dream cruise gratuity fee

Dream Cruise Gratuity Fee Explained: What You Need to Know

When you set sail on a Dream Cruise, one of the costs you'll need to consider is the gratuity fee. This guide explains Fred Olsen's daily gratuity rates per person so you can plan accordingly. You'll learn exactly how much is recommended to tip your room steward, dining staff, and other crew members.

Dream Cruises charges a gratuity fee of $22 per person per night for Interior to Balcony staterooms and $26 per person per night for Palace Suite accommodations and above.

Tipping Customs

• Dream Cruise gratuity fees are a compulsory charge for acknowledging crew service.
• These fees are automatically added to your account, ensuring a seamless experience.
• Gratuities support a range of service staff, from stewards to dining servers.

On this page:

Understanding gratuity fees on a cruise, implications and distribution of gratuities, cruise line gratuity policies, managing gratuity payments, personal considerations for gratuities, frequently asked questions about cruise gratuities.

When planning a cruise vacation, it's important to understand that gratuities or service charges are an integral part of the experience, often automatically added to your onboard account on a per person, per day basis.

What Is a Gratuity?

A gratuity is a service charge collected by cruise lines as a way to ensure that the staff providing service to you during your cruise are compensated for their efforts. It covers a range of personnel including your cabin steward, dining room staff, and others who contribute to your cruise experience.

How Are Gratuity Fees Calculated?

Gratuity fees on a cruise are calculated based on a per person, per day rate. This rate varies depending on the cruise line and the type of accommodation you have booked. For example:

These charges are often automatically billed to your onboard account, making it convenient for you to reward the service provided without handling cash.

Difference Between Automatic and Discretionary Gratuities

Automatic gratuities are preset fees charged to every passenger, ensuring a fair and consistent distribution of tips among the ship's staff. However, if you receive exceptional service or feel inclined to offer additional thanks, you can give discretionary gratuities directly to individuals at your own discretion. On the other hand, if the service does not meet your expectations, you have the option to adjust these automatic gratuities at the guest services desk.

When you're settling into a dream cruise, the gratuity fee is an important part of your voyage. It ensures that the diligent crew, from your room attendant to the waitstaff, is compensated for the exceptional service provided.

Who Receives Your Gratuities?

Your generosity is felt by various members of the cruise crew who work tirelessly to enhance your experience. These typically include:

• Room Attendant : Ensures your stateroom is clean and welcoming.
• Waitstaff : Provides superior dining service.
• Behind-the-Scenes Crew Members : They contribute to the overall cruise experience, even if you don't see them.

Breakdown of Gratuity Allocation

The gratuities you pay are not just a single fee but are divided up to cover multiple service aspects. The allocation is as follows:

• Service Gratuities : These are shared among the service staff such as room attendants and waitstaff.
• Standard Staterooms : A set amount per person, per day.
• Behind-the-Scenes Crew : A portion goes to those who indirectly contribute to your stay.

Cruise gratuities are a standardized way to reward the service staff for their hard work during your voyage. These fees vary by cruise line and are typically charged per person, per day.

Mainstream Cruise Lines

Mainstream cruise lines like Royal Caribbean , Carnival , and Norwegian (NCL) have a set daily gratuity charge that is automatically added to your onboard account. As of 2023:

• Carnival Cruise Line : You can expect daily gratuities of about $14.50 to $16.50, based on the type of stateroom you book. This applies to every guest in your stateroom.
• Royal Caribbean : The daily gratuity charge runs from $14.50 to $18.50 per person, per day, depending on the level of your stateroom or suite.
• Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) : Charges around $15.00 to $18.00 daily per person, varying with the type of accommodation.

Luxury Cruise Lines

Luxury cruise lines typically have different gratuity policies:

• Viking Ocean Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises include gratuities in your fare, meaning you won’t have to pay anything additional unless you opt for extra services.
• Silversea Cruises also includes gratuities, highlighting their all-inclusive approach to cruising where service fees are part of your upfront cost.

Additional Service Charges

Keep in mind, extra services such as spa treatments or dining at exclusive restaurants on any cruise line, including MSC Cruises and Princess Cruises , often have a service charge of around 15-18%, which is separate from the daily gratuity fee.

When booking a Dream Cruise, it's important to consider how gratuities will be handled during your voyage. The options provided allow you to manage your budget and preferences regarding tipping.

Adding Gratuities to Your Onboard Account

You can effortlessly add gratuities to your onboard account, which is linked to your credit card . Charges are typically applied daily and vary based on your room category. You can review these charges regularly on your account statement accessible via the cabin's TV or at the purser’s desk.

Prepaying Gratuities

Prepaying gratuities is an ideal way to budget for your cruise expenses beforehand . This option means your tipping obligations are taken care of, allowing you to relax and enjoy your vacation without worrying about daily charges. Check with Dream Cruises or your booking agent on how to prepay before you set sail.

Adjusting Gratuity Charges

Should the service exceed or not meet your expectations, you have the option to adjust gratuity charges. Visit the front desk onboard to discuss your gratuity adjustments. Note that any changes should reflect the level of service you received.

Paying Gratuities in Cash

If you prefer, you can also opt to pay gratuities in cash directly to the staff members. This more personal approach allows you to recognize individual service excellence. However, be aware of the suggested daily gratuity rates to ensure fair compensation for the crew’s hard work.

When planning for your Dream Cruise adventure, gratuities are an important budgetary consideration that directly impacts the staff servicing your trip. Addressing not just the mandatory service fees but also your personal standards for rewarding exceptional service or handling subpar experiences, you have several options.

Service Quality and Tipping

Gratuities on a cruise are not just about mandatory service fees; they reflect your satisfaction with the service quality.

• High-Quality Service: If you experience service that goes above and beyond, increasing your gratuity beyond the standard rate is a kind gesture.
• Personal Preference: Standard service charges are automated, but you may adjust these based on your personal assessment of the service quality.

Addressing Service Concerns

If service falls short of expectations, it's within your rights to address these issues.

• Poor Service: You should not hesitate to communicate any service shortfalls to cruise management.
• Service Fees Adjustment: In cases of poor service, you may request adjustments to the daily service fees charged to your account.

Gratuities for Exceptional Service

Recognizing crew members for exceptional service is often greatly appreciated.

• Hand Out Cash: For personal recognition, you might choose to hand out cash tips to particular staff members.
• Service Fees Plus Extra: Besides the daily gratuity charge, adding an extra amount for standout service can directly reward exceptional staff.

Remember, the gratuity you pay is shared among the crew who make your cruise experience enjoyable, from the room stewards to the wait staff. Your tipping decisions should reflect the level of service you feel you received during your voyage.

Cruise gratuities can be a complex topic, with norms and expectations varying by cruise line. Understanding how tipping works on your cruise ensures you budget appropriately and show gratitude to the dedicated staff.

Tipping Etiquette and Common Questions

Daily Cruise Ship Gratuities : These are the fees charged per person, per day that cover the services you receive from the ship's crew. The rates typically range based on the stateroom category, and while most cruise lines automatically add these to your onboard account, you should expect to pay about $12-$25 per person each day.

Who Receives Your Gratuities : These daily fees are distributed among the staff who make your cruise experience pleasant, such as your cabin stewards, dining room waitstaff, and other behind-the-scenes crew members.

Making Adjustments : If you receive exceptional service, you're always welcome to tip extra. Conversely, if you feel the need to adjust the suggested gratuity rates, visit the front desk on the ship to discuss your options.

Understanding Tipping on a Cruise : While most cruise lines include gratuities in your fare to some extent, some offer promotions where prepaid gratuities are included, simplifying the process for you.

Tipping for Families and Children

Children and Gratuities : A common query is whether there are exceptions for small kids when it comes to gratuities. Usually, children are charged the same daily rate as adults, but this can vary with age and by cruise line, so it's always best to check with your specific cruise for their policy.

End-of-Cruise Tipping

Disembarkation and Last-Minute Tipping : On the last day of your cruise, it's customary to settle any remaining gratuities. Prepare for this by budgeting ahead of time, and if someone provided exceptional service, consider giving them an additional tip in person to thank them for their efforts during your journey.

Handling Gratuity Envelopes : Some cruise lines provide envelopes for cash tips on the last night. You can use these to give extra thanks to individuals who went above and beyond.

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Tipping on a cruise: What to know about cruise ship gratuities

How much to tip on a cruise is a question that trips up many first-timers. That's because some cruise lines tack daily service fees onto passenger bills — yet many travelers still hand out additional cash gratuities, either as a matter of course or for exemplary service.

The extra cost of the automatic gratuity charges can be a shock to first-time cruisers. At some lines, these charges run as high as $25 per day. And, unlike the typical service fee or resort fee found at a land resort, they are not per room. They are per person .

At some big lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line , it's not uncommon for a family of four staying in a single cabin to see more than $70 a day in service fees added to their bills. On a typical seven-night cruise, that's around $500 in fees.

That's before you add in any additional tips you wish to give to your room service or favorite bartender or automatic gratuities tacked on to bar, restaurant and spa bills.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Still, not all lines have service fees that high. Some don't charge a service fee at all. In many cases, the service charges are adjustable.

Tipping on a cruise does not have to be complicated, but you need to understand the big picture to budget for your vacation appropriately. Read on to learn all about cruise ship tipping culture and how much you'll need to tip on your next cruise, based on which cruise line you're sailing.

Tipping on a cruise ship: The big picture

Most of the biggest cruise lines automatically add some type of service or gratuity fee onto passenger bills. Lines with such charges include both of the two giants of the cruise business, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line , as well as the next three biggest lines MSC Cruises , Norwegian and Princess Cruises .

That said, the total number of lines with a service fee has been shrinking over the years. Many smaller and higher-end cruise operators are folding tips and gratuities into their base fares.

Lines that now cover gratuities in their fares include Azamara , Ponant, Regent Seven Seas Cruises , Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Seabourn , SeaDream Yacht Club , Silversea Cruises and Virgin Voyages .

For lines that do have them, service and gratuity charges are touted as a convenient alternative to the practice of cash tipping on cruise ships — something that once was common.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

Cruise lines say they pass the money collected from service charges to the shipboard crew. They say the money is shared not just with front-of-house crew, such as room attendants and waitstaff, but also with behind-the-scenes workers. In that sense, the current system is more equitable than the old system of cash tipping, which favored certain workers, lines say.

