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. If you order room service, its customary to give the person that delivers your tray about $1-2 per meal. Norwegian Cruise Line has onboard service charge will is charged automatically for guests 3 and up, and distributed among staff that serve you in various ways. How Much Does a Caribbean Cruise Cost? Cruise lines usually add a service charge, usually 15-18%, to all beverages that arent complimentary. Bar, spa and in-room dining for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara have an 18 per cent gratuity charge. (Learn more about when and when not to pay auto-gratuities.). You can adjust this based on the length and complexity of the tour. Look for a link at the bottom of this page or in our privacy policy where you can withdraw consent. How much you tip on cruise excursions is entirely up to you, but a suggested starting price is $3 per person for a half-day tour and $6 per person for a full-day tour for the guide and $1 to $2 for the bus driver. I was very surprised. Please note that gratuities are charged in US dollars for Caribbean, US and Canada cruises. Critics of this system (which has evolved in the last several decades from strictly cash-based gratuities) say that under this tip pooling arrangement, cabin attendants and wait staff aren't getting recognized for exemplary work the same as they were in the old days. This is a review of RCI-Royal Caribbean International's gratuities (paid for the crew services), tipping policy and tips (per day/reduced/removed). If mainstream cruise lines decided to abolish tipping and pay all crew members a reasonable rate per hour, they would have to significantly raise the cost of cruise fares. Cruise line tipping policies vary from one cruise company to another. Normally, we tip between $5 to $7 additionally per day for the two of us at the end of the cruise. Is a Royal Caribbean Drink Package Worth It? Eat Sleep Cruise This cruise ship was the first of Carnival's unique Dream Class cruise ships. For many cruises that operate in the Australian market where tipping isnt part of the culture, automatic gratuities arent added on to passenger bills. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Both beautiful cruise options! 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. I'm a budget cruiser. Here are 8 easy strategies I used on my recent We always tip cruise staff but in cash not automatic tipping. Id love to connect with you on Instagram and Facebook @lifewellcruised. The Smart Cruiser's Guide to Tipping on a Cruise | Cruisewatch Ren de Lambert (@RenedeLambert) on Flipboard Which family cruise can you book for $2000? Tipping on a cruise ship can be a confusing endeavor, especially for those sailing for the first time. If not, just leave blank. You can purchase the drink package online pre-cruise or once onboard during the first day (or two) of your trip. After 50 cruises I know they really mean it! Some people are retired or on a fixed income, some are well off, some have to save for years for a cruise. Its unlikely to do any good by this point. 1. What you cant do is adjust or remove automatic gratuities for a specific crew member. If youre sailing from the United States to the Caribbean, US dollars are widely accepted in popular cruise ports. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. 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. 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. The suite life: Royal Caribbean vs Celebrity Cruises. Which is better I don't actually agree with th. The price increases during August to approximately $773 (619) per person, excluding taxes. Related: Cruise Line. Often, these crew members are part of the tip pool, and they lose part of their expected income each time a passenger removes autogratuities. Other cruisers, often people who remember cruising before autogratuities, prefer tipping crew in cash. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? It has one large sink with two faucets and a large shower with a tub. Hi All, Im Ilana. Top Cruise Tips | Royal Caribbean Blog Then (if your problem continues to bother you) contact the hotel manager. Have some small bills handy for these times. I'm sure the crew appreciated your extra tips - they all work so hard! I was thinking of giving ours a $20 at the beginning, not sure if this is about the "norm", or if I should give a little more. You can, of course, increase that amount based on your experience on the excursion. If you are one to give your room attendant a little extra (on top of auto gratuities), how much do you typically give. 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,. on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). The auto gratuity goes not only to your cabin steward but is also shared among the entire crew that works to make your cruise successful: the dining room, buffet and specialty restaurant wait staff, cooks, laundry staff and the general housekeeping staff that cleans the ship's common areas, for example. Your link has been automatically embedded. You can post now and register later. All ships have at least one ATM onboard, which is usually located in the Royal Promenade or Centrum. Keep in mind that cruise crew members live in tight quarters, so small (and edible) gifts are preferred. