queen elizabeth cruise ship gratuities

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Everything About Cruise Ship Gratuities for 2024 (Amounts, Etiquette, and More)

If you’re a first-time cruiser, then there’s little doubt that you have questions about gratuities and tipping on your cruise. We’re here to help.

First of all, if you’re feeling a little confused, don’t worry — you aren’t alone. In fact, we can’t think of a place where gratuities are handled the same way as they are on a cruise ship.

Gone are the days of simply slipping a waiter some cash or leaving a couple of bills for the room steward at the end of your trip (although you can still do that if you want).

Instead, gratuities on a cruise ship are highly automated, with most people just electing to prepay or being charged a set amount for each day on the ship.

While this is intended to make things easier, the honest truth is that having automatic gratuities can actually lead to more questions. Who gets the tips? How much is charged? What if service is bad?

If you’ve never cruised, then there is no doubt that these questions and more might be floating through your head. To help explain everything about cruise line gratuities, we’ve answered a number of common questions that will make everything clearer before you set sail.

In This Article...

Explained: What Exactly Are Cruise Ship Gratuities

While the name sounds fancy, gratuities are nothing more than a tip paid to the staff members for service during the cruise. The staff works hard to ensure that your vacation is a great one. As a thanks for their service, it’s customary to provide a tip.

The gratuities go to staff that provide passenger-facing services. That means people like the room steward who cleans your cabin and the dining staff. Some cruise lines distribute them even wider to the staff.

These days, the gratuities are set daily amounts paid by each passenger. Instead of one passenger paying a lot and another paying hardly anything, these set amounts ensure that everyone pays the same. The cruise line then distributes the payment to staff.

My Cruise Line Calls it a Crew Incentive or Service Charge. Is that the Same Thing?

Depending on your cruise line, you might find different language used than the word “gratuities.” We’ve seen these charges called tips, gratuities, crew incentives, or service charges .

No matter the language, they all end up being the same thing — a set daily charge to passengers that’s passed on to the crew.

How Much You’ll Pay in Cruise Gratuities

The amount you pay will vary by cruise line, but they are all in the same ballpark. You can expect to pay about $15-$20 per person, per day. Most lines charge $16 at the moment, but it steadily rises each year.

A couple traveling together will see about $30-$40 per day in gratuities, or about $200+ over the course of a week-long cruise.

Below, we’ve listed the current tip amounts charged by major cruise lines as of the time of this writing:

• Carnival : $16.00 per person, per day. $18.00 per person, per day for guests in suites. Guests under 2 years old don’t pay gratuity. Source .
• Celebrity : $18.00 per person, per day. $18.50 per person, per day for those in Concierge Class and AquaClass cabins. $23.00 per person, per day for guest of The Retreat. Source .
• Disney : $14.50 per person, per day. $15.50 per person, per day for those staying in Concierge Staterooms and Suites. Source .
• Holland America : $16.00 per person, per day. $17.50 per person, per day for guests in suites. Source .
• Norwegian : $20.00 per person, per day. $25.00 per person, per day staying in suites and The Haven. Guests under 3 years old don’t pay gratuity. Source .
• MSC Cruises : $16.00 per person, per day. Guests over 2 years old and under 12 years old pay $8 per day. Passengers under 2 years old don’t pay gratuity. Source .
• Princess : $16.00 per person, per day. $17.00 per person, per day staying in mini-suites. $18.00 per person, per day for guests in suites. Source .
• Royal Caribbean : $16.00 per person, per day. $18.50 per person, per day for guests in suites and higher. Source .

How Are Cruise Line Gratuities Paid?

How do you actually pay tips on the cruise ship? In the past, the process used to be that the cruise line would put envelopes in your room on the last day of the cruise. Passengers would then put cash in the envelope for the crew members. These days, everything is automatic.

When you book the cruise you’ll have the ability to prepay gratuities . You are charged a set amount, per person, per day. You simply pay this extra amount in full for your cruise as part of your cruise fare.

If you don’t decide to prepay the tips, then the amount is automatically charged to your onboard account each day. When it comes time to settle your final bill at the end of the cruise, you’ll have the gratuity charges to pay as well.

Want to tip more? You can still hand out cash to individual members of the staff that you appreciate, although it’s not required.

Is Every Passenger Charged Gratuities? 

The vast majority of passengers are charged these tips, no matter if they are young, old, have special requests, eat in the main dining room, or only hit the buffet.

That said, some cruise lines make exceptions for small kids. For example, Carnival does not charge tips for kids under two years old. Norwegian Cruise Lines doesn’t charge gratuities for kids under three. However, for the most part you can expect that every passenger on your trip will see a charge.

Here are the policies for major cruise lines:

• Carnival : Guests under 2 years old aren’t charged gratuity.
• Disney : All guests pay gratuities at their discretion.
• Holland America : All guests pay gratuities.
• Norwegian : Guests under 3 years old don’t pay gratuity.
• MSC Cruises : Guests under 2 years old don’t pay gratuity. Guests over 2 years old and under 12 years old pay half amounts.
• Princess : All guests pay gratuities.
• Royal Caribbean : All guests pay gratuities.

How Can I Know How Much I Will Be Charged in Tips?

When you book your cruise, the gratuity amount is usually disclosed in full for your trip, with an option to prepay the amount with your cruise fare.

If you’d like to calculate exactly what your gratuity amount will be before you book your trip, then you can use our calculator here . Simply enter the cruise line, length of trip, and the number of passengers and it will show you precisely how much you’ll be charged.

Can I Adjust the Amount of Gratuities?

For most people, the service they receive on a cruise is outstanding. They recognize that the staff goes above and beyond to make their vacation enjoyable. But that’s not always the case. With millions of passengers sailing every year, there’s inevitably going to be someone who feels they received poor service.

If that’s the case — and you decide you want to change the amount you are charged for tips — then you can do that. Gratuity charges are typically not mandatory and can be adjusted. To do so, simply head down to Guest Services on the ship to tell them that you want to change your tip amounts.

That said, it’s unusual to adjust the gratuity amount, and the staff works extremely hard to make your trip enjoyable. If you have a major issue, however, you can change your gratuity amount accordingly.

What If I Don’t Pay Gratuities on my Cruise?

With the introduction of automatic gratuities, it’s much more difficult to avoid paying tips on your cruise. That said, in theory you could request that tips be removed from your account and not tip at all.

So what will happen? As far as your trip, likely very little. The staff isn’t likely to treat you any differently or even know that you aren’t tipping (after all, some people still like to pay cash at the end of the cruise). They will still go out of their way to make your cruise comfortable and enjoyable.

That said, if you don’t pay gratuities, then it’s the staff that will be hurting — not the cruise line. The cruise line collects the tips and then distributes them accordingly. Without your contribution, the compensation for the staff members will decrease. For staff members that rely on these dollars, that can be a major blow.

How to Pay Extra (If You Want)

Want to pay more in gratuity? That’s allowed. In fact, the staff will love that you want to give them more money. If you want to pay extra, we suggest simply handing cash directly to the people you want to recognize for their service. This happens regularly for passengers feeling generous or thankful for the staff’s work during their trip. In fact, your cruise line might leave a few envelopes in your room exactly for this purpose.

Should I Prepay the Gratuity Charges?

When you book your cruise, you’ll be given the opportunity to prepay the gratuities. In this case, you can simply choose to have them lumped in with your cruise fare, paying them all at once.

The advantage is that you get your payment out of the way ahead of time. So when you’re on the ship, it’s one less charge to worry about.

On the other hand, many people choose to instead pay the gratuity charges automatically through their onboard account once on the ship . Each day there will be a gratuity charge — or a lump sum added at the end of the trip.

The advantage here is that you get to hold on to more of your money for longer. Instead of handing over the charges well in advance of your sailing, you can keep it until you’re actually on your cruise.

Bottom line is that it comes down to personal preference. You can get the charge out of the way early, or hold onto your money until you actually sail.

Who Gets the Gratuities That You Pay?

From the passenger perspective, the gratuity amount is simple — pay a set amount per person, per day, and be done.

On the cruise line side, that money gets cut up to be distributed. The tips are spread out between the room steward, dining staff, and others that have customer-facing positions. That said, cruise lines are quiet on exactly how the charges are distributed.

The good thing for passengers about gratuities is that this distribution is done automatically by the cruise line instead of having to give tips to several different staff members at the end of your cruise.

Why Aren’t Gratuities Just Included in the Price of the Cruise?

For some cruise lines (usually luxury lines), gratuities actually are included in the fare — you don’t pay anything extra apart from your cruise fare.

However, for the majority of mass market cruise lines the gratuities are extra charges on the price of your cruise. These can be a surprise to some people, especially first-time passengers.

While the cruise lines might say differently, we think that gratuities aren’t included in the headline price for marketing purposes. There’s little doubt that the extra tips can be expensive. The cost for two people on a week-long cruise can be well above $200.

Meanwhile, cruise fares are often shown as dirt-cheap prices. They are often expressed as the rate for a single person (despite having to pay for double occupancy) and don’t include port fees or taxes. Having to add in gratuity costs to these advertised rates could make them less attractive to potential cruisers.

How Often Do the Gratuity Rates Increase?

The tipping rates charged change from time to time. We’ve seen instances of multiple increases in a year and other times when rates won’t change for a year or two. Just like the price of anything else, you should expect over time for these rates to continue to rise slowly but surely. Typical increases are around $1 per person, per day and seem to happen about once a year. 

One perk of pre-paying gratuities is that if you pre-pay and the rate later increases, you aren’t charged the higher rate.

Who Else to Tip While On the Ship

You would think that paying a hefty daily tip would cover everyone on the ship. In fact, there are a couple of instances where paying additional gratuity is recommended or automatic.

First, any time that you buy a drink from the bar, you will be charged an extra tip, usually 18%-20% of the menu price, depending on the cruise line. This happens automatically and will be tacked on to the price. So a $10 menu price on a cocktail is actually around $12.

Be aware that when you sign the receipt there will be another line for an additional tip. Unless you are feeling generous, there’s no need to tip more .

Second, any time that you purchase anything service related — such as dinner at a specialty restaurant or a service at the spa — expect there to be a tip added on to the cost. Again, this normally runs around 18%, but can range from 15% to 20%, depending on the cruise line.

Finally, if you order anything from room service, then it’s expected that you give a couple of bucks to the staff member that delivers the food.

