Look for a link at the bottom of this page or in our privacy policy where you can withdraw consent. Should you tip extra on a cruise? 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. You may also like: Eight Things That Will Surprise First Time Cruisers. The industry should pay fair wages so that our tips are in fact tips and not wages. I was very surprised. Or you can plan ahead and take enough cash in the correct currency to cover any tips you might want to pay. Travelers in suites are. (Youll often see a survey pop up in your email inbox a few days after your cruise.). When and How Much to Tip on a Cruise - AFAR 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+). We have also taken a few of the ship's "backstage" tours and could see where the crew members reside, dine, kick back to relax, etc. We always tip cruise staff but in cash not automatic tipping. Youll want to factor in the cruise line gratuity charge, sometimes called on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). They will seldom steer you wrong. In their case "tipping" doesn't mean "extra" - it means "salary". Depending on your cruise ship, you may be able to use the Royal . Royal Caribbean's VOOM service has two different levels of service with two different prices. The cruise where fun means everything. Here is a list of the daily gratuity charges by major cruise lines for 2021-22. ), it, So youre planning a family cruise with a $2000 budget is it possible? 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. Thats up to you! Which currency you should bring with you on a cruise depends on your departure port and itinerary. Other cruisers, often people who remember cruising before autogratuities, prefer tipping crew in cash. Royal Caribbean offers three all-inclusive drink packages, a premium coffee package and a water package. Most mainstream cruise lines bill passengers between $12 and $15 per person, per day for. In the wake of the increase, a family of four in a . If you dont have a drink package, theyll add the price of each drink plus the service fee to your onboard tab. 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. Typically, this is associated with your credit card which youll be prompted to set up when you complete your online check in. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? Had same two waiters 4 of those nights. Tipping on a Cruise: Your Complete Big-Ship Tip Guide How Much Money Should I Take on a Cruise? - Windstar Cruises Travel Blog The tipping culture in North America and on cruise ships is flawed, but (as you mentioned) reducing or eliminating tips only hurts the hardworking crew and their families - and does nothing to change the system. 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. 15% being the rough standard for satisfactoryservice. One of these differences is that cruise gratuities are included. Afrikaans; Alemannisch; ; ; Azrbaycanca; ; Banjar; ; () The rule of thumb is to tip the guide 10% to 20% of the tour cost, depending on how much you enjoyed the experience. 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. Many ships also have an abundance of kids' activities including kids clubs that . Its a good idea to hand over your tips the day before disembarkation. Even though cruise gratuities technically arent mandatory, they are customary on most mainstream cruise lines. So something edible (maybe a favorite candy or snack from your home region?) On NCL, passengers who dont want to pay autograts need to file a claim for reimbursement after the cruise. One exception is the piano player in the loungemost accept tips for song requests or if you enjoyed their music. I ALWAYS tip extra to the outstanding employees on every cruise I have ever taken. Some guests may bring $200 extra for gratuities whereas others may bring $50. The COST Series: Cruise Ship TIPPING | Who to tip on a cruise and how much | Royal Caribbean Tipping The Weekend Cruiser 8.96K subscribers Subscribe 588 Share 10K views 8 months ago. When youre tipping in cash on a cruise, its always best to use the official currency on the ship. Either way, expect to spend about $15-20 per day. They often work 7-10 months at a time and 12-14 hours per day for seven days straight before having a half or even a whole day off. Most cruise lines charge for children as well, although there are some exceptions for very young children on select cruise lines. Even if you try, theyll likely graciously turn down your offer. This should provide enough money for transportation, food, and small souvenirs in port. For many cruise passengers, bars play a pretty large role in their experiences. 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. One Key Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package Tip Cruisers Need to Porters: $1-5 per bag Room service delivery: $2-4 per tray Most mainstream cruise lines have their headquarters in the US. Which family cruise can you book for $2000? Get access to the best last minute hotel rates in the USA by becoming a registered member online today. (Learn more about when and when not to pay auto-gratuities.). How much do people tip a Royal Genie? What do you tip your royal genie? - Cruise Critic Community Rather than reducing the amount payed, they point out on their website that they will work to resolve any service issues experienced. So our "big tip" on this subject is this - if you guys have a service staff problem, speak first with your cabin attendant. Royal Caribbean Biggest Ship. .wonder of The Holland America Line, whose ships Noordam and Maasdam are regular visitors to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, has the same tipping policy aboard all its ships. How Much To Tip A Royal Genie (With Chart) - Cruise Mummy But the sticker price of their fares tends to scare off many budget-minded travelers. The finishings are top notch, and the bathroom, in particular, is well-designed with a separate water closet. The new RCI tips per day are added to each guest's SeaPass card (shipboard account) automatically. Cruise line employees work their butts off to earn those tips. Since this is the current pay structure for most major cruise lines, removing tips really affects the cruise line workers. How much? Gave them US 5 each three nights and US 10 each last night. ~ janet 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. Every stateroom has a room service menu. