Cruising can be a very affordable way to travel. Your lodging, transportation, food, and entertainment needs are all covered in the initial price of the cruise, and it’s very easy to score a deal — cruise lines have great sales all the time. But cruising is also rife with sneaky fees, including those for drinks packages, excursions, spa treatments, access to spa amenities, Wi-Fi, fitness classes, and specialty dining. If you’re not careful, you might end up spending an awful lot more than anticipated — sometimes even more than the price of the cruise itself.
Photo: Mulevich/Shutterstock
Cruise Gratuities Can Impact the Cost of Your Trip. These Are the Cheapest and Most Expensive by Cruise Line
One of the added fees travelers tend to forget about are the gratuities, i.e. the automatic tips for all the very hard-working and deserving crew members. The amount for the gratuities is usually set per day and per guest by the cruise line, unless they are included in the price of the cruise, which is the case for most luxury operators. The cruise lines that don’t include them tend to offer cruisers the option to pay them in full upon booking so that there’s no surprise at the end of voyage, but cruisers can also just leave them to be paid once the sailing is over.
What you need to know about cruise gratuities
Gratuities, also known as Crew Appreciation charges or fees, are pooled to be divided among all crew members. On top of the gratuities, you can also leave a tip in cash to crew members of your choice to show your gratitude.
Depending on cruise lines, a different kind of automatic gratuities can also added to onboard purchases, spa treatments, alcoholic beverages, specialty dining, and more. The amount varies according to cruise lines.
From the cheapest to the most expensive cruise gratuities
MSC: At MSC Cruises, gratuities are called “Hotel Service Charges” and vary according to the itinerary, the length of the sailing, and the class of service, from $10 per person, per night to $21 per person, per night. A detailed break-down of the gratuity amounts is available on MSC’s website. MSC doesn’t recommend tipping individual members of staff.
Disney Cruise Line: $23.50 per night, per person for guests in Concierge Staterooms and Suites; $14.50 USD per night, per person, for guests in all other staterooms. Guests can pre-pay gratuities upon booking. For the guests who don’t pre-pay the gratuities, they are automatically added to their onboard accounts and can be adjusted.
Aurora Expeditions: A $15 per person, per day gratuity is automatically added to guests’ onboard account. It is at the guests’ discretion to remove or adjust the amount when they settle their bill.
Quark Expeditions: No set amount, but a suggestion of $15 to $20 per guest, per day. At the end of the voyage, guests have the option to charge a gratuity amount to their onboard account, or to place cash in an envelope.
Carnival Cruise Line: Crew appreciation charges amount to $18 per person, per day for guests in Suite Staterooms, and $16 per person, per day for guests in Standard Staterooms. Gratuities can be pre-paid.
Holland America: Crew appreciation charges are added to the passengers’ onboard account daily and are adjustable at their discretion. Crew appreciation is $19.00 per person, per day for suite guests, and $17 per person, per day for non-suite stateroom guests.
Princess Cruises: $19 per person, per day for suite guests; $18 per person, per day for Mini Suites, Cabanas, and Reserve Collection guests; and $17 per person, per day for all other stateroom types.
Viking: Gratuities vary according to the type of sailing you book, i.e. an ocean cruise, an expeditions cruise, or a river cruise, as well as according to the destination/itinerary. On ocean and expedition cruises, gratuities amount to $17 per person, per day. On river cruises in Europe, gratuities are €20 (around $22) per person, per day; in the US, they are $20 per person, per day; for cruises in Egypt and on the Mekong River, the gratuities amount to $10 per person, per day for the days spent on land, and $25 per person, per day for the days spent on board. Gratuities can be pre-paid. Viking also recommends tipping local guides and drivers at the end of each tour/excursions.
Royal Caribbean: Guests who choose not to pre-pay gratuities at the time of booking will have a service gratuity automatically applied to their onboard account on a daily basis, in the amount of $20.50 per person, per day for guests in suites, and $18 per person, per day for guests in all other stateroom types.
Celebrity cruises: $23 per person, per day for guests in The Retreat staterooms; $19 per person per day for guests sailing in Concierge and AquaClass staterooms; and $18 per person, per day for all other stateroom types.
Carnival Cruise Line: A service charge of $25 per person, per day for Haven guests, or $20 per person, per day for all other guests, is automatically added to the onboard account of all guests. Guests have the option of pre-paying their service charges when booking their reservation.
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions: Gratuities are not included on the following ships: National Geographic Endeavour II, National Geographic Islander II, National Geographic Venture, National Geographic Quest, National Geographic Sea Bird, National Geographic Sea Lion, National Geographic Gemini, National Geographic Delfina, and Delfin II. The onboard Expedition Leader will share a suggested gratuity based on ship, itinerary, and trip duration at the end of the sailing.
Ecoventura: No set amount, but a suggestion of $350 per traveler per week. At the end of the voyage guests have the option to visit the concierge and charge the amount to their credit card, or to place cash in an envelope.
Cruise lines with included gratuities
Atlas Ocean Voyages: Gratuities are included, along with unlimited beverages; specialty coffees, teas and fresh-pressed juices; and 24-hour room service.
Sea Cloud cruises: Gratuities are included.
Silversea: Gratuities are included in the inial fare, along with airport transfers, international roundtrip flights, business class upgrades, in-country flights (when required by the itinerary), pre and post-cruise hotel nights, shore excursions, beverages, and specialty restaurants.
HX: Gratuities are included in the fare of the cruise, along with daily excursions and activities to the onboard Science Centre, non-premium drinks, expedition gear, Wi-Fi, access to the spa, and even professional photographs of the trip.
Scenic Cruises: Gratuities, non-premium drinks, Wi-Fi, and more are included in the initial price of the cruise.
Emerald Cruises: Gratuities, as well as transfers to and from your ship, a selection of drinks with lunch and dinner, Wi-Fi, and shore excursions are included.
Crystal Cruises: Gratuities, non-premium beverages, two specialty dining venues, and Wi-Fi are included in the price of the cruise.
Abercrombie & Kent: All gratuities, including for the ship’s crew and guides, are included. For extra nights or Tailor Made services pre- or post-cruise, guests are provided with suggested amounts for gratuities for these days.
Oceania: For voyages starting on or after January 1, 2025, gratuities are included for stateroom attendants, butlers, and dining waitstaff. Other included amenities with Oceania are as follows: all gourmet specialty restaurants; sodas, juices, specialty coffees and teas; still and sparkling water; unlimited Starlink Wi-Fi; in-room dining; fruit smoothies, gelato and artisan ice cream; group fitness classes; and laundry services.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Gratuities are included in the cruise fare for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, except for services from Serene Spa & Wellness.
National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions: Gratuities are included for those who sail on the following ships: National Geographic Endurance, National Geographic Resolution, National Geographic Explorer, National Geographic Orion, Sea Cloud, Sea Cloud II, Lord of the Glens, Oberoi Philae, Sun Goddess, and The Jahan.
Swan Hellenic: Gratuities are included. If cruisers want to specifically tip some members of the crew in cash, their can do so at their discretion.
Virgin Voyages: One the very few non-luxury cruise lines to include all gratuities, as well as specialty dining, Wi-Fi, fitness classes, and non-premium drinks. 