Embarking on a Royal Caribbean cruise means entering a world of luxury and relaxation. But, when you set sail, you need to think about tipping in addition to your cruise fare.
The crew members at Royal Caribbean take care of all your needs. This is important to show appreciation to the hardworking staff. Royal Caribbean has a unique way of handling tips. They collect money from guests and share it equally among the crew. Guests can choose to pay the gratuities before or after the cruise and decide if they want to tip extra.
Let’s explore the Royal Caribbean Gratuities to prepare you for your journey on this luxurious ship.
What are Royal Caribbean Gratuities
Gratuities on cruises, also known as tips, are important for recognizing the effort of cruise ship staff. Royal Caribbean charges a fixed daily fee for tips to make it easier for guests to tip and ensure fair payment for all crew members.
This system makes it simpler for guests and ensures that all crew members, including housekeeping, dining, and entertainment staff, receive fair tips.
How Much are Gratuities on Royal Caribbean Cruises
Starting from November 11, 2023, Royal Caribbean cruises has increased the automatic gratuity rate by $2 (USD) per person per day for all guests. This change applies to all room types and ages. The standard gratuity rate for non-suite staterooms (interior, ocean view, balcony, etc.) and Junior Suites will be $18 per day. You can check gratuties price & policy on Royal Caribbean Website.
Guests in Grand Suites and above pay $20.50 per day. An 18% gratuity is included in the price of drinks, spa, and salon services.
The only exception is that if you booked a Star Class suite on a ship with the Royal Suite Class, you’ll get a luxury experience with free gratuities and drink packages, plus lots of other perks. You might not want to go back to a regular suite after this!
Royal Caribbean Gratuities for Children and Infant
Royal Caribbean charges the same gratuity rate for all guests, including children and infants. The $18.00 per day ($20.50 for suites) fee for children may seem high, but it shows the hard work of the crew. The staff provide extra care for babies, like setting up cots and making special food, keeping mealtimes clean, and showing their dedication to all passengers.
Royal Caribbean Gratuities Breakdown
Royal Caribbean Gratuities are divided among crew members like room attendants, waiters, bar staff, cooks, and other hotel team members. The paper shows how tips are divided among these crew members.
The figures are from before the price went up, so they’re not exact because, for example, in the dining room, you may be served by multiple people like the main waiter, wine waiter, and receptionist. There are also waiters in specialty dining places and crew in the buffet.
Royal Caribbean Free Gratuities Deals
Royal Caribbean often offers deals to attract people to book cruises. These deals may include discounts for kids, free drinks, or free gratuities. Choosing a cruise with no service charges means Royal Caribbean will pay the crew’s tips for you. You may also receive onboard credit to use for tips.
Can you Decide not to pay Gratuities
If you’re on a Royal Caribbean cruise and the service isn’t up to your standards, you can ask to have the gratuities removed or reduced. If you have any problems during your trip, don’t hesitate. Talk to the Guest Services desk early on to address any concerns and give the staff a chance to fix things and make your experience better.
Even though Royal Caribbean is known for great service, no experience is perfect, and it’s fine to speak up if needed.
Can You Tip Staff Members Individually
Some people like to tip each staff member separately to thank them directly. But this can leave out important crew members like kitchen staff and cleaners who work hard behind the scenes. The goal is to divide tips fairly, so all staff get a fair share, whether you see them or not.
Tipping each person separately can create differences in how much money employees make and feelings of favoritism or unfairness in the team. It’s best to stick to the usual Royal Caribbean tipping rules to show that you value every team member’s work equally.
Can You Pay Extra Gratuities
When it comes to tipping crew members on a cruise, the choice is ultimately yours. Giving extra tips is not mandatory, it can be a great way to show appreciation for exceptional service. Offering cash rewards to specific crew members who have gone above and beyond can truly make their day.
Remember, at the end of your cruise, you’ll receive an envelope where you can leave additional cash tips. This gesture can make a significant impact on the hardworking staff who strive to make your experience memorable. Keep in mind that while gifts like chocolates or wine are thoughtful, crew members generally prefer cash tips. It’s all about recognizing and rewarding those who have enhanced your journey through exceptional service.
You can also consider adding a little extra tip to your receipt while purchasing a drink at a busy bar or café. Not only will this show appreciation for the service provided, but it may also create a favorable impression that could lead to faster
service in the future. Your generosity might just catch the attention of the staff and ensure you receive prompt and attentive service whenever you visit next.
In the United States, it’s common to tip these porters with cash to show your appreciation. Porters help with your luggage when you board a ship, making the process easier.
