Some cruise lines employ a sommelier or wine steward in the main dining rooms, who isnt included in the tipping pool. How Much Does a Caribbean Cruise Cost? 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. 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. #1 Bring a bathing suit on embarkation day On embarkation day, the pools are open so be sure to pack a bathing suit in your carry-on luggage so that you can enjoy them with less crowds! For more info, please read myDisclosure Policy. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. This is a good question. After 50 cruises I know they really mean it! Later I learned that the porters outside of the cruise terminal are not cruise line employees at all! Then you can take your deposit out in cash at the casino cashier. Tipping extra is not necessary, and theres no right or wrong amount to give a crew member. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. IMPORTANT: Since September 7, 2022, Royal Caribbean International (RCI) cruise ship passengers pay USD 16 pp per day in tips (service charge for staterooms Junior Suites and below). So why dont cruise lines just increase the price of fares, and pay their crew a living wage with a decent hourly rate? Hi All, Im Ilana. There aren't any hard-and-fast guidelines for this type of tip since it's contingent on your experience, but 25 to 40 on behalf of a couple roughly works out to an extra 2 to 3 per person, per day, for a seven-night cruise. Royal Caribbean's VOOM service has two different levels of service with two different prices. Pricing varies based on the ship, sail dates, and itinerary. Just remember that a cash tip goes to your server, and a charged tip gets added to the tip pool. Here's how it works on Royal Caribbean: 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. 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. On Costa Cruises, service charges of $12.50 per person, per day are charged for cruises departing from the US. However, there are a few common practices and guidelines. Viking Ocean: $15.00 per person, per day Virgin Voyages: includes gratuities in the fare. 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. Theres no need to add an extra tip for each drink. Many cruisers opt to give extra cash tips to crew members who made their vacation that much more enjoyable. However, cruisers dont always see all of the crew who work behind the scenes for them, like the kitchen and laundry workers. We also always tip bar staff even when drinks are complimentary. Some vendors may process your personal data on the basis of legitimate interest, which you can object to by managing your options below. Crew members work really hard and make the difference between an ok and a memorable cruise vacation. 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. 1 Royal Caribbean Travel Protection is an optional travel protection add-on to your cruise booking and is available through Royal Caribbean for residents in all states except New York. The gratuities on Oceania Cruises are $16.00 per person, per day for most staterooms and $23.00 per person, per day for guests in suites. We never gave him anything. How Much Does A Cruise Cost? flipped into Ren de Lambert. Cruises in Europe are charged in Euros. In addition, weve included a list of daily gratuities per cruise line and who else you may wish to tip. Royal Caribbean Royal Caribbean charges a $7.95 service fee and room service is available 24-hours a day. 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. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. Even if you try, theyll likely graciously turn down your offer. If you order room service, its customary to give the person that delivers your tray about $1-2 per meal. Our Hawaiian cruise in April will be the first weve been on in 15 years, so, obviously, things have changed a lot. Cruise line employees work their butts off to earn those tips. So glad this was helpful. I choose to add the gratuities ahead, just to get them out of the way. Whether $2 to a bartender, $20 to your waiter, or $50 to your stateroom attendant, it's common to tip crew members extra for excellent service. 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. Many luxury all-inclusive cruise lines include gratuities in their cruise fares, or have a tips neither expected nor required policy. Check out the latest web stories from Should Be Cruising! Thanks for sharing your view on this. They will do extra for you after they realize you are a tipper! cabin (not suite) recommended amount would be $39 pp times two equals $78 for a 4 night cruise. Get access to the best last minute hotel rates in the USA by becoming a registered member online today. Heres what you should know about cash on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Note that we are Australian, so therefore not inclined to tip unless the service warrants it. However, a few lines dont add autogratuities for babies and toddlers under age two or three. balyasny aum TRAVEL PROTECTION PROGRAM. How much to tip waiter and his assistant? There are different service charges for certain itineraries. If you dont see the cards in your room, ask at the Passenger Services desk, or leave the feedback in your post-cruise survey. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Its unlikely to do any good by this point. Payments on cruise ships have almost entirely gone digital, but there are still a few situations where cash comes in handy. See details here: Ultimate Cruise Planner -Whats Included, What to Pack for a Caribbean Cruise (with packing list), 7 Cruises to Avoid and What to Do Instead, Cruise Line Stocks Shareholder Benefits for Cruisers (FREE onboard credit). Still confused . I prefer waiting to see how the service is before deciding on an extra tip, but thats just my preference. Its a good idea to hand over your tips the day before disembarkation. Id love to connect with you on Instagram and Facebook @lifewellcruised. Originally formed in 1988 by the Chandris Group in Greece, Celebrity Cruises was acquired by Royal Caribbean Group in 1997. Most cruise lines allow guests to remove automatic gratuities. Normally, we tip between $5 to $7 additionally per day for the two of us at the end of the cruise. Each person you tip gets their own envelope. 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. I like knowing that my bill is all set before I sail! With all of your meals and the fun activities on the ship, easily accessible and planned, you won't have to do much work once you are on vacation. This should provide enough money for transportation, food, and small souvenirs in port. 