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I think its pretty bad when thats the only night they make their presence be known. Grand Suite and above cabin categories pay USD 18,50 pp per day gratuities. Some cruise lines refer to these tips as a service charge. If you dont prepay your gratuities, they will be added to your onboard account. Ive been surprisedor I probably should say I had forgottenhow many hands have been extended for a tip on these shore excursions. It really made my day! If you have a special in-room dining experience, like Ultimate Balcony Dining on Princess (which I highly recommend, by the way), its a nice gesture to add an extra cash tip for the servers who brought your meals up and made your dinner a special experience. You cannot paste images directly. The article also reviews major changes in the RCI's gratuities policy implemented fleetwide/on all liners. 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. What else can you do to show the crew your appreciation? Those can range from about $15 to upwards of $20 for each . Your link has been automatically embedded. Our Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips And Tricks. It would be so helpful if I could print just the blog to read at random timescar trip, etc. Royal Caribbean states the current pricing for 2022 sailings is between $12.99 and $15.00 per day of the cruise. Plus, for a limited time, its $10 off. If you want to adjust the amount, go to the reception desk. Jan 6. 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. In fact, I think most would agree that cruise line staff make a huge difference in the cruise experience. According to Royal Caribbean, the last increase put the company "in line with its competitors in the industry and recognize the exceptional work that Royal Caribbean's staff and crew does to deliver unforgettable vacations every day.". Please note that gratuities are charged in US dollars for Caribbean, US and Canada cruises. Cruise lines have implemented automatic gratuities, options to prepay gratuities and some popular cruise lines have begun including tips in your cruise fare. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. You may want to give them a tip per drink or a larger tip at the end or even the beginning of your cruise. Im Carrie Ann, the writer behind Should Be Cruising. Cruisers would have to tip each of their service personnel (the cabin steward, restaurant servers, bartenders, etc.) separately, near the end of the cruise. Beyond leaving a cash tip for your cabin steward, or favorite server or bartender, some other small gestures will go a long way. What Is a Cabin Steward on a Cruise Ship? I prefer waiting to see how the service is before deciding on an extra tip, but thats just my preference. One exception is the piano player in the loungemost accept tips for song requests or if you enjoyed their music. 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. Your email address will not be published. I generally tip extra, mostly because I come from a customer service back round and know how hard these people work, compared to their pay. Royal Caribbean's drink packages include: Deluxe Beverage Package Refreshment Package (No alcohol) Classic Soda Package One of these differences is that cruise gratuities are included. Although cash isnt required for onboard purchases, there are a few scenarios where youll want to have cash available. This cruise ship was the first of Carnival's unique Dream Class cruise ships. 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. When youre tipping in cash on a cruise, its always best to use the official currency on the ship. UK lines such as Fred. Cunards daily gratuities are set at $11.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. Should you tip extra on a cruise? I go into more detail about this topic in this post:Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise? 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. We usually do the prepaid tipping and also give some extra at the end of our cruises. There are a couple of exceptions, though. 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. Tipping on a cruise ship isnt mandatory, but it is customary, and many crew members rely on tips as a large part of their income. 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. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. That's a major contrast to the early days of the return to sailing after the cruise line's 15-month . 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. Luxury cruise lines have a higher upfront cost than most popular cruise lines, however theyll often include many valuable extras. Some people are retired or on a fixed income, some are well off, some have to save for years for a cruise. 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. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. Royal Caribbean offers three all-inclusive drink packages, a premium coffee package and a water package. Bar, spa and in-room dining for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara have an 18 per cent gratuity charge. I have to say, we simply prepay or leave the tips as is, so I really dont pay attention these days. However, youll want to make sure youve notified your bank that you will be out of the country. These cruise line employees are highly compensated, and offering a tip isnt necessary. Additionally, shouldbecruising.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes receive a commission from purchases made through our links. