When people think of cruises,, Theres nothing quite like relaxing on a Caribbean beach with no worries in the world except deciding which tropical, A lot of cruise ship passengers will drive to their port of embarkation, whether with their own vehicle or in a ride, Royal Caribbean cruises are known for the wide-array of entertainment, dining and things to do onboard, and it got us. New York state residents who wish to purchase the product may visit https://travelcruisecare.com to enroll directly with . On Costa Cruises, service charges of $12.50 per person, per day are charged for cruises departing from the US. A kind word or a drawing costs nothing and is always appreciated. Before Your Royal Caribbean Cruise . Related: Whats included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare. Royal Caribbean Gratuities,Tipping Policy,Tips | CruiseMapper Every stateroom has a room service menu. 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 Cruise Cost? Not based on what we "should" give, more on the fact that they provided very good service. If cruising from Australia to the South Pacific, Australian dollars are widely accepted. You can just hand over folded cash, or use the tip envelopes youll find in your stateroom or at Passenger Services. 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. Windstar Cruises daily gratuities are $12.00 per person, per day for all cabin types. What is Royal Caribbean's gratuity price and policy? - Cruises While most people know it for being a cruise destination, shadowing the coastline to see the glaciers, there is so much How much? Many cruisers opt to give extra cash tips to crew members who made their vacation that much more enjoyable. I also tip constantly while on the cruise. Our Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips And Tricks - MSN 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. Is a Royal Caribbean Drink Package Worth It? Eat Sleep Cruise Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Im an avid cruiser and have been giving out insider tips for more than 10 years! 50 Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips and Tricks The staff learns real quick who tips extra, and who does not. In this post, weve gone over how tipping works on a cruise. If youre going on a cruise, you can expect daily gratuities to be charged automatically to your onboard account. Your previous content has been restored. I believe this to be true, too. This should provide enough money for transportation, food, and small souvenirs in port. Prior to your cruise, youll connect your onboard account with a credit or debit card, and all payments will be charged to that card at the end of the cruise. As for tipping above and beyond prepaid gratuities, I agree completely that there is no expectation. Hi Janet! I give my room steward $5 at the very beginning of the cruise. ~ janet Princess: $14.50 per person, per day ($15.50 for mini-suite guests and $16.50 for suite guests). Princess Cruises will automatically charge a crew incentive of $14.50 per person, per day for guests in inside ocean view and balcony cabins. April 16, 2019 in Royal Caribbean Dining. Cruises in Europe, World cruises and those departing from a non-US Caribbean port charge 10 Euros per person, per day. 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. Most cruise lines charge for children as well, although there are some exceptions for very young children on select cruise lines. . You may want to give a small tip to the person who delivers your room service order. 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. I dont tend to tip in advance, so this is an interesting way of doing things. It was just the two of us. Check your bill after your services to see if your tip is already included. Celebrity Cruises is Royal Caribbean's sister brand that provides a slightly more upscale, refined experience onboard. You can do so by going to guest services and making the request. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. I think this depends on who it is and what their job is. 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%. According to Royal Caribbean, the last increase put the company "in line with its competitors in the industry and recognize the exceptional work that Royal Caribbean's staff and crew does to deliver unforgettable vacations every day.". Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. 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. Youll want to factor in the cruise line gratuity charge, sometimes called on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). Paste as plain text instead, We are a middle class, retirement age couple (63 and 62) who are not retired with no plans to in the near future. Tips are added automatically to the onboard account (SeaPass) on a daily basis. Either way, expect to spend about $15-20 per day. Your email address will not be published. 