Cruising is a fantastic way to explore the world while enjoying luxury and relaxation. However, one aspect that often confuses first-time cruises is:
"How much should you tip? "
"Who should you tip?"
"Is it mandatory?"
In this guide, we’ll answer all your cruise tipping questions to ensure you’re prepared for your next voyage.
First, Why Tipping is Important on Cruises
Tipping on cruises is a way to show appreciation for the hard-working staff who strive to make your journey enjoyable. Many cruise ship employees depend on tips to make their total income meet their personal needs. Understanding the tipping culture on cruises can help you budget appropriately and ensure you’re rewarding excellent service.
When employees are hired to work on cruise ships, they are told the estimates of what their tips will be from the cruise companies and factor this into their whole compensation when deciding to leave their homes and families and work on a cruise ship.
~~I categorize tips into 3 different categories~~
#1 -Automatic Tips
Most major cruise lines add automatic gratuities, which is a mandatory cost you should factor into your cruise costs. These mandatory fees go by different names depending on the cruise line you are sailing on:
Carnival: Service Gratuities
Celebrity: Gratuities
Disney: Gratuities
Holland America: Crew Appreciation
MSC: Hotel Service Charge
Norwegian: On-board Service Charge
Royal Caribbean: Gratuities
Princess: Crew Appreciation
Virgin Cruises: Gratuities
These gratuities, whatever they're called, typically cover the staff in the dining room, cabin stewards, and other service personnel. These are charged per person, per day, and can vary depending on the cruise line. The cost of mandatory tips, in Canadian Dollars (as of August 2024) is as follows: Carnival: $21.98 - $24.73
Celebrity: $24.73 - $31.60
Disney: $19.92 - $21.29
Holland America: $23.36 - $26.10
MSC: $13.74
Norwegian: $27.48 - $34.35
Royal Caribbean: $24.73 - $28.16
Princess: $22.91 - $25.61
Note: if you buy Princess Plus or Premier (drinks & wifi package, your gratuities ARE included in this cost.
Virgin Cruises: $0
The one sort of exception to mandatory daily tips is Virgin Cruises.
Virgin Cruises communicates the tipping custom is that the 'tips are on us' meaning there is no expectation of paying a mandatory tip above the booked price of your cruise, but tips. However, you are able to still leave staff members tips if you feel it's appropriate.
These gratuities typically cover the staff in the dining room, cabin stewards, and other service personnel. You can usually pre-pay these gratuities before your cruise, which can be a convenient way to manage expenses and a way to not worry about a bill afterward.
HOWEVER, if you don't plan to spend much on board, you may be losing out on using some on board credit you may know you are receiving either due to a planned bonus as part of your booking or unexpected cruise change in which the cruise company credits you.
Some on board credit is non-refundable and is a 'use it or lose it' . If you prepay your gratuities, you may lose the opportunity to use that 'free' money.
For example:
If you are a shareholder owner on many cruise lines, you could be eligible for on board credit.
Some cruise lines provide on board credit as a booking or status bonus.
If a port is missed and there is no alternative, the cruise line is not liable to provide you any specific stops. However, some lines may offer you an on board credit as an apology.
If you receive poor service or have some sort of bad experience, they may provide you with some on board credit.
If you have no plans to spend much on board, short of buying things you didn't intend to, like more drinks or merchandise. Therefore, it may make sense to wait and pay your mandatory gratuities at the end of your cruise. If you like the peace of mind of a trip fully paid prior to your cruise, you can calculate your gratuities and take that money in USD cash with you in an envelope in your safe on the cruise earmarked for that purpose. You can go to the cashier or customer service the last day of your cruise (or anytime in your cruise) to apply this amount against your cruise balance. They may be busy in the afternoon or evening of your last day, so plan to go early or at non-peak times. #1b - Additional Tipping Etiquette: Who and How Much?
While automatic gratuities cover a lot, there are still some individuals you might want to tip personally for exceptional service. These tips would be paid directly to the staff in cash, or as an added gratuity on your bill you sign for payment:
Cabin Steward: If your steward goes above and beyond, consider an extra $2 to $5 per day.
Bartenders and Bar Waiters: If you frequent the bar, a dollar or two per drink can ensure prompt service.
Concierge and Butler Service: If you’re staying in a suite, a tip of $10 to $20 per day for these services is customary, but be aware that suites are typically the highest in mandatory gratuities/tips so factor in that as well.
#2 - Pay Per Service Tips
If you make any purchases on board your cruise, you will likely be subject tips if what you buy involves someone serving you in some way. This would include:
Spa services
Hair Salon services
Any drinks (included mini bar)
Drinks packages
Room Service Delivery ( $1-$5 instead of %)
These tips are charged as a percentage (%) of the service cost, and can vary depending on the cruise line.
Carnival: $21.98 - $24.73
Celebrity: $24.73 - $31.60
Disney: $19.92 - $21.29
Holland America: $23.36 - $26.10
MSC: $13.74
Norwegian: $27.48 - $34.35
Royal Caribbean: $24.73 - $28.16
Princess: $21.98 - $24.73
Virgin Cruises: $0
Drinks Packages are sold as an all inclusive style package and the tips/ gratuities may or may not be included in the price - this varies by company. This can add a significant cost. Look at prices closely!
#3 - Periphery Services Tips
AKA Tipping Outside the Cruise Ship
This one may seem obvious when it's brought up, but if you are trying to get an accurate picture of your total cost of your trip, or maintain a specific travel budget, it's important to factor in these costs and also to choose to tip these roles if you feel service was appropriate.
Your cruise experience begins and ends outside the ship, where tipping is also a key part of the service culture. Here’s a quick guide:
Casino Staff: If you win big or receive exceptional service, tipping a dealer is appreciated. I usually tip $1-$5 chips depending on play, but I am not a big gambler.
Bag Porters: Tip porters at the cruise terminal $1 to $2 per bag. - they often do not work for the cruise company, they work for a 3rd party.
Cab and Uber Drivers: A 10-15% tip on the fare seems to have become the standard.
Hotel Staff: Tip bellhops $1 to $2 per bag and housekeepers $2 to $5 per night.
People in these roles are usually working for less than a living wage with the expectation they will receive tips to supplement their income.
Cultural Considerations
Tipping practices can vary based on the cruise’s region. For example:
European Cruises and on-shore experiences: Tipping might not be as customary, but it’s still appreciated.
Asian Cruises: Some cultures view tipping differently, so check the specific cruise line’s policy.
Opting Out of Automatic Gratuities
Most cruise lines allow passengers to adjust or remove automatic gratuities if they feel they haven't received appropriate service. HOWEVER, they all encourage you to speak to guest services if a problem arises so they have the opporutnity to resolve it for you, rather than the staff not receive their tips.
FAQs about Cruise Tipping
Q: Can I pre-pay my gratuities? A: Yes, most cruise lines allow you to pre-pay gratuities, which can simplify budgeting and reduce surprises on your final bill.
Q: What if service isn’t satisfactory? A: If you’re unhappy with the service, speak with guest services. They can adjust gratuities or address any issues directly with the staff.
Q: Do I tip for room service? A: It’s customary to tip $2 to $5 for room service, although some lines include a service charge.
This article was not meant to convince you to tip or not. It is simply a breakdown of mandatory and optional tips for those who want to understand the social expectations and norms while they travel, and then with that knowledge can tip as they feel appropriate.
Tipping on cruises doesn’t have to be daunting. By understanding the norms and preparing ahead, you can ensure you’re rewarding great service appropriately. Whether you stick with automatic gratuities or prefer to tip in cash, your generosity helps support the dedicated crew members who make your cruise experience unforgettable.
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