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Likewise, tipping the bartender at your favorite bar on the first day can mean the perfect drink every time (and maybe even faster service when you're in a crowd). If you're after a coveted window seat, a nice tip to the maitre d' on day one can help ensure that they never fails to have that table waiting. Bartenders and baristas may not be as visible as other crew members, but they still play an important role in creating a fun atmosphere onboard. While there typically is a separate gratuity for beverages, tipping these employees around $1-2 per drink is appreciated. Cruise gratuities are charged to guests, although the rate may be discounted for those 12 and under.
Cruise Line Adds “Glacier Day” to Its Alaskan Cruise Itineraries
You would think that paying a hefty daily tip would cover everyone on the ship. In fact, there are a couple of instances where paying additional gratuity is recommended or automatic. When you book your cruise, you’ll be given the opportunity to prepay the gratuities. In this case, you can simply choose to have them lumped in with your cruise fare, paying them all at once. If you’d like to calculate exactly what your gratuity amount will be before you book your trip, then you can use our calculator here.
Final Thoughts On Tipping On A Cruise Ship
Also, bring along some envelopes or even a pack of small, printed thank you cards. When you have great service (or need to tip those above who are not part of the gratuity pool), hand the cash, envelope or card directly to the person. And, as the time to disembark approaches, make sure you let the crew members whom you have come to know that you appreciate them. Should the occasion occur that you feel the service on your cruise is consistently below standards, you do have the option to remove the gratuities from your bill. Prior to doing so, however, speak with someone at the front desk (purser’s desk or reception desk) to try to resolve the issues. If a visit to the spas or salons onboard will be part of your cruise, keep in mind that these crew members may not be part of the tip-sharing program.
What to do if you’re not satisfied with the service on your cruise
The fact is, the tips that crew get from passengers make up a good part of their wage. Crew members work really hard and make the difference between an ok and a memorable cruise vacation. Since this is the current pay structure for most major cruise lines, removing tips really affects the cruise line workers. Something to note is that although daily gratuities aren’t charged, there may be a service fee or tip added to certain services onboard. Here is a list of the daily gratuity charges by major cruise lines.
From the passenger perspective, the gratuity amount is simple — pay a set amount per person, per day, and be done. That said, it’s unusual to adjust the gratuity amount, and the staff works extremely hard to make your trip enjoyable. If you have a major issue, however, you can change your gratuity amount accordingly. You might be surprised to learn a gratuity isn't always necessary. Here are seven times you shouldn't tip (even if you feel slightly obliged). If you are in a suite or aboard a luxury cruise, you may have a butler assigned to your room.
Giving service staff tips in a currency they can’t easily use means they’ll have to pay a fee to change your cash tip into another currency. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. In the years past, cash in envelopes would only benefit the staff who directly interacted with the passengers.
Here are our thoughts on extra tipping for cruise ship bartenders:
With a generous attitude and an open mind, you’ll have a memorable and enjoyable cruising experience, thanks to the hard-working crew. The comfort of your own cabin, endless buffets, and exciting excursions. It may not be the most glamorous aspect of cruising, but it’s an important one, particularly to the crew. It’s totally fine to give extra tips to crew members who go above and beyond during your sailing, but we recommend doing this in addition to the automatic gratuities.
Royal Caribbean Raising Gratuity Rates for All Passengers - Cruise Hive
Royal Caribbean Raising Gratuity Rates for All Passengers.
Posted: Wed, 01 Nov 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
If you are on a 3-night cruise, for example, and don’t pay gratuities in advance, you will see a $16 (or $18.50) charge on your account each day of the sailing. There are also staff onboard for whom it is not customary to tip. It may also be awkward if guests continue to attempt to tip after a worker has politely declined. Other than that, your gratuity charges cover the housekeeping and dining staff. So when you leave the room you don’t have to put down any extra cash (unless you want to).
