{
 "updated": "2026-11-03",
 "note": "Daily auto-gratuity / service charge rates per guest as printed on each cruise line's own policy page (checked Nov 3, 2026). Rates change: the line's page and your booking are the final word. ParkScoop multiplies the daily rate by the number of nights (Royal Caribbean Blog's worked example: 4 guests x 7-night cruise = $518 at $18.50). Percentages are what each line says it adds to optional purchases. Nothing here is a ParkScoop recommendation of how much to tip.",
 "nightsBasis": {
  "text": "Lines that say 'per day' are counted once per night of the sailing, which matches Royal Caribbean Blog's worked example (family of four, standard cabin, weeklong cruise = $518).",
  "source": "https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2026/10/21/royal-caribbean-cruisers-are-being-fooled-fake-gratuity-policy-change"
 },
 "lines": [
  {
   "id": "dcl",
   "name": "Disney Cruise Line",
   "short": "Disney",
   "term": "recommended gratuity",
   "termPl": "recommended gratuities",
   "unit": "per guest, per night",
   "minAge": 0,
   "ageText": "Every guest in the stateroom, including infants and children.",
   "tiers": [
    {
     "id": "std",
     "name": "Standard stateroom",
     "who": "All non-Concierge staterooms",
     "rate": 16.0
    },
    {
     "id": "con",
     "name": "Concierge or suite",
     "who": "Concierge staterooms and suites",
     "rate": 27.25
    }
   ],
   "covers": {
    "std": [
     "Dining room server",
     "Dining room assistant server",
     "Dining room head server",
     "Stateroom host"
    ],
    "con": [
     "Dining room server",
     "Dining room assistant server",
     "Dining room head server",
     "Stateroom host",
     "Assistant stateroom host",
     "Concierge Lounge team"
    ]
   },
   "split": {
    "std": [
     [
      "Stateroom host",
      5.25
     ],
     [
      "Dining room server",
      5.25
     ],
     [
      "Dining room assistant server",
      4.25
     ],
     [
      "Dining room head server",
      1.25
     ]
    ],
    "con": [
     [
      "Concierge Lounge team",
      10.0
     ],
     [
      "Stateroom host",
      5.25
     ],
     [
      "Dining room server",
      5.25
     ],
     [
      "Dining room assistant server",
      4.25
     ],
     [
      "Assistant stateroom host",
      1.25
     ],
     [
      "Dining room head server",
      1.25
     ]
    ],
    "note": "Per-role split as reported by The Disney Cruise Line Blog when the January 2025 rates took effect. Disney's own FAQ lists the roles but not the split.",
    "source": "https://disneycruiselineblog.com/2025/01/recommended-gratuity-increased-across-the-fleet-january-2025/"
   },
   "pct": {
    "drinks": 18,
    "dining": 18,
    "spa": 18
   },
   "pctText": "18% is added to bar, beverage, wine, adult and premium dining, deck service tabs and spa services.",
   "notCovered": "Not in the nightly amount: drinks and extras added to rotational dining, adult and premium dining (Palo, Remy and similar), shops and poolside eateries, room service, Port Adventures, Senses Spa & Salon and other extra services.",
   "prepay": "Prepay in My Reservations on the Disney Cruise Line site or the Navigator app. Booked with a travel agent? Disney says to ask your agent to add it.",
   "deadlineDays": 3,
   "deadlineText": "up to 3 days before you sail (planDisney)",
   "adjust": "Not prepaid? It's added to your onboard account. To change or remove it, visit Guest Services on board.",
   "sources": [
    {
     "label": "Disney Cruise Line: Gratuities FAQ",
     "url": "https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/onboard-services/gratuities/"
    },
    {
     "label": "planDisney: How do I prepay gratuities?",
     "url": "https://plandisney.disney.go.com/question/prepay-gratuities-598367/"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "rc",
   "name": "Royal Caribbean",
   "short": "Royal Caribbean",
   "term": "gratuity",
   "termPl": "gratuities",
   "unit": "per guest, per day",
