Cruising Gratuities

Well, let’s wade in and open this can of worms!

Should gratuities be pre-determined? Should gratuities be prepaid? Who should receive a gratuity? How can you adjust the amount you wish to give? Should you leave certain crew members an additional gratuity? Yep…it’s a minefield! 

I belong to a few online travel groups and this is a topic that is often discussed. 

Q – Should gratuities be pre-determined?

A – This is not often an option when cruising. There is a pre-determined charge per day per person, based on the length of the cruise. Generally $12-$15pp/day. This is then divided (not necessarily evenly) throughout the crew, including many crew members that might not be ‘guest-facing’, such as kitchen staff/cooks and maintenance as well as those you may see daily such as cabin stewards/assistants, wait staff, bartenders, sommelier and others. 

Q – Should gratuities by prepaid?

A – Well, yes, it just makes settling your bill at the end of the cruise that much easier. Some cruise lines will automatically add this to your bill. 

Q – Who should receive a gratuity?

A – See Question #1. These are the folks that work hard to make your cruise memorable, from everything you eat and drink, to your cabin cleanliness, to making sure the ship is clean and running smoothly. 

Q – How can you adjust the amount you wish to give?

A – While the cruise line will suggest the daily gratuity amount, you may adjust that amount either lower or higher, by visiting Guest Services.

Q – Should you leave certain crew members an additional gratuity?

A – While it is not necessary, according to the online groups that I belong to, it is done on a regular basis. Generally speaking, it may be for your cabin steward who has done an exceptional job. It may be to special wait staff that have served you nightly or any crew member who may have amazed you with their level of service.

Q – Are gratuities included for excursions?

A – No, they are not! Generally speaking, excursions are provided by third-party companies. So, that said, the suggested gratuity for the guide is $2 per person and the bus driver is $1 per person. But, I have to say that I don’t agree with this. Keep in mind that the driver got you there and back safely and on time. I have experienced guides that have gone out of their way to be extra helpful or have been especially engaging during the tour. They deserve more! Generally, both will accept American dollars or local currency.

Here’s something that I want to share – A conversation took place about offering gratuities to cabin stewards, servers and others at the beginning of the trip in addition to the suggested gratuities added at the end of the trip. The reasoning was to ‘insure superior/exceptional service’ for the duration of said trip. I find that I must disagree with this practice. A gratuity, by definition, is a gift for services rendered. I feel that I tip according to the services received. I shouldn’t have to ‘bribe’ someone in advance, to offer the service that they are expected, by their employer, to offer. But again, that’s just my opinion. And that’s just one of the reasons why gratuities are a minefield!

Tip #1 – To make disembarking even easier, check your shipboard account on the stateroom TV daily. Verify that the day’s charges are correct. It is amazing how fast bar tabs and shipboard purchases can add up!

Tip #2: Be sure to check your stateroom account carefully before disembarking the ship. Make Guest Services aware of any discrepancies. It is much easier to do this while on board, than work at figuring it out after your jet lag passes!

Tip #3 – It’s nice to bring along a note card or two to thank crew members who have provided you with exceptional service. They are always appreciative of small gifts, whether monetary or material. Forgot the note card? No problem! Envelopes are available at Guest Services or buy a special card in port.