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. Its a part of our cruise vacation cost and helps the hardworking crew make a living. Here is a list of the daily gratuity charges by major cruise lines for 2021-22. So why dont cruise lines just increase the price of fares, and pay their crew a living wage with a decent hourly rate? A Guide for Tipping on a Cruise for Each Cruise Line 40 BEST Royal Caribbean tips, tricks & hidden secrets Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. Tipping on a cruise ship can be a confusing endeavor, especially for those sailing for the first time. A tip of 15%-20% is common, so check the bottom of your bill before adding an additional amount. Each passenger is charged for these tips, including kids. Gratuities or a service charge are added onto some onboard services. 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. 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. Service charges for guests ages 4-14 are half of the adult rate. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_21',676,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0');Tip: Want to avoid paying hefty ATM fees on the cruise ship to get cash for tips? Want to give something beyond cash? During your cruise vacation, youll probably receive services from other people who arent cruise line employeesbut you might not realize it! Cruise line employees are extremely hard working, I agree, and they go above and beyond so often. Before that, in 2015 RCI upped its gratuities from USD 12 to USD 12,95 (standard cabins) and from USD 14,25 to USD 15,95 (suites). Virgin Voyages does a lot of things differently than its mainstream peers. When youre on a cruise, you shouldnt tip the captain or the officers. Prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and cruise line gratuities may be referred to a daily service charge or crew incentive. 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. Just remember that cruise ship crew live in very tight quarters, without much room for personal belongings. Are very professional, what should a tip look like at the end of a 10 day cruise? 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.. 1. I don't actually agree with th. 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. In standard cabins, Carnival charges $14.50 per person, per day in tips. Grand Suite and above cabin categories pay USD 18,50 pp per day gratuities. The suite life: Royal Caribbean vs Celebrity Cruises. Which is better I just arrived on board for our 6th cruise, after my 5th cruise just 2 months ago. You wont require cash for 99% of purchases on a cruise, whether specialty restaurants, cocktails, or souvenirs. Given that most , all ? These feedback cards mean a lot and sometimes lead to a stellar crew member getting a raise or even a promotion! You dont need to write a noveljust a few sentences about how the crew member made your cruise even better will do. Most cruise lines allow guests to remove automatic gratuities. However, the price of getting online can be expensive. Western Caribbean Carnival Dream | Royal Holiday .WONDER OF THE SEAS. Cruises from Europe and Australia will still use the US dollar as the official onboard currency, but you should make purchases in port with the destinations local currency. Credit: Royal Caribbean Show-Stopping Entertainment 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. Youll often receive change back in local currency even when paying with USD. Once you book your cruise, there are some things you'll need to do in advance to prepare. However, a few lines dont add autogratuities for babies and toddlers under age two or three. 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. 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). 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. 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. 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. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Something you will need cash for on a Royal Caribbean cruise are any extra tips you give to crew members. 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. We always tip cruise staff but in cash not automatic tipping. Read more: Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? Tipping Please Help!!! - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise Critic Youre welcome to use a credit or debit card to make purchases in ports of call whenever possible. Pricing varies based on the ship, sail dates, and itinerary. Manage Settings If you want to give an additional tip to your cabin steward (or two), Im sure its very appreciated. Most mainstream cruise lines bill passengers between $12 and $15 per person, per day for. After 23 Royal Caribbean Cruises, What I've Learned About Tipping Whether in Mexico, St. Maarten, Italy, or Vanuatu, having cash is recommended. Jan 6. So something edible (maybe a favorite candy or snack from your home region?) Id give a much larger tip to a knowledgeable tour guide who led us on an intensive nine-hour experience compared to a guide who did a basic three-hour city walking tour. The industry should pay fair wages so that our tips are in fact tips and not wages. 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. If you dont see the cards in your room, ask at the Passenger Services desk, or leave the feedback in your post-cruise survey. Those can range from about $15 to upwards of $20 for each . 