If you order room service, its customary to give the person that delivers your tray about $1-2 per meal. (Youll often see a survey pop up in your email inbox a few days after your cruise.). 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. Id love to connect with you on Instagram and Facebook @lifewellcruised. Tipped crew on many cruise lines include housekeeping, dining, and laundry workers. You can also leave a small gift for your favorite crew member. Most cruisers tip anywhere from $2-$10 per person (or the equivalent in the local currency) to the tour guide, and hand a couple of dollars to the driver. 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. 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. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. Grand Suite and above cabin categories pay USD 18,50 pp per day gratuities. Cruise Ship Engine Power, Propulsion, Fuel, Royal Caribbean Drinks Prices, Beverage Menus, Alcohol Policy, Carnival Cruise WiFi Internet Packages Prices. Here are the top travel tips for a Royal Caribbean cruise from the experts themselves: At the AquaTheater, acrobats, high divers, slackliners and more put on shows that make a splash. Today is day 10 of a 12 day cruise on grandeur. I believe this to be true, too. (Want to get the most from your cabin steward? Robinson said mainstream cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Holland America Line charge gratuities on a per person, per day basis. Thanks for sharing your view on this. Come join my Facebook Cruise Community Thanks for reading and Happy Cruising!! Weve been on 4 cruises with our 5th. Norwegian Cruise Line charges a daily service fee of $15.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $18.50 per person per day for guests in suites and The Haven. However, there are a few common practices and guidelines. 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. Royal Caribbean International What's Included: Dining, stateroom, and other key crew members. 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 article also reviews major changes in the RCI's gratuities policy implemented fleetwide/on all liners. As for tipping above and beyond prepaid gratuities, I agree completely that there is no expectation. You can adjust this based on the length and complexity of the tour. About $1-2 (or the equivalent in local currency) per bag is fine. You can raise them, lower them, or remove them altogether. 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). How it works: Gratuities are automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. Cindi 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. .WONDER OF THE SEAS. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Do you have a favorite bartender? Check your bill after your services to see if your tip is already included. But lets say you have a negative experience with your server in the dining room, or you feel that the cabin steward isnt doing their job. What you cant do is adjust or remove automatic gratuities for a specific crew member. 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. Our Stateroom Attendant on cruise #5 was fabulous, and I showed my appreciation by leaving him (thanks Mahbob!) Check out the latest web stories from Should Be Cruising! 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. 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. US$13,50 (increased from US$12,95) for standard cabins and US$16,50 (increased from US$15.95) for upper-tier suites. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. I give my room steward $5 at the very beginning of the cruise. This cruise ship was the first of Carnival's unique Dream Class cruise ships. | Royal Caribbean Blog www.royalcaribbeanblog.com. Cruise lines usually add a service charge, usually 15-18%, to all beverages that arent complimentary. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. 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. You also shouldnt tip the cruise director, the entertainment staff, or any independent entertainers like musical guests, comedians, or magicians. 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. (Learn more about when and when not to pay auto-gratuities.). 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. However ,usually you can have at least 2 cabin stewards. There may be cases where you'd like to tip your cabin steward more than what he or she will receive after your automated gratuity is pooled and shared out. I had prepaid my gratuities, and I assumed the porter was a cruise line employee, so I didnt tip him. Tip amount: Gratuities amount to $13.50 per person per day (including children 3 and older) in standard rooms and $15.50 per person in suites. One of the most luxurious aspects of cruising is the service of room stewards -- that team of people who often go unseen in their daily mission to keep your cruise cabin sparkling fresh and clean. When we tip them individually, do they get to keep the entire amount for themselvesor do they have to share that too? ATMs usually charge a $5-6 fee per transaction. Tipping on a cruise ship can be a confusing endeavor, especially for those sailing for the first time. However, your cruise vacation expenses wont end there. Some cruise lines point out that you may wish to tip the kids club staff. That lets him / her know upfront that we tip, and there is more to come at the end of the cruise! How Much Should You Budget for Cruise Gratuities? On disembarkation day, you probably wont find your fave crew members in their usual spots! Which currency you should bring with you on a cruise depends on your departure port and itinerary. Some claim they are making less money than they formerly did with cash tips. If you buy a $5 souvenir with a $20 bill in Mexico, for example, youll receive change in Mexican pesos. Cunards daily gratuities are set at $11.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. Do you need to tip at the spa on a cruise? UK lines such as Fred. After combing through my notes, here's the best tips and tricks for taking a Royal Caribbean cruise. Display as a link instead, If you tip extra, you will get FABULOUS service! If you dont see the cards in your room, ask at the Passenger Services desk, or leave the feedback in your post-cruise survey. 4 Ways to Tip Extra on a Non-Tipping Cruise Ship, What to Expect on a Cruise: Onboard Spending, Service on a Luxury Cruise: What to Expect. I agree with Kelli. Royal Caribbean says it is raising its suggested crew gratuities by nearly $2 per passenger, per day. Posted March 5, 2007. Although cash isnt required for onboard purchases, there are a few scenarios where youll want to have cash available. I ALWAYS tip extra to the outstanding employees on every cruise I have ever taken. The amount is very personal. