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. Most cruise ships have ATMs, and some have currency exchanges on board. W. How much tip receive in cruise royal caribbean? What do you think about cruise line gratuities and service onboard? Having worked in the service industry, if people want to extra tip, then doing it at the beginning is the way to go. 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). There is a lot of included dining location so how do you know which ones to che. If you want to adjust the amount, go to the reception desk. You also shouldnt tip the cruise director, the entertainment staff, or any independent entertainers like musical guests, comedians, or magicians. 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. 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 your kids had a great time at the kids club on board, giving a tip at the end of the cruise to their favorite staff members is always appreciated. Carnival cruise gratuities are automatically added to onboard accounts for those in all rooms. Here's how to get the most out of Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package (or Prime Casino Royale free drinks in the casino). No worries about "shoddy tips" since you have already paid the standard tip. Cruising can be such a relaxing vacation as well as so much fun. If you buy a $5 souvenir with a $20 bill in Mexico, for example, youll receive change in Mexican pesos. Cruise lines have implemented automatic gratuities, options to prepay gratuities and some popular cruise lines have begun including tips in your cruise fare. 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. And just like with the Carnival case, this will reflect directly on the ship's serving staff (cabin stewards, Room Service, and Main Dining Room wait staff, as well as kitchen, entertainment, passenger services and other hotel personnel). Robinson said mainstream cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Holland America Line charge gratuities on a per person, per day basis. Something to note is that although daily gratuities arent charged, there may be a service fee or tip added to certain services onboard. Check out the latest web stories from Should Be Cruising! Tips on Cruise Ship Tipping - Who and How Much to Tip! Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. 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. You can adjust this based on the length and complexity of the tour. If youre going on a cruise, you can expect daily gratuities to be charged automatically to your onboard account. The automatic service gratuity is $14.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Junior Suites and below, or $17.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Grand Suites and above, applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. 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+). 1 1 Quote Cindi Members 12 Author Posted April 16, 2019 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. 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.. 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. Most cruise lines allow guests to remove automatic gratuities. Love this! In a survey of 850 cruisers, 71% stated that they took over $100 per person per day when cruising. There is a lot to know before you even step foot on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Since most cruise passengers follow the tipping guidelines, that amounts to an increase $13.30 . 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. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 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. Im an avid cruiser and have been giving out insider tips for more than 10 years! What Is a Cabin Steward on a Cruise Ship? Although cards are widely accepted, you may still encounter establishments that do not accept card payments. I believe since these are pooled between everybody, additional tipping should only be done if you feel somebody has gone above and beyond. Ive been surprisedor I probably should say I had forgottenhow many hands have been extended for a tip on these shore excursions. 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. 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. I wouldn't worry about giving "too little" extra, since you are already paying the auto gratuity. At some North American ports, youll see signs stating that the porters do not accept tips. If your shore excursion includes lunch, you generally dont have to leave a tipthe tour company takes care of the lunch bill. Credit: Royal Caribbean Show-Stopping Entertainment 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. Heres a video which answers many questions that you may have about cruise gratuities and tipping on a cruise ship. Gave them US 5 each three nights and US 10 each last night. Based on the amount of the bill. Most cruisers wouldnt dream of removing the automatic gratuities. On top of that, there's an 18% gratuity fee. 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. What currency should you use to tip on a cruise? A The automatic service gratuity is $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in Junior Suites and below, or $18.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Grand Suites and above, applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. Please let me know in the comments below. Unless they are below average and that has happened only one time. I believe this to be true, too. One exception is the piano player in the loungemost accept tips for song requests or if you enjoyed their music. While most people know it for being a cruise destination, shadowing the coastline to see the glaciers, there is so much Given that most , all ? I think its pretty bad when thats the only night they make their presence be known. Read our best tips.). Princess: $14.50 per person, per day ($15.50 for mini-suite guests and $16.50 for suite guests). Virgin Voyages does a lot of things differently than its mainstream peers. The thing that gets me so mad is we never were approached by the Maitred..except the last night when the extra tipping comes in. The amount is the only thing that tends to vary on service levels. Knowing how much cash to bring on a cruise can help you plan your vacation budget and avoid pesky ATM fees along the way. