princess cruises australia gratuities

Crew Appreciation and Service Charge Policy

The “Crew Appreciation” is a daily amount for each guest that will be automatically added to your onboard account for your convenience, to recognize the efforts of a wide variety of crewmembers who contribute to the experiences of all our guests.  The crewmembers eligible to receive these funds work in various departments, many of whom rotate among different ships, throughout our fleet of ships. The amount of the Crew Appreciation will be based on stateroom category, as set out below:

We pride ourselves on excellent guest satisfaction and our onboard team is available to immediately address any concerns you may have about your cruise. In the unlikely event you remain dissatisfied for any reason, the Crew Appreciation is subject to adjustment, at your discretion, at any time during the cruise up to the time you settle your onboard account prior to disembarkation. If you do not choose to adjust this daily charge while on board, your payment becomes final and nonrefundable.

A nonrefundable Service Charge of 18% of purchase will be automatically added to optional purchases of beverage packages, drinks, dining room and specialty dining, private group functions, and other elected products, services or amenities provided to guests that are not included in the Cruise Fare. The Service Charge amount is based upon the service/product purchased and is applied as follows:

* Service Charge payments for spa services are not pooled for the fleet.

If you pre-paid the Crew Appreciation and/or Service Charge as part of an all-inclusive or other applicable package: (i) the payments are bundled into your fare; (ii) the payments are nonrefundable from the time of purchase, except as part of the cruise fare, which refund shall be provided in accordance with our cancelation policy; and (iii) no additional amount will be added to your onboard account for the Crew Appreciation or for those Service Charges covered by such package.

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.

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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.

Princess medallion on top of cash money.

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.

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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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Tipping on a Cruise: Your Complete Big-Ship Tip Guide

If you’ve been left scratching your head wondering about the ins and outs of tipping on a cruise ship, we’ve got you covered with a comprehensive list of what to expect. Read on for your tipping guide aboard the world’s most popular cruise lines, from a complete breakdown of Royal Caribbean gratuities to Carnival, Norwegian, and every cruise lines' policies in between.

Editor’s Note: Fees are listed in USD -- unless stated otherwise -- and were accurate at time of publication.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival does not automatically add gratuities onto passengers' accounts or spa or bar bills on ships sailing in Australia. Cruisers can choose, at their discretion, to reward crew members who offer outstanding service. Travellers who wish to tip can do so by handing cash directly to the crew members they want to thank. For those who would prefer not to hand over cash, tips can be added to passengers' onboard accounts at guest relations.

If you are sailing with Carnival overseas, the line automatically adds a US$12.95 per person, per day, gratuity to onboard accounts for those booked in standard cabins. Those in suites will be charged US$13.95 per person, per day. The amount does not apply to passengers younger than 2. An automatic 18 percent gratuity is added to all bar bills and spa services.

Passengers who want to adjust the amount of their auto-gratuity in either direction can do so at the guest services desk. There are two exceptions. According to the line's website FAQs, for "cruises to nowhere" -- short cruises that do not visit a port -- gratuities must be prepaid.

Celebrity Cruises fares include the daily stateroom service for all Australian and New Zealand bookings. This also applies when Australians and New Zealanders sail on cruises departing from other countries, if the fare was booked and paid in AU/NZ dollars. An 18 percent gratuity is added to all bar, mini-bar, spa and salon services and in-room dining on ships sailing in all destinations, including Australia and New Zealand.

Cruise & Maritime Voyages

Cruise & Maritime Voyages automatically adds gratuities to the onboard account. On the Australia-based Vasco da Gama, total of AU$12 per person per night (AU$10 per person per night for cruises longer than 16 nights duration) is debited to your onboard account daily. CMV Additions packages allow guests to book and pre-pay gratuities at a reduced rate. If you wish to adjust the amount you pay, this can be done by contacting the reception desk toward the end of the cruise. There are no extra service charges.

Cunard charges US$11.50 per person, per day, to the shipboard account of passengers in Britannia accommodations. The amount is US$13.50 for passengers in Grill Class accommodations. This charge is for adults and children. To adjust the amount of your automatic tips or to tip independently, see the purser's office. An automatic 15 percent gratuity is added to all bar bills and spa treatments and services.

Holland America will automatically charge US$14.50 per person, per day to passengers in interior, ocean-view and balcony cabins and US$16 to suite passengers. Gratuities apply to both adults and children. See the front desk if you wish to adjust your automatic gratuities. An automatic 15 percent gratuity is added to bar and dining room wine purchases.

Each adult is automatically billed US$14.50 per day for the service staff. Passengers booked in any suite category or The Haven are billed US$17.50 per person per day.

Two exceptions are the all-inclusive Norwegian Sky and Norwegian Sun (Port Canaveral departures only), which include beverages in the fares, so gratuities on these ships are US$19.99 per person, per day for those in standard cabins and US$22.99 per person, per day for those booked in suites. There is no charge for children younger than three.

On Norwegian Joy, the charge is US$25.50 per person, per day for Concierge and Haven suites; US$14.50 per person per day for all other stateroom types.

Guests sailing to Hawaii will be charged an additional 4.275% Pre Paid Service Charge GET Tax.

Tipping above and beyond the service charge is not necessary or expected. Also, should you wish to adjust the charges, you must contact the onboard reception desk.

A 20 percent gratuity is added to bar bills, specialty and entertainment dining, and spa services. Norwegian suggests that passengers who use concierge or butler service provide a gratuity "commensurate with the services rendered."

P&O Cruises Australia does not automatically add gratuities onto passengers' accounts or spa or bar bills. Cruisers can choose, at their discretion, to reward crew members who offer outstanding service. Travellers who wish to tip can do so by handing cash directly to the crew members they want to thank. Passengers need not carry cash if they don't want to, as they can add the tips to their onboard accounts.

Princess Cruises does not automatically add gratuities onto passengers' accounts or spa or bar bills on ships sailing in Australia and New Zealand. Cruisers can choose, at their discretion, to reward crew members who offer outstanding service. Travellers who wish to tip can do so by handing cash directly to the crew members they want to thank. For those who would prefer not to hand over cash, tips can be added to passengers' onboard accounts at guest relations.

If you are sailing with Princess Cruises outside Australia and New Zealand, the line automatically adds US$13.50 per day to each passenger's account to cover hotel and dining service. Passengers in mini-suites and club class will be charged US$14.50 per day, and suite passengers will pay US$15.50 per day. The amount is the same for children and adults, and it can be prepaid up to six days prior to the start of your cruise.

You can adjust your automatic gratuities upward or downward, or eliminate them altogether, at the purser's office. A 15 percent gratuity is automatically added to all bar bills and spa services. Casino staff do not receive a cut of auto-gratuities.

Royal Caribbean includes daily service charges in the fare for all Australian and New Zealand bookings. This includes Australians and New Zealanders sailing overseas (in Europe, Asia, Alaska and beyond) as long as the fare was booked and paid in AU/NZ dollars. An 18 percent gratuity is automatically added to all bar bills, mini-bar, salon and spa services and in-room dining on ships sailing in all regions, including Australia and New Zealand.

Are gratuities included on Celebrity Cruises ? Technically, yes, though Celebrity -- like most mainstream cruise lines -- insists these tips are only suggested. Expect gratuities added to your account in the amount of $18 per guest, per day, staying in Inside, Ocean View, and Veranda cabins on Celebrity ships; $18.50 for Concierge Class and AquaClass cruisers and $23 per person, per day for The Retreat (suite) passengers. If you wish to adjust the amount you pay, this can be done onboard at guest relations.

A 20% gratuity is automatically added to specialty dining, beverage, beverage package, room service, mini bar purchases, and spa & salon purchases.

Costa Cruises applies a fee of €11 euro per passenger, per night for all travelers aged 15 and over. Children aged 4 to 14 are charged €5.50 per passenger, per night. A charge is not applied to children under the age of 4.

Gratuities are added automatically to each passenger's onboard account. Be warned: Costa states that "the service charge is an integral part of the total price of the cruise and therefore the amount cannot be altered." Aside from that, you are not expected or required to tip extra while onboard, though a 15% gratuity is added to beverage purchases.

On Cunard , daily gratuities vary depending on the cabin category and date of sailing.

For voyages departing up until April 25, 2024, on Queen Elizabeth , and April 27, 2024, on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria , the service charge for Queens and Princess Grill Suites is $16.50 per person, per day, and for passengers in Britannia cabins it is $14.50 per person, per day.

For voyages departing on or after April 26, 2024, on Queen Elizabeth, and April 28, 2024, on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, the service charge for Queens and Princess Grill Suites will be $18 per person per day, and Britannia Staterooms will be $16 per person per day

Cunard 's gratuities apply to both adults and children. To adjust the amount of your automatic tips or to tip independently, see the purser's office.

Casino dealers do not receive a cut of Cunard's automatic gratuities, so consider tipping deserving staff. An automatic 15% charge also applies to spa treatments and services as well as all bar bills.

Disney's new Worlds of Marvel is the line's most ambitious dining venue to date.

