If you are new to cruising, you should know that not everything is included in your cruise vacation. In addition to your cruise fare, there are other services charges for which you will need to budget. This includes daily per person cruise gratuities as well as service charges added to purchases like drinks and spa treatments.
In this post, we explain everything you need to know about cruise gratuities broken down by cost for each cruise line.
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Everything You Need to Know About Cruise Gratuities in 2023
What are Cruise Gratuities?
Cruise gratuities are services charges that are not included in a standard cruise fare on most contemporary cruise lines, similar to a hotel resort fee. These additional fees are a per person, per day dollar amount that are charged to all guests across all stateroom categories.
And unfortunately, most contemporary cruise lines have increased or plan to increase these charges in 2023.
Guests are usually charged automatically for these additional fees.
Depending on the cruise line, these charges are usually applicable to guests 2-3 years of age and older.
These charges serve as a means to reward the hard-working crew for the excellent service provided during your cruise vacation.
These cruise gratuities are divided among stateroom attendants, dining staff, and other behind the scenes crew members in a proportion determined by the cruise line. This method is meant to be more equitable across all staff.
As stated above, these service charges apply to all guests regardless of stateroom category. However, some stateroom categories do have higher fees than others.
These cruise gratuities also apply to all guests regardless of your dining options. Cruisers who opt to only eat in the buffet, who select anytime dining, or who choose more traditional dining will all pay the same amount based on their stateroom category.
Is it better to pre-pay gratuities on a cruise?
Guests can pay for these cruise gratuities in one of two ways. If you would prefer to pay ahead of time, most cruise lines allow guests to pre-pay their gratuities at the time of booking or anytime prior to sailing. These fees will then be added into your total cruise fare and covered with your final payment.
One major benefit of pre-paying your cruise gratuities is that you will pay the current rate. If prices should happen to increase before your sailing, you will not need to pay extra for these increased costs.
If you do not pre-pay the gratuities, you will need to pay the current per day, per person dollar amount at the time of your sailing. This fee will be added to your stateroom account once onboard the ship.
How Much Are Cruise Gratuities in 2023?
The exact charge for these cruise gratuities do vary by cruise line and by stateroom category. While gratuities are part of the cruise fare on some luxury lines, cruisers should plan to pay the following fees on the majority of major cruise lines.
It is important to note that these cruise gratuities have been on the rise, with most major cruise lines recently raising prices or set to do so in 2023.
Gratuities on Royal Caribbean
As of September 7th, 2022, the gratuities on Royal Caribbean ships are:
- $16 per person, per day for guests in non-suites staterooms
- $18.50 per person, per day for guests in suites
This fee is applied to each guest’s SeaPass account on a daily basis.
In addition, guests will pay an 18% gratuity on all beverages, mini bar items, and spa & salon purchases. This is on top of the cruise gratuity charges.
Gratuities on NCL (Norwegian Cruise Line)
Norwegian Cruise Line’s cruise gratuities for bookings made on or after January 1, 2023 are:
- $25 for guests staying in the Haven and Suites
- $20 for all other staterooms, Club Balcony Suites and below
For bookings made before January 1, 2023, that pre-pay gratuities before the sail date, prices are as follows:
- $20 per person per day for The Haven and Suites
- $18 per person per day for Club Balcony Suite
- $16 per person per day for all other stateroom types
There is an additional 20% gratuity for all spa and salon services. There is also a 20% service charge on all beverage purchases and all specialty restaurant dining and entertainment based dining. Further, cruises to Hawaii also have a 4.275% service tax applied.
Carnival Cruise Gratuities
Carnival Cruise Line’s gratuities are also increasing in 2023.
For cruise departures prior to April 1, 2023, guests will need to pay:
- Standard Staterooms: $14.50 per person, per day
- Suite Staterooms: $16.50 per person, per day
On cruise departures on or after April 1, 2023, the fee increases to:
- Standard Staterooms: $16 per person, per day
- Suite Staterooms: $18 per person, per day
For beverage purchases, an automatic 18% gratuity will be added to the bill in addition to the cruise gratuity.
Gratuities on Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises has also increased the price on cruise gratuities for sailings on or after October 17, 2022.
These new prices are as follows:
- $17.50 per person, per day for Inside, Ocean View, and Veranda staterooms
- $18 per person, per day for Concierge Class and AquaClass staterooms
- $21 per person, per day for guests of The Retreat
However, Celebrity Cruises also has a newer pricing structure. The All Included cruise fare now incorporates some basic amenities to provide a more all-inclusive feel. Gratuities is one of these amenities.
With the All Included pricing, guests receive tips, basic Wi-Fi, and the Classic Drink Package as part of their cruise fare.
A 20% gratuity will still be automatically added to all beverages, mini bar purchases, spa and salon services. Though, guests will not pay gratuity for drinks that are part of the complimentary classic beverage package.
Princess Cruise Gratuities
On Princess Cruises, the crew appreciation will cost more for voyages departing after February 20, 2023.
Currently, the gratuity is $16.50 per guest for suites and $15.50 per guest for mini-suites. A $14.50 cruise gratuity is charged for guests (including children) staying in all other staterooms.
The new increases are as follows:
- Interior, Oceanview, and Balcony $16
- Mini-Suite and Reserve Collection $17
- Suites $18
Similar to Celebrity Cruises, Princess cruises offers more all-inclusive packages that include crew appreciation. If guests upgrade to the Princess Plus or Princess Premier Packages, they will not pay any additional gratuities once onboard the ship.
