Do you tip above and beyond the automatic gratuities? Most are experienced cruisers and, as a group, theyre very well-liked. The staff learns real quick who tips extra, and who does not. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. A better solution is to have a discreet word with the crew members supervisor about your concerns. Keep in mind, the venues are not always the same between Royal Caribbean ships, but each of my tips can. Do I need to tip on a cruise or pay service charges, is a question that comes up often. I like knowing that my bill is all set before I sail! Check out the latest web stories from Should Be Cruising! US$13,50 (increased from US$12,95) for standard cabins and US$16,50 (increased from US$15.95) for upper-tier suites. 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. Some cruisers swear by tipping at the beginning of the cruise to ensure excellent service. The tipping culture in North America and on cruise ships is flawed, but (as you mentioned) reducing or eliminating tips only hurts the hardworking crew and their families - and does nothing to change the system. Had same two waiters 4 of those nights. In addition to the automatic daily gratuities, a tip or service fee of 15-20% is added to drinks and/or drink packages as well as spa services on a cruise. Most mainstream cruise lines have their headquarters in the US. Whether in Mexico, St. Maarten, Italy, or Vanuatu, having cash is recommended. In addition, a portion of the tips are given to those who work behind the scenes or may serve you in different areas of the ship. Another drink package option for Royal Caribbean cruisers is the Classic Soda package, which includes fountain soda and refills at any venue, Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages and even a Coca-Cola souvenir cup. Pasted as rich text. Though automated gratuities are the easiest and most common way to tip, some passengers prefer to instead tip their attendants in cash, either in addition to the automated gratuity or in place of it. December 8, 2010. Near the end of your cruise, youll probably receive some comment cards in your stateroom that you can use to leave feedback about a member of the crew. Manage Settings What I can say, on a personal level, is that we have found that the majority of cabin stewards, waiters, assistant waiters and ship staff have given us amazing service. Posted March 5, 2007. | Royal Caribbean Blog www.royalcaribbeanblog.com. On Costa Cruises, service charges of $12.50 per person, per day are charged for cruises departing from the US. (Learn more about when and when not to pay auto-gratuities.). Having the articles in a printable format is a really interesting idea. If theres a crew member who goes above and beyond for you, there are some other ways to show your appreciation. Each passenger is charged for these tips, including kids. Cruising in 2022: Why Onboard Tipping is More Important Than Ever, Cabin Stewardess on Princess Cruises (Photo: Princess Cruises), A Cash Tip Which is Common on Cruises (Photo: elwynn/Shutterstock). Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? 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. This is for a good reason as it ensures that proper. Thanks for sharing your view on this. Additionally, shouldbecruising.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes receive a commission from purchases made through our links. When booking a Celebrity cruise, tips are included in their Always Included program. 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. Today is day 10 of a 12 day cruise on grandeur. On a cruise, most guests bring between $100-$120 in cash per day to be spent on transportation, tips, gifts, food, and shopping. Celebrity Cruises now includes daily gratuities in its Always Included cruise fare. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. Royal Caribbean Cruises Tipping Policy As of September 7th, 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. I guess I was looking for some kind of scale like we have atrestaurants on land. How much shouldwe tip? Your article has done a lot to change my philosophy and increase my understanding of why there is this charge and what the implications of reducing it might be. 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. Thanks so much! There are different service charges for certain itineraries. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Though cruise lines usually state up front that tipping is still at the discretion of the passenger, keep in mind: As with most employees in the service industry (at least in the U.S.), most of the wages cruise employees make come from these tips. The price increases during August to approximately $773 (619) per person, excluding taxes. The average daily gratuity on a cruise is $14-15 USD per person approximately $30 per day, per couple in a cabin. cost cruise much does caribbean royal excursions treatments fees consider drinks spa government While you pay daily gratuities before your cruise ($16 per person, per day in most staterooms), many cruisers like to give something extra. 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. Tips are either covered by the autogratuities or theres a service fee tacked on, so you dont need to tip again. 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 gratuity is $15.50 per person, per day for guests in mini-suites and $16.50 per person, per day for guests in suites. If you enjoy tipping in cash, consider giving an extra cash tip to the crew members who gave you excellent service on your cruise. Cash is rarely required on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as all payments onboard are made via your SeaPass account. Congrats on reaching Diamond :) Happy cruising! How to Pay: Paid in cruise fare at the time of purchase. Most cruise lines charge for children as well, although there are some exceptions for very young children on select cruise lines. 