how much to tip on cruise royal caribbeanhow much to tip on cruise royal caribbean

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. How much? What Is The Average Amount of Cash to Bring on a Cruise? IMPORTANT: Since September 7, 2022, Royal Caribbean International (RCI) cruise ship passengers pay USD 16 pp per day in tips (service charge for staterooms Junior Suites and below). A tip of 15%-20% is common, so check the bottom of your bill before adding an additional amount. 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 much cash should you bring on a cruise? | Royal Caribbean Blog Tipping Etiquette on Cruise Ships - TripSavvy . If you put your tips on your seapass you will get a voucher for each envelope. Its customary to tip the waiters generously at specialty restaurants. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Our Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips And Tricks. Prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and cruise line gratuities may be referred to a daily service charge or crew incentive. on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). Typically, this is associated with your credit card which youll be prompted to set up when you complete your online check in. Guide to Royal Caribbean's Unlimited Dining Package - Cruise Fever As much as some people opt to remove gratuities on their account, some give extra. After combing through my notes, here's the best tips and tricks for taking a Royal Caribbean cruise. After 23 Royal Caribbean Cruises, What I've Learned About Tipping I was very surprised. Your cruise in April sounds amazing! Treasure Coast of Florida. If you want to give an additional tip to your cabin steward (or two), Im sure its very appreciated. Read more: Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? The balcony is a good size with two chairs. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. Royal Caribbean Drink Package Guide & Tips | Cruise.Blog Here is a list of the daily gratuity charges by major cruise lines for 2021-22. Children aged 2-11 will be charged $6.25 per day. Your articles are so helpful at navigating the cruise world. Gratuities or a service charge are added onto some onboard services. How it works: Gratuities are automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. Should you prepay automatic gratuities? Viking Cruises gratuities are $15.00 per person, per day for all staterooms. Guide to Cruise Line Room Service Fees - Cruise Maven for Cruise and Ive been surprisedor I probably should say I had forgottenhow many hands have been extended for a tip on these shore excursions. Windstar Cruises daily gratuities are $12.00 per person, per day for all cabin types. 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. After 50 cruises I know they really mean it! 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. However, there are a few common practices and guidelines. Here's how to get the most out of Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package (or Prime Casino Royale free drinks in the casino). Princess Cruises will automatically charge a crew incentive of $14.50 per person, per day for guests in inside ocean view and balcony cabins. 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. When and How Much to Tip on a Cruise - AFAR Although cash isnt required for onboard purchases, there are a few scenarios where youll want to have cash available. April Fools' Day - Wikipedia In the main dining room, buffet, specialty restaurants, and other dining venues, your tip is included in the automatic gratuities. When people think of cruises,, Theres nothing quite like relaxing on a Caribbean beach with no worries in the world except deciding which tropical, A lot of cruise ship passengers will drive to their port of embarkation, whether with their own vehicle or in a ride, Royal Caribbean cruises are known for the wide-array of entertainment, dining and things to do onboard, and it got us. Porters: $1-5 per bag Room service delivery: $2-4 per tray Do you tip above and beyond the automatic gratuities? MTD and ate in MDR 5 nights. 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. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. Royal Caribbean cruise ships have been sailing at nearly 100% capacity for the past few months. Thanks so much! Get expert advice, insider tips and more. This is a review of RCI-Royal Caribbean International's gratuities (paid for the crew services), tipping policy and tips (per day/reduced/removed). How much to tip waiter and his assistant? - Royal Caribbean Blog $15.99 per person per day for guests in suites. Some cruise lines refer to these tips as a service charge. 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. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Do I need to tip on a cruise or pay service charges, is a question that comes up often. I guess I was looking for some kind of scale like we have atrestaurants on land. Thanks! 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. Related: Cruise Line. Many ships also have an abundance of kids' activities including kids clubs that . I dont tend to tip in advance, so this is an interesting way of doing things. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Any chance of that? 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. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. Thanks for sharing your view on this. Cruise lines just have contracts with their preferred shore excursion companiesthe guides and drivers arent employees of the line. 