Other than that, your gratuity charges cover the housekeeping and dining staff. So when you leave the room you don’t have to put down any extra cash (unless you want to). And when you leave the dining room, no need to drop down any money on the table.

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We have just returned from a Cruise on NCL around the Canaries and Med The Crew was 65% Philipino and were on minimum wage. Although I appreciate that NCL is a USA Company that has no respect for its workers it is why they recruit from Asia, instead of paying a decent living wage they charge the passenger’s outrageous gratuities to compensate for their bad business practices. The only reason they will not add the Gratuites to the original brochure price or remove them like P&O has is then they would have to pay their crew a living wage. In the UK we tip for good service not to prop up the wages of poorly paid employees.

The employer has to pay its employees their salaries And we thé customers should not be worried about this. We pay the Cruise and that’s it. This tipping business is getting out of control and is shifting responsibility from the employers to the clients using our guilty conscience from being on a cruise? Also in the restaurants, hair salons, all businesses …this is all wrong

The baggage porters at the port do not work for the cruise line, but for the port itself. You customarily tip $1 – $2 per bag (more if you want) OR you can NOT tip and risk that the one guy you didn’t tip handles your bag with care and the bag actually makes it on the ship and doesn’t “accidently” get left behind. The risk to me isn’t worth the $5 tip we give for 2 bags. On another subject, what makes Miami the worse port? We just booked a cruise out of Miami for the first time in 10 years. What makes it “the worse”, other than your bad experience with the porters dictating what you should tip, which is 199% wrong, in my opinion.

I don’t understand why we are paying the salaries of the teams and not the cruise line. I know Tui and P&O don’t charge gratuities, it’s actually the choice of the person if they wish to give a tip. I have booked with NCL next year because I’m advised taking my money can either be pre paid or can opt out. I so hope that’s true.

I think this was an excellent way of looking. Have a set routine payout and adjust accordingly to the level of service.

This abuse of tipping allows companies to pay their workers a lower wage and pocket the profits. Whatever happened to just doing the job you’re paid for? Housekeeping is supposed to make up rooms, servers are supposed to serve food… But I’m supposed to pay a hundred bucks a day for a family of five, in the same room, and after I’ve already paid five grand for the cruise? Ridiculous.

All of you have great advice. I too pay in cash and at times have given extra. What do you do about the porters at the ports. I gave always given them money to take my bags to the ship. Tipping is out of control everywhere. In Miami the worst place to board the ship. I have stepped out of the shuttle seeing the conveyer a short distance away. The porter stands there counts the luggage and has told the price for a handling fee. Really, do they get an hourly wage that’s so low they need tip to survive? Are tips required? What the real deal? If tips are not required, do their supervisors know about this up charge?

If I travel with my family of 4, and I pay the waiting $20 ($5 per person) staff each time we eat in the dining room, which would be for dinner only, over 7 days, that would $140. Then if I pay another $5 per person each day for room clean-up, that’s another $140, for a total of $280. I think these amounts are reasonable. But RCCL wants to charge $448. That doesn’t seem fair.

Thank you! You were extremely helpful for my upcoming cruise!

When we researched tipping policy on a recent Princess cruise, we found that the cruise line pools that money and uses it for bonuses, etc. over all its ships, not just the cruise we were on. I find this to be an outrageous ploy to hide the true costs of a cruise. We nearly always opt out of tips and tip whom we want directly.

We are cruising with NCL later this year & we have a beverage package included & gratuities included does that mean we will not pay any more gratuities at end of cruise?

Yes, except if you are sailing in the U.S., then NCL tacks on the gratuities on the amount of the beverage package even though the package is free. So the $99 per day package is free, but you are charged about $20 per day still for the drink package gratuities.

I Agree, we always opt out and give tips to our steward and waiter/waitress at the end of the cruise.

We always hand our tips in cash to the person whose service we wish to commend. We never use a credit card for our on ship account. We deposit cash to use for our onboard account. If gratuities show on our account when we settle at cruise end, we ask for them to be removed. We want the people who earned the tip to receive, not the lousy,greedy, uninvolved government! We rarely buy anything on the ship of value. We use prepaid drink cards to purchase beverages.

Great advice. This is my first cruise. I didnt know I could have the tips removed from my room charges. I detest the idea of: A. not knowing who my tip is going to B. Paying a tip twice C. Paying a standardized tip for poor service. I want the employee to know they received a tip from me. Not to split them across all the employees equally. All service isn’t created equally.

What sucks is the workers then have to pay a tax on the “tip” where we would rather give the workers a “gift” of cash.

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Complete Guide to Cruise Ship Gratuities for 2024

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Whether your cruise line calls them daily service fees, cruise ship gratuities or crew appreciation, it’s simply tipping on a cruise. Nearly every cruise line has a name for these automatically-added service fees. 

Most cruise lines add daily gratuity fees directly to your onboard account throughout your cruise. Plus, different onboard experiences, from using your stateroom mini-bar to dining in a specialty restaurant , have an added fee.

We’ve listed each cruise line’s per-person daily gratuity. We break down tipping on a cruise to what you’ll pay depending on your stateroom category, plus any additional service fees. 

What are Daily Cruise Ship Gratuities?

Every cruise line has a recommended amount that each guest should pay to the crew. Holland America calls it a “Daily Service Fee.” Princess calls it “Crew Appreciation.” Basically, it’s a gratuity fee; how much you’ll pay for tips on a cruise ship. 

Some cruise lines may call this a “Guest Services Fee” on your onboard account statement. While others simply add “Gratuity” to your onboard account. 

Tipping on a Cruise Begins Before Sailaway

Savvy cruisers know that gratuities begin before you board your ship. Why? If you plan to drop off your larger pieces of luggage, be prepared to give the portside luggage handler a $2- $5 tip per bag. The amount can depend upon size, weight and amount of luggage.

If you’re a solo traveler and only have one large bag to check, a $5 tip is appropriate.

Consider this tip as baggage delivery insurance.

Should I Pre-Pay Cruise Gratuities?

If you want to get the daily cruise tipping fees out of the way before your cruise and avoid last-night sticker shock, I always suggest that you pre-pay gratuities.

Also, if you pre-pay your gratuities, and should the cruise line raise the cruise tip amount before you sail, you are “grandfathered-in” at the previous lower rate. 

Don’t pre-pay gratuities and if there’s an increase, you’ll pay a bit more at the end of your cruise. For one person, it’s not too bad. If you’re paying for a family, it could be a very costly added expense.

Average Daily Cruise Line Gratuity

Roughly speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere from $11.50 – $20.00 per passenger per day for onboard gratuities. As mentioned, cruise lines automatically add gratuities to your onboard account. 

Luxury lines like Azamara, Ponant, Regent, Silversea, Seabourn, Sea Dream, Virgin Voyages include gratuities in the cruise fare.

On cruise lines where gratuities are not included, you can monitor the charges on your shipboard bill either from the Front Desk or on your stateroom TV.

Sometimes cruise gratuities are only added at the very end of your cruise, too. Talk about sticker shock!

Cruise Line Gratuities for 2024

Here’s what you will pay per person per day for cruise ship gratuities/service fees/crew appreciation as of this writing. 

CARNIVAL:  $14.50 for Standard Staterooms; $16.50 for Suites. An 18% automatic charge is added to beverages at the bars, plus at Bonsai Sushi, Bonsai Teppanyaki and Chef’s Table restaurants.

On April 1, 2023, Carnival raised its services fees to $16.00 per person per day for those in standard staterooms. Suite passengers now pay $18.00, an increase of $1.50 per day.

CELEBRITY:   $17.50 for Standard Staterooms; $18.00 in Concierge and Aqua Class staterooms. Those booked in the Retreat do not pay a daily gratuity fee. If you purchase Celebrity’s All Included plan, the gratuity is included. But you’ll pay 20% fee if you order a drink that’s not in your beverage package (Classic or Premium). There’s an 18% charge for the spa and salon services.

COSTA:   An automatic $12.50 service fee is added onto all U.S. departures. There’s €11 on Europe departures. 15% beverage charge. Kids 4-14yrs 50% less. Under 4, no charge.

CUNARD:   With a name change from “gratuities” to “hotel and dining service charge”, you’ll pay $11.50 for Britannia Class staterooms (inside, oceanview and balcony). Then, $13.50 for those in the Grill Suites. Pay a 15% beverage charge and 12.5% for a visit to the salon or spa.

DISNEY:  $14.50 is the suggested amount for those in standard staterooms. If you’re in a suite or concierge stateroom, Disney recommends a $15.50 gratuity fee. Disney doesn’t automatically post the fees to your account, however. 15% beverage charge and 18% for spa services

HOLLAND AMERICA:   $16.00 for those in standard staterooms. Suite guests will pay an automatic $17.00 per person per day fee. Gratuity charges for beverage packages, drinks, dining room and specialty dining, and other non-included service fee amenities is 18%.

HURTIGRUTEN:   $12.00 – Suggested amount on expedition cruises. Norwegian coastal cruises there is no gratuity fee.

MSC CRUISES:  Valid until summer 2024:  $14.00 for adults 12 years and older. $7.00 for children ages 2 – 11 years. Under 2 years old, no charge. This applies to Caribbean, Canada and USA cruise departures. Cruises abroad, gratuities are in euros and at a comparable exchange rate. MSC website also states they do not recommend tipping individual members of staff.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE:   Book a Club Balcony Suite and below and pay $20.00 per person per day. Reside in The Haven or above Suites and it’s $25.00 pppd. For children under three years, there’s no daily fee. There’s also a 20% beverage charge with each non-included drink you order. On Hawai’i sailings, there’s a 4.275% pre-paid service charge GET tax.

OCEANIA:  $16.00 for guests occupying standard staterooms. For Penthouse, Oceania, Vista or Owner’s Suites with Butler Service, gratuities of $23.00 per guest, per day will be added. An 18% service gratuity is automatically added to all beverage purchases, spa services and dinner at La Reserve.

PRINCESS: Now called “Crew Appreciation” the daily fee is as follows:  inside, oceanview or balcony staterooms are $16.00. Mini-Suite and Reserve Collection staterooms are $17.00. Book a suite and you’ll pay $18.00 pppd. There’s also a “service charge” of 17% for specialty dining that’s included in the cover charge. You’ll pay 18% for individual drinks and drink packages, corkage fee and spa services. 

