Cruise Ship Engine Power, Propulsion, Fuel, Royal Caribbean Drinks Prices, Beverage Menus, Alcohol Policy, Carnival Cruise WiFi Internet Packages Prices. For many cruise passengers, bars play a pretty large role in their experiences. Given that most , all ? Credit: Royal Caribbean Show-Stopping Entertainment Our Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips And Tricks - MSN Some things are free, other items are fee-based. 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. I have a video on my YouTube channel about this and people have commented amounts they give so his could be helpful (just check YouTube and search cruise gratuities Life Well Cruised). You can do so by going to guest services and making the request. That's a major contrast to the early days of the return to sailing after the cruise line's 15-month . Viking Ocean: $15.00 per person, per day Virgin Voyages: includes gratuities in the fare. We did prepaid gratuities, and then I also see that bar tabs will have the auto 18% added so I feel like it wont be necessary to leave an extra tip on the bar tab. Celebrity Cruises is Royal Caribbean's sister brand that provides a slightly more upscale, refined experience onboard. Norwegian Cruise Line. When youre tipping in cash on a cruise, its always best to use the official currency on the ship. Now, with automatic gratuities, the process is much simpler and you dont need to carry all that cash. 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%. Even though cruise gratuities technically arent mandatory, they are customary on most mainstream cruise lines. Automatic gratuities, also called autogratuities or autograts, is the cruise term for the system most cruise lines now use to simplify tipping for passengers. Keep a few dollars handy to tip the cruise porters on embarkation day. cabin (not suite) recommended amount would be $39 pp times two equals $78 for a 4 night cruise. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. 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. 40 BEST Royal Caribbean tips, tricks & hidden secrets The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. 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. You dont need to write a noveljust a few sentences about how the crew member made your cruise even better will do. 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,. Celebrity Cruises isnt a luxury cruise line, however it is a top premium cruise line that markets itself as modern luxury. You might want to remove their tips as a punishment for poor service. Royal Caribbean states the current pricing for 2022 sailings is between $12.99 and $15.00 per day of the cruise. If you go on a tour or shore excursion, its nice to tip the driver or shore excursion staff if youve appreciated their service. All ships have at least one ATM onboard, which is usually located in the Royal Promenade or Centrum. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. The practice of tipping is controversial, even in the United States where paying tips is part of the culture. 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. If you buy a $5 souvenir with a $20 bill in Mexico, for example, youll receive change in Mexican pesos. They often work 7-10 months at a time and 12-14 hours per day for seven days straight before having a half or even a whole day off. Crew members work really hard and make the difference between an ok and a memorable cruise vacation. 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. But if you dont want to prepay, thats fine too. 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. Say it ain't so: Royal Caribbean is latest cruise line to slash service 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. 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. $15.99 per person per day for guests in suites. 10 Secrets on How to Get a Free Balcony Upgrade on a Cruise (Learn more about when and when not to pay auto-gratuities.). Want to give something beyond cash? Are very professional, what should a tip look like at the end of a 10 day cruise? Which family cruise can you book for $2000? Some guests may bring $200 extra for gratuities whereas others may bring $50. Royal Caribbean Cruises Tipping Policy - CruiseCheap.com Hi this was helpful, thank you. Jan 6. You also have the option to prepay your gratuities before your cruise. Every stateroom has a room service menu. I like knowing that my bill is all set before I sail! i understand what you are saying.and I know we are paying roughly 15 dollars a day each as a tip already. If you want to give an additional tip to your cabin steward (or two), Im sure its very appreciated. For example, Royal Caribbean (www.royalcaribbean.com) recently increased its tip recommendations and now suggests $3.75 per day for your main waiter, $5 per day for the cabin housekeeping staff, $2.15 per day for the assistant waiter, and $0.75 per day for the head waiter. 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. Related: Whats included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare. You cannot paste images directly. How much are automatic gratuities on a cruise? Princess Cruises will automatically charge a crew incentive of $14.50 per person, per day for guests in inside ocean view and balcony cabins. Tipped crew on many cruise lines include housekeeping, dining, and laundry workers. How it works: Gratuities are automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. Travelers in suites are. 