You SHOULD know how much gratuities cost per day
Giving those folks gratuities would be like tipping your doctor or lawyer. There is no gratuity required but, again, you can offer a cash tip if staff members went out of their way to make your kiddo’s sailing extra special. But don’t assume that gratuities are part of every prepaid package. Passengers ages 2 and younger are exempt from tipping aboard Carnival cruises, for example, while Norwegian excuses kids ages 3 and younger, and Costa Cruises exempts kids ages 4 and younger. Later I learned that the porters outside of the cruise terminal are not cruise line employees at all!
Additionally, some cruise lines offer prepaid packages that include daily cruise gratuities in the overall cost of your voyage. It’s important to consider which method works best for you and plan accordingly before setting sail on a cruise ship. At most lines, you can pay your service charges before sailing (at the same time you pay your cruise fare).
Celebrity Cruises removes gratuities from inclusive package and makes changes to Retreat - Royal Caribbean Blog
Celebrity Cruises removes gratuities from inclusive package and makes changes to Retreat.
Posted: Wed, 30 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Many cruisers argue that cruise gratuities should be included in the cost of the cruise fare to ensure equal payment. Virgin Voyages is one of the few mainstream cruise lines that include gratuities and service charges in their sailing cost. The automatic service charges you pay when you book a cruise are divided among many staff members, including the main dining room servers and assistants. Though it’s not uncommon to leave extra for a server that has been. Some people will leave nothing extra while I’ve witnessed passengers give a server $100+ at the end of a cruise. I’ve had a wide variety of service quality over the years and If the server is the same server every night, I’ll often leave them around $25 at the end of the cruise IF the service has been really good.
Passengers who want to adjust the amount of their cabin auto-gratuity in either direction can do so at the guest services desk. However, you cannot remove the automatic 18% tip on drinks, specialty dining and so on. However, for the majority of mass market cruise lines the gratuities are extra charges on the price of your cruise.
As I take in the surroundings, I notice the Retreat Bar nearby, offering a variety of refreshing drinks. But what catches my attention the most are the picnic basket options available. The Piazza comes alive at night with a vibrant and elegant atmosphere, offering a variety of bars and theaters hosting exciting shows. As I explore the ship, I can’t resist the temptation of indulging in the decadent treats and demonstrations of the Chocolate Journeys experience on board. Nestled within the ship, a hidden corridor is filled with an array of freshly baked pastries and delectable treats. This hidden gem is a pastry shop extravaganza, offering a haven for those with a sweet tooth.
And, of course, the cruise companies are all too happy to keep their cruises' prices down by passing off salary costs as added gratuities tacked on to your bill. This cruise tipping guide breaks down what’s included in cruise gratuities and service charges, what to expect, and how to maximize your time and money. If you're wondering how much you should tip on the specific cruise line you're considering or have already booked, we've compiled that information here. Below is a line-by-line look at policies for automatic gratuity charges (called service charges or "crew appreciation" charges at some lines).
Don’t pre-pay gratuities and if there’s an increase, you’ll pay a bit more at the end of your cruise. If you’re paying for a family, it could be a very costly added expense. If you want to get the daily cruise tipping fees out of the way before your cruise and avoid last-night sticker shock, I always suggest that you pre-pay gratuities. Norwegian Cruise Line has some of the highest gratuities at sea with passengers staying in all regular cabins and Club Balcony cabins automatically billed $20 per day; Suite passengers are $25 per day. Tips can either be prepaid up to three days prior to the start of your Disney cruise or will be automatically charged to onboard accounts. To adjust the amount of your automatic tips or to tip independently, see the purser's office.
Ever since I can recall, I’ve harbored a deep desire to embark on the ultimate worldwide adventure, a voyage in which every new day reveals another breathtaking and extraordinary destination. Imagine steering through the Panama Canal, exploring the vibrant streets of Singapore, and being astonished by the ancient pyramids of Egypt. The atmosphere here is incredible, with ocean sunset vibes that transport you to a place of pure relaxation.
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