Disney Cruise Line gratuities start at $14.50 per person, per night for regular cabins and rise to $15.50 per person, per night for Concierge-class and Suite guests. This applies to all guests.

Tips can either be prepaid up to three days prior to the start of your Disney cruise or will be automatically charged to onboard accounts. To adjust the amount of your automatic tips or to tip independently, see the purser's office.

An automatic 18% gratuity is added to Disney's bar, beverage, wine, spa and deck service tabs. It is suggested that cruisers tip a couple of dollars for room service as it's delivered, as this is not included.

Fred. Olsen's Borealis at sea. Photo: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Fred. Olsen gratuities are entirely at the discretion of each passenger. The recommended amount is £5 per passenger, per day, to be divided equally between the cabin stewards and waiters. This amount is automatically added to passengers' onboard accounts toward the end of the cruise, but it can be adjusted at reception at any point during the sailing. There is no charge for children under 12 on Fred. Olsen cruises .

Passengers are at liberty to tip staff members personally if they wish to do so, and envelopes for this purpose are available at reception. All bar bill gratuities are included in the cost of the drink.

Holland America gratuities are automatically charged at $17 per person, per day for regular cabin passengers and $19 for suite passengers. Gratuities on HAL apply to both adults and children. Passengers should visit guest services to adjust these if they want. An automatic 18% gratuity is added to beverage packages, specialty dining, spa services, bar packages and main dining room wine purchases.

Although MSC Cruises removed auto-gratuities for U.K. & Ireland passengers from October 2019, gratuities are still applied to U.S. cruisers' bills. Auto-gratuities vary by destination and onboard currency (USD or euros).

Amounts are as follows (per person, per night):

Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada & New England: $16 for passengers ages 12 and over and $8 for 2 to 11 year olds.

South America and Grand Voyages from Caribbean (northbound): $14.50 for ages 12 and over and $7.25 for children 2 to 11 years.

Grand Voyages from Caribbean (southbound): €12 euro per night for passengers aged 12 and over and €6 per night for children 2 to11 years.

South Africa cruises: $10 for ages 12 and older and $5 for ages 2 to 11 years.

Grand Voyages from South Africa (Northbound): $14.50 for ages 12 and older and $7.25 for ages 2 to 11 years.

Grand Voyages to South Africa (Southbound): €12 per person, per night, and €6 per night for children 14 and older.

Europe (Mediterranean, Canaries and Northern Europe) cruises, "Antilles" and "Emirates" voyages of eight nights or less: €12 per person, per night, and €6 per night for children 14 and older.

Asia: $16 for adults and children.

MSC does not permit adjustments to the amounts listed above; however, if you deem service unsatisfactory, you can have the charges removed from your onboard account by contacting the guest relations manager while onboard. An automatic 15% gratuity is added to bar purchases. Gratuities are not added to spa bills, so passengers can tip at their discretion.

N C L P R I M A Ship exterior Marion barbier

Norwegian Cruise Line has some of the highest gratuities at sea with passengers staying in all regular cabins and Club Balcony cabins automatically billed $20 per day; Suite passengers are $25 per day. There is no charge for children younger than 3.

Passengers sailing to Hawaii are charged an additional 4.275% Pre Paid Service Charge GET Tax.

Should you wish to adjust NCL's service charges , you must contact the onboard reception desk. A 20% gratuity is added to bar bills, specialty and entertainment dining, and spa services. Norwegian suggests that passengers who use concierge or butler service provide a gratuity "commensurate with the services rendered."

In May 2019, P&O Cruises scrapped its daily service charge. Passengers are welcome to tip cruise line crew as they see fit.

P&O Cruises Australia Alcohol Policy (Photo: Cabeca de Marmore/Shutterstock.com)

P&O Cruises Australia does not automatically add gratuities onto passengers' accounts or spa or bar bills. Cruisers can leave tips for crew members who offer outstanding service by handing cash directly to the crew members they want to thank. Passengers need not carry cash if they don't want to, as they can add the tips to their onboard accounts.

Balcony Stateroom on Pacific Princess (Photo: Princess Cruises)

Princess Cruises gratuities are automatically added to passenger accounts. They start at $16 per day to cover cabin and free dining crew. Passengers in mini-suites and club class are charged $17 per day, and suite passengers pay $18 per day. The amount is the same for children and adults, and it can be prepaid up to six days prior to the start of your cruise.

You can adjust your Princess automatic gratuities upward or downward, or eliminate them altogether, at the purser's office. An 18% gratuity is automatically added to all specialty dining, bar bills and spa services. Casino staff do not receive a cut of auto-gratuities.

Royal Caribbean automatically added for passengers. Royal Caribbean last hiked gratuities in November 2023. These start at $18 per person per day for Junior Suite passengers (and categories below that). Tips on Royal Caribbean rise to $20.50 per person per day for passengers in Grand Suites and above. The daily gratuities are applied to all passengers, regardless of age.

The tips, which can also be prepaid, are shared by dining services staff, cabin attendants and other housekeeping personnel. Passengers who opt for Royal Caribbean 's flexible My Time Dining must prepay gratuities. Guidelines are the same for all passengers, regardless of age.

Passengers can request to adjust the daily amount if they have not received satisfactory service by visiting guest services onboard. An 18% gratuity is automatically added to all bar bills, including the mini-bar, and 20% for salon and spa services.

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These days, most overseas cruise lines charge passengers a daily compulsory gratuity fee, money that is shared among crew members (room stewards, restaurant staff, housekeeping and other behind-the-scenes crew) to boost their low wages. This fee is on top of your cruise fare – things have changed from the days when you left some cash in an envelope for your room steward for his or her hard work and slipped the maître d’ at the main dining room a few extra dollars for exemplary service every evening (because back in the day, you only dined in one restaurant for the duration of the cruise).

Whether or not you agree with the policy of compulsory gratuities, it’s a fact of modern cruising. That said, unless it’s for exceptional service, tipping goes against the grain for Australians. In fact, it was so unpopular on local cruise ships that P&O Cruises abolished compulsory gratuities in 2010.

Carnival Cruise Line followed suit and stopped charging compulsory gratuities aboard Australia-based ships Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend, and there’s no tipping on the Princess Cruise ships based year-round in Australia: Sun Princess , Dawn Princess, Majestic Princess and Sea Princess. Passengers on these ships can tip crew as they see fit, either in cash to an individual crew member, or by adding a particular extra amount to their account.

However, overseas cruise lines cruising in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands for the summer season do charge compulsory gratuities and you need to factor these in to your budget. It is possible to ask for them to be removed at the Guest Relations desk on the ship at the end of your cruise but it’s not a popular move. The fee is charged on a daily basis on every passenger’s account (including children’s).

Here’s what you can expect to pay on the three major visiting overseas cruise lines:

Celebrity Cruises (Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Millennium) charges US$12.95 per person, per day for passengers staying in standard staterooms, US$13.45 per person, per day in Concierge Class and AquaClass staterooms, and US$16.45 per person, per day in Suite Class.

Holland America Line (MS Noordam) charges US$12.50 per person, per day for Interior, Ocean-view and Verandah staterooms and US$13.50 per person, per day for passengers staying in suites.

Royal Caribbean International (Explorer of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas) charges US$12.95 per person, per day for passengers in standard staterooms and US$15.95 for passengers in suites.

Gratuity charges – usually 15 per cent – are also added on to drinks, salon and spa services on all cruise lines, unless you go for an all-inclusive luxury line such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises or Silversea, in which case fares cost considerably more from the outset. It all adds up to doing your holiday budget sums carefully before splashing out on that super-low fare – forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes.

Can I remove prepaid gratuities on a cruise?

When it comes to cruise fees, prepaid gratuities might be the sneakiest extra charge that can mess with your vacation budget. If you've never booked a big-ship cruise before, you might not realize that cruise lines tack on automatic gratuities that can add hundreds of dollars to your final bill. Booking websites don't always announce those extra fees until you're asked if you want to prepay them in the final steps of the cruise booking process.

Cruisers do have options, albeit limited ones. You can prepay the gratuities when booking or wait to pay them as part of your onboard bill. You may also be able to remove the automatic gratuities – but is it a good idea?

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Here, we explore cruise prepaid gratuities and whether you should pay them or not.

What are prepaid gratuities?

Cruise lines use the term "prepaid gratuities" in multiple ways, which makes the concept even more confusing to newbies.

Most frequently, prepaid gratuities refer to the option for travelers to pay the automatically added tips when they book the cruise rather than paying them as part of their onboard bill at the end of the sailing.

However, prepaid gratuities can also refer to a promotion in which the cruise line or a travel agent offers to pay your crew tips for you. You get a discount on your final cruise bill because you're not responsible for the gratuities.

Some luxury or more-inclusive cruise lines always cover gratuities in their fare, so you never have to worry about a sneaky extra fee.

Related: Tipping on a cruise ship: Everything you need to know

What do prepaid gratuities cover on a cruise?

Prepaid gratuities cover tips for housekeeping and dining room staff members – waiters, room stewards, etc. They supplement the base salaries of the hotel services team members, some of whom you'll interact with on your cruise (like a waiter) and others you won't (like the crew members who wash your sheets).

