Cruise Line Tipping Policies: Big-Ship Lines Home > Cruise Line Tipping Policies: Big-Ship Lines
Carnival Cruise Lines The Process:Carnival automatically adds a $11.50 per-person, per-day gratuity to onboard accounts. The amount does not apply to passengers under the age of two.
Alternatives: Passengers who want to adjust the amount of their gratuity in either direction or to tip independently can do so at the guest services desk. There are two exceptions. According to the line's Web site FAQs, for "cruises to nowhere" -- short cruises that do not visit a port -- gratuities must be prepaid. In addition, all gratuities are automatically added during the booking process for cruises leaving from Barbados.
Extra Charges: An automatic 15 percent gratuity is added to all bar bills.
Celebrity Cruises The Process:Celebrity Cruises automatically adds gratuities to the onboard Seapass account. The "suggested" gratuities added to your account will be $11.50 per day per guest ($12 for Concierge Class and AquaClass guests). There is also a $3.50 per-person, per-day suggested gratuity for your butler if you're in a suite. Note: Passengers who choose "Celebrity Select Dining" before their cruise are required to pre-pay gratuities (prior to boarding).
Alternatives: If you wish to adjust the amount you pay, this can be done onboard.
Extra Charges: An automatic 15 percent gratuity is added to all bar bills.
Costa Cruises The Process: Costa has a varied charges depending on where you cruise. In Europe, 7 euros per person, per day for cruises up to eight nights, or 6 euros per person, per day for longer cruises. For Caribbean cruises on Costa Fortuna and Costa Atlantica there will be a charge of $11 per person, per day. For 4-6-night Far East cruises on Costa Allegra, Costa Classica and Costa Romantica, there will be a charge of $9 a day. Finally, for passengers on South America or transatlantic cruises on Costa Magica and Costa Victoria, there will be charge of $9 per person, per day. All gratuities are added automatically to each adult's onboard account. There is no charge for children under 14. Guests 14 to 17 will be charged 50 percent of the gratuities.
Alternatives: Be warned -- Costa states that "the service charge is an integral part of the total price of the cruise and therefore the amount cannot be altered".
Extra Charges: You are not expected, or required to tip any extra while onboard.
Cruise & Maritime Voyages The Process:Cruise & Maritime Voyages automatically adds gratuities to the onboard account. A total of £5 per person, per night (£4 for cruises greater than 16 nights) will be added and will be distributed to cabin stewards and restaurant staff.
Alternatives: If you wish to adjust the amount you pay, this can be done by contacting the reception desk towards the end of the cruise.
Extra Charges: There are no extra charges.
Cunard Line The Process:Cunard charges $11 per person, per day to the shipboard account of passengers in Britannia accommodation on QM2 and Queen Victoria. The amount is $13 for passengers in Grill Class accommodation. This charge is for adults and children.
Alternatives: To adjust the amount of your automatic tips or to tip independently, see the Purser's Office.
Extra Charges: An automatic 15 percent gratuity is added to all bar bills.
Disney Cruise Line The Process: While the Disney Cruise Line cruise experience isn't traditional, the tipping policy is -- with one exception. For Disney Dream and Disney Wonder, tipping is at passengers' discretion, but Disney does provide suggested amounts. For three-night sailings, they suggest $12 for the dining room server, $9 for the assistant sever and $12 for the "stateroom host or hostess." On a four-night cruise, suggested amounts are $16, $12 and $16. And on a seven-night cruise, budget $28, $21 and $28. Finally, Disney also recommends tipping the dining room head server $3 for a three-night cruise, $4 for a four-night and $7 for a seven-night. Disney uses the same guidelines for both adults and children. Passengers can also pre-pay tips at the suggested amounts if they like.
Currently, Disney Magic has a different gratuity policy. The line has instituted an auto-tip policy. According to Disney, passengers receive a letter upon arrival explaining this program, including that they should never feel a reward is automatically expected.
Alternatives: To adjust the amount of your automatic tips or to tip independently, see the Purser's Office. Gratuities can be charged to your cabin, too.
Extra Charges: An automatic 15 percent gratuity is added to bar and room service bills.
