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Most cruise ships have ATMs, and some have currency exchanges on board. Cash is rarely required on a Royal Caribbean cruise, as all payments onboard are made via your SeaPass account. Depending on what you plan to do in port, you might need cash for the following: We recommend bringing around $100-200 in cash with you on a port day. Ren de Lambert. Gave them US 5 each three nights and US 10 each last night. If you buy a $5 souvenir with a $20 bill in Mexico, for example, youll receive change in Mexican pesos. 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. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. Your previous content has been restored. Im an avid cruiser and have been giving out insider tips for more than 10 years! What you cant do is adjust or remove automatic gratuities for a specific crew member. Something you will need cash for on a Royal Caribbean cruise are any extra tips you give to crew members. i understand what you are saying.and I know we are paying roughly 15 dollars a day each as a tip already. Depending on your cruise ship, you may be able to use the Royal . Do I need to tip on a cruise or pay service charges, is a question that comes up often. Let me know in the comments below! In their case "tipping" doesn't mean "extra" - it means "salary". A couple should budget about $200 in gratuities for a 7 day cruise. What I can say, on a personal level, is that we have found that the majority of cabin stewards, waiters, assistant waiters and ship staff have given us amazing service. Western Caribbean Carnival Dream | Royal Holiday Automatic gratuities, also called autogratuities or autograts, is the cruise term for the system most cruise lines now use to simplify tipping for passengers. Other itineraries may differ. You may also like: Eight Things That Will Surprise First Time Cruisers. 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. They did a really good job and I would like to tip them. In standard cabins, Carnival charges $14.50 per person, per day in tips. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. We like to keep a few dollars handy for this purpose as we board our cruise ship. 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. Do you need to tip for drinks, meals, or snacks on a cruise? Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner, YouTube at Life Well Cruised (Vlogs and cruise tips). How Much Water Should I Drink Before Donating Plasma. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. For example, Royal Caribbean (www.royalcaribbean.com) recently increased its tip recommendations and now suggests $3.75 per day for your main waiter, $5 per day for the cabin housekeeping staff, $2.15 per day for the assistant waiter, and $0.75 per day for the head waiter. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. will be more appreciated than something they would have to store. Royal Caribbean charges a gratuity of $16.00 per person, per day. Tipping is not required, however, customarily some people do choose to tip anywhere from $1 - $5 per order. Heres what you should know about cash on a Royal Caribbean cruise. MTD and ate in MDR 5 nights. 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. Some cruise ship spas, like those on NCL and Royal Caribbean, add on a service fee or gratuity, usually about 18%. 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). The amount you tip is up to youI generally give about $5 per person per day to my stateroom steward. One Key Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package Tip Cruisers Need to The amount is very personal. There are 2 adults and 1 child in the room, if this. If not, just leave blank. Could you possibly make your articles printable? At some North American ports, youll see signs stating that the porters do not accept tips. So glad this was helpful. They have the insider tips to match so that you can make the most of everything that'll be at your fingertips. What do you tip your royal genie? - Cruise Critic Community However, a few lines dont add autogratuities for babies and toddlers under age two or three. Although cards are widely accepted, you may still encounter establishments that do not accept card payments. Some cruise lines point out that you may wish to tip the kids club staff. Bar, spa and in-room dining for Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara have an 18 per cent gratuity charge. 1) Get a Free Balcony Upgrade Promotion and How to Find Them Occasionally cruise lines will run special promotions on particular ships, itineraries, and/or destinations offering balcony staterooms at the same price as an outside or inside cabin. One of the most luxurious aspects of cruising is the service of room stewards -- that team of people who often go unseen in their daily mission to keep your cruise cabin sparkling fresh and clean. Cruise lines pay these workers very low wages for the long hours that they work each day, and expect that passengers will tip to increase the crew members earnings to a reasonable rate. Should you prepay automatic gratuities? Youll likely get much better service by doing that instead of just removing the tip! Thank you, Carrie Ann. Some cruisers swear by tipping at the beginning of the cruise to ensure excellent service. This is for a good reason as it ensures that proper. I just arrived on board for our 6th cruise, after my 5th cruise just 2 months ago. It has one large sink with two faucets and a large shower with a tub. The article also reviews major changes in the RCI's gratuities policy implemented fleetwide/on all liners. