Which family cruise can you book for $2000? Royal Caribbeans daily automatic gratuities are set at $14.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $17.50 per person, per day for guests in suites. 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. The bar service personnel still gets their 15% tips from each bar sale. The drink package works at all onboard bars, restaurants, and even Royal Caribbean's private island CocoCay. You also have the option to prepay your gratuities before your cruise. 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. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. I put together a 47 page printable cruise travel planner that has everything you need as you plan and get ready for your cruise. Instead, passengers can tipor notat their own discretion. On a cruise, most guests bring between $100-$120 in cash per day to be spent on transportation, tips, gifts, food, and shopping. Since most cruise passengers follow the tipping guidelines, that amounts to an increase $13.30 . Many luxury all-inclusive cruise lines include gratuities in their cruise fares, or have a tips neither expected nor required policy. For favorite bartenders or waitstaff, I give about $20 to each for a seven-day cruise. Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise? The amount you tip is up to youI generally give about $5 per person per day to my stateroom steward. Credit: Royal Caribbean Show-Stopping Entertainment This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. However, you might end up paying a similar total price on a mainstream line when you factor in gratuities, drink packages, shore excursions, and the like. Paste as plain text instead, However, extra tipping and being a jerk do not go hand in hand. For some of them, depending . How Much Water Should I Drink Before Donating Plasma. Its also a nice gesture to tip the matre d or head waiter in the main dining room, especially if they were helpful with special menus or seating arrangements. You might want to reward your cabin steward, favorite bartender or MDR server, or any other crew member you think did a great job. Want to give something beyond cash? Come join my Facebook Cruise Community Thanks for reading and Happy Cruising!! 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. Thoughts? Our last few cruises on Celebrity and Princess, we actually had lots of interaction from the Maitred and we did appreciate the work they did. I almost alwaysgive my dining staff a bit extra, my kids generally have some special requests that take extra time and effort for the wait staff. Most mainstream cruise lines bill passengers between $12 and $15 per person, per day for. Some cruise lines point out that you may wish to tip the kids club staff. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. If you dont have a drink package, theyll add the price of each drink plus the service fee to your onboard tab. 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. Even if you try, theyll likely graciously turn down your offer. Price: $14.50 per person/day in standard cabins, $17.50 per person/day in suites, and 18% on beverages and spa and salon services. The amount is very personal. You may also like: Do You Need to Bring Cash on a Cruise? Prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and cruise line gratuities may be referred to a daily service charge or crew incentive. Based on the amount of the bill. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Royal Caribbean's VOOM service has two different levels of service with two different prices. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. How Much Does A Cruise Cost? Viking Cruises gratuities are $15.00 per person, per day for all staterooms. Some cruise lines employ a sommelier or wine steward in the main dining rooms, who isnt included in the tipping pool. Carrie Ann is the founder of Should Be Cruising and a lifelong travel fanatic. I like knowing that my bill is all set before I sail! Just like with the Carnival's tipping policy, under the new Royal Caribbean tipping policy guests who believe they've been serviced poorly while onboard their "Of The Seas" ship has the right to ask Guest Services personnel to reduce or even to remove their automatic gratuities. Norwegian Cruise Line charges a daily service fee of $15.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $18.50 per person per day for guests in suites and The Haven. Cruise Tipping and Salaries Dissected, Tipping On Cruises: Cruise Line Policies Revealed, Tipping on Ships: An Australian Culture Clash, Cabin Stewards on a Cruise: What to Expect, How Not to Be Rude on a Cruise: 10 Ways to Make the Crew Love You. Youll likely get much better service by doing that instead of just removing the tip! The average price of a 7 night Caribbean cruise, on a mainstream cruise line, in April is approximately $616 (493) per person, excluding taxes. Stay in one of the Royal Suites and room service is included. ATMs usually charge a $5-6 fee per transaction. Still confused . Thats up to you! This is a review of RCI-Royal Caribbean International's gratuities (paid for the crew services), tipping policy and tips (per day/reduced/removed). Heres what you should know about cash on a Royal Caribbean cruise. 