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. For favorite bartenders or waitstaff, I give about $20 to each for a seven-day cruise. Want to give something beyond cash? i understand what you are saying.and I know we are paying roughly 15 dollars a day each as a tip already. Do I need to tip on a cruise or pay service charges, is a question that comes up often. Carnival cruise gratuities are automatically added to onboard accounts for those in all rooms. Extra tipping doesnt give you the right to be a jerk, but if you are a jerk, you had better extra tip! Upload or insert images from URL. In-suite parties are a huge amount of work for the Genie and room attendants. As a cruise passenger, you want to be aware and set your budget expectations to include these amounts for the cruise ship staff. Service charges for guests ages 4-14 are half of the adult rate. A 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 person, per day for guests in Suites, will be applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and leave a comment! The balcony is a good size with two chairs. Any chance of that? a $200 gratuity on top of my prepaid gratuities. Stay in one of the Royal Suites and room service is included. 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). Im so glad youre here! However ,usually you can have at least 2 cabin stewards. If you could use cruise packing lists, to-do checklists, shore excursion forms and more, youll love the Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner. Since this is the current pay structure for most major cruise lines, removing tips really affects the cruise line workers. This is for a good reason as it ensures that proper. Get access to the best last minute hotel rates in the USA by becoming a registered member online today. (Youll often see a survey pop up in your email inbox a few days after your cruise.). You also have the option to prepay your gratuities before your cruise. Tips on Cruise Ship Tipping - Who and How Much to Tip! 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. Having small bills handy is helpful if you plan to tip crew members throughout your sailing. Learn how your comment data is processed. Whether in Mexico, St. Maarten, Italy, or Vanuatu, having cash is recommended. Your articles are so helpful at navigating the cruise world. By We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Ive been cruising for over 15 years, and the practice of tipping on a cruise has certainly evolved. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. Royal Caribbean cruise ships have been sailing at nearly 100% capacity for the past few months. The amount you tip is up to youI generally give about $5 per person per day to my stateroom steward. cost cruise much does caribbean royal excursions treatments fees consider drinks spa government Princess Cruises will automatically charge a crew incentive of $14.50 per person, per day for guests in inside ocean view and balcony cabins. How Much Water Should I Drink Before Donating Plasma. Princess Cruises also has the Princess Plus fare, which includes gratuities or the crew incentive, Medallion Net wifi and Princess premium beverage package. Some claim they are making less money than they formerly did with cash tips. For more info, please read myDisclosure Policy. 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. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. 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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_20',609,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0');In for-a-fee specialty dining restaurants, you might see a spot on your bill (if you get one) to add a tip. This is a convenient option for cruise passengers that dont want to think about extra charges once onboard. You might want to remove their tips as a punishment for poor service. Is it the 15 day or the 7 day from Honolulu? Automatic gratuities, also called autogratuities or autograts, is the cruise term for the system most cruise lines now use to simplify tipping for passengers. Some cruise ship spas, like those on NCL and Royal Caribbean, add on a service fee or gratuity, usually about 18%. 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. Posted September 17, 2021. How Much Should I Tip My Room Steward on a Cruise? will be more appreciated than something they would have to store. We usually tip between $500-700 depending on what we do. Like what you see? Before Your Royal Caribbean Cruise . However, the price of getting online can be expensive. I always prepay the gratuities. If you enjoy tipping in cash, consider giving an extra cash tip to the crew members who gave you excellent service on your cruise. There will be an 18-20% tip automatically charged when ordering an individual drink, so no need to add more in most cases. At the base level, one person can use the service, and the price rises as you add more logins. Do you need to tip for drinks, meals, or snacks on a cruise? They will seldom steer you wrong. Norwegian Cruise Line. 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. 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. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. The rule of thumb is to tip the guide 10% to 20% of the tour cost, depending on how much you enjoyed the experience. Others just prefer the face-to-face experience of handing over a cash tip. How much are automatic gratuities on a cruise? Royal Caribbean's VOOM service has two different levels of service with two different prices. (Want to get the most from your cabin steward? New York state residents who wish to purchase the product may visit https://travelcruisecare.com to enroll directly with . 