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. Keep in mind, the venues are not always the same between Royal Caribbean ships, but each of my tips can. According to Royal Caribbean, the last increase put the company "in line with its competitors in the industry and recognize the exceptional work that Royal Caribbean's staff and crew does to deliver unforgettable vacations every day.". Other itineraries may differ. One notable exception is Norwegian Cruise Line. I have to say, we simply prepay or leave the tips as is, so I really dont pay attention these days. Please check MSCs website for details. The time when youll need the most cash on a cruise vacation is when youre in port. However, the price of getting online can be expensive. Ren de Lambert. One of these differences is that cruise gratuities are included. There are 2 adults and 1 child in the room, if this. Royal Caribbean offers three all-inclusive drink packages, a premium coffee package and a water package. The cruise director will also remind passengers about how much and whom the cruise . We are a middle class, retirement age couple (63 and 62) who are not retired with no plans to in the near future. You can choose to pay in local currency, too, but obtaining money in 3+ currencies before a cruise is not necessary. Posted March 5, 2007. Cruise line tipping policies vary from one cruise company to another. The COST Series: Cruise Ship TIPPING | Who to tip on a cruise and how much | Royal Caribbean Tipping The Weekend Cruiser 8.96K subscribers Subscribe 588 Share 10K views 8 months ago. On disembarkation day, you probably wont find your fave crew members in their usual spots! Cindi Thoughts? It May be Time for Some Royal Caribbean Elites to Reconsider Paying for Drink Packages. How Much Money Should I Take on a Cruise? - Windstar Cruises Travel Blog You might want to remove their tips as a punishment for poor service. raahc and lovecruising!!! The automatic service gratuity is $14.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Junior Suites and below, or $17.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Grand Suites and above, applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. Travel Agent Finder - Australia on LinkedIn: Unforgettable Experiences The COST Series: Cruise Ship TIPPING - YouTube Celebrity Cruises is Royal Caribbean's sister brand that provides a slightly more upscale, refined experience onboard. Because plasma accounts for approximately 90% of total fluid volume, drinking plenty of water after receiving a transplant is beneficial to your body. Tips on Cruise Ship Tipping - Who and How Much to Tip! Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. Please check Costas website for details. Don't be Held Back on Arrival Royal Caribbean requires you to do an online check-in, at least three days before your published sail date. Youll often receive change back in local currency even when paying with USD. 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. Royal Caribbean's VOOM service has two different levels of service with two different prices. 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. See details here: Ultimate Cruise Planner -Whats Included, What to Pack for a Caribbean Cruise (with packing list), 7 Cruises to Avoid and What to Do Instead, Cruise Line Stocks Shareholder Benefits for Cruisers (FREE onboard credit). How Much Should I Tip My Room Steward on a Cruise? I love sharing my best cruise tips with you, along with reviews of cruise destinations, shore excursions, cruise ships and cruise lines. There is no charge for children under 2 years of age. We also always tip bar staff even when drinks are complimentary. Extra tipping doesnt give you the right to be a jerk, but if you are a jerk, you had better extra tip! Even if you try, theyll likely graciously turn down your offer. Many luxury all-inclusive cruise lines include gratuities in their cruise fares, or have a tips neither expected nor required policy. Keep a few dollars handy to tip the cruise porters on embarkation day. Come join my Facebook Cruise Community Thanks for reading and Happy Cruising!! The only exception is for passengers with prepaid gratuities (they won't be charged daily). Robinson said mainstream cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean and Holland America Line charge gratuities on a per person, per day basis. Cash is rarely required on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as all payments onboard are made via your SeaPass account. Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). There are a couple of exceptions, though. Knowing how much cash to bring on a cruise can help you plan your vacation budget and avoid pesky ATM fees along the way. Royal Caribbean's drink packages include: Deluxe Beverage Package Refreshment Package (No alcohol) Classic Soda Package Thanks so much for your input on this. If sailing in a reg. Whether to or not and then how much. If you opt for a specialty restaurant, the tip isnt usually included. How Much Should I Tip My Room Steward on a Cruise? - Cruise Critic Most of the biggest cruise lines automatically add some type of service or gratuity fee onto passenger bills. For many cruise passengers, bars play a pretty large role in their experiences. Up the tip to $20. Follow me on Facebook at Life Well Cruised, Follow me onYouTube at Life Well Cruised (Vlogs and cruise tips), Follow me on Pinterest at Life Well Cruised, Follow me on Instagram at Life Well Cruised. People associate umbrella drinks and colorful tropical concoctions with cruising, and fancy-looking martinis have become a nighttime staple at sea. Congrats on reaching Diamond :) Happy cruising! When youre tipping in cash on a cruise, its always best to use the official currency on the ship. Cruise line employees work their butts off to earn those tips. 