Still, some critics see the charges as a sneaky way for cruise lines to make their fares appear lower than they really are. In this line of thinking, lines with these charges are essentially breaking out a good chunk of onboard labor costs as a separate line item on your bill.

Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises

How service charges are levied

At most lines, you can pay your service charges before sailing (at the same time you pay your cruise fare). Alternatively, you can have the charges added to your room bill on board.

The big advantage to paying cruise tips in advance is that you lock in the current rate. If your line raises the rate between the time you pay and the time you sail, you won't pay more.

Some people also like to pay their service charges in advance for budgeting purposes. It'll be one less thing on your final bill at the end of the cruise.

If you prefer to pay for tips once you're on board your cruise, you'll generally find that the gratuities automatically appear on your bill. You don't have to do anything.

That said, if you want to, you can often adjust the charges (either up or down) while you're on board by visiting the guest relations desk. If you are adjusting a gratuity charge downward, expect to be asked about the reasons behind the adjustment. The guest relations staff will want to know if you've experienced particular service issues.

If you leave the service charge on your room bill, you are not expected to leave additional cruise tips for your room attendant or waiters. That's the whole point of the service charge.

Similarly, if you're on a higher-end ship that lists gratuities as being included in the fare, that means just what it says. You don't have to tip on these cruises because the line is already paying gratuities to the staff on your behalf. Additional cash gifts are not expected.

Still, some people do leave a little extra for crew members who go above and beyond. Others tip their room service or waitstaff at their favorite bar, either early in the cruise in the hope of getting better service or at the end to thank them for enhancing the vacation experience. How much to tip extra on a cruise is entirely up to you because it is in no way required.

Related: 10 times you do not need to tip on a cruise

Included cruise tips as a booking perk

If you dislike tipping on cruise ships but can't afford to sail on an all-inclusive line, look for promotions when cruise lines with service charges throw in free gratuities as a booking incentive.

For instance, in recent years, Norwegian often ran Free at Sea promotions that included free crew tips in addition to free shipboard Wi-Fi and a free drinks package . The line hasn't been doing that as much lately, but these offers often come back at times when brands need to drum up more business.

Additionally, several major lines in the past couple of years have begun offering bundle pricing to customers who pay for cruise tips, Wi-Fi charges and an onboard drinks package all at once in advance of sailing, potentially at a discount.

Princess, for example, has added a Princess Plus plan as a booking option. It gives passengers prepaid gratuities (Princess calls these "crew appreciation" fees), a single-device Wi-Fi plan and a basic beverage package for a single bundled price of $60 per person, per day.

Don't worry: When lines offer such deals, it doesn't mean the crew will receive fewer tips the week you cruise. The lines that offer these deals say they'll pay a normal gratuity to the crew on your behalf.

Related: The best cruise booking perks — and which ones are actually free

Additional cruise ship tipping

Daily service charges are not the only cruise tips you will pay on board. Many cruise lines will tack an automatic gratuity charge onto the bill for extra-fee drinks, restaurant meals and spa treatments.

The included tip amount varies by cruise line but is typically 15% to 20% of the bill. Be warned that the receipt often includes a line for an additional gratuity, even when one is automatically added. This can trick many cruisers into tipping twice. Never feel pressured to add an extra tip when you've already paid one.

Note that if you purchase a dining or beverage package, most cruise lines will charge you gratuities based on a percentage of the package price. If you get one of these packages for free as a booking perk, as with Norwegian Cruise Line's Free at Sea promotion, you might still be required to pay the gratuities on the free perk.

For example, Norwegian offers a complimentary Open Bar drinks package for travelers who book its Free at Sea promotion. The cost of that package is typically $109 per person, per day. The mandatory 20% gratuity comes out to nearly $22 per day. That means two people sharing a room on a seven-night cruise would pay $308 in tips for an otherwise free drinks package — on top of their daily service charge fees.

Cruisers should also bring cash to tip the porters who bring their bags onto the ship (usually $2 per bag), as well as tour guides in port ($5 to $10 per person for half-day tours, $10 to $20 for full-day excursions and $2 for non-guide drivers). Piano bar regulars know that a cash tip will increase the chances of the pianist choosing and performing your song request.

How much should you tip on each cruise line?

If you're wondering how much you should tip on the specific cruise line you're considering or have already booked, we've compiled that information here. Below is a line-by-line look at policies for automatic gratuity charges (called service charges or "crew appreciation" charges at some lines). The rates listed are per person, per day. They were accurate as of the publishing of this story.

Remember that all additional tipping is at your discretion. Any amount is fine and will be appreciated by the hard-working crew.

Alaskan Dream Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : None.
• Details : Gratuities for the crew are not included in the fare and are at the discretion of travelers.
• Details : Gratuities for the crew are included in the fare. One area of exception: An 18% gratuity is added to bills for spa services.

Carnival Cruise Line

• Automatic gratuity charge : $16 to $18 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $16. Those in suites pay $18. Children younger than 2 are exempt from the charges. Also, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills, the cover charges for the Chef's Table and Bonsai Teppanyaki restaurants and the a la carte fee at Bonsai Sushi, Emeril's Bistro, Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse | Brewhouse and Seafood Shack.

Related: Cruise giant Carnival joins Princess, Norwegian in sharply hiking service fees

Celebrity Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : $18 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $18. Passengers in Concierge Class pay $18.50 and, for bookings made after Oct. 4, 2023, passengers in AquaClass cabins also pay $18.50 (for AquaClass bookings made before that date, there is no charge for gratuities). For bookings made after Oct. 4, 2023, passengers in The Retreat suites pay $23 (for The Retreat bookings made before that date, there is no charge for gratuities). Note that passengers who book a Celebrity cabin under the line's pricier All Included rate plan also do not pay gratuity charges. Additionally, a 20% gratuity is added when a passenger orders a drink that's not included in the line's All-Included rate plan, as well as when purchasing a minibar item. An 18% gratuity will be added for spa and salon services.

Celestyal Cruises

• Details : Gratuities for crew and bar staff are included in the fare.

Costa Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : $12.50 to $17.50 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers on ships operating on the U.S. dollar generally pay $12.50. Ships operating on the euro have an 11 euro charge ($11.60 at current exchange rates). On cruises departing from China, Japan and Singapore, the charges range from $13.50 to $17.50, depending on the cabin category. Passengers younger than 4 are exempt from the charges. Gratuities for children between 4 and 14 (up to 12 on cruises departing from Japan, China and Singapore) are half the adult rate. Additionally, a 15% gratuity is added to beverage purchases.

Cunard Line

• Automatic gratuity charge : $14.50 to $16.50 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $14.50. Passengers in Grill Class suites pay $16.50. Additionally, a 15% gratuity is added to bar, wine and salon bills.

Disney Cruise Line

• Details : While Disney doesn't add an automatic gratuity charge, it suggests that passengers staying in most cabins pay $14.50 per day in total when tipping various dining staff and room attendants. The suggested amount for passengers staying in concierge cabins and suites is $15.50. Passengers can prepay the amount in advance or on board. Also, an 18% gratuity is added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service bills, and an 18% gratuity is added to bills for spa services.

Holland America Line

• Automatic gratuity charge : $17 to $19.00 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $17 for what the line now calls a "crew appreciation" charge. Passengers staying in suites pay $19.00. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills and dining room wine purchases.

Related: Is this love? Holland America chooses Valentine's Day for service charge price hike

Lindblad Expeditions

• Details : Gratuities are included in the fare for passengers on National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Endurance and National Geographic Orion. On other ships, gratuities are at the passenger's discretion.

MSC Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : about $13 (12 euros) to $16.
• Details : Gratuity charges are $16 on voyages from and to the U.S., with the exception of sailings with pricing in euros, which have a gratuity charge of 12 euros ($12.66 at current exchange rates). Gratuities for children between 2 and 11 are half the adult rate on most cruises. Gratuities are not charged for children younger than 2.

Norwegian Cruise Line

• Automatic service charge : $20 to $25 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $20. Those in suites or The Haven pay $25. Passengers younger than 3 are exempt from the charges. Additionally, a 20% gratuity is added to bills at bars, extra-charge specialty restaurants and ship spas. Cruises to Hawaii will also pay a 4.275% prepaid service charge called a general excise tax.

Oceania Cruises

• Automatic gratuity charge : $18 to $23 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers staying in most cabins pay $18. Passengers in top suites with butler service pay $23. Additionally, a 20% gratuity is added to bills at bars, the extra-charge La Reserve restaurant and at ship spas.

Paul Gauguin Cruises

• Details : Gratuities are included in the fare.
• Details : Gratuities are included in the fare. However, passengers can give more at their discretion; Ponant recommends $10 to $12 per passenger, per day.

Princess Cruises

• Details : Passengers in most cabins pay $16 for what the line now calls a "crew appreciation" charge . Passengers in mini-suites pay $17, while those in bigger suites pay $18. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar bills, dining room wine purchases and Lotus Spa services.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Royal caribbean.

• Automatic gratuity charge : $18 to $20.50 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers staying in most cabins, including junior suites, pay $18 per day. Passengers in higher-level suites pay $20.50. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bills at bars, minibars, salons and spas.

Related: Royal Caribbean quietly raises automatic gratuity charges

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Seadream yacht club, silversea cruises.

• Details : Gratuities are included in the fare, except for beauty salon and spa treatments.

Star Clippers

• Details : The line recommends that passengers pay 8 euros ($8.44 at current exchange rates) per day in gratuities, but the payment is at the passenger's discretion. There is a 15% gratuity added for bar purchases.

UnCruise Adventures

• Details : UnCruise recommends that passengers pay $35 per person, per day in gratuities, but the payment is at the passenger's discretion.
• Automatic gratuity charge : $17 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers pay $17 in gratuities for all cabin types. Also, a 15% gratuity is added to bar bills.

Virgin Voyages

Windstar cruises.

• Automatic gratuity charge : $16 per person, per day.
• Details : Passengers pay a "hotel service charge" of $16 for all cabin types. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service bills. Alternately, Windstar cruisers can upgrade their bookings with an all-in package that includes unlimited beverages, Wi-Fi and the hotel service charge for $89 per person, per day.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

GENTING DREAM: Cruise Guide for First-Timers

The idea of going on a cruise may be intimidating for some because of the cost. Others dismiss it as a retiree’s holiday option. That may be true many years back, but this trend is gradually changing as years roll by.

