It May be Time for Some Royal Caribbean Elites to Reconsider Paying for Drink Packages. 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. Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission when you make a purchase from a link on this site, at no added charge to you. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. 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. The amount is based on the service received of course. 1 1 Quote Cindi Members 12 Author Posted April 16, 2019 Here's how to get the most out of Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package (or Prime Casino Royale free drinks in the casino). 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. I think its pretty bad when thats the only night they make their presence be known. Heres a video which answers many questions that you may have about cruise gratuities and tipping on a cruise ship. For guests staying in Grand Suites and above, the fee is $18.50 per person, per day. If you're staying in a high-category suite, you may be expected to tip . Our Stateroom Attendant on cruise #5 was fabulous, and I showed my appreciation by leaving him (thanks Mahbob!) If you are one to give your room attendant a little extra (on top of auto gratuities), how much do you typically give. Others just prefer the face-to-face experience of handing over a cash tip. If you buy a $5 souvenir with a $20 bill in Mexico, for example, youll receive change in Mexican pesos. RCCL Crown & Anchor Diamond Member at the end of this cruise! Posted March 5, 2007. Although cards are widely accepted, you may still encounter establishments that do not accept card payments. I prefer waiting to see how the service is before deciding on an extra tip, but thats just my preference. Cruising can be such a relaxing vacation as well as so much fun. will be more appreciated than something they would have to store. However, youll want to make sure youve notified your bank that you will be out of the country. 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. You may also like: A Cruise Glossary: Cruise Terms You Should Know. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. If you put your tips on your seapass you will get a voucher for each envelope. 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. 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. When youre on a cruise, you shouldnt tip the captain or the officers. When planning your cruise, check with your travel agent or the cruise line about the tipping policy. However, cruisers dont always see all of the crew who work behind the scenes for them, like the kitchen and laundry workers. Given that most , all ? 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. 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. Just remember that cruise ship crew live in very tight quarters, without much room for personal belongings. Later I learned that the porters outside of the cruise terminal are not cruise line employees at all! When paying the automatic daily gratuities, cruise lines tell us this amount gets divided by your cabin attendant, waiter and other dining staff. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. However, extra tipping and being a jerk do not go hand in hand. How much? These feedback cards mean a lot and sometimes lead to a stellar crew member getting a raise or even a promotion! Beyond leaving a cash tip for your cabin steward, or favorite server or bartender, some other small gestures will go a long way. raahc and lovecruising!!! You dont need to write a noveljust a few sentences about how the crew member made your cruise even better will do. Both beautiful cruise options! The best advice I can give Americans and Canadians, if they are tipping questions arise either on the ship or ashore, follow the lead of Aussies and ask their advice. How Much Does A Cruise Cost? Theres no need to add an extra tip for each drink. The worst thing you can do is wait until you are home from your cruise to address it. Had same two waiters 4 of those nights. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. The new RCI tips per day are added to each guest's SeaPass card (shipboard account) automatically. Not based on what we "should" give, more on the fact that they provided very good service. We are a middle class, retirement age couple (63 and 62) who are not retired with no plans to in the near future. Display as a link instead, Even though cruise gratuities technically arent mandatory, they are customary on most mainstream cruise lines. What Is a Cabin Steward on a Cruise Ship? Your glowing review can help a hardworking crew member earn a promotion or raise. While most people know it for being a cruise destination, shadowing the coastline to see the glaciers, there is so much First is the ATM. Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. 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. That lets him / her know upfront that we tip, and there is more to come at the end of the cruise! Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. A cruise only rate may be available on select cruises, which would not include gratuities. 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. If youre going on a cruise, you can expect daily gratuities to be charged automatically to your onboard account. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. Royal Caribbean states the current pricing for 2022 sailings is between $12.99 and $15.00 per day of the cruise. December 8, 2010. I purchased the package pre-cruise for $76, this equates to just over $25 per day. This is for a good reason as it ensures that proper. What Is The Average Amount of Cash to Bring on a Cruise? All ships have at least one ATM onboard, which is usually located in the Royal Promenade or Centrum. Manage Settings While each cruise line is different, many include alcoholic drinks, soda and specialty coffee, gratuities, specialty dining and some shore excursions. 