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. However, youll want to make sure youve notified your bank that you will be out of the country. Many ships also have an abundance of kids' activities including kids clubs that . Even if you prepay for your shore excursions directly through the cruise line, its customary to tip your tour guides and drivers in cash after each excursion. The cruise line will assess your fee each day, then theyll charge your credit card on file at the end of the cruise. The cruise line assesses a daily fee and divides the money among the tipped crew. You also have the option to prepay your gratuities before your cruise. Celebrity Cruises is Royal Caribbean's sister brand that provides a slightly more upscale, refined experience onboard. This is for a good reason as it ensures that proper. One Key Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package Tip Cruisers Need to Grand Suite and above cabin categories pay USD 18,50 pp per day gratuities. We also always tip bar staff even when drinks are complimentary. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. Something you will need cash for on a Royal Caribbean cruise are any extra tips you give to crew members. I wouldn't worry about giving "too little" extra, since you are already paying the auto gratuity. A kind word or a drawing costs nothing and is always appreciated. With a beverage package, youve already paid the service fee when you bought the package, so the tip is included. There is no charge for children under 2 years of age. #1 Bring a bathing suit on embarkation day On embarkation day, the pools are open so be sure to pack a bathing suit in your carry-on luggage so that you can enjoy them with less crowds! How Much To Tip A Royal Genie (With Chart) - Cruise Mummy Paste as plain text instead, frequentfloaters.com - That Guy. If you found this helpful, please dont keep it to yourself ;-). A couple should budget about $200 in gratuities for a 7 day cruise. Often the recommended tips, which run from about $10 to $20 per passenger per day, are published either in the cruise brochure or on the cruise line web page. 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. While not obligatory, there are some of the workers you may want to recognize with a tip when cruising. However, a few lines dont add autogratuities for babies and toddlers under age two or three. How Much Does a Caribbean Cruise ACTUALLY Cost? (13 Examples) As for tipping above and beyond prepaid gratuities, I agree completely that there is no expectation. The worst thing you can do is wait until you are home from your cruise to address it. Princess Cruises also has the Princess Plus fare, which includes gratuities or the crew incentive, Medallion Net wifi and Princess premium beverage package. 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. How much do people tip a Royal Genie? Im a little over a month out before my next cruise, and while its a little early to start packing (is it though? Or do you remove them altogether? Thanks so much for sharing your experience! People associate umbrella drinks and colorful tropical concoctions with cruising, and fancy-looking martinis have become a nighttime staple at sea. Wondering how much gratuities are on a cruise? Plus, youre never required to make any extra purchases in the first place if you take advantage of the complimentary options available on a Royal Caribbean cruise. 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. The rule of thumb is to tip the guide 10% to 20% of the tour cost, depending on how much you enjoyed the experience. 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. The premium cruise line's fleet of 15 ships sail around the world, from the Galapagos to the Caribbean. There are a couple of exceptions, though. They will do extra for you after they realize you are a tipper! If youre going on a cruise, you can expect daily gratuities to be charged automatically to your onboard account. 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. On a cruise, most guests bring between $100-$120 in cash per day to be spent on transportation, tips, gifts, food, and shopping. raahc and lovecruising!!! You wont require cash for 99% of purchases on a cruise, whether specialty restaurants, cocktails, or souvenirs. The gratuities on Oceania Cruises are $16.00 per person, per day for most staterooms and $23.00 per person, per day for guests in suites. We sail Celebrity and opt to prepay gratuities. Please check Costas website for details. I almost alwaysgive my dining staff a bit extra, my kids generally have some special requests that take extra time and effort for the wait staff. Just remember that a cash tip goes to your server, and a charged tip gets added to the tip pool. We usually tip between $500-700 depending on what we do. However ,usually you can have at least 2 cabin stewards. Our Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips And Tricks That was the only time I didn't give an additional cash tip to the wait staff. While planning a, The weekend is the perfect time to take a short break, so why not go on a cruise too? This is a convenient option for cruise passengers that dont want to think about extra charges once onboard. We like to keep a few dollars handy for this purpose as we board our cruise ship. Ive been surprisedor I probably should say I had forgottenhow many hands have been extended for a tip on these shore excursions. I also tipped my wait staff very generously in the main dining room and specialty restaurants, as well as my drink waiters! Royal Caribbean states the current pricing for 2022 sailings is between $12.99 and $15.00 per day of the cruise. In standard cabins, Carnival charges $14.50 per person, per day in tips. Royal Caribbean raised the service fees on its ships in August by more than 10% to $16 per person per day for those staying in most cabins. 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. For favorite bartenders or waitstaff, I give about $20 to each for a seven-day cruise. Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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. 