The rise of more cruise lines, offering different options and encouraging healthy competition, resulted in relatively reasonable cruise rates. Some of these companies are going the extra mile to reach out to the growing number of travelers that are willing to spend on things or experiences that give good value for money by creating themed cruise ships and coming up with innovative itineraries. Genting Dream is one of those that cater to a wide range of guests — friends, families, couples, and even company incentive trips (or sales conference/meeting).

If you will be sailing with Genting Dream soon and it is your first time, this post is for you. We hope this will help you prepare and maximize your cruise experience. Here are the things you can expect.

WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS GUIDE?

Packing & Pre-Trip Preparations

• Travel Documents. You need to bring these documents: passport, a photocopy of your passport’s bio page, a copy of your cruise ticket, and a visa (if necessary). If you are a Philippine passport holder, no visa needed because the sail destinations are within Southeast Asia and the homeport is Singapore. If you want a hassle-free purchase transaction, you may present your credit card.
• Clothes/Outfits. Come on. We know you want to snap as many photos as you can while onboard and during shore excursions. We normally pack two sets of clothes per day: casual for the day activities and smart casual or dressy outfits for the night events, especially if you plan to watch the evening shows or try the fine-dining specialty restaurants. The same goes for footwear. The important thing is that you are comfortable.
• Toiletries. The stateroom comes with the toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, lotion, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, cotton buds, and tissues. It also has bath towels, hand towels, bathrobes, and hotel slippers.
• Check-in Luggage. Each passenger can check in more than one luggage without incurring additional fees.
• Onboard Currency. The default currency while on the ship is the Singapore Dollar (SGD).
• Onboard Time. Genting Dream follows Singapore time (same as the Philippines) throughout the entire cruise.
• Dream Cruise Mobile App. Download the App before getting onboard. You can use the App to view ship information, see the daily onboard schedule, check availability of onboard attractions and facilities. You can also use this to send IM to your shipmates, purchase your onboard WiFi package, and review your onboard account statement.

• Embarkation Process. Genting Dream is homeporting in Singapore at the Marina Bay Cruise Center. Upon arrival at the terminal, look for the baggage drop area for the pieces of luggage you want to check-in. Prepare your travel documents for check-in. After that, you will pass through immigration and then security checks before you can finally board the ship.
• Checking-in. You need to present your cruise ticket at the check-in counter to get your Access Card that will serve as your cabin keycard and your purchase card for onboard shopping and when dining at specialty restaurants. You can check-in online via the official website from 7 days up to 24 hours prior to the departure date. If you are going on a shore excursion, you also need to present the Access Card when getting off and returning to the ship. Do not lose this card. When you do, relax. Go to the Reception and they will print another one for you after answering SOP questions.
• Surrender Passport. Upon boarding, the staff will take your passport. Do not panic. You will get it back after the cruise (before you check out).

WELCOME ABOARD!

ATTENTION! Changi Lounge is offering the Fly-Cruise Transfer service, which includes: Seamless bag transfer. End-to-end luggage transfer from Changi Airport Baggage Claim area to the Marina Bay Cruise Terminal to your stateroom! Your luggage will be waiting for you in your cabin. Advance cruise check-in at the lounge. You will have your documents processed in advance and get your Access Card here. Enjoy the lounge amenities. Complimentary buffet, various drink selections, free internet connection, desktop computers, and electrical outlets. It also has meeting rooms, a nap room, and a shower room. You can also explore Jewel while waiting. The lounge is located near the famous Rain Vortex and the Changi Experience Studio. Ground transfer. The transportation to the cruise terminal from the airport is also covered. When you avail of this service, you will skip the check-in process at the Marina Bay Cruise Center and head straight to the immigration process.

Safety Drill

Before setting sail, there’s a safety drill that everyone is required to participate in. You need to pay attention and familiarize yourself with the ship’s map, especially your Assembly Station (which is indicated on your Access Card), and the emergency exits in case of an emergency. Check the Dream Daily/Dream Weekender directory that you will find in your cabin for the safety drill schedule. Ours was held at 9:00 PM.

3 Complimentary Restaurants

This is part of what you paid for when you booked your cruise ticket. You can dine here without incurring additional fees. It’s free-of-charge. Genting Dream has three inclusive restaurant options:

• Dream Dining Room Lower. It serves either a semi-buffet type or Chinese set menu, depending on the schedule. You may check the Dream Daily/Dream Weekender directory for the info. This is located on Deck 7, Aft section of the ship. Reservation is required.
• Dream Dining Room Upper. This only serves the Chinese set menu. This is located on Deck 8, Aft section of the ship. Reservation is required.
• The Lido. This serves Asian and international buffet, including Halal and Indian cuisines. The outdoor area of the restaurant is a 24-hour snack place that also serves morning tea and afternoon tea. This is located on Deck 16, Aft section.

Dream Dining Room Upper and Lower have a ballroom hall-themed setting and floor-to-ceiling windows that afford guests the magnificent views of the ocean.

Note: Alcoholic drinks are not free-of-charge.

You may also try the specialty restaurants! Genting Dream has nine. Charges apply when dining at any of these, but if you are craving any of their offerings, go for it. Here are your options:

• Umi Uma (Japanese Cuisine and Teppanyaki / Korean BBQ; Deck 8, Aft)
• Hot Pot (Choice of meat, seafood or vegetarian hot pot; outdoor setting; Deck 8, Aft)
• Prime Steakhouse by Mark Best (Western Dishes / Steak; Deck 8, Mid)
• Seafood Grill by Mark Best (Western Dishes / Seafood; Deck 8, Mid)
• Gelateria (Homemade Gelato; Deck 8, Aft)
• Blue Lagoon (Hawker Food / Asian and International; Deck 7, Mid, open 24 hours)
• Lobby Café (Coffee / Tea / Bread; Deck 6, Mid)
• Silk Road Chinese Restaurant (Chinese Fine Dining; Deck 6, Forward)
• Crystal Life Cuisine (Healthy Options; Deck 15, Forward)

Shore Excursions (Shorex)

To put it simply, these are pre-arranged tours at every stop. One of the best things I love about cruising is that you get to visit other countries while enjoying the cruise ship’s amenities and features at the same time.

This time with Genting Dream, we took the weekend getaway package with a stop at Bintan Island in Indonesia. For this stop, there are three Shorex options to choose from: Tanjung Urban Explorer, Scuba Tryout at Trikora Coast, and Bintan Black Coral Leisure Diving. We took the first option which includes Gurun Pasir Busung (sand desert), Telaga Biru (Blue Oasis), and Trily Resort Center Mangrove Forest in the itinerary.

You can also pull a D-I-Y. It’s up to you. Here are the scenarios:

• Booking a Shorex. This is the same as joining a guided group tour. You won’t have to worry about getting to one attraction to the next or how much it will cost you because everything, including the meal, will be taken care of for you by the local tour operator partners. You can be assured that you will return to the ship on time.
• Pulling a D-I-Y. You can travel at your own pace and control your itinerary. It is also a cheaper option. BUT, you need to be aware of the time. Make sure that you return to the port on time or earlier because the ship will not wait for you. It will leave, with or without you.

Whatever you choose, you will be given a small sheet of paper upon disembarkation. This usually contains instructions and the address of the port where the ship is docked. Don’t forget to bring your Access Card and a photocopy of your passport bio page.

Note: Some Shorex options may require a lot of walking or trekking or activities that might not be suitable for those with health issues. Carefully check the itinerary and assess if the tour is viable for you. Also, each tour needs a minimum number of participants. A tour may be canceled if it doesn’t meet the minimum requirement.

Room and Amenities

Genting Dream has four types of accommodations: Interior Stateroom, Oceanview Stateroom, Balcony Stateroom, and the exclusive suites, collectively referred to as The Palace. Since the ship caters to families and big groups, there are over 100 connecting rooms. About 70 percent of accommodations feature spacious balcony staterooms. Aside from the toiletries and towels, the rooms also have haird ryer, mini-refrigerator, safe, water kettle, complimentary bottled water, tea, coffee, and sugar packets. These are replenished daily as housekeeping do regular cleaning.

The cheapest is the Interior Stateroom. If you want to make the most of the ship’s features, you will probably be spending most of your time outside the room — swimming, sunbathing, eating, playing, shopping, watching shows or going on shore excursions.

Here are some amenities that you can enjoy for FREE:

• Waterslide Park. You have six slide types to choose from — from gentle slopes for the family to steep inclines for the adventurous. Wear proper swimming attire. Follow the rules and the staff on duty for your safety. Located on Deck 20, Aft.
• Main Pool and Kids Water Park. Located on Deck 16, Mid. You can see the Waterslide Park from here. You can also relax and sunbathe at the Sun Deck on Deck 17, Mid.
• Crystal Life Fitness. This is the gym. If you don’t want to miss your workout routine, you can do it here. Located on Deck 15. You can also go to the Jogging Track on Deck 17, Forward.
• Ropes Course. Perfect bonding activity for the family, couples, and groups. Complete the course and punctuate it with the 35-meter zipline, gliding along the side of the ship above the water from Deck 18.
• Sportsplex. A large outdoor court that can host basketball, tennis, archery, bubble soccer, and other physical games. Located on Deck 19, Aft.
• Rock Climbing Wall. Wear proper footwear. Located on Deck 18, Aft.
• Mini-Golf. Nine-hole putting course. Please wear proper sports shoes. Located on Deck 18, Aft.

If you like to shop or bring home some souvenirs, you can get duty-free items from The Dream Boutiques located on Decks 6 and 7. The Dream Store/Souvenir Mart, located on Deck 6, is where you can get Dream Cruises merchandise. If you fell in love with one of the artworks you see inside the ship, you can go to the Art Gallery, located on Deck 8, to purchase a copy of that artwork.

Evening Shows and Events

The night is as exciting as the day onboard Genting Dream. You can choose from brilliant live production shows brought to you by the award-winning international entertainment team. During our cruise, we have two choices: SONIO – A Tale of Two Dreams and Some Like It Hot. We were able to watch the latter at Zodiac Theatre. You need to reserve your seat for the show at the Box Office on Deck 6 (Mid). You can find the opening hours of the Box Office on the Dream Daily/Dream Weekender directory sheet provided in your cabin.