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. Keep in mind, the venues are not always the same between Royal Caribbean ships, but each of my tips can. Have some small bills handy for these times. In addition to the automatic daily gratuities, a tip or service fee of 15-20% is added to drinks and/or drink packages as well as spa services on a cruise. But many cruisers (including myself) choose to prepay to avoid a big charge at the end of the cruise. Robinson said mainstream cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Holland America Line charge gratuities on a per person, per day basis. What is Royal Caribbean's gratuity price and policy? - Cruises 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. How to Pay: Paid in cruise fare at the time of purchase. Weve been on 4 cruises with our 5th. With a beverage package, youve already paid the service fee when you bought the package, so the tip is included. While you pay daily gratuities before your cruise ($16 per person, per day in most staterooms), many cruisers like to give something extra. 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. On most cruise lines that collect automatic gratuities, youre able to remove or adjust the charges by visiting the passenger services desk. If you found this helpful, please dont keep it to yourself ;-). Do you need to tip at the spa on a cruise? The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Since most cruise passengers follow the tipping guidelines, that amounts to an increase $13.30 . Please check Costas website for details. However, youll want to make sure youve notified your bank that you will be out of the country. Olsen Cruise Lines and Cruise & Maritime Voyages charge substantially less -- 7 per person per day; while Marella, Saga and P&O Cruises now include tips (MSC Cruises also includes tips for its UK-based ship, Preziosa). By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. The cruise director will also remind passengers about how much and whom the cruise . If you choose to pay tips in cash, there are usually some envelopes available at the guest service desk. Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? There are some exceptions. 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. Like what you see? Cruise Ship Tipping and Prepaid Gratuities: Should I Tip More? Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. Come join my Facebook Cruise Community Thanks for reading and Happy Cruising!! Just did 8 nights on Voyager. However, most cruisers do tip them for their service. Originally formed in 1988 by the Chandris Group in Greece, Celebrity Cruises was acquired by Royal Caribbean Group in 1997. There is a lot of included dining location so how do you know which ones to che. Is it the 15 day or the 7 day from Honolulu? cabin (not suite) recommended amount would be $39 pp times two equals $78 for a 4 night cruise. 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. You can also leave a small gift for your favorite crew member. Norwegian Cruise Line has onboard service charge will is charged automatically for guests 3 and up, and distributed among staff that serve you in various ways. Its important to note that, especially on the luxury lines, tipping is not expected. How Much Does a Caribbean Cruise ACTUALLY Cost? (13 Examples) The suite life: Royal Caribbean vs Celebrity Cruises. Which is better Related: Whats included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare. Id love to connect with you on Instagram and Facebook @lifewellcruised. Ren de Lambert (@RenedeLambert) on Flipboard Pasted as rich text. 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. In the main dining room, buffet, specialty restaurants, and other dining venues, your tip is included in the automatic gratuities. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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. 40 Ocean Quotes for Everyone Who Loves The Sea, 15 Delicious Foods in the Bahamas You Need to Try. Paste as plain text instead, HomeBlogCruise Tips Cruise News Cruise DestinationsAboutContactResourcesFeatured PressPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyDisclosure PolicyTerms of Use. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. They have the insider tips to match so that you can make the most of everything that'll be at your fingertips. Id give a much larger tip to a knowledgeable tour guide who led us on an intensive nine-hour experience compared to a guide who did a basic three-hour city walking tour. Ive been surprisedor I probably should say I had forgottenhow many hands have been extended for a tip on these shore excursions. Thanks for sharing your view on this. The service charge on MSC Cruises is $12.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. Near the end of your cruise, youll probably receive some comment cards in your stateroom that you can use to leave feedback about a member of the crew. Your link has been automatically embedded. Cruise lines usually add a service charge, usually 15-18%, to all beverages that arent complimentary. This practice can eat into the regular wages and livelihood of hardworking crew and is not advised. If you wait to the end to tip, then the servers wont know and you possibly missed out of knowing how wonderful the cabin steward or others could be. IMPORTANT: Since September 7, 2022, Royal Caribbean International (RCI) cruise ship passengers pay USD 16 pp per day in tips (service charge for staterooms Junior Suites and below). Royal Caribbean charges a gratuity of $16.00 per person, per day. They might feel that it gives them more control over tipping, rewarding the crew based on their level of service. The average daily gratuity on a cruise is $14-15 USD per person - approximately $30 per day, per couple in a cabin. Automatic gratuities cover just about every tipped crew member on the ship. Royal Caribbean Cruises Tipping Policy - CruiseCheap.com Could you possibly make your articles printable? If not, 15-20% of the bill (excluding any products that you buy) is customary. Ren de Lambert. How much to tip waiter and his assistant? 