To tip or not to tip? Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or just have a cruise or two under your belt, you’ve probably asked this question at some point during your trip.
Cruise lines have removed some of the uncertainty from the equation by introducing automatic bonus. Most larger cruise lines add a daily gratuity to the price of your ticket, ranging from $16 to $25 per passenger per day, which you can pay in advance or once on board. These tips are intended for staff who provide hospitality during the cruise (room butlers, dining staff, bartenders, etc.), as well as crew members you may not meet ( such as kitchen and laundry staff).
But these automatic gratuities don’t cover every crew member or travel provider you’ll encounter during your cruise vacation. Additionally, some passengers find that certain services warrant an additional tip beyond what is expected.
Who do you need to tip (or tip extra) cash on on your next trip? Here are seven people I recommend you always tip during your cruise vacation.
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Porters
Have small bills ready if you plan to drop off larger pieces of luggage at the terminal curb when you arrive at the port to board the train. A porter will be there to collect your luggage and bring them onto the train and they will claim it. The amount of tip is up to you, but about $1 or $2 per bag should be enough.
Bartender
This can be a divisive one, especially since “when drinking” is among the 10 times we recommend No need to tip on a cruise. But hear me out.
Yes, cruise lines often add a gratuity to your drink order at the bar, lounge or restaurant and the gratuity is included in the cost of your stay. complete beverage package. However, some passengers like to pay the bartender a little extra – and I’m one of them.
We almost always buy a drink package (please don’t judge) but it’s an extra dollar for each drink we order. If you do not purchase a drink package, we will still tip extra for each drink. Maybe it’s because my husband and I both work in the food and beverage industry and know how difficult it can be, but it’s pretty much our standard practice on every trip.
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If you have a favorite watering hole, you can also give your bartender a larger tip at the beginning of your trip, which can enhance the personalized attention you receive. I’ve also seen passengers give tip envelopes to bartenders on the last night of their trip to thank them for their service.
Tour guide
Whether you booked a cruise tour or arranged an independent tour, you should tip your tour guide and bus driver. The amount is up to you, but around $3 (per person) for a half-day tour and $6 (per person) for a full-day tour for a guide is a good rule of thumb. Consider tipping the bus driver $1 to $2.
Staff room
If you order a meal or snack at your cabin, consider tipping the server who delivered it a few dollars (per person). Special requests such as hosting a candlelit (battery-powered) meal on your balcony may require a larger thank-you tip.
Related: Room service on cruise ships: A detailed guide to in-cabin food and beverage service
Cabin manager
Your cabin steward will earn a portion of each day’s service fee, each added to the price of your cruise ticket. However, I firmly believe that you should give your room service a little something extra at the end of your trip.
Why? Your cabin steward is the crew member you’re likely to see the most during your trip and is often the one who provides you with the most consistent one-on-one service. On most of the cruises I have taken on various routes, our cabin attendants have been friendly, efficient, friendly and extremely helpful. They are far from home and working hard, so a little extra thank you would mean a lot.
For me personally, I appreciate the extra effort required to keep those small travel cabins tidy and clean. Do you have many people in your cabin? Are there children traveling with you who might require more cleaning afterward? In those cases, consider giving your flight attendants the extra bit of extra work those situations require.
The members of the delegation made an impression
My daughter is a vegetarian, and although many cruise lines have significantly improved their plant-based offerings in recent years, that hasn’t always been the case. On several cruises with Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, our main dining staff goes to great lengths to ensure she is well fed, creating exceptional dishes that are sourced from plant roots just for her. We express our thanks with a tip.
This is just one example of when you should tip crew members who make an impression on your trip. Perhaps the cruise ship photographer managed to entertain your fussy child long enough to get your best family vacation photo to date. Or maybe the magician on board has convinced your child so much that they ask for a magic costume for their next birthday. If a crew member went out of their way to make your trip memorable, consider showing your appreciation with money.
Hotel cleaning staff
Are you planning to stay at a hotel before or after your trip? Please leave a small tip for housekeeping (approximately $3 per night). Also, tip the bellhop or hotel staff who will assist in transporting your luggage to or from your hotel room. The standard tip is about $1/bag.
Should I tip extra on a cruise?
Tipping on additional gratuities is a personal choice. However, remember that the staff work extremely hard to help ensure you have a memorable travel vacation. They have long-term contracts that require 7 to 10 months of work and often work 12-14 hours a day.
If you encounter staff who go out of their way to make your cruise experience truly special, I recommend paying a little extra to thank them for their exceptional service.
Make sure to bring small denomination bills if you think you can split the tip during your trip. However, don’t worry if you board the train without them. You can get change for larger bills at the customer service counter.
If you choose not to tip more than the included service fee, be sure to complete the post-cruise survey your cruise line offers and name the crew members who left an impression on you . I’ve heard countless times from cruise liners about the importance of positive feedback on their performance when it comes to compensation and bonuses.
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