One of the most common questions new cruisers have is “How does tipping work on a cruise?” Tipping, or gratuities, can feel confusing at first, especially since every cruise line handles it slightly differently. As regular cruisers with Royal Caribbean (and other lines), we’ve learned exactly what’s included, what’s extra, and how to budget for it before you sail. Here’s a complete guide to help you understand cruise tipping.
What Are Cruise Gratuities?
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Cruise gratuities are service charges that go towards the hardworking crew onboard, including your stateroom attendants, dining room waiters, assistant waiters, and behind-the-scenes staff who make your holiday seamless. Instead of tipping individuals each day, most cruise lines add a set daily gratuity fee to your account.
How Much Are Cruise Gratuities?
- Royal Caribbean (2025): $18 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $20.50 per person, per day for suite guests.
- Other Lines: Most mainstream cruise lines (Celebrity, Norwegian, Carnival, MSC) charge between $16–$22 per person, per day, depending on cabin type. Luxury lines often include gratuities in the fare.
Tip: For a family of four on a 7-night cruise, gratuities can add around $500+ to your bill, so always factor this into your budget.
When Do You Pay Gratuities?
- Pre-pay before sailing. Many cruisers choose to pre-pay tips when booking, so they’re included in the cruise fare and paid off before embarkation.
- Charge to your onboard account. If you don’t pre-pay, gratuities are automatically added to your SeaPass (or cruise card) each day and settled at the end of your sailing.
Can You Remove or Adjust Gratuities?
Some cruise lines allow you to visit Guest Services and request gratuities be removed or adjusted, although this is discouraged. Remember, gratuities are pooled to support many crew members, not just those you see directly. However, there are also questions around who exactly gets the extra tips, and where they are distributed.
For this reason, some remove gratuities and prefer to choose who they tip.
Extra Tipping Beyond Automatic Gratuities
Even though automatic gratuities cover most service, many guests still choose to give extra cash tips for exceptional service, such as:
- Cabin stewards who go above and beyond
- Wait staff who make dining extra special
- Bar staff or bartenders you see regularly
- Room service deliveries
Drink Packages and Gratuities
When you purchase a drinks package, a 20% gratuity is automatically added upfront. This means you don’t need to tip for every individual drink, unless you want to give something extra for outstanding service.
Money–Saving Tip: However, if you choose to buy the package onboard and are in Spanish waters, you will also be charged the Spanish port tax at 10%. To avoid this, pre-buy your package.
Specialty Dining and Gratuities
Specialty restaurants also include an automatic 18–20% service charge on the bill. You’re not expected to add more, but you can if the service was excellent.
Shore Excursions and Port Staff
Gratuities aren’t usually included in shore excursions unless stated. It’s customary to tip local tour guides ($2–$5 per person for short tours, more for all-day trips) and bus drivers ($1–$2 per person).
Final Tips for Cruise Tipping
- Always check your cruise line’s policy before sailing, rates change regularly.
- Budget for gratuities as part of the overall cruise cost.
- Carry small notes for extra tipping (USD is widely accepted).
In summary: On Royal Caribbean and most cruise lines, gratuities are automatically added either daily or prepaid, averaging $16–$22 per person, per day. Additional tipping is optional but appreciated for exceptional service, and drink packages/dining already include service charges.
