Norwegian Cruise Line Bumps Automatic Gratuities for All Passengers

Just days after a similar announcement by Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line said that it would increase its automatic, daily gratuity rate for all passengers starting next year.

Norwegian made the announcement in a letter to its travel partners this week, writing that “we make it easy for guests to show their appreciation for these vacation heroes with discretionary daily services charges, which provide gratuities to key onboard team members, including room stewards, restaurant servers and behind-the-scenes support staff.”

Starting on Jan. 1, 2023, the rate will be $20 per person, per day for all standard cabin guests (up from $16), $20 for all Club Balcony Suite guests (up from $18), and $25 for guests in The Haven and Suite guests (up from $20).

The charge allows guests to compensate crew members without having to tip one individually and while it’s an automatic charge, it is optional for all guests. It can be adjusted by guests at any time during their sailing. Guests are also able to pre-pay gratuities prior to their sailing, which means that those with bookings for next year right now can pre-pay prior to Jan. 1 ad lock-in the old rate.

Norwegian’s new rates are slightly more than the ones Princess announced this week, which are $16 per person, per day for interior, oceanview, and balcony cabins guests; $17 for mini-suite and club class; and $18 for suite guests.

The two are far from the only cruise lines to up gratuities this year.

Carnival Cruise Line did the same in May, pushing its daily gratuity for standard staterooms to $14.50 from $13.99 and its daily gratuity for suites to $16.50 from $15.99. A month prior, Norwegian Cruise Line also upped its daily gratuities, though less so than it did this week, making it $16 per person, per day for balcony and below guests, $18 for club balcony suite guests, and $20 for guests in The Haven and other suites.