Tipping on a cruise ship is a good thing
to understand before you set sail, and even experienced
cruisers can benefit from a quick review
of current tipping practices.
The most important thing to understand about
tipping the crew on a cruise ship is that it’s customary
and expected. It’s a traditional way to show appreciation for
the hard work of the crew, but it’s also an important part of the
crew’s compensation. Many cruise lines pay base wages with the
understanding that crew
members will increase their income through tips earned by
doing their jobs well.
It used to be common for passengers to
tip crew members with cash, but that
was not very convenient – it meant bringing a bunch of
cash on board, then roaming around the ship to hand it out
to crew members on the final evening of the cruise.
So, many cruise lines have automated the tipping
process by adding a service charge – usually a set amount
per person, per day – to your shipboard account. Some
lines even give you the option of pre-paying this
service charge when you book your cruise. This is definitely
more convenient for you and helps ensure a more even
distribution of tips to hard-working crew members, including those
who do much of their work behind the scenes.
Some luxury lines have no-tipping
policies; but, that can really mean that tips for the
crew have already been built into your fare.
While tipping is expected on cruise
ships, it’s technically not required. So, it’s possible to
opt-out of automatic service charges, whether that’s because you
don’t like tipping or you want to tip in cash as you see fit. Just
remember that it can be difficult to personally tip all of the
crew members who work to give you a great cruise
experience; paying the automatic service charge ensures
your tips will be fully and equitably distributed.
You can also choose to tip more than
the standard service charge. Simply visit the passenger services desk
and ask to increase the service charge amount on your
shipboard account. Or, bring along some $5, $10 and $20 bills so you
can tip the old-fashioned way, by handing cash to a favorite
room steward, bartender, waiter, sommelier, kids club
counselor, or other crew members.
Finally, remember to tip people who help
you out but don’t work for the cruise line, such
as the baggage handlers at the port and onshore tour
operators.
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