ROYAL CARIBBEAN:   Royal Caribbean automatic gratuity rates are $16.00 per person, per day for guests in non-suite staterooms. Book a suite and pay $18.50. Gratuities will be applied to each guest’s SeaPass account on a daily basis. There’s also an 18% charge for beverages, mini-bar items, and salon and salon purchases.

VIKING OCEAN CRUISES :  Simple here. $15.00 per day for all staterooms and a 15% beverage charge.

Should You Tip the Room Service Delivery Person?

Here’s another category that needs addressing; room service delivery fees.

Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian automatically add a room service delivery fee . Sometimes it depends on what you order. 

You can still directly offer a tip to your delivery person. He or she will appreciate it.

I always suggest to bring $1 and $5 bills from home. This way, you’re ready to personally hand it to the room service delivery person. 

Having several small bills is very handy, especially for early morning breakfast delivery. You don’t have to fumble around to find a tip. $2.00 to $5.00 is appropriate, depending on the food or how many meals ordered.

Who Gets a Share of the Gratuities?

Depending upon your cruise line and accommodation category, the amounts of who gets what may vary by a few dollars. But this should give you an idea as to where the cruise ship tips go and how it’s divvied up at the end. 

For this example, the amounts listed below are for standard (non-suite) staterooms, may vary by a dollar or so and subject to change every couple of years.

Also, these amounts will differ because the cruise lines stress that a portion of the service fees also goes to many crew members who work behind the scenes and/or towards a shared crew incidentals/emergency fund.

The top tier of crew recipients, however, are the waiters and stateroom attendants. Next, are the assistant waiters and staterooms attendants. The head waiter may or may not receive a cut in the share. 

Those hard-working crew members behind the scenes that you never see will get a small piece of the pie, too. 

Cruise Tips for Those Not on the Automatic Gratuity List

Some onboard services aren’t subject to automatically-included gratuities. Since these are people that you may interact with on a daily basis, it’s nice to add them to your gratuity list.

• Childcare provider: At your discretion, similar to your babysitter at home.
• Bartender: Plan to frequent the same bar throughout your cruise? Give your new favorite bartender a $10 – $20 upfront tip. If you’ve had excellent service, another tip at the end of the cruise is also appreciated.
• Wine sommelier: Based on their involvement, $10 or $20 at the end of the cruise is appropriate. Some cruise lines have done away with a sommelier and your waiter is responsible for keeping track of your wine bottles. Tip accordingly.
• Shore excursion guide: $2.00 – $5.00. Some passengers base their shore excursion tip on 10%-20% per person based on the cost of the tour.
• Shore excursion motor coach driver: $1.00 – $2.00, especially in Europe.
• Spa and Salon services: The spa will automatically add a 15% – 20% gratuity. Is there a need to tip your service provider? It’s up to you.

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Personalize your tip-giving experience.

Many cruise passengers from Britain and a few European countries where tipping isn’t a common practice, prefer to have the automatically-added tips removed from their account. This can be requested at the Reception (Purser’s) Desk.

Hopefully, these folks will then hand out cash to those who have worked hard for them during the cruise. Others simply refuse to tip. And it’s not just non-Americans, either. 

Conversely, some guests who are familiar with and follow the tipping guidelines, prefer to hand out cash-filled envelopes to crew members.

Bring a stack of small bills from home and keep separate from your other cash, to avoid the last night panic line at the Purser’s Desk.

You can also visit the casino cashier to break your larger bills. Bring envelopes (and thank you notes) from home in case the ship’s front desk doesn’t have any to give for tips.

When in Europe, Euros are the preferred currency for tipping on both ocean and river cruises . Or you can usually put the gratuities directly onto your onboard account and credit card.

I always leave the automatic gratuities on my account. Then on the last night, if service was very good, at dinner I’ll bring envelopes with a little extra cash for my waiter, assistant waiter and sommelier.

Whether or not to tip the Maître d’ is up to you, depending on if you’ve actually communicated with this person. 

On the last night or on the morning of departure, I always give an extra tip to my room steward when I say goodbye.

Tipping After Your Cruise

After the cruise, if you ask a porter to load your luggage and wheel it to the outdoors or motor coach, you’ll need to dip into your wallet one more time.

In many ports or after a transatlantic crossing, you’ll get through the customs and immigration line quicker if you ask a porter to help with your luggage. 

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17 comments.

Hi Jackie, Thanks for your comment. I agree 100%!

Tipping is absolutely necessary on cruises. These people work for peanuts, and they work very hard with no days off for months. TIPS stands for To Insure Proper Service. When on land you tip at bars and restaurants, then why on the cruise ships should people question it and cheap out. When we get on the ship, we leave extra tip money in the safe. On the last night, we give the envelopes with cash in it to all the people that took such good care of us on our cruise. Be a good cruiser.

Hi Crissy, thank you for reading my article and for your question. Are you referring to the concierge that, for example, is in charge of a loyalty club lounge like the Royal Caribbean Diamond Plus or Pinnacle Club? On cruises where I’ve used the concierge’s services (for show or dinner reservations or help with shore excursions), I’ll usually give the concierge $20-$30 at the end of a seven-night cruise. On a luxury line, I would tip more, depending on how involved the person was with assisting me with reservations etc.

If you’re referring to your stateroom butler, the gratuity prices are set by the cruise line and of course you can always add to it for exemplary service.

I hope this is helpful info. Thank you again for reading the article and taking the time to ask your question. Happy cruising!

How much do you suggest tipping the suite concierges?

Hi Nick, That’s a great question and thank you for writing. Since this is your first time handling the financial ends of a cruise, I would suggest leaving the automatic gratuities on your accounts. It will make the cruise more seamless and you won’t have that last-minute scramble finding small bills to put into envelopes and then locating the people for whom the envelopes are intended. If someone goes above and beyond regular service, it’s perfectly fine to simply hand him or her an extra gratuity. This could be your room steward or bartender or waiter. Have a wonderful cruise and thank you again for writing. Sherry

I’m about to go on my first cruise with my girlfriend and not with my family. Prior to this cruise, I was never responsible for any of the “stateroom “ accounts since my father always took care of the monetary issues of the vacation. After reading the article and the responses I am confused as to whether or not to take the automatic gratuities taken off my account when I go on my cruise and just gave out envelopes at the end of my vacation. What do you think

Coworker used to work for Celebrity – they get NO SALARY from the cruise line, they rely on the gratuities. Removing the automatic gratuity and then not actually tipping at least that amount in cash is akin to participating in modern-day slavery ie expecting people to contentedly serve you for free.

Echoing Jeff’s comment about folk who stingily resent a few hundred dollars to the ones who need it most.

Hi Rachel, Very well written. Thank you for your comment. Sherry

Mandatory gratuities. I don’t know whether to characterize this as the third world corruption tax in action (being forced to pay civil servants, hospital nurses, etc. a bribe before they will do the job that they are hired and paid to do); or first world predatory capitalism in action. Pretty clearly the cruise lines have offloaded the responsibility for paying their employees a living wage (or any wage) directly onto passengers via mandatory gratuities. Why don’t they just call it “bribes” or “employee salaries” on the invoice instead of “mandatory gratuities.” It is ridiculous that on top of paying for a horrendously expensive cruise and shore excursions, you have to pay bribes/employee salaries in the form of mandatory gratuities. And in some cases you have to pay extra bribes in addition to, on top of, the mandatory gratuities. It all adds up to making a cruise a “once in a lifetime” experience rather than a repeat experience.

Hi Shannon, Congrats on your first cruise! For tipping, the amount may depend upon the cruise line and your stateroom category. After your automatic gratuities have been charged to your onboard account, you could hand your room steward $20-$30 (two people) in recognition for good service. I hope this helps. Happy cruising! Sherry

Hi Sherry, I’m going on my first cruise this summer. What’s an appropriate tip range for the room steward on a 7 day cruise?

Hi Jeff, Nicely said. I would like to think that a lot of the non-tippers or those who queue at the front desk on the last night to remove the service fee are from countries where tipping isn’t part of their culture. But not always so. Thanks for your comment. Sherry

I always wonder how someone can pay thousands for a cruise, airfare, and shore excursions and then be resentful of a few hundred dollars in tips for the lowest paid of those who make the trip enjoyable. The desire to stick it to the little people reminds me of the great quote from tax cheat, Leona Helmsley, who once said that, “Only the little people pay taxes”. The jury of” little people” had little trouble convicting her. The people who are put out with tips should find other ways to vacation.

I have my doubt where the cruise gratuities go to. You can never find out what a crew member earns or how much they actually receive out of gratuities paid and so that end I refuse to have gratuities added to my state room account. However the crew get do get paid to do a job and they knew the pay before they started, they get free food and board plus flights home and we as paying public have already paid for the service they provide. Assuming that all the gratuities are passed on. The ratio of crew member to passenger after removing the staff that are not part of the gratuity pot is about 4 or 5 to 1. On a 14 day cruise at $12.75 per person that adds up to $178.50 per person x 4 and the sum per fortnights holiday gives a bonus of $714 each. That for a 9 month contract would give them a bonus of around $13500 plus pay….Think about it

Found out that the cruise line does not give the gratuities to the crew , those tips are kept by the cruise line -ask a crew member, lies and rip off .

Hi Lisa, Thank you so much! I’m glad you liked the article and I hope it was helpful.

Thanks, Scott!

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Updated on January 12, 2024 by Sherry Laskin

Tipping on a Cruise

In order to make tipping as convenient as possible, Cunard adds gratuities to your onboard account automatically. The amount added is $14.50 per person, per day, for guests in Britannia Accommodations or $16.50 per person, per day, for guests in Grill Accommodations. These amounts can be adjusted on board. A 15% tip is also added to all beverage orders and salon services.

Review: Cunard Queen Elizabeth cruise ship

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Queen Elizabeth cruise ship facts

• 2,081 guests
• 2010 launched
• 2018 refurbished

The MS Queen Elizabeth is a large cruise ship that embraces Cunard's British heritage. This Queen Elizabeth review explains what makes it unique.

In this review

• Our review ratings
• Queen Elizabeth deck plan
• About Queen Elizabeth
• Food on Queen Elizabeth
• Accommodation onboard  
• Queen Elizabeth nightlife
• Fitness on board
• Onboard activities
• What’s included on Queen Elizabeth
• Queen Elizabeth dress code
• Fellow guests
• Review conclusion

This review of the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship explains the pros and cons of a cruise vacation on board. It rates the restaurants and bars, as well as the nightlife. There are also video tours and insiders tips to help make the most of your time on board.

