I guess I was looking for some kind of scale like we have atrestaurants on land. This cruise ship was the first of Carnival's unique Dream Class cruise ships. UK lines such as Fred. Gratuities or a service charge are added onto some onboard services. Most cruise ships have ATMs, and some have currency exchanges on board. Afrikaans; Alemannisch; ; ; Azrbaycanca; ; Banjar; ; () Pasted as rich text. 1 1 Quote Cindi Members 12 Author Posted April 16, 2019 After 50 cruises I know they really mean it! I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. 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. 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+). Between May 1, 2016, and Jan 2, 2018, passengers on RCI boats paid US$13,50 (increased from US$12,95) for standard cabins and US$16,50 (increased from US$15.95) for upper-tier suites. Heres a video which answers many questions that you may have about cruise gratuities and tipping on a cruise ship. Still confused . Royal Caribbean charges a gratuity of $16.00 per person, per day. RCCL Crown & Anchor Diamond Member at the end of this cruise! However, the price of getting online can be expensive. If not, 15-20% of the bill (excluding any products that you buy) is customary. That was the only time I didn't give an additional cash tip to the wait staff. Automatic gratuities, also called autogratuities or autograts, is the cruise term for the system most cruise lines now use to simplify tipping for passengers. 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. As a cruise passenger, you want to be aware and set your budget expectations to include these amounts for the cruise ship staff. W. Tipping extra is not necessary, and theres no right or wrong amount to give a crew member. On Costa Cruises, service charges of $12.50 per person, per day are charged for cruises departing from the US. One of these differences is that cruise gratuities are included. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-leader-2','ezslot_15',606,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-leader-2-0');Since you cant remove the automatic tips for just that one crew member, removing or lowering your automatic gratuities hurts all the tipped employees. Here is a list of the daily gratuity charges by major cruise lines for 2021-22. The items and service are provided free of charge (except midnight - 5am when there is a nominal delivery fee). Cruise gratuities are divided among your cruise cabin steward, waiters and other crew members who work as support behind the scenes. Which family cruise can you book for $2000? When paying the automatic daily gratuities, cruise lines tell us this amount gets divided by your cabin attendant, waiter and other dining staff. I choose to add the gratuities ahead, just to get them out of the way. Of course, as always, its at your discretion. 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. Cruise line employees work their butts off to earn those tips. There are instances of passengers who prefer not to tip, usually either because they disagree with tipping on principle or they've experienced unsatisfactory service. Cruise lines typically flag their ships in countries with lax employment laws. You can also leave a small gift for your favorite crew member. Royal Caribbean Cruise Holiday Deals 2020 & 2021 - Cruise Nation www.cruisenation.com. Posted September 17, 2021. Knowing how much cash to bring on a cruise can help you plan your vacation budget and avoid pesky ATM fees along the way. Viking Ocean: $15.00 per person, per day Virgin Voyages: includes gratuities in the fare. There is a lot of included dining location so how do you know which ones to che. 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. Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner, YouTube at Life Well Cruised (Vlogs and cruise tips). But if you dont want to prepay, thats fine too. Thanks! Some people are retired or on a fixed income, some are well off, some have to save for years for a cruise. There are different service charges for certain itineraries. If youre new to cruising, or its been a while since your last cruise, its important to know about cruise tipping guidelines before you sail. 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. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? Crew members work really hard and make the difference between an ok and a memorable cruise vacation. A better solution is to have a discreet word with the crew members supervisor about your concerns. 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. If you order room service, its customary to give the person that delivers your tray about $1-2 per meal. | Royal Caribbean Blog www.royalcaribbeanblog.com. They will seldom steer you wrong. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_8',602,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');With the autograt system, many crew members who rarely received tips before now get a sharelike the laundry or kitchen staff on some cruise lines. Treasure Coast of Florida. The big three, including Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean expect guests to foot the bill and tips are added to their onboard account. The average price of a 7 night Caribbean cruise, on a mainstream cruise line, in April is approximately $616 (493) per person, excluding taxes. Thank you, Carrie Ann. If you want to give an additional tip to your cabin steward (or two), Im sure its very appreciated. We also always tip bar staff even when drinks are complimentary. Manage Settings Although cash isnt required for onboard purchases, there are a few scenarios where youll want to have cash available. Some things are free, other items are fee-based. Extra tipping doesnt give you the right to be a jerk, but if you are a jerk, you had better extra tip! A couple should budget about $200 in gratuities for a 7 day cruise. Your link has been automatically embedded. You can do so by going to guest services and making the request. In their case "tipping" doesn't mean "extra" - it means "salary". 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. Because plasma accounts for approximately 90% of total fluid volume, drinking plenty of water after receiving a transplant is beneficial to your body. New York state residents who wish to purchase the product may visit https://travelcruisecare.com to enroll directly with . All ships have at least one ATM onboard, which is usually located in the Royal Promenade or Centrum. If you dont see the cards in your room, ask at the Passenger Services desk, or leave the feedback in your post-cruise survey. Do you know about when you'd like to sail? Service charges for guests ages 4-14 are half of the adult rate. 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. Who else should you tip on a cruise ship? Love this! Carnival cruise gratuities are automatically added to onboard accounts for those in all rooms. Cruise lines have implemented automatic gratuities, options to prepay gratuities and some popular cruise lines have begun including tips in your cruise fare. Cruise line employees are extremely hard working, I agree, and they go above and beyond so often. Ive got you covered! I would imagine wed see prices increase overall if they did this, but perhaps it amounts to this anyway. Whats included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare, 30 Do's and Don'ts for the first day of your cruise, The 20 worst cruise mistakes that will ruin your cruise vacation, The best cruise itineraries for every type of traveler, How to plan a Royal Caribbean cruise on any budget, Best shore excursion in every Caribbean cruise port. Royal Caribbean: $14.50 per person, per day ($17.50 for guests in grand suites and above). If you want to adjust the amount, go to the reception desk. Hi All, Im Ilana. Related: Whats included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare. You may want to give a small tip to the person who delivers your room service order. Norwegian Cruise Line has onboard service charge will is charged automatically for guests 3 and up, and distributed among staff that serve you in various ways. When youre tipping in cash on a cruise, its always best to use the official currency on the ship. 