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. Carnivals daily gratuities are $13.99 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. Some people are retired or on a fixed income, some are well off, some have to save for years for a cruise. 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. Royal Caribbean Raises Cruise Tipping Guidelines - AOL They have the insider tips to match so that you can make the most of everything that'll be at your fingertips. Do you need to tip at the spa on a cruise? Cruise lines typically flag their ships in countries with lax employment laws. I purchased the package pre-cruise for $76, this equates to just over $25 per day. Other people you should tip during your cruise, Nine Things You Need to Check Before Your Cruise, Eight Things That Will Surprise First Time Cruisers, How to Have the Best Embarkation Day on a Cruise, Giada De Laurentiis Named Godmother of Oceania Cruises New Ship Vista, Norwegian Cruise Line Announces 2023 Meet the Winemaker Series, P&O Arvia Naming Ceremony Will Feature Olly Murs, Carnival Now Offering Guy Fieri and Sammy Hagars Santo Tequila Fleetwide, Princess Cruises Introduces Welcome Home Program, https://shouldbecruising.com/privacy-policy/, A Cruise Glossary: Cruise Terms You Should Know, 26 Hidden Cruise Fees You Should Know About. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Crew members work really hard and make the difference between an ok and a memorable cruise vacation. Just for comparison, by the old RCCL tipping guidelines, the Royal Caribbean suggested tips/gratuities were a total of USD 11,65 per day per passenger (respectively USD 13,90 for suite passengers) and also guests could pay onboard either in cash or via their shipboard account. This is an excellent article, which really clearly explains all the issues around tipping. Later I learned that the porters outside of the cruise terminal are not cruise line employees at all! There's a wide variety of services that you will receive during your cruise. They will seldom steer you wrong. Passengers sometimes plan in advance to bring small gifts to leave with their cabin stewards, either at the beginning or end of the cruise. On a 7 day cruise we usually give $50 to the waiter and $30 to the asst. Which currency you should bring with you on a cruise depends on your departure port and itinerary. You can post now and register later. While you pay daily gratuities before your cruise ($16 per person, per day in most staterooms), many cruisers like to give something extra. ATMs usually charge a $5-6 fee per transaction. What you cant do is adjust or remove automatic gratuities for a specific crew member. Cunards daily gratuities are set at $11.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Most are experienced cruisers and, as a group, theyre very well-liked. Best Cafe at Sea? - Royal Caribbean Cruise Cafe @ Two70 on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). Porters: $1-5 per bag Room service delivery: $2-4 per tray But honestly, theyd prefer cash over a gift basketno matter how yummy your treats are! I think its pretty bad when thats the only night they make their presence be known. Heres what you should know about cash on a Royal Caribbean 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,. How much tip receive in cruise royal caribbean? In fact, I think most would agree that cruise line staff make a huge difference in the cruise experience. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Often, these crew members are part of the tip pool, and they lose part of their expected income each time a passenger removes autogratuities. Up the tip to $20. Continue with Recommended Cookies. 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. You can purchase the drink package online pre-cruise or once onboard during the first day (or two) of your trip. I agree with Kelli. Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). 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. Other itineraries may differ. For guests staying in Grand Suites and above, the fee is $18.50 per person, per day. This is for a good reason as it ensures that proper. The rule of thumb is to tip the guide 10% to 20% of the tour cost, depending on how much you enjoyed the experience. While you pay daily gratuities before your cruise ($16 per person, per day in most staterooms), many cruisers like to give something extra. The finishings are top notch, and the bathroom, in particular, is well-designed with a separate water closet. Im not expecting him to kiss our butts, but come on. Upload or insert images from URL. You also shouldnt tip the cruise director, the entertainment staff, or any independent entertainers like musical guests, comedians, or magicians. However ,usually you can have at least 2 cabin stewards. Payments on cruise ships have almost entirely gone digital, but there are still a few situations where cash comes in handy. The time when youll need the most cash on a cruise vacation is when youre in port. On most cruise lines that collect automatic gratuities, youre able to remove or adjust the charges by visiting the passenger services desk. You can always add extra for exceptional service, though! If you choose to pay tips in cash, there are usually some envelopes available at the guest service desk. P.S. How Much Should You Tip Crew Members - Cruise Hive Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. A Guide to Cruise Gratuities: Has Cruise Tipping Gone Overboard? The only charges that should appear on my final tab are any extras I decided to add on during the voyage. one in 2023. If your kids have had a great time and youve appreciated the service, a few extra dollars are surely appreciated. Royal Caribbean cruise ships have been sailing at nearly 100% capacity for the past few months. All ships have at least one ATM onboard, which is usually located in the Royal Promenade or Centrum. We like to keep a few dollars handy for this purpose as we board our cruise ship. Thoughts? Some cruise lines refer to these tips as a service charge. Most mainstream cruise lines have their headquarters in the US. 