However, an 18% service charge still applies to bar charges, dining room wine accounts, and Lotus Spa services.
Gratuities on Holland America
For all sailings departing prior to February 1, 2023 as well as the 2023 Grand World Voyage and the 2023 Grand South America Antarctica Voyage, the daily Hotel Service Charge is $15.50 per guest, per day for non-suite staterooms. This fee is $17 per guest, per day for suite guests.
However, this price is increasing for sailings departing on or after February 1, 2023. The new crew appreciation prices are as follows:
- $16 per guest, per day for non-suite stateroom guests
- $17.50 per guest, per day for suite guests
An 18% Bar Service Charge is automatically added to bar charges and Dining Room wine purchases. Again, this is on top of the daily service charges.
Gratuities on MSC Cruises
For Bahamas and Caribbean sailings with MSC Cruises, cruise gratuities are as follows:
- The charge for adults 12 and over is $14.50
- For children 2-12 years old, the charge is $7.50
- For kids under 2 years old, there is no charge
A 15% Bar Service Charge also applies to all purchases on MSC Cruises as well.
The gratuities for other destinations do vary. If you are cruising to another destination with MSC, you will want to visit the cruise line’s website.
Disney Cruise Gratuities
On Disney Cruise Line, the recommended cruise gratuity is $14.50 per night, per guest, including infants and children.
Guests staying in Concierge Staterooms and Suites are recommended a gratuity amount of $15.50 per night.
An 18% gratuity is automatically added to bar, beverage, wine, and deck service tabs.
Viking Ocean Cruise Gratuities
While considered a luxury brand, Viking is one of the few high-end cruise lines that does charge a daily guest gratuity. All guests will need to pay a hotel and dining charge of $17 per day regardless of stateroom category.
Further, a 15% gratuity is automatically added to bar, beverage, wine, and deck service tabs.
This same fee applies to Viking Expedition as well. However, Viking River service charges do vary by destination.
Cruise Gratuities on Virgin Voyages
Sailors looking to voyage with this adult only cruise line will be happy to know that gratuities are part of the cruise fare. On Virgin Voyages, there are no daily gratuities added to your shipboard account. Now, that’s a perk!
Further, there are no additional service charges on other items like beverages or spa services.
Cruise Gratuities on Margaritaville at Sea
On the new Margaritaville at Sea cruise line, guests can expect to pay gratuities during their 2-night sailing. These fees are $14.95 per person, per night for interior and ocean view staterooms and $19.95 for suites.
Guests are also charged up to $12 per person, per day for a fuel charge.
Additionally, an 18% service charge is added to all bar purchases.
Windstar Cruise Gratuities
Guests sailing on Windstar Cruises should expect to pay cruise gratuities as well. This hotel service charge is $16 per passenger, per day and is automatically added to each guest’s onboard account.
Of note, Windstar Cruises also has an option for an all-inclusive package. This package includes WiFi, drinks, and gratuities.
An 18% Beverage Service Charge still applies.
Oceania Cruise Gratuities
Guests cruising with Oceania should also budget for these additional service charges based on their stateroom category. The fees are as follows:
- For guests in standard staterooms, gratuities are $18 per guest, per day
- For guests in Penthouse, Oceania, Vista, or Owner’s Suites where Butler Service is provided, gratuities are $23 per guest, per day
In addition, a 20% service gratuity is automatically added to all beverage purchases, spa services, and dinner at La Reserve.
Other Luxury Cruise Lines
Other luxury cruise lines like Silversea, Seabourn, and Regent include all gratuities except on spa services.
Do you have to pay gratuities on cruise?
Can you opt out of gratuities on a cruise? Not really.
Cruise gratuities are mandatory, in loosely defined terms. Most cruise lines do apply these charges automatically. However, these charges can be modified or removed by guests while on the ship in the event that they did not receive satisfactory service.
Keep in mind that gratuities will be deemed undisputed unless a request to modify is received prior to disembarking the ship.
While cruise gratuities can be modified or removed, we never recommend that cruisers do so. This is such a small and well-deserved token of appreciation to all the hard-working crew onboard the ship. In fact, many cruisers choose to tip above and beyond this rate.
How do you get out of paying gratuities on a cruise?
You might be wondering how you can get out of paying these cruise service charges. Well, there is one big way you can avoid paying them. That is to keep an eye on your cruise planner and email for special promotions.
Cruise lines will often run sales, and travel agents will often offer perks, that may include free gratuities for booking a cruise. Other perks may include onboard credit, free drink packages, free specialty dining, and so on.
Should I tip extra on a cruise?
On all cruise lines, additional gratuities may be added at your discretion. Beyond the standard service charges put forth by the cruise line, we always tip above and beyond for excellent service.
Generally speaking, we provide additional monetary compensation at the end of the cruise to our stateroom attendant and our dining room waitstaff.
Keep in mind that the cruise line assigned gratuities do not include all staff members. These charges do not go towards individuals like bar servers, porters, shore excursion guides, casino staff, or youth staff.
So, you should consider providing tips to these crew members for great service. We generally tip our favorite bartenders, staff at the onboard coffee shop, tour guides, bus drivers, and so on.
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Comments
What are your thoughts on cruise gratuities and service charges? Do you tip beyond these required amounts? How you do like to reward the onboard staff for providing you a memorable cruise vacation?
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