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. If you dont have a drink package, theyll add the price of each drink plus the service fee to your onboard tab. Look for a link at the bottom of this page or in our privacy policy where you can withdraw consent. Id love to connect with you on Instagram and Facebook @lifewellcruised. 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. If not, 15-20% of the bill (excluding any products that you buy) is customary. You can choose to pay in local currency, too, but obtaining money in 3+ currencies before a cruise is not necessary. 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. Can you remove or adjust autogratuities on a cruise? I dont tend to tip in advance, so this is an interesting way of doing things. You can also leave a small gift for your favorite crew member. These feedback cards mean a lot and sometimes lead to a stellar crew member getting a raise or even a promotion! We never gave him anything. Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise? 1 1 Quote Cindi Members 12 Author Posted April 16, 2019 The balcony is a good size with two chairs. In this post, Ill be going through the cruise tipping policies by cruise line and answer some of the most common questions people have about gratuities on a cruise. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. 40 BEST Royal Caribbean tips, tricks & hidden secrets Which currency you should bring with you on a cruise depends on your departure port and itinerary. One notable exception is Norwegian Cruise Line. After 50 cruises I know they really mean it! Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. Best Cafe at Sea? - Royal Caribbean Cruise Cafe @ Two70 On a 7 day cruise we usually give $50 to the waiter and $30 to the asst. Plan Documents . Below is a list of Seven Corners' plan documents for 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). This is a personal decision and Im not sure if theres a tipping etiquette for it. Later I learned that the porters outside of the cruise terminal are not cruise line employees at all! How much cash should you bring on a cruise? Please let me know in the comments below. If you dont see the cards in your room, ask at the Passenger Services desk, or leave the feedback in your post-cruise survey. ATMs usually charge a $5-6 fee per transaction. 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. Of course, as always, its at your discretion. 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. Our Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips And Tricks. Royal Caribbean Cruise Holiday Deals 2020 & 2021 - Cruise Nation www.cruisenation.com. All ships have at least one ATM onboard, which is usually located in the Royal Promenade or Centrum. 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. If cruising from Australia to the South Pacific, Australian dollars are widely accepted. There is no charge for children under 2 years of age. A Guide to Cruise Gratuities: Has Cruise Tipping Gone Overboard? The bar service personnel still gets their 15% tips from each bar sale. The cruise where fun means everything. Porters: $1-5 per bag Room service delivery: $2-4 per tray While you pay daily gratuities before your cruise ($16 per person, per day in most staterooms), many cruisers like to give something extra. Here are the top travel tips for a Royal Caribbean cruise from the experts themselves: At the AquaTheater, acrobats, high divers, slackliners and more put on shows that make a splash. 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. What is Royal Caribbean's gratuity price and policy? - Cruises Please check Costas website for details. 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. In the wake of the increase, a family of four in a . How much are automatic gratuities on a cruise? Your email address will not be published. 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. Travelers in suites are. Whether $2 to a bartender, $20 to your waiter, or $50 to your stateroom attendant, it's common to tip crew members extra for excellent service. How Much Should I Tip My Room Steward on a Cruise? - Cruise Critic Can Drinking Beer The Night Before Donor Plasma Donation Interfere With How Much Money Should I Take on a Cruise? - Windstar Cruises Travel Blog 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. 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. 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. It was just the two of us. Each person you tip gets their own envelope. I also tipped my wait staff very generously in the main dining room and specialty restaurants, as well as my drink waiters! Posted March 5, 2007. Gratuities & tips are not obligatory - Royal Caribbean International Plus, for a limited time, its $10 off. 40 Ocean Quotes for Everyone Who Loves The Sea, 15 Delicious Foods in the Bahamas You Need to Try. Disney cruises has a suggested daily gratuity charge of $13.50 per person, per day for all guests. 