Many luxury all-inclusive cruise lines include gratuities in their cruise fares, or have a tips neither expected nor required policy. If you havent notified your bank, they will usually send you a fraud alert or temporarily freeze your card. You'll find an extensive selection of options all over Canada Any chance of that? Some vendors may process your personal data on the basis of legitimate interest, which you can object to by managing your options below. 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). Gratuities or a service charge are added onto some onboard services. The average daily gratuity on a cruise is $14-15 USD per person - approximately $30 per day, per couple in a cabin. 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. | Royal Caribbean Blog www.royalcaribbeanblog.com. The article also reviews major changes in the RCI's gratuities policy implemented fleetwide/on all liners. Payments on cruise ships have almost entirely gone digital, but there are still a few situations where cash comes in handy. Travelers in suites are. How Much Does a Caribbean Cruise Cost? It includes who to tip, who not to tip, and some tips to help as you plan your cruise vacation. Depending on your cruise ship, you may be able to use the Royal . The balcony is a good size with two chairs. The cruise director will also remind passengers about how much and whom the cruise . I don't actually agree with th. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_13',603,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');Most mainstream cruise lines will charge you about $14 to $15 per person per day for automatic gratuities. Should you prepay automatic gratuities? (For line by line information, read more about cruise line tipping policies.). Thanks! Hi All, Im Ilana. I'm so glad you found my post! Its important to note that, especially on the luxury lines, tipping is not expected. Do you have a favorite bartender? I have a video on my YouTube channel about this and people have commented amounts they give so his could be helpful (just check YouTube and search cruise gratuities Life Well Cruised). Cruise Ship Engine Power, Propulsion, Fuel, Royal Caribbean Drinks Prices, Beverage Menus, Alcohol Policy, Carnival Cruise WiFi Internet Packages Prices. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Before Your Royal Caribbean Cruise . I go into more detail about this topic in this post:Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise? What you cant do is adjust or remove automatic gratuities for a specific crew member. I think this depends on who it is and what their job is. Instead, passengers can tipor notat their own discretion. I purchased the package pre-cruise for $76, this equates to just over $25 per day. 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. But honestly, theyd prefer cash over a gift basketno matter how yummy your treats are! We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Do you need to tip for drinks, meals, or snacks on a cruise? Princess Cruises will automatically charge a crew incentive of $14.50 per person, per day for guests in inside ocean view and balcony cabins. I have to say, we simply prepay or leave the tips as is, so I really dont pay attention these days. All rights reserved. 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. I do think its a very personal choice, but we can talk about this in a future video for sure! I think it's more like when you go to a restaurant and they added the automatic service charge to the bill, but there is still a line for additional tipping. If you're staying in a high-category suite, you may be expected to tip . For favorite bartenders or waitstaff, I give about $20 to each for a seven-day cruise. On top of that, there's an 18% gratuity fee. Pricing varies based on the ship, sail dates, and itinerary. 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. Cruising can be such a relaxing vacation as well as so much fun. On disembarkation day, you probably wont find your fave crew members in their usual spots! If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. It May be Time for Some Royal Caribbean Elites to Reconsider Paying for Drink Packages. Get access to the best last minute hotel rates in the USA by becoming a registered member online today. Your previous content has been restored. Gave them US 5 each three nights and US 10 each last night. However, you might end up paying a similar total price on a mainstream line when you factor in gratuities, drink packages, shore excursions, and the like. First is the ATM. I would imagine wed see prices increase overall if they did this, but perhaps it amounts to this anyway. You may want to give them a tip per drink or a larger tip at the end or even the beginning of your cruise. Other itineraries may differ. If you forgot to bring cash on your cruise, there are a few ways to get it once onboard. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. Cash is rarely required on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as all payments onboard are made via your SeaPass account. The cruise line will assess your fee each day, then theyll charge your credit card on file at the end of the cruise. However, if you prefer to pay off your account and daily gratuities in cash, you can do so by going to guest services. Cruise lines have implemented automatic gratuities, options to prepay gratuities and some popular cruise lines have begun including tips in your cruise fare. Stay in one of the Royal Suites and room service is included. When we tip them individually, do they get to keep the entire amount for themselvesor do they have to share that too? For example, you might give the guide $5 to $10 for a half-day excursion or $10 to $20 for a full-day tour. 