Thanks! Thanks so much! Then (if your problem continues to bother you) contact the hotel manager. Cruise Ship Engine Power, Propulsion, Fuel, Royal Caribbean Drinks Prices, Beverage Menus, Alcohol Policy, Carnival Cruise WiFi Internet Packages Prices. Best Cafe at Sea? - Royal Caribbean Cruise Cafe @ Two70 Related: Whats included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare. Cruise lines just have contracts with their preferred shore excursion companiesthe guides and drivers arent employees of the line. Who To Tip On Your Cruise, and How Much | CruiseHabit Depending on your cruise ship, you may be able to use the Royal . How do cruise gratuities work? Do I have to tip? | Miami Herald Although gratuities arent mandatory, and in most cases you can go to guest services and have the amount adjusted, most cruise lines do tend to discourage it. But the sticker price of their fares tends to scare off many budget-minded travelers. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The industry should pay fair wages so that our tips are in fact tips and not wages. They did a really good job and I would like to tip them. The gratuity applies to individual guests of all ages and . Virgin Voyages does a lot of things differently than its mainstream peers. I always prepay the gratuities. I would imagine wed see prices increase overall if they did this, but perhaps it amounts to this anyway. I believe this to be true, too. How Much Water Should I Drink Before Donating Plasma. We also always tip bar staff even when drinks are complimentary. How much to tip waiter and his assistant? MTD and ate in MDR 5 nights. 50 Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips and Tricks The service charge on MSC Cruises is $12.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. Tipped crew on many cruise lines include housekeeping, dining, and laundry workers. Tips are added automatically to the onboard account (SeaPass) on a daily basis. Have some small bills handy for these times. The extra cash may or may not end up in your steward's pocket, but he'll appreciate the gesture nonetheless. The amount you tip is up to youI generally give about $5 per person per day to my stateroom steward. Theres no need to add an extra tip for each drink. How Much To Tip A Royal Genie (With Chart) - Cruise Mummy However ,usually you can have at least 2 cabin stewards. Tipping on a cruise ship: The big picture. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Cindi Once you book your cruise, there are some things you'll need to do in advance to prepare. Given that most , all ? In-suite parties are a huge amount of work for the Genie and room attendants. Today is day 10 of a 12 day cruise on grandeur. Royal Caribbean Cruises Tipping Policy - CruiseCheap.com After 23 Royal Caribbean Cruises, What I've Learned About Tipping Celebrity Cruises isnt a luxury cruise line, however it is a top premium cruise line that markets itself as modern luxury. Had same two waiters 4 of those nights. I have to say, we simply prepay or leave the tips as is, so I really dont pay attention these days. One exception is the piano player in the loungemost accept tips for song requests or if you enjoyed their music. But many cruisers (including myself) choose to prepay to avoid a big charge at the end of the cruise. Say it ain't so: Royal Caribbean is latest cruise line to slash service We never gave him anything. Thoughts? Something you will need cash for on a Royal Caribbean cruise are any extra tips you give to crew members. If you feel you would like to give more that is fine and I am sure they will appreciate anything you decide to tip beyond the daily gratuity. Until fairly recently, cruise passengers customarily tipped only in cash, in person. You dont need to write a noveljust a few sentences about how the crew member made your cruise even better will do. Some people are retired or on a fixed income, some are well off, some have to save for years for a cruise. April Fools' Day - Wikipedia If youre sailing from the United States to the Caribbean, US dollars are widely accepted in popular cruise ports. ), it, So youre planning a family cruise with a $2000 budget is it possible? Heres a video which answers many questions that you may have about cruise gratuities and tipping on a cruise ship. Passengers sometimes plan in advance to bring small gifts to leave with their cabin stewards, either at the beginning or end of the cruise. Do I need to tip on a cruise or pay service charges, is a question that comes up often. 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). Since this is the current pay structure for most major cruise lines, removing tips really affects the cruise line workers. If you feel that you wish to give an extra amount to anyone who you feel has done a great job, they will be appreciative. 1. Is it the 15 day or the 7 day from Honolulu? Grand Suite and above cabin categories pay USD 18,50 pp per day gratuities. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. On a cruise, most guests bring between $100-$120 in cash per day to be spent on transportation, tips, gifts, food, and shopping. 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! You cannot paste images directly. The finishings are top notch, and the bathroom, in particular, is well-designed with a separate water closet. This is a personal decision and Im not sure if theres a tipping etiquette for it. 