Table Of Content
However, it’s important to remember that tips make up a significant portion of a crew member’s pay, and they rely on tips to make a living. It is worth noting that some cruise lines have a culture of tipping, while others prefer not to tip at all. Don’t assume that all cruise lines operate in the same manner. It’s important to have cash on hand for these tips, and US dollars are usually the currency of choice for the cruise lines mentioned above.
What are the per-day service fees for Carnival Cruises?
For example, not all crew is included in the general tip—some are actually forbidden from accepting gratuities—and sometimes, currency matters. Below, what you need to know about tipping on a cruise, and how to make sure no onboard tip gets lost in the shuffle. Cruise lines typically provide guidelines for gratuities, either as a daily per-person amount or as a recommended total for the duration of the cruise. These amounts can vary, but they generally range from $15 to $25 per person per day, depending on the cruise line and cabin category. Some cruise lines automatically charge gratuities to your onboard account or add it to your cruise fare, while others leave it to your discretion.
Royal Caribbean raises automatic gratuity rate, beginning in November - Royal Caribbean Blog
Royal Caribbean raises automatic gratuity rate, beginning in November.
Posted: Tue, 31 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Do any lines have cruise gratuities included?
As for the question, I use this as a guideline regardless of the cruise length actually. With gratuities already being added to the cruise, and they are ever-increasing, I’ve become more selective on how I choose to tip extra. If our room steward goes out of their way for anything, I’ll tip extra… and if they frequently go out of their way, I’ll possibly leave an extra $75 regardless of the cruise length.
My Cruise Line Calls it a Crew Incentive or Service Charge. Is that the Same Thing?
Giving service staff tips in a currency they can’t easily use means they’ll have to pay a fee to change your cash tip into another currency. Many cruisers opt to give extra cash tips to crew members who made their vacation that much more enjoyable. You might want to reward your cabin steward, favorite bartender or MDR server, or any other crew member you think did a great job. If you are unsatisfied with the service your stateroom steward provides, be sure to address any issues immediately. Speak directly with your steward or their supervisor or contact guest services onboard to resolve problems before leaving a lower-than-expected tip.
Something to note is that although daily gratuities aren’t charged, there may be a service fee or tip added to certain services onboard. Please note that gratuities are charged in US dollars for Caribbean, US and Canada cruises. On Costa Cruises, service charges of $12.50 per person, per day are charged for cruises departing from the US. Cruises in Europe, World cruises and those departing from a non-US Caribbean port charge 10 Euros per person, per day. You also have the option to prepay your gratuities before your cruise. This is a convenient option for cruise passengers that don’t want to think about extra charges once onboard.
Do not feel that you need to give additional tips to your waiter or room steward. Additionally, some cruise lines offer prepaid packages that include daily cruise gratuities in the overall cost of your voyage. It’s important to consider which method works best for you and plan accordingly before setting sail on a cruise ship. Here’s what you will pay per person per day for cruise ship gratuities/service fees/crew appreciation as of this writing.
This motivates employees to provide excellent service and keeps cruise prices more affordable by passing the cost of tips on to passengers. If opting for this, remember that while standard gratuities cover the basics like your housekeeping and dining teams, add-ons like spa services and specialty dining are typically not included. Many cruise lines are moving toward bundling gratuities and other add-ons as part of the overall cruise fare, allowing guests to feel like they’re getting more value for their dollar. Another option is to tip individuals directly instead of relying on automatic gratuity charges. This allows you to show appreciation for exceptional service and tailor your tipping based on personal experience rather than a set daily amount.
Should I Prepay the Gratuity Charges?
An additional tip is always appreciated if you receive exceptional service during your spa treatments. The best time to leave a tip for your cabin steward is usually at the end of the cruise during disembarkation. Cruise gratuities are charged to guests, although the rate may be discounted for those 12 and under. Check with the cruise line for specifics during your initial research. Similarly, if a waiter (or sommelier) is keeping track of your wine bottles, they are also expecting to receive an appropriate gratuity. And, if you enjoy ordering room service, it is still customary to offer a small tip each time the staff appears at your door with delicious food.
If you don’t decide to prepay the tips, then the amount is automatically charged to your onboard account each day. When it comes time to settle your final bill at the end of the cruise, you’ll have the gratuity charges to pay as well. How much to tip on a cruise is a question that trips up many first-timers. That's because some cruise lines tack daily service fees onto passenger bills — yet many travelers still hand out additional cash gratuities, either as a matter of course or for exemplary service. While many people will feel like this is ‘greasing the palm’ of the cabin steward, it’s showing appreciation for their proactive attempt at starting the cruise right!
With a beverage package, you’ve already paid the service fee when you bought the package, so the tip is included. However, cruisers don’t always see all of the crew who work behind the scenes for them, like the kitchen and laundry workers. Often, these crew members are part of the tip pool, and they lose part of their expected income each time a passenger removes autogratuities. But let’s say you have a negative experience with your server in the dining room, or you feel that the cabin steward isn’t doing their job. You might want to remove their tips as a punishment for poor service.
The cruise line will assess your fee each day, then they’ll charge your credit card on file at the end of the cruise. With the autograt system, many crew members who rarely received tips before now get a share—like the laundry or kitchen staff on some cruise lines. 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.
Olsen gratuities are entirely at the discretion of each passenger. The recommended amount is £5 per passenger, per day, to be divided equally between the cabin stewards and waiters. This amount is automatically added to passengers' onboard accounts toward the end of the cruise, but it can be adjusted at reception at any point during the sailing. Prepaid gratuities on most non-luxury cruises range upwards of $20 per person, per day. The lump sum is added to passengers’ onboard accounts, and can vary depending on the type of cabin in which guests are booked.
Tipping on a cruise ship has to be one of the most discussed topics about cruising. These questions baffle most travelers, but cruisers are particularly challenged since tips are handled differently than in hotels or restaurants. When you order an ice cream cone or gelato at the ice cream parlor or cappuccino at the coffee shop, you won't see a tip jar as you would on land. No tipping is required – though you may find an automatic gratuity added to your check, just as in the bars. Like it or not, tipping culture is alive and well on cruise ships.
No comments:
Post a Comment