15% being the rough standard for satisfactoryservice. A cruise only rate may be available on select cruises, which would not include gratuities. Some people are retired or on a fixed income, some are well off, some have to save for years for a cruise. You can purchase the drink package online pre-cruise or once onboard during the first day (or two) of your trip. Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission when you make a purchase from a link on this site, at no added charge to you. Most cruise lines allow guests to remove automatic gratuities. We usually tip between $500-700 depending on what we do. Wondering how much gratuities are on a cruise? Between January 2, 2018, and Sept 7, 2022, RCI's daily (per passenger) crew gratuities were US$14,50 (standard staterooms) and US$17,50 (Grand Suites+). Most mainstream cruise lines bill passengers between $12 and $15 per person, per day for. I believe that often the bartenders will pool their tips b/c there are so many working the crowd but I think it's an individual choice on their parts as to how they handle this. Hi All, I just wanted to share something with new cruisers (and old if they do not know this). Most of the biggest cruise lines automatically add some type of service or gratuity fee onto passenger bills. With the exception of a couple cruise lines on this list, most cruises that include gratuities are luxury lines. Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. Hi this was helpful, thank you. If youre new to cruising, or its been a while since your last cruise, its important to know about cruise tipping guidelines before you sail. Norwegian Cruise Line. 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. 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.. What else can you do to show the crew your appreciation? Tipping on a cruise ship: The big picture. Whether in Mexico, St. Maarten, Italy, or Vanuatu, having cash is recommended. 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. Even if you try, theyll likely graciously turn down your offer. I'm sure the crew appreciated your extra tips - they all work so hard! I was even more surprised that it was a Disney cruise, where they are used to kids, and generally have a good reputation for service. Some guests may bring $200 extra for gratuities whereas others may bring $50. It really made my day! 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). Near the end of your cruise, youll probably receive some comment cards in your stateroom that you can use to leave feedback about a member of the crew. But the sticker price of their fares tends to scare off many budget-minded travelers. We are a middle class, retirement age couple (63 and 62) who are not retired with no plans to in the near future. Related: Cruise Line. If you go to any slot machine, youre able to transfer money to the game via your onboard account, which is connected to your credit or debit card. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Credit: Royal Caribbean Show-Stopping Entertainment Extra tipping doesnt give you the right to be a jerk, but if you are a jerk, you had better extra tip! Thanks for sharing your view on this. This may be rare, however if theres a problem with service or you have a complaint on your cruise, that you should bring this to the attention of the staff member, supervisor, or guest services when it occurs. 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. Have some small bills handy for these times. Instead, passengers can tipor notat their own discretion. Or you can plan ahead and take enough cash in the correct currency to cover any tips you might want to pay. The Dream pioneered the innovative and fun cruise ships that are standard today from Carnival Cruise Lines. I dont think anyone will think youre rude for not tipping over and above this. When paying the automatic daily gratuities, cruise lines tell us this amount gets divided by your cabin attendant, waiter and other dining staff. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Do you tip above and beyond the automatic gratuities? You can just hand over folded cash, or use the tip envelopes youll find in your stateroom or at Passenger Services. You will get great service either way. A better solution is to have a discreet word with the crew members supervisor about your concerns. #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! Theres no need to add an extra tip for each drink. Say it ain't so: Royal Caribbean is latest cruise line to slash service If your shore excursion includes lunch, you generally dont have to leave a tipthe tour company takes care of the lunch bill. Giving service staff tips in a currency they cant easily use means theyll have to pay a fee to change your cash tip into another currency. Tipping on a cruise ship can be a confusing endeavor, especially for those sailing for the first time. Manage Settings (Want to get the most from your cabin steward? With all of your meals and the fun activities on the ship, easily accessible and planned, you won't have to do much work once you are on vacation. They will do extra for you after they realize you are a tipper! Outdoor Activities If outdoor fun is your thing, the Carnival Dream offers a near endless array of ways to fill both day and night with fun. I put together a 47 page printable cruise travel planner that has everything you need as you plan and get ready for your 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. There are instances of passengers who prefer not to tip, usually either because they disagree with tipping on principle or they've experienced unsatisfactory service. Both beautiful cruise options! 