Cruise ships docked in Cozumel
Much controversy surrounds any cruise tipping guide.
It is a fact that tipping has become a hot topic among cruisers, especially with the rising cost of a cruise vacation to the Caribbean or any other hot spot worldwide.
While some cruise lines have given up arbitrarily charging gratuities, others still do.
This mixed bag of beans seems to have done just enough to confuse the issue of cruise gratuities even more.
Tip left for breakfast
Similarly to visiting your favorite restaurants and leaving a service fee, tipping is a traditional part of cruising.
As it is for the wait-staff at that restaurant, tipping is an important part of the income of those that help you on your cruise.
There are many people who assist you on your cruise vacation (room stewards, dining room staff, kids' camp counselors, entertainers, etc.), and passenger tips make up a very large percentage of their income.
Many of these service industry employees rely heavily on their tips and are willing to reward generous tipping with outstanding service.
Cruise lines vary in their cruise tipping guide provisions. Some suggest a particular daily gratuity rate, others provide passengers with envelopes, and some add a cover gratuity charge to your onboard account.
It helps to have a general idea for what to tip the many folks who serve you from the moment you get to the airport, onto your luxury cruise ship and throughout your cruise vacation.
See some general ideas below, noting that the numbers are subject to change.
*Airport skycaps generally are rewarded $1.00 for each bag, if they carry them.
*Porters at the loading area of the cruise ship also look forward to $1.00 for each bag.
*Cabin Stewards and Waiters - $3.00/3.50 each per passenger, per day. Note that there's usual a head waiter and an assistant.
*Servers or Busboys - $1.50/2.50 per passenger, per day.
*Maitre d' - $2.00 to 10.00 per passenger for the entire cruise, depending on how helpful they have been.
*Many bar and lounge tips are included on your bill at a standard 18-percent.
You may generally adjust the amount for poor or excellent service. Check your individual bills to see if a tip has already been included.
**You can expect to spend about $10-$15 a day in tips, so be sure to budget for that.
Breakfast at sea with my wife
Often, cruise ships will automatically tack on tips to your onboard account.
In fact, that is the norm. For most cruise sailings to the Caribbean, you will find that your cruise ship staff will add a daily gratuity charge, for each person in your cabin, to your onboard account.
The cruise line believes that this ensures that the crew members who serve you are adequately rewarded for their service.
(Truth: Some cruise passengers will travel for days and leave the ship without tipping anyone.)
I know that some cruise travelers would rather tip the workers that serve them, as they cruise, while others would prefer to decide how much should be charged for crew gratuities.
I also believe that most cruise passengers agree that crew members should be tipped for their services.
What is quite alarming is how quickly the rates charged by cruise lines are increasing. Some cruise lines have increased their Caribbean gratuity rates twice in one year.
Sadly, Royal Caribbean, a very popular cruise line - with the biggest and arguably the nicest cruise ships - increased its onboard gratuity twice between November 1, 2023 and November 1, 2024.
You get a sense that they are depending on the tips paid by cruise passengers to help pay the salaries of the crew, while at the same charging more for a cruise ticket.
The best news is that have some control over what is eventually charged to your credit/debit card.
Yes, the cruise line may add arbitrary charges, but you can do something about them.
Before the cruise ends, you may consider asking that the arbitrary gratuity charges on your account be adjusted up or down or removed, and then take care of tipping yourself.
Some veteran cruise passengers do this. Their rationale is that they want control of who gets what based on the service provided, etc.
Cruising is great fun!
You will make lasting, memorable experiences. However, having control of what you spend onboard ship, such as cruise ship gratuities, is important to having a reasonably priced, luxurious vacation at sea.
Take advantage of every bit of helpful information and be mindful of what you spend. Unless you have a limitless amount of cash to spend, some general tips and tricks can help.
I hope this cruise tipping guide helps you and your family in some way. For further reading, see what some cruise lines charge for gratuity on your Caribbean cruise here - Caribbean Cruise Gratuity Rate.
Return from Cruise Tipping Guide to Caribbean Cruise Cost
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