The prepaid gratuities do not cover tips for bar service or spa treatments or gratuities for local guides and drivers who lead your excursions in port. While tipping tour guides is left to your discretion, many cruise lines automatically tack a 15% to 20% tip onto bar and spa bills. Some also add automatic gratuities to your check at extra-fee restaurants on board.

Related: What's included in your cruise fare?

Which cruises have free prepaid gratuities?

Not every line or every sailing requires prepaid gratuities.

Certain lines, usually higher-end ones, include crew gratuities in their cruise fares. Lines like Silversea , Seabourn and Regent Seven Seas Cruises do not charge extra for staff appreciation. Big-ship line Virgin Voyages also includes crew tips in its base prices.

Some lines give you the option to purchase an extra-inclusions package, which may cover gratuities. Princess Cruises ' Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages, Celebrity Cruises ' All-Included package and Windstar Cruises ' All-Inclusive fares bundle crew gratuities with other complimentary perks (such as drinks packages and Wi-Fi access) at a discounted price, compared to purchasing all the components separately.

Additionally, some travel sellers may occasionally offer to pay your gratuities for you on select cruise lines as part of a promotion.

Related: Best all-inclusive cruise lines

Should I prepay cruise gratuities or not?

As with any financial decision, there are pros and cons to choosing prepaid gratuities versus adding them to your onboard bill.

The benefit of prepaying gratuities is that you account for the cost in your initial booking, which might help you get a clearer picture of the actual total cost of the trip. You won't accidentally spend that money before your cruise, leaving you less for fun activities once you're on vacation.

The downside is you hand over more money to the cruise line early. If you wait to pay until your sailing, those dollars will continue to earn interest for you longer (if you keep your vacation funds in an interest-bearing account). Prepaying gratuities also prevents you from changing the amount once on board if you're dissatisfied with the service.

Related: 11 extra charges on cruise ships that will drive you nuts — and what you can do about them

What happens if you don't prepay gratuities on a cruise?

If you do not prepay cruise gratuities before sailing, the cruise line will add them to your onboard bill. The cruise line will then charge your credit card for the gratuity amount at the end of the sailing – along with other purchases you made with your cruise card (drinks, souvenirs, spa treatments, tours, etc.).

The answer to this question is complicated, so bear with me.

If you have prepaid gratuities during the cruise booking process, you cannot remove them on board. The cruise line has had your money for months, and it won't give it back.

If you have not prepaid gratuities and the service charges show up on your onboard bill, you can go to guest services before the sailing ends and request to have the amounts altered or removed. You'll be asked to explain why you're unhappy with the service you received.

However, even if your room steward was sloppy and your waiter was rude (extremely rare occurrences), or if you come from a non-tipping culture, please reconsider removing the automatic gratuity charges. The tips are not merely goodwill gestures; they're a critical portion of crew members' pay.

Refuse to pay, and these hardworking cruise employees have less to send home to their families. You don't have to like the system, but given that it's the one the cruise companies have chosen, I encourage you not to penalize the crew for it.

Bottom line

If you're cruising on a big-ship line, understand that crew gratuities are an integral part of the cruise cost. You can prepay gratuities when you book or pay them as part of your onboard bill at the end of your sailing. You can look for a package that offers a discount on prepaid gratuities or a promotion offering free prepaid gratuities.

Whether prepaid gratuities are worth it is up to you and how you budget for travel. While you can find ways to avoid giving tips to the crew, you really shouldn't. The crew members work hard to make your vacation amazing, in ways you see and in ways you don't, and they deserve that financial thank-you for their service.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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Princess cruises to sail largest-ever europe cruise and cruisetour season in 2026.

New Sun Princess One of Five to Sail Region

Season Also Features Total Solar Eclipse Cruise - Return to Copenhagen – Plus New Roundtrip Rome Itineraries

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. , May 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Princess Cruises is going big in Europe for 2026. The "Love Boat" line today announced that its 2026 European cruise and cruisetour season will be its biggest ever, with five Princess cruise ships sailing the region, including the sensational new Sun Princess. Set to sail on a record-breaking 222 cruises, guests will have unparalleled opportunities to explore the beauty and diversity of Europe .

Running March through November 2026 , the European season features 59 unique itineraries, visiting 101 destinations across 29 countries, ranging from five to 42 nights. Highlights of the upcoming season include an opportunity to experience the 2026 total solar eclipse; sail on the newest Princess ship – Sun Princess; the return of roundtrip cruises from Copenhagen and new itineraries from Rome . The robust season goes on sale May 23, 2024 .

"There's incredible demand for European vacations and we don't see that slowing down anytime soon," said Terry Thornton , chief commercial officer for Princess Cruises. "Guests should book early as our best pricing will be when these cruises first go on sale. Our 2026 season delivers the best of Europe with incredible voyages visiting a mix of marquee ports, as well as smaller, off-the-beaten-path spots offering guests their very own personalized journey."

2026 Europe Highlights Sun Princess , the next-level Love Boat from Princess, will sail 7-, 14- and 21-night Mediterranean voyages departing from Civitavecchia ( Rome ), Piraeus ( Athens ), and Barcelona . Guests on a 14- and 21-night voyage can enjoy an itinerary without calling to the same port twice for a Grand Mediterranean Adventure .

Itinerary Sample: A seven-night Mediterranean voyage sails roundtrip from Piraeus ( Athens ) to Barcelona , calling at Santorini, Kotor, Corfu, and Messina ( Sicily ).

The newest Princess ship is a true engineering marvel, offering an extraordinary cruise experience with not-to-be-missed culinary, entertainment and luxury accommodations. Sun Princess debuts new eye-catching experience venues including The Dome, a groundbreaking geodesic, glass-enclosed structure at the top of the ship inspired by the terraces of Santorini. The outward and suspended Sphere Atrium, the namesake of this new class of ship, takes the central Piazza hub of the ship into a new dimension. With 30 inviting restaurant and bar venues with an unprecedented collection of celebrity collaborators, high-end ingredients and culinary experiences, Sun Princess has something for every guest to love.

The 3,660-guest Sky Princess will return for its sixth year to home port in Southampton . Sky Princess takes guests on itineraries ranging from seven to 28 nights to destinations including Northern Europe , the Canary Islands, and the Mediterranean.

On August 12, 2026 , Sky Princess will sail directly into the "path of totality" on a special 14-night Total Solar Eclipse Cruise which also visits France , Spain and Portugal . The cruise departs Southampton August 8, 2026 .

NEW for 2026 is a 28-night Northern Europe and Mediterranean itinerary sailing roundtrip Southampton and calling to Skagen, Copenhagen , Warnemunde (for Berlin ), Stockholm (overnight), Helsinki , Tallinn , Visby, Zeebrugge (for Brussels /Bruges), Southampton , Vigo, Cadiz (for Seville ), Malaga, Cartagena, Gibraltar , Lisbon , Bilbao , Le Verdon (for Bordeaux ). Departs September 12, 2026 .

NEW for 2026, the 3,660-guest Enchanted Princess offers Mediterranean itineraries roundtrip from Civitavecchia ( Rome ), ranging from five, seven, eight, and 14-nights.

Itinerary Sample: A seven-night Mediterranean & Adriatic sailing roundtrip Rome (Civitavecchia) to Dubrovnik, Kotor and Corfu.

For the first time-ever, the 3,560-guest Majestic Princess is sailing roundtrip from Southampton , offering British Isles and Northern Europe itineraries ranging from 11, 12 and 14 nights. British Isles voyages take guests to historic ports across England , Wales , Ireland , Northern Ireland and Scotland , while the Northern Europe itineraries include stops in Scandinavia, Iceland , the Netherlands , Germany , and Belgium .

Itinerary Sample: A 14-night Northern Europe cruise visits Haugesund ( Norway ), Skjolden/Sognefjord ( Norway ), Olden/Nordfjord ( Norway ), Aalesund ( Norway ), Reykjavik ( Iceland ), Isafjordur ( Iceland ), Akureyri ( Iceland ).

Princess Cruises returns to Copenhagen after six years with the 2,670-guest Sapphire Princess , providing 12-night Northern Europe itineraries.

Itinerary Sample: Visits to Skagen, Oslo , Gdynia, Klaipeda, Riga , Tallinn , Helsinki , Nynashamn (for Stockholm ), and Visby.

Prior to sailing from Copenhagen , Sapphire Princess sails in the Mediterranean for two months between March and April 2026 , from Barcelona , plus itineraries sailing roundtrip from Civitavecchia ( Rome ).

Cruisetours: Guests can combine a Europe cruise with multiple days on land to experience more of the region with five cruisetours to choose from. Guests can choose to sightsee in the cosmopolitan city of Madrid on the Highlights of Spain cruisetour, visit Florence and Rome on the Classic Italy cruisetour, explore Mediterranean treasures on the Best of Greece cruisetour or take in the spectacular landscapes of Ireland on the Ring of Kerry cruisetour.

