How Much Are Cruise Line Gratuities?

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Here’s What Each Major Ocean Cruise Line Charges in Gratuities

 

On Royal Caribbean’s website, the cruise line says: “A way to reward our crew members for their outstanding service, gratuities are shared among dining, bar and culinary services staff, stateroom attendants and other hotel services teams who work behind the scenes to enhance the cruise experience.”

 

This is a nice way to describe service gratuities but every cruise line is unique and could handle gratuities differently.   One thing we do know is that service gratuities being charged to guest’s onboard account is easier than having to take envelopes and struggling to know how much money to give to whom and perhaps missing those who went out of their way to make the cruise a wonderful experience.  The cruise lines will typically split gratuities between housekeeping / room attendant team, dining / restaurant team and additional service staff.  All gratuities collected go to ship staff.

 

However, always be aware that guests do have the ability to increase or, if need be, decrease gratuities and unless gratuities are all included in the fare, most cruise lines will add an 18 percent gratuity to all beverages, spa, salon and minibar purchases. Some cruise lines also add automatic gratuities on specialty dining meals.

 

Azamara Club Cruises includes gratuities in its fares.

 

 

Carnival Cruise Line, as of Dec. 1, 2018, will start charging $13.99 per person, per day for guests in standard rooms; and $15.99 per person, per day, for guests in suites.  

 

 

Celebrity Cruise Line charges $14.50 per person, per day for those in standard accommodations; $15.00 per person, per day for Concierge Class and AquaClass guests; and $18.00 per person, per day for those in suites.

 

 

Crystal Cruises is all-inclusive, so gratuities for its staff — housekeeping, restaurant, bar, and Penthouse butler staff — are already included in the cruise fare.

 

 

Holland America Line, as of January 2019, will increase the cost to $14.50 per day, per person for all guests staying in standard rooms; and $16.00 per person, per day for suite guests, starting in 2019.  

 

 

MSC Cruises services charges vary by sailing departures and children get a break.  For the majority of its Caribbean sailings, MSC charges $12.50 per night, per adult; and $6.25 per night, per child over the age of two. The same goes for its South America and FAE sailings.  For MSC’s South Africa Cruises, guests will pay $8 per night, per person for adults; and $4 per person, per night for children. Guests on the Grand Voyages from South Africa (Northbound) will be charged $12.50 per night, per person for adults; and $6.25 per night, per person for children.  For its Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Antilles, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman cruises, MSC automatically charges 10 euros per person, per night for adults; and half that for children.

 

Norwegian Cruise Line raised its gratuities last April by 50 cents, to $14.50 per day for standard cabins and $17.50 per person per day for suites and Haven guests.  During that increase, Norwegian also increased gratuities on Sky and Sun, its two all-inclusive ships, to $19.99 for standard guests and $22.99 for suite guests.

 

Oceania Cruises automatically adds $16.0 per person, per day for standard guests; and $23.00 per person, per day for suite guests.  Oceania also adds an 18 percent charge to all beverage purchases, spa services, and specialty dinners.

 

Paul Gauguin Cruises includes gratuities in their all-inclusive fares.

 

Regent Seven Seas Cruises includes gratuities in the cruise fare for all of Regent’s sailings. The line also offers another option for guests who want to go above-and-beyond for their crew — donations to the Crew Welfare Fund, which is used for crew events, are welcomed at the Purser Office onboard.

 

Royal Caribbean International charges $14.50 per person, per day for standard guests; and $17.50 per person, per day for suite guests for gratuities. 

 

Seabourn states that “Gratuities are neither required nor expected on Seabourn ships.”

 

Silversea includes all service gratuities except spa, are included in Silversea’s all-inclusive fare.

 

Viking Ocean Cruises adds a discretionary hotel and dining charge of $15.00 per person, per day to shipboard accounts. Those charges are shared among the waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, galley staff, laundry staff, and others. That fee does not include Viking’s 15 percent gratuity for bar and deck service.

 

Windstar raised its daily gratuities in January of this year — now, the luxury line charges $13.50 per person, per day for gratuities for all guests.  Windstar also adds a 15 percent service charge for bar service.