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. Thats up to you! We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Suggested tipping amounts for room service? - Royal Caribbean You may want to give a small tip to the person who delivers your room service order. Not only will it improve your cruise experience, but youre also allowing the cruise ship staff the opportunity to make things right. #4. 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. 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. The thing that gets me so mad is we never were approached by the Maitred..except the last night when the extra tipping comes in. Automatic gratuities cover just about every tipped crew member on the ship. Ren de Lambert (@RenedeLambert) on Flipboard Related: Whats included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare. Cruises in Europe are charged in Euros. While you pay daily gratuities before your cruise ($16 per person, per day in most staterooms), many cruisers like to give something extra. On top of that, there's an 18% gratuity fee. Like what you see? Tipping on a Cruise Ship - The Ultimate Guide to Cruise Gratuities You may also like: Do You Need to Bring Cash on a Cruise? The cruise line makes no recommendation for tipping room service. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Cruise Line Gratuities: What's the Point? 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. Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. Depending on your bank, the ATM transaction fee may be waived. What Is a Cabin Steward on a Cruise Ship? The price increases during August to approximately $773 (619) per person, excluding taxes. For both of us, we usually tip between $30-$50 for head waiter, and slightly less for assistant waiter and then even slightly less for the drink waiter (as we are non-drinkers but still want to. Had same two waiters 4 of those nights. Credit: whmuc.blogspot.com. Holland America Line, whose ships Noordam and Maasdam are regular visitors to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, has the same tipping policy aboard all its ships. Our last few cruises on Celebrity and Princess, we actually had lots of interaction from the Maitred and we did appreciate the work they did. 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. Tipping on a Cruise: Your Complete Big-Ship Tip Guide Our Hawaiian cruise in April will be the first weve been on in 15 years, so, obviously, things have changed a lot. Some cruise lines refer to the gratuities as a crew incentive or a service fee, but essentially these are tips for crew members that are used to augment their low wages. While most people know it for being a cruise destination, shadowing the coastline to see the glaciers, there is so much Although cards are widely accepted, you may still encounter establishments that do not accept card payments. For example, you might give the guide $5 to $10 for a half-day excursion or $10 to $20 for a full-day tour. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. For favorite bartenders or waitstaff, I give about $20 to each for a seven-day cruise. Royal Caribbean Cruises Tipping Policy - CruiseCheap.com 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. Most cruisers wouldnt dream of removing the automatic gratuities. ~ janet The finishings are top notch, and the bathroom, in particular, is well-designed with a separate water closet. Royal Caribbean Gratuities: Everything You Need to Know - Cruise Mummy 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. I purchased the package pre-cruise for $76, this equates to just over $25 per day. You can do so by going to guest services and making the request. Do you prefer to prepay your gratuitiesor to pay in cash? This should provide enough money for transportation, food, and small souvenirs in port. 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. A former flight attendant, she now prefers cruise ships over airplanes and spends several months each year cruising and exploring cruise ports. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. The cruise line will assess your fee each day, then theyll charge your credit card on file at the end of the cruise. By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. 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. 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. You might want to reward your cabin steward, favorite bartender or MDR server, or any other crew member you think did a great job. I choose to add the gratuities ahead, just to get them out of the way. 15% being the rough standard for satisfactoryservice. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. Hope you enjoy! how to get cheap hotel rooms last minute - aboutray16-eiga.com Our Stateroom Attendant on cruise #5 was fabulous, and I showed my appreciation by leaving him (thanks Mahbob!) 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. The average daily gratuity on a cruise is $14-15 USD per person - approximately $30 per day, per couple in a cabin. Ill definitely look into it and see how I can best do that on this site. Now if someone goes over and above a little extra is due. Then you can take your deposit out in cash at the casino cashier. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. If you havent notified your bank, they will usually send you a fraud alert or temporarily freeze your card. Other cruisers, often people who remember cruising before autogratuities, prefer tipping crew in cash. 