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. Or you can plan ahead and take enough cash in the correct currency to cover any tips you might want to pay. Is it the 15 day or the 7 day from Honolulu? Bar, spa and in-room dining for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara have an 18 per cent gratuity charge. Some claim they are making less money than they formerly did with cash tips. Want to give something beyond cash? You may also like: Do You Need to Bring Cash on a Cruise? Alaska is such a beautiful destination. However, a few lines dont add autogratuities for babies and toddlers under age two or three. Thank you, Carrie Ann. Thanks so much for sharing your experience! flipped into Ren de Lambert. One notable exception is Norwegian Cruise Line. As for tipping above and beyond prepaid gratuities, I agree completely that there is no expectation. 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. In the main dining room, buffet, specialty restaurants, and other dining venues, your tip is included in the automatic gratuities. On the flip side, passengers have less control over where their money goes with autogratuities. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. Payments on cruise ships have almost entirely gone digital, but there are still a few situations where cash comes in handy. We are a middle class, retirement age couple (63 and 62) who are not retired with no plans to in the near future. You can just hand over folded cash, or use the tip envelopes youll find in your stateroom or at Passenger Services. For some of them, depending . Originally formed in 1988 by the Chandris Group in Greece, Celebrity Cruises was acquired by Royal Caribbean Group in 1997. Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). This is a convenient option for cruise passengers that dont want to think about extra charges once onboard. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_13',603,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');Most mainstream cruise lines will charge you about $14 to $15 per person per day for automatic gratuities. April 16, 2019 in Royal Caribbean Dining. I also tipped my wait staff very generously in the main dining room and specialty restaurants, as well as my drink waiters! By UK lines such as Fred. Cruise line tipping policies vary from one cruise company to another. Children under 4 are not charged. Wondering how much gratuities are on a cruise? While not obligatory, there are some of the workers you may want to recognize with a tip when cruising. Critics of this system (which has evolved in the last several decades from strictly cash-based gratuities) say that under this tip pooling arrangement, cabin attendants and wait staff aren't getting recognized for exemplary work the same as they were in the old days. Cruise lines typically flag their ships in countries with lax employment laws. 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. If you choose to pay tips in cash, there are usually some envelopes available at the guest service desk. I wouldn't worry about giving "too little" extra, since you are already paying the auto gratuity. Other cruisers, often people who remember cruising before autogratuities, prefer tipping crew in cash. Jan 6. If you want to adjust the amount, go to the reception desk. That lets him / her know upfront that we tip, and there is more to come at the end of the cruise! 1. 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). W. 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. There is no charge for children under 2 years of age. Virgin Voyages does a lot of things differently than its mainstream peers. Your link has been automatically embedded. So something edible (maybe a favorite candy or snack from your home region?) There was only one cruise where my sons special request was denied. Ren de Lambert. cabin (not suite) recommended amount would be $39 pp times two equals $78 for a 4 night cruise. However, there are a few common practices and guidelines. I ALWAYS tip extra to the outstanding employees on every cruise I have ever taken. There are 2 adults and 1 child in the room, if this. On disembarkation day, you probably wont find your fave crew members in their usual spots! If you forgot to bring cash on your cruise, there are a few ways to get it once onboard. Some cruise lines employ a sommelier or wine steward in the main dining rooms, who isnt included in the tipping pool. Because plasma accounts for approximately 90% of total fluid volume, drinking plenty of water after receiving a transplant is beneficial to your body. frequentfloaters.com - That Guy. The porters will assist with your luggage and its customary to tip for their service. The only exception is for passengers with prepaid gratuities (they won't be charged daily). On top of that, there's an 18% gratuity fee. Im Carrie Ann, the writer behind Should Be Cruising. 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. 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. Then you can take your deposit out in cash at the casino cashier. raahc and lovecruising!!! Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. 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. For favorite bartenders or waitstaff, I give about $20 to each for a seven-day cruise. The cruise line assesses a daily fee and divides the money among the tipped crew. And if the problem still remains unsolved - then adjust the tips. Given that most , all ? Carnivals daily gratuities are $13.99 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. 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. Even if you try, theyll likely graciously turn down your offer. I don't actually agree with th. 