Grand Adventures and Passages: All five ships sail ultimate transatlantic crossings, offering voyages ranging between 14- and 29-nights.

More Ashore: 19 ports include 'More Ashore' late-night stays on select itineraries, and three ports provide overnight stays – Alta, Hamburg and Stockholm .

With Princess Plus and Premier inclusive packages guests enjoy the ultimate in savings by adding popular amenities like WiFi, beverages, fitness classes, crew gratuities and more at an even greater savings of up 65% when amenities are purchased separately.

Princess Captain's Circle members can take advantage of an early booking window starting May 16, 2024 , and are eligible for a special discount if booking before August 31, 2024 .

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-Princess (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting www.princess.com .

About Princess Cruises Princess Cruises is The Love Boat, the world's most iconic cruise brand that delivers dream vacations to millions of guests every year in the most sought-after destinations on the largest ships that offer elite service personalization and simplicity customary of small, yacht-class ships. Well-appointed staterooms, world class dining, grand performances, award-winning casinos and entertainment, luxurious spas, imaginative experiences and boundless activities blend with exclusive Princess MedallionClass service to create meaningful connections and unforgettable moments in the most incredible settings in the world - the Caribbean , Alaska , Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe , South America , Australia / New Zealand , the South Pacific, Hawaii , Asia , Canada /New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK).

View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/princess-cruises-to-sail-largest-ever-europe-cruise-and-cruisetour-season-in-2026-302141810.html

SOURCE Princess Cruises

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Around-the-World Cruises: Everything Travelers Need to Know About These Epic Voyages

A n around-the-world cruise is often thought of as the pinnacle of a sailing vacation . Some cruisers treat these multi-month journeys as once-in-a-lifetime trips; others are frequent guests, a world cruise but one piece of their annual travel plans. There are also the enduring tales of older travelers who elect for extended world voyages as an unconventional retirement plan . (Though as onboard WiFi becomes more reliable, it's now possible to work remote from many cruise ships, as well.)

Whatever the reason, the allure of this mode of travel is strong. Why not unpack once, enjoying fairy godmother-like service, exemplary amenities, and always-changing views for months on end? Plenty of cruisers with time and money on their hands do exactly that, choosing an extended at-sea lifestyle for at least a portion of the year. Around-the-world cruises often run from early January through March or April, although new off-season itineraries are being introduced.

If an epic voyage across multiple oceans and continents fits into your future, be prepared to plan the trip far in advance. World cruises have a strong following among cruisers—many of the sailings can sell out up to a year before departure. Travelers can also book shorter “segments” joining the ship for only a portion of the journey, but cruise lines often add significant value-adds to those booking the entire voyage—everything from free business class airfare to other exclusives like special parties and invite-only shore excursions.

Here's everything travelers need to know about taking an around-the-world cruise, including tricks from veteran world cruisers, booking tips, and some of the best itineraries in 2025 and beyond.

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

Booking tips for around-the-world cruises

How much is a cruise to go around the world.

World cruises, which may not actually circumnavigate the globe entirely, but are generally in a category that covers at least three continents and lasts from 90 to 150 days, generally start around $140 per passenger per night based on double occupancy. All in all, the cost of 100-plus day world cruise can range from $16,000 to over $800,000 per person, depending on the line and cabin type.

Is an around the world cruise worth it?

That’s certainly subjective, but travelers already accustomed to cruising—who appreciate the amenities of a ship and the lifestyle of a new port to view through the window every few days—will likely consider world cruises good value.

How much does a 180-day cruise around the world cost?

The longest world voyages we found generally lasted up to 140 to 150 days at their upper limits, although Oceania Cruises world cruises can be 180 days or more, starting at $48,799 per passenger.

Advice from frequent world cruisers

Roger Foenander and his partner David Mutton—loyalists to Viking Cruises —note the lack of pressure to see and do things within a tight timeframe on longer journeys, which provides plenty of freedom to relax. That might mean attending onboard enrichment lectures, spending the afternoon playing cards with fellow passengers, or dipping into the onboard spa and sauna before cocktail hour.

Linda Wiseman, who has traveled with Cunard , suggests new faces can help get ahead of any monotony: “In the dining room, we tell the maître d’ not to seat us with another couple who is sailing the whole thing—that way, our seat mates switch every few weeks, and we can meet different people.”

New Orleans-based philanthropist and veteran world cruiser Phyllis Taylor observes that these sailings are a class set apart, without the frenzied pace of shorter itineraries: “The difference between a short cruise and a world cruise is night and day, storm and calm, fleeting thought and thoughtfulness. I enter the bar in the evening, in no time my favorite song is being played, my favorite drinks sit before me. I go to dinner and my favorite table is waiting for me, and my waiter has already served the iced water with lemon just as I like it."

But the real value of a world cruise, Taylor says, is the chance to fully immerse in and savor the experience: “With an extended cruise you absorb the lifestyle of life at sea; with the great advantage of having a crew and staff that treats you like royalty.”

The best around-the-world cruise itineraries

Silversea’s 136-day sailing onboard their newest ship, Silver Dawn , will embark in Tokyo in January 2025. Called Controtempo , the cruise will sail in the opposite direction and season of many world cruises, taking in Japan and China in January before heading to Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives , and Seychelles in February. The ship will spend the spring making its way up Africa’s Atlantic Coast—arriving in the Baltic Sea before cruising to Iceland and Greenland (an uncommon call for World Cruises), then tracing Newfoundland and New England to New York.

Fares start at $77,560 “Port-to-Port” or $79,060 “Door-to-Door,” which includes business class airfare and transfers—including pickups and drop-offs in the traveler’s home city.

Book With Silversea

Princess Cruises

Most world cruises departing from North America head to sea in January, but in 2026 Princess Cruises will be offering 114-day World Cruises during the northern summer. Departing in early May from Auckland, New Zealand; or Sydney or Brisbane, Australia (mid-autumn in the Southern Hemisphere), the sailings are timed to arrive in Western and Northern Europe during the peak of summer, promising endless sunny days.

The sailing also has a number of long stretches of sea days for cruisers who like time to unwind and enjoy the amenities of the ship, Crown Princess . Some of the longer ocean crossings, like Brisbane to Bali and Colombo, Sri Lanka to Aqaba, Jordan will take a week or longer, while three other ocean crossings are at least four days.

Inside cabins start at $15,588 per passenger or from $22,248 for Princess Plus fares, which includes beverages, WiFi, and onboard gratuities.

Book With Princess Cruises

Crystal’s land partnerships with parent company Abercrombie & Kent are front and center during their 2025 World Cruise , a 123-night sailing departing from Fort Lauderdale on January 7 onboard the Crystal Serenity —fresh off a complete refurbishment that reduced the total number of cabins, which now all offer butler service in every room or suite category.

With port calls in South America, Africa, India, the Middle East, and Europe, Crystal will offer guests a number of overland packages in partnership with Abercrombie & Kent—think multi-night side trips to the Galápagos Islands , Machu Picchu, the Serengeti, Taj Mahal, or Karnak Temple.

Guests booking Crystal's full World Cruise will have included Business Class airfare, $1,500 shipboard credit, luggage valet, and airport transfers. Fares start at $66,500 per passenger based on double occupancy in an Ocean View Deluxe stateroom.

Book With Crystal

Regent Seven Seas

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has already opened their 2027 world cruise for booking—and they have a tendency to sell out quickly. It will be the first year a larger Explorer Class ship, the Seven Seas Splendor , will undertake the world voyage, calling at 71 ports en route from Miami to New York in January 2027.

The routing will take the ship from the Caribbean to the Pacific coast of Mexico via the Panama Canal, Hawaii, several ports in French Polynesia (calling twice at both Moorea and Bora Bora), Australia, Southeast Asia, India, the Persian Gulf, the Eastern and Western Mediterranean, and Bermuda before arriving in New York.

Early bookers will get a long list of added amenities, including first class airfare, a pre-cruise gala in Miami, exclusive shoreside experiences in Panama City, Colombo, and Málaga , unlimited shore excursions, unlimited beverages, gratuities, transfers, door-to-door luggage service, and unlimited laundry, dry cleaning, and pressing. Fares start at $91,449 per passenger and go up to $839,999 per passenger for the ship’s most luxurious suite.

Book With Regent Seven Seas

Oceania Cruises

Many world cruises depart in January and sail in the 100- to 140-day range, mostly wrapping up by April or May. Oceania’s 180-day world cruises last until midsummer, and are often “true” around-the-world sailings, ending in the same port they first embarked from.

Oceania’s 2025 Global Horizons sailing lasts a whopping 196 days onboard Insignia , roundtrip from Miami. The sailing includes several destinations in the Eastern Caribbean, and—extraordinary for a world voyage—a week of scenic cruising along the Amazon River . The voyage continues in South America before crossing the Atlantic to the remote islands of Tristan de Cunha, a British Overseas Territory, before making landfall again in Namibia , tracing the African coast through South Africa, Mozambique, and the French department of Mayotte (another rare stop for a cruise), island-hopping in the Indian Ocean before calling in India.