40 Ocean Quotes for Everyone Who Loves The Sea, 15 Delicious Foods in the Bahamas You Need to Try. At some North American ports, youll see signs stating that the porters do not accept tips. Do I need to tip on a cruise or pay service charges, is a question that comes up often. Whats included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare, 30 Do's and Don'ts for the first day of your cruise, The 20 worst cruise mistakes that will ruin your cruise vacation, The best cruise itineraries for every type of traveler, How to plan a Royal Caribbean cruise on any budget, Best shore excursion in every Caribbean cruise port. It was just the two of us. 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. Disney cruises has a suggested daily gratuity charge of $13.50 per person, per day for all guests. Typical extra tips may be $15-20 per passenger for a seven-day cruise paid to the cabin steward for exceptional work, or an extra $10-20 per passenger to a waiter who offered spectacular dining. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. In a survey of 850 cruisers, 71% stated that they took over $100 per person per day when cruising. Here are some daily automatic gratuity costs for several popular ocean cruise lines in USD (prices accurate as of summer 2021): Unlike with the deals you can get for prepaying for drink packages and some other add-ons, you wont get a discount for prepaying your automatic gratuities. 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. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. How much to tip waiter and his assistant? - Royal Caribbean Blog I think this depends on who it is and what their job is. You may also like: 26 Hidden Cruise Fees You Should Know About. There are a number of factors which people use to decide how much to tip their Genie. Celebrity Cruises now includes daily gratuities in its Always Included cruise fare. Ive got you covered! Royal Caribbean's drink packages include: Deluxe Beverage Package Refreshment Package (No alcohol) Classic Soda Package 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. It May be Time for Some Royal Caribbean Elites to Reconsider Paying for Drink Packages. But you should know, that the ship's service staff don't make a salary - your tips are their wages. What is Royal Caribbean's gratuity price and policy? - Cruises Royal Caribbean Cruise Holiday Deals 2020 & 2021 - Cruise Nation www.cruisenation.com. Tips are of course a personal decision. Here are some other people you should tip during your cruise. 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. By Tipping extra is not necessary, and theres no right or wrong amount to give a crew member. Im so glad youre enjoying my blog and find the posts helpful and appreciate the feedback. There is a lot of included dining location so how do you know which ones to che. Could you possibly make your articles printable? How much tip receive in cruise royal caribbean? I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. You can also leave a small gift for your favorite crew member. The best advice I can give Americans and Canadians, if they are tipping questions arise either on the ship or ashore, follow the lead of Aussies and ask their advice. 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. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? Related: Whats included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare. 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. Maybe your cabin attendant delivered when you made a special request, or you loved how your steward always sweetly arranged your children's stuffed animals before bed every night -- or maybe you just want to show a little extra appreciation in the universal language of money. You may want to give a small tip to the person who delivers your room service order. The amount you tip is up to youI generally give about $5 per person per day to my stateroom steward. Note that we are Australian, so therefore not inclined to tip unless the service warrants it. This amount varies by cruise line, however the average daily gratuity is $14-15 US per day, per passenger for a standard cabin and $17-18 a day for guests in suites. What do you tip your royal genie? - Cruise Critic Community While you pay daily gratuities before your cruise ($16 per person, per day in most staterooms), many cruisers like to give something extra. Whether in Mexico, St. Maarten, Italy, or Vanuatu, having cash is recommended. Afrikaans; Alemannisch; ; ; Azrbaycanca; ; Banjar; ; () That lets him / her know upfront that we tip, and there is more to come at the end of the cruise! The cruise industry has worked this way for a long time, although the automatic gratuities are only the last few years. Until fairly recently, cruise passengers customarily tipped only in cash, in person. April Fools' Day - Wikipedia Keep in mind, the venues are not always the same between Royal Caribbean ships, but each of my tips can. You cant choose how much each crew member gets. It's all on the room service menu. I dont think anyone will think youre rude for not tipping over and above this. One of these differences is that cruise gratuities are included. The Sky Suite on Celebrity was a perfect size for two, at around 320 square feet. Price: $14.50 per person/day in standard cabins, $17.50 per person/day in suites, and 18% on beverages and spa and salon services. balyasny aum TRAVEL PROTECTION PROGRAM. Just remember that cruise ship crew live in very tight quarters, without much room for personal belongings. They are always pleasant and willing to do whatever they can for you. For more info, please read myDisclosure Policy. Here's how to get the most out of Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package (or Prime Casino Royale free drinks in the casino). will be more appreciated than something they would have to store. So they follow this model with many of their crew members who perform services for passengers. Ill explain