• British traditions like champagne afternoon tea.
• Ballroom dancing and fencing
• Great art deco vibe.
• No beverages included.
• Service can be patchy.

The Queen Elizabeth deck plan is mostly easy to get around. There are a total of 12 passenger decks, the highest of which is deck 12.

• Reception : Deck 1
• Accommodation : Decks 1 to 8
• Main dining room : Deck 2
• Theatre : Deck 2
• Observation lounge : Deck 10

It is worth noting the lowest deck is -3 (a crew deck).

Queen Elizabeth is a Vista-class cruise ship in the Cunard fleet. She was built in Italy and debuted in October 2010. Queen Elizabeth is 289 m. / 964 ft. long with room for 2,081 guests. That’s almost the same as her sister-cruise ship Queen Victoria, but somewhat less than the famous ocean liner Queen Mary 2. Interestingly, because Queen Elizabeth is not a true ocean liner the bow has extra steel plating so it can cope with rough ocean crossings.

The Queen Elizabeth cruise ship had a major refurbishment in November 2018. During that time the Royal Spa got an extensive renovation. Also the Royal Arcade and Golden Lion Pub had a spruce up, while elsewhere on the vessel the decor was updated to make it “more British”.  

On Queen Elizabeth there are four different classes of service:

• Britannia Club.
• Princess Grill.
• Queens Grill.

These can be likened to economy, premium economy, business and first class. It’s worth noting that Princess and Queens Grill guests have exclusive access to certain areas of the cruise ship.  

The food on Queen Elizabeth can be outstanding, but that depends on where you choose to eat. There is a buffet and a pub, as well as cafes and fine dining restaurants.  My Queen Elizabeth review rates them all.  Most guests choose one of the restaurants for dinner, however some of these are reserved for Club or Grills guests only.

The Britannia Restaurant is the biggest dining venue and is where Britannia-class guests eat. It is a multi-level restaurant serving tempting dishes like Alpine Pepper-crusted Goose Breast, Rack of Lamb and Pan Fried Sea Trout. It has a busy atmosphere and sometimes the service can be patchy.  

Britannia Club guests can eat in a more intimate venue called the Britannia Club Restaurant . The service is better, but the menu is almost identical.

Princess Grill guests dine in their own elegant restaurant which has a more de luxe menu. While Queens Grill guests dine in the most exclusive venue, the Queen’s Grill Restaurant . As a matter of fact it serves some of the best food at sea, like White Sturgeon Caviar and Duck L Orange. Queens Grill guests can even order off-menu.

The Steakhouse At The Verandah is a specialty restaurant on Queen Elizabeth. It’s a glamorous, upmarket venue with a fascinating heritage, but the menu is a bit unadventurous with options that include a burger and seafood platter. That said, it’s a great dining alternative and is open to everyone, but it costs extra:

• Lunch: US$25 per person.
• Dinner: US$39 per person.

The Lido Restaurant on deck 9 is a sprawling buffet venue which is especially popular at lunch time (the self service buffet my be subject to COVID-restrictions when cruising resumes in 2021). In the evenings part of it becomes an alternative dining venue with waiter-service and a theme which rotates between pan-Asian (Bamboo), Indian (Coriander), Mexican (Aztec) and pizza (La Piazza). Check the Daily Programme newsletter for details. It’s worth noting that dining at Bamboo, Coriander, Aztec or La Piazza cost extra:

• Dinner: US$19.50 per person.

There is also the poolside  Lido Grill which serves burgers and hotdogs.  Cafe Carinthia has a tempting array of sweet treats and the conservatory-styled Garden Lounge offers drinks and snacks.

In addition there is the Golden Lion Pub  which is a relaxed, English-style venue where you can enjoy a quiet ale, or authentic pub food like fish & chips. In the evening there is an entertaining band.

The guest rooms on Queen Elizabeth are comfortable and practical. They range from Inside and Balcony Staterooms to spacious Grills suites , some of which have separate bedrooms. The guest rooms are spread across the entire length of the cruise ship.

When it comes to nightlife Queen Elizabeth has something for everyone. There is the Yacht Club disco, or the more intimate Commodore Club. A string quartet play in the Midships Bar and there is dancing in the Queens Room.

The Royal Court theatre has spectacular shows as well as entertainment by guest artists. Indeed, the standard of the performances is generally very good.

Queen Elizabeth has a great range of wellness options. There are two pools and a gym as well as Zumba, yoga and pilates classes. There is also bowls and golf on the open air decks. The onboard spa offers a range of relaxing treatments, as well as an Aqua Therapy Centre which has a hydrotherapy pool, aromatic steam room and sauna.

All the usual shipboard activities are available on Queen Elizabeth including bridge, trivia, shuffleboard and lectures from expert speakers. However, as my  Queen Elizabeth review explains  there are some more unusual activities too, like fencing and ballroom dancing classes.

There are also Watercolour Art Classes (US$35) and galley tours (usually once per voyage), as well as get-togethers for solo cruisers and friends of Dorothy.

In addition, Queen Elizabeth has a library and a shopping arcade, as well as dedicated spaces for kids and teens.

Your cruise fare on Queen Elizabeth generally only includes accommodation, meals and entertainment. Almost everything else comes at an additional cost.

Beverages are not included in your cruise fare – not even water. So I recommend purchasing a Stateroom Water Package. Other alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage packages are also available.

Cunard cruise fares do not include gratuities. So a service charge of 15% will be added to the cost of individual beverage purchases, while a 12.5% gratuity will be added to the cost of spa and salon treatments.

It’s also worth noting that there is a daily “Hotel and Dining” charge of US$11.50 per person per day for Britannia Staterooms and US$13.50 per person per day for Grill Suites. This charge will be added to your account at the end of the cruise.

Dining in specialty restaurants also comes at an additional cost.

On the up-side, free self service laundry facilities are available. Also, in some ports there are transfers to and from downtown.  

During the day you can dress as you please, but in the evening the Queen Elizabeth dress code is more traditional. Indeed, from 5:45pm the dress code will be either Smart Attire or Formal in bars, restaurants and entertainment venues. This will be advertised in the Daily Programme newsletter.

Smart Attire

• For women this includes casual dresses, jumpsuits and informal evening-wear.
• Men should wear slacks. Jackets are optional.

On Gala Evenings the Queen Elizabeth dress code is formal.

• Women should wear a cocktail dress, smart trouser suit or formal separates.
• Men should wear a dinner jacket, tuxedo or dark suit with either a tie or bow tie.

There are usually two or three Gala Evenings for every seven days on board.

The Queen Elizabeth attracts a loyal following of return passengers as well as first time cruisers.  

There is usually a mix of family groups and older couples on board. Indeed, during my Queen Elizabeth review sailing the guests ranged in age from teenagers to those over 80-years old.

Most guests generally come from the U.S.A, U.K, Australia and Canada.

It’s also worth noting that like all the Cunard cruise ships, Queen Elizabeth gay-friendly.

The Queen Elizabeth cruise ship embraces its British heritage. Indeed, traditions like afternoon tea and gin & tonic are a real treat. The West End-style shows are a great drawcard too.

The restaurants on Queen Elizabeth are generally good and it’s worth noting that the first class Queen’s Grill Restaurant is outstanding. Indeed, I rate it as one of the best restaurants at sea.

During my voyage some areas on the Queen Elizabeth cruise ship felt crowded on sea days – in particular the pools and Cafe Carinthia. Also, during my review voyage I noted that service can be patchy, particularly in the busy dining venues.

Cruisers should also remember that Queen Elizabeth does not have the inclusions of some other premium cruise lines.

Read the accommodation section of my Queen Elizabeth review by clicking the button below.

The author sailed as a guest of Cunard .

About the Author: Jason Kerr

Queen Elizabeth Rooms

Queen elizabeth dining, queen elizabeth nightlife, queen elizabeth wellness.

We have been on all the Cunard ships and we find little to fault. My only objection is that Cunard is now American owned and sees itself as serving the USA and Far East markets before the UK. That is globalisation and it’s the same with major companies and football teams but things might change !! We like the crew, the organisation abd the people on board and the whole ship experience and as such, are frightening to try any other cruise line and can’t see ourselves going elsewhere.

I have sailed on QE four times now and find there it to be a most pleasant ship. Those who do not enjoy dressing and a relaxed environment should perhaps look outside Cunard.

I have cruised several times before but our first Cunard cruise is in January. I find that the Cunard website is not especially informative and thank you for such comprehensive information as to what we can expect, what is an additional cost etc :)

Dear Leanne

Thank you for your kind words and I hope you enjoy your cruise.

Regards Jason Kerr Managing Editor

I will be cruising with the Queen Elizabeth later in the year. This will be my first cruise with Cunard. I’m just wondering, does everyone dress up for the gala nights?

Dear Therese

On my various Cunard sailings the gala nights were always very popular. And yes, most guests did dress up for the occasion.

I hope you enjoy your cruise.

Kind regards Jason Kerr Managing Editor

I better get some frocks then :-)

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Can I remove prepaid gratuities on a cruise?

When it comes to cruise fees, prepaid gratuities might be the sneakiest extra charge that can mess with your vacation budget. If you've never booked a big-ship cruise before, you might not realize that cruise lines tack on automatic gratuities that can add hundreds of dollars to your final bill. Booking websites don't always announce those extra fees until you're asked if you want to prepay them in the final steps of the cruise booking process.

Cruisers do have options, albeit limited ones. You can prepay the gratuities when booking or wait to pay them as part of your onboard bill. You may also be able to remove the automatic gratuities — but is it a good idea?

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Here, we explore cruise prepaid gratuities and whether you should pay them or not.

What are prepaid gratuities?

Cruise lines use the term "prepaid gratuities" in multiple ways, which makes the concept even more confusing to newbies.

Most frequently, prepaid gratuities refer to the option for travelers to pay the automatically added tips when they book the cruise rather than paying them as part of their onboard bill at the end of the sailing.

However, prepaid gratuities can also refer to a promotion in which a cruise line or travel agent offers to pay your crew tips for you. You get a discount on your final cruise bill because you're not responsible for the gratuities.

Some luxury or more inclusive cruise lines always cover gratuities in their fare, so you never have to worry about a sneaky extra fee.