The sailing covers a lot of ground in Asia—Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, China, Japan, the Philippines, Brunei, and Indonesia—before cruising the west and south coasts of Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, French Polynesia, and Hawaii. Crossing the Pacific to San Diego the ship then hops down the coasts of Mexico and Central America through the Panama Canal before returning to Miami in mid-July.

Oceania’s 2026 Around the World in 180 Days sailing is also roundtrip from Miami. Sailing westbound, the itinerary covers the east and west coasts of South America, the South Pacific, Australia, Southeast Asia, and much of the Middle East before transiting the Mediterranean to spend significant time in northwestern Europe and the Baltic Sea before crossing the far north Atlantic via Iceland and Canada before returning to Miami.

Starting fares for each of the world voyages currently range from $48,799 to to $57,999, including a number of value-adds like roundtrip airfare and airport transfers, plus a number of added onboard amenities.

Book With Oceania Cruises

Around-the-World Cruises: Everything Travelers Need to Know About These Epic Voyages

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News Release

Princess cruises expands caribbean program with return to san juan home port.

Grand Princess to Sail Southern Caribbean Itineraries from Puerto Rico , Visiting Most Ports of any Seven-Day Caribbean Itinerary

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. , May 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Princess Cruises today announced its return to San Juan, Puerto Rico for a season of Southern Caribbean cruises onboard Grand Princess, from October 2025 through March 2026 . This vibrant capital city of Puerto Rico offers rich history and culture with must-see attractions for Princess guests pre- and post-cruise. These seven-day cruises, which visit more ports than any other 7-day Princess cruise to the Caribbean , are on sale May 16 .

Princess Cruises Expands Caribbean Program with Return to San Juan Home Port

Terry Thornton , chief commercial officer for Princess Cruises . " Puerto Rico remains one of the fastest-growing destinations in the Caribbean and continues to attract new airlift from source markets across the U.S. as well as markets in Europe and South America , which makes it a great fit for Princess. Plus, there are many outstanding options to choose from for a great pre- or post-cruise stay."

Originally scheduled to sail Australia , New Zealand and South Pacific voyages from Brisbane and Sydney , Grand Princess will now sail two alternating, seven-night itineraries, with departures from October 12, 2025 - March 29, 2026 . These new itineraries each feature visits to five different and unique destinations, including many of the most highly rated Southern Caribbean destinations—many of which are not available on 7-day cruises departing from Florida .

Carlos Mercado Santiago , executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company .

Grand Princess Itineraries Sailing Roundtrip from San Juan :

Guests can choose to combine itineraries for an incredible 14-day voyage.

The 2,600-guest Grand Princess offers an array of culinary delights, signature Princess amenities like The Sanctuary and Movies Under the Stars, and Broadway -style productions in the Princess Theater . Plus, guests can enjoy a truly personalized vacation with Princess MedallionClass, featuring next-level technology with MedallionNet - the best WiFi at sea - food and drinks delivered wherever they are, touchless experiences and more.

Plus, enhancing the vacation value with Princess Plus and Premier inclusive packages allow guests to save over 65% on essentials such as gratuities, Wi-Fi, beverages, and more, providing added convenience and enjoyment for their journey.

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-Princess (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting www.princess.com .

About Princess Cruises Princess Cruises is The Love Boat, the world's most iconic cruise brand that delivers dream vacations to millions of guests every year in the most sought-after destinations on the largest ships that offer elite service personalization and simplicity customary of small, yacht-class ships. Well-appointed staterooms, world class dining, grand performances, award-winning casinos and entertainment, luxurious spas, imaginative experiences and boundless activities blend with exclusive Princess MedallionClass service to create meaningful connections and unforgettable moments in the most incredible settings in the world - the Caribbean , Alaska , Panama Canal , Mexican Riviera, Europe , South America , Australia / New Zealand , the South Pacific, Hawaii , Asia , Canada /New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises . The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK).

SOURCE Princess Cruises

CONTACTS: Negin Kamali, +1 661-753-1539, [email protected]; Briana Latter, +1 661-753-1538, [email protected]; Newsroom: Additional media information is available at princess.com/news

AIDA Cruises is the market leader in the German-speaking cruise market. Home of the smile, AIDA Cruises is the epitome of a premium-quality, relaxing cruise and operates one of the world’s most state-of-the-art fleets. Visit: www.aida.de

Carnival Cruise Line, also known as America’s Cruise Line, is a leader in contemporary cruising and operates a fleet of ships designed to provide fun and memorable vacation experiences at a great value. Visit: www.carnival.com

Costa Cruises delivers Italy’s finest at sea, bringing modern Italian lifestyle to its ships to provide guests with a true European experience that embodies a unique passion for life through warm hospitality, entertainment and gastronomy. Visit: www.costacruise.com

Cunard is the epitome of British refinement for travelers who relish the line’s impeccable White Star Service, gourmet dining, world-class entertainment, and the legacy of historic voyages and transatlantic travel. Visit: www.cunard.com

Holland America Line's premium fleet of spacious, elegant mid-sized ships feature sophisticated five-star dining, extensive entertainment and activities, innovative culinary enrichment programs and compelling worldwide itineraries. Visit: www.hollandamerica.com

P&O Cruises (UK) is Britain’s favorite cruise line with a fleet of ships combining genuine service and a sense of occasion and attention to detail, ensuring passengers have the holiday of a lifetime, every time. Visit: www.pocruises.co.uk

P&O Cruises (Australia) provides a quintessential holiday experience for Australians and New Zealanders, taking them to some of the world's most idyllic and hard-to-reach places across Asia and the South Pacific. Visit: www.pocruises.co.au

Princess is the world’s leading international cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of modern cruise ships, renowned for the innovative design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment and amenities. Visit: www.princess.com

Seabourn provides ultraluxury cruising vacations in a unique, small-ship style that focuses on genuine, intuitive service, all-suite accommodations, superb cuisine and unique experiences in destinations worldwide. Visit: www.seabourn.com

Princess Cruises

Question about gratuities...

By Greytgrey , September 17, 2023 in Princess Cruises

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Rick&Jeannie

First of all...be prepared for a firestorm! This is one of those topics that absolutely get people riled up.

We pay the gratuities as part of our cruise fare and then (almost always) pay our room steward an extra (nice) tip at the end of the cruise (assuming he/she did a good job.) We can't possibly support (directly) all of the people who work in the background...so we just trust Princess to "do the right thing" with the tip pool. Maybe they do, maybe they don't. (I hope they do.) But yes, the tips are supposedly pooled fleetwide. (I don't know the detail of how that works.)

@Greytgrey If you book a 'package' - either PLUS or Premier - the CA (crew appreciation) is included in that fare and can not be removed

Just now, voljeep said: @Greytgrey If you book a 'package' - either PLUS or Premier - the CA (crew appreciation) is included in that fare and can not be removed

Thank you. I was going to ask about this separately. I haven't bought a package and don't really plan to but I couldn't tell exactly what the Crew Appreciation was. Actually, knowing that it is the suggested gratuities makes the packages MORE appealing to me, so I might need to run some numbers on that.

We are not big drinkers...but we prefer to book the Plus package mainly because it bundles the things that we would be doing anyway. We will generally not drink much at all if we are "paying as we go" but since it's included we will branch out and experiment a bit with drinks that we've never tried. I will ALWAYS go for the internet...we're going to do the gratuities and that pretty much covers it for us.

We most always get the Plus package, so gratuities are included. We also tip extra cash to those crew members who provide extra or special services. This is at your own discretion, of course.

I don’t think about how the prepaid gratuities are allocated. That’s between Princess, the employer, and the crew, the employees. Both parties have agreed to the terms of their contract.

blizzard44ca

We typically purchase a package that has standard CA included. (We wouldn’t adjust it if we could)

In addition, we will either (sometimes both) leave additional cash tip, or specific mention by name on the survey, for those who go out of their way to enhance our cruise experience. This is dependent on the length of the cruise, and how they assisted.

First off despite what those who claim to be in the know say I doubt that anyone on here knows definitively how the crew are paid and how tips, be they paid via your account or given to individuals, are dealt with. There will be 1001 different stories on the internet that claim to have been told to various people by crew members - whether any of them are true or not remains uncertain.

You will also find that the responses will vary considerably based on the geographic location of those posting - USA having a totally different view on tipping to the majority of the rest of the world.

My view is that I pay what is asked of me with an additional tip for exceptional service and what happens after that is of no concern of mine - I have more important things in my life to worry about!

I really don't care what the crew makes. They all work very hard and deserve everything they get. I don't believe the tips are a part of their salary, and will continue to pre pay the tips at the going rate, and tip additionally as I see fit.

If you run the numbers for the plus fare you will find that if you drink 2, maybe 3 alcoholic beverages per day you break even. It all depends on how many non-alcoholic beverages you consume. Almost all non-alcoholic beverages are included and unlimited, including specialty coffees and espresso drinks, fountain sodas, juices, bottled water and so on. Coffee & tea is free all day in the buffet and in the DRs. Juice is free during breakfast hours. You will also receive 2 casual dining meals per cruise, unlimited wifi/internet and some other things. The plus fare also covers the new one month old fees, the one time $15 Ocean Now app access and the new room service fee of $5/call. The plus fare is $60/day extra.