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. When youre tipping in cash on a cruise, its always best to use the official currency on the ship. This is a review of RCI-Royal Caribbean International's gratuities (paid for the crew services), tipping policy and tips (per day/reduced/removed). And if the problem still remains unsolved - then adjust the tips. I purchased the package pre-cruise for $76, this equates to just over $25 per day. Any chance of that? 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. If you want to adjust the amount, go to the reception desk. Ill definitely look into it and see how I can best do that on this site. Olsen Cruise Lines and Cruise & Maritime Voyages charge substantially less -- 7 per person per day; while Marella, Saga and P&O Cruises now include tips (MSC Cruises also includes tips for its UK-based ship, Preziosa). While each cruise line is different, many include alcoholic drinks, soda and specialty coffee, gratuities, specialty dining and some shore excursions. Iwas a waitress for yearslong ago and far away. You can raise them, lower them, or remove them altogether. You just cant help being extra nice or helpful when you know the people are going to be extra nice to you, ie the extra tips. You may also like: 26 Hidden Cruise Fees You Should Know About. You can do so by going to guest services and making the request. Each passenger is charged for these tips, including kids. Similarly, in the main dining room, we tip our waiter around $6 to $8 per day for the two of us, averaging around $50 for a 7-night cruise. Royal Caribbean says it is raising its suggested crew gratuities by nearly $2 per passenger, per day. 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. When booking a Celebrity cruise, tips are included in their Always Included program. (Youll often see a survey pop up in your email inbox a few days after your cruise.). One of these differences is that cruise gratuities are included. Cruises in Europe are charged in Euros. Up the tip to $20. Cruise line tipping policies vary from one cruise company to another. 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,. Until fairly recently, cruise passengers customarily tipped only in cash, in person. It is best to drink 9 to 13 cups of water before donating money in the 24 hours preceding the event. If youre booked with Celebritys Always Included, the gratuities are included. Here is a list of the daily gratuity charges by major cruise lines for 2021-22. Royal Caribbean: $14.50 per person, per day ($17.50 for guests in grand suites and above). Tipped crew on many cruise lines include housekeeping, dining, and laundry workers. Grand Suite and above cabin categories pay USD 18,50 pp per day gratuities. Many cruisers opt to give extra cash tips to crew members who made their vacation that much more enjoyable. 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. Id give a much larger tip to a knowledgeable tour guide who led us on an intensive nine-hour experience compared to a guide who did a basic three-hour city walking tour. Its unlikely to do any good by this point. If you choose to pay tips in cash, there are usually some envelopes available at the guest service desk. If you have a special in-room dining experience, like Ultimate Balcony Dining on Princess (which I highly recommend, by the way), its a nice gesture to add an extra cash tip for the servers who brought your meals up and made your dinner a special experience. 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 cruise lines usually state up front that tipping is still at the discretion of the passenger, keep in mind: As with most employees in the service industry (at least in the U.S.), most of the wages cruise employees make come from these tips. .WONDER OF THE SEAS. 50 Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips and Tricks This includes drinks at the bar or cafe, spa services and salon visits. Now, with automatic gratuities, the process is much simpler and you dont need to carry all that cash. What Is a Cabin Steward on a Cruise Ship? On a cruise, most guests bring between $100-$120 in cash per day to be spent on transportation, tips, gifts, food, and shopping. I had prepaid my gratuities, and I assumed the porter was a cruise line employee, so I didnt tip him. In fact, I think most would agree that cruise line staff make a huge difference in the cruise experience.