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. Royal Caribbean cruise ships have been sailing at nearly 100% capacity for the past few months. Hope you enjoy! raahc and lovecruising!!! I'm so glad you found my post! 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. You might want to reward your cabin steward, favorite bartender or MDR server, or any other crew member you think did a great job. 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. However, extra tipping and being a jerk do not go hand in hand. Youll likely get much better service by doing that instead of just removing the tip! 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. Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise? Clear editor. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',199,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-medrectangle-4-0');Tipping is supposed to encourage excellent customer service from workers, because (in theory at least) customers will tip generously for friendly, prompt service. UK lines such as Fred. But honestly, theyd prefer cash over a gift basketno matter how yummy your treats are! Can you remove or adjust autogratuities on a cruise? Stay in one of the Royal Suites and room service is included. 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. 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. The practice of tipping is controversial, even in the United States where paying tips is part of the culture. will be more appreciated than something they would have to store. Im Carrie Ann, the writer behind Should Be Cruising. The cruise where fun means everything. 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. 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. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. Cruise lines usually add a service charge, usually 15-18%, to all beverages that arent complimentary. However, youll want to make sure youve notified your bank that you will be out of the country. As a cruise passenger, you want to be aware and set your budget expectations to include these amounts for the cruise ship staff. Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). Having worked in the service industry, if people want to extra tip, then doing it at the beginning is the way to go. For some of them, depending . Cruise lines just have contracts with their preferred shore excursion companiesthe guides and drivers arent employees of the line. Disney cruises has a suggested daily gratuity charge of $13.50 per person, per day for all guests. But you should know, that the ship's service staff don't make a salary - your tips are their wages. Either way, expect to spend about $15-20 per day. On NCL, passengers who dont want to pay autograts need to file a claim for reimbursement after the cruise. Having small bills handy is helpful if you plan to tip crew members throughout your sailing. Which currency you should bring with you on a cruise depends on your departure port and itinerary. When we tip them individually, do they get to keep the entire amount for themselvesor do they have to share that too? Before Your Royal Caribbean Cruise . Read more: Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? Gratuities or a service charge are added onto some onboard services. If youre booked with Celebritys Always Included, the gratuities are included. They might feel that it gives them more control over tipping, rewarding the crew based on their level of service. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. In North America, most cruise terminal porters are longshoremen. 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. On a cruise, most guests bring between $100-$120 in cash per day to be spent on transportation, tips, gifts, food, and shopping. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. You could also tip based on the length of the tour. Ive got you covered! How it works: Gratuities are automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. Children aged 2-11 will be charged $6.25 per day. Posted September 17, 2021. Holland America Line, whose ships Noordam and Maasdam are regular visitors to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, has the same tipping policy aboard all its ships. RCCL Crown & Anchor Diamond Member at the end of this cruise! The time when youll need the most cash on a cruise vacation is when youre in port. According to RCI's website, of the 2016-updated gratuities (US$13.50), nearly US$8.30 goes to dining / culinary services; suite attendants receive US$6,85; stateroom attendants get US$3,85, and housekeeping service staff - US$1.35. That was the only time I didn't give an additional cash tip to the wait staff. But many cruisers (including myself) choose to prepay to avoid a big charge at the end of the cruise. If youre going on a cruise, you can expect daily gratuities to be charged automatically to your onboard account. How much do people tip a Royal Genie? frequentfloaters.com - That Guy. You may want to give them a tip per drink or a larger tip at the end or even the beginning of your cruise. Most cruise ships have ATMs, and some have currency exchanges on board. When booking a Celebrity cruise, tips are included in their Always Included program. 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. Not based on what we "should" give, more on the fact that they provided very good service. Most of the biggest cruise lines automatically add some type of service or gratuity fee onto passenger bills. 15% being the rough standard for satisfactoryservice. For many cruises that operate in the Australian market where tipping isnt part of the culture, automatic gratuities arent added on to passenger bills. Keep in mind that cruise crew members live in tight quarters, so small (and edible) gifts are preferred. While each cruise line is different, many include alcoholic drinks, soda and specialty coffee, gratuities, specialty dining and some shore excursions. We usually tip between $500-700 depending on what we do. During your cruise vacation, youll probably receive services from other people who arent cruise line employeesbut you might not realize it! What Is The Average Amount of Cash to Bring on a Cruise? 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). They have the insider tips to match so that you can make the most of everything that'll be at your fingertips. All ships have at least one ATM onboard, which is usually located in the Royal Promenade or Centrum.