   "minAge": 0,
   "ageText": "Charged per guest. Royal Caribbean's FAQ lists no age exemption.",
   "tiers": [
    {
     "id": "std",
     "name": "Standard stateroom",
     "who": "Interior, Ocean View, Balcony and Junior Suite",
     "rate": 18.5
    },
    {
     "id": "ste",
     "name": "Suite",
     "who": "Sky Junior Suite, Grand Suite and above",
     "rate": 21.0
    }
   ],
   "covers": {
    "all": [
     "Pooled for onboard crew: dining, bar and culinary staff, stateroom attendants, hotel services teams and others"
    ]
   },
   "pct": {
    "drinks": 18,
    "dining": 18,
    "spa": 20
   },
   "pctText": "18% on beverages and beverage packages, specialty dining and dining packages, room service and minibar; 20% on spa and salon services (both optional and adjustable).",
   "prepay": "Prepay when you book, or ask your travel advisor to add prepaid gratuities before you sail.",
   "deadlineDays": null,
   "deadlineText": "before you sail",
   "adjust": "Not prepaid? It's added to your SeaPass account daily. Change or remove it at Guest Relations any time before the morning you get off.",
   "sources": [
    {
     "label": "Royal Caribbean: Gratuity price and policy FAQ",
     "url": "https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/onboard-service-gratuity-expense"
    },
    {
     "label": "Royal Caribbean trade FAQ: standard vs. suite (Oct 7, 2024)",
     "url": "https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/General_Info/Grats_2024.pdf"
    },
    {
     "label": "Royal Caribbean Blog: no change to gratuity rates (Oct 21, 2026)",
     "url": "https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2026/10/21/royal-caribbean-cruisers-are-being-fooled-fake-gratuity-policy-change"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "ccl",
   "name": "Carnival Cruise Line",
   "short": "Carnival",
   "term": "Gratuity for Team Members",
   "termPl": "Gratuity for Team Members",
   "unit": "per guest, per day",
   "minAge": 2,
   "ageText": "Guests age 2 and older.",
   "tiers": [
    {
     "id": "std",
     "name": "Standard stateroom",
     "who": "All non-suite staterooms",
     "rate": 17.0
    },
    {
     "id": "ste",
     "name": "Suite",
     "who": "Suites",
     "rate": 19.0
    }
   ],
   "covers": {
    "all": [
     "Stateroom attendants",
     "Dining team members",
     "Behind-the-scenes crew"
    ]
   },
   "pct": {
    "drinks": 20,
    "dining": 20,
    "spa": null
   },
   "pctText": "20% Service Charge on beverages, specialty dining and other for-pay food. Carnival's gratuity page doesn't list a spa percentage.",
   "prepay": "Prepay when you book, by calling Carnival, online at carnival.com, or through your travel advisor.",
   "deadlineDays": 2,
   "deadlineText": "online until 11:59 PM ET, two days before you sail",
   "adjust": "Not prepaid? It's added to your Sail & Sign account during the cruise.",
   "sources": [
    {
     "label": "Carnival: Gratuities & tips",
     "url": "https://www.carnival.com/help/gratuities-tips"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "ncl",
   "name": "Norwegian Cruise Line",
   "short": "Norwegian",
   "term": "service charge",
   "termPl": "service charges",
   "unit": "per guest, per day",
   "minAge": 3,
   "ageText": "Guests 3 years or older.",
   "tiers": [
    {
     "id": "std",
     "name": "Club Balcony Suite and below",
     "who": "Club Balcony Suite and all lower categories",
     "rate": 20.0
    },
    {
     "id": "ste",
     "name": "The Haven or suite",
     "who": "The Haven and Suites",
     "rate": 25.0
    }
   ],
   "covers": {
    "all": [
     "Complimentary restaurant staff",
     "Stateroom stewards",
     "Behind-the-scenes support staff"
    ]
   },
   "pct": {
    "drinks": 20,
    "dining": 20,
    "spa": 20
   },
   "pctText": "20% on spa and salon services, beverage purchases, and specialty and entertainment dining (not on More At Sea dining and beverage packages).",
   "extra": "Rates for bookings made on or after Jan 1, 2023. Hawaii sailings add a General Excise Tax on the prepaid service charge.",