Related: Tipping on a cruise ship: What to know about cruise ship gratuities

What do prepaid gratuities cover on a cruise?

Prepaid gratuities cover tips for housekeeping and dining room staff members — waiters, room stewards , etc. They supplement the base salaries of the hotel services team members, some of whom you'll interact with on your cruise (like a waiter) and others you won't (like the crew members who wash your sheets).

The prepaid gratuities do not cover tips for bar service or spa treatments, or gratuities for local guides and drivers who lead your excursions in port. While tipping tour guides is left to your discretion, many cruise lines automatically tack a 15% to 20% tip onto bar and spa bills. Some also add automatic gratuities to your check at extra-fee restaurants on board.

Related: Are cruises all-inclusive? What's actually included in your cruise fare

Which cruises have free prepaid gratuities?

Not every line or every sailing requires prepaid gratuities.

Certain lines, usually higher-end ones, include crew gratuities in their cruise fares. Lines like Silversea , Seabourn and Regent Seven Seas Cruises do not charge extra for staff appreciation. Big-ship line Virgin Voyages also includes crew tips in its base prices.

Some lines give you the option to purchase an extra-inclusions package that may cover gratuities. Princess Cruises ' Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages and Windstar Cruises ' All-Inclusive fares bundle crew gratuities with other complimentary perks (such as drink packages and Wi-Fi access ) at a discounted price, compared to purchasing all the components separately.

Additionally, some travel sellers may occasionally offer to pay your gratuities for you on select cruise lines as part of a promotion.

Related: Best all-inclusive cruise lines

Should I prepay cruise gratuities or not?

As with any financial decision, there are pros and cons to choosing prepaid gratuities versus adding them to your onboard bill.

The benefit of prepaying gratuities is that you account for the cost in your initial booking, which might help you get a clearer picture of the actual total cost of the trip. You won't accidentally spend that money before your cruise, leaving you less for fun activities once you're on vacation.

The downside is you hand over more money to the cruise line early. If you wait to pay until your sailing, those dollars will continue to earn interest for you longer (if you keep your vacation funds in an interest-bearing account).

On the other hand, cruise lines report that cruisers who prepay for things like crew gratuities and shore excursions still spend money on board because those previous payments don't feel as immediate. These vacationers spend more on their total cruise vacation than folks who wait to purchase extras once on the ship. Prepaying the automatic gratuities might lead to a higher overall bill for your getaway.

Finally, prepaying gratuities also prevents you from changing the amount once on board if you're dissatisfied with the service.

Related: 11 extra charges on cruise ships that will drive you bonkers — and what you can do about them

What happens if you don't prepay gratuities on a cruise?

If you do not prepay cruise gratuities before sailing, the cruise line will add them to your onboard bill. The cruise line will then charge your credit card for the gratuity amount at the end of the sailing — along with other purchases you made with your cruise card (drinks, souvenirs, spa treatments, tours, etc.).

The answer to this question is complicated, so bear with me.

If you have prepaid gratuities during the cruise booking process, you cannot remove them on board. The cruise line has had your money for months, and it won't give it back.

If you have not prepaid gratuities and the service charges show up on your onboard bill, you can go to guest services before the sailing ends and request to have the amounts altered or removed. You'll be asked to explain why you're unhappy with the service you received.

However, even if your room steward was sloppy and your waiter was rude (extremely rare occurrences) or if you come from a non-tipping culture, please reconsider removing the automatic gratuity charges. The tips are not merely goodwill gestures; they're a critical portion of crew members' pay.

Refuse to pay, and these hardworking cruise employees have less to send home to their families. You don't have to like the system, but given that it's the one the cruise companies have chosen, I encourage you not to penalize the crew for it.

You might consider asking to remove the prepaid gratuities so you can personally thank your room steward and dining room waiter with a card filled with cash. While this is a lovely sentiment, you're inadvertently taking away money from the behind-the-scenes crew members who receive tips from the gratuity pool. Instead of changing the automatic gratuities, I recommend that you give a little something extra to your favorite crew members.

Bottom line

If you're cruising on a big-ship line, understand that crew gratuities are an integral part of the cruise cost. You can prepay gratuities when you book or pay them as part of your onboard bill at the end of your sailing. You can look for a package that offers a discount on prepaid gratuities or a promotion offering free prepaid gratuities.

Whether prepaid gratuities are worth it is up to you and how you budget for travel. While you can find ways to avoid giving tips to the crew, you really shouldn't. The crew members work hard to make your vacation amazing in ways you see and in ways you don't, and they deserve that financial thank-you for their service.

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Doc Holiday: Why do I have to tip on a cruise?

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On a recent queen elizabeth cruise from perth to sydney, we were charged daily gratuities. were they double dipping or are gratuities not included in the cruise fare.

I wish I could tell you otherwise, but unless you bought a specific fare with “complimentary gratuities” (it happens from time to time, but often means you pay for these upfront), Cunard passengers on ships such as Queen Elizabeth are charged gratuities of $US11.50 (around $17) a person, per day. It’s a slightly higher daily rate ($US13.50) for those in Grill Suites.

Mandatory tipping remains unpopular with Australians – so much so that many cruise lines such as P&O Cruises, Celebrity, Princess and Carnival have a no daily gratuities policy on their Australia-based ships. Luxury cruise lines such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Silversea and Seabourn all build gratuities into their fares – one reason why their base fares tend to be far higher than those at the moderate and budget end of the cruising scale.

Meanwhile, other cruise lines such as Holland America Line – and, yes, Cunard – continue to add a daily gratuity charge to passengers’ bills. Holland America Line charges $US14.50 a day (on all sailings, including those based in Australia) but welcomes guests to adjust the amount if service exceeds or fails to meet passenger expectations by visiting reception at the end of their voyage.

It’s always a good idea to check a cruise line’s gratuities policy before you book, but also to consider what you’re happy to pay for a job well done. Cruise ship workers are traditionally poorly paid with many relying on gratuities to make ends meet and send money back home to their families.

Like most Aussies, I bristle at the idea of forced tipping (particularly if the service has been sloppy), so I always carry cash and a pile of white envelopes to tip when it has been exemplary.

I will be in Salzburg in September. Are you able to recommend the best Sound of Music tour that covers all the sights?

Start yodelling The Lonely Goatherd in preparation – there’s a place on the Original Sound of Music tour by Panorama Tours (panoramatours.com) with your name on it. The four-hour coach tour takes in all the Von Trapp family landmarks, including Mirabell Gardens and the Pegasus Fountain (cue dance scene with Maria and the children), Schloss Leopoldskron where the von Trapp family lived (now a luxury hotel), Hellbrunn Palace, Nonnberg Abbey and St. Gilgen/Wolfgangsee, which you’ll recognise from the opening scenes of the movie. At Mondsee (the church where Maria and Baron von Trapp got married), you’ll have some free time to walk – or twirl – around the town.

If you’re keen to extend the experience (and since you’re here, why wouldn’t you?), you can buy the Original Sound of Music tour with Schnitzel and Noodles add-on – essentially tacking on a three-course meal at historic restaurant Herzl, or you can combine the tour with and Edelweiss Cooking Class, taking your experience to six hours of dancing, singing and devouring many carbs and sweet treats.

Panorama Tours might be the most popular choice, but it’s far from the only Sound of Music tour out there. If you’re into cycling, check out Fraulein Maria’s Bicycle Tours (mariasbicycletours.com) which takes in some of the movie’s top sites, or if you prefer your guide to be as into the movie as you are, The Sound of Trudy (salzburg-tour-guide.com) is a singing guide who will yodel you under the table. That’s a commitment to the job I can respect.

Doc Holiday is on duty to answer your travel questions. Email [email protected] or keep up with Doc at escape.com.au/doc-holiday Personal replies are unfortunately not possible

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Queen Elizabeth Gratuities Question

By Kiwi_cruiser , August 9, 2014 in Cunard Line

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Kiwi_cruiser

For those who have been on the Queen Elizabeth, do you know is it possible to adjusted / remove the gratuities that are charged by Cunard??? :confused:

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Yes, it is.

alibabacruisers

Yes you can adjust or remove the gratuities by visiting the Purser's Desk.

Yes, you certainly won't be alone.

English Voyager

It was stated on another thread that if one has the automatic charge removed, then any gratuity subsequently given to an individual member of staff has contractually to be handed over to go into a general fund for distribution to staff.

What I found amusing was the receipt to be signed for drinks had a section for a gratuity to be added even though a 15% service charge had been levied.

mariposa777

  What I found amusing was the receipt to be signed for drinks had a section for a gratuity to be added even though a 15% service charge had been levied.

In New York after our crossing in June we found the "suggested gratuities" on restaurant bills started at 15% (then 18%, 20%) so it seems routine for US establishments to expect/receive in excess of 15%. (my first time in the US so all new to me)

Coming from a country where people(in my circle at least) tend to tip around 10% in restaurants if we tip at all - I was glad to have the tips worked out for me on the ship as well as most NY restaurants .. we had budgeted for it so had no problem paying it but prefer to avoid the mental gymnastics where possible.

I typically tip 20% in the USA, as I am sure many Americans do. Here the service people receive lower salaries, and count on making good tips. I understand this is not the case in other countries. So I tend to stick with the suggested tips on cruises, and slip extra to those who I think have gone above and beyond during the trip.

I typically tip 20% in the USA, as I am sure many Americans do. Here the service people receive lower salaries, and count on making good tips. I understand this is not the case in other countries. So I tend to stick with the suggested tips on cruises, and slip extra to those who I think have gone above and beyond during the trip .

From my understanding, cabin stewards and restaurant servers use a portion of the cash tips we give them (separate and apart from the auto gratuity) to tip those crew who support their service. It may not be the best system, but reality is what it is.

They DO keep the gratuity when the auto gratuity is removed. We asked our cabin steward if he had to pool the tip we gave him at the end of our cruise and he said no it was theirs to keep. This is the third time we enquired too.

ToadOfToadHall

I also don't agree with auto tips. However, that's what they do in America, and Cunard is an American company, so I just accept it. If I did not accept it I'd not holiday in the US, but when in Rome.

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Queen Elizabeth Gratuities Question

By Kiwi_cruiser , August 9, 2014 in Cunard Line

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Kiwi_cruiser

For those who have been on the Queen Elizabeth, do you know is it possible to adjusted / remove the gratuities that are charged by Cunard??? :confused:

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Yes, it is.

alibabacruisers

Yes you can adjust or remove the gratuities by visiting the Purser's Desk.