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. How Much Does A Cruise Cost? If you dont prepay your gratuities, they will be added to your onboard account. April 16, 2019 in Royal Caribbean Dining. There's a wide variety of services that you will receive during your cruise. 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. All ships have at least one ATM onboard, which is usually located in the Royal Promenade or Centrum. You may want to give a small tip to the person who delivers your room service order. Cash is rarely required on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as all payments onboard are made via your SeaPass account. Most mainstream cruise lines bill passengers between $12 and $15 per person, per day for. 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. However, the price of getting online can be expensive. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. They will seldom steer you wrong. The service charge on MSC Cruises is $12.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. Do you tip above and beyond the automatic gratuities? Cruise Ship Engine Power, Propulsion, Fuel, Royal Caribbean Drinks Prices, Beverage Menus, Alcohol Policy, Carnival Cruise WiFi Internet Packages Prices. 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. Like what you see? These cruise line employees are highly compensated, and offering a tip isnt necessary. I also tipped my wait staff very generously in the main dining room and specialty restaurants, as well as my drink waiters! 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. If you tip extra, you will get FABULOUS service! With a beverage package, youve already paid the service fee when you bought the package, so the tip is included. Related: Whats included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare. cruise. Tip amount: Gratuities amount to $13.50 per person per day (including children 3 and older) in standard rooms and $15.50 per person in suites. 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. You will get great service either way. So why dont cruise lines just increase the price of fares, and pay their crew a living wage with a decent hourly rate? The average daily gratuity on a cruise is $14-15 USD per person - approximately $30 per day, per couple in a cabin. If cruising from Australia to the South Pacific, Australian dollars are widely accepted. a $200 gratuity on top of my prepaid gratuities. This is for a good reason as it ensures that proper. Tipping extra is not necessary, and theres no right or wrong amount to give a crew member. Many luxury all-inclusive cruise lines include gratuities in their cruise fares, or have a tips neither expected nor required policy. Cruise lines usually add a service charge, usually 15-18%, to all beverages that arent complimentary. But honestly, theyd prefer cash over a gift basketno matter how yummy your treats are! 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. 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.". Should you tip extra on a cruise? 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. In-suite parties are a huge amount of work for the Genie and room attendants. 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). This is a good question. Tips are either covered by the autogratuities or theres a service fee tacked on, so you dont need to tip again. We never gave him anything. So glad this was helpful. Although gratuities arent mandatory, and in most cases you can go to guest services and have the amount adjusted, most cruise lines do tend to discourage it. There will be an 18-20% tip automatically charged when ordering an individual drink, so no need to add more in most cases. When booking a Celebrity cruise, tips are included in their Always Included program. There was only one cruise where my sons special request was denied. This may be rare, however if theres a problem with service or you have a complaint on your cruise, that you should bring this to the attention of the staff member, supervisor, or guest services when it occurs. Normally, we tip between $5 to $7 additionally per day for the two of us at the end of the cruise. Today is day 10 of a 12 day cruise on grandeur. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Other itineraries may differ. Also, if free gratuities are an amenity, youre not expected to go beyond it unless someone goes way beyond whats normally expected. Some guests may bring $200 extra for gratuities whereas others may bring $50. 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. Before that, in 2015 RCI upped its gratuities from USD 12 to USD 12,95 (standard cabins) and from USD 14,25 to USD 15,95 (suites). Additionally, shouldbecruising.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes receive a commission from purchases made through our links. As much as some people opt to remove gratuities on their account, some give extra. Who else should you tip on a cruise ship? One of these differences is that cruise gratuities are included. Keep in mind that cruise crew members live in tight quarters, so small (and edible) gifts are preferred. Some cruisers swear by tipping at the beginning of the cruise to ensure excellent service. Hi this was helpful, thank you. Of course, as always, its at your discretion. That is a very personal question. Many ships also have an abundance of kids' activities including kids clubs that . The bar service personnel still gets their 15% tips from each bar sale. What to Expect: Tipping Crew Members on a Cruise. But you should know, that the ship's service staff don't make a salary - your tips are their wages. Which family cruise can you book for $2000? You might want to reward your cabin steward, favorite bartender or MDR server, or any other crew member you think did a great job. I give my room steward $5 at the very beginning of the cruise. 