Your cruise
Cruise line StateroomYour tip budget
Same family, every line
Count heads, not cabins
Every line here charges per guest. Disney counts babies too; Carnival starts at age 2 and Norwegian at 3. A family of four pays four times the daily rate.
The drink tab has its own tip
Drinks, specialty dining and the spa get an automatic 18% or 20% on top. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity add it to beverage packages too (Norwegian's More At Sea packages are the exception). Budget it separately from the daily amount.
Prepay through your agent
Booked with a travel agent? Disney and Norwegian say to have your agent add prepaid gratuities. It locks the amount into your trip cost before you sail.
Cruise gratuity rates by line (per guest, per day)
| Line | Daily rate per guest | Who's charged | Added to extras | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disney Cruise Linerecommended gratuity | $16.00 All non-Concierge staterooms$27.25 Concierge staterooms and suites | Every guest | 18% drinks, 18% specialty dining, 18% spa | Policy |
| Royal Caribbeangratuity | $18.50 Interior, Ocean View, Balcony and Junior Suite$21.00 Sky Junior Suite, Grand Suite and above | Every guest | 18% drinks, 18% specialty dining, 20% spa | Policy |
| Carnival Cruise LineGratuity for Team Members | $17.00 All non-suite staterooms$19.00 Suites | Age 2+ | 20% drinks, 20% specialty dining | Policy |
| Norwegian Cruise Lineservice charge | $20.00 Club Balcony Suite and all lower categories$25.00 The Haven and Suites | Age 3+ | 20% drinks, 20% specialty dining, 20% spa | Policy |
| Celebrity Cruisesgratuity | $19.50 Inside, Oceanview and Veranda staterooms$20.50 Concierge and AquaClass staterooms$24.50 The Retreat staterooms | Every guest | 20% drinks, 20% specialty dining, 20% spa | Policy |
| Princess CruisesCrew Appreciation | $18.00 All other stateroom types$19.00 Mini Suites, Cabanas and Reserve Collection$20.00 Suites | Every guest | 20% drinks, 20% specialty dining, 20% spa | Policy |
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How much are Disney Cruise Line gratuities?
Disney Cruise Line recommends $16.00 per guest, per night in standard staterooms and $27.25 per guest, per night in Concierge staterooms and suites, and it counts every guest, including infants and children. For two adults and two kids on a 4-night cruise in a standard stateroom that's $256. It covers your dining room server, assistant server, head server and stateroom host (plus the assistant stateroom host and Concierge Lounge team in Concierge).
How much are Royal Caribbean gratuities?
$18.50 per guest, per day in standard staterooms and $21.00 per guest, per day in suites, per Royal Caribbean's own FAQ. Junior Suites count as standard; Sky Junior Suites, Grand Suites and above pay the suite rate. Royal Caribbean also adds 18% to drinks, beverage packages, specialty dining, room service and minibar, and 20% to spa and salon services.
Do kids pay cruise gratuities?
It depends on the line. Disney Cruise Line includes infants and children. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Princess charge per guest and list no age exemption. Carnival charges guests age 2 and older, and Norwegian charges guests 3 and older. The calculator above counts only the guests each line charges.
Should I prepay cruise gratuities?
Prepaying puts the whole amount on your booking so your onboard bill isn't a surprise. It can also protect you from an increase: when Royal Caribbean raised its rates on Nov 1, 2024, existing bookings that prepaid kept the old rate. Deadlines differ: Disney up to 3 days before sailing (planDisney), Carnival online until 11:59 PM ET two days before, Norwegian up to 24 hours before.
Can I change or remove automatic gratuities on a cruise?
Disney, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Princess all say you can. Disney: Guest Services on board. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity: Guest Relations any time before the morning you get off. Princess: on board until you settle your account. Once the sailing ends, changes aren't possible.
What do cruise gratuities not cover?
The daily amount doesn't cover the automatic percentage added to extras: 18% on Disney Cruise Line bar, beverage, wine, adult and premium dining, deck service and spa tabs; 18% (20% for spa) on Royal Caribbean; 20% on Carnival, Norwegian, Celebrity and Princess extras. Disney also lists room service and Port Adventures as not included.
Can my travel agent prepay gratuities for me?
Yes. Disney Cruise Line says guests who booked through a travel agent should ask the agent to add prepaid gratuities, Norwegian adds prepaid service charges through your travel professional, and Carnival and Royal Caribbean let your travel advisor add them before you sail. If you book with Danny, he'll add them for you.
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