If you want to brush up on your moves and still got the energy to dance the night away, let Zouk and Zouk Beach Club orchestrate an unforgettable party for you as it brings the best beats by world-class DJs. Both are located on Deck 17. Zouk is Singapore’s most sought-after nightclub and consistently chosen one of the top ten clubs in the world.

If you booked a 5-night cruise, expect a grand night party on the last night called Dream Night. This usually happens at the pool deck. You can also check out the bars if you just want to have a sip and unwind. Here are some of them: Sun Deck Bar (Deck 17/Mid), Pool Deck Bar (Deck 16/Mid), Red Lion (Deck 7/Mid/24 hours), Bar 360 (Deck 6/Mid), Karaoke (five rooms/Deck 6/Mid), and Bar City, a collection of bars in one area: Johnnie Walker House, Penfolds Wine Vault, Mixt Cocktail Bar, Humidor Cigar Lounge, and Bubbles Champagne Bar (Deck 8/Mid).

Cinema at Sea

For movie enthusiasts, you can still watch while on board. Depending on the schedule, here are the places to catch flicks: Zodiac Theatre (Deck 7/Forward), Zouk Beach Club (Deck 17/Aft), and the Lobby (Deck 6/Mid). Check the Dream Daily/Dream Weekender directory sheet for the venue and the time.

Yes! You can connect to the internet while at sea. How? Subscribe to WiFi through the Dream Cruises Mobile App. Here are the rates. Note: Rates vary depending on how many days and the package type.

• Standard: SGD19 – SGD95. Good for e-mail, chat, and social media. You can connect up to two devices.
• Premium: SGD29 – SGD145. Good for e-mail, chat, social media, and light media streaming. You can connect up to two devices.

Checking Out and Disembarkation

The day before disembarkation, you will receive a Disembarkation Notice explaining the check out procedure, disembarkation procedure, travel document collection, and baggage collection.

• If you don’t want to carry your luggage throughout the disembarkation process, you may leave it outside your cabin on or before the specified time. Set aside a small carry on bag for all the important stuff such as your wallet, your travel documents, prescribed medicine, etc. Get your luggage at the Baggage Claim Area after going through the immigration process.
• Settle your account’s balance before checking out to avoid delays during disembarkation. Reminder: A mandatory gratuity of SGD21 per night is charged to EVERY guest. For guests staying in the suite, it’s SGD26 per night. This rule is not applicable to infants below two years old.

More About Genting Dream

Genting Dream is the eldest of the fleet, launched in 2016, by the cruise brand Dream Cruises, the sister brand of Star Cruises and Crystal Cruises, which are all managed by Genting Cruise Lines, a division of Genting Hong Kong. Genting Dream was followed by World Dream in 2017 and Explorer Dream in 2019.

Dream Cruises partnered with Singapore Airlines for the special Fly Cruise packages for Genting Dream. The promo runs until October 31, 2019 ( UPDATE: This has been extended to December 31, 2019) . The sailing period is until March 31, 2020. You can choose from any of these roundtrip Singapore cruise packages.

• 5-Night Southeast Asian Splendor Itinerary Options: Nha Trang – Ho Chi Minh / Surabaya – North Bali / Ko Samui – Bangkok / Penang – Phuket – Langkawi – Kuala Lumpur
• 3-Night Cruise Escapades Itinerary Options: Penang – Phuket / Penang – Langkawi / Melaka – Langkawi / Langkawi – Phuket
• 2-Night Weekend Getaways Itinerary Options: Melaka / Kuala Lumpur / Bintan Island

For inquiries, here are the contact details: (02) 8836 6080 (landline) and [email protected] (e-mail).

This post is brought to you by Dream Cruises.

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hello! would you know how much is the fly and cruise service at the changi lounge? did you avail it? thanks!

Hi wanted to book genting dream with my family in Feb 2023

Hi…what type of adaptor handphone we need to bbring together to charge our battery handphone in cruise

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Complete Guide to Cruise Ship Gratuities for 2024

Whether your cruise line calls them daily service fees, cruise ship gratuities or crew appreciation, it’s simply tipping on a cruise. Nearly every cruise line has a name for these automatically-added service fees. 

Most cruise lines add daily gratuity fees directly to your onboard account throughout your cruise. Plus, different onboard experiences, from using your stateroom mini-bar to dining in a specialty restaurant , have an added fee.

We’ve listed each cruise line’s per-person daily gratuity. We break down tipping on a cruise to what you’ll pay depending on your stateroom category, plus any additional service fees. 

What are Daily Cruise Ship Gratuities?

Every cruise line has a recommended amount that each guest should pay to the crew. Holland America calls it a “Daily Service Fee.” Princess calls it “Crew Appreciation.” Basically, it’s a gratuity fee; how much you’ll pay for tips on a cruise ship. 

Some cruise lines may call this a “Guest Services Fee” on your onboard account statement. While others simply add “Gratuity” to your onboard account. 

Tipping on a Cruise Begins Before Sailaway

Savvy cruisers know that gratuities begin before you board your ship. Why? If you plan to drop off your larger pieces of luggage, be prepared to give the portside luggage handler a $2- $5 tip per bag. The amount can depend upon size, weight and amount of luggage.

If you’re a solo traveler and only have one large bag to check, a $5 tip is appropriate.

Consider this tip as baggage delivery insurance.

Should I Pre-Pay Cruise Gratuities?

If you want to get the daily cruise tipping fees out of the way before your cruise and avoid last-night sticker shock, I always suggest that you pre-pay gratuities.

Also, if you pre-pay your gratuities, and should the cruise line raise the cruise tip amount before you sail, you are “grandfathered-in” at the previous lower rate. 

Don’t pre-pay gratuities and if there’s an increase, you’ll pay a bit more at the end of your cruise. For one person, it’s not too bad. If you’re paying for a family, it could be a very costly added expense.

Average Daily Cruise Line Gratuity

Roughly speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere from $11.50 – $20.00 per passenger per day for onboard gratuities. As mentioned, cruise lines automatically add gratuities to your onboard account. 

Luxury lines like Azamara, Ponant, Regent, Silversea, Seabourn, Sea Dream, Virgin Voyages include gratuities in the cruise fare.

On cruise lines where gratuities are not included, you can monitor the charges on your shipboard bill either from the Front Desk or on your stateroom TV.

Sometimes cruise gratuities are only added at the very end of your cruise, too. Talk about sticker shock!

Cruise Line Gratuities for 2024

Here’s what you will pay per person per day for cruise ship gratuities/service fees/crew appreciation as of this writing. 

CARNIVAL:  $14.50 for Standard Staterooms; $16.50 for Suites. An 18% automatic charge is added to beverages at the bars, plus at Bonsai Sushi, Bonsai Teppanyaki and Chef’s Table restaurants.

On April 1, 2023, Carnival raised its services fees to $16.00 per person per day for those in standard staterooms. Suite passengers now pay $18.00, an increase of $1.50 per day.

CELEBRITY:   $17.50 for Standard Staterooms; $18.00 in Concierge and Aqua Class staterooms. Those booked in the Retreat do not pay a daily gratuity fee. If you purchase Celebrity’s All Included plan, the gratuity is included. But you’ll pay 20% fee if you order a drink that’s not in your beverage package (Classic or Premium). There’s an 18% charge for the spa and salon services.

COSTA:   An automatic $12.50 service fee is added onto all U.S. departures. There’s €11 on Europe departures. 15% beverage charge. Kids 4-14yrs 50% less. Under 4, no charge.

CUNARD:   With a name change from “gratuities” to “hotel and dining service charge”, you’ll pay $11.50 for Britannia Class staterooms (inside, oceanview and balcony). Then, $13.50 for those in the Grill Suites. Pay a 15% beverage charge and 12.5% for a visit to the salon or spa.

DISNEY:  $14.50 is the suggested amount for those in standard staterooms. If you’re in a suite or concierge stateroom, Disney recommends a $15.50 gratuity fee. Disney doesn’t automatically post the fees to your account, however. 15% beverage charge and 18% for spa services

HOLLAND AMERICA:   $16.00 for those in standard staterooms. Suite guests will pay an automatic $17.00 per person per day fee. Gratuity charges for beverage packages, drinks, dining room and specialty dining, and other non-included service fee amenities is 18%.

HURTIGRUTEN:   $12.00 – Suggested amount on expedition cruises. Norwegian coastal cruises there is no gratuity fee.

MSC CRUISES:  Valid until summer 2024:  $14.00 for adults 12 years and older. $7.00 for children ages 2 – 11 years. Under 2 years old, no charge. This applies to Caribbean, Canada and USA cruise departures. Cruises abroad, gratuities are in euros and at a comparable exchange rate. MSC website also states they do not recommend tipping individual members of staff.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE:   Book a Club Balcony Suite and below and pay $20.00 per person per day. Reside in The Haven or above Suites and it’s $25.00 pppd. For children under three years, there’s no daily fee. There’s also a 20% beverage charge with each non-included drink you order. On Hawai’i sailings, there’s a 4.275% pre-paid service charge GET tax.

OCEANIA:  $16.00 for guests occupying standard staterooms. For Penthouse, Oceania, Vista or Owner’s Suites with Butler Service, gratuities of $23.00 per guest, per day will be added. An 18% service gratuity is automatically added to all beverage purchases, spa services and dinner at La Reserve.

PRINCESS: Now called “Crew Appreciation” the daily fee is as follows:  inside, oceanview or balcony staterooms are $16.00. Mini-Suite and Reserve Collection staterooms are $17.00. Book a suite and you’ll pay $18.00 pppd. There’s also a “service charge” of 17% for specialty dining that’s included in the cover charge. You’ll pay 18% for individual drinks and drink packages, corkage fee and spa services. 

ROYAL CARIBBEAN:   Royal Caribbean automatic gratuity rates are $16.00 per person, per day for guests in non-suite staterooms. Book a suite and pay $18.50. Gratuities will be applied to each guest’s SeaPass account on a daily basis. There’s also an 18% charge for beverages, mini-bar items, and salon and salon purchases.

VIKING OCEAN CRUISES :  Simple here. $15.00 per day for all staterooms and a 15% beverage charge.