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). Some cruise lines point out that you may wish to tip the kids club staff. By It includes who to tip, who not to tip, and some tips to help as you plan your cruise vacation. Please let me know in the comments below. If youre booked with Celebritys Always Included, the gratuities are included. Youll want to factor in the cruise line gratuity charge, sometimes called on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). Many luxury all-inclusive cruise lines include gratuities in their cruise fares, or have a tips neither expected nor required policy. Disney cruises has a suggested daily gratuity charge of $13.50 per person, per day for all guests. 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. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? Most cruise lines charge for children as well, although there are some exceptions for very young children on select cruise lines. Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? Before Your Royal Caribbean Cruise . Norwegian Cruise Line. I put together a 47 page printable cruise travel planner that has everything you need as you plan and get ready for your cruise. Depending on your cruise ship, you may be able to use the Royal . Im an avid cruiser and have been giving out insider tips for more than 10 years! However, a few lines dont add autogratuities for babies and toddlers under age two or three. 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. Do you need to tip for drinks, meals, or snacks on a cruise? With the exception of a couple cruise lines on this list, most cruises that include gratuities are luxury lines. What currency should you use to tip on a cruise? Robinson said mainstream cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Holland America Line charge gratuities on a per person, per day basis. (For line by line information, read more about cruise line tipping policies.). This is a review of RCI-Royal Caribbean International's gratuities (paid for the crew services), tipping policy and tips (per day/reduced/removed). An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. I go into more detail about this topic in this post:Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise? Do I need to tip on a cruise or pay service charges, is a question that comes up often. The price increases during August to approximately $773 (619) per person, excluding taxes. If you go on a tour or shore excursion, its nice to tip the driver or shore excursion staff if youve appreciated their service. You can just hand over folded cash, or use the tip envelopes youll find in your stateroom or at Passenger Services. 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. Youll often receive change back in local currency even when paying with USD. #4. You might want to reward your cabin steward, favorite bartender or MDR server, or any other crew member you think did a great job. These cruise line employees are highly compensated, and offering a tip isnt necessary. In the UK, tips are completely discretionary and are only to reward service that goes above the normal expectations. Note that we are Australian, so therefore not inclined to tip unless the service warrants it. flipped into Ren de Lambert. Note that paying in cash does not necessarily circumvent the pooling system -- attendants are officially required to turn in any cash gratuities to put toward the pool. You can adjust this based on the length and complexity of the tour. Which currency you should bring with you on a cruise depends on your departure port and itinerary. 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. They have the insider tips to match so that you can make the most of everything that'll be at your fingertips. Cruise line employees are extremely hard working, I agree, and they go above and beyond so often. If sailing in a reg. You may want to give them a tip per drink or a larger tip at the end or even the beginning of your cruise. Cruise line employees work their butts off to earn those tips. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Cruise Line Gratuities: What's the Point? The finishings are top notch, and the bathroom, in particular, is well-designed with a separate water closet. Youre right an 18% gratuity is added each time you purchase a drink. 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. Pasted as rich text. A couple should budget about $200 in gratuities for a 7 day cruise. The only charges that should appear on my final tab are any extras I decided to add on during the voyage. You'll find an extensive selection of options all over Canada You cant choose how much each crew member gets. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. Every stateroom has a room service menu. Its a part of our cruise vacation cost and helps the hardworking crew make a living. At the base level, one person can use the service, and the price rises as you add more logins. You also have the option to prepay your gratuities before your cruise. If you want to avoid any ATM charges, though, you can theoretically take money out via the casino. Posted September 17, 2021. Paste as plain text instead, Some guests may bring $200 extra for gratuities whereas others may bring $50. We also always tip bar staff even when drinks are complimentary. 