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%. Depending on your cruise ship, you may be able to use the Royal . I go into more detail about this topic in this post:Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise? Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. Any chance of that? This practice can eat into the regular wages and livelihood of hardworking crew and is not advised. If you found this helpful, please dont keep it to yourself ;-). The best advice I can give Americans and Canadians, if they are tipping questions arise either on the ship or ashore, follow the lead of Aussies and ask their advice. Some vendors may process your personal data on the basis of legitimate interest, which you can object to by managing your options below. The cruise line will assess your fee each day, then theyll charge your credit card on file at the end of the cruise. Depending on your bank, the ATM transaction fee may be waived. If not, just leave blank. Whether $2 to a bartender, $20 to your waiter, or $50 to your stateroom attendant, its common to tip crew members extra for excellent service. I always prepay the gratuities. In standard cabins, Carnival charges $14.50 per person, per day in tips. Cruise gratuities are divided among your cruise cabin steward, waiters and other crew members who work as support behind the scenes. Cruise lines just have contracts with their preferred shore excursion companiesthe guides and drivers arent employees of the line. This fee ranges anywhere from $12.50 to upward of $20 per person, per day, depending on the cruise line -- usually on the higher end if you're staying in a suite. But the sticker price of their fares tends to scare off many budget-minded travelers. I have to say, we simply prepay or leave the tips as is, so I really dont pay attention these days. If not, 15-20% of the bill (excluding any products that you buy) is customary. Could you possibly make your articles printable? You can raise them, lower them, or remove them altogether. If you are one to give your room attendant a little extra (on top of auto gratuities), how much do you typically give. You cant choose how much each crew member gets. If you feel that you wish to give an extra amount to anyone who you feel has done a great job, they will be appreciative. Youll often receive change back in local currency even when paying with USD. Extra tipping doesnt give you the right to be a jerk, but if you are a jerk, you had better extra tip! 1. See details here: Ultimate Cruise Planner -Whats Included, What to Pack for a Caribbean Cruise (with packing list), 7 Cruises to Avoid and What to Do Instead, Cruise Line Stocks Shareholder Benefits for Cruisers (FREE onboard credit). Many cruisers opt to give extra cash tips to crew members who made their vacation that much more enjoyable. You may want to give them a tip per drink or a larger tip at the end or even the beginning of your cruise. Tipped crew make the majority of their income from gratuities! In addition to this, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to all drinks, spa and salon services. Even if you try, theyll likely graciously turn down your offer. Some cruise lines refer to the gratuities as a crew incentive or a service fee, but essentially these are tips for crew members that are used to augment their low wages. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. How much? On disembarkation day, you probably wont find your fave crew members in their usual spots! (Learn more about when and when not to pay auto-gratuities.). one in 2023. Do you need to tip at the spa on a cruise? A better solution is to have a discreet word with the crew members supervisor about your concerns. 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. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Its important to note that, especially on the luxury lines, tipping is not expected. I choose to add the gratuities ahead, just to get them out of the way. Tipping on a cruise ship can be a confusing endeavor, especially for those sailing for the first time. Want to give something beyond cash? Carnivals daily gratuities are $13.99 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. Crew members work really hard and make the difference between an ok and a memorable cruise vacation. If you order room service, its customary to give the person that delivers your tray about $1-2 per meal. The average price of a 7 night Caribbean cruise, on a mainstream cruise line, in April is approximately $616 (493) per person, excluding taxes. Both beautiful cruise options! If youre new to cruising, you might be wondering who to tip on a cruise, how much to tip, and exactly how onboard gratuities work. This is an excellent article, which really clearly explains all the issues around tipping. Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. Now if someone goes over and above a little extra is due. How Much Should You Budget for Cruise Gratuities? Royal Caribbean Royal Caribbean charges a $7.95 service fee and room service is available 24-hours a day. Royal Caribbean cruise ships have been sailing at nearly 100% capacity for the past few months. Cruise line employees are extremely hard working, I agree, and they go above and beyond so often. When we tip them individually, do they get to keep the entire amount for themselvesor do they have to share that too? Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? 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. 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). Some things are free, other items are fee-based. Some cruise lines allow you to use your cruise card to deposit money in the casino. Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. Should you prepay automatic gratuities?