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. Some claim they are making less money than they formerly did with cash tips. Youre right an 18% gratuity is added each time you purchase a drink. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. How much to tip waiter and his assistant? - Royal Caribbean Blog What do you think about the custom of tipping on a cruise ship? Robinson said mainstream cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Holland America Line charge gratuities on a per person, per day basis. 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. 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. Normally, we tip between $5 to $7 additionally per day for the two of us at the end of the cruise. How Much To Tip A Royal Genie (With Chart) - Cruise Mummy Also, if free gratuities are an amenity, youre not expected to go beyond it unless someone goes way beyond whats normally expected. By How much do you tip on a cruise ship? Insight on gratuities when sailing. Now, with automatic gratuities, the process is much simpler and you dont need to carry all that cash. I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. 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). What Is The Average Amount of Cash to Bring on a Cruise? That lets him / her know upfront that we tip, and there is more to come at the end of the cruise! Celebrity Cruises isnt a luxury cruise line, however it is a top premium cruise line that markets itself as modern luxury. Obviously, if you tip a room attendant, that money will go directly to him/her. Theres no need to add an extra tip for each drink. I had prepaid my gratuities, and I assumed the porter was a cruise line employee, so I didnt tip him. Tipping on Ships: An Australian Culture Clash - Cruise Critic By general rule of thumb, the big ship mainstream cruise lines charge it as an extra payment above and beyond the base cruise fare while luxury lines adopt an all-inclusive approach. You may also like: 26 Hidden Cruise Fees You Should Know About. A cruise only rate may be available on select cruises, which would not include gratuities. Which family cruise can you book for $2000? For many cruises that operate in the Australian market where tipping isnt part of the culture, automatic gratuities arent added on to passenger bills. This includes drinks at the bar or cafe, spa services and salon visits. If you go on a tour or shore excursion, its nice to tip the driver or shore excursion staff if youve appreciated their service. Your cruise in April sounds amazing! Could you please go into tipping for the haven ncl staff , butlers and more. This is a review of RCI-Royal Caribbean International's gratuities (paid for the crew services), tipping policy and tips (per day/reduced/removed). How to Pay: Paid in cruise fare at the time of purchase. Who else should you tip on a cruise ship? 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. Stay in one of the Royal Suites and room service is included. Ren de Lambert (@RenedeLambert) on Flipboard The cruise line will assess your fee each day, then theyll charge your credit card on file at the end of the cruise. They might feel that it gives them more control over tipping, rewarding the crew based on their level of service. Tipping wait staff extra - how much? - Cruise Critic Community The cruise line assesses a daily fee and divides the money among the tipped crew. On a cruise, most guests bring between $100-$120 in cash per day to be spent on transportation, tips, gifts, food, and shopping. However, if you prefer to pay off your account and daily gratuities in cash, you can do so by going to guest services. Some things are free, other items are fee-based. Most US lines that base ships in the UK over the summer -- Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, for example -- offer automated gratuity options that charge a standard daily gratuity fee to the credit card you've placed on file for each day of your cruise. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? Cruise Tipping and Salaries Dissected, Tipping On Cruises: Cruise Line Policies Revealed, Tipping on Ships: An Australian Culture Clash, Cabin Stewards on a Cruise: What to Expect, How Not to Be Rude on a Cruise: 10 Ways to Make the Crew Love You. a $200 gratuity on top of my prepaid gratuities. The average daily gratuity on a cruise is $14-15 USD per person approximately $30 per day, per couple in a cabin. For some of them, depending .