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. Follow me on Facebook at Life Well Cruised, Follow me onYouTube at Life Well Cruised (Vlogs and cruise tips), Follow me on Pinterest at Life Well Cruised, Follow me on Instagram at Life Well Cruised. Please let me know in the comments below. Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. People associate umbrella drinks and colorful tropical concoctions with cruising, and fancy-looking martinis have become a nighttime staple at sea. However, cruisers dont always see all of the crew who work behind the scenes for them, like the kitchen and laundry workers. 40 Ocean Quotes for Everyone Who Loves The Sea, 15 Delicious Foods in the Bahamas You Need to Try. But many cruisers (including myself) choose to prepay to avoid a big charge at the end of the cruise. However, the price of getting online can be expensive. It's always up to you to adjust the number of gratuities at any time while onboard the ship and your tips will be deemed undisputed. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. If you enjoy tipping in cash, consider giving an extra cash tip to the crew members who gave you excellent service on your cruise. But the sticker price of their fares tends to scare off many budget-minded travelers. However, most cruisers do tip them for their service. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Cruise Line Gratuities: What's the Point? So our "big tip" on this subject is this - if you guys have a service staff problem, speak first with your cabin attendant. The fact is, the tips that crew get from passengers make up a good part of their wage. This is a convenient option for cruise passengers that dont want to think about extra charges once onboard. If not, 15-20% of the bill (excluding any products that you buy) is customary. One notable exception is Norwegian Cruise Line. A cruise only rate may be available on select cruises, which would not include gratuities. We never gave him anything. Keep a few dollars handy to tip the cruise porters on embarkation day. After combing through my notes, here's the best tips and tricks for taking a Royal Caribbean cruise. However, your cruise vacation expenses wont end there. Most US lines that base ships in the UK over the summer -- Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, for example -- offer automated gratuity options that charge a standard daily gratuity fee to the credit card you've placed on file for each day of your cruise. Having the articles in a printable format is a really interesting idea. Often, these crew members are part of the tip pool, and they lose part of their expected income each time a passenger removes autogratuities. Do I need to tip on a cruise or pay service charges, is a question that comes up often. Bond with your snorkel guide? ), it, So youre planning a family cruise with a $2000 budget is it possible? (For line by line information, read more about cruise line tipping policies.). 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. For this reason, I have always found being expected to pay tips, on an already expensive cruise, very irritating and have sometimes had them reduced at the service desk. If your kids had a great time at the kids club on board, giving a tip at the end of the cruise to their favorite staff members is always appreciated. By general rule of thumb, the big ship mainstream cruise lines charge it as an extra payment above and beyond the base cruise fare while luxury lines adopt an all-inclusive approach. Celebrity Cruises is Royal Caribbean's sister brand that provides a slightly more upscale, refined experience onboard. We usually tip between $500-700 depending on what we do. Thank you, Carrie Ann. Then (if your problem continues to bother you) contact the hotel manager. There is a lot to know before you even step foot on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. How much are automatic gratuities on a cruise? Manage Settings Beyond that, consider writing a heartfelt note of thanks or a drawing from your child (many have children they do not see for months at a time). Since this is the current pay structure for most major cruise lines, removing tips really affects the cruise line workers. It has one large sink with two faucets and a large shower with a tub. How Much Should I Tip My Room Steward on a Cruise? Virgin Voyages does a lot of things differently than its mainstream peers. 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. Most cruise ships have ATMs, and some have currency exchanges on board. 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. This should provide enough money for transportation, food, and small souvenirs in port. cost cruise much does caribbean royal excursions treatments fees consider drinks spa government Im so glad youre here! Just remember that a cash tip goes to your server, and a charged tip gets added to the tip pool. Extra tipping doesnt give you the right to be a jerk, but if you are a jerk, you had better extra tip! Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and leave a comment! These cruise line employees are highly compensated, and offering a tip isnt necessary. 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.. I purchased the package pre-cruise for $76, this equates to just over $25 per day. I was very surprised. 