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. Cindi Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. Tips are of course a personal decision. In this post, Ill be going through the cruise tipping policies by cruise line and answer some of the most common questions people have about gratuities on a cruise. The average price of a 7 night Caribbean cruise, on a mainstream cruise line, in April is approximately $616 (493) per person, excluding taxes. Tips are added automatically to the onboard account (SeaPass) on a daily basis. Here are some other people you should tip during your cruise. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Normally, we tip between $5 to $7 additionally per day for the two of us at the end of the cruise. If cruising from Australia to the South Pacific, Australian dollars are widely accepted. .WONDER OF THE SEAS. Im not expecting him to kiss our butts, but come on. One of these differences is that cruise gratuities are included. 15% being the rough standard for satisfactoryservice. Great points about luxury lines and that gratuities are included. For many cruises that operate in the Australian market where tipping isnt part of the culture, automatic gratuities arent added on to passenger bills. Royal Caribbean Royal Caribbean charges a $7.95 service fee and room service is available 24-hours a day. If you choose to pay tips in cash, there are usually some envelopes available at the guest service desk. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Given the high level of service, passengers often wonder how much they should plan to tip their cabin steward, especially when they go above and beyond. Royal Caribbean's drink packages include: Deluxe Beverage Package Refreshment Package (No alcohol) Classic Soda Package Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Im a little over a month out before my next cruise, and while its a little early to start packing (is it though? I think its pretty bad when thats the only night they make their presence be known. 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. There's a wide variety of services that you will receive during your cruise. On the flip side, passengers have less control over where their money goes with autogratuities. You dont need to write a noveljust a few sentences about how the crew member made your cruise even better will do. But if you dont want to prepay, thats fine too. You may also like: A Cruise Glossary: Cruise Terms You Should Know. Not based on what we "should" give, more on the fact that they provided very good service. If you found this helpful, please dont keep it to yourself ;-). They cheerfully attend to your requests, tidying your home away from home from the moment you leave in the morning to the last turn-down before bed. Here are some daily automatic gratuity costs for several popular ocean cruise lines in USD (prices accurate as of summer 2021): Unlike with the deals you can get for prepaying for drink packages and some other add-ons, you wont get a discount for prepaying your automatic gratuities. How much are automatic gratuities on a cruise? Then (if your problem continues to bother you) contact the hotel manager. In the main dining room, buffet, specialty restaurants, and other dining venues, your tip is included in the automatic gratuities. For many cruise passengers, bars play a pretty large role in their experiences. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Ive been cruising for over 15 years, and the practice of tipping on a cruise has certainly evolved. How much are gratuities on Royal Caribbean cruises? 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. Most cruisers tip anywhere from $2-$10 per person (or the equivalent in the local currency) to the tour guide, and hand a couple of dollars to the driver. Its customary to tip the waiters generously at specialty restaurants. Often the recommended tips, which run from about $10 to $20 per passenger per day, are published either in the cruise brochure or on the cruise line web page. Just like with the Carnival's tipping policy, under the new Royal Caribbean tipping policy guests who believe they've been serviced poorly while onboard their "Of The Seas" ship has the right to ask Guest Services personnel to reduce or even to remove their automatic gratuities. Most mainstream cruise lines bill passengers between $12 and $15 per person, per day for. If you want to give an additional tip to your cabin steward (or two), Im sure its very appreciated. If theres a crew member who goes above and beyond for you, there are some other ways to show your appreciation. 1 1 Quote Cindi Members 12 Author Posted April 16, 2019 But if your excursions include free time where you eat lunch on your own, its a good idea to research the local tipping customs in the countries youll be visiting before your cruise. When people think of cruises,, Theres nothing quite like relaxing on a Caribbean beach with no worries in the world except deciding which tropical, A lot of cruise ship passengers will drive to their port of embarkation, whether with their own vehicle or in a ride, Royal Caribbean cruises are known for the wide-array of entertainment, dining and things to do onboard, and it got us. Our concern is that the cruise lines take advantage by paying lower wages and then guilting passengers into higher tips. The bar service personnel still gets their 15% tips from each bar sale. If youre going on a cruise, you can expect daily gratuities to be charged automatically to your onboard account. We never gave him anything. Here's how to get the most out of Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package (or Prime Casino Royale free drinks in the casino). However, your