Should You Tip the Room Service Delivery Person?

Here’s another category that needs addressing; room service delivery fees.

Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian automatically add a room service delivery fee . Sometimes it depends on what you order. 

You can still directly offer a tip to your delivery person. He or she will appreciate it.

I always suggest to bring $1 and $5 bills from home. This way, you’re ready to personally hand it to the room service delivery person. 

Having several small bills is very handy, especially for early morning breakfast delivery. You don’t have to fumble around to find a tip. $2.00 to $5.00 is appropriate, depending on the food or how many meals ordered.

Who Gets a Share of the Gratuities?

Depending upon your cruise line and accommodation category, the amounts of who gets what may vary by a few dollars. But this should give you an idea as to where the cruise ship tips go and how it’s divvied up at the end. 

For this example, the amounts listed below are for standard (non-suite) staterooms, may vary by a dollar or so and subject to change every couple of years.

Also, these amounts will differ because the cruise lines stress that a portion of the service fees also goes to many crew members who work behind the scenes and/or towards a shared crew incidentals/emergency fund.

The top tier of crew recipients, however, are the waiters and stateroom attendants. Next, are the assistant waiters and staterooms attendants. The head waiter may or may not receive a cut in the share. 

Those hard-working crew members behind the scenes that you never see will get a small piece of the pie, too. 

Cruise Tips for Those Not on the Automatic Gratuity List

Some onboard services aren’t subject to automatically-included gratuities. Since these are people that you may interact with on a daily basis, it’s nice to add them to your gratuity list.

• Childcare provider: At your discretion, similar to your babysitter at home.
• Bartender: Plan to frequent the same bar throughout your cruise? Give your new favorite bartender a $10 – $20 upfront tip. If you’ve had excellent service, another tip at the end of the cruise is also appreciated.
• Wine sommelier: Based on their involvement, $10 or $20 at the end of the cruise is appropriate. Some cruise lines have done away with a sommelier and your waiter is responsible for keeping track of your wine bottles. Tip accordingly.
• Shore excursion guide: $2.00 – $5.00. Some passengers base their shore excursion tip on 10%-20% per person based on the cost of the tour.
• Shore excursion motor coach driver: $1.00 – $2.00, especially in Europe.
• Spa and Salon services: The spa will automatically add a 15% – 20% gratuity. Is there a need to tip your service provider? It’s up to you.

Read more:  Seven Stateroom Locations to Avoid

Personalize your tip-giving experience.

Many cruise passengers from Britain and a few European countries where tipping isn’t a common practice, prefer to have the automatically-added tips removed from their account. This can be requested at the Reception (Purser’s) Desk.

Hopefully, these folks will then hand out cash to those who have worked hard for them during the cruise. Others simply refuse to tip. And it’s not just non-Americans, either. 

Conversely, some guests who are familiar with and follow the tipping guidelines, prefer to hand out cash-filled envelopes to crew members.

Bring a stack of small bills from home and keep separate from your other cash, to avoid the last night panic line at the Purser’s Desk.

You can also visit the casino cashier to break your larger bills. Bring envelopes (and thank you notes) from home in case the ship’s front desk doesn’t have any to give for tips.

When in Europe, Euros are the preferred currency for tipping on both ocean and river cruises . Or you can usually put the gratuities directly onto your onboard account and credit card.

I always leave the automatic gratuities on my account. Then on the last night, if service was very good, at dinner I’ll bring envelopes with a little extra cash for my waiter, assistant waiter and sommelier.

Whether or not to tip the Maître d’ is up to you, depending on if you’ve actually communicated with this person. 

On the last night or on the morning of departure, I always give an extra tip to my room steward when I say goodbye.

Tipping After Your Cruise

After the cruise, if you ask a porter to load your luggage and wheel it to the outdoors or motor coach, you’ll need to dip into your wallet one more time.

In many ports or after a transatlantic crossing, you’ll get through the customs and immigration line quicker if you ask a porter to help with your luggage. 

If this was helpful, please PIN for others!

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17 comments.

Hi Jackie, Thanks for your comment. I agree 100%!

Tipping is absolutely necessary on cruises. These people work for peanuts, and they work very hard with no days off for months. TIPS stands for To Insure Proper Service. When on land you tip at bars and restaurants, then why on the cruise ships should people question it and cheap out. When we get on the ship, we leave extra tip money in the safe. On the last night, we give the envelopes with cash in it to all the people that took such good care of us on our cruise. Be a good cruiser.

Hi Crissy, thank you for reading my article and for your question. Are you referring to the concierge that, for example, is in charge of a loyalty club lounge like the Royal Caribbean Diamond Plus or Pinnacle Club? On cruises where I’ve used the concierge’s services (for show or dinner reservations or help with shore excursions), I’ll usually give the concierge $20-$30 at the end of a seven-night cruise. On a luxury line, I would tip more, depending on how involved the person was with assisting me with reservations etc.

If you’re referring to your stateroom butler, the gratuity prices are set by the cruise line and of course you can always add to it for exemplary service.

I hope this is helpful info. Thank you again for reading the article and taking the time to ask your question. Happy cruising!

How much do you suggest tipping the suite concierges?

Hi Nick, That’s a great question and thank you for writing. Since this is your first time handling the financial ends of a cruise, I would suggest leaving the automatic gratuities on your accounts. It will make the cruise more seamless and you won’t have that last-minute scramble finding small bills to put into envelopes and then locating the people for whom the envelopes are intended. If someone goes above and beyond regular service, it’s perfectly fine to simply hand him or her an extra gratuity. This could be your room steward or bartender or waiter. Have a wonderful cruise and thank you again for writing. Sherry

I’m about to go on my first cruise with my girlfriend and not with my family. Prior to this cruise, I was never responsible for any of the “stateroom “ accounts since my father always took care of the monetary issues of the vacation. After reading the article and the responses I am confused as to whether or not to take the automatic gratuities taken off my account when I go on my cruise and just gave out envelopes at the end of my vacation. What do you think

Coworker used to work for Celebrity – they get NO SALARY from the cruise line, they rely on the gratuities. Removing the automatic gratuity and then not actually tipping at least that amount in cash is akin to participating in modern-day slavery ie expecting people to contentedly serve you for free.

Echoing Jeff’s comment about folk who stingily resent a few hundred dollars to the ones who need it most.

Hi Rachel, Very well written. Thank you for your comment. Sherry

Mandatory gratuities. I don’t know whether to characterize this as the third world corruption tax in action (being forced to pay civil servants, hospital nurses, etc. a bribe before they will do the job that they are hired and paid to do); or first world predatory capitalism in action. Pretty clearly the cruise lines have offloaded the responsibility for paying their employees a living wage (or any wage) directly onto passengers via mandatory gratuities. Why don’t they just call it “bribes” or “employee salaries” on the invoice instead of “mandatory gratuities.” It is ridiculous that on top of paying for a horrendously expensive cruise and shore excursions, you have to pay bribes/employee salaries in the form of mandatory gratuities. And in some cases you have to pay extra bribes in addition to, on top of, the mandatory gratuities. It all adds up to making a cruise a “once in a lifetime” experience rather than a repeat experience.

Hi Shannon, Congrats on your first cruise! For tipping, the amount may depend upon the cruise line and your stateroom category. After your automatic gratuities have been charged to your onboard account, you could hand your room steward $20-$30 (two people) in recognition for good service. I hope this helps. Happy cruising! Sherry

Hi Sherry, I’m going on my first cruise this summer. What’s an appropriate tip range for the room steward on a 7 day cruise?

Hi Jeff, Nicely said. I would like to think that a lot of the non-tippers or those who queue at the front desk on the last night to remove the service fee are from countries where tipping isn’t part of their culture. But not always so. Thanks for your comment. Sherry

I always wonder how someone can pay thousands for a cruise, airfare, and shore excursions and then be resentful of a few hundred dollars in tips for the lowest paid of those who make the trip enjoyable. The desire to stick it to the little people reminds me of the great quote from tax cheat, Leona Helmsley, who once said that, “Only the little people pay taxes”. The jury of” little people” had little trouble convicting her. The people who are put out with tips should find other ways to vacation.

I have my doubt where the cruise gratuities go to. You can never find out what a crew member earns or how much they actually receive out of gratuities paid and so that end I refuse to have gratuities added to my state room account. However the crew get do get paid to do a job and they knew the pay before they started, they get free food and board plus flights home and we as paying public have already paid for the service they provide. Assuming that all the gratuities are passed on. The ratio of crew member to passenger after removing the staff that are not part of the gratuity pot is about 4 or 5 to 1. On a 14 day cruise at $12.75 per person that adds up to $178.50 per person x 4 and the sum per fortnights holiday gives a bonus of $714 each. That for a 9 month contract would give them a bonus of around $13500 plus pay….Think about it

Found out that the cruise line does not give the gratuities to the crew , those tips are kept by the cruise line -ask a crew member, lies and rip off .

Hi Lisa, Thank you so much! I’m glad you liked the article and I hope it was helpful.

Thanks, Scott!

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Updated on January 12, 2024 by Sherry Laskin

Dynamic Travel & Cruise

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A guide to cruise ship gratuity charges.

April 3, 2017 by steve

Several cruise lines have recently raised their gratuities and at the same time others have lowered them or rolled them into the price of the cruise. So who is charging for what and how much?

The listings below offer a look at the amounts major lines are currently are charging to passenger bills in automatic gratuities. In addition to a flat-fee, per-day charge for gratuities, some lines also add a 15% to 18% gratuity to bar bills on ships. In some cases, lines also add an additional gratuity charge to bills at extra-charge restaurants on ships and for spa services. The rates for the daily charges listed below are per person, per day. This list is current as of Apr. 3, 2017 and may change at any time. Your agent at Dynamic Travel & Cruises can give you the latest info on the gratuities for the cruise of your choice when you book. Just ask.

Alaskan Dream Cruises Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for crew are not included in the fare and are at the discretion of travelers. Company policy . Additional charges: None

Azamara Club Cruises Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for crew including bar staff are included in the fare. Company policy . Additional charges: An 18% gratuity is added to bills for spa services.

Carnival Cruise Line Daily gratuity charge: $12.95 Note: Passengers in suites pay $13.95. No gratuities are collected for passengers under the age of 2. Company policy . Additional charges: A 15% gratuity is added to bar bills.