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. These feedback cards mean a lot and sometimes lead to a stellar crew member getting a raise or even a promotion! Tipping on a cruise ship can be a confusing endeavor, especially for those sailing for the first time. There was only one cruise where my sons special request was denied. Of course, as always, its at your discretion. All ships have at least one ATM onboard, which is usually located in the Royal Promenade or Centrum. I had prepaid my gratuities, and I assumed the porter was a cruise line employee, so I didnt tip him. There may be cases where you'd like to tip your cabin steward more than what he or she will receive after your automated gratuity is pooled and shared out. You may also like: 26 Hidden Cruise Fees You Should Know About. 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. Cruises from Europe and Australia will still use the US dollar as the official onboard currency, but you should make purchases in port with the destinations local currency. Keep in mind, the venues are not always the same between Royal Caribbean ships, but each of my tips can. The finishings are top notch, and the bathroom, in particular, is well-designed with a separate water closet. That lets him / her know upfront that we tip, and there is more to come at the end of the cruise! #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! The COST Series: Cruise Ship TIPPING | Who to tip on a cruise and how much | Royal Caribbean Tipping The Weekend Cruiser 8.96K subscribers Subscribe 588 Share 10K views 8 months ago. Or do you remove them altogether? Here's how to get the most out of Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package (or Prime Casino Royale free drinks in the casino). They will seldom steer you wrong. I think this depends on who it is and what their job is. What do you think about cruise line gratuities and service onboard? If you're staying in a high-category suite, you may be expected to tip . I give my room steward $5 at the very beginning of the cruise. Our concern is that the cruise lines take advantage by paying lower wages and then guilting passengers into higher tips. But if you dont want to prepay, thats fine too. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! The thing that gets me so mad is we never were approached by the Maitred..except the last night when the extra tipping comes in. After 50 cruises I know they really mean it! While planning a, The weekend is the perfect time to take a short break, so why not go on a cruise too? 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. I agree with Kelli. royal caribbean cruise cruises deals 2021. Whether in Mexico, St. Maarten, Italy, or Vanuatu, having cash is recommended. While you pay daily gratuities before your cruise ($16 per person, per day in most staterooms), many cruisers like to give something extra. Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. These kind, helpful, generous, employees work extremely hard to make sure guests like myself have a fabulous time, and since I do, the very least I can do is show my appreciation in a way that benefits them the most! Automatic gratuities, also called autogratuities or autograts, is the cruise term for the system most cruise lines now use to simplify tipping for passengers. Whether to or not and then how much. 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. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Thanks so much for sharing your experience! 15% being the rough standard for satisfactoryservice. 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. Thats a funny thing that weve experienced in the past as well. Most cruisers tip anywhere from $2-$10 per person (or the equivalent in the local currency) to the tour guide, and hand a couple of dollars to the driver. Royal Caribbean states the current pricing for 2022 sailings is between $12.99 and $15.00 per day of the cruise. Could you possibly make your articles printable? Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. As it is with most cruise shipping companies, RCI's tourists can remove the daily gratuity but know that these tips are for all the housekeeping and dining staff. 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). 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. In addition, weve included a list of daily gratuities per cruise line and who else you may wish to tip. When youre tipping in cash on a cruise, its always best to use the official currency on the ship. on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). Luxury cruise lines have a higher upfront cost than most popular cruise lines, however theyll often include many valuable extras. I have to say, we simply prepay or leave the tips as is, so I really dont pay attention these days. You may want to give a small tip to the person who delivers your room service order. If cruising from Australia to the South Pacific, Australian dollars are widely accepted. How much do people tip a Royal Genie? Our Hawaiian cruise in April will be the first weve been on in 15 years, so, obviously, things have changed a lot. How Much Does a Caribbean Cruise Cost? Princess: $14.50 per person, per day ($15.50 for mini-suite guests and $16.50 for suite guests). What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? They cheerfully attend to your requests, tidying your home away from home from the moment you leave in the morning to the last turn-down before bed. Grand Suite and above cabin