   "prepay": "Ask your travel professional to add it to your reservation. It's 100% refundable if you cancel.",
   "deadlineDays": 1,
   "deadlineText": "any time up to 24 hours before you sail",
   "adjust": "Not prepaid? It's added to your onboard account.",
   "sources": [
    {
     "label": "NCL: What is the onboard service charge",
     "url": "https://www.ncl.com/faq/what-is-ncl-onboard-service-charge"
    },
    {
     "label": "NCL: How gratuities work",
     "url": "https://www.ncl.com/faq/how-do-gratuities-work-on-cruise"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "cel",
   "name": "Celebrity Cruises",
   "short": "Celebrity",
   "term": "gratuity",
   "termPl": "gratuities",
   "unit": "per guest, per day",
   "minAge": 0,
   "ageText": "Charged per guest. Celebrity's FAQ lists no age exemption.",
   "tiers": [
    {
     "id": "std",
     "name": "Inside, Oceanview or Veranda",
     "who": "Inside, Oceanview and Veranda staterooms",
     "rate": 19.5
    },
    {
     "id": "con",
     "name": "Concierge or AquaClass",
     "who": "Concierge and AquaClass staterooms",
     "rate": 20.5
    },
    {
     "id": "ret",
     "name": "The Retreat",
     "who": "The Retreat staterooms",
     "rate": 24.5
    }
   ],
   "covers": {
    "all": [
     "Pooled for onboard crew: dining, bar and culinary staff, stateroom attendants, hotel services teams and others"
    ]
   },
   "pct": {
    "drinks": 20,
    "dining": 20,
    "spa": 20
   },
   "pctText": "20% on spa and salon, beverages and packages, specialty dining and packages, room service and mini bar (optional).",
   "prepay": "Prepay when you book.",
   "deadlineDays": null,
   "deadlineText": "when you book",
   "adjust": "Not prepaid? It's added to your SeaPass account daily. Change or remove it at Guest Relations before the morning you get off.",
   "sources": [
    {
     "label": "Celebrity Cruises: Gratuity program FAQ",
     "url": "https://www.celebritycruises.com/faqs/gratuity-program"
    }
   ]
  },
  {
   "id": "pcl",
   "name": "Princess Cruises",
   "short": "Princess",
   "term": "Crew Appreciation",
   "termPl": "Crew Appreciation",
   "unit": "per guest, per day",
   "minAge": 0,
   "ageText": "A daily amount for each guest. Princess's policy lists no age exemption.",
   "tiers": [
    {
     "id": "std",
     "name": "Interior, oceanview or balcony",
     "who": "All other stateroom types",
     "rate": 18.0
    },
    {
     "id": "min",
     "name": "Mini Suite, Cabana or Reserve",
     "who": "Mini Suites, Cabanas and Reserve Collection",
     "rate": 19.0
    },
    {
     "id": "ste",
     "name": "Suite",
     "who": "Suites",
     "rate": 20.0
    }
   ],
   "covers": {
    "all": [
     "Pooled fleetwide for crew in Bar, Dining, Entertainment, Housekeeping, Guest Services, Galley and Onboard Revenue"
    ]
   },
   "pct": {
    "drinks": 20,
    "dining": 20,
    "spa": 20
   },
   "pctText": "20% Service Charge on drinks, dining room and specialty dining, and other elected products, services or amenities (the policy names spa Service Charges).",
   "prepay": "Prepay in Manage Booking on princess.com.",
   "deadlineDays": null,
   "deadlineText": "before you sail",
   "adjust": "Added to your onboard account daily. You can adjust it on board until you settle your account before you get off.",
   "sources": [
    {
     "label": "Princess: Crew Appreciation and Service Charge Policy",
     "url": "https://www.princess.com/html/global/disclaimers/crew-appreciation/"
    }
   ]
  }
 ],
 "spend": [
  {
   "id": "drinks",
   "label": "Drinks or a beverage package"
  },
  {
   "id": "dining",
   "label": "Specialty or adult dining"
  },
  {
   "id": "spa",
   "label": "Spa and salon"
  }
 ],
 "reference": {
  "label": "Cruise Critic: Tipping on a Cruise (studied for this tool; no text used)",
  "url": "https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles/tipping-on-a-cruise-your-complete-big-ship-tip-guide"
 }
}