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Gratuities, line by line
Every line charges a daily amount per person, and it is higher in a suite. Here is what each one publishes.
This is the cost people forget when they compare fares. For two people on a seven-night cruise it runs roughly $250 to $340 depending on the line and your stateroom, before you buy a single drink.
The daily charge
| Royal Caribbean | $18.50 per guest per day, or $21.00 in a suite. They call it a gratuity. |
|---|---|
| Celebrity | $19.50 inside, ocean view and veranda; $20.50 Concierge Class and AquaClass; $24.50 in The Retreat. |
| Princess | $18.00 most staterooms; $19.00 mini-suites, cabanas and Reserve Collection; $20.00 suites. They call it Crew Appreciation. |
All three let you prepay before you sail. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity both publish that you can adjust the amount at Guest Relations any time before the morning of disembarkation, and not after the cruise ends. Princess publishes the same idea: you can adjust it up to the point you settle your onboard account, after which it is final and non-refundable.
The percentages added to everything else
| Royal Caribbean | 18% on beverages and beverage packages, 18% on specialty dining, 20% on spa and salon. |
|---|---|
| Celebrity | 20% added to spa and salon, beverages and beverage packages, specialty dining, room service and minibar. |
| Princess | Princess publishes a 20% service charge on optional beverages, dining and other elected amenities, and separately publishes 18% on the beverage packages themselves. Those are two different published figures on two different pages, so check which applies to what you are buying. |
What the daily charge is for
It is shared among crew, and it is separate from the fare. Removing it is allowed by all three lines, and it is your call. What is worth knowing is that removing it does not reduce the percentages added to drinks, dining or the spa, since those are charged on the purchase itself.
Where these facts come from
- Royal Caribbean, onboard service gratuity
- Royal Caribbean, beverage package gratuities
- Celebrity Cruises, gratuity program
- Princess Cruises, crew appreciation
- Princess Cruises, onboard experience FAQ
Ports change their rules and their prices. Check the official pages above before you sail.