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. Check your bill after your services to see if your tip is already included. Tips are added automatically to the onboard account (SeaPass) on a daily basis. If you buy a $5 souvenir with a $20 bill in Mexico, for example, youll receive change in Mexican pesos. You can adjust this based on the length and complexity of the tour. What do you think about the custom of tipping on a cruise ship? When paying the automatic daily gratuities, cruise lines tell us this amount gets divided by your cabin attendant, waiter and other dining staff. 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! Now if someone goes over and above a little extra is due. Often cruise lines provide additional envelopes to tuck a little extra cash at the end of the cruise just for this purpose. Its important to note that, especially on the luxury lines, tipping is not expected. If you found this helpful, please dont keep it to yourself ;-). Cruise lines usually add a service charge, usually 15-18%, to all beverages that arent complimentary. In fact, I think most would agree that cruise line staff make a huge difference in the cruise experience. How much are gratuities on Royal Caribbean cruises? Should Be Cruising is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. #4. We have also taken a few of the ship's "backstage" tours and could see where the crew members reside, dine, kick back to relax, etc. Cruise gratuities are divided among your cruise cabin steward, waiters and other crew members who work as support behind the scenes. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you dont have a drink package, theyll add the price of each drink plus the service fee to your onboard tab. However, if you prefer to pay off your account and daily gratuities in cash, you can do so by going to guest services. I purchased the package pre-cruise for $76, this equates to just over $25 per day. 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%. 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. How Much Water Should I Drink Before Donating Plasma. At the base level, one person can use the service, and the price rises as you add more logins. After combing through my notes, here's the best tips and tricks for taking a Royal Caribbean cruise. Tips on Cruise Ship Tipping - Who and How Much to Tip! Bond with your snorkel guide? There is no service charge applied for children under 2 years of age. Note that we are Australian, so therefore not inclined to tip unless the service warrants it. 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. Here's a guide to help you navigate ways to show your appreciation for these hard workers. Princess Cruises also has the Princess Plus fare, which includes gratuities or the crew incentive, Medallion Net wifi and Princess premium beverage package. Royal Caribbean: $14.50 per person, per day ($17.50 for guests in grand suites and above). There are a number of factors which people use to decide how much to tip their Genie. Celebrity Cruises is Royal Caribbean's sister brand that provides a slightly more upscale, refined experience onboard. Both beautiful cruise options! All ships have at least one ATM onboard, which is usually located in the Royal Promenade or Centrum. That was the only time I didn't give an additional cash tip to the wait staff. Happy cruising :). Knowing how much cash to bring on a cruise can help you plan your vacation budget and avoid pesky ATM fees along the way. balyasny aum TRAVEL PROTECTION PROGRAM. 15% being the rough standard for satisfactoryservice. Can you remove or adjust autogratuities on a cruise? Which family cruise can you book for $2000? Tipping extra is not necessary, and theres no right or wrong amount to give a crew member. We sail Celebrity and opt to prepay gratuities. Youre welcome to use a credit or debit card to make purchases in ports of call whenever possible. If you transfer money to the slot machine and immediately cash out, you can take your cashout slip to the casino cage and receive the listed amount in cash. Beyond leaving a cash tip for your cabin steward, or favorite server or bartender, some other small gestures will go a long way. 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. Your email address will not be published. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. The cruise line will assess your fee each day, then theyll charge your credit card on file at the end of the cruise. But you should know, that the ship's service staff don't make a salary - your tips are their wages. You can do so by going to guest services and making the request. 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. Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. About $1-2 (or the equivalent in local currency) per bag is fine. But honestly, theyd prefer cash over a gift basketno matter how yummy your treats are! Royal Caribbean states the current pricing for 2022 sailings is between $12.99 and $15.00 per day of the cruise. 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). The Sky Suite on Celebrity was a perfect size for two, at around 320 square feet. (Admit it: You tend to miss those nightly pillow chocolates and towel animals after you get home.) 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Cruise Line Gratuities: What's the Point? That's a major contrast to the early days of the return to sailing after the cruise line's 15-month . What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? Disney cruises has a suggested daily gratuity charge of $13.50 per person, per day for all guests. For this reason, I have always found being expected to pay tips, on an already expensive cruise, very irritating and have sometimes had them reduced at the service desk. I just arrived on board for our 6th cruise, after my 5th cruise just 2 months ago. In addition, weve included a list of daily gratuities per cruise line and who else you may wish to tip. Up the tip to $20. Not based on what we "should" give, more on the fact that they provided very good service. 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. 