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. flipped into Ren de Lambert. Crew members work really hard and make the difference between an ok and a memorable cruise vacation. But many cruisers (including myself) choose to prepay to avoid a big charge at the end of the cruise. And if the problem still remains unsolved - then adjust the tips. What currency should you use to tip on a cruise? Western Caribbean Carnival Dream | Royal Holiday Keep in mind that cruise crew members live in tight quarters, so small (and edible) gifts are preferred. Celebrity Cruises guide: Ships, itineraries, tips & more | Royal What to Expect: Tipping Crew Members on a Cruise. Before that, in 2015 RCI upped its gratuities from USD 12 to USD 12,95 (standard cabins) and from USD 14,25 to USD 15,95 (suites). The Dream pioneered the innovative and fun cruise ships that are standard today from Carnival Cruise Lines. In their case "tipping" doesn't mean "extra" - it means "salary". You can also adjust your gratuities up or down. #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! Some things are free, other items are fee-based. Stay in one of the Royal Suites and room service is included. The fact is, the tips that crew get from passengers make up a good part of their wage. The only charges that should appear on my final tab are any extras I decided to add on during the voyage. frequentfloaters.com - That Guy. 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. When youre on a cruise, you shouldnt tip the captain or the officers. Every stateroom has a room service menu. 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. I agree with Kelli. Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission when you make a purchase from a link on this site, at no added charge to you. Thats a funny thing that weve experienced in the past as well. Having small bills handy is helpful if you plan to tip crew members throughout your sailing. You can raise them, lower them, or remove them altogether. Here's how it works on Royal Caribbean: As of September 7 th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in non-suites staterooms, or $18.50 USD per. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_8',602,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');With the autograt system, many crew members who rarely received tips before now get a sharelike the laundry or kitchen staff on some cruise lines. Great points about luxury lines and that gratuities are included. Could you possibly make your articles printable? Many passengers rave long after their hoilday is over about the service of stewards who go above and beyond. 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. 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. Youll want to factor in the cruise line gratuity charge, sometimes called on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). What else can you do to show the crew your appreciation? Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner, YouTube at Life Well Cruised (Vlogs and cruise tips). Clear editor. 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. They will do extra for you after they realize you are a tipper! You can post now and register later. Can you remove or adjust autogratuities on a cruise? The premium cruise line's fleet of 15 ships sail around the world, from the Galapagos to the Caribbean. In a survey of 850 cruisers, 71% stated that they took over $100 per person per day when cruising. The amount is based on the service received of course. It's always up to you to adjust the number of gratuities at any time while onboard the ship and your tips will be deemed undisputed. How much do people tip a Royal Genie? Have some small bills handy for these times. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. Royal Caribbean Drink Package: Ultimate Guide - High Seas Cruising There will be an 18-20% tip automatically charged when ordering an individual drink, so no need to add more in most cases. So our "big tip" on this subject is this - if you guys have a service staff problem, speak first with your cabin attendant. 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. In-suite parties are a huge amount of work for the Genie and room attendants. Im not expecting him to kiss our butts, but come on. Im Carrie Ann, the writer behind Should Be Cruising. You will get great service either way. I just arrived on board for our 6th cruise, after my 5th cruise just 2 months ago. About $1-2 (or the equivalent in local currency) per bag is fine. We like to prepay gratuities when we make our final payment for our cruise, but this is optional. one in 2023. You also shouldnt tip the cruise director, the entertainment staff, or any independent entertainers like musical guests, comedians, or magicians. Carnivals daily gratuities are $13.99 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Originally formed in 1988 by the Chandris Group in Greece, Celebrity Cruises was acquired by Royal Caribbean Group in 1997. We sail Celebrity and opt to prepay gratuities. Not based on what we "should" give, more on the fact that they provided very good service. When paying the automatic daily gratuities, cruise lines tell us this amount gets divided by your cabin attendant, waiter and other dining staff. 40 BEST Royal Caribbean tips, tricks & hidden secrets Cruise gratuities are divided among your cruise cabin steward, waiters and other crew members who work as support behind the scenes. Get access to the best last minute hotel rates in the USA by becoming a registered member online today. Love this! Tipping on a cruise ship: Everything you need to know In addition to this, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to all drinks, spa and salon services. Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. Most cruise lines charge for children as well, although there are some exceptions for very young children on select cruise lines. Whether in Mexico, St. Maarten, Italy, or Vanuatu, having cash is recommended.