Here’s What Each Major Ocean Cruise Line Charges in Gratuities

by Dori Saltzman / September 03, 2024

Cruise line gratuities are among the most controversial charges a cruise line can charge. While it’s important to recognize that gratuities are a primary way of rewarding onboard crews that make the experience of sailing special, most cruise lines allow guests to adjust (either increase or decrease) the amount paid in gratuities by going to guest services during the cruise.

It’s also important to note that most lines that charge guests gratuities separate from their cruise fares do not allow travel advisors to earn commission on those gratuities. The ones that do allow advisor commission on gratuities tend to be the lines that offer their guests an all-inclusive fare.

Here is what each major cruise line charges, or doesn’t charge, for gratuities.

Azamara

Azamara Club Cruises includes gratuities in its fares. That fare is fully commissionable for all travel advisors.

Atlas Ocean Voyages

Gratuities are included in the fully commissionable cruise fare for Atlas Ocean Voyages.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line charges $16 per person, per day for guests in standard rooms; and $18 per person, per day, for guests in suites.

All of the gratuities collected go to Carnival’s shipboard staff. According to its website, the amount is spread between its housekeeping team, dining team, and alternate staff.

celebrity apex cruise ship — *Photo: Celebrity Cruises*

Celebrity Cruise Line

Celebrity charges $18 per person, per day for those in standard accommodations; $18.50 per person, per day for Concierge Class and AquaClass guests; and $23 per person, per day for those staying in The Retreat. Gratuities are shared between stateroom attendants, dining services staff, and housekeeping staff.

Celebrity also adds an 18% gratuity to all beverages, spa, salon, and minibar purchases.

Celestyal Cruises

All gratuities are included in the cruise fare.

Crystal

All of Crystal’s sailings are all-inclusive, so gratuities for its staff — housekeeping, restaurant, bar, and Penthouse butler staff — are already included in the cruise fare.

Because of the nature of its fare, travel advisors earn commission on all gratuities.

Cunard Line

The service charge for Queens and Princess Grill Suites is $18 per person, per day, and Britannia Staterooms is $16 per person, per day.

There is also a 15% service charge for bar, spa, and salon services and purchases.

Disney Destiny cruise ship — *Photo: Disney Cruise Line*

Disney Cruise Line

Disney charges $14.50 per night, per person (all ages) for guests staying in standard accommodations. Guests in Concierge Staterooms and Suites will be automatically charged $15.50 per night, per person.

Gratuities are distributed to dining room servers and assistant servers, and stateroom stewards.

Emerald Waterways

All gratuities are included in the fare for Emerald’s yacht sailings.

Explora Journeys

Service fees and gratuities are included in the cruise line fare for Explora Journeys.

Holland America Line

Holland America’s gratuities (called a daily Crew Appreciation fee) are $17 per day, per person for all guests staying in standard rooms; and $19 per person, per day for suite guests.

An 18% service charge is also automatically applied to all beverage purchases, bar retail items, specialty restaurant cover charges, all for-purchase a la carte menu items, and all Spa & Salon services.

HX

Gratuities are not expected onboard HX voyages, though guests can add to their account or tip in cash if they’d like.

Lindblad Expeditions

Gratuities are included on sailings aboard National Geographic Endurance, National Geographic Resolution, National Geographic Explorer, and National Geographic Orion. On the line’s other vessels they are at the guest’s discretion.

MSC Seascape cruise ship — *Photo: MSC Cruises*

MSC Cruises

MSC’s service charges vary by sailing. For its Caribbean, Bermuda, and Canada & New England sailings, MSC charges $16 per person, per day for all non Yacht Club guests, and $20 per person, per day for anyone staying in the Yacht Club. There are no charges for children aged 2 or younger.

For its Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Northern Europe, Antilles, Middle East, and World Cruise, MSC automatically charges 12 euros per person, per night for adults in standard accommodations, and half that for children aged 2 to 11 years old. Guests staying in the Yacht Club will pay 16 euros per person, per night and half that for kids aged 2 to 11.

For MSC’s South Africa Cruises, guests will pay $10 per night, per person for adults; and $5 per person, per night for children aged 2 to 11.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line charges $25 per person, per day for guests staying in The Haven and suites, and $20 per person, per day for all other guests, ages 3 and above.

Gratuities may not be adjusted onboard. Guests who don’t wish to pay gratuities must send a letter after the cruise and show a valid reason for having their gratuities refunded.

Oceania Marina cruise ship — *Photo: Oceania Cruises*

Oceania Cruises

Oceania automatically adds $18 per person, per day for standard guests; and $23 per person, per day for suite guests. Starting Jan. 1, 2025, all gratuities will be included in the price of an Oceania cruise, if booked on or after Oct. 1, 2024.

Oceania also adds an 18% charge to all beverage purchases, spa services, and specialty dinners.

Paul Gauguin Cruises

All onboard gratuities are included in Paul Gauguin’s all-inclusive fare.

Ponant

Gratuities are at guests’ discretion but are recommended at 10 to 12 euros per passenger, per day.

Princess Cruises

Gratuities for Princess are: $19 per person, per day for suite guests; $18 per person, per day for cruisers staying in mini suite, cabana, and Club Class accommodations; and $17 per person, per day for all other guests.

Quark Expeditions

Gratuities are at the discretion of guests but are recommended at $13 to $15 per day, per person.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Gratuities are included in the cruise fare for all of Regent’s sailings. The line also offers another option for guests who want to go above-and-beyond for their crew — donations to the Crew Welfare Fund, which is used for crew events, are welcomed at the Purser Office onboard.

Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean’s automatic gratuity is $18 per person, per day for standard guests; and $20.50 per person, per day for suite guests.

On its website, the cruise line says: “A way to reward our crew members for their outstanding service, gratuities are shared among dining, bar and culinary services staff, stateroom attendants and other hotel services teams who work behind the scenes to enhance the cruise experience.”

Scenic

All crew gratuities are included in the fare for Scenic’s yacht cruises.

Seabourn

According to Seabourn’s website, “Gratuities are neither required nor expected on Seabourn ships.”

Silversea Cruises

All gratuities onboard, including all service gratuities except spa, are included in Silversea’s all-inclusive fare.

Swan Hellenic

Gratuities are included in the cruise fare.

UnCruise

Gratuities of $315 per person, per week ($45 per day) are charged at the end of the cruise.

a Viking ocean cruise ship — *Photo: Viking*

Viking Cruises

Viking adds a discretionary hotel and dining charge of $17 per person, per day to shipboard accounts. Those charges are shared among the waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, galley staff, laundry staff, and others.