categories pay USD 18,50 pp per day gratuities. Maybe your cabin attendant delivered when you made a special request, or you loved how your steward always sweetly arranged your children's stuffed animals before bed every night -- or maybe you just want to show a little extra appreciation in the universal language of money. Congrats on reaching Diamond :) Happy cruising! Do you prefer to prepay your gratuitiesor to pay in cash? An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Keep in mind that cruise crew members live in tight quarters, so small (and edible) gifts are preferred. Royal Caribbean charges a gratuity of $16.00 per person, per day. You can always add extra for exceptional service, though! So they follow this model with many of their crew members who perform services for passengers. Although cash isnt required for onboard purchases, there are a few scenarios where youll want to have cash available. It would be so helpful if I could print just the blog to read at random timescar trip, etc. W. Royal Caribbean Royal Caribbean charges a $7.95 service fee and room service is available 24-hours a day. We rarely do the parties anymore. If you are one to give your room attendant a little extra (on top of auto gratuities), how much do you typically give. Check out the latest web stories from Should Be Cruising! In some service industries where wages are substandard, customers are expected to pay a gratuity, typically 15 to 20% of the bill, to augment the workers low hourly wages. Until fairly recently, cruise passengers customarily tipped only in cash, in person. Your email address will not be published. Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). How it works: Gratuities are automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. For guests staying in Grand Suites and above, the fee is $18.50 per person, per day. Heres a video which answers many questions that you may have about cruise gratuities and tipping on a cruise ship. For many cruises that operate in the Australian market where tipping isnt part of the culture, automatic gratuities arent added on to passenger bills. We like to keep a few dollars handy for this purpose as we board our cruise ship. Here is a list of the daily gratuity charges by major cruise lines for 2021-22. If you found this helpful, please dont keep it to yourself ;-). if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_21',676,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0');Tip: Want to avoid paying hefty ATM fees on the cruise ship to get cash for tips? Each person you tip gets their own envelope. The average daily gratuity on a cruise is $14-15 USD per person approximately $30 per day, per couple in a cabin. We like to prepay gratuities when we make our final payment for our cruise, but this is optional. Prior to your cruise, youll connect your onboard account with a credit or debit card, and all payments will be charged to that card at the end of the cruise. In fact, I think most would agree that cruise line staff make a huge difference in the cruise experience. If your kids have had a great time and youve appreciated the service, a few extra dollars are surely appreciated. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-leader-3','ezslot_16',605,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-leader-3-0');For other cruise lines, youll be able to adjust your autogratuities at the Passenger Services desk. Ive been surprisedor I probably should say I had forgottenhow many hands have been extended for a tip on these shore excursions. Just for comparison, by the old RCCL tipping guidelines, the Royal Caribbean suggested tips/gratuities were a total of USD 11,65 per day per passenger (respectively USD 13,90 for suite passengers) and also guests could pay onboard either in cash or via their shipboard account. Even if you prepay for your shore excursions directly through the cruise line, its customary to tip your tour guides and drivers in cash after each excursion. On Costa Cruises, service charges of $12.50 per person, per day are charged for cruises departing from the US. Travelers in suites are. Disney cruises has a suggested daily gratuity charge of $13.50 per person, per day for all guests. Do you tip above and beyond the automatic gratuities? Children under 4 are not charged. Whether $2 to a bartender, $20 to your waiter, or $50 to your stateroom attendant, its common to tip crew members extra for excellent service. But I also feel like people will think Im rude for not doing so in reality tho, they are already being tipped 18%. Please check MSCs website for details. Now if someone goes over and above a little extra is due. Some people are retired or on a fixed income, some are well off, some have to save for years for a cruise. While most people know it for being a cruise destination, shadowing the coastline to see the glaciers, there is so much We always tip cruise staff but in cash not automatic tipping. 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. Posted September 17, 2021. Here's a guide to help you navigate ways to show your appreciation for these hard workers. If not, just leave blank. Having worked in the service industry, if people want to extra tip, then doing it at the beginning is the way to go. 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).
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