Other Ways To Recognize Great Service
By filling out a WOW card at the Guest Services desk, you can highlight the exceptional service provided by a crew member who may otherwise go unnoticed. Your positive feedback will not only be greatly appreciated by the crew member in question but will also be recorded on their permanent file.
This gesture can help the crew members advance in their careers by opening opportunities for promotions and higher pay.
How To Prepay Gratuities on Royal Caribbean
There are several ways to prepay your Royal Caribbean gratuities:
- Include the additional charges in your cruise booking total.
- Contact Royal Caribbean prior to your trip.
- Access the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner in advance of your cruise.
- Request your travel agent to facilitate a payment collection from you.
How To Pay Gratuities at the End of Your Cruise
When you arrive for your cruise, your onboard account, called a SeaPass account, will be created. Setting up your SeaPass account at the beginning of your cruise is a convenient way to manage your onboard expenses. You won’t use cash on the ship, so all your purchases and tips will be added to this account.
During check-in, you’ll be asked if you want to link a credit or debit card to the SeaPass account. If you do, Royal Caribbean will charge your card at the end of the cruise. This streamlined process allows you to focus on enjoying your vacation without constantly worrying about payment methods.
If you don’t link to a card, you’ll have to pay with a card or cash before you leave the ship.
When to Prepay Your Gratuities
Deciding when to pay your gratuities before or after your cruise is a personal choice. There are advantages and disadvantages to both options.
Free Gratuities are on Offer
If you book a cruise and get free gratuities as a bonus, they will be prepaid automatically. The Royal Caribbean prepaid gratuities are the best kind.
My Time dining
To get My Time Dining, pay in advance. You can go to the main restaurant whenever you want With My Time dining, instead of having a fixed dining time. You will sit at a new table each night and be served by different crew members.
Pay in Installments
If you prefer to pay for your cruise in monthly installments, you can include the gratuities in your monthly payment. This helps make paying for your cruise easier.
If you don’t have a Credit Card
If you don’t have a credit card, you can use a debit card or cash to pay for your onboard expenses on the cruise. Be careful when connecting your debit card to your cruise account because Royal Caribbean puts holds on your money. These limits can restrict your spending and affect your cruise. Carrying a lot of cash is risky, so think about prepaying Royal Caribbean gratuities instead for a safer and easier option.
Booking in Advance
Royal Caribbean has been slowly raising its daily gratuity rate every one to two years. The 2023 increase of $2 per person per day led to discussions in the cruising community. Royal Caribbean allows travelers to pay the current gratuity rate in advance, avoiding future increases. Prepaying your Royal Caribbean gratuities not only saves money in the long term but also removes worries about higher costs during your cruise.
When to Pay Later Your Gratuities
If you have Onboard Credit to Spend
When you book a cruise, getting onboard credit can make a big difference. Instead of paying gratuities early, it’s better to wait and use this credit to cover those costs. This way, you save money and can use the credit for other things during your cruise.
If you Need Extra Time to Gather the Funds
If you don’t have enough money at the start of the trip, it’s okay to wait until the end to pay the gratuities. This way, you can spread the costs over more time and gather the funds without feeling financial pressure during your trip. By doing this, you can have a relaxing vacation and still pay tips at the end of your journey.
Royal Caribbean Gratuities Rates Now Comparable to Other Cruise Lines
The recent rate increase in Royal Caribbean gratuities brings their charges more in line with other major cruise lines, such as Carnival and Norwegian.
Carnival sets its service gratuity rate at $16 per person, per day for standard staterooms and $18 for suites, Norwegian’s rates vary from $16 to $20 per person, per day depending on the room category.
Disney Cruise Line, known for its exceptional service, offers a slightly lower gratuity rate starting at $14.50 per person, per day for most rooms and $15.50 per person per day for concierge rooms and suites. This is offset by the fact that Disney generally has higher overall fares than its competitors.
When one cruise line raises rates, others may follow, leading to potential increases on other mainstream cruise lines in the future.
FAQs- Royal Caribbean Gratuities
Who Must Pay Gratuities on Royal Caribbean? Are kids Included?
On Royal Caribbean, all passengers must pay gratuities. Some cruise lines have exceptions for young children. For example, Carnival does not charge gratuities for kids under two, and Norwegian does not charge for kids under three. Royal Caribbean charges gratuities for all passengers, regardless of age. If you are on the ship, you will be charged the daily gratuity amount.
How to Prepay Gratuities on Royal Caribbean Online?
Guests can pay tips in advance by calling 866-562-7625 before the cruise. Guests who booked through travel advisors should ask their advisor to add prepaid tips before the cruise. If tips are not prepaid before the cruise, they will be added to the guests’ bills once on the ship.