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Most mainstream cruise lines have their headquarters in the US. The new RCI tips per day are added to each guest's SeaPass card (shipboard account) automatically. Posted September 17, 2021. They pay their crew (usually recruited from countries with limited economic opportunities) per contract, not by the hour. If you're staying in a high-category suite, you may be expected to tip . Tipped crew make the majority of their income from gratuities! Had same two waiters 4 of those nights. If you dont have a drink package, theyll add the price of each drink plus the service fee to your onboard tab. Celebrity Cruises isnt a luxury cruise line, however it is a top premium cruise line that markets itself as modern luxury. 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. Credit: Royal Caribbean Show-Stopping Entertainment The cruise line will assess your fee each day, then theyll charge your credit card on file at the end of the cruise. What do you think about the custom of tipping on a cruise ship? The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Princess Cruises also has the Princess Plus fare, which includes gratuities or the crew incentive, Medallion Net wifi and Princess premium beverage package. cabin (not suite) recommended amount would be $39 pp times two equals $78 for a 4 night cruise. I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. You may also like: 26 Hidden Cruise Fees You Should Know About. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. They will do extra for you after they realize you are a tipper! Also, if free gratuities are an amenity, youre not expected to go beyond it unless someone goes way beyond whats normally expected. 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. You may want to give them a tip per drink or a larger tip at the end or even the beginning of your cruise. 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. Tipping is not required, however, customarily some people do choose to tip anywhere from $1 - $5 per order. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. Youre right an 18% gratuity is added each time you purchase a drink. Im not expecting him to kiss our butts, but come on. Plus, for a limited time, its $10 off. The balcony is a good size with two chairs. Similarly, in the main dining room, we tip our waiter around $6 to $8 per day for the two of us, averaging around $50 for a 7-night cruise. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. 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. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. If you want to adjust the amount, go to the reception desk. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. First of all, don't neglect any post-cruise questionnaires, which provide an opportunity to rave about your cabin attendant directly to his or her employer. Royal Caribbean's VOOM service has two different levels of service with two different prices. If your kids have had a great time and youve appreciated the service, a few extra dollars are surely appreciated. We are a middle class, retirement age couple (63 and 62) who are not retired with no plans to in the near future. $10-20 at the end of the cruise is a nice gratuity for their service. Treasure Coast of Florida. 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. 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. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? Others just prefer the face-to-face experience of handing over a cash tip. However, you might end up paying a similar total price on a mainstream line when you factor in gratuities, drink packages, shore excursions, and the like. Thats up to you! 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. The porters will assist with your luggage and its customary to tip for their service. Virgin Voyages does a lot of things differently than its mainstream peers. Please check MSCs website for details. 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). But if you dont want to prepay, thats fine too. 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. I always prepay the gratuities. Should you tip extra on a cruise? For example, you might give the guide $5 to $10 for a half-day excursion or $10 to $20 for a full-day tour. Both beautiful cruise options! How much do people tip a Royal Genie? A cruise only rate may be available on select cruises, which would not include gratuities. The gratuity is $15.50 per person, per day for guests in mini-suites and $16.50 per person, per day for guests in suites. Children under 4 are not charged. Bond with your snorkel guide? 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. Clear editor. separately, near the end of the cruise. There are different service charges for certain itineraries. The extra cash may or may not end up in your steward's pocket, but he'll appreciate the gesture nonetheless. Here is a list of the daily gratuity charges by major cruise lines for 2021-22. One notable exception is Norwegian Cruise Line. Im so glad youre here! New York state residents who wish to purchase the product may visit https://travelcruisecare.com to enroll directly with . I generally tip extra, mostly because I come from a customer service back round and know how hard these people work, compared to their pay. All rights reserved. You may also like: Eight Things That Will Surprise First Time Cruisers. 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. The only exception is for passengers with prepaid gratuities (they won't be charged daily). Royal Caribbean Cruise Holiday Deals 2020 & 2021 - Cruise Nation www.cruisenation.com. There are a couple of exceptions, though. These kind, helpful, generous, employees work extremely hard to make sure guests like myself have a fabulous time, and since I do, the very least I can do is show my appreciation in a way that benefits them the most! Of course, as always, its at your discretion. Thanks so much! The average daily gratuity on a cruise is $14-15 USD per person - approximately $30 per day, per couple in a cabin. Luxury cruise lines have a higher upfront cost than most popular cruise lines, however theyll often include many valuable extras. But I also feel like people will think Im rude for not doing so in reality tho, they are already being tipped 18%. Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise? If youre new to cruising, you might be wondering who to tip on a cruise, how much to tip, and exactly how onboard gratuities work. Travelers in suites are. It's all on the room service menu. The average price of a 7 night Caribbean cruise, on a mainstream cruise line, in April is approximately $616 (493) per person, excluding taxes. You can purchase the drink package online pre-cruise or once onboard during the first day (or two) of your trip. At some North American ports, youll see signs stating that the porters do not accept tips. 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. 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. Then (if your problem continues to bother you) contact the hotel manager. 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. Prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and cruise line gratuities may be referred to a daily service charge or crew incentive. Your email address will not be published. For many cruise passengers, bars play a pretty large role in their experiences. 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.
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how much to tip on cruise royal caribbean