How Much Should You Tip Housekeeping On A Cruise?

Cruise tipping policies vary by cruise line, with gratuity amounts usually around 16 per person, per day for most cabins. For higher-end cabins, passengers often wonder how much they should plan to tip their cabin steward, particularly when a stateroom attendant exceeds expectations. Some lines now pay housekeeping and dining department workers on ships as little as 2 per day in base wages, relying on the automatic gratuity. The average suggestions for cruise tips amount to between 12 and 16 per passenger, per day, which for a standard seven-night cruise comes to between 84 and 112 extra per person.

For the spa and tip amount, gratuities amount to 12.95 per person per day (including children age 2 and older) in standard rooms and 13.95 per person for suites on cruises departing Sept. 1, 2016. Tipping can be more if the service goes above and beyond, with prepaid gratuities being the typical expected 10-15% tip. On main stream cruise lines, you are automatically charged 13-15 per person per day for tipping of the room steward, waitstaff, and porters who collect bags at the pier.

When tipping your stateroom steward or butler on a cruise ship, the standard amount is 5 per day. 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 Junior Suites and below. Housekeeping staff on a cruise ship work 7 days a week for up to 10 months and work a 12-14 hourday shift. The amount of gratuity varies by cruise line, with higher amounts for luxury accommodations.

How much do you tip a 7 day cruise waiter?

The average suggestions for cruise tips amount to between $12 and $16 per passenger, per day—which for a standard seven-night cruise comes to between $84 and $112 extra per person, or $336 to $448 extra for a family of four. There may be an additional suggested amount (typically another $4 per day) for those staying in a suite with a personal butler. Some cruise lines (but not all) will suggest waiving gratuities for children under the age of three.

Cunard’s gratuity policy is to automatically add a daily service charge to passengers’ onboard account.

Many river cruise lines include the gratuities, but for those that don’t, the suggested range is usually between $10 and $20 per passenger, per day. Similarly, some expedition cruise lines include gratuities while those that don’t recommend a gratuity of around $10 to $15 per person, per day.

How much should I tip a cabin steward on a cruise?

Is it mandatory to tip the stateroom steward on a cruise ship?. Tipping your stateroom steward on a cruise is customary and appreciated for their housekeeping, turndown, and other services. The standard tip for a stateroom steward is $3 to $5 per person per day, but you can tip more for exceptional service. If you need additional guidance on how much to tip, you can ask your stateroom steward for a recommendation.

Is it cheaper to prepay gratuities on a cruise?. The cost is the same whether gratuities are paid onboard or before your cruise. The decision to prepay gratuities is ultimately yours. It may be a good option if you think it will help with budgeting and are confident in the service.

Can I remove my cruise ship gratuities?. Most cruise lines allow you to remove (or increase) prepaid gratuities, but remember crew members rely heavily on tips for their income as they make up a significant portion of their pay. Before removing gratuities, talk to guest service to see if there are any solutions to your particular issues.

What is a customary tip for a cruise?

Expect gratuities added to your account in the amount of $18 per guest, per day, staying in Inside, Ocean View, and Veranda cabins on Celebrity ships; $18.50 for Concierge Class and AquaClass cruisers and $23 per person, per day for The Retreat (suite) passengers.

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• Tipping on a Cruise: Your Complete Big-Ship Tip Guide

If you’ve been left scratching your head wondering about the ins and outs of tipping on a cruise ship, we’ve got you covered with a comprehensive list of what to expect. Read on for your tipping guide aboard the world’s most popular cruise lines, from a complete breakdown of Royal Caribbean gratuities to Carnival, Norwegian, and every cruise lines’ policies in between.

Editor’s Note: Fees are listed in USD unless stated otherwise and were accurate at time of publication.

What happens if you don’t tip on a cruise?

You will get a daily charge for the gratuities, and your CC will be charged automatically. You can go to Guest Services and have them removed if you are a selfish prick; but, the crew works their tails off to make sure YOUR cruise is enjoyable and memorable, don’t be an ass and not reward them for their hard work.

Do you tip every dinner on a cruise?

Your auto-gratuities will cover all waitstaff in the main dining room, buffet restaurants and specialty dining venues alike. If you dine at the same table and enjoy regular service from one or two particularly excellent waiters, consider leaving an additional $10 to $20 at the cruise’s end.

Tipping on a cruise might be the most discussed and debated topic among both novice and seasoned cruisers. It doesn’t help that tipping etiquette and different cruise line policies on the practice can be baffling. Whether you’re wondering how much to tip a cruise porter or the waiter on a cruise ship, there is a lot of gray area. That’s why Cruise Critic’s experts have broken down when to tip, how much to tip and whom to tip. Read on for our tips on tipping, so you won’t be lost at sea when it comes time to show your appreciation for the cruise crew.

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.

Most mainstream cruise lines pay cruise workers a low base wage. As such, on nearly all big-ship lines like Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian crewmembers are dependent upon the generosity of travelers for a good portion of their income. The cruise lines’ rationale for this compensation model whether or not you agree with it is that tips help incentivize higher service standards. And, of course, the cruise companies are all too happy to keep their cruises’ prices down by passing off salary costs as added gratuities tacked on to your bill.

How do you avoid gratuities on a cruise?

If you have not prepaid gratuities and the service charges show up on your onboard bill, you can go to guest services before the sailing ends and request to have the amounts altered or removed. You’ll be asked to explain why you’re unhappy with the service you received.

However, even if your room steward was sloppy and your waiter was rude (extremely rare occurrences) or if you come from a non-tipping culture, please reconsider removing the automatic gratuity charges. The tips are not merely goodwill gestures; they’re a critical portion of crew members’ pay.

Refuse to pay, and these hardworking cruise employees have less to send home to their families. You don’t have to like the system, but given that it’s the one the cruise companies have chosen, I encourage you not to penalize the crew for it.

Can I refuse to pay cruise gratuities?

You have the right to refuse this automatic gratuity charge and may compensate cruise staff on your own terms. However, you will need to notify the front desk of this desire. Otherwise it will appear on your bill when your cruise ends and it will be charged to your credit card on file.

Suggested gratuities policies.Before the concept of automatic gratuities was put in place, cruise lines provided guests with tip envelopes and a suggested daily amount for the individuals they are served by every day.

For example, it might be suggested to give the cabin steward and main dining room waiters each $3 per day per person, the Maitre D a $1 a day, $5 for any tour guides, etc.

Is it compulsory to tip on a cruise?

While very much appreciated, these gratuities are voluntary, and therefore can be adjusted or removed completely at Guest Services on board the ship if you wish; and you are welcome to tip personally if you prefer. For your convenience, you can also pre-pay gratuities before your cruise.

Gratuities for our dedicated service team are not included in the cost of your holiday.While tipping is entirely at your discretion, we pride ourselves on the service offered to our guests, and are confident that you’ll wish to reward staff on board for the attention you receive.

Typically, gratuities are charged at £5.00 per person, per day for guests aged 12 and over. This amount is split equally between your stewardess and restaurant waiter, and will be automatically added to your on board account. While very much appreciated,these gratuities are voluntary, and therefore can be adjusted or removed completely at Guest Services on board the ship if you wish; and you are welcome to tip personally if you prefer.

For your convenience, you canalso pre-pay gratuities before your cruise. We’ll check with you at the time of bookingif you’d like to pay prior to your cruise.