Celebrity Cruises Daily gratuity charge: $13.50 Note: Passengers in Concierge Class and AquaClass cabins pay $14; passengers in suites, $17. Company policy . Additional charges: An 18% gratuity is added to bar bills.

Celestyal Cruises Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for crew and bar staff are included in the fare. Company policy . Additional charges: None

Costa Cruises Daily gratuity charge: $12.50 Note: For ships operating in U.S. dollars; ships operating in euro have a 10 euro charge. On the Costa Serena, Costa Atlantica, Costa Victoria, Costa Fortuna and Costa neoRomantica, the charge is $13.50 for most cabins and $16.50 for suites. No gratuities are collected for passengers under age of 4. Children (ages 4 to 14) pay 50% of the adult rate.  Company policy . Additional charges: None

Crystal Cruises Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for crew including bar staff are included in the fare. Company policy . Additional charges: An 18% gratuity is added to bills for spa services.

Cunard Line Daily gratuity charge: $11.50 Note: Passengers in Grill Class cabins pay $13.50. Company policy . Additional charges: A 15% gratuity is added to bar bills.

Disney Cruise Line Daily gratuity charge: $12 Note: Company policy . Additional charges: A 15% gratuity is added to bar bills; an 18% charge is added to bills for spa services.

Holland America Line Daily gratuity charge: $13.50 Note: Passengers in suites pay $15. Company policy . Additional charges: A 15% gratuity is added to bar bills.

Lindblad Expeditions Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for crew are included in the fare for passengers on the National Geographic Explorer and National Geographic Orion but not other ships. Company policy . Additional charges: None

MSC Cruises Daily gratuity charge: $12.50 Note: For Caribbean cruises and some grand voyages. Gratuity charges vary for MSC’s other itineraries. Children pay half the adult rate. Additional charges: A 15% gratuity is added to bar bills.

Norwegian Cruise Line Daily gratuity charge: $13.99 Note: Passengers in suites pay $16.99. Passengers on Norwegian Sky pay higher rates ($18.99 for standard cabins; $21.99 for suites). Company policy . Additional charges: An 18% gratuity is added to bar bills, the bills at extra-charge specialty restaurants and for services at ship spas.

Oceania Cruises Daily gratuity charge: $16 Note: Passengers staying in top suites with butler service pay $23. Company policy . Additional charges: An 18% gratuity is added to bar bills, the bill for extra-charge eatery La Reserve and for services at ship spas.

Paul Gauguin Cruises Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for crew including bar staff are included in the fare. Company policy . Additional charges: None

Ponant Cruises Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for crew are not included in the fare. Ponant says tipping is “entirely up to you, and you are under no obligation” to tip. Passengers who want to leave a gratuity for crew are encouraged to put it in an urn at the Reception desk at the end of the voyage. Company policy . Additional charges: None

Princess Cruises Daily gratuity charge: $13.50 Notes: Passengers in mini-suites and suites pay $14.50 and $15.50, respectively. Company policy . Additional charges: A 15% gratuity is added to bar bills.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for crew including bar staff are included in the fare. Company policy . Additional charges: None

Royal Caribbean  Daily gratuity charge: $13.50 Note: Passengers staying in suites pay $16.50 Additional charges: A 15% gratuity is added to bar bills as well as services at ship spas. Company policy .

Seabourn Cruise Line Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for crew including bar staff are included in the fare. Company policy . Additional charges: None

SeaDream Yacht Club Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for crew including bar staff are included in the fare. Company policy . Additional charges: None

Silversea Cruises Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for crew including bar staff are included in the fare. Company policy . Additional charges: None

Star Clippers Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for the crew are not included in the fare. Star Clippers suggests passengers leave crew a gratuity of $10 per day. Additional charges: A 15% gratuity is added to bar bills.

UnCruise Adventures Daily gratuity charge: None Note: Gratuities for crew are not included in the fare. UnCruise says gratuities “are a personal matter and are entirely at the discretion of the traveler.” Company policy . Additional charges: None

Viking Ocean Cruises Daily gratuity charge: $15 Note: Company policy . Additional charges: A 15% gratuity is added to bar bills.

Windstar Cruises Daily gratuity charge: $12 Additional charges: A 15% gratuity is added to bar bills.

Got questions or ready to book your next cruise vacation? Contact Dynamic Travel & Cruises at 817 481-8631 or 800 766-2911 .

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Onboard Services – Frequently Asked Questions

Is there any expected amount for gratuities, and what’s the best way to pay them?

It is customary to give gratuities in recognition of exceptional service, which you’ll receive in abundance aboard the ship. We recommend a gratuity amount of $14.50 USD per night, per stateroom Guest, including infants and children. Pre-Paid Gratuities are distributed to the Crew Members who take care of you in the following roles:

• Dining room server
• Dining room assistant server
• Dining room head server
• Stateroom host

Guests staying in Concierge Staterooms and Suites are recommended a gratuity amount of $15.50 USD per night, per stateroom Guest. This includes gratuity for the Stateroom assistant host, who services the Concierge accommodations, in addition to the positions listed above.

Easily pre-pay gratuities online to create a carefree, all-inclusive experience by visiting My Reservations in your Disney account and following the prompts for Pre-Paid Gratuities. If you booked your Disney cruise with a travel agent, please contact them to apply this payment for you.

If you did not get a chance to pre-pay before boarding the ship, we will automatically charge your onboard account the suggested gratuity amount per Guest per night. Once on board the ship, if you wish to adjust the amount of your pre-paid gratuities, please visit Guest Services for assistance.

Keep in mind that pre-paid gratuities can only be adjusted among the Crew Members who take care of you in the following roles: Dining Room Server, Dining Room Assistant Server, Dining Room Head Server and Stateroom Host. Requests to refund pre-paid gratuities may only be processed in full back to the original form of payment, which may include forms of payment made by a travel agent.

Not Included Pre-Paid Gratuities do not include the following gratuities, which are either included in the charge or based on your discretion:

• Extras added to rotational dining meals such as alcoholic beverages
• Adult dining locations such as Remy, Palo, Palo Steakhouse and Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement, which are not part of rotational dining
• Food or drink in shops and outdoor or poolside eateries
• Room service
• Port Adventures
• Senses Spa & Salon
• Concierge Lounge Team—Guests staying in Concierge accommodations are recommended a gratuity amount of $8.00 per night, per stateroom Guest
• Any other additional services

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Related Questions

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Princess Cruise Gratuity (Tips) Full Guide: How Much, How They Work, and More

No matter which cruise line you sail, crew gratuities — also known as service charges or crew appreciation — are a fact of life. This includes sailing on Princess.

While you have your cruise fare and then any extras like drinks, specialty restaurants, gambling and shore excursions, you also have a daily fee that goes to the crew as a “thank you” for the service they provide.

And these charges can add up. In the case of a couple traveling on a week-long cruise, they can mean hundreds of dollars out of your pocket. That’s why it’s a good idea to understand what these charges are and exactly how they work.

In This Article...

How Much Are Gratuities on Princess?

Gratuities — or as Princess calls them “Crew Appreciation” — currently run different amounts depending on the type of cabin that you book. Lower tier cabins see lower costs while more expensive rooms also have higher gratuities. Current rates are set at:

• Balcony Cabins and Below: $16.00 per person, per day
• Mini-Suites and Reserve Collection: $17.00 per person, per day
• Suites: $18.00 per person, per day

Those prices can add up. For example, a couple traveling in a balcony cabin would see a charge of $32 per day. Over the course of a week-long cruise, that would be a total of $224.

Who Is Charged Gratuities on Princess?

While some cruise lines do offer a break on these charges for small kids (typically those under 2-3 years old), Princess does not. According to the cruise line, children are included with the charge.

That means you should expect that every passenger sailing the cruise line will see the crew appreciation charge when sailing. So a family of four in a balcony cabin will see a charge of $64 ($16 x 4) each day.

How Do I Pay Gratuities?

When it comes to actually paying the gratuity fee, you have a few options.

First, you can prepay the gratuity before you sail. The full charge is calculated and then you can call the cruise line or pay via your online account up to two days before your trip. This means that once you sail the charge is already taken care of.

The second method is to simply wait until you are on the ship. In this case, the charge will automatically be applied to your onboard account. Then at the end of the cruise the amount is paid with your payment method on file.

Finally, Princess offers two packages — Princess Plus and Princess Premier — that offer a more all-inclusive experience. With these packages, you pay a set daily fee and get a drink package, wi-fi, and crew appreciation included with the cost (other perks are included as well).

Can I Change or Remove the Gratuity Amount?

Say you have a bad experience on your cruise and don’t think the crew appreciation is justified. Are you able to change it? Yes, you can. You can simply head down to Guest Services to explain the situation and have the gratuity amount changed or removed.

That said, you should know that this is considered in poor taste in most cases. If you have bad service, then that is one thing. However, if you are removing or adjusting the amount simply because you think it is excessive, then you should know that the crew works hard and this is a factor in their compensation.

Can I Adjust the Gratuity if I Bought a Princess Plus/Premier Package?

If you bought the package, then the crew appreciation amount is a perk that is included. However, with this package you lose the ability to adjust the tip amount. According to Princes, “You have complete discretion to adjust crew appreciation payment while onboard, but crew appreciation may only be adjusted prior to disembarking the ship. If included as part of a promotion or package, it cannot be adjusted or refunded.”

What Staff Is Covered by Gratuities?

While Princess doesn’t lay out the specifics regarding who gets how much of the crew appreciation, the cruise line does offer some glimpse into where your money goes on its website :

“All of the Crew Appreciation and Service Charge payments made by all guests on all ships in our fleet are pooled, net of credit card transaction fees. The pooled funds are distributed throughout the year in the form of compensation, including bonuses, to crewmembers fleetwide who interact directly with guests and/or behind the scenes throughout every cruise, including those in the Bar, Dining, Entertainment, Housekeeping, Guest Services, Galley and Onboard Revenue areas.”

Can I Tip More if I Want?

Absolutely. If you receive exceptional service and want to show your appreciation, then you can certainly tip more. The staff will certainly be happy to accept cash as a “thank you.”

Does the Crew Appreciation Charge Cover Everything on the Ship? Are There Other Places to Tip?

