Bad news, Princess Cruise fan: You’re about to pay more to cruise with the line.
The world’s fifth-largest cruise line has quietly raised the daily service fees it charges customers to the highest level in the company’s history.
The new rate for what Princess calls a “crew appreciation” fee is now $17 per person per day for those staying in most cabins.
This is a 6.25% increase from the previous level of $16 — double the rate of inflation in the United States over the past year.
Princess last time the service fee was increased December 14, 2022.
As part of the change, Princess will also increase its service fee for passengers staying in suites to $19 per person per day — a 5.6% increase from the previous $18.
Passengers staying in mini suites, cabanas and Club Class rooms will now pay $18 per person per day — a 5.9% increase from the previous rate of $17.
News of Princess’s service charge hike comes just two months after sister airline Holland America push through a similar increase according to the airline’s service fee. Holland America also currently charges a service fee of $17 a day for passengers in most cabins and $19 a day for passengers in suites.
With Princess’ increase, a family of four in a typical cabin on one of its ships would pay nearly $500 in automatic gratuities for a seven-night cruise.
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That puts Princess ahead of some of its main competitors when it comes to tipping fees. Among other major lines, Carnival Cruise Line And MSC Cruises Add a $16 per person, per day service charge to the passenger bill for most cabins.
Celebrity Cruise And Royal Caribbean add $18 per person, per day and Norwegian Cruise Line Add $20 per person, per day to the passenger’s bill for tips. Viking Service charge $17 per person per day.
Related: Tipping on a Cruise: What You Need to Know About Tipping on a Cruise Ship
Such sky-high service fees are becoming an increasingly sore point for some cruise lines, who see them as a way to hide the true cost of trips in the fares they market online.
In an explanation on its website, Princess says the service fee is distributed to the ship’s crew “in the form of compensation, including gratuities.” In other words, the money goes toward paying the crew’s salaries.
Recent fee increases at Princess and Holland America come amid price spikes at cruise lines for all sorts of things, in some cases they even cut services.
Fees increase at cruise lines
Most of the largest cruise lines, such as Holland America, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian, automatically add some type of gratuity or service charge to passengers’ bills. Passengers often have the option of prepaying the charges when booking or adding them to their bill for onboard expenses, which are paid at the end of each trip.
However, the total number of routes with service fees has been decreasing over the years, with many small and high-end cruise operators including these fees in their base fares.
Routes that now include gratuity in their fares include AzamaraPonant Cruise, Regent Seven Seas CruiseLuxury Cruises & Sightseeing Tours, The sea, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea Cruise And Virgin Voyages.
For cruise lines that offer this service, service charges and tips are seen as a convenient alternative to tipping ship staff — a practice that used to be common.
Cruise lines that charge this fee typically increase their prices every year or two.
Please note that, in some cases, passengers who are dissatisfied with the service they receive on board a Princess ship may adjust the daily gratuity credited to their account while on board by visiting the Guest Services counter.
Related: The Complete Guide to Princess Cruises Ships and Itineraries
Adjustments are only allowed when tips are charged to the ship’s account during the trip. Passengers who have paid tips in advance cannot adjust the amount they paid while on board.
The price hikes at Princess come as the line pushes customers to buy a prepaid package for their trips that includes a service fee, as well as dining at specialty restaurants that cost extra and a beverage package. The line recently added unlimited specialty dining and unlimited drinks to its top-tier package, called Princess Premier. At the same time, the line raised the price of the Princess Premier package from $80 to $90 per person, per day.
The princess has been add new fees on its ships as it pushes the bundles.
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