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. How Much Cash Should I Bring on a Cruise? Budgeting Guide and Averages How do cruise gratuities work? Do I have to tip? | Miami Herald 15% being the rough standard for satisfactoryservice. Learn how your comment data is processed. Hope you enjoy! Your articles are so helpful at navigating the cruise world. I have to say, we simply prepay or leave the tips as is, so I really dont pay attention these days. How Much Should You Budget for Cruise Gratuities? Tipping Please Help!!! - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise Critic Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. 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. Like what you see? I dont think anyone will think youre rude for not tipping over and above this. Even if you try, theyll likely graciously turn down your offer. Carnival cruise gratuities are automatically added to onboard accounts for those in all rooms. So glad this was helpful. cost cruise much does caribbean royal excursions treatments fees consider drinks spa government How much cash should you bring on a cruise? When and How Much to Tip on a Cruise - AFAR How Much Money Should I Take on a Cruise? - Windstar Cruises Travel Blog Complete guide to tipping on a cruise - Cruiseable Youll often receive change back in local currency even when paying with USD. Thanks so much for sharing your experience! 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. HomeBlogCruise Tips Cruise News Cruise DestinationsAboutContactResourcesFeatured PressPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyDisclosure PolicyTerms of Use. But I also feel like people will think Im rude for not doing so in reality tho, they are already being tipped 18%. How much you tip on cruise excursions is entirely up to you, but a suggested starting price is $3 per person for a half-day tour and $6 per person for a full-day tour for the guide and $1 to $2 for the bus driver. In addition to this, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to all drinks, spa and salon services. The auto gratuity goes not only to your cabin steward but is also shared among the entire crew that works to make your cruise successful: the dining room, buffet and specialty restaurant wait staff, cooks, laundry staff and the general housekeeping staff that cleans the ship's common areas, for example. The amount is very personal. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. This is a convenient option for cruise passengers that dont want to think about extra charges once onboard. One notable exception is Norwegian Cruise Line. You can also adjust your gratuities up or down. Keep in mind, the venues are not always the same between Royal Caribbean ships, but each of my tips can. Royal Caribbean says it is raising its suggested crew gratuities by nearly $2 per passenger, per day. The thing that gets me so mad is we never were approached by the Maitred..except the last night when the extra tipping comes in. 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. I dont tend to tip in advance, so this is an interesting way of doing things. Thanks! You may want to give them a tip per drink or a larger tip at the end or even the beginning of your cruise. If you feel you would like to give more that is fine and I am sure they will appreciate anything you decide to tip beyond the daily gratuity. 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. A better solution is to have a discreet word with the crew members supervisor about your concerns. This is a good question. It May be Time for Some Royal Caribbean Elites to Reconsider Paying for Drink Packages. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Cruise Line Gratuities: What's the Point? You can, of course, increase that amount based on your experience on the excursion. This practice can eat into the regular wages and livelihood of hardworking crew and is not advised. 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. Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission when you make a purchase from a link on this site, at no added charge to you. Continue with Recommended Cookies. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. When youre on a cruise, you shouldnt tip the captain or the officers. 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). Don't be Held Back on Arrival Royal Caribbean requires you to do an online check-in, at least three days before your published sail date. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and leave a comment! Your previous content has been restored. The extra cash may or may not end up in your steward's pocket, but he'll appreciate the gesture nonetheless. You'll find an extensive selection of options all over Canada In-suite parties are a huge amount of work for the Genie and room attendants. Until fairly recently, cruise passengers customarily tipped only in cash, in person. If theres a crew member who goes above and beyond for you, there are some other ways to show your appreciation. Should you tip extra on a cruise? Given the high level of service, passengers often wonder how much they should plan to tip their cabin steward, especially when they go above and beyond. ~ janet These cruise line employees are highly compensated, and offering a tip isnt necessary. Payments on cruise ships have almost entirely gone digital, but there are still a few situations where cash comes in handy. Thanks so much! The onboard price of this package varies from $63 to $89 a day, plus an 18% gratuity. This is for a good reason as it ensures that proper. raahc and lovecruising!!! The COST Series: Cruise Ship TIPPING - YouTube 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. I prefer waiting to see how the service is before deciding on an extra tip, but thats just my preference. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Cruise Ship Tipping and Prepaid Gratuities: Should I Tip More? 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. Not based on what we "should" give, more on the fact that they provided very good service. How much to tip waiter and his assistant? - Royal Caribbean Blog Often the recommended tips, which run from about $10 to $20 per passenger per day, are published either in the cruise brochure or on the cruise line web page. Im so glad youre here! Tipped crew make the majority of their income from gratuities! Cruise line employees work their butts off to earn those tips. Princess Cruises also has the Princess Plus fare, which includes gratuities or the crew incentive, Medallion Net wifi and Princess premium beverage package. 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. Virgin Voyages does a lot of things differently than its mainstream peers. Gratuities & tips are not obligatory - Royal Caribbean International Depending on your bank, the ATM transaction fee may be waived. Display as a link instead, Tips are either covered by the autogratuities or theres a service fee tacked on, so you dont need to tip again. Youll likely get much better service by doing that instead of just removing the tip! Something you will need cash for on a Royal Caribbean cruise are any extra tips you give to crew members. You can post now and register later. Here's how to get the most out of Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package (or Prime Casino Royale free drinks in the casino). #4. 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. Other itineraries may differ. Others just prefer the face-to-face experience of handing over a cash tip. a $200 gratuity on top of my prepaid gratuities. 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. Guide to Royal Caribbean's Unlimited Dining Package - Cruise Fever Both beautiful cruise options! Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. In this post, Ill be going through the cruise tipping policies by cruise line and answer some of the most common questions people have about gratuities on a cruise. one in 2023. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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. We sail Celebrity and opt to prepay gratuities. There are different service charges for certain itineraries. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Automatic gratuities cover just about every tipped crew member on the ship. Id love to connect with you on Instagram and Facebook @lifewellcruised. Tipping on a Cruise Ship - The Ultimate Guide to Cruise Gratuities The porters will assist with your luggage and its customary to tip for their service. How Much Should I Tip My Room Steward on a Cruise? The finishings are top notch, and the bathroom, in particular, is well-designed with a separate water closet. Outdoor Activities If outdoor fun is your thing, the Carnival Dream offers a near endless array of ways to fill both day and night with fun. Additionally, shouldbecruising.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes receive a commission from purchases made through our links. While you pay daily gratuities before your cruise ($16 per person, per day in most staterooms), many cruisers like to give something extra. Before Your Royal Caribbean Cruise . 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. If your shore excursion includes lunch, you generally dont have to leave a tipthe tour company takes care of the lunch bill. 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. Its important to note that, especially on the luxury lines, tipping is not expected. Required fields are marked *. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. We like to keep a few dollars handy for this purpose as we board our cruise ship. The article also reviews major changes in the RCI's gratuities policy implemented fleetwide/on all liners. .WONDER OF THE SEAS. 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. Your cruise in April sounds amazing! They will do extra for you after they realize you are a tipper! These feedback cards mean a lot and sometimes lead to a stellar crew member getting a raise or even a promotion! Our last few cruises on Celebrity and Princess, we actually had lots of interaction from the Maitred and we did appreciate the work they did. There is no charge for children under 2 years of age. If you could use cruise packing lists, to-do checklists, shore excursion forms and more, youll love the Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner. If not, 15-20% of the bill (excluding any products that you buy) is customary. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. I love reading your blog and learning, but I dont often have time to sit down at the computer to read. How Much Should I Tip My Room Steward on a Cruise? - Cruise Critic There are also usually comment cards available at the purser's desk or online for additional recognition -- or post a review on Cruise Critic. A couple should budget about $200 in gratuities for a 7 day cruise. People associate umbrella drinks and colorful tropical concoctions with cruising, and fancy-looking martinis have become a nighttime staple at sea. 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. 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. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. I ALWAYS tip extra to the outstanding employees on every cruise I have ever taken.