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. For example, you might give the guide $5 to $10 for a half-day excursion or $10 to $20 for a full-day tour. Thanks so much for your input on this. If you tip extra, you will get FABULOUS service! 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. In standard cabins, Carnival charges $14.50 per person, per day in tips. . Other itineraries may differ. If you are one to give your room attendant a little extra (on top of auto gratuities), how much do you typically give. 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. Giving service staff tips in a currency they cant easily use means theyll have to pay a fee to change your cash tip into another currency. 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. Whether in Mexico, St. Maarten, Italy, or Vanuatu, having cash is recommended. 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. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. You also have the option to prepay your gratuities before your cruise. 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. Jan 6. Do you prefer to prepay your gratuitiesor to pay in cash? I have to say, we simply prepay or leave the tips as is, so I really dont pay attention these days. Do you need to tip at the spa on a cruise? There is no charge for children under 2 years of age. Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. Tipped crew on many cruise lines include housekeeping, dining, and laundry workers. Paste as plain text instead, They did a really good job and I would like to tip them. If theres a crew member who goes above and beyond for you, there are some other ways to show your appreciation. You might want to reward your cabin steward, favorite bartender or MDR server, or any other crew member you think did a great job. (Youll often see a survey pop up in your email inbox a few days after your cruise.). Porters: $1-5 per bag Room service delivery: $2-4 per tray Obviously, if you tip a room attendant, that money will go directly to him/her. All rights reserved. A couple should budget about $200 in gratuities for a 7 day cruise. 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. There are a couple of exceptions, though. On top of that, there's an 18% gratuity fee. MTD and ate in MDR 5 nights. How much to tip waiter and his assistant? We like to keep a few dollars handy for this purpose as we board our cruise ship. The balcony is a good size with two chairs. I ALWAYS tip extra to the outstanding employees on every cruise I have ever taken. Instead, passengers can tipor notat their own discretion. Hi Janet! An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. I believe that often the bartenders will pool their tips b/c there are so many working the crowd but I think it's an individual choice on their parts as to how they handle this. I like knowing that my bill is all set before I sail! I don't actually agree with th. This should provide enough money for transportation, food, and small souvenirs in port. Grand Suite and above cabin categories pay USD 18,50 pp per day gratuities. The bar service personnel still gets their 15% tips from each bar sale. The Dream pioneered the innovative and fun cruise ships that are standard today from Carnival Cruise Lines. Tipping is not required, however, customarily some people do choose to tip anywhere from $1 - $5 per order. As it is with most cruise shipping companies, RCI's tourists can remove the daily gratuity but know that these tips are for all the housekeeping and dining staff. 1) Get a Free Balcony Upgrade Promotion and How to Find Them Occasionally cruise lines will run special promotions on particular ships, itineraries, and/or destinations offering balcony staterooms at the same price as an outside or inside cabin. 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. The cruise line will assess your fee each day, then theyll charge your credit card on file at the end of the cruise. Required fields are marked *. Have some small bills handy for these times. When you book your cruise, youll be charged your cruise fare, port fees and taxes. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. Keep in mind, the venues are not always the same between Royal Caribbean ships, but each of my tips can. There is a lot to know before you even step foot on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. 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. Robinson said mainstream cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Holland America Line charge gratuities on a per person, per day basis. Until fairly recently, cruise passengers customarily tipped only in cash, in person. You may also like: Eight Things That Will Surprise First Time Cruisers. Read more: Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? But many cruisers (including myself) choose to prepay to avoid a big charge at the end of the cruise. This is an excellent article, which really clearly explains all the issues around tipping. In the wake of the increase, a family of four in a . Cruise lines usually add a service charge, usually 15-18%, to all beverages that arent complimentary. I think this depends on who it is and what their job is. Some claim they are making less money than they formerly did with cash tips. You could also tip based on the length of the tour. If youre booked with Celebritys Always Included, the gratuities are included. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. If you dont prepay your gratuities, they will be added to your onboard account. You also shouldnt tip the cruise director, the entertainment staff, or any independent entertainers like musical guests, comedians, or magicians. If you put your tips on your seapass you will get a voucher for each envelope. 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. Cruisers would have to tip each of their service personnel (the cabin steward, restaurant servers, bartenders, etc.) frequentfloaters.com - That Guy. In the main dining room, buffet, specialty restaurants, and other dining venues, your tip is included in the automatic gratuities. Royal Caribbean's VOOM service has two different levels of service with two different prices. 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. Are very professional, what should a tip look like at the end of a 10 day cruise? There are 2 adults and 1 child in the room, if this. 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. 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. We always tip cruise staff but in cash not automatic tipping. You just cant help being extra nice or helpful when you know the people are going to be extra nice to you, ie the extra tips. Also, if free gratuities are an amenity, youre not expected to go beyond it unless someone goes way beyond whats normally expected. If you found this helpful, please dont keep it to yourself ;-). one in 2023. This practice can eat into the regular wages and livelihood of hardworking crew and is not advised. For favorite bartenders or waitstaff, I give about $20 to each for a seven-day cruise. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. They might feel that it gives them more control over tipping, rewarding the crew based on their level of service.