Royal Caribbean raises automatic gratuity rate, beginning in November

Royal Caribbean is increasing its daily gratuities that its passengers pay for crew member service on its ships.

Each passenger pays a daily gratuity that covers the services of the crew members they interact with the most, and this daily rate is charged automatically unless the guest pre-pays it prior to the cruise.

As of November 11, 2023, the automatic daily gratuity charge will increase:

• Standard cabin (Junior Suites and below) going from $16.00 to $18.00 per day, per person
• Suite gratuity rate will change from $18.50 to $20.50 per day per person

Royal Caribbean last raised gratuities over a year ago on September 7, 2022.

The daily gratuity is shared among dining, bar & culinary services staff, stateroom attendants, and other hotel services teams.

Royal Caribbean stipulates in the unlikely event that a guest onboard being charged the daily automatic gratuity does not receive satisfactory service, the guest may request to modify the daily amount at their discretion by visiting Guest Services onboard up until the morning of their departure.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Gratuities: What you need to know

For new reservations, the adjusted gratuity amounts are effective as of November 11, 2023.

Guests who booked prior to November 11, 2023 can opt to prepay gratuities prior to sailing to take advantage of the current rates. On or after November 11, 2023, regardless of when the booking was created, gratuities paid while onboard are subject to the new, increased rates.

Pre-existing bookings confirmed prior to November 11, 2023 will not be subject to the increased guidelines as long as gratuities are paid in advance of sailing. Should guests opt not to pay gratuities until onboard, they will be subject to the newly suggested gratuity amounts.

Other onboard gratuity policies remain the same – an 18% gratuity will be automatically added to purchases for beverages, spa & salon services, room service, and mini bar items. These will be itemized on your receipt at the end of each purchase.

Matching Celebrity

Sister brand Celebrity Cruises raised gratuities earlier this summer, and it’s not uncommon for cruise lines to follow each other.

In July, Celebrity Cruises announced it would raise its gratuity rates:

• $18.00 USD per person, per day for inside, ocean view, and veranda staterooms, increasing from $17.50.
• $18.50 USD per person, per day for Concierge Class and AquaClass staterooms, increasing from $18.00. 
• $23.00 USD per person, per day for guests of The Retreat, increasing from $21.00. 

How much are gratuities on other mainstream cruise lines?

In case you’re wondering, here’s what other cruise lines charge for their daily gratuities.

Carnival

The daily rate for standard staterooms increased to $16.00 per person, per day. Suite guests pay $18.00 per person, per day.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Passengers staying in standard and Club Balcony staterooms are charged $20.00 per person, per day, while the rate for Suites and guests staying in the The Haven is $25.00 per person, per day. 

Disney Cruise Line

The recommended daily rate for all guests in standard cabins if $14.50 per person, per day, while the rate for passengers booked in a Concierge stateroom or suite  is $15.50 per person, per day.

How gratuities work on a cruise

If you do absolutely nothing, then you can expect an automatic charge on your SeaPass account each day of the cruise.

The exception is in certain markets where tipping is not as ingrained as part of their culture, so Royal Caribbean includes daily gratuities as part of the price of the cruise.  This occurs in the Australian cruise market.

Each guest, regardless of age, will be assessed the daily gratuity as recognition for the hard work crew members do each day.

An alternative is to pre-pay the gratuity before the cruise begins.  When this opted into by the guest, then you’ll pay the full gratuity amount before the cruise begins at final payment date.  It will show up as a line item on your final payment.

Pre-paid gratuities can be added to an individual reservation at any time outside of 48 hours of the sail date.

Guests that booked directly with Royal Caribbean can pre-pay gratuities by calling 866-562-7625 or logging into www.royalcaribbean.com before their sailing.

Guests that booked through a travel agent can request their agent add pre-paid gratuities to the guests’ booking prior to sailing.

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