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. 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. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. If sailing in a reg. All rights reserved. Tipping on a cruise ship: The big picture. They cheerfully attend to your requests, tidying your home away from home from the moment you leave in the morning to the last turn-down before bed. Plus, for a limited time, its $10 off. If you go to any slot machine, youre able to transfer money to the game via your onboard account, which is connected to your credit or debit card. The amount you tip is up to youI generally give about $5 per person per day to my stateroom steward. 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. You may also like: A Cruise Glossary: Cruise Terms You Should Know. The finishings are top notch, and the bathroom, in particular, is well-designed with a separate water closet. However, cruisers dont always see all of the crew who work behind the scenes for them, like the kitchen and laundry workers. Sometimes it cannot be helped ! The cost is $13.50 per person, per day for guests in Grill Class suites. Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. You can, of course, increase that amount based on your experience on the excursion. Cruisers would have to tip each of their service personnel (the cabin steward, restaurant servers, bartenders, etc.) Depending on your bank, the ATM transaction fee may be waived. Most cruise lines allow guests to remove automatic gratuities. Its also a nice gesture to tip the matre d or head waiter in the main dining room, especially if they were helpful with special menus or seating arrangements. However, the price of getting online can be expensive. Now, with automatic gratuities, the process is much simpler and you dont need to carry all that cash. You could also tip based on the length of the tour. 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. Prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and cruise line gratuities may be referred to a daily service charge or crew incentive. If your kids have had a great time and youve appreciated the service, a few extra dollars are surely appreciated. One of the most luxurious aspects of cruising is the service of room stewards -- that team of people who often go unseen in their daily mission to keep your cruise cabin sparkling fresh and clean. Thanks! So our "big tip" on this subject is this - if you guys have a service staff problem, speak first with your cabin attendant. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. You can choose to pay in local currency, too, but obtaining money in 3+ currencies before a cruise is not necessary. The new RCI tips per day are added to each guest's SeaPass card (shipboard account) automatically. They pay their crew (usually recruited from countries with limited economic opportunities) per contract, not by the hour. What Is The Average Amount of Cash to Bring on a Cruise? The practice of tipping is controversial, even in the United States where paying tips is part of the culture. Our concern is that the cruise lines take advantage by paying lower wages and then guilting passengers into higher tips. It really made my day! 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. You may also like: Eight Things That Will Surprise First Time Cruisers. If not, just leave blank. Lines with such charges include both of the two giants of the cruise business, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, as well as Norwegian, MSC Cruises and Princess Cruises. 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. These cruise line employees are highly compensated, and offering a tip isnt necessary. If you dont prepay your gratuities, they will be added to your onboard account. 40 Ocean Quotes for Everyone Who Loves The Sea, 15 Delicious Foods in the Bahamas You Need to Try. Royal Caribbean raised the service fees on its ships in August by more than 10% to $16 per person per day for those staying in most cabins. Your previous content has been restored. Similarly, in the main dining room, we tip our waiter around $6 to $8 per day for the two of us, averaging around $50 for a 7-night cruise. 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. What else can you do to show the crew your appreciation? On luxury cruise lines, such as Azamara, Crystal, Seabourn, Silversea, Tauck World Discovery and Uniworld, gratuities are already included in the cost of the cruise, and additional tipping is not expected. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 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. Thanks so much for your input on this. 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. Have some small bills handy for these times. You may want to give them a tip per drink or a larger tip at the end or even the beginning of your cruise. I would imagine wed see prices increase overall if they did this, but perhaps it amounts to this anyway. You can read more about me and about Should Be Cruising here. In their case "tipping" doesn't mean "extra" - it means "salary". How much tip receive in cruise royal caribbean? I'm sure the crew appreciated your extra tips - they all work so hard! Royal Caribbean cruise ships have been sailing at nearly 100% capacity for the past few months. 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. We like to keep a few dollars handy for this purpose as we board our cruise ship. They will do extra for you after they realize you are a tipper! If you tip extra, you will get FABULOUS service! One exception is the piano player in the loungemost accept tips for song requests or if you enjoyed their music. If not, 15-20% of the bill (excluding any products that you buy) is customary. Ive been cruising for over 15 years, and the practice of tipping on a cruise has certainly evolved.
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