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. The cruise where fun means everything. Complete Guide to Tipping on a Cruise | Eat Sleep Cruise People associate umbrella drinks and colorful tropical concoctions with cruising, and fancy-looking martinis have become a nighttime staple at sea. As for tipping above and beyond prepaid gratuities, I agree completely that there is no expectation. Gratuities or a service charge are added onto some onboard services. If you go on a tour or shore excursion, its nice to tip the driver or shore excursion staff if youve appreciated their service. How Much Should You Budget for Cruise Gratuities? 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. However, youll want to make sure youve notified your bank that you will be out of the country. $10-20 at the end of the cruise is a nice gratuity for their service. 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. If not, just leave blank. Keep in mind that cruise crew members live in tight quarters, so small (and edible) gifts are preferred. There are a couple of exceptions, though. Its a good idea to hand over your tips the day before disembarkation. If sailing in a reg. On most cruise lines that collect automatic gratuities, youre able to remove or adjust the charges by visiting the passenger services desk. Typical extra tips may be $15-20 per passenger for a seven-day cruise paid to the cabin steward for exceptional work, or an extra $10-20 per passenger to a waiter who offered spectacular dining. Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. After combing through my notes, here's the best tips and tricks for taking a Royal Caribbean cruise. What do you tip your royal genie? - Cruise Critic Community Id love to connect with you on Instagram and Facebook @lifewellcruised. The cruise line assesses a daily fee and divides the money among the tipped crew. Or you can plan ahead and take enough cash in the correct currency to cover any tips you might want to pay. How Much Should I Tip My Room Steward on a Cruise? - Cruise Critic With the exception of a couple cruise lines on this list, most cruises that include gratuities are luxury lines. If theres a crew member who goes above and beyond for you, there are some other ways to show your appreciation. Children under 4 are not charged. If you forgot to bring cash on your cruise, there are a few ways to get it once onboard. 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. In addition to this, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to all drinks, spa and salon services. Royal Caribbean states the current pricing for 2022 sailings is between $12.99 and $15.00 per day of the cruise. In standard cabins, Carnival charges $14.50 per person, per day in tips. If you could use cruise packing lists, to-do checklists, shore excursion forms and more, youll love the Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner. Our concern is that the cruise lines take advantage by paying lower wages and then guilting passengers into higher tips. US$13,50 (increased from US$12,95) for standard cabins and US$16,50 (increased from US$15.95) for upper-tier suites. Cruise line tipping policies vary from one cruise company to another. If you order room service, its customary to give the person that delivers your tray about $1-2 per meal. Hope you enjoy! So they follow this model with many of their crew members who perform services for passengers. Heres what you should know about cash on a Royal Caribbean cruise. The balcony is a good size with two chairs. Your glowing review can help a hardworking crew member earn a promotion or raise. Stay in one of the Royal Suites and room service is included. Tipped crew make the majority of their income from gratuities! This should provide enough money for transportation, food, and small souvenirs in port. If you put your tips on your seapass you will get a voucher for each envelope. Tipping on a cruise ship isnt mandatory, but it is customary, and many crew members rely on tips as a large part of their income. Also, if free gratuities are an amenity, youre not expected to go beyond it unless someone goes way beyond whats normally expected. When you book your cruise, youll be charged your cruise fare, port fees and taxes. You wont require cash for 99% of purchases on a cruise, whether specialty restaurants, cocktails, or souvenirs. Royal Caribbean Royal Caribbean charges a $7.95 service fee and room service is available 24-hours a day. I guess I was looking for some kind of scale like we have atrestaurants on land. (Youll often see a survey pop up in your email inbox a few days after your cruise.). However, if you prefer to pay off your account and daily gratuities in cash, you can do so by going to guest services. Should Be Cruising is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. 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. Instead, passengers can tipor notat their own discretion. Check your bill after your services to see if your tip is already included. Youll want to factor in the cruise line gratuity charge, sometimes called on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line). 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. Tipping on a cruise ship: Everything you need to know Continue with Recommended Cookies. W. If you tip extra, you will get FABULOUS service! You could also tip based on the length of the tour. Just did 8 nights on Voyager. (For line by line information, read more about cruise line tipping policies.). We rarely do the parties anymore. What Is The Average Amount of Cash to Bring on a Cruise? Cruisers would have to tip each of their service personnel (the cabin steward, restaurant servers, bartenders, etc.) 