In the past, tipping the cruise staff was always left up to your discretion. Cruise passengers on the majority of cruise lines would be given a sheet with suggested tipping rates, along with an envelope.
In today's world tipping policies have changed on most cruise lines. Cruise gratuities are usually added to your onboard account. To make things a little more complicated, each cruise line has its own policy.
Passengers are given a printout which lists everything charged to the cruise account card - along with the cruise staff gratuity charge. You can opt to settle up your bill either in cash, or charge to your credit card on file with the cruise line.
THE MAJOR CRUISE LINES
Carnival Cruise Lines
$11.50 per-person, per-day gratuity to onboard accounts. This does not apply to children under the age of two. Also 15% will be added to bar bills.
Exceptions: Gratuities are prepaid for Cruises to Nowhere, along with cruises leaving from the island of Barbados.
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean's policy is a bit like the past, as the cruise staff gets their gratuities on the last night of the cruise. Recommended tips are $3.75 per person, per day for dining room waiter; $2.15 per person, per day to assistant waiter; and $0.75 per person, per day to the head waiter; $5 for standard cabin housekeeping and $7.25 for suite housekeeping staff. 15% added to all bar bills. Charge is for ALL passengers regardless of age. Passengers can also opt to have the tips added to their on-board account.
Norwegian Cruise Line
$12 per day - No charge for children under 3. There is 15% gratuity added to bar bills, and 18% gratuity added to spa services. NCL suggests that passengers who use concierge or butler service provide a gratuity "commensurate with the services rendered."
Celebrity Cruises
$11.50 per day per guest ($12 for Concierge Class and AquaClass guests). There is also a $3.50 per-person, per-day suggested gratuity for your butler for Suites. Cruise passengers who opt for "Celebrity Select Dining" before their cruise are required to pre-pay gratuities (prior to boarding). 15% is also added to all bar bills.
Costa Cruises
Charges vary depending on your cruise destination. In Europe, 7 euros ($9.00) per person, per day for cruises up to eight nights, or 6 euros ($7.75) per person, per day for longer cruises.
Costa Fortuna and Costa Atlantica Caribbean cruises the charge is $11 per person, per day.
Far East cruises on Costa Allegra, Costa Classica and Costa Romantica - $9 a day.
Concordia, Costa Magica and Costa Victoria South America or transatlantic cruises the charge is $9 per person, per day. Gratuities are added automatically to each adult's onboard account. No charge for children under 14, and passengers age 14 to 17 will be charged 50%.
Princess Cruises
$11.50 per day. Guests in suites or mini-suites charged $12 per day. The amount is the same for adults and children. 15% gratuity added to all bar bills. Extra Charges: 15% gratuity automatically added to all bar bills.
Note: You can adjust your automatic gratuities upward or downward, or eliminate them altogether, at the purser's office.
MSC Cruises
$12 per day for each adult passenger on Caribbean cruises. Charge reduced to $6 per day for children under 18 sharing cabin with two adults on Caribbean itineraries.
European cruises 8 days or less - 7 euros ($9.00) per person, per day. Cruises more than 8 days charge is 6 euros ($7.75) per person, per day. Europe cruises no charge for children under 14, but for 14-17 year olds the charge is 50%.
Cunard Line
$11 per person, per day for passengers on Britannia accommodation on QM2 and Queen Victoria. $13 for passengers in Grill Class accommodation. Both charges apply to adults and children. 15% gratuity is added to all bar bills.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Dream and Disney Wonder, tipping is at passengers' discretion, however suggested amounts are provided. For 3 night sailings, $12 for dining room server, $9 for assistant server, and $12 for "stateroom host or hostess." For 4 night cruise, $16, $12 and $16. And on a seven-night cruise, budget $28, $21 and $28. Policy applies to both adults and children, and cruise passengers have the option of pre-paying tips at the suggested amounts if they like. 15% gratuity is added to bar and room service bills.
Disney also recommends tipping dining room head server $3 for a 3 night cruise, $4 for a 4 night cruise, and $7 for a 7 night cruise.
Disney Magic has an Auto-tip policy. Passengers receive info upon arrival explaining the Auto Tip program which states they should never feel a reward is automatically expected.
Holland America Line
$11.50 per day for each passenger - including childrfen. For Suite passengers, the charge is $12 per day. 15% gratuity added to bar/dining room purchases.
LUXURY CRUISE LINES
Crystal Cruises
$5 per person ($6 for solo travelers), per day for cabin stewards and waiters, $3 for assistant waiters, and $5 for butlers (in penthouse accommodations) Charges apply regardless of age.
Passengers can change the amount of the tip. If you don't want to use cash, you can charge tips to the onboard account, and vouchers are given to the cruise staff.
15% service charge added to all bar bills. Discretionary gratuity of $7 recommended in alternative restaurants (Prego, Silk Road and The Sushi Bar).
Oceania Cruises
$12.50 per day for each passenger regardless of age. $4 per guest, per day added for penthouse passengers, vista or owner's suites where butler service is provided. Passengers may adjust gratuities while onboard at their discretion. 18% gratuity is added to all bar bills.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Tips are included in the cruise fare, and additional tipping is not necessary. Passengers can give additional tips by making a donation to the Crew Welfare Fund at the purser's office.
The Yachts of Seabourn
Tipping is neither required nor expected aboard their yacht-like ships. All tips are included in the cruise fare.
SeaDream Yacht Club
All tips are included in the cruise fare. Additional tipping is not expected.
Silversea Cruises
Tips included in the cruise fare. Additional tipping is not expected.
Windstar Cruises
Service charge of $11 per person, per day (including children). 15% service charge added to all bar bills.
OTHER CRUISE SHIPS
Star Clippers
8 euros per person, per day, deposited at the Purser's Office. Passengers can also charge tips to their shipboard account rather than tip in cash. 15% service charge added to all bar bills.
American Safari Cruises
5 - 10% of the full cruise fare - Paid in cash, or by check or credit card.
Celebrity (Celebrity Xpedition Only)
Unlike Celebrity's larger ships, tips are included for this smaller ship that cruises in the Galapagos Islands.
Voyages of Discovery
$7.50 per person, per day - gratuity is automatically charged to onboard account, however passengers can adjust amount at the Reception Desk. Tips are not added to bar or spa bills.
Hurtigruten
Two separate tipping policies. On Norway coastal voyages there's a no-tipping policy. On expedition trips in Greenland, Antarctica and Spitsbergen, $9 per passenger per day. Forms are left in the cabin, and each passengers fills out and gives to the purser before end of the cruise. Amount will be charged to onboard account. No gratuities added to wine or alcohol drinks.
Orion Expedition Cruises
Gratuities not included in cruise fare on Orion Expedition Cruises. Tips are not required or expected, but passengers can tip if they wish.
