Is it better to prepay gratuity on a cruise?
Is it better to prepay gratuity on a cruise? If you want to manage your budget more effectively, it's a good idea to prepay your gratuities for your Princess cruise. The only time you would be better off waiting is if you want to use any onboard credit towards the gratuity amount.
What are the benefits of prepaying gratuities?
For most, prepaying gratuities is a great way to keep track of your overall cruise budget. If they're paid for and out of the way, you won't accidentally spend your gratuity money while onboard or in port or receive a large(r) bill at the end of the sailing.
Is it a good idea to prepay gratuities on Royal Caribbean?
The other benefit of prepaying gratuities is that you'll lock in the current gratuity rate. Royal Caribbean occasionally increases gratuities by a few dollars; if you prepaid gratuities and the rate increases before your cruise begins, you won't be charged the difference in price.
What happens if I don t prepay gratuities on Royal Caribbean?
If you do not opt to prepay gratuities, a daily charge will appear on your SeaPass account every day of the cruise for the daily gratuity rate per guest.
Should passengers tip cabin crew?
No. Therefore, tipping is discouraged. So while you may see a cash tip as a nice gesture, it might be prohibited by the airline entirely and flight attendants may not appreciate it either as they — rightly — see themselves as safety professionals and not customer service workers.
How much should I tip my cabin steward on a cruise?
If your cruise steward goes above and beyond, a cash tip at the end of your stay to show your appreciation. We recommend tipping your cruise steward $3-5 per person daily.
Do housekeepers on cruise ships get tips?
Do cruise ship employees actually get the gratuities? The automatic gratuity pool onboard cruise ships covers the housekeeping staff (cabin stewards) and wait staff. If a passenger is staying in a suite which includes butler service, the automatic gratuity is increased to include their butler.
Is it cheaper to prepay gratuities?
Cruise gratuities are not a permanently fixed price, and for most cruise lines they typically rise every year. Prepaying your gratuities, when you are cruising more than a year in advance, could therefore save you money since you can lock them in at the older rate, before any rise is pushed through.
Do cruise drink packages include gratuity?
At the time of purchase, a service charge is added to the drink package cost. This 18% gratuity covers all drink package purchases made onboard the ship, so no additional cost is required by the guest when ordering a beverage. Guests may optionally pay an additional gratuity when ordering a drink at their discretion.
Do you tip bartenders with cruise drink package?
When you order a drink in a bar, restaurant or lounge on a cruise ship, it's typical for the cruise line to include a 15% to 20% gratuity on your bill, so that $6 beer may actually cost you $7.20. If you have a drinks package, tips are included.
Is it better to pay gratuities before or after cruise?
If you want to manage your budget more effectively, it's a good idea to prepay your gratuities for your Princess cruise. The only time you would be better off waiting is if you want to use any onboard credit towards the gratuity amount.
Do you tip at dinner on Royal Caribbean?
In addition, when you reserve specialty restaurants, dining packages, drink packages, and spa services on Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner website, the gratuity will be added upon checkout. Because gratuity is already included in the price of these purchases onboard, it's not necessary to tip extra.
How much do you tip a 7 day cruise waiter?
In general, plan on giving $16–$23 in gratuities per day for each passenger. Note that the amount should be tabulated for each individual in your party—don't try to tip once per couple or group. So if you're planning to go on a 7-day cruise, expect to give a total of between $112 and $161 per person in gratuities.
Do you tip waiters on cruise ships?
Your auto-gratuities will cover all waitstaff in the main dining room, buffet restaurants and specialty dining venues alike. If you dine at the same table and enjoy regular service from one or two particularly excellent waiters, consider leaving an additional $10 to $20 at the cruise's end.
How much do you tip for shore excursions?
How much you tip on cruise excursions is entirely up to you, but a suggested starting price is $3 per person for a half-day tour and $6 per person for a full-day tour for the guide and $1 to $2 for the bus driver. You can, of course, increase that amount based on your experience on the excursion.