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. For many cruise passengers, bars play a pretty large role in their experiences. Cruise Tipping and Salaries Dissected, Tipping On Cruises: Cruise Line Policies Revealed, Tipping on Ships: An Australian Culture Clash, Cabin Stewards on a Cruise: What to Expect, How Not to Be Rude on a Cruise: 10 Ways to Make the Crew Love You. If you want to give an additional tip to your cabin steward (or two), Im sure its very appreciated. How much cash should you bring on a cruise? If you choose to pay tips in cash, there are usually some envelopes available at the guest service desk. Having worked in the service industry, if people want to extra tip, then doing it at the beginning is the way to go. Royal Caribbean Cruise Holiday Deals 2020 & 2021 - Cruise Nation www.cruisenation.com. 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. 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. | Royal Caribbean Blog www.royalcaribbeanblog.com. How to Pay: Paid in cruise fare at the time of purchase. 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. If cruising from Australia to the South Pacific, Australian dollars are widely accepted. The gratuities on Oceania Cruises are $16.00 per person, per day for most staterooms and $23.00 per person, per day for guests in suites. Hi All, I just wanted to share something with new cruisers (and old if they do not know this). Crew members work really hard and make the difference between an ok and a memorable cruise vacation. Most mainstream cruise lines bill passengers between $12 and $15 per person, per day for. I put together a 47 page printable cruise travel planner that has everything you need as you plan and get ready for your cruise. Cruises from Europe and Australia will still use the US dollar as the official onboard currency, but you should make purchases in port with the destinations local currency. Could you please go into tipping for the haven ncl staff , butlers and more. Prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and cruise line gratuities may be referred to a daily service charge or crew incentive. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? 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.. Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner, YouTube at Life Well Cruised (Vlogs and cruise tips). cabin (not suite) recommended amount would be $39 pp times two equals $78 for a 4 night cruise. If theres a crew member who goes above and beyond for you, there are some other ways to show your appreciation. In their case "tipping" doesn't mean "extra" - it means "salary". And while you dont need to visit a port with $1000 in your wallet, youll want to make sure you have enough money to account for expenses throughout the day. The big three, including Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean expect guests to foot the bill and tips are added to their onboard account. After combing through my notes, here's the best tips and tricks for taking a Royal Caribbean cruise. Who else should you tip on a cruise ship? Gave them US 5 each three nights and US 10 each last night. They did a really good job and I would like to tip them. Even if you try, theyll likely graciously turn down your offer. 15% being the rough standard for satisfactoryservice. If you found this helpful, please dont keep it to yourself ;-). Norwegian Cruise Line charges a daily service fee of $15.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $18.50 per person per day for guests in suites and The Haven. I dont tend to tip in advance, so this is an interesting way of doing things. Could you possibly make your articles printable? Youre right an 18% gratuity is added each time you purchase a drink. 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. Each person you tip gets their own envelope. I dont think anyone will think youre rude for not tipping over and above this. What do you think about cruise line gratuities and service onboard? 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. A former flight attendant, she now prefers cruise ships over airplanes and spends several months each year cruising and exploring cruise ports. Youll want to factor in the cruise line gratuity charge, sometimes called on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). I was very surprised. You can adjust this based on the length and complexity of the tour. If sailing in a reg. Other cruisers, often people who remember cruising before autogratuities, prefer tipping crew in cash. If you go on a tour or shore excursion, its nice to tip the driver or shore excursion staff if youve appreciated their service. There are also usually comment cards available at the purser's desk or online for additional recognition -- or post a review on Cruise Critic. If mainstream cruise lines decided to abolish tipping and pay all crew members a reasonable rate per hour, they would have to significantly raise the cost of cruise fares. 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! We also always tip bar staff even when drinks are complimentary. There are different service charges for certain itineraries. Still confused . What do you think about the custom of tipping on a cruise ship? Thanks for sharing your view on this. I agree with Kelli. Ive got you covered! The average price of a 7 night Caribbean cruise, on a mainstream cruise line, in April is approximately $616 (493) per person, excluding taxes. Grand Suite and above cabin categories pay USD 18,50 pp per day gratuities. Also, if free gratuities are an amenity, youre not expected to go beyond it unless someone goes way beyond whats normally expected. Originally formed in 1988 by the Chandris Group in Greece, Celebrity Cruises was acquired by Royal Caribbean Group in 1997. Our Hawaiian cruise in April will be the first weve been on in 15 years, so, obviously, things have changed a lot. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? 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). They pay their crew (usually recruited from countries with limited economic opportunities) per contract, not by the hour. Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. Youll often receive change back in local currency even when paying with USD. In North America, most cruise terminal porters are longshoremen. 