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. Do you need to tip at the spa on a cruise? If youre sailing from the United States to the Caribbean, US dollars are widely accepted in popular cruise ports. Your email address will not be published. I dont tend to tip in advance, so this is an interesting way of doing things. If you opt for a specialty restaurant, the tip isnt usually included. Most of the biggest cruise lines automatically add some type of service or gratuity fee onto passenger bills. I do think its a very personal choice, but we can talk about this in a future video for sure! The cruise director will also remind passengers about how much and whom the cruise . Having worked in the service industry, if people want to extra tip, then doing it at the beginning is the way to go. Instead, passengers can tipor notat their own discretion. Porters: $1-5 per bag Room service delivery: $2-4 per tray Having small bills handy is helpful if you plan to tip crew members throughout your sailing. Royal Caribbean's drink packages include: Deluxe Beverage Package Refreshment Package (No alcohol) Classic Soda Package The article also reviews major changes in the RCI's gratuities policy implemented fleetwide/on all liners. I love reading your blog and learning, but I dont often have time to sit down at the computer to read. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Im Carrie Ann, the writer behind Should Be Cruising. Virgin Voyages does a lot of things differently than its mainstream peers. If you wait to the end to tip, then the servers wont know and you possibly missed out of knowing how wonderful the cabin steward or others could be. on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). How much people tip a Royal Genie on their Royal Caribbean cruise tends to vary, although many American guests tend to fall at around the $75-$100 per day. 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. If you dont prepay your gratuities, they will be added to your onboard account. The cruise line assesses a daily fee and divides the money among the tipped crew. If mainstream cruise lines decided to abolish tipping and pay all crew members a reasonable rate per hour, they would have to significantly raise the cost of cruise fares. UK lines such as Fred. 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. The average price of a 7 night Caribbean cruise, on a mainstream cruise line, in April is approximately $616 (493) per person, excluding taxes. 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. The cruise industry has worked this way for a long time, although the automatic gratuities are only the last few years. Tipping on a cruise ship can be a confusing endeavor, especially for those sailing for the first time. I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. 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. As much as some people opt to remove gratuities on their account, some give extra. 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. Cruise lines have implemented automatic gratuities, options to prepay gratuities and some popular cruise lines have begun including tips in your cruise fare. If cruising from Australia to the South Pacific, Australian dollars are widely accepted. cabin (not suite) recommended amount would be $39 pp times two equals $78 for a 4 night cruise. 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. 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. Many cruisers opt to give extra cash tips to crew members who made their vacation that much more enjoyable. 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+). It really made my day! This is an excellent article, which really clearly explains all the issues around tipping. Cash is rarely required on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as all payments onboard are made via your SeaPass account. Here is a list of the daily gratuity charges by major cruise lines for 2021-22. For many cruise passengers, bars play a pretty large role in their experiences. Rather than reducing the amount payed, they point out on their website that they will work to resolve any service issues experienced. Your articles are so helpful at navigating the cruise world. (Youll often see a survey pop up in your email inbox a few days after your cruise.). On a cruise, most guests bring between $100-$120 in cash per day to be spent on transportation, tips, gifts, food, and shopping. Passengers sometimes plan in advance to bring small gifts to leave with their cabin stewards, either at the beginning or end of the cruise. How much are gratuities on Royal Caribbean cruises? You may also like: Do You Need to Bring Cash on a Cruise? 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,. Manchester 3. Heres what you should know about cash on a Royal Caribbean cruise. The amount you tip is up to youI generally give about $5 per person per day to my stateroom steward. With a beverage package, youve already paid the service fee when you bought the package, so the tip is included. Many ships also have an abundance of kids' activities including kids clubs that . The drink package works at all onboard bars, restaurants, and even Royal Caribbean's private island CocoCay. Carnivals daily gratuities are $13.99 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. The fact is, the tips that crew get from passengers make up a good part of their wage. If you dont see the cards in your room, ask at the Passenger Services desk, or leave the feedback in your post-cruise survey. A kind word or a drawing costs nothing and is always appreciated. Then you can take your deposit out in cash at the casino cashier. You cannot paste images directly. You can post now and register later. Why taking a weekend cruise is a great escape, 11 of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, How to get to Royal Caribbean's cruise terminals and how much parking will cost, Top 16 things on a Royal Caribbean cruise everyone needs to do at least once. Please note that gratuities are charged in US dollars for Caribbean, US and Canada cruises. I choose to add the gratuities ahead, just to get them out of the way. The gratuity applies to individual guests of all ages and . Just remember that a cash tip goes to your server, and a charged tip gets added to the tip pool. We always tip cruise staff but in cash not automatic tipping. 