Yes, you certainly won't be alone.

English Voyager

It was stated on another thread that if one has the automatic charge removed, then any gratuity subsequently given to an individual member of staff has contractually to be handed over to go into a general fund for distribution to staff.

What I found amusing was the receipt to be signed for drinks had a section for a gratuity to be added even though a 15% service charge had been levied.

mariposa777

  What I found amusing was the receipt to be signed for drinks had a section for a gratuity to be added even though a 15% service charge had been levied.

In New York after our crossing in June we found the "suggested gratuities" on restaurant bills started at 15% (then 18%, 20%) so it seems routine for US establishments to expect/receive in excess of 15%. (my first time in the US so all new to me)

Coming from a country where people(in my circle at least) tend to tip around 10% in restaurants if we tip at all - I was glad to have the tips worked out for me on the ship as well as most NY restaurants .. we had budgeted for it so had no problem paying it but prefer to avoid the mental gymnastics where possible.

I typically tip 20% in the USA, as I am sure many Americans do. Here the service people receive lower salaries, and count on making good tips. I understand this is not the case in other countries. So I tend to stick with the suggested tips on cruises, and slip extra to those who I think have gone above and beyond during the trip.

I typically tip 20% in the USA, as I am sure many Americans do. Here the service people receive lower salaries, and count on making good tips. I understand this is not the case in other countries. So I tend to stick with the suggested tips on cruises, and slip extra to those who I think have gone above and beyond during the trip .

From my understanding, cabin stewards and restaurant servers use a portion of the cash tips we give them (separate and apart from the auto gratuity) to tip those crew who support their service. It may not be the best system, but reality is what it is.

They DO keep the gratuity when the auto gratuity is removed. We asked our cabin steward if he had to pool the tip we gave him at the end of our cruise and he said no it was theirs to keep. This is the third time we enquired too.

ToadOfToadHall

I also don't agree with auto tips. However, that's what they do in America, and Cunard is an American company, so I just accept it. If I did not accept it I'd not holiday in the US, but when in Rome.

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Queen Elizabeth

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About Queen Elizabeth

Elegant yet chic, step aboard the regal Queen Elizabeth and you feel like royalty as you experience Cunard Line's legendary White Service — the ultimate in British hospitality. Majestic and refined, the beautiful 90,900-ton ship accommodates 2,092 guests in the ultimate of comfort with unobtrusive pampering. Touches of Art Deco combined with modern features create a décor of classic elegance sure to delight the most discerning traveler. Gleaming polished woods, rich Italian marble, artwork and sparkling chandeliers provide the perfect setting for this luxurious ship. Gracing the three-deck Grand Lobby's magnificent staircase is the ship's centerpiece, a bespoke wood panel artwork, created by renowned craftsman David Linley.

Peaceful days of leisurely pleasures and enchanting nights can be yours on the majestic Queen Elizabeth. Award-winning Cunard Insights offer enriching courses and expert guest lectures. Delightful entertainment choices range from lavish high-tech musical productions to classic refined garden parties and legendary grand balls. Relaxation opportunities include everything from the simple pleasures of the reading at the two-deck-high 6,000-book (in various languages) library, to the Cunard Royal Spa & Fitness Center, where you can indulge in a variety of soothing treatments. Feel part of history at Cunard Place, displaying exhibits and memorabilia of the line's two-century history. Join in delightful traditional English pastimes on the Games Deck, such as lawn bowls and croquet and log on at the Internet Centre. World class shopping is featured at The Royal Arcade, with such quintessential British stores as Fortnum and Mason and Harris Tweed. Watch the world go by from a comfortable chair or sofa with your favorite cocktail during the day at the Commodore Club, the perfect venue for a pre- and post-dinner drink while listening to the delightful sounds of a pianist or singer.

Considered some of the finest haute cuisine at sea, enjoy several dining options , including the two-deck Britannia Restaurant. Exquisite culinary masterpieces are also served at the Queens Grill and Princess Grill. Enjoy al fresco dining in The Courtyard and buffet-style fare at the casual Lido Restaurant. Delicious French cuisine is served at The Verandah, a formal alternative restaurant. Casual dining venues include the Lido Café for indoor/outdoor seating and delicious themed buffet items. Evenings, it is transformed into regional venues, such as the Asada, for authentic South American grill fare, Jasmine, serving mouthwatering Asian cuisine and Aztec, for Mexican classics with a twist. Savor a traditional ploughman's lunch, as well as other classic British meals, at the authentically English Golden Lion Pub. Relax and enjoy the experience traditional Afternoon Tea, poured by white-gloved servers in the lovely Queens Room. Take advantage of 24-hour Room Service.

Receive the highest level of service in a variety of different accommodations, from the lovely inside cabins to the outsides, suites and penthouses. Stylishly decorated and designed for your comfort, they will make you feel pampered. Those in the Grills Suites receive such exclusive amenities as complimentary canapés, butler service and a bottle of champagne waiting for them upon embarking. Indulge in the luxurious Queens Grill Suites and Princess Grill Suites, designed to provide exquisite comfort, as well as spacious Balcony Staterooms, Oceanview Staterooms and Inside Staterooms.

Step out and join in the nightly onboard celebrations. Dine, dance or take a romantic stroll under the stars in the fresh sea air as you enjoy the many entertainment choices, including spectacular production shows, cabaret singers and classical performances. Glamorous nights on the Queen Elizabeth also include unforgettable Royal Nights Theme Balls. Dress in fabulous costumes for magical theme balls, including the Black and White and Royal Ascot, Never feel left out if you are traveling alone, Gentleman Dance Hosts will accompany you. Experience all these exciting features and many more on the unrivaled Queen Elizabeth.

Queen Elizabeth cruises to worldwide destinations, including a full world cruise.

Grand Suites

Spacious lounge area with seating, Dedicated entertaining area with room to host guests, Pillow concierge menu with seven pillow types to choose from, Marble bathroom with twin washbasins, bathtub and walk-in shower, Spacious private balcony with seating and sea views, Satellite TV with movie and music channels in bedroom and lounge areas, Feature vanity with hairdryer, Workspace with a set of personalised stationery, Binoculars and world atlas to track your travels, UK, USA, European and USB power sockets, Penhaligon's toiletries, Luxury bathrobes and slippers, Speciality tea and coffee making facilities, Pre-dinner canapés, Welcome bottle of Champagne, Dine in-suite from the exclusive Queens Grill menu, Concierge service for on board reservations and shore experiences, A dedicated butler and steward to keep your suite in fine order day and night and host the perfect soiree.

Master Suites

Spacious lounge with seating and dedicated dining area, Pillow concierge menu with seven pillow types to choose from, Marble bathroom with twin washbasins, bathtub and walk-in shower, Spacious private balcony with seating and sea views, Satellite TV with movie and music channels in bedroom and lounge areas, Feature vanity with hairdryer, Writing desk with a set of personalised stationery, Binoculars and world atlas to track your travels, UK, USA, European and USB power sockets, Penhaligon's toiletries, Luxury bathrobes and slippers, Speciality tea and coffee making facilities, Pre-dinner canapés, Welcome bottle of Champagne, Dine in-suite from the exclusive Queens Grill menu, Concierge service for on board reservations and shore experiences, A dedicated butler and steward to keep your suite in fine order day and night and host the perfect soiree.

Spacious lounge area with seating, Pillow concierge menu with a variety of types to choose from, Bathroom with bath and shower and separate dressing area, Spacious private balcony with seating and sea views, Satellite TV with movie and music channels in bedroom and lounge areas, Feature vanity and desk with hairdryer, Binoculars and world atlas to track your travels, UK, USA, European, and USB power sockets, Penhaligon's toiletries, Luxury bathrobes and slippers, Speciality tea and coffee making facilities, Pre-dinner canapés, Welcome bottle of Champagne, Dine in-suite from the exclusive Queens Grill menu, Concierge service for on board reservations and shore experiences, A dedicated butler and steward to keep your suite in fine order day and night and host the perfect soiree.

Queen Suite

Spacious lounge area with seating, Pillow concierge menu with a variety of types to choose from, Bathroom with bath and shower and separate dressing area, Spacious private balcony with seating and sea views, Satellite TV with movie and music channels in bedroom and lounge areas, Feature vanity and desk with hairdryer, Binoculars and world atlas to track your travels, UK, USA, European, and USB power sockets, Penhaligon's toiletries, Luxury bathrobes and slippers, Speciality tea and coffee making facilities, Pre-dinner canapés, Welcome bottle of Champagne, Dine in-suite from the exclusive Queens Grill menu, Concierge service for on board reservations and shore experiences, A dedicated butler and steward to keep your suite in fine order.

Princess Suite

Private balcony with seating and sea views, Spacious lounge area with seating, Pillow concierge menu with a variety of types to choose from, Bathroom with bath and shower, Satellite TV with movie and music channels in lounge and bedroom areas, Feature vanity and desk with hairdryer, UK, USA, European, and USB power sockets, Penhaligon's toiletries, Luxury bathrobes and slippers, Feature mini-bar with speciality tea and coffee making facilities, Mini-bar packages available for purchase, Dine in-suite from the exquisite Princess Grill menu, Concierge service for on board reservations and shore experiences, A dedicated steward to keep your suite in fine order day and night.

Club Balcony

Private balcony with seating and sea views, Lounge area with seating, Bathroom with walk-in shower, Satellite TV with movie and music channels, Feature vanity and desk with hairdryer, UK, USA, European, and USB power sockets, Pillow concierge menu with a variety of types to choose from, Penhaligon's toiletries, Bathrobes and slippers, Speciality tea and coffee making facilities, Mini-bar packages available for purchase, A dedicated steward to keep your stateroom in fine order day and night.

Choice of Early, Late, and Open Dining in the Britannia Restaurant, Bathroom with a walk-in shower, Satellite TV with movie and music channels, Feature vanity with hairdryer, UK, USA, European, and USB power sockets, Penhaligon's toiletries, Bathrobes and slippers, Tea and coffee making facilities, Mini-bar packages available for purchase, A dedicated steward to keep your stateroom in fine order day and night.

