares to be able to advertise artificially low prices.
Proponents of gratuities will tell you they keep service levels high. As you can decide how much to pay, depending on how satisfied you are with your experience, gratuities incentivise the staff to provide first-class service.
One way or the other, gratuities can make a big difference to the price of your cruise. With some cruise lines charging up to $25 (£20) per person per day, a couple on a week-long cruise can fork out over £280 on gratuities alone.
So, are gratuities fair? What do they cover? Which cruise lines charge the most (and which do not)? Are you obliged to pay them? This guide will dive into the topic and answer your questions.
What are gratuities all about?
Cruising is a different travelling style. Because you spend so much time on board, you create a bond with the crew members who go above and beyond. Tipping is a way to reward stellar service.
It has always been part of cruising. In the past, notes-filled envelopes were a reward for crew members who provided spotless service.
Nowadays, automated systems have replaced these envelopes. A daily charge is usually added to your onboard account every morning.
While automating the process has somewhat broken the link between guests and individual crew members, it also ensures that those who do the invisible work behind the scenes (like the cooks) get a share of the rewards.
You can technically ask the guest relations desk to lower or remove gratuities from your account (they are not a compulsory charge). But do not do that unless you have actual grounds to complain.
Gratuities are not simply a way to thank the crew for their service; they are a key part of what those working shipboard earn.
Are gratuities the only onboard charge?
Gratuities usually cover tips for the people in charge of the services included in the base fare. They reward those who cook and serve the food you eat at the buffet or clean your cabin.
For services excluded from the base fare (cocktails, spa treatments, salon services…), you might see a service charge (a set amount or a percentage of what you spent) added to your bill.
Royal Caribbean, for example, charges $18.50 per person per day in gratuities. In addition, drinks come with an additional 18 per cent service charge, and salon purchases have a 20 per cent service charge attached.
Which cruise lines require gratuities?
We reviewed the information below when we published this article and will regularly update it. But you should always check the latest information with the cruise lines before booking.
AMA Waterways
- Gratuities: the line recommends €100 per guest per week, plus €25 per guest per week, for the tour manager
- Service charges: none listed explicitly
Azamara Cruises
- Gratuities: included in the fare
- Service charges: 18 per cent added to the bill at the spa
Carnival Cruise Line
- Gratuities: $16 per person per day for standard cabins; $18 per person per day for suites
- Service charges: 18 per cent on beverages, spa services and speciality dining
Celebrity Cruises
- Gratuities: $18 per person per day for standard cabins; $19 for Concierge and AquaClass; $23 for suites
- Service charges: 20 per cent added to the bill for beverages and spa services
Celestyal Cruises
- Gratuities: included in the fare
- Service charges: included
Cunard
- Gratuities: $16 per person per day for Britannia cabins and $18 for Queens/Princess Grill Suites
- Service charges: 15 per cent added to the bill for bar tabs, wine purchases and spa and salon services
Emerald Cruises
- Gratuities: included in the fare
- Service charges: None
Explora Journeys
- Gratuities: included in the fare
- Service charges: included for standard services
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
- Gratuities: £5 per person per day added to the onboard account
- Service charges: bar bills include gratuities in the drink prices
MSC Cruises
- Gratuities: included in the fare for UK bookings
- Service charges: included for UK bookings
Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)
- Gratuities: $20 per person per day for standard cabins; $25 for suites (Haven and above)
- Service charges: 20 per cent added to the bill for beverages, speciality dining and spa
Oceania Cruises
- Gratuities: $18 per person per day; $23 for suites with butler service
- Service charges: 20 per cent added to the bill for beverages, spa and speciality dining
P&O Cruises
- Gratuities: included in the fare; tipping is optional
- Service charges: included
Princess Cruises
- Gratuities: $16 per person per day for standard cabins; $17 for Mini Suites, Cabanas and Reserve Collection; $18 for suites
- Service charges: 18 per cent added to the bill for beverages and speciality services
Regent Seven Seas
- Gratuities: included in the fare
- Service charges: included
Royal Caribbean
- Gratuities: $18.50 per person per day for standard cabins; $20.50 for suites
- Service charges: 18 per cent added to the bill for beverages, speciality dining, room service and mini bar; 20 per cent for salon and spa purchases
Seabourn
- Gratuities: included in the fare
- Service charges: included
Silversea
- Gratuities: included in the fare
- Service charges: included
Viking Cruises
- Gratuities: From $10 per person per day (Egypt and Mekong) to $20 per person per day (Europe and USA) for River Cruises; $17 for ocean and expedition Cruises
- Service charges: 15 per cent added to the bill for beverages, spa and salon
As you can see, there is a clear difference between cruise lines with large US-based consumer bases (Royal Caribbean, NCL, Celebrity…, etc.) that charge gratuities and those with a more British and European target market (P&O Cruises, MSC Cruises, Celestyal…, etc.).
You might also notice that ultra-luxury lines (Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea...) tend not to charge gratuities or service charges.
Ultra-luxury cruise lines typically include gratuities in their fares to provide a seamless, all-inclusive experience that matches their premium positioning.
How do you pay these gratuities?
As mentioned above, gratuities can add up, amounting to £100s for couples and even more for families.
As you approach the final port of call, expect a bill under your cabin door detailing what items have crept into your onboard account: gratuities, purchases and service charges. Check everything is correct.
If so, you do not need to do anything - a charge will appear on your registered payment method.
You can also give a little cash to the crew members who have made your journey extra special. But check the cruise line's policy first, as some discourage guests from doing so.
Can you avoid paying gratuities?
Unless you have managed to avoid settling your onboard account by some nefarious means (in which case you can expect the cruise line to come after you with the full force of the law), there is no escaping gratuities, unless you have experienced sub-par service.
In this scenario, you can ask for gratuities to be lowered (or even removed) from your onboard account. But you should bring up any issues with the guest relations desk as soon as possible – do not wait until the final moments of your cruise.
At the end of the day, if something is ruining your holiday, what’s best: getting it sorted and having a fabulous time or spending a week seething in your cabin to save a few bobs on gratuities?
And while you might not be able to avoid paying gratuities, if you plan a cruise long in the future, you might want to pre-pay them when you book. Cruise lines tend to increase gratuities every 12-24 months, so paying early lets you lock in today's rates.
