We had a short four-night cruise to Royal Caribbeans private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, in the Bahamas. Percentage of cruisers that remove auto gratuities who tell everyone they tip in cash "to those who serve them": 100%. Rather than guests tipping each member of staff, Royal Caribbean charges a set fee per day to reward crew members for their service. It varies depending on the sailing, and prices also go up and down as the sailing date nears. Yes, thats correct. Suggested read: How to pay for a cruise in instalments. In fact, the staff will love that you want to give them more money. There are several ways to prepay your gratuities: When you check in for your cruise, your onboard account will be set up. My gf is a big tea drinker and is considering the package purely for that. Dont ask you dont get! Overpayment of gratuities is allowed but is not expected. If you want to pay extra, we suggest simply handing cash directly to the people you want to recognize for their service. hi.We leave from Southampton next month.We can only bring 2 bottles of wine at first day,not allowed any after that apparently.Also for 14 nights for the drinks package for my wife and i is nearly 2000!! Answer (1 of 7): Yes, you can. We hope you find the gratuity to be an accurate reflection of your satisfaction and thank you for your generous recognition of our staff. Jenni. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. On the cruise line side, that money gets cut up to be distributed. Passengers in higher-level suites pay $18. Heres Everything to Know, 21+ Best Cruise Cabin Tips, Secrets, & Things to Know (Read Before Sailing), 25+ Fun Must-Do Things on a Norwegian Cruise, 29 Must-Have Things to Pack for an Alaskan Cruise (11 Youd Never Think Of), Carnival Is Fixing a MAJOR Issue With Sailing from Galveston, Princess Cruise Gratuity (Tips) Full Guide: How Much, How They Work, and More, Hotels With Cruise Shuttles For Every Major Port in America, 107 Best Cruise Tips, Tricks, Secrets, and Freebies, 39 Useful Things to Pack For Your Cruise (Including 17 Youd Never Think Of). Jenni. I have cruised many times before and I always order the royal caribbean premium drink package. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. To help explain everything about cruise line gratuities, weve answered a number of common questions that will make everything clearer before you set sail. Wines are available to purchase by the bottle. So no, you wouldnt have to pay any extra gratuities on drinks. Im guessing they make it cheaper on a longer cruise compared to a 3- or 4-nighter so its really hard to compare with what Ive seen it for on my own cruises. Hi Sue. Share. Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. Instead, gratuities on a cruise ship are highly automated, with most people just electing to prepay or being charged a set amount for each day on the ship. As of September 7 th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in non-suites staterooms, or $18.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Suites, will be applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. There are two ways to buy a Royal Caribbean drink package: Royal Caribbean drink package sharing is not allowed. Royal Caribbean stipulates in the unlikely event that a guest onboard being charged the daily automatic gratuity does not receive satisfactory service, the guest may request to modify the daily amount at their discretion by visiting Guest Services onboard up until the morning of their departure. Be sure to join my email list for my best cruise tips and handpicked deals each week. Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival have slightly different daily gratuities. Daily gratuities: Junior suites or below - $14.50 p.p. . This is my first cruise. Bottom line is that it comes down to personal preference. Royal Caribbean last raised gratuities January 2, 2018. You may also wish to give some cash to porters who help with your luggage outside of the ship, particularly if you start your cruise in the United States where this is customary. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. All rights reserved. If you have a major issue, however, you can change your gratuity amount accordingly. Hi, I have harmony of the seas booked for next may but when I have tried to book a drinks package there is no option for this. First, any time that you buy a drink from the bar, you will be charged an extra tip, usually 18%-20% of the menu price, depending on the cruise line. My Cruise Line Calls it a Crew Incentive or Service Charge. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. ), Can You Work Remotely While Taking a Cruise? If you do, Royal Caribbean will automatically charge your card at the end of your cruise. So, you can get an alcohol or soft drink package for the adults without being required to buy any kind of package for your children. MyTime dining is when you dont have a set dining time and instead, you can arrive at the main restaurant whenever you like. 3 hours ago, Husky1987 said: Percentage of cruisers that remove auto gratuities: 10%. Thanks for this . Available beverage packages include (in descending order of cost): The default pricing for beverage packages can be adjusted to account for price increases or discounts. You can also get cold coffee drinks at the coffee bars. For those who drink mostly coffee, Royal Caribbean offers a Cafe Select Coffee Card. 2023 Cruzely.com | Laisman Publishing, LLC. Be the first to rate this post. Notice of suitability: This tip calculator is designed to help you with the cruise tipping recommended by the line. If youre a first-time cruiser, then theres little doubt that you have questions about gratuities and tipping on your cruise. The gratuity is added on at the final checkout so you will see the final price before you commit to buy it. The exact breakdown of how much each staff member gets isnt published, just like their salary isnt published. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. If you booked your Royal Caribbean cruise with a travel agent, you just need to contact them and ask for gratuities to be added to your reservation. So you would need to let someone else be served and then order again. Do check out our Royal Caribbean Cruise Refreshment Package Review for more information! Could you please tell me how I can improve it? If purchasing beverages la carte (without a package) is the best option, the calculator will recommend Pay As You Go.. 53 euros per day, 856 for my wife and for 8 nights. Unless you are feeling generous, theres no need to tip more. Royal Caribbean Beverage Package Calculator: Most Cost-Effective, Calculate Your New December 2020 COVID-19 Stimulus Payment, Celebrity Cruises Beverage Package Calculator: Most Cost-Effective. Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and now my blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. So, if you dont have a credit card, then you should prepay your gratuities to avoid running out of money in your bank account or having to carry a lot of cash. That doesnt seem fair. In addition to this, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to all drinks, spa and salon services. The cost for two people on a week-long cruise can be well above $200. There are some circumstances in which it would be better to prepay and some in which it would be better to pay at the end of your cruise. Are there ways to request a drink like a Bloody Mary but in a $12 or less version? Most cruise lines require that EVERYONE who is in the cabin and 21 or older to purchase the package. After that, you can cancel it when you first embark on the ship, but no later. If you dont have a lot of money available when you come to pay for your cruise, then dont worry about paying the gratuities right away. Example pool vs Bamboo. You can read more about this here: The Best Time to Buy A Royal Caribbean Drink Package. You simply pay this extra amount in full for your cruise as part of your cruise fare. These are: Some drinks are free all the time. For guests booked through travel advisors, their advisor may add pre-paid gratuities to the guests' booking prior to sailing*. Jenni. My husband and i are going on our first cruise later this spring and bought a deluxe package. Most recently, Disney Cruise Line increased the rate to $14.50 in July 2022. When you book your cruise, youll be given the opportunity to prepay the gratuities. I had the drink package so I didnt get the answer to this. We were exploring ports almost every day. Jenni. If Im a simple coffee and tea drinker. In this case, you can simply choose to have them lumped in with your cruise fare, paying them all at once. Guests who have pre-paid their tips will not see a daily charge during their cruise. The gratuities go to staff that provide passenger-facing services. The bar staff were always encouraging me to let them make up drinks rather than stick the menu, so Im sure they wouldnt mind you asking. Typical increases are around $1 per person, per day and seem to happen about once a year. ? Instead of one passenger paying a lot and another paying hardly anything, these set amounts ensure that everyone pays their fair share. Coca-Cola (including diet, zero, caffeine-free and many different flavours like strawberry, cherry and lime), Fanta, Sprite and Dr Pepper (and zero versions), Powerade (and zero version), Vitamin water and Hi C, Barrys root beer and creme soda (and diet versions), Minute Maid orange and lemonade (and light versions), You cannot use a Coffee Card in Royal Caribbeans Starbucks cafes, Brewed coffee is always free from the Windjammer buffet, Specialty coffee is included in both the alcohol and no alcohol drink packages, On the first formal night of the cruise, attend the, Guests who have spent more than 30 nights at sea with Royal Caribbean (Platinum members and above) can attend a, Guests who have spent more than 80 nights at sea with Royal Caribbean (Diamond members and above) get free drinks between 5 pm and 8.30 pm for. The calculator estimates the total cost for beverages, including the cost of beverage packages, gratuities, and upcharges. Making feeds? Passengers would then put cash in the envelope for the crew members. It was quite good to fill up and take off the ship with me. Another drink package