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. The new RCI tips per day are added to each guest's SeaPass card (shipboard account) automatically. 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. Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). For example, Royal Caribbean (www.royalcaribbean.com) recently increased its tip recommendations and now suggests $3.75 per day for your main waiter, $5 per day for the cabin housekeeping staff, $2.15 per day for the assistant waiter, and $0.75 per day for the head waiter. Hi Alex, thanks so much for your lovely comment. Cruise lines just have contracts with their preferred shore excursion companiesthe guides and drivers arent employees of the line. When you book your cruise, youll be charged your cruise fare, port fees and taxes. Do you prefer to prepay your gratuitiesor to pay in cash? They have the insider tips to match so that you can make the most of everything that'll be at your fingertips. I like knowing that my bill is all set before I sail! The porters will assist with your luggage and its customary to tip for their service. 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. This amount varies by cruise line, however the average daily gratuity is $14-15 US per day, per passenger for a standard cabin and $17-18 a day for guests in suites. It has one large sink with two faucets and a large shower with a tub. A better solution is to have a discreet word with the crew members supervisor about your concerns. While each cruise line is different, many include alcoholic drinks, soda and specialty coffee, gratuities, specialty dining and some shore excursions. Youll likely get much better service by doing that instead of just removing the tip! This practice can eat into the regular wages and livelihood of hardworking crew and is not advised. #4. 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. Credit: whmuc.blogspot.com. That is a very personal question. How much are gratuities on Royal Caribbean cruises? There is no charge for children under 2 years of age. Every stateroom has a room service menu. I ALWAYS tip extra to the outstanding employees on every cruise I have ever taken. Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. If you are one to give your room attendant a little extra (on top of auto gratuities), how much do you typically give. I purchased the package pre-cruise for $76, this equates to just over $25 per day. Most are experienced cruisers and, as a group, theyre very well-liked. There are a number of factors which people use to decide how much to tip their Genie. If youre sailing from the United States to the Caribbean, US dollars are widely accepted in popular cruise ports. Royal Caribbean says it is raising its suggested crew gratuities by nearly $2 per passenger, per day. I love reading your blog and learning, but I dont often have time to sit down at the computer to read. Travelers in suites are. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_21',676,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0');Tip: Want to avoid paying hefty ATM fees on the cruise ship to get cash for tips? As for tipping above and beyond prepaid gratuities, I agree completely that there is no expectation. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Should you prepay automatic gratuities? April 16, 2019 in Royal Caribbean Dining. Below are just some of the people you may want to tip in this way, and some rough guidelines regarding how much - though know this is very subjective, and of course should be commensurate with the level of service that a given person provided. You can always add extra for exceptional service, though! You can read more about me and about Should Be Cruising here. A kind word or a drawing costs nothing and is always appreciated. At some North American ports, youll see signs stating that the porters do not accept tips. Thats a funny thing that weve experienced in the past as well. On NCL, passengers who dont want to pay autograts need to file a claim for reimbursement after the cruise. The industry should pay fair wages so that our tips are in fact tips and not wages. Had same two waiters 4 of those nights. I do think its a very personal choice, but we can talk about this in a future video for sure! When planning your cruise, check with your travel agent or the cruise line about the tipping policy. 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. Given that most , all ? 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. Keep in mind, the venues are not always the same between Royal Caribbean ships, but each of my tips can. The gratuity is $15.50 per person, per day for guests in mini-suites and $16.50 per person, per day for guests in suites. Some cruise lines point out that you may wish to tip the kids club staff. They are always pleasant and willing to do whatever they can for you. 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%. On embarkation day of my very first cruise, a porter came up to my taxi and whisked my luggage away, seconds after I got out of the car. Today is day 10 of a 12 day cruise on grandeur. No worries about "shoddy tips" since you have already paid the standard tip. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Children aged 2-11 will be charged $6.25 per day. 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. Gratuities or a service charge are added onto some onboard services. 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). In addition to this, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to all drinks, spa and salon services. 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. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! 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.