Cruise gratuities are an essential part of cruise staff member’s compensation. Long gone are the days of cash tip envelopes. Instead, many cruise lines have simplified the tipping process by charging an automatic gratuity.
No More Tip Envelopes
Many cruise lines have simplified the tipping process by charging an automatic gratuity instead of giving passengers cash tip envelopes.
How Much is Automatic Gratuity?
Cruise lines add automatic gratuities, ranging from $14.50 to $20 per person per day. Note that this amount is per person, so a family of four staying in a cabin will be charged $80 per day in gratuities alone. That’s $560 for a seven-day cruise! Passengers staying in suites will be charged more.
How Is Gratuity Distributed?
Cruise lines pool the money collected and distribute the gratuities to various cruise staff members. Typically, they are distributed as salary and extra incentives such as bonuses. Many cruise lines are vague about how exactly these gratuities are divided.
Prepay Gratuities
Cruise lines will allow passengers to prepay gratuities. This allows cruise passengers to lock in the gratuity rate in case of any price increases. This avoids any surprises.
Onboard Account
If you don’t prepay cruise gratuities, the cruise line will charge the recommended amount to your onboard account. You will either see this charge come in daily or near the end of your cruise. You can then pay the gratuities with your credit card, debit card, or cash. Check out 25 Things People Forget to Pack for a Cruise
Modifying Gratuities
If you are unhappy with the service or your cruise experience, you can ask guest services to adjust the gratuity amount. You must make any adjustments prior to leaving the cruise ship, and the cruise line will not make any changes once you leave the ship. Check out 21 Smart and Easy Ways to Save Money on a Cruise
Cash Tips
Some cruise passengers ask guest services to remove the automatic gratuity because they plan to give cash tips. Check out 13 Important Things to do ASAP on the First Day of Your Cruise
Extra Tips
Many cruise passengers will bring cash to give extra tips to crew members who go above and beyond. This extra cash tip is on top of what they already give in automatic gratuity. Check out I’ve Been on Over 25 Cruises, Here is How Much Extra Gratuity I Give to the Cruise Staff