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. Viking Ocean: $15.00 per person, per day Virgin Voyages: includes gratuities in the fare. Grand Suite and above cabin categories pay USD 18,50 pp per day gratuities. This is a good question. Now, with automatic gratuities, the process is much simpler and you dont need to carry all that cash. cost of royal caribbean around the world cruise Cruise prices msc Royal Caribbean Gratuities,Tipping Policy,Tips | CruiseMapper 15+ Royal Caribbean Tips, Tricks, and Things to Know Do you prefer to prepay your gratuitiesor to pay in cash? How Much Water Should I Drink Before Donating Plasma. So they follow this model with many of their crew members who perform services for passengers. In addition to this, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to all drinks, spa and salon services. Having small bills handy is helpful if you plan to tip crew members throughout your sailing. 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. I think its pretty bad when thats the only night they make their presence be known. Cash is rarely required on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as all payments onboard are made via your SeaPass account. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. . Congrats on reaching Diamond :) Happy cruising! Most cruise lines allow guests to remove automatic gratuities. Though automated gratuities are the easiest and most common way to tip, some passengers prefer to instead tip their attendants in cash, either in addition to the automated gratuity or in place of it. balyasny aum TRAVEL PROTECTION PROGRAM. A couple should budget about $200 in gratuities for a 7 day cruise. If you go on a tour or shore excursion, its nice to tip the driver or shore excursion staff if youve appreciated their service. When did royal mail stop delivering on christmas day? - JacAnswers Depending on your bank, the ATM transaction fee may be waived. 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. Cruise line employees are extremely hard working, I agree, and they go above and beyond so often. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and leave a comment! This is a convenient option for cruise passengers that dont want to think about extra charges once onboard. When planning your cruise, check with your travel agent or the cruise line about the tipping policy. For many cruises that operate in the Australian market where tipping isnt part of the culture, automatic gratuities arent added on to passenger bills. I also tipped my wait staff very generously in the main dining room and specialty restaurants, as well as my drink waiters! Tipping is not required, however, customarily some people do choose to tip anywhere from $1 - $5 per order. Treasure Coast of Florida. However, cruisers dont always see all of the crew who work behind the scenes for them, like the kitchen and laundry workers. a $200 gratuity on top of my prepaid gratuities. The Smart Cruiser's Guide to Tipping on a Cruise | Cruisewatch New York state residents who wish to purchase the product may visit https://travelcruisecare.com to enroll directly with . Your email address will not be published. Princess Cruises also has the Princess Plus fare, which includes gratuities or the crew incentive, Medallion Net wifi and Princess premium beverage package. There is no service charge applied for children under 2 years of age. Our concern is that the cruise lines take advantage by paying lower wages and then guilting passengers into higher tips. Cruising in 2022: Why Onboard Tipping is More Important Than Ever, Cabin Stewardess on Princess Cruises (Photo: Princess Cruises), A Cash Tip Which is Common on Cruises (Photo: elwynn/Shutterstock). Extra tipping doesnt give you the right to be a jerk, but if you are a jerk, you had better extra tip! Credit: whmuc.blogspot.com. 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. They are always pleasant and willing to do whatever they can for you. UK lines such as Fred. Tipping on a cruise ship: The big picture. 50 Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips and Tricks I like knowing that my bill is all set before I sail! If youre sailing from the United States to the Caribbean, US dollars are widely accepted in popular cruise ports. You also shouldnt tip the cruise director, the entertainment staff, or any independent entertainers like musical guests, comedians, or magicians. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Many luxury all-inclusive cruise lines include gratuities in their cruise fares, or have a tips neither expected nor required policy. Credit: Royal Caribbean Show-Stopping Entertainment Both beautiful cruise options! If your kids have had a great time and youve appreciated the service, a few extra dollars are surely appreciated. On top of that, there's an 18% gratuity fee. What currency should you use to tip on a cruise? 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. They will do extra for you after they realize you are a tipper! 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. Celebrity Cruises guide: Ships, itineraries, tips & more | Royal Price: $14.50 per person/day in standard cabins, $17.50 per person/day in suites, and 18% on beverages and spa and salon services. Princess: $14.50 per person, per day ($15.50 for mini-suite guests and $16.50 for suite guests). Keep in mind that cruise crew members live in tight quarters, so small (and edible) gifts are preferred. Youll likely get much better service by doing that instead of just removing the tip! Gratuities & tips are not obligatory - Royal Caribbean International one in 2023. The cost is $13.50 per person, per day for guests in Grill Class suites. So why dont cruise lines just increase the price of fares, and pay their crew a living wage with a decent hourly rate? This is a review of RCI-Royal Caribbean International's gratuities (paid for the crew services), tipping policy and tips (per day/reduced/removed).