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One area that often prompts questions, even among veteran cruisers, is the topic of tipping and service charges. Something to note is that although daily gratuities aren’t charged, there may be a service fee or tip added to certain services onboard. Royal Caribbean’s daily automatic gratuities are set at $14.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $17.50 per person, per day for guests in suites. The service charge on MSC Cruises is $12.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins.
Download the cruise line’s app before you board
Note that if you purchase a dining or beverage package, most cruise lines will charge you gratuities based on a percentage of the package price. If you get one of these packages for free as a booking perk, as with Norwegian Cruise Line's Free at Sea promotion, you might still be required to pay the gratuities on the free perk. Cruise lines say they pass the money collected from service charges to the shipboard crew. They say the money is shared not just with front-of-house crew, such as room attendants and waitstaff, but also with behind-the-scenes workers.
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If you want to get the daily cruise tipping fees out of the way before your cruise and avoid last-night sticker shock, I always suggest that you pre-pay gratuities. Second, any time that you purchase anything service related — such as dinner at a specialty restaurant or a service at the spa — expect there to be a tip added on to the cost. Again, this normally runs around 18%, but can range from 15% to 20%, depending on the cruise line.
How much am I expected to tip?
Download your favorite shows ahead of time (so that you can watch without internet access) and catch up on your programs. Flying in the day before allows you a little more of a cushion to get to your port city without having to stress that you might miss your flight… or even worse, your cruise. The truth is that sales run constantly, and even if it ends, it’s often replaced with something that’s nearly identical.
Remember, crew members are not paid the same as in the US and rely on tips for their livelihood. The amount you should tip can be affected by several factors, including the duration and type of cruise line you’re sailing with – be it mass market, premium, or luxury. It’s important to note that many low-level crew members rely heavily on gratuities as they are usually paid lower wages than other industries. This is a personal decision and I’m not sure if there’s a tipping etiquette for it. 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. Viking Cruises gratuities are $15.00 per person, per day for all staterooms.
Cruise ships continue to get grander with every new ship. That means crazier attractions like waterslides, go-karts, robot bartenders and whatever else the cruise lines can imagine. Cruise lines offer early debarkation to passengers that want to carry all their bags with them. This seems like a great idea as it allows you to get off the ship first and get back home quickly after your cruise. So if you did something like sneak on alcohol or bring a special outfit to spice things up on vacation, be sure to put them away. Otherwise, there might be some awkwardness the next time you see the cabin steward.
Always pack a wad of $1 bills for tipping
Also includes are full inspection reports, so you can see exactly what the ship needed to address. If you have an arrest warrant, think twice before getting on a cruise. Once you board, local authorities will often run the names of the passengers through a database to check for any outstanding warrants. Assuming the warrants are for minor items, we’ve heard of them letting the passengers cruise before escorting them off the ship once it arrives back at port. Every Caribbean port will have some exclusive beach clubs with hammocks and drink service, but they usually charge an entry fee.
If you're traveling overseas for a cruise, we recommend traveling to the port two or even three days in advance. European cruises, in particular, can be port-intensive, with lots of touring, so you want to be refreshed and ready to hit the ground running right after the cruise begins. If you've read this far, you are likely a first-time cruiser looking for advice for an upcoming trip, and that's exactly what this story is meant to offer. It contains my list of 21 ways to make your first sailing go more smoothly. Tipping on a cruise does not have to be complicated, but you need to understand the big picture to budget for your vacation appropriately. Read on to learn all about cruise ship tipping culture and how much you'll need to tip on your next cruise, based on which cruise line you're sailing.
How much are gratuities on a cruise? Increasingly, more and more. - USA TODAY
How much are gratuities on a cruise? Increasingly, more and more..
Posted: Mon, 13 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Room service stewards should be tipped on the spot, as should non-cruise workers like in-port baggage handlers or tour operators on shore excursions. Likewise, tipping the bartender at your favorite bar on the first day can mean the perfect drink every time (and maybe even faster service when you're in a crowd). If you're after a coveted window seat, a nice tip to the maitre d' on day one can help ensure that they never fails to have that table waiting. Tipping isn't mandatory on a cruise, but you should consider that gratuities distributed onboard a modern cruise ship are much more than mere bonuses. Room service is still free on a few of the major lines– for the continental breakfast– and almost always complimentary on an all-inclusive cruise. When you receive room service for free you may not even think to tip or know what to tip, and that’s mainly why I’m making this point.
Instead, take your time and spend a little longer enjoying a meal or relaxing on board. To find a quieter cabin spot, look toward the ends of the ship. Rooms at the ends of halls will have less foot traffic, meaning less noise from passersby. It’s the middle of it that would move the least as the ends rise and fall.
One of these differences is that cruise gratuities are included. With the exception of a couple cruise lines on this list, most cruises that include gratuities are luxury lines. Windstar Cruises daily gratuities are $12.00 per person, per day for all cabin types.
And since you have to buy the package for every day of your cruise, that means you have to drink that much every single day you are on your ship — even when you are in a port of call. If you’re the sort of person who likes a deal, look at sailing on an older ship. Even if an older ship and a newer ship sail the same itinerary, the fares on the older ship will be dramatically lower. We use this tip to sail way more than we could on only new ships. When going ashore, always bring the ship's contact information with you. Those details are usually printed in the newsletter that's delivered to your cabin each night.
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