For information I have always let the auto-tip in place and provided extra cash to the cabin steward at the end of the voyage. That's me. Makes me feel good and I'm certain the cabin steward feels good also.

My wife and I will continue to pay the suggested tips along with extra tips for good dining room servers and assistants along with our room steward. We even tipped a casino worker since she was always so nice during our last cruise. We appreciate their hard work. I feel that some people just don't like to tip but this is part of cruising. Some people are probably just cheap.

sunviking90

Here we go….. The thread is officially “hot”

charliedalrymple

Your tipping choices are probably going to depend on where you are from. Europeans and Australians don't have a culture of tipping like the Americans. Of course, we pay service workers a living wage.

SargassoPirate

I cruise with the standard/steerage booking mostly because I can't make the math work for the packages. I pay the standard gratuity once I'm onboard as part of my daily expenditures. I don't use the app on board and prefer to order my evening drink(s) from a human. If that human has it on the ball, I'll tip them a little extra - especially when my butt and my drink start getting to the table at the same time.

It's low stress, old school cruising and I enjoy it.

We are probably about the same as the majority of PCL cruisers. We pay the suggested tipping amount charged daily on our folio and tip extra when warranted by excellent service! We still think PCL has the best crews out of all the lines we’ve sailed.

Always a hot and controversial topic!

Cruise Raider

Being from the US, we would never consider removing the crew appreciation as we believe there are those behind the scenes that contribute to experience while onboard. I understand there are cultures where tipping is not the norm and I can respect that, as well. But while in Rome (or on a cruise), do as the Romans do. We always get at least the Plus Package. We also tend to bring goodie bags of treats (individually packaged bags of chips, chocolates, nuts, protein bars, trail mix, etc) for those that have made our trip extra special, but usually only if we leave out of our home port as we are able to easily take an extra piece of luggage. Some staff may also get an extra cash tip, which they are able to keep but we’ve noticed that, at least at the bars, it goes into a jar to be shared with the crew at that specific bar. We don’t go overboard with cash tipping, though. For room service, we leave between $3-$5 per delivery. We usually distribute no more than $100 overall for a 10 day cruise for our favorite waiters, bartenders and room steward …. some passengers leave a lot more, some leave nothing extra and the choice is always personal. I’ve never seen waiters complain or give lessened service if people do not leave them extra. Oftentimes, we will just ask what they want or need from in port if they don’t get a chance to get off the ship .. they are always hesitant to tell us but we convince them they will just get something they may not want. 😉

Most important, we always fill out the survey post cruise. We learned they only get to recognized onboard if we do so within 3 days at the end of the cruise. I text myself all the names of the staff that we’ve gotten to know to make sure I don’t forget anyone that gave us extra special care.

Although I've toyed with the idea if adjusting CA I keep them as-is, add as needed (setting up my elite tea, same table wait staff inc HW [special diet], steward), and add in a bowl of Ghirardelli chocolates for them to take one as desired (yes that bowl gets smaller and it's not just me).

3 minutes ago, charliedalrymple said: Your tipping choices are probably going to depend on where you are from. Europeans and Australians don't have a culture of tipping like the Americans. Of course, we pay service workers a living wage.

As do we in California. Minimum wage $16 hr [service workers $20 hr next year], company heathcare insurance mandatory, & 401k optional. USA is unfortunately a collection of 50 states with very different ideas

we leave the CA in place as we have PLUS, then Premier

we are working on a 'bribe bag' to give our steward upon meeting him / her the on embarkation day.

for a little 5 day cruise - so far it contains (and my wife was working on this bag this morning) a thank-you in advance for ... with a $20 inside. It also contains a nice fingernail clipper set, a mini flashlight, some lip balm, some candies and whatever else she may pick up between now and then.

we/she also made up some little bags for certain crew members we come across (Vines, for sure) that include the mini flashlight, lip balm and whatever else she comes across between now and then. Those people I will tip directly as warrants.

Just to be clear, any bags are in addition to cash tips - not in lieu of

Ken the cruiser

1 hour ago, Greytgrey said: I've never cruised Princess before, but on other cruise lines have consistently paid the "suggested" gratuity, and then also tipped as compelled beyond that.

I'm just curious, which specific cruise lines have you sailed with in the last 8 years or so have allowed you the option of paying their "suggested" gratuity? We have cruised with HAL, PCL, Celebrity, Crystal, NCL, Oceania, and Disney, and none of these lines simply handed out envelopes anymore for you to optionally pay their suggested gratuity amount.

However, I do remember having that option back in 2012-2015 to do so, until the major cruise lines started applying predefined gratuities, based on cabin category, to our shipboard account. The only exception to that policy was Crystal. With them gratuities were automatically included in the cruise fare, and thus could not be removed by disgruntled passengers while on the cruise.

Guest Snaxmuppet

My starting position is one of being a Brit... that is that as a Brit I subscribe to the concept that a tip or gratuity should be an optional payment given because someone did something over and above what would normally be expected of them. It should not be that they have to rely on them to be able to earn a decent wage.

OK... with that out of the way you might think that I am one of those that want to withhold automatic Crew Appreciation but I am not. Neither am I one of those that don't tip when abroad such as the USA. No, I tip and I tip well, especially in the USA, because although I wouldn't necessarily tip automatically here in the UK when I am in the USA (or elsewhere abroad) I recognise that theirs is a different system. They rely on those tips and just because I don't think they should have to rely on them they do so I am not going to remove part of their income just because we do things differently here in the UK.

So back to crew appreciation... I say to everyone who is considering removing it and tipping individually please don't do that. I do understand why you might want to do that but remember, the crew look after us when we are at sea and for the most part they do it brilliantly. Don't take away their income. If someone does something extra then yes, tip them privately as well. I always leave a decent tip for the room steward and also the bar staff if they look after me. If you feel the urge to remove the CA because of bad service then just think about how much the crew are paid and you might think twice.

6 hours ago, PacnGoNow said: We are probably about the same as the majority of PCL cruisers. We pay the suggested tipping amount charged daily on our folio and tip extra when warranted by excellent service! We still think PCL has the best crews out of all the lines we’ve sailed. Always a hot and controversial topic!

Ditto on the best crew. While we sail for the itinerary most of the time, with all things being equal we choose Princess.

For those of you who like to present a baggie of gifts to your cabin steward along with cash, stop doing that. Give them extra cash instead. Most of these workers are there to make money to send back home to family. They really do prefer cash and not miscellaneous gifts which they probably already have and the limited space to keep your gifts. They, of course, will smile and say thank you but like I just said they prefer the extra cash to send home to help support their families. It is a nice gesture and thoughtful, but it makes you feel good instead.

Be aware that the gratuities are not shared out amongst the crew on the ship that you are on. They are pooled and shared out fleetwide!

9 minutes ago, 10cruise said: For those of you who like to present a baggie of gifts to your cabin steward along with cash, stop doing that. Give them extra cash instead. Most of these workers are there to make money to send back home to family. They really do prefer cash and not miscellaneous gifts which they probably already have and the limited space to keep your gifts. They, of course, will smile and say thank you but like I just said they prefer the extra cash to send home to help support their families. It is a nice gesture and thoughtful, but it makes you feel good instead.

we will continue to do 'US' - you do you

Happiest when cruising

1 minute ago, rosevew said: Be aware that the gratuities are not shared out amongst the crew on the ship that you are on. They are pooled and shared out fleetwide!

Here’s the part that sounds confusing to me. The part that says it forms part of their compensation- separate from bonuses. To me… that sounds like their basic wage.

I just pre pay them, or use our OBC, once onboard. I would never consider not paying them.

It’s easy to add extra cash tips, since it feels “free” if it’s paid through credits. When Princess removes that option, it will then become a very interesting topic on these boards.

Here’s their information, copied directly from the website.

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Gratuity debate – what do you think?

The announcement of the first increase in gratuities aboard cruise ships in a while has reopened the running debate about the way such payments are extracted from guests. A plethora of policies operate among the lines, adding to the confusion.

Norwegian Cruise Lines announced an increase in its gratuities this week – a rise of $US.95 to $12.95 per passenger per day. Cruise Passenger readers responded with a series of complaints – mainly about the lack of transparency.

Some cruise lines like P&O Australia, Princess Cruises, Scenic Tours and Avalon Waterways include the cost of gratuities when cruisers book and pay for their holidays. So there is no more to pay, unless you want to.

Others like Royal Caribbean itemise the gratuities on your bill. Guests have the option of whether they wish to pay the fee or not. Still other lines add on an additional gratuity fee for spa treatments, bars and excursions. Guests are unaware, and sometimes leave even more cash.

Lines like Silversea include gratuities in the fare but say services received shore side or in the spa are at the guest’s own discretion. Other lines like Ponant recommend a figure to their guests, but again, payment is discretionary.

