Is it cheaper to pay gratuities before or after cruise?


Is it cheaper 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.


Can you pay gratuities with onboard credit?

Paying gratuities using onboard credits provides a wonderful way to avoid the bill when the cruise ends. Many say this is one of the best ways to use OBC, as you should pay gratuities for excellent service.


Is it better to pre pay gratuities on Royal Caribbean?

For guests that like to budget their vacations and spread out the total cost of the cruise, this is a popular choice. In addition, prepaying gratuities locks in the current gratuity rate, even if the rate were to go up later.


Can I tip cash on a cruise?

Cruisers should also bring cash to tip the porters who bring their bags onto the ship (usually $2 per bag), as well as tour guides in port ($5 to $10 per person for half-day tours, $10 to $20 for full-day excursions and $2 for non-guide drivers).


Can you decline gratuity on cruise?

You have the right to refuse this automatic gratuity charge and may compensate cruise staff on your own terms. However, you will need to notify the front desk of this desire. Otherwise it will appear on your bill when your cruise ends and it will be charged to your credit card on file.


Is it cheaper to pre pay gratuities on Carnival?

You could possibly save money Don't worry, you won't be asked to pay the difference later on! In fact, this is Carnival's second time increasing the daily gratuity rate since May 2022, so it can be cheaper for you to pay them in advance.


Does Carnival Cruise automatically charge gratuity?

Because gratuities are always optional, every guest has the ability to remove or adjust the automatic gratuities on their Sail-and-Sign accounts (pre-paid gratuities cannot be adjusted).


Do cruise gratuities go to the staff?

Do all cruise crew members receive tips? As mentioned above, not all members of the ship staff receive a share of the gratuities paid by passengers. Bartenders, main show entertainers and third-party shop employees are some of the more obvious ones, but they're not the only ones.


Is crew appreciation the same as gratuity?

No matter which cruise line you sail, crew gratuities — also known as service charges or crew appreciation — are a fact of life. This includes sailing on Princess. Like other cruise lines, Princess charges a daily gratuity fee — known as “crew appreciation” — while sailing.


How do I avoid gratuity on a cruise?

You have the right to refuse this automatic gratuity charge and may compensate cruise staff on your own terms. However, you will need to notify the front desk of this desire. Otherwise it will appear on your bill when your cruise ends and it will be charged to your credit card on file.


How much do you tip waiter on a 7 day cruise?

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.


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.


How much do you tip a stateroom attendant?

There aren't any hard-and-fast guidelines for this type of tip since it's contingent on your experience, but $25 to $40 on behalf of a couple roughly works out to an extra $2 to $3 per person, per day, for a seven-night cruise.