everything you need to know about cruise gratuitiesfrom who you should tip, how much you should tip, and who you should never tip on a cruise ship. The industry should pay fair wages so that our tips are in fact tips and not wages. A couple should budget about $200 in gratuities for a 7 day cruise. Love this! cruise. UK lines such as Fred. Thank you, Carrie Ann. I do think its a very personal choice, but we can talk about this in a future video for sure! Cruise lines typically flag their ships in countries with lax employment laws. Some vendors may process your personal data on the basis of legitimate interest, which you can object to by managing your options below. Even if you try, theyll likely graciously turn down your offer. Tipping on a Cruise: Your Complete Big-Ship Tip Guide The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. One Key Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package Tip Cruisers Need to Later I learned that the porters outside of the cruise terminal are not cruise line employees at all! Get expert advice, insider tips and more. 15% being the rough standard for satisfactoryservice. Who else should you tip on a cruise ship? There is no service charge applied for children under 2 years of age. They did a really good job and I would like to tip them. ), it, So youre planning a family cruise with a $2000 budget is it possible? Check your bill after your services to see if your tip is already included. 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. 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. Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. The COST Series: Cruise Ship TIPPING - YouTube Celebrity Cruises isnt a luxury cruise line, however it is a top premium cruise line that markets itself as modern luxury. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. Unless they are below average and that has happened only one time. You can raise them, lower them, or remove them altogether. $15.99 per person per day for guests in suites. That's a major contrast to the early days of the return to sailing after the cruise line's 15-month . if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',199,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-medrectangle-4-0');Tipping is supposed to encourage excellent customer service from workers, because (in theory at least) customers will tip generously for friendly, prompt service. When youre tipping in cash on a cruise, its always best to use the official currency on the ship. Just did 8 nights on Voyager. In fact, I think most would agree that cruise line staff make a huge difference in the cruise experience. I also tip constantly while on the cruise. For many cruise passengers, bars play a pretty large role in their experiences. But if your excursions include free time where you eat lunch on your own, its a good idea to research the local tipping customs in the countries youll be visiting before your cruise. They cheerfully attend to your requests, tidying your home away from home from the moment you leave in the morning to the last turn-down before bed. 50 Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips and Tricks It includes who to tip, who not to tip, and some tips to help as you plan your cruise vacation. The porters will assist with your luggage and its customary to tip for their service. Although cards are widely accepted, you may still encounter establishments that do not accept card payments. I think its pretty bad when thats the only night they make their presence be known. In addition to the automatic daily gratuities, a tip or service fee of 15-20% is added to drinks and/or drink packages as well as spa services on a cruise. 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). 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. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Holland Americas daily gratuity is $14.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $16.00 per person, per day for guests in suites. Hi this was helpful, thank you. If your shore excursion includes lunch, you generally dont have to leave a tipthe tour company takes care of the lunch bill. The gratuity applies to individual guests of all ages and . In the wake of the increase, a family of four in a . There will be an 18-20% tip automatically charged when ordering an individual drink, so no need to add more in most cases. W. Robinson said mainstream cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Holland America Line charge gratuities on a per person, per day basis. What is Royal Caribbean's gratuity price and policy? - Cruises Display as a link instead, Credit: whmuc.blogspot.com. Tipping on a Cruise Ship - The Ultimate Guide to Cruise Gratuities How Much Money Should I Take on a Cruise? - Windstar Cruises Travel Blog You can also adjust your gratuities up or down. Often cruise lines provide additional envelopes to tuck a little extra cash at the end of the cruise just for this purpose. 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. Though automated gratuities are the easiest and most common way to tip, some passengers prefer to instead tip their attendants in cash, either in addition to the automated gratuity or in place of it. You can always add extra for exceptional service, though! Royal Caribbeans daily automatic gratuities are set at $14.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $17.50 per person, per day for guests in suites. Clear editor. You could also tip based on the length of the tour. I would imagine wed see prices increase overall if they did this, but perhaps it amounts to this anyway. The tipping culture in North America and on cruise ships is flawed, but (as you mentioned) reducing or eliminating tips only hurts the hardworking crew and their families - and does nothing to change the system.