A spokesperson from Ponant said: “It is not compulsory to provide gratuities, however we suggest an amount of 10 to 12 euros per day, per person, the total amount of which to be distributed among the crew. “Envelopes are placed in cabins for this purpose at the end of the cruise. Gratuities are at guests’ discretion, with the recommended amount suggested, however if guests wish to recognise exceptional service from an individual staff member, they are welcome to do so of course. “Guests can pay the gratuities by charging to their onboard account. Or directly by cash in the envelope delivered in each cabin the day before the disembarkation day.”

One Cruise Passenger reader Lucy Jones recently went on a cruise and was more than happy with the gratuity charge. But was unimpressed with the additional gratuity charges added on. “I thought the $12 per person per day gratuity charge on my last cruise was reasonable, but I did get annoyed at the additional 18% gratuity that was added on to just about everything else on board. Even the shore excursions! I resent paying 18% extra just for the privilege of booking a tour.”

Other readers like Judith Roberts want more transparency when paying the gratuities. “On Holland America in 2014 I don’t think we had a choice – $11 or $12 per person per day just added to the account. Not to say that the service wasn’t good – the crew were fabulous, but it would be nice to make the tipping decision for yourself.”

Readers like Helen Pask said the gratuity fees are already too high. “I will not pay gratuities. I prefer to tip my cabin boy myself. NCL’s gratuities are double that charged by P&O. It is a rip-off. You charge gratuities and then add a tip to all drinks. If you paid your staff a decent salary, there would be no need for tips.” Norwegian Cruise Lines did not respond to Cruise Passenger’s questions.

Tell us what you think. Should cruise lines be more transparent about how they charge gratuities?

Read all ship reviews by Cruise Passenger readers here

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Let’s face it. Gratuities are just part of the staff wages. If we refuse to pay them it’s the staff that suffer, not the cruise line. But I wish there was standard fee for any cabin on any ship and it was shown and paid as part of the cruise fare, much like RCL usually does, so you could just pay and forget. As for the 15% on drinks, most lines no longer refer to them as tips, because they’re clearly not. They are usually called Service Charges.

Tips and gratuities should be abolished altogether, if correct wages were paid there would be no need for people to pay tips at all. If anyone wants to tip do so but do not expect everyone to do the same.

My wife and I have been on a few cruises and the gratuity problem raises its’ head each time. I don’t mind tipping (although in Australia we do not) if the service is exceptional. We have just returned from a cruise around Hawaii with Norwegian Cruise Line. (Never again) There were so many hidden costs, everything was plus, plus. Gratuities were more demanded than even expected. Then there were the bar tips, the dining tips and the tour tips. Then when you try to elect out of the gratuities you are treated very badly. The fact that the Company collects the gratuities and then distributes them is very ‘cloak and dagger’, who gets what? Forced gratuities certainly does not get my vote and this is why we will not travel Norwegian Cruise Lines again.

This is essentially an American thing, borrowed originally from Europe, but not an Australian thing which is why Australian travellers often have the amount built into the fare structure. My argument has always been, and wil remain so – it is not my responsibility to get good service through tipping; it is the responsibility of the provider of those servicse, i.e. the cruise company, to provide me with the appropriate quality of service for a given price.

In Australia we do not do tips or Gratuities we pay our price and that is all if Other countries want to have us as customers it should be working on our regulations if we go to their country it is only fair to pay all their costs as they do

If the crews were paid to an award system by the cruise lines there would be no need for this blatant ripoff of the public,I will tip the cabin personal on a cruise but that is all as that should be sufficient

Gratuities should be a personal choice. Why should I “HAVE” to pay extra for a company that doesn’t pay their staff a sufficient wage. Having said that I am willing to pay gratuities personally for the service I receive. On a recent cruise I heard from a crew member that all gratuities paid to individual crew must be handed over and put with other gratuities to be split between all crew. I also object to paying an additional gratuity for booking excursions or making purchases on board.

I refuse to pay the gratuities imposed on cruise lines not based in Australia. I prefer to give the cabin boy money at the beginning and the end of the cruise. I also like to give money to the waiters in the dining room who look after me at meals. After all it is all about gratitude for service given. It is also wrong for the Cruise lines to add gratuities to the paid services that you choose whilst on the cruise.

You should have the option of paying your own tips or having it added on your bill but every person should pay something.

I consider that the practice of cruise lines charging gratuities to the “Cruiser” runs completely counter to the purpose of “tipping” which began its life as way for a customer to reward or show his /her personal appreciation for good service to a waiter, steward or any other person who has provided them with good service. It is my firm conviction that cruise lines today use the charging of gratuities as a means of having their passengers supplement the wages they pay to their crews thus enabling them to offer lower fares> Deny that if you will!!!

My wife and I have been quite happy to pay an agreed amount in gratuities BUT some cruise lines don’t come to the party. Some use US dollars onboard which adds (at current exchange rates) a considerable amount to the total bill in Australian dollars AND the exchange rates can be somewhat extortionate. Also, if there is an overall gratuity “charge”per person per day, there should be no “service” or “gratuity” charges on drinks or services. Having recently discussed this issue with a number of passengers aboard a cruise ship, there was a consensus that passengers should be given an account of the total gratuities collected and how much was paid to each crew member (on average). There is more than a suspicion that the crew do not receive the total in gratuities collected on their behalf. Certainly my wife and I intend to opt out of pre-arranged gratuity payments until there is greater transparency/accountability by cruise lines and/or a % gratuity is not added to every purchase or service.

Gratuities are a Reward for good Service beyond the normal. It is not a legitimate Fee and should not be charged as part of the Cruise Price nor added to an Account without the passenger’s approval. It should be at the discretion of the Passenger as to whom and how much it is given.

This gratuities issue is generated mainly from an American culture whereby employees work for very low hourly rates. In Australia and England this tipping is not game that is appreciated, and cruise companies have a hide when they expect passengers to contribute to making up their employees wages shortfall by expecting these gratuities regimes be adopted outside of America. I have generally always tipped my cabin boy and my table waiter in the dinning area’s and it’s an amount that I personally feel is a nice gesture to make and I don’t need a shipping company to tell me of a compulsory gratuities scheme. Cruise lines need to address this gratuities rip-off as I believe passengers outside of American culture have had enough. Tipping is a personal thing, so leave it to passengers own discrepancy on to Tip or not to Tip.

Firstly I would like to know who on board actually get the gratuities? Does some go to the Captain, and those next in line etc. We are not aware that Princess gratuities are included in the initial price of the cruise. If this is the case we are being cheated. When we first board Princess we ask that gratuities be taken off. We notice that the amount is shown as a negative on the bill but later added in at the end of the cruise. Can someone please explain this to me, thanks

Please take a look at the meaning of gratuity in a dictionary ! It is YOUR choice as to the amount you wish to give for a present or gift for services rendered to you by a person. It is not for the shipping company to nominate that amount, whether or not it is indeed payable, or to distribute it(maybe ?) to the receiver.

I whole heartedly agree with Helen Pask. Why are we paying gratuities? In Australia we do not pay gratuities and we expect the rest of the world to be the same. If the cruise companies paid their staff the recommended salary, then we would not be asked to pay gratuities. If a person wants to give a tip, that is their option. The same goes with bar prices – we should be paying the normal rates and not the extra 15% tax. This way everybody knows exactly what their cruise and drinks is going to cost them.

Princess Cruises gratitudes are added to your onboard account each day not included in your fare unless you agree to it on booking .i would prefer to pay staff who atend me daily .

When my sister and I travelled on APT Danube Cruise in 2008, the subject of gratuities was brought up by the passengers and we were told that gratuities were included in the fare. However, if we wish to make a donation at the end of the cruise, we were quite a liberty to do so.

When travelling on Sun Princess in 2010, we went to the Pursers Office and requested the gratuities be dropped and we paid our steward and the dining room waiters directly at the end of the cruise.

With Holland America in 2013, we were told that gratuities would be automatically added on to our bill. It was $US11.50 per day. However, on approaching the Office again, it was reduced to $US6.00 per day. We still gave our steward a further tip at the end.

Travelling with Holland American again shortly, it will be interesting to see what the outcome will be with regards to lowering the gratuities or Hotel Service Charge as they call it.

I might add, for all wine lovers, the corkage surcharge now being charge when bringing a bottle of wine/champagne on board is dreadful. We are glad they did not introduce it until after 2013. Holland America are charging $US18 per bottle to bring it on board at each port (except the port of embarkation). Certainly leaves a very dry and sour taste in one’s mouth!! Anybody else wishing to comment on that??

Gratuity charges are excessive, just for staff members doing their job. If someone does an “over the top” job then I am happy to give something. I now only cruise with lines which include the gratuity in the fare. So you know what you are up for at the start.

The crew members that I have encountered on board the ships I’ve been on have been excellent, but isn’t that their job? I would think that there would be many others that would take on the job if they had the opportunity. I don’t like to be told how much to tip (and being Australian) I’m not used to tipping unless the service has been really exceptional. I tip the person who looks after me in my cabin and at my dining table. These people remember my name and what my preferences are, and I would like to think that the money I give them is in addition to their salary, not extra to make for a short-fall in the wages that they are paid. Nor do I like the idea that they have to hand in the money so that it can be distributed to others on board, or even at times, I believe, to the company to be shared with other crew members on other ships. As far as I’m concerned, ‘gratuities’ is not the term for this type of charge. If the crew is not paid enough, add any extras on to the cost of the cruise and let people make up their mind then if they want to go on the trip.

