Cruise Tipping Guide


Much controversy surrounds any cruise tipping guide. It is a fact that tipping has become a hot topic among cruisers. 

While some cruise lines have given up arbitrarily charging gratuities, others still do. This mixed bag of beans seems to have done just enough to confuse the issue of cruise gratuities even more.



What's New?

  1. Shopping In Cruise Ports Tips

    Feb 18, 23 11:41 PM

    Ocho Rios Welcome Sign
    Shopping in cruise ports can be fun. Learn how to shop and save on your Caribbean cruise ship vacation.

    Read More

  2. All Inclusive Caribbean Cruises the Entire Family Loves

    Feb 12, 23 11:34 PM

    allinclusivecaribbeancruises.net
    Explore all inclusive Caribbean cruises with an avid cruising family. Learn why cruise ship vacations make best family getaways. Book your family cruise getaway. Make lasting memories.

    Read More

  3. Cruising To Touch Lives In Jamaica

    Jan 21, 23 03:00 PM

    You gain great fulfillment from helping underserved children and you enjoy cruising. Here's a golden opportunity to use a cruise adventure to get you to Jamaica, where you get a chance to minister to…

    Read More





Find Your Perfect Cruise Ship Vacation on Cruise Critic

What's the #1 hotel in Orlando? Read reviews & find hotel deals on TripAdvisor!


Find today's hotel deals in Miami on TripAdvisor!


Book hotels in New York for as low as $90 with HotelsCombined.com


Find the Best Las Vegas Hotel - Search 100s of Hotel Sites Now - Click here




Similarly to visiting your favorite restaurants and leaving a service fee, tipping is a traditional part of cruising. As it is for the wait-staff at that restaurant, tipping is an important part of the income of those that help you on your cruise. 

There are many people who assist you on your cruise vacation, and passenger tips make up a very large percentage of their income. 

Many of these service industry employees rely heavily on their tips and are willing to reward generous tipping with outstanding service.

Cruise lines vary in their cruise tipping guide provisions. Some suggest a particular daily gratuity rate, others provide passengers with envelopes, and some add a cover gratuity charge to your onboard account.


Cruise Vacation Tipping Guide From the Airport
to the Cruise Ship

*Airport skycaps generally are rewarded $1.00 for each bag, if they carry them. 

*Porters at the loading area of the Cruise ship also look forward to $1.00 for each bag.

*Cabin Stewards and Waiters - $3.00/3.50 each per passenger, per day 

*Servers or Busboys - $1.50/2.50 per passenger, per day 

*Maitre d' - $2.00 to 10.00 per passenger for the entire cruise, depending on how helpful they have been. 

*Many bar and lounge tips are included on your bill at a standard 15%. You can generally adjust the amount for poor or excellent service. Check your individual bills to see if a tip has already been included.  

**You can expect to spend about $10-$15 a day in tips, so be sure to budget for that.



Often, cruise ships will automatically tack on tips to your onboard account. You may consider asking that this amount be removed, and then take care of tipping yourself. Some veteran cruise passengers do this. Their rationale is that they want control of who gets what based on the service provided, etc.

Cruising is great fun! You will lasting, memorable experiences. However, having control of what you spend onboard ship, such as cruise ship gratuities, is important to having a reasonably priced, luxurious vacation at sea. 

Take advantage of every bit of helpful information and be mindful of what you spend.  Unless you have a limitless amount of cash to spend, some general tips and tricks can help.

I hope this cruise tipping guide helps you and your family in some way. For further reading, see what some cruise ship gratuity rates are here - Cruise Gratuity Rate


Return from Cruise Tipping Guide to Caribbean Cruise Cost


Return to the Home Page




New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.




Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.


Custom Search

Book Cruises at 
PetesTravel


Travel Partners

Save On Airport Parking

Travelocity

TripAdvisor


Shop

Get Hosting for $1.00*/mo with GoDaddy!



160x600 Your Business Phone Service in the Cloud