For the third time in three years, a cruise line is raising the daily service charges that are paid by guests on their cruise ships.
Holland America Line posted the following update on their website regarding the increase in daily gratuities onboard their cruise ships:
“Our crew works very hard to make sure that every aspect of your cruise meets the highest standards. This includes those crew members who serve you directly, such as Dining Room wait staff and the stewards who service your stateroom each day. There are also many others who support their efforts whom you may never meet, such as galley and laundry staff. To ensure that the efforts of all of our crew members are recognized and rewarded, a daily Hotel Service Charge is automatically added to each guest’s shipboard account.
For all sailings departing prior to December 1, 2018 as well as the 2019 Grand World Voyage and the 2019 Grand South America Antarctica Voyage, the daily Hotel Service Charge is $13.50 per guest per day for non-suite stateroom guests and $15.00 per guest per day for suite guests.
For sailings departing on or after December 1, 2018, the daily Hotel Service Charge is $14.50 per guest per day for non-suite stateroom guests and $16.00 per guest per day for suite guests.
If our service exceeds or fails to meet your expectations, you are free to adjust this amount at the end of each segment and/or voyage. The Hotel Service Charge is paid entirely to Holland America Line crew members, and represents an important part of their compensation.
A 15% Bar Service Charge is automatically added to bar charges and Dining Room wine purchases. In terminals, airports, ports of call and on shore excursions, we suggest that you extend gratuities consistent with customary local practices.”
Holland America Line previous raised gratuities in October 2015 and in May 2017.