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. 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. Like what you see? No worries about "shoddy tips" since you have already paid the standard tip. So something edible (maybe a favorite candy or snack from your home region?) 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. Tipped crew make the majority of their income from gratuities! The amount is very personal. How much shouldwe tip? Ive been surprisedor I probably should say I had forgottenhow many hands have been extended for a tip on these shore excursions. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. cost cruise much does caribbean royal excursions treatments fees consider drinks spa government Youre welcome to use a credit or debit card to make purchases in ports of call whenever possible. Celebrity Cruises is Royal Caribbean's sister brand that provides a slightly more upscale, refined experience onboard. Its a good idea to hand over your tips the day before disembarkation. Royal Caribbean says it is raising its suggested crew gratuities by nearly $2 per passenger, per day. As a cruise passenger, you want to be aware and set your budget expectations to include these amounts for the cruise ship staff. Its customary to tip the waiters generously at specialty restaurants. Learn how your comment data is processed. It is best to drink 9 to 13 cups of water before donating money in the 24 hours preceding the event. Knowing how much cash to bring on a cruise can help you plan your vacation budget and avoid pesky ATM fees along the way. Most cruise ships have ATMs, and some have currency exchanges on board. This practice can eat into the regular wages and livelihood of hardworking crew and is not advised. Want to give something beyond cash? Is it the 15 day or the 7 day from Honolulu? Celebrity Cruises isnt a luxury cruise line, however it is a top premium cruise line that markets itself as modern luxury. In North America, most cruise terminal porters are longshoremen. Automatic gratuities, also called autogratuities or autograts, is the cruise term for the system most cruise lines now use to simplify tipping for passengers. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and leave a comment! Often cruise lines provide additional envelopes to tuck a little extra cash at the end of the cruise just for this purpose. They will do extra for you after they realize you are a tipper! In the main dining room, buffet, specialty restaurants, and other dining venues, your tip is included in the automatic gratuities. If you tip extra, you will get FABULOUS service! If you want to adjust the amount, go to the reception desk. Or you can plan ahead and take enough cash in the correct currency to cover any tips you might want to pay. The rule of thumb is to tip the guide 10% to 20% of the tour cost, depending on how much you enjoyed the experience. Now if someone goes over and above a little extra is due. If you havent notified your bank, they will usually send you a fraud alert or temporarily freeze your card. Read our best tips.). 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. 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. There is no service charge applied for children under 2 years of age. Thoughts? Plus, for a limited time, its $10 off. Thats a funny thing that weve experienced in the past as well. How Much Should You Budget for Cruise Gratuities? 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. What you cant do is adjust or remove automatic gratuities for a specific crew member. Although cash isnt required for onboard purchases, there are a few scenarios where youll want to have cash available. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Alaska is such a beautiful destination. Royal Caribbeans daily automatic gratuities are set at $14.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $17.50 per person, per day for guests in suites. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Normally, we tip between $5 to $7 additionally per day for the two of us at the end of the cruise. Your email address will not be published. I had prepaid my gratuities, and I assumed the porter was a cruise line employee, so I didnt tip him. Extra tipping doesnt give you the right to be a jerk, but if you are a jerk, you had better extra tip! US$13,50 (increased from US$12,95) for standard cabins and US$16,50 (increased from US$15.95) for upper-tier suites. As for tipping above and beyond prepaid gratuities, I agree completely that there is no expectation. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Our Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips And Tricks. You may also like: 26 Hidden Cruise Fees You Should Know About. 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. But you should know, that the ship's service staff don't make a salary - your tips are their wages. So glad this was helpful. 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). 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). Read more: Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? Prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and cruise line gratuities may be referred to a daily service charge or crew incentive. Jan 6. 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. Some cruise ship spas, like those on NCL and Royal Caribbean, add on a service fee or gratuity, usually about 18%.