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. However, the price of getting online can be expensive. Check out the latest web stories from Should Be Cruising! Disney cruises has a suggested daily gratuity charge of $13.50 per person, per day for all guests. (Admit it: You tend to miss those nightly pillow chocolates and towel animals after you get home.) Wondering how much gratuities are on a cruise? 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. But if you dont want to prepay, thats fine too. So something edible (maybe a favorite candy or snack from your home region?) What is Royal Caribbean's gratuity price and policy? - Cruises Gave them US 5 each three nights and US 10 each last night. Guide to Royal Caribbean's Unlimited Dining Package - Cruise Fever This is a convenient option for cruise passengers that dont want to think about extra charges once onboard. Tips are of course a personal decision. Should you prepay automatic gratuities? Rather than reducing the amount payed, they point out on their website that they will work to resolve any service issues experienced. Pasted as rich text. The average price of a 7 night Caribbean cruise, on a mainstream cruise line, in April is approximately $616 (493) per person, excluding taxes. The one excursion we had a fifty dollar bill and three ones at the end of the (short) trip. 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. How much tip receive in cruise royal caribbean? They often work 7-10 months at a time and 12-14 hours per day for seven days straight before having a half or even a whole day off. On NCL, passengers who dont want to pay autograts need to file a claim for reimbursement after the cruise. 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. 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. 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. These feedback cards mean a lot and sometimes lead to a stellar crew member getting a raise or even a promotion! Something to note is that although daily gratuities arent charged, there may be a service fee or tip added to certain services onboard. Thats a funny thing that weve experienced in the past as well. One Key Royal Caribbean Deluxe Beverage Package Tip Cruisers Need to What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? 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, per day, for a seven-night cruise. When youre tipping in cash on a cruise, its always best to use the official currency on the ship. If you dont prepay your gratuities, they will be added to your onboard account. The practice of tipping is controversial, even in the United States where paying tips is part of the culture. The only exception is for passengers with prepaid gratuities (they won't be charged daily). Lets just say from the expression on the drivers face that he was not happy with that amount. The only charges that should appear on my final tab are any extras I decided to add on during the voyage. Beyond leaving a cash tip for your cabin steward, or favorite server or bartender, some other small gestures will go a long way. I like knowing that my bill is all set before I sail! How much do people tip a Royal Genie? Cruise lines have implemented automatic gratuities, options to prepay gratuities and some popular cruise lines have begun including tips in your cruise fare. Jan 6. On embarkation day of my very first cruise, a porter came up to my taxi and whisked my luggage away, seconds after I got out of the car. The Dream pioneered the innovative and fun cruise ships that are standard today from Carnival Cruise Lines. You can choose to pay in local currency, too, but obtaining money in 3+ currencies before a cruise is not necessary. 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. Whether to or not and then how much. 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. Don't be Held Back on Arrival Royal Caribbean requires you to do an online check-in, at least three days before your published sail date. Although cards are widely accepted, you may still encounter establishments that do not accept card payments. You can also leave a small gift for your favorite crew member. Having the articles in a printable format is a really interesting idea. Can you remove or adjust autogratuities on a cruise? Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and leave a comment! A kind word or a drawing costs nothing and is always appreciated. There are 2 adults and 1 child in the room, if this. However, most cruisers do tip them for their service. The bar service personnel still gets their 15% tips from each bar sale. .WONDER OF THE SEAS. In their case "tipping" doesn't mean "extra" - it means "salary". I dont think anyone will think youre rude for not tipping over and above this. Sometimes a shoddy tip was more insulting than no tip at all. Obviously, if you tip a room attendant, that money will go directly to him/her. Later I learned that the porters outside of the cruise terminal are not cruise line employees at all! 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. cost of royal caribbean around the world cruise Cruise prices msc When paying the automatic daily gratuities, cruise lines tell us this amount gets divided by your cabin attendant, waiter and other dining staff. If you want to adjust the amount, go to the reception desk. At some North American ports, youll see signs stating that the porters do not accept tips. 