Is it worth it to prepay gratuities?


Is it worth it to prepay gratuities? Prepaying your gratuities just makes everything easier – you know how much you need to spend before you sail, and then you don't have to worry about it. Yes, if you have onboard credit it might make sense to put that towards gratuities instead.


Can cruise cash be used for gratuities?

Cruise Cash is sold for specific revenue areas on the ship such as Bar, Photo, Shore Excursion, Spa, etc. Guests will be able to purchase: Cruise Cash ($25, $50, $75 and $100) – Can be used for any expenses on the guest's Sail and Sign account. This includes staff gratuities.


Is gratuity the same as tip?

A gratuity (often called a tip) is a sum of money customarily given by a customer to certain service sector workers such as hospitality for the service they have performed, in addition to the basic price of the 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.


Why do cruises charge gratuities?

For lines that do have them, service and gratuity charges are touted as a convenient alternative to the practice of cash tipping on cruise ships — something that once was common. Cruise lines say they pass the money collected from service charges to the shipboard crew.


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.


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

According to the results of my three polls: 61% tip their stateroom attendant an additional $20–$40 per couple per week, 26% tip $40–$70, and 13% tip an additional $70–$140.


How much do you tip a cruise waiter?

How much to tip your waiter. Main Dining Room waiting staff tend to be covered in daily gratuities, but for people who like to tip extra, an average is usually $100 per week. Some people prefer to tip on a per-meal basis, and tend to weight the tips more for dinner – $20 per dinner, $10 for lunch and $5 for breakfast.


Can you refuse to pay gratuities on Royal Caribbean?

Technically speaking, you can remove gratuities on a Royal Caribbean cruise, but you absolutely shouldn't do this. Although Royal Caribbean gives you two options for paying gratuities (prepaying or being charged daily once onboard), some passengers try to opt out of paying any gratuities whatsoever.


Do cruise ship employees actually get the gratuities?

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.


Can I prepay gratuities with onboard credit?

Your on board credit is applied to your final bill. What ever is on your final bill, including gratuities, are subject to the credit. So long as you haven't already pre-paid your gratuities before you board, onboard credit can be used to pay in full or in part your onboard bill which will then include gratuities.


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.


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.