Yes they should be more upfront, we only book with cruise lines that don’t charge additional gratuities this limits our cruise lines to sail with but its the way we prefer to sail

I was recently on an MSC cruise and they put the $9.00 per day, per passenger on your bill. They also put a $1.50 a day UNICEF donation which we had no knowledge of and was not asked if we wished to donate. Friends of our on the same cruise lost most of their luggage for two days and said they didn’t want to pay for non service. They had to justify why they didn’t wish to pay, with guest relations. They eventually settled for 50% of the gratuities and had to fight to get that discount.

Two months ago we did a great cruise with Seabourn. Amongst the many pluses was Seabourn’s No Gratuity policy. The wages of a cruise ship’s staff are part of the ship’s operating costs and should be included in the price of the ticket. You do not tip airline stewards/hostesses. Another rip off is the cost of alcoholic beverages on cruise ships. Try to find the price list for alcoholic beverages on a cruise line web site. The cruise companies buy alcohol duty free and charge Australian restaurant and bar prices, plus 15%service charge. Five of my last eight cruises have been with lines that serve free alcoholic beverages and do not automatically charge gratuities. Bon voyage Bruce

The automatic levy through your on-board account is by definition not a gratuity – it is just a levy. To me it is a thinly disguised way to subsidise staff costs. We have no idea who gets a slice of the benefit, or whether there is any “administrative costs” withheld by the company. I routinely have the gratuities stopped at boarding.

The fare approach like river cruise operators offer is where the big ship cruising business needs to be.

In the old days of sailing it was the norm to tip but these days most people complain about tipping. They want all the air’s and graces associated with cruising and some people treat the crew like dogs and expect everything in the way of service. They even complain when they get home and try to get some sort of refund. I do agree that cruiser travelling with their kids should be an exception or at least not have to pay the gratuities for their kids. $12.95 per person is getting a bit high ($25.90 a day per couple). I dont have a big problem with tips but the cruise lines need to be fair we all know that we are all over the price for drinks, goods, entertainment, specialty restaurants etc maybe the cruise lines should have a look at lowering those prices.

I will not be bullied into paying gratuaties by companies that dont pay a proper wage and expect us to pay to compensate for this. Even when you do pay it, they stil add it on to things, so how is that fair, why should they double dip I choose if I want to pay it to anyone

On my last trip with Holland America i found out that a form to not charge gratuities was available from the pursers desk outlining that no charges be made on the billing account. It also requires that it be completed again as they fragment the charges into 2 period accounts. WHY i do not know but if you fail to provide a further request gratuities will appear only on the second..so be warned!!!!

My husband and I are going on our first ever cruise soon with Azamara, and the fare we have booked says all gratuities are included. I assume we take this literally, and we will not be charged any further gratuities? I have been told that if we choose to tip our personal butler at the end of the cruise, that is entirely up to us. However, I will be annoyed if I find out we are being charged other gratuities on our bill. Our cruise is supposed to be “all inclusive”. Do you have any advice for us?

We found out via other passengers that on Holland America cruises it is an option (certainly unpublicised) to pay less than the approx. $12 per person per day; which most Australian passengers find fairly steep – perhaps per couple it would be okay, the gratuities add up because they’re added onto other things as well.

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On Cunard, daily gratuities vary depending on the cabin category and date of sailing.. For voyages departing up until April 25, 2024, on Queen Elizabeth, and April 27, 2024, on Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, the service charge for Queens and Princess Grill Suites is $16.50 per person, per day, and for passengers in Britannia cabins it is $14.50 per person, per day.
Gratuities included in fare on Princess
Gratuities - Onboard Service. For our Australian passengers, when sailing on cruises departing from Australia, a daily gratuity amount will no longer be added to your on board account. You are welcome to reward our on board crew for exceptional service, however, tipping is not required.
Princess gratuities
I can't check for certain as the only upcoming cruise I have is USD on board currency and gratuities are an extra. But I am pretty certain that I've booked cruises before from Aus, where gratuities are included in the fare, but when logging into Princess the "prepay gratuities" window was there along with pre book fancy-pants dining, spa treatments, shore excursions, gift packages etc windows.
Do You Need to Tip on Australian Cruise Ships
In fact, it was so unpopular on local cruise ships that P&O Cruises abolished compulsory gratuities in 2010. Carnival Cruise Line followed suit and stopped charging compulsory gratuities aboard Australia-based ships Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend, and there's no tipping on the Princess Cruise ships based year-round in Australia: Sun ...
Tipping on Ships: An Australian Culture Clash
Holland America Line, whose ships Noordam and Maasdam are regular visitors to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, has the same tipping policy aboard all its ships. A daily hotel service ...
Tipping on a Cruise: Your Complete Big-Ship Tip Guide
On Cunard, daily gratuities vary depending on the cabin category and date of sailing.. For voyages departing up until April 25, 2024, on Queen Elizabeth, and April 27, 2024, on Queen Mary 2 and ...
Gratuities on Australian cruises?
Most cruises to Australia originating from some other country, ie repositioning cruises from the USA for example, you will probably have gratuities to pay.. Some cruise lines sailing out of Australia {and returning to an Australian port - but not always the case) now include the gratuities within the inclusive fare (Princess is one that do this now). You really need to check with your ...
Ultimate Guide to Tipping on Cruise
Also, tipping fees - averaging US$15-$20 - are generally paid per guest, per day. In addition, most cruise lines also add a standard gratuity percentage rate to specialty dining, bar, beverages, salon and spa purchases - sometimes as much as 18 per cent. Princess Cruises staff serve guests with a smile and appreciate tips in return.
Can I remove prepaid gratuities on a cruise?
Some lines give you the option to purchase an extra-inclusions package, which may cover gratuities. Princess Cruises' Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages, Celebrity Cruises' All-Included package and Windstar Cruises' All-Inclusive fares bundle crew gratuities with other complimentary perks (such as drinks packages and Wi-Fi access) at a ...
Majestic Princess-Gratuities--Australia Cruises
Thanks for your help! Princess Cruises has a policy of no tipping in Australia, but a gratuity is automatically added to spa treatments. The onboard currency is Australian dollars; in Asia it is U.S. dollars. We bought our 2020 NZ and AU cruises when tips were included as a promotion.
Plus Package gratuities
Posted January 10. There are two types of gratuities. The daily gratuity called crew appreciation by Princess and the service charges. Crew appreciation covers cabin stewards, waiters in all dining establishments, plus those behind the scene that support them and you never really see.
Princess Cruises Plans to Homeport From Puerto Rico in 2025
Princess Cruises is headed back to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the winter 2025-26 season, when it will deploy Grand Princess for a series of Southern Caribbean voyages. With an intense focus on ...
Princess Cruises to Sail Largest-Ever Europe Cruise and Cruisetour
Princess Cruises is going big in Europe for 2026. The "Love Boat" line today announced that its 2026 European cruise and cruisetour season will be its biggest ever, with five Princess cruise ships ...
Are Australians paying gratuities twice?
Royal Caribbean Cruises and Celebrity Cruises have gratuities included in the fare for Australians and New Zealanders, wherever in the world they sail. Most lines with homeported ships like P&O Cruises Australia, Carnival Cruise Line Australia and Princess Cruises in Australia don't charge gratuities at all.
Around-the-World Cruises: Everything Travelers Need to Know About These
Inside cabins start at $15,588 per passenger or from $22,248 for Princess Plus fares, which includes beverages, WiFi, and onboard gratuities. Book With Princess Cruises Crystal
Princess Cruises Expands Caribbean Program with Return to San Juan Home
Grand Princess to Sail Southern Caribbean Itineraries from Puerto Rico, Visiting Most Ports of any Seven-Day Caribbean Itinerary. FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Princess Cruises today announced its return to San Juan, Puerto Rico for a season of Southern Caribbean cruises onboard Grand Princess, from October 2025 through March 2026. ...
Question about gratuities...
October 14, 2006. Austin, TX. #1. Posted September 17, 2023 (edited) I've never cruised Princess before, but on other cruise lines have consistently paid the "suggested" gratuity, and then also tipped as compelled beyond that. Someone over on the Princess subreddit said that they'd talked to Princess crew and been told that the gratuities that ...
Gratuities aboard cruise ships, what you should know
Gratuities aboard cruise ships is charged by Cruise lines like P&O Australia, Princess Cruises, Scenic Tours when cruisers book and pay for their holidays. Get travel advice from Cruise Passenger ... Does some go to the Captain, and those next in line etc. We are not aware that Princess gratuities are included in the initial price of the cruise ...
Princess Cruises to Sail Largest-Ever Europe Cruise and Cruisetour
Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-Princess (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting www.princess.com. About Princess Cruises