Fred. Olsen Cruises The Process: Gratuities are entirely at the discretion of the passenger. The recommended amount -- £4 per adult passenger, per day, to be divided equally between the cabin stewardesses and waiters (on "Full World" or "Around South America" cruises, the amount reduces to £3 per adult adult, per day) -- is added automatically to passengers' onboard accounts towards the end of the cruise, but can be adjusted at reception at any point in the cruise.
Alternatives: Any guest is at liberty to tip members of staff personally, if they wish to do so, and envelopes for this purpose will be available at reception.
Extra Charges: Nope. All bar bill gratuities are included in the cost of the drink.
Holland America Line The Process: Starting in December 2011, Holland America will automatically charges $11.50 per day to each guest's (including children) shipboard account. Passengers occupying suites will be charged $12 per day. (The exact date of implementation varies by ship.) This amount is pooled among the service staff.
Alternatives: See the Front Desk if you wish to adjust your automatic gratuities, or to tip independently.
Extra Charges: An automatic 15 percent gratuity is added to bar and dining room purchases.
MSC Cruises The Process:MSC automatically charges $12 per day to each adult passenger's shipboard account for Caribbean cruises. For Europe cruises of eight days or less, the charge is 7 euros per person, per day, and for cruises of more than eight days the charge is 6 euros per person, per day. The amount is shared among the maitre d' and his assistants, your waiter and busboys, buffet staff, your stateroom attendant, room service attendants, and bellboys.The automatic charge is reduced to $6 per day for children under 18 sharing their cabin with two adults on Caribbean itineraries. On Europe cruises children under 14 are not expected to pay a service charge, while 14-17 year olds pay 50 percent of the adult charge.
Alternatives: To adjust the amount of your automatic gratuities or to tip independently, see the Guest Relations desk.
Extra Charges: An automatic 15 percent gratuity is added to bar purchases. Gratuities are not added to spa bills, so passengers can tip at their discretion.
Norwegian Cruise Line The Process: Each adult is automatically billed $12 per day to support a salary and incentive program for the service staff. There is no charge for children under 3.
Alternatives: Tipping above and beyond the service charge is not necessary or expected. Also, should you wish to adjust the charges be sure to contact the onboard reception desk.
Extra Charges: A 15 percent gratuity is added to bar bills and 18 percent gratuity is added to added to spa services. NCL suggests that passengers who use concierge or butler service provide a gratuity "commensurate with the services rendered."
P&O Cruises Australia The Process:P&O Cruises Australia does not automatically add gratuities onto passengers' accounts. Cruisers can choose, at their discretion, to reward crewmembers who offer outstanding service. Travelers who wish to tip can do so by handing cash directly to the crewmembers they want to thank.
Alternatives: Passengers need not carry cash if they don't want to -- they can also add the tips to their onboard accounts.
Extra Charges: None.
P&O Cruises U.K. The Process:P&O Cruises has replaced its traditional cash-in-envelopes method of tipping with fixed-rate tipping set at £3.10 per person, per day.
Alternatives: According to P&O, "If our passengers wish to vary this amount they can do so whilst on board."
Extra Charges: P&O does not add gratuities or suggest additional tipping for other services.
Princess Cruises The Process:Princess Cruises automatically adds $11.50 per day to each passenger's account to cover hotel and dining service. For guests in suites or mini-suites will be charged $12 per day. The amount goes for children as well as adults.
Alternatives: You can adjust your automatic gratuities upward or downward, or eliminate them altogether, at the purser's office.
Extra Charges: A 15 percent gratuity is automatically added to all bar bills.
Royal Caribbean International The Process:Royal Caribbean automatically adds tips of $12 a day per person ($14.25 for suite passengers) to each passenger's onboard bill. The tips, which can also be prepaid, are shared by dining services staff, cabin attendants and other housekeeping personnel. Passengers who opt for RCI's flexible "My Time Dining" must pre-pay gratuities.
Guidelines are the same for all passengers regardless of age.
Alternatives: passengers who believe they've received poor service may ask Guest Services to reduce or remove the automatic tips while on the ship.
Extra Charges: A 15 percent gratuity is automatically added to all bar bills.
Saga Cruises (and Spirit of Adventure) The Process: There is a no tipping policy onboard Saga Cruises and sister line Spirit of Adventure.
Alternatives: None.
Extra Charges: None. Saga's prices are fully-inclusive.
Thomson Cruises The Process: Tipping is not expected or required on Thomson Cruises.
Alternatives: It is not necessary to tip unless you want to.