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. Up the tip to $20. Thank you, Carrie Ann. With a beverage package, youve already paid the service fee when you bought the package, so the tip is included. Viking Cruises gratuities are $15.00 per person, per day for all staterooms. Life Well Cruised Ultimate Cruise Planner, YouTube at Life Well Cruised (Vlogs and cruise tips). There's a wide variety of services that you will receive during your cruise. 15+ Royal Caribbean Tips, Tricks, and Things to Know Which family cruise can you book for $2000? Complete guide to tipping on a cruise - Cruiseable Its customary to tip the waiters generously at specialty restaurants. Should you tip extra on a cruise? Royal Caribbean: $14.50 per person, per day ($17.50 for guests in grand suites and above). The drink package works at all onboard bars, restaurants, and even Royal Caribbean's private island CocoCay. Sometimes it cannot be helped ! All ships have at least one ATM onboard, which is usually located in the Royal Promenade or Centrum. Youll often receive change back in local currency even when paying with USD. You may want to give them a tip per drink or a larger tip at the end or even the beginning of your cruise. There is a lot to know before you even step foot on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. We have also taken a few of the ship's "backstage" tours and could see where the crew members reside, dine, kick back to relax, etc. If you opt for a specialty restaurant, the tip isnt usually included. 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. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. You may want to give a small tip to the person who delivers your room service order. Royal Caribbean Drink Package Guide & Tips | Cruise.Blog i understand what you are saying.and I know we are paying roughly 15 dollars a day each as a tip already. Note that we are Australian, so therefore not inclined to tip unless the service warrants it. During your cruise vacation, youll probably receive services from other people who arent cruise line employeesbut you might not realize it! You might want to remove their tips as a punishment for poor service. Some cruise lines allow you to use your cruise card to deposit money in the casino. These cruise line employees are highly compensated, and offering a tip isnt necessary. The price increases during August to approximately $773 (619) per person, excluding taxes. A couple should budget about $200 in gratuities for a 7 day cruise. 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. This is a good question. How Much Should You Tip Crew Members - Cruise Hive I was very surprised. How Much Cash Should I Bring on a Cruise? Budgeting Guide and Averages Your email address will not be published. Thanks for sharing your view on this. We are a middle class, retirement age couple (63 and 62) who are not retired with no plans to in the near future. Royal Caribbean cruise ships have been sailing at nearly 100% capacity for the past few months. But I also feel like people will think Im rude for not doing so in reality tho, they are already being tipped 18%. Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard? Bond with your snorkel guide? How to Pay: Paid in cruise fare at the time of purchase. RCCL Crown & Anchor Diamond Member at the end of this cruise! I go into more detail about this topic in this post:Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise? However, there are a few common practices and guidelines. Some cruise lines employ a sommelier or wine steward in the main dining rooms, who isnt included in the tipping pool. Our Best Royal Caribbean Cruise Tips And Tricks No worries about "shoddy tips" since you have already paid the standard tip. Some things are free, other items are fee-based. Tipping on a cruise ship can be a confusing endeavor, especially for those sailing for the first time. Note that paying in cash does not necessarily circumvent the pooling system -- attendants are officially required to turn in any cash gratuities to put toward the pool. Tipping on a Cruise Ship - The Ultimate Guide to Cruise Gratuities For more info, please read myDisclosure Policy. I wouldn't worry about giving "too little" extra, since you are already paying the auto gratuity. Do you need to tip at the spa on a cruise? 1 1 Quote Cindi Members 12 Author Posted April 16, 2019 Lines with such charges include both of the two giants of the cruise business, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, as well as Norwegian, MSC Cruises and Princess Cruises. Carnivals daily gratuities are $13.99 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Cruise Line Gratuities: What's the Point? Tips are added automatically to the onboard account (SeaPass) on a daily basis. If you dont have a drink package, theyll add the price of each drink plus the service fee to your onboard tab. How Much Does a Caribbean Cruise Cost? Manage Settings 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. If youre new to cruising, you might be wondering who to tip on a cruise, how much to tip, and exactly how onboard gratuities work. The Smart Cruiser's Guide to Tipping on a Cruise | Cruisewatch 10 Secrets on How to Get a Free Balcony Upgrade on a Cruise Royal Caribbean Cruise Holiday Deals 2020 & 2021 - Cruise Nation www.cruisenation.com. UK lines such as Fred. 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.