The gratuity charge covers many people on the ship, and most times when you receive service, you don’t have to worry about an additional tip. However, there are some areas where you might purchase something that is subject to an additional gratuity amount. This includes:

• Specialty Dining: 17% (included in cover charge)
• Specialty Food Items: 17% (included in item charge)
• Drinks/Drink Packages: 18%
• Spa Services: 18%

So if you purchase a drink costing $10 on the menu, you’ll actually be charged $11.80 in total once the gratuity is added in.

More questions about the gratuity charges on a Princess cruise? Let us know in the comments below.

More on Sailing Princess:

• Explained: Major Differences Between Princess & Other Cruise Lines 
• Worth It? Princess Cruise Drink Packages Explained (Prices, What’s Included, and More)
• Princess Plus & Premier Offers: Package Details and if it’s Worth it

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I don’t think a 1 year old baby should have to pay tips on Princess Cruises.

When tipping more (the cash tip at cruise end) what is the rule of thumb

No real rule of thumb, as it’s simply an extra.

Princess Cruises offer 24 hr complimentary room service. Will there be an added service charge or gratuity added to my account for basic Room Service Menu items?

You are stating a tip is included in the cost of specialty dining? We tipped at the end of our dinner not knowing this.

Right. It’s either included in the price or it’s added onto the charge automatically.

I have said this time and time again over the last 20 odd years or so of cruising,”advertise a cabin price with gratuities included this would then take the argument out of the equesion whether people pay or not pay the gratuities.personaly,I think the cruising public are getting sick of the fact that a price is advertised for a cabin,but then find out there a add on over add ons.

Cruise lines should pay a decent wage to all staff in the first place. Declare what is the breakdown of each type of workers pay rate.?

Seems to me the very people who have paid a lot of money for a cruise are digging into their pockets again to pay staff appropriately. Shame on you cruise lines.

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What Are the Gratuities on Carnival Cruises?

A quick guide to understanding gratuities on Carnival Cruises. Know the charges, who gets them, and how to pay for a hassle-free cruise.

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If you're planning a cruise, factoring in gratuities is essential. However, for those new to cruising, the concept of gratuity charges also referred to as service charges, can come as a surprise. Although not initially included in the price of a cruise, these charges are an integral part of your vacation expenses, similar to paying for the cabin itself. As an additional fee that catches many people off guard, it raises questions about the nature of gratuities on a cruise and how they function. To ensure you're well-informed for your upcoming vacation, read on to discover everything you need to know about gratuities on Carnival cruises

What are Gratuities?

Gratuity, though it may sound sophisticated, is essentially another term for tips used by cruise lines. Similar to the practice in hotels and restaurants, it's customary for guests on many cruises to leave tips for specific staff members serving them. Major cruise lines such as Carnival , Norwegian , and Royal Caribbean typically include a daily gratuity fee, which is then distributed among the shipboard staff. The income of service crew members largely relies on the generosity of travelers, as tips constitute a significant portion of their earnings.

How Much Are the Gratuities on Carnival Cruises?

Starting from April 1, 2023, Carnival imposes a daily charge of $16 per person for most rooms, including interior, balcony and Oceanview cabins. For those staying in a suite, the daily charge is slightly higher at $18 per person. As an illustration of how these charges apply, consider a couple in an Oceanview cabin for a week, who would incur a daily charge of $32 for seven days, amounting to a total of $224 . It's worth noting that, like many cruise lines, Carnival periodically increases gratuity amounts, with the most recent adjustment occurring in May 2022, prior to the April 2023 increase.

Who Receives the Gratuities on Carnival Cruises?

The gratuities you provide cover a diverse range of staff positions. While a portion goes to your cabin attendant, who offers personalized services such as daily room preparation, they are not the sole beneficiaries of your generosity. The dining and culinary staff also receive a share, encompassing those serving in the main dining room as well as other shipboard eateries. For example, staff in the buffet, responsible for clearing dishes and assisting guests, are among those who benefit from a portion of the automatic tips. Additionally, behind-the-scenes personnel contributing to the overall cruise experience receive a portion of these gratuities.

Related:   Best Carnival Cruise Deals for Your Cruise Vacation

How are Gratuities Divided on Carnival Cruises?

Here is the approximate breakdown of gratuities in Carnival cruises per day :

• Dining Team: $6.89
• Housekeeping Team: $4.35 ($6.35 for suites)
• Alternative Services: $2.75

In addition, when purchasing beverages, an automatic 18% gratuity is added to the bill, while an automatic gratuity of 15% is added to the Chef’s Table’s cover charge.

How to Pay Gratuities on Carnival Cruises?

There are two ways of paying this daily gratuity:

Gratuities can be included during the booking process or at any time leading up to the sailing date. Those who made direct bookings with Carnival can conveniently add their pre-paid gratuities on the cruise line’s website. For guests who booked through a travel agent, reaching out to their travel professional enables them to include pre-paid gratuities in their reservation. The pre-paid gratuities will be visible in the 'Miscellaneous Charge' section in the guest's E-Documents and on the confirmation.

2. Sail & Sign

If you haven't prepaid your gratuities, the recommended gratuity charges per person will be charged to your Sail & Sign account on the penultimate day of the cruise. Should you find the service unsatisfactory, you can approach the Guest Services desk while on board. This ensures that the staff can promptly and appropriately address any concerns you may have.

Who Has to Pay Gratuities on Carnival Cruises?

For those embarking on a Carnival cruise, it's important to anticipate gratuity charges. All guests, excluding those aged two and below, are subject to the daily gratuity fee. Even if you request the room steward to service your room every other day or choose not to dine in the main dining rooms, the charge applies to all guests aged two and above while on the ship. As an example, if a couple is on the cruise, each individual will incur the daily gratuity charge. Similarly, for a family of four, whether they stay in one room or two, all four individuals will be charged the daily gratuity amount.

Are There Other Places to Tip?

As a general recommendation, it is advisable not to modify the gratuity amount set by the cruise line. The cruise ship staff exerts considerable effort to enhance your vacation experience, and these gratuities constitute a significant portion of their compensation. Nevertheless, it is possible that there may be occasions when you are dissatisfied with the service received. In such instances, at the guest's discretion, adjustments to gratuities can be made after the charges have been added to the guest's account during the cruise. It's essential to note that gratuities, as reflected on the Sail & Sign account, are considered final once a guest disembarks, and no alterations can be made post-cruise.

Also Read:   How Much Does a Vacation with Carnival Cruise Cost ?

Understanding and planning for gratuities are crucial aspects of preparing for a Carnival cruise. These charges, integral to the cruise experience, support the hardworking staff. While the suggested amounts may initially surprise, they contribute significantly to the service team's earnings. Whether opting for pre-payment or adjusting gratuities on board, it's vital to be aware of the processes involved. Recognizing who is included in gratuity distribution and the breakdown of charges further enhances your understanding of this customary practice at sea. Ultimately, being informed about gratuities ensures a smoother and more enjoyable cruise experience.

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Act fast: 6,000 KrisFlyer miles for 3-night Dream Cruise for two

The latest KrisFlyer Experience lets you book a cruise at just 6,000 miles for two people- if you can sail at the end of January.

This won’t last long, so I’m just going to write a short post so you can get to booking.

KrisFlyer Experiences has launched a 3-nights Seacation package with Dream Cruises that’s going for just 6,000 miles per cabin  (two people). You’ll need to pay port fees and gratuities of S$123 per head, but it’s still an excellent deal in my book. 

This actually launched yesterday with two possible sailing dates:

• 31 Jan- 3 Feb
• 7 Feb – 10 Feb

However, all the packages were fully redeemed within hours. KrisFlyer Experiences has now added additional packages for 31 Jan -3 Feb, but there’s no guarantee how long they’ll last. 

You’ll be booked into a balcony stateroom, and apart from the S$123 port charges and gratuities, everything else is included (the COVID-19 test too). 

Here’s the full details :

• Each cabin (Balcony State Room) can house a maximum of 2 passengers
• After completing the redemption, member must send the confirmation email received from KrisFlyer Experiences, together with the information required as detailed  here  to  [email protected]  by 28 January to complete the cruise booking
• A separate payment of SGD123 for port charges and gratuity fees per passenger must be paid to Dream Cruises separately to complete the booking

The T&C is as follows. Do note that all redemptions are non-refundable, and you can redeem multiple packages. 

• Redemption is on a first-come, first-served basis.
• The experience must be redeemed in full using KrisFlyer miles.
• Miles redeemed are non-refundable.
• Members can redeem multiple tickets. 6,000 KrisFlyer miles will be deducted for each redemption.
• By redeeming this experience, member is bound by the Terms and Conditions of Genting Cruise Lines as stated  here .
• Each member will be required to take a Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Test (ART) Nasal Swab test prior to embarkation and after disembarkation at Marina Bay Cruise Centre.
• Genting Dreams will contact members who have made the redemption within 3 days of the scheduled sail date to process payment of the port charges and gratuity fees, and issue the cruise booking confirmation details.
• By participating in this KrisFlyer Experience, each Participant consents that any and all personal data he/she submits including his/her and his/her nominated companion’s names, KrisFlyer membership numbers, email addresses, mailing addresses, contact numbers may be collected, used, disclosed, or otherwise processed by SIA for the purposes of administrating the KrisFlyer Experience.

From what I can see, a Balcony State room for the sailing on 31 January would cost S$378 for two passengers, so you’re getting slightly over 2 cents per mile. 

At 6,000 miles for two people, you really can’t go wrong. I’ve gone and booked myself a ticket, just so I can do a comparative review with Royal Caribbean.

Good hunting! 

• krisflyer experiences

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Thanks Aaron, swift as usual. Though the Royal Caribbean will be on a star class suite while this on a peasantry balcony room, comparisons would be potentially skewed.

oh no doubt, rooms won’t be directly comparable. was thinking more about food, entertainment, activities etc.

aaaaandddddd it’s gone.

Received the EDM at 10pm last night. I recall it was fully redeemed by midnight.

the first batch was fully redeemed. they launched another batch today, which are now gone.

