Welcome back, sea lovers! It’s Shelly 🐢🛳️ and this is the series finale of The Gratuity Files. Expensive gratuities! What should you do? Prepay, pay onboard, cash tip, or skip? On most cruise lines, the choice is yours. Here’s Part 3: 4 ways to handle cruise gratuities.
Watch the video
1. Prepay cruise gratuities
Prepay. It makes budgeting easier, and it’s usually refunded if you cancel. On Virgin, it’s a bit cheaper, but it’s locked in once you’re onboard. Perfect for planners who want no surprise bill.
2. Pay onboard
Pay onboard. Cruise gratuities are automatically added to your onboard account, and charged at the end of the cruise. Sit back and relax.
3. Leave a cash tip
Cash. Rules vary by line. Norwegian says crew can accept cash for outstanding service, while MSC discourages tipping individual staff. When it’s welcome, it’s a lovely extra for someone who made your trip.
Holland America says onboard gratuities are not automatically applied on shore excursions, so a cash tip can be a nice thank-you for guides and drivers in port too. Browse ideas at Find Shore Excursions.
4. Skip or adjust them
Skip. Most cruise lines let you adjust or remove them at Guest Services before you leave the ship, but verify your cruise terms. If service fell short, that’s your call. MSC is the exception. Its charge can’t be cancelled. On Princess, if you don’t change it onboard, it’s final.
A few cruise gratuity myths
Now the myths. Does a drink package mean you’re paying cruise gratuities twice? Not quite. That charge is separate from the daily pool, and on Carnival it goes to bar staff.
That viral letter saying Royal Caribbean won’t let you remove gratuities? Fake. And Carnival’s prepaid sticker on your Sail & Sign card is a test on some ships, not every ship.
The Gratuity Files series
The Gratuity Files is a 3-part series. Start here, or jump to the part you need:
- Part 1: How Much Are Cruise Gratuities?
- Part 2: Do Cruise Crew Get Your Gratuities?
- Part 3 (finale): 4 Ways to Handle Cruise Gratuities
Which do you do: prepay, pay onboard, cash tip, or skip? Tell me in the comments on the video! Ready to sail? Compare sailings at Find Cruise Deals.
FAQ
Can you prepay cruise gratuities?
Yes. Prepaying can make budgeting easier, and on most cruise lines it’s usually refunded if you cancel. On Virgin, it’s a bit cheaper, but it’s locked in once you’re onboard.
Can you skip cruise gratuities?
On most cruise lines, yes. You can usually adjust or remove them at Guest Services before you leave the ship, but verify your cruise terms. MSC is the exception. Its charge can’t be cancelled. On Princess, if you don’t change it onboard, it’s final.
Do cash tips go to the crew member?
Rules vary by line. Norwegian says crew can accept cash for outstanding service, while MSC discourages tipping individual staff.
Does a drink package mean you pay cruise gratuities twice?
Not quite. That package charge is separate from the daily pool, and on Carnival it goes to bar staff.
Can Royal Caribbean stop you from removing cruise gratuities?
No. That viral letter is fake. Royal Caribbean still says guests may adjust or remove them.
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Gratuity rates, rules and policies vary by cruise line and ship, and they can change. Check your line’s current terms before you book or sail.