Balcony (partially obstructed view)

Choice of Early, Late, and Open Dining in the Britannia Restaurant, Private balcony (obstructed view) with seating, Lounge area with seating, Bathroom with walk-in shower, Satellite TV with movie and music channels, Feature vanity and desk with hairdryer, UK, USA, European, and USB power sockets, Penhaligon's toiletries, Bathrobes and slippers, Tea and coffee making facilities, Mini-bar packages available for purchase, A dedicated steward to keep your stateroom in fine order day and night.

Choice of Early, Late, and Open Dining in the Britannia Restaurant, Lounge area with seating, Bathroom with a walk-in shower, Window with sea view, Satellite TV with movie and music channels, Feature vanity and desk with hairdryer, UK, USA, European, and USB power sockets, Penhaligon's toiletries, Bathrobes and slippers, Tea and coffee making facilities, Mini-bar packages available for purchase, A dedicated steward to keep your stateroom in fine order day and night.

Oceanview (obstructed view)

Choice of Early, Late, and Open Dining in the Britannia Restaurant, Lounge area with seating, Bathroom with a walk-in shower, A window offering a slightly obscured outside view, Satellite TV with movie and music channels, Feature vanity and desk with hairdryer, UK, USA, European, and USB power sockets, Penhaligon's toiletries, Bathrobes and slippers, Tea and coffee making facilities, Mini-bar packages available for purchase, A dedicated steward to keep your stateroom in fine order day and night.

Single Oceanview

Deluxe Inside

Choice of Early, Late, and Open Dining in the Britannia Restaurant, Bathroom with a walk-in shower, Satellite TV with movie and music channels, Feature vanity and desk with hairdryer, UK, USA, European, and USB power sockets, Penhaligon's toiletries, Bathrobes and slippers, Tea and coffee making facilities, Mini-bar packages available for purchase, A dedicated steward to keep your stateroom in fine order day and night.

Standard Inside

Single Inside

Choice of Early, Late, and Open Dining in the Britannia Restaurant, desk with stationery, Bathroom with a walk-in shower, Satellite TV with movie and music channels, Feature vanity with hairdryer, UK, USA, European, and USB power sockets, Penhaligon's toiletries, Bathrobes and slippers, Tea and coffee making facilities, Mini-bar packages available for purchase, A dedicated steward to keep your stateroom in fine order day and night.

View Deck Plan

Britannia Club

Britannia Club.

Britannia Restaurant

If you are a Britannia guest, your table reservation will be in the Britannia Restaurant where grandeur and occasion combine with exceptional service. Breakfast and lunch always feel special here and whether you've chosen to take your seat for dinner at 6.00pm or at 8.30pm; you can arrive with a flourish, down the steps of the curved staircase.

Princess Grill

Our sophisticated, intimate Princess Grill restaurant serves up unerringly excellent cuisine for breakfast and lunch, whilst dinner is served whenever it suits you between 6.30pm and 9.00pm each evening. To match your choice, our sommelier will gladly talk through the impressive wine list.

Queens Grill

Guests staying in our Queens Grill Suites have a table reserved in the world-renowned Queens Grill restaurant. Here you'll be greeted with a warm welcome before you sit down and experience our exemplary White Star Service. Dine in the Queens Grill restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with dinner being served at a time that suits you between 6.30pm and 9.00pm.

Queens Room

The elegant tradition of Afternoon Tea is a Cunard signature not to be missed. White-gloved waiters serve delightful cucumber sandwiches, fresh scones and tea accompanied by the sounds of the orchestra in the magnificent Queens Room ballroom.

The Courtyard

The Courtyard.

The Golden Lion

Darts, karaoke, live sports and ale – everything you’d expect of an authentic English pub. There’s even a traditional pub lunch served every day, with classic favourites such as fish and chips, curry, and cottage pie.

The Lido Restaurant

Enjoy a casual breakfast, lunch, dinner or late-night buffet in the relaxed self-service Lido restaurant. With cuisine options that take inspiration from around the world, you’ll always find something to tempt you; no matter what time you feel peckish.

The Verandah Restaurant

The Verandah offers contemporary French cuisine that makes use of seasonal ingredients of exceptional provenance. Designed to create a genuine dining experience that lasts the whole evening, The Verandah takes design inspiration from the original Verandah Grill on board Queen Mary. A cover charge will apply for this restaurant.

Royal Court Theatre

Decks: 1 2 3

Find a wide range of musical styles, as live musicians play throughout the day and late into the evening. Each evening, join our hugely talented cast of singers, dancers and performers in the stunning Royal Court Theatre.

Empire Casino

Empire Casino.

The Library

Admire the flowing spiral staircase and striking geometric patterns as you select from 6,000 titles.

Spa Reception

Occupying an imposing position overlooking the Pavilion Pool, the Yacht Club comes to life in the evening. A central dance floor is the perfect place to show off your footwork into the early hours, accompanied by the resident live band or DJ.

Children's Outdoor Area

Our young passengers are well catered for with activities through the day and into the evening, all age appropriate and fully staffed.

Pavilion Bars

The Lido and Pavilion bars serve Queen Elizabeth’s two main pools, which means that you’re never too far from a refreshing drink. During sail-away parties, the bars serve champagne and cocktails as the resident band plays.

Whirl Pools

When the warm weather entices you on to the spacious Games Deck, you’ll notice a definite English country garden ambience, with the gentle clunk of croquet balls, traditional bowls or paddle tennis in the welcome shade of its canopy.

Promenade Deck

Promenade Deck.

Queens Arcade

Royal Arcade

Royal Arcade.

Art Gallery

Gaze at the famous faces that have travelled on iconic Cunard ships, as fascinating black and white photographs tell their stories.

Teen's Outdoor Area

Aerobic Area

Cunard Spa and Fitness Centre

Thermal Suites

Thermal Suites.

The Play Zone

Inside and outside areas for children aged 1-12.

Photo Gallery & Studio

Launderette

Decks: 8 4 5 6 7

Decks: 2 3 10

Cafe Carinthia

Cafe Carinthia.

Midships Bar

Midships Bar.

Admiral's Lounge

Churchill's Cigar Lounge

Commodore Club

Cunard’s signature Commodore Club majestically overlooks the bow of Queen Elizabeth and provides glorious panoramic views as you sail towards the horizon. An extensive selection of Martinis are available and you may even be tempted to try our Martini Mixology or Whisky Tasting classes..

The Garden Lounge

A relaxing space in which to enjoy the sun, the Garden Lounge is designed to have the feel of a Kew Gardens conservatory. Perfect for enjoying an informal breakfast or a refreshing cocktail, the Lounge also shows live sports events.

The Grill Lounge

The Grill Lounge.

The Grills Terrace

Decks: 12 11

The Grills Terrace.

Grand Lobby

Grand Lobby.

Connexions.

Pavilion Pool

Spa Treatment Rooms

Spa Treatment Rooms.

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The complete guide to cruise gratuities

Tipping and gratuities is one of the most debated topics amongst seasoned cruisers, and sometimes it can be a shock for first-times.

Unlike in America, where those in service and hospitality rely on tips to supplement low wages, Aussies are often not accustomed to tipping.

Most lines have gratuities itemised at the end of your bill, while luxury lines include it in the price and pay staff a better rate.

Cruise lines based in Australia don’t add gratuities to your bill but guests are always welcome to give cash to the crew.

If you’re going on a cruise overseas, make sure you budget for the extra gratuities.

Does it hurt to pay a bit extra, to get some special attention from crew like the bar staff, the cabin stewards and your dining room waiters?

Here is a guide of how to tip and how much is appropriate.

Why you should tip on some cruise lines

While tipping isn’t mandatory, it is considered as a thank you to crew that serve you while you’re on holiday. According to Job Monkey, an average cruise ship employee earns roughly around US$1,200-$1,500 per month, while some of the top service jobs may earn around US$2,500 a month. So most of the time on big cruise lines, crew rely heavily on the guests’ tips for a large portion of their income. Cruise lines try and find a balance between keeping the guests happy while paying crew accordingly. Most American cruise lines will itemise the gratuities on your final bill and guests have the option to remove or change the figure if they wish.

Here are a number of reasons why cruise lines have created this automated system.

• There are a rising number of international travellers are cruising around the world, and many are not accustomed to tipping. The automated system means that at least some money is distributed to the crew, but remember, you can always change this figure or remove the figure or pay individual crew members accordingly.
• There are now a prolific number of dining venues aboard all ships from all cruise lines. Gone are the days where it was just the buffet and main dining room where you would be seated at the same table with the same server every evening. You would then tip your server and maître d at the end of the cruise. But with flexible dining plans and lots of eateries to choose from, sometimes you might not see the same waiter again.
• With automated tips, it means that the money is then dispersed across the entire staff including cabin attendants and restaurant wait staff. This includes also crew members who you might not see – the cooks and chefs, the cleaning crew and more.

Luxury and boutique lines like Azamara Club Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas and more will include the price of gratuities in the fare. Cruise companies that have fleets based in Australia and New Zealand like Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line Australia also build in the cost of tips to the fare pricing and then crew are paid accordingly.

Who to tip on a cruise and how much to tip them

Cruise gratuities average out to be roughly around US$14 per day (or US$98 for a weeklong cruise). But if you want to remove the automated gratuities and pay your individual cabin staff according to the level of service provided, that is up to your discretion. If you want to pay the staff extra, here is a breakdown of some appropriate sums.

Cabin Stewards and Butlers

These are the people you will interact with the most during your cruise and it’s generally good to tip them a bit extra, even with the automated gratuities. A good tip is to slip them an extra $US15 at the beginning of the cruise to make sure your stateroom gets some special attention (and lots of extra soap and shampoo) and an additional US$15 at the end. It works out to be roughly US$2 per person per day. The same applies if you’re in a suite with a butler. Butlers have more duties like bringing champagne, hors d’oeuvres, shining shoes and stocking fridges, so it’s customary to tip an additional US$3-$5 per night per person.

Room Service Stewards

Generally, it’s customary to provide room service stewards a few dollars when they deliver your hamburger and fries. In Australia and New Zealand, Carnival, P&O, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian have factored in the cost of gratuities in your room service charge.

Most large cruise lines will have a gratuity on the cheque when you sign for your drink. But if you’re planning to plonk yourself at one particular watering hole, it’s not such a bad idea to give Steve the barman a crisp US$20 to make sure that you don’t have to waive your hands like a chimpanzee to get his attention. If Steve has been excellent, no harm sliding him a bit more dosh at the end of the cruise.