cruise vacation expenses wont end there. The Sky Suite on Celebrity was a perfect size for two, at around 320 square feet. Tipped crew make the majority of their income from gratuities! flipped into Ren de Lambert. I give my room steward $5 at the very beginning of the cruise. Children aged 2-11 will be charged $6.25 per day. On most cruise lines that collect automatic gratuities, youre able to remove or adjust the charges by visiting the passenger services desk. Since this is the current pay structure for most major cruise lines, removing tips really affects the cruise line workers. The drink package works at all onboard bars, restaurants, and even Royal Caribbean's private island CocoCay. If you want to avoid any ATM charges, though, you can theoretically take money out via the casino. If not, 15-20% of the bill (excluding any products that you buy) is customary. 1) Get a Free Balcony Upgrade Promotion and How to Find Them Occasionally cruise lines will run special promotions on particular ships, itineraries, and/or destinations offering balcony staterooms at the same price as an outside or inside cabin. During your cruise vacation, youll probably receive services from other people who arent cruise line employeesbut you might not realize it! If you are one to give your room attendant a little extra (on top of auto gratuities), how much do you typically give. 4 Ways to Tip Extra on a Non-Tipping Cruise Ship, What to Expect on a Cruise: Onboard Spending, Service on a Luxury Cruise: What to Expect. (Admit it: You tend to miss those nightly pillow chocolates and towel animals after you get home.) How Much Should You Budget for Cruise Gratuities? Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. Service charges for guests ages 4-14 are half of the adult rate. Now if someone goes over and above a little extra is due. Although cash isnt required for onboard purchases, there are a few scenarios where youll want to have cash available. I like knowing that my bill is all set before I sail! Cruise lines usually add a service charge, usually 15-18%, to all beverages that arent complimentary. According to RCI's website, of the 2016-updated gratuities (US$13.50), nearly US$8.30 goes to dining / culinary services; suite attendants receive US$6,85; stateroom attendants get US$3,85, and housekeeping service staff - US$1.35. Viking Ocean: $15.00 per person, per day Virgin Voyages: includes gratuities in the fare. When youre tipping in cash on a cruise, its always best to use the official currency on the ship. The amount is very personal. This is for a good reason as it ensures that proper. Other people you should tip during your cruise, Nine Things You Need to Check Before Your Cruise, Eight Things That Will Surprise First Time Cruisers, How to Have the Best Embarkation Day on a Cruise, Giada De Laurentiis Named Godmother of Oceania Cruises New Ship Vista, Norwegian Cruise Line Announces 2023 Meet the Winemaker Series, P&O Arvia Naming Ceremony Will Feature Olly Murs, Carnival Now Offering Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagars Santo Tequila Fleetwide, Princess Cruises Introduces Welcome Home Program, https://shouldbecruising.com/privacy-policy/, A Cruise Glossary: Cruise Terms You Should Know, 26 Hidden Cruise Fees You Should Know About. Ill explain everything you need to know about cruise gratuitiesfrom who you should tip, how much you should tip, and who you should never tip on a cruise ship. If you go on a tour or shore excursion, its nice to tip the driver or shore excursion staff if youve appreciated their service. Those can range from about $15 to upwards of $20 for each . For some of them, depending . Some cruise lines employ a sommelier or wine steward in the main dining rooms, who isnt included in the tipping pool. They will seldom steer you wrong. It's all on the room service menu. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? Some cruise lines allow you to use your cruise card to deposit money in the casino. Many ships also have an abundance of kids' activities including kids clubs that . The extra cash may or may not end up in your steward's pocket, but he'll appreciate the gesture nonetheless. If youre sailing from the United States to the Caribbean, US dollars are widely accepted in popular cruise ports. They will do extra for you after they realize you are a tipper! Tips are either covered by the autogratuities or theres a service fee tacked on, so you dont need to tip again. You can post now and register later. The worst thing you can do is wait until you are home from your cruise to address it. It was just the two of us. These kind, helpful, generous, employees work extremely hard to make sure guests like myself have a fabulous time, and since I do, the very least I can do is show my appreciation in a way that benefits them the most! Some people are retired or on a fixed income, some are well off, some have to save for years for a cruise. I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. Theres no need to add an extra tip for each drink. Im an avid cruiser and have been giving out insider tips for more than 10 years! If you could use cruise packing lists, to-do checklists, shore excursion forms and more, youll love the Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner. Often cruise lines provide additional envelopes to tuck a little extra cash at the end of the cruise just for this purpose. Unless they are below average and that has happened only one time. Critics of this system (which has evolved in the last several decades from strictly cash-based gratuities) say that under this tip pooling arrangement, cabin attendants and wait staff aren't getting recognized for exemplary work the same as they were in the old days.