British people, Australians, and Americans have very different views on tipping.
In the USA, tipping is expected because it makes up a large per cent of a person’s wages. Whereas in the UK and Australia, except in a few circumstances, it isn’t, staff are paid a wage and any tips are optional bonuses.
Tipping extra is even frowned upon in some parts of the world.
On cruises many cruise lines add on ‘auto gratuities’ so that you don’t have to tip extra.
I prefer to auto-pay my gratuities in advance, so I never have to think about it again. I don’t view it as a tip, just part of the cruise fare.
How Auto-Gratuities Actually Work
On many cruise lines, you will be charged an auto gratuity every day to cover the service you receive.
Every passenger is charged this daily rate. The amount can vary depending on the type of cabin or suite you book.
Children are also charged a daily gratuity, usually if they are over 2 years old. If they are under this age, they may be charged a reduced rate or the full rate. It depends on the cruiseline.
These gratuities aren’t just for the waiters and cabin stewards guests interact with. They’re pooled and distributed across large teams.
This means the money goes to behind-the-scenes crew that you don’t see – galley workers chopping vegetables, laundry staff, maintenance teams, cleaners, and other junior roles.
They all work equally hard and contribute to you having a great cruise
On some cruise lines you can go to the Reception and ask for your gratuities to be removed. (Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Cunard, for instance.) On other cruise lines, like Costa Cruises, you can’t remove them.
Below is a typical example of daily gratuities from Royal Caribbean. Note that additional gratuities are charged for all drinks and drink packages, in addition to your daily service charge.
Guests who choose not to prepay gratuities at the time of booking will have a service gratuity automatically applied to their respective SeaPass® account on a daily basis, in the amounts shown below:*
Royal Caribbean International
$21.00 per guest, per day will be applied to guests sailing on any suite; and
$18.50 per guest, per day will be applied to guests sailing on all other stateroom categories.
Gratuities collected are distributed to crew members, including dining, bar and culinary services staff, stateroom attendants, hotel services teams as well as others onboard who work to enhance the overall cruise experience.
Additionally, an 18% gratuity will be automatically added to all pre-cruise and onboard purchases of beverages and beverage packages, specialty dining and specialty dining packages, room service and mini bar purchases. A 20% gratuity will be automatically added to all pre-cruise and onboard spa and salon purchases.
Gratuities may be modified in the guest’s sole discretion by visiting the Guest Services desk onboard at any time prior to the morning of disembarkation.
*Prices are correct at the time of writing, but are subject to change.
Why “I’ll Just Tip Who I See” Doesn’t Work
You will see only a small percentage of the people who serve you.
Removing automatic gratuities means the invisible teams immediately lose out because guests can’t see them and tip them in person.
This creates an uneven system in which front-facing staff benefit while back-of-house staff receive nothing.
I would much prefer it if the cruise lines just paid their employees a fair wage, which didn’t rely on gratuities. But they don’t.
When I was on Carnival Miracle, I was amazed to see people at the bar with dollar bills, trying to attract the bartender’s attention and get better service.
I have never seen guests on a cruise use cash to tip the waiters before!
Find out more about that cruise here:
What Crew Life Is Really Like
Crew members work very hard for their wages.
They are often separated from their families for months at a time and many send most of their wages back home to support them.
Crew spend months onboard, with very few days off. The shifts are long, and work can be physically demanding. I certainly couldn’t do it.
Gratuities form a meaningful part of crews’ pay and help lift the very low basic wages they receive.
Why Removing Auto-Gratuities Punishes the Wrong People
Although I am sure many people would prefer cruise lines to include tips and gratuities in the cruise fare, it doesn’t seem to work that way.
Taking them off doesn’t “send a message” to the cruise line that you don’t want to pay daily gratuities and you would rather that they were included in the cruise fare.
Instead, removing gratuites directly reduces income for the people at the bottom of the pay scale who have no power to change the system.
The UK vs US Tipping Model
Cruiselines like P&O, Marella, and MSC (if you are booking from the UK) include gratuities in the cruise fare.
I much prefer that system, but until every cruise line changes, removing them only harms the crew, not the company.
A Better Way to Take a Stand
If guests want a no-tipping environment, they can choose cruise lines that include gratuities.
This supports fair pay without taking money away from the lowest-paid workers.
Have a look at the all-inclusive cruise I took with Marella below. All flights, transfers, drinks and gratuities are included in their cruise fares as standard:
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Before You Go
Find out which line includes gratuities in the cruise fare here:
You Don’t Have to Pay Gratuities on THESE 10 Cruise Lines
MSC are unusual in that they charge gratuities for some passengers, and not for others. Find out why here:
MSC and Gratuities – Your Guide on How Much You Can Expect to Pay
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