6000 miles plus $246 to two, now it doesn’t sound that good. Cheap rates are wide open on Klook, the same itinerary will cost $420 for two, but if you have certain credit cards and promo code (DBS Women and Altitude) you can spend $70 (2 times $35 off) lesser and bring the total cost down to $350. Now the comparison becomes 6000 miles vs $104. Back in the days when you can fly freely you have tons of way to make the miles count, but now we are not, what’s worth is that KF miles still expire after 3 …  Read more »

and more importantly, if you transferred krisflyer miles with the previous 15% promo then it’s about 5,200 miles or so. every little bit.

Sorry, just found out gratuity is $21 per person per night… Alright

Is food included? Or do we have to pay =/.

Also, how much cash to bring onboard?

2 cents per mile is not a great value redemption for miles. It is popular probably because the barriers to entry is very low, only 6k miles. Would rather pay for the Suite room to get a proper cruise experience.

The official rate before port charges and gratuity is $129*2 so the actual value here is in the 4 cents per mile range.

Apart from that: What better redemptions have you made in the past 10 months?

official rate for 2 pax is $378, SIA is charging you 6k miles plus $ 246 ($123 port charges and gratuities per person). So the correct math should be $378 – $246 = $132. That is 6k miles for $132, which is $0.022 per mile…All the information is from the original post above…

No, official rate is $129 per pax + $60 port charges + $63 gratuity.

The 6k miles only cover the first part (but for 2pax, hence 6k miles for $258).

The $123/pax apply no matter whether you book via Klook, Dream Cruise directly or SIA, meaning we can exclude them from the miles value calculation.

On Klook you can book the port charge, and can apply promo code which gives you at most $35 off.

It’s more than that, 378 excludes 63 gratuity let person. Under this deal, you are exchanging 6000 miles for $258. Very very good value

Isn’t the 378 inclusive of everything that he shows?

In any case, for the first timers among us, it is a good deal tbh..

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How Much Does A Disney Cruise Cost? - 2024

I ’ve been on twelve Disney cruises, so I obviously think that the Disney Cruise line is worth the money. But when you are booking your family cruise, you may look at other family-friendly cruise lines as well. Disney Cruise Line cruises can often be more expensive, and without really knowing about the experience, it can be hard to justify the extra expense.

If you are considering taking a Disney cruise for your next family vacation, you’re probably wondering, “How much does a Disney Cruise cost” ? It’s important to understand, whether you are evaluating different cruise options or budgeting for a future trip. You’ll probably also wonder what’s included and whether it’s worth the cost.

The price of a Disney cruise depends on many factors. Here’s an overview of Disney Cruise prices as well as what’s included and what factors influence the price. 

Disclosure I’ve been on one complimentary media preview cruise and two cruises as part of Disney Social Media Moms. The remainder of my trips have been at full cost. All opinions are my own.

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How Much Is A Disney Cruise? Is It Worth the Cost?

Factors that affect the price of a disney cruise.

When looking at the price of a Disney cruise, many factors affect the price. The time of year of the cruise can often influence the price. Like other travel products like airfare and hotels, demand significantly influences the price.

With a limited supply of staterooms and only four ships (with more on the way), the price is impacted by the current demand for staterooms.

You’ll often find that Disney Cruises that take place during peak times of year (like school vacations) will be more expensive than other weeks. You’ll want to book those early to get the most stateroom options and the best Disney Cruise prices.

If you are thinking of doing a Caribbean cruise, January can be a great option and is often the cheapest month. Typically all four ships (the Disney Magic , Disney Fantasy , Disney Dream , and Disney Wonder ) are sailing in the Caribbean, so there are lots of sailings to choose from, with many Caribbean itineraries.

In addition, because the Caribbean can sometimes be chilly in January, it’s not as busy.  I’ve been on several January cruises, and while sometimes the weather has been a little cool, we’ve also been very lucky with perfect weather. 

Of course, most schools are in session for most of January, so it can be more difficult to sail than if your kids are in school. Martin Luther King weekend typically is more expensive than the rest of the month.

As you’d expect, the duration of the cruise also affects the prices. A longer cruise is more expensive than a shorter cruise. I usually recommend that travelers start with a 3 or 4-day cruise to see if it’s something they enjoy before committing to a longer cruise. 

Some families like to do a Disney Land and Sea vacation where they combine their cruise with some time at Walt Disney World. That can be a great way to take your first cruise and make sure it’s something your family enjoys.

Unlike hotels, where you’ll pay per room, on the Disney Cruise Line, the cost increases per person in a stateroom. This is because the cost of a Disney cruise includes all of your meals in the regular dining rooms as well as activities.

Of course, the incremental amount of an additional person in the room is lower. When I travel with my friends on the Disney Cruise Line, we like to have two to three people in the room. We don’t usually spend too much time in the room, and it never feels crowded, even though it is a small room.

The type of stateroom you book is also a factor in the cost. We typically book a deluxe family stateroom with a verandah, although you can save money by getting a room without the verandah. Interior rooms are less expensive.

Think about how much time you plan to spend in the room, and whether or not you’ll use the verandah. I love sitting outside sipping coffee in the morning, and I find the verandah is worth the extra cost. But that may not be the case for everyone.

Special cruises, like the Very Merrytime Cruises and the Marvel Day at Sea, may also cost a bit more than a standard cruise. Often discounts (like the discount for booking onboard) aren’t available on these cruises. 

Getting a Disney Cruise Line Discount

The best way for a return guest to get a discount on the Disney Cruise Line is to book while you are already on a sailing. You’ll have two options.

You can book the dates that you want to sail and can choose your exact dates and room. For this, you’ll need to make a deposit.

Alternatively, you can book a placeholder for a $250 fee. This can be applied to a cruise booked within the next two years. I typically book a placeholder, even if I don’t have another cruise planned because it’s valid for a while.

Depending on the sailing, you’ll get a discount as well as stateroom credit. To make an onboard booking, you’ll want to visit the desk on the ship as soon as possible. It can be very busy by the end of your sailing and there is typically a line to talk to a cast member.

Other discounts can sometimes be available for Canadian residents, Florida residents, and members of the military. The Disney Cruise Line special offers page has more specific information on this. They aren’t always available so you’ll have to check for details and eligible sailings.

What’s Included in a Disney Cruise?

When assessing the cost of a Disney cruise, you’ll also want to know what’s included and what isn’t included in the price of the cruise. It’s important to calculate the total cost that you’ll expect to spend.

Things included in your Disney Cruise cost include Disney character interactions, shows on the Disney cruise ships, the kids’ clubs, meals in the main dining rooms, unlimited ice cream, many snacks, most room service, soda, standard coffee, and iced tea. 

While many cruise lines do include these items (soda is typically not included with most cruise brands, however), it’s important to look at how your family will use these inclusions.

My kids love the kids’ clubs and the shows, so we usually do that daily. It’s completely worth it for us. On the other hand, we don’t drink soda, so we don’t care if it’s included.

What’s Not Included in a Disney Cruise

As you do your price comparisons and start to budget for your trip, you’ll also need to know what’s not included in a Disney Cruise.

Once you arrive at the airport, you’ll need to get to the port. Depending on the port you are leaving from (for instance, Port Canaveral ), Disney transportation may be offered. However, this is an extra cost and isn’t included in your cruise.

If you are leaving from Port Canaveral, Florida, you may want to start (or end with) a Walt Disney World vacation as part of a Disney land and sea adventure. In that case, transportation is offered from the parks to the port, but again, that is an extra fee that you’ll need to include in your budget. 

Where available, I find it convenient to take Disney transportation because they will tell you exactly where you need to go. It’s worth the extra peace of mind for me to pay for it rather than worry about transportation on my own. But, rental cars, ride-sharing, and private transportation are also an option. Compare rental car prices here .

Shore excursions are another cost that is separate from the standard cruise cost. These are something that you’ll want to research before committing to your cruise because they can be expensive.

This is especially the case in Europe and Alaska, where you may pay around $700+ per person for a single excursion. That can add up, especially for longer cruises when you’ll want to take multiple excursions!

Sometimes you’ll find that excursions booked outside the cruise line might be a little less expensive. Just keep in mind that there is a risk associated with this. These excursions and companies may not be vetted by the cruise line.

You will also be responsible for making sure you get back on board with plenty of time. If for some reason, the cruise doesn’t dock at a specific port, you probably won’t get a refund. This can sometimes happen because of weather or other unpredictable reasons.

Alcohol is not included on the Disney Cruise Line. You can purchase beer and wine packages that do help bring the cost down. If you typically get a couple of drinks per day, it’s a good idea to keep looking at your bill on the Disney Cruise Line app so you aren’t surprised on the last day.

Some snacks (like popcorn at the theater), premium desserts (at Vanellope’s on the Disney Dream and the Sweet on You Ice Cream shop on the Disney Fantasy), premium coffee (at the Cove cafe), and meals at the adult-only  Palo and Remy also cost extra. 

Gratuities are also not included in the cost of a Disney cruise. You can usually prepay the gratuities, or they’ll be automatically added to your bill. You can, however, change these by going to guest services.

You’ll also want to tip anytime you pay for something out of pocket and for room service. You can just write these tips on the slip you sign and add them to your bill. They’ll be added to your stateroom account.

Other things cost additional on a cruise, including WiFi and Bingo. 

What Does a Disney Cruise Cost?

These prices are accurate from the date we wrote this post and are always subject to change. As mentioned above, many factors affect these prices.

You’ll pay anywhere from about $1,500 to $8,000 for a three-night cruise on the Disney Wish for a stateroom with 4 people. This cruise goes to Nassau and Disney’s Castaway Cay . This is a great option as a first cruise because it’s less expensive than the others and is a short commitment. 

You can book a four-night Bahamian cruise out of the Fort Lauderdale cruise port for about $1,900 to $6,700 for four people. This excludes Christmas week when the price is significantly higher. 

Alaskan Cruises are about $6,700 to $20,000 for a seven-night cruise. Concierge rooms are higher, however. Although it’s a lot more expensive for a verandah, you’ll probably use it quite a bit in Alaska so it may be worth the splurge. Keep in mind that the excursions and airfare may add quite a bit to this price.

European cruises can vary quite a bit. You can get a 5-night European cruise out of Barcelona starting at about $7,700 , but rates can go up to over $16,000 for a verandah room on a 12-Night Norwegian Fjords and Iceland Cruise. Don’t forget to factor in airfare and shore excursions, which can increase the price of your vacation.

Have you been on a Disney Cruise? You can also compare prices on your Disney Cruise here .

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