Maitre D’s, Head Waiters and Dining Room Waiters

Gratuities are included in your final bill, but if your dining room waiter, maître d or head has been fantastic like they’ve organised a special cake or danced every evening in the Carnival dining room, US$10-$20 is appropriate.

Shore Excursion

Tour operators are independent of the cruise line and if you’ve been on a half-day shore excursion, give the guide around US$2 or US$4 or $5 for a full day excursion. Also, don’t forget to tip the bus or coach driver a few dollars.

Spa Services

The staff at the spa get between a 15 to 18 per cent gratuity, which is tacked on at the end of your spa bill so it’s not necessary to tip extra. Unless your massage is exceptional or you emerge from your facial as Jennifer Lopez or George Clooney – not many therapists are that good.

Cruise Line gratuities

Azamara club cruises.

Daily gratuity charge: None Additional charges: An 18-percent gratuity is added to bills for spa services.

Carnival Cruise Line

Daily gratuity charge: US$13.99 Note: Passengers in suites pay US$15.99. Additional charges: A 15 percent gratuity is added to bar bills.

Carnival Cruise Line Australia

Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Guests can tip if they wish Additional charges: None

Celebrity Cruises

Guests in Australia and New Zealand

Daily gratuity charge: None Additional charges: An 18 percent gratuity is added to bar and spa bills.

Guests outside of Australia and New Zealand

Daily gratuity charge: US$18 Additional charges: An 18 percent gratuity is added to bar and spa bills.

Celestyal Cruises

Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for crew and bar staff are included in the fare. Additional charges: None

Crystal Cruises

Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for crew including bar staff are included in the fare. Additional charges: An 18 percent gratuity is added to bills for spa services.

Cunard Line

Daily gratuity charge: US$11.50 Note: Passengers in Grill Class cabins pay US$13.50. Additional charges: A 15 percent gratuity is added to bar bills.

Disney Cruise Line

Daily gratuity charge: US$12 Additional charges: A 15 percent gratuity is added to bar bills; an 18 percent charge is added to bills for spa services.

Holland America Line

Daily gratuity charge: US$14.50 Note: Passengers in suites pay US$16. Additional charges: A 15 percent gratuity is added to bar bills.

Lindblad Expeditions

Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for crew are included in the fare for passengers on the National Geographic Explorer and National Geographic Orion but not other ships.

MSC Cruises

Daily gratuity charge: US$12.50 Note: For Caribbean cruises and some grand voyages. Gratuity charges vary for MSC’s other itineraries. Children pay half the adult rate. Additional charges: A 15 percent gratuity is added to bar bills.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Daily gratuity charge: US$14.99 Note: Passengers in suites pay US$17.99. Passengers on the line’s two all-inclusive ships, Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun , pay higher rates. Additional charges: A 20 percent gratuity is added to bar bills, the bills at extra-charge specialty restaurants and for services at ship spas.

Oceania Cruises

Australian and New Zealand guests

Daily gratuity charge: None Additional charges: An 18 percent gratuity is added to bar bills, the bill for extra-charge eatery La Reserve and for services at ship spas.

Daily gratuity charge:  US$16 Note:  Passengers staying in top suites with butler service pay $23. Additional charges:  An 18 percent gratuity is added to bar bills, the bill for extra-charge eatery La Reserve and for services at ship spas.

P&O Cruises Australia

Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Guests can tip crew if they wish Additional charges: None

Paul Gauguin Cruises

Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for crew including bar staff are included in the fare. Additional charges: None

Ponant Cruises

Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for crew are not included in the fare. Ponant says tipping is “entirely up to you, and you are under no obligation” to tip. Passengers who want to leave a gratuity for crew are encouraged to put it in an urn at the Reception desk at the end of the voyage. Additional charges: None

Princess Cruises

Daily gratuity charge: None Notes: Guests can add gratuities for staff at the end of their cruise if they wish Additional charges: None

Daily gratuity charge: US$13.50 Notes: Passengers in minisuites and suites pay US$14.50 and US$15.50, respectively. Additional charges: A 15 percent gratuity is added to bar bills.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Royal caribbean.

Daily gratuity charge: None Additional charges: An 18 percent gratuity is added to bar bills as well as services at ship spas and salons.

Daily gratuity charge: US$14.50 for guests in Junior Suites and below and USD$17.50 for guests in Grand Suites and above. Additional charges: An 18 percent gratuity is added to bar bills as well as services at ship spas and salons.

Seabourn Cruise Line

SeaDream Yacht Club

Silversea cruises, star clippers.

Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for the crew are not included in the fare. Star Clippers suggests passengers leave crew a gratuity of $10 per day. Additional charges: A 15 percent gratuity is added to bar bills.

UnCruise Adventures

Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for crew are not included in the fare. UnCruise says gratuities “are a personal matter and are entirely at the discretion of the traveler.” Additional charges: None

Viking Ocean Cruises

Daily gratuity charge: None Additional charges: A 15 percent gratuity is added to bar bills.

Daily gratuity charge: US$15 Additional charges: A 15 percent gratuity is added to bar bills.

Virgin Voyages

Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuity is already included in the base price (i.e., customers won’t see a “gratuity fee” on their bill). Additional charges: None

Windstar Cruises

Daily gratuity charge: US$12 Additional charges: A 15 percent gratuity is added to bar bills.

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Cruise Ship Etiquette: Breaking Down Tip Culture

Tipping on cruise ships has changed over the years. Cash used to be king, dispensed at a passenger’s whim. But nowadays, many large lines are both cash-free and have automated tipping as part of the daily dues, meaning passengers no longer need to carry around a wad of bills. But, there are caveats. For example, not all crew is included in the general tip—some are actually forbidden from accepting gratuities—and sometimes, currency matters. Below, what you need to know about tipping on a cruise, and how to make sure no onboard tip gets lost in the shuffle.

Standard tips

A large number of cruise lines, including Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, Disney , Holland America, Princess, Norwegian, MSC Cruises, and Royal Caribbean include gratuities for stateroom attendants and dining room staff in onboard charges on a passenger’s stateroom account. The amounts, starting around $11.50 to $16, are generally paid per passenger, per day, and vary among cruise lines and stateroom categories (larger staterooms and suites are generally a couple dollars per day more than standard accommodations).

These cruise lines also add gratuities as a percentage—ranging from 15 to 20 percent—to most specialty dining, bar, and spa charges; those amounts cannot be adjusted.

Who to tip and not tip onboard

So stateroom attendants, dining room and bar staff, and spa attendants are taken care of, but who else should be tipped separately? Onboard casino staff are not part of the larger tip pool, so passengers should tip as they play, in cash or chips. Many cruise lines also suggest tipping separately for room service deliveries, a few dollars per person. As most tips are cashless, just sign the receipt and add your tip amount on the line provided. And to note—shoreside porters are not cruise line employees, and many ports have signage indicating it is not necessary to tip them. But of course, that is the passenger's decision and a few bucks per bag is customary.

Cruise lines generally prefer to have tips given electronically to maintain cashless environments onboard their ships, but passengers who do prefer to tip in cash should give cash in the ship’s stated onboard currency. On most large, global cruise lines that’s US dollars, but some of those lines change onboard currencies based on the region they’re sailing. Princess, for example, uses US dollars onboard virtually all sailings—except for a select few departures in Australia, where Australian dollars are the onboard currency.

There are also staff onboard for whom it is not customary to tip. Royal Caribbean spokesperson Susan Lomax explains that gratuity systems onboard their ships are modeled after land-based resorts, adding that “guests are welcome to tip anyone,” but that “officers, the medical team, and security team are a hard ‘no’.” She also noted that some officers and crew may decline tips, and guests shouldn’t take offense. It may also be awkward if guests continue to attempt to tip after a worker has politely declined.

Tipless cruise lines

Some cruise lines eschew the practice of tipping. Azamara, Seabourn, Silversea , Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Virgin Voyages , Paul Gauguin Cruises, Crystal, P&O Cruises, P&O Cruises Australia, and Ponant include tips in the cruise fares, although it’s important to note that each line does not prohibit passengers from tipping crew members personally in cash if they provide above-and-beyond service. Many of these cruise lines automatically add gratuities to bills for spa services.

Tom Baker, president of Cruise Center, notes that when guests wish to tip on a “tipless” cruise line, “this is personal and there’s no rule or guideline for this.” On some cruise lines, gratuities may go into a “staff fund” that is used to purchase equipment, events, and other things that benefit the collective crew.

It’s worth noting that cruise lines that do not add gratuities or have any expectation of tipping onboard tend to promote this. Baker further explains that the majority of passengers stick to what’s customary, whether gratuities are on the bill or not: “Most guests who prepay or pay onboard for the tips, don’t tend to tip much unless they have a butler, a favored waiter or bar staff team member.” He again notes that the desire to tip is highly personal.

Adjusting gratuities

Most cruise lines that apply gratuities automatically to shipboard accounts do allow cruisers to adjust the amount of the daily gratuity up or down depending on their satisfaction with the service they have received—but only if they haven’t prepaid the gratuities as an optional add-on with the purchase of their cruise fare. An exception is Costa Cruises, which considers the service charge integral to the cruise fare, and does not allow adjustments.

Many cruise lines are now offering fare bundles that include prepaid gratuities, so it’s worth considering when selecting a fare type, although the vast majority of cruisers do not elect to reduce the daily gratuity amounts. Gratuities that are included for free as part of a booking promotion are also not eligible to be reduced or refunded for credit.

But when should cruisers adjust the amounts downward? That can be tricky, considering the automatic charges cover services provided by stateroom attendants and dining room attendants—services the overwhelming majority of cruisers will benefit from during their voyage. Cruise lines that allow passengers to adjust the amounts downward if they’re dissatisfied with the service will have to make the request to the purser or hotel staff.

Passengers who are considering reducing the gratuity amounts due to service deficiencies should also present their concerns early during the voyage to give the cruise line ample time to address their complaints. They should also consider that gratuities are pooled across several groups, so that deficiencies in one particular area may not warrant the complete elimination or significant reduction of the gratuities.

It's also not advisable to request removal or reduction of the gratuities on principle. The cruise lines have published detailed information on how the gratuities go toward compensation packages for their staff, and train their staff to provide excellent service in any case. Rather than stiffing the hardworking crew members by reducing the charges, passengers wishing to stand on principle can always choose a cruise line that includes tips in fares, or encourages passengers to tip individually—for the experience that most closely matches their expectations.