What it costs

How much are gratuities?

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.

Gratuities by cruise line
Cruise lineGratuitiesSource
Royal Caribbean International$18.50 per guest per day, or $21.00 in a suite
  • — Applied to your SeaPass account daily unless you prepay at booking.
  • — 18% is added automatically to drinks, drink packages, specialty dining, room service and minibar.
  • — 20% is added to spa and salon purchases.
  • — Can be changed at Guest Relations any time before the morning you get off.
Checked 2026-09-21
Carnival Cruise LineAdded automatically to your Sail & Sign account each day
  • — Carnival publishes the current rate on its Money & Gratuities help page rather than in the contract.
  • — We have not recorded the figure because the page we read did not state it.
Checked 2026-09-21
Norwegian Cruise LineNo required or recommended tipping for general service
  • — Norwegian states you should not feel obliged to tip, and staff may accept cash for exceptional service.
  • — 20% is still added automatically to spa and salon services, all beverage purchases and specialty dining.
  • — Concierge, butler, youth staff and beverage servers do not share the overall service charge, so the line suggests tipping them directly.
Checked 2026-09-21
Celebrity Cruises$19.50 per guest per day inside, ocean view and veranda
  • — $20.50 in Concierge Class and AquaClass.
  • — $24.50 in The Retreat.
  • — Applied to your SeaPass account daily unless you prepay at booking.
Checked 2026-09-21
Princess CruisesCrew 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.
Checked 2026-09-21
MSC CruisesA daily Hotel Service Charge per person, set by the region you are sailing
  • — Caribbean, Alaska and USA sailings are charged at one rate; Mediterranean, Northern Europe and other regions at another.
  • — Children under 2 are not charged.
  • — Can be added to the cruise price at booking instead of your onboard account.
  • — Removable through the Guest Relations Manager if service was unsatisfactory.
  • — Voyagers Club members are not exempt.
Checked 2026-09-21
Holland America LineUS $18.00 per guest per day, or US $20.00 in a suite
  • — Holland America calls it Crew Appreciation and adds it to your onboard account daily.
  • — A 20% service charge is added to drinks, specialty dining covers and bar items; 18% on spa and salon.
  • — Adjustable on board before your account is finalised.
  • — Nothing is added automatically in ports, terminals or on shore excursions.
Checked 2026-09-21
Disney Cruise Line$16.00 per night per guest is the recommended amount, including infants and children
  • — $27.25 per night per guest in Concierge staterooms and suites.
  • — Disney describes it as customary and optional, and it can be prepaid online.
  • — It covers the dining room servers, head server and stateroom host.
Checked 2026-09-21
Virgin Voyages$22 per Sailor per day, or $20 if you prepay before you sail
  • — Applied automatically to your onboard folio.
  • — Nothing else is added — no gratuity on drinks, dining or spa.
  • — A prepaid gratuity is locked in and non-refundable.
Checked 2026-09-21
Viking$20 USD per person per night, added automatically if not prepaid
  • — Viking calls it a recommended rate and it can be changed or paid in cash at Guest Services.
  • — Separately, Viking suggests $3 per person per day for local guides and $2 for local drivers.
Checked 2026-09-21
Cunard LineUS$18 per person per day in Britannia and Britannia Club, US$19 in the Grills
  • — Charged for each night of the voyage.
  • — A separate 18% service charge is added to every drink bought in a bar or restaurant.
Checked 2026-09-21
Oceania CruisesIncluded in the fare for all guests
  • — Part of Oceania's Your World Included promise, announced 5 September 2024.
  • — Covers stateroom attendants, butlers and dining waitstaff.
  • — Previously included only for some guests or loyalty tiers.
Checked 2026-09-21

12 of 12 lines recorded. Blank rows are gaps in our data, not gaps in the line’s policy.