Prepaying for your tips is an easy way to make sure you have covered all of your bases and you aren’t being a “Scrooge” to anyone. Each cruise line is different in how much you need to pay in gratuities. So many people wonder if anyone is being left out if they prepay their tips. Also, does anyone else typically receive tips that is not included in the prepayment of gratuities?
The truth of the matter is, prepaying for your tips really just covers your room steward, your waitstaff during meals, and a few that work behind the scenes. There are a few other things you can tip for on the ship if you want to as well.
- Tips for drinks are automatically added to the price of each drink (usually about 18%), additional tips are optional.
- If you have a butler or concierge you will need to tip extra.
- It is customary to tip for room service.
- The porters that handle your luggage in port will appreciate a tip.
- If you have kids in the cruises children’s program you can tip the staff if you want.
- You should usually tip any bus driver’s or excursion guides as well.
- Gratuities for spa treatments will automatically be added to your bill, additional tips are optional.
Of course, any of the above is up to your discretion based on service rendered. Since these are gratuities we are talking about, they are not mandatory. But if you want to know what is customary on a cruise ship this article should help.
Since you have prepaid your tips you have technically fulfilled your obligation so you don’t have to feel bad if you don’t tip any extra.
Can I Tip My Room Steward or Waitress Even Though I Already Prepaid?
Yes, of course. If any of the staff exceeded your expectations and you feel like they deserve some extra gratuities you can always pay on top of your prepaid tips. So just because you are prepaying does not mean you can’t show some extra kindness to some of the staff who made your cruise vacation experience a great one.
From what I’ve read on a lot of message boards those prepaid “tips” never see the crews pockets.
Even if you do not prepay the cruise lines will still add somewhere from $12 to $18 dollars (depending on your room level) to your bill for each person in your party. So say you stay in a suite on RCL with a family of four on a 7 day cruise. Expect to have around $500 in prepaid tips automatically added to your bill (you have no choice in this). Then at the end of the cruise you have go have the “tips” removed.
So if you really want to tip the crew I would suggest you bring cash on your cruise, remove these automatic tips and then tip the crew in person with the cash. That way the cruise line never gets the opportunity to pay the middle man.
If you look on other message boards there are a lot of people that have worked for cruise lines that confirm this.
How much should you tip over and above pre paid Tips. To each waiter, server, cabin Attendant , etc. If you have a drink package as a free perk how much should be given Xtra for each drink to be tipped?