Princess Cruises · What it costs
How much are gratuities?
The answer
Checked 2026-09-21Crew Appreciation, charged daily by stateroom category
- Suites: $20.00 USD per person per day. Mini Suites, Cabanas and Reserve Collection: $19.00. All other stateroom types: $18.00.
- The amount is added automatically to your onboard account.
- You may adjust it at your discretion at any time during the cruise, but only before you disembark. It is not refundable after the cruise.
- It can be prepaid through Manage Booking.
- A separate, nonrefundable 20% Service Charge is added to optional purchases such as drinks, specialty dining and private group functions.
- Crew appreciation does not apply to residents of Australia or New Zealand on voyages departing those regions.
- All Crew Appreciation and Service Charge payments across the fleet are pooled and distributed to crew as compensation and bonuses.
In one sentence — Princess Cruises: Crew Appreciation, charged daily by stateroom category. Suites: $20.00 USD per person per day. Mini Suites, Cabanas and Reserve Collection: $19.00. All other stateroom types: $18.00. The amount is added automatically to your onboard account. You may adjust it at your discretion at any time during the cruise, but only before you disembark. It is not refundable after the cruise. It can be prepaid through Manage Booking. A separate, nonrefundable 20% Service Charge is added to optional purchases such as drinks, specialty dining and private group functions. Crew appreciation does not apply to residents of Australia or New Zealand on voyages departing those regions. All Crew Appreciation and Service Charge payments across the fleet are pooled and distributed to crew as compensation and bonuses. Read from Princess Cruises's own published policy on 2026-09-21. Cruise lines change policies without notice — confirm with Princess Cruises before relying on this.
Why this one catches people out
Nearly every line adds a daily service charge per person. It is not optional in practice, and it is the charge people are most often surprised by.
Where this came from
https://www.princess.com/html/global/disclaimers/crew-appreciationWe read these policies from each cruise line's own pages and record the date we read them. Lines change their rules without notice. Always confirm with the cruise line before you rely on anything here.