option for Royal Caribbean cruisers is the Classic Soda package, which includes fountain soda and refills at any venue, Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages and even a Coca-Cola souvenir cup. You can opt into prepaying gratuities at any time, up to 48 hours prior to your sail date. At least Ive got time to think about which package to buy. That said, its unusual to adjust the gratuity amount, and the staff works extremely hard to make your trip enjoyable. And when you leave the dining room, no need to drop down any money on the table. Specialty dining experiences, which are outside the included meal packages and can include steakhouses, sushi/seafood restaurants and many more. Royal Caribbean no longer offers a wine package. Weve seen instances of multiple increases in a year and other times when rates wont change for a year or two. For some cruise lines (usually luxury lines), gratuities actually are included in the fare you dont pay anything extra apart from your cruise fare. You are free to adjust the amount to whatever you think is fair. While the name sounds fancy, gratuities are nothing more than a tip paid to the staff members for service during the cruise. However, you can get all-inclusive cruise package deals that have drinks included. If you prefer to keep some bottled water in the fridge in your room, you can order 6, 12 or 24 cans of water to be delivered to your stateroom. This depends on your muster station. Before you go ahead and buy the Coffee Card, here are some things youll want to consider: The tap water on Royal Caribbean cruise ships is perfectly safe to drink and tastes okay, although it may not always be very cold, depending on the weather. Royal Caribbean has some of the largest cruise ships in the world that can have 15 - 20 different places to get drinks while on board. If it drops, cancel the package and re-buy it at the lower price. Included here are the baseline (i.e. As a person who rarely drinks and had to buy a package for myself so that my husband could have one, does this mean Im paying an extra dollar or two if I decide Id like to try one of these drinks. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! You may get reduced kids prices, included drinks or free gratuities. The calculator will auto-update as you enter information about your cruise. The default mandatory gratuity of 18% can be adjusted to account for increases or decreases. Thats just one of the ways that people try to cheat. Cheers. We always hand our tips in cash to the person whose service we wish to commend. The Royal Caribbean alcohol drinks package costs between $63 and $89 per person, per day and includes unlimited drinks worth up to $12 or $13 each (depending on the ship). I know that some people get away with putting one bottle in the main suitcase and one in hand luggage. Historically, the onboard price of the Deluxe Beverage Package ranges from $63 to $89 a day (plus gratuity). What do you do about the porters at the ports. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. In fact, there are a couple of instances where paying additional gratuity is recommended or automatic. If not, just leave blank, Royal Caribbean increases gratuities for crew members on its cruise ships, Carnival Cruise Line raised their gratuities. Gratuity charges are typically not mandatory and can be adjusted. Thanks for all the great info. The prices that are on the menus are reasonable if in Au Dollars. How strict are they on how much bottles you can bring on board? Why Arent Gratuities Just Included in the Price of the Cruise? Posted 3 hours ago. We never use a credit card for our on ship account. Are you able to advise how much shots were roughly? Where did you see the cheaper prices for the new cruise bookings? The tipping rates charged change from time to time. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bills at bars, minibars, salons and spas. On or after September 7, 2022, regardless of when the booking was created, gratuities paid while onboard are subject to the new, increased rates. The price of Royal Caribbeans Deluxe Beverage Package is not fixed. Is that the Same Thing? These daily gratuities go towards your dining room staff, as well as your stateroom attendant. Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and now my blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. These vouchers expire on the same night that they are issued. Part of the overall cost of a Royal Caribbean cruise is a service gratuity for recognizing the hard work of crew members. Then, contact one with a best-price guarantee and have them beat it! Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. Thank you! Depending on your cruise line, you might find different language used than the word gratuities. Weve seen these charges called tips, gratuities, crew incentives, or service charges. I Agree, we always opt out and give tips to our steward and waiter/waitress at the end of the cruise. I am curious why some of the same drinks are over $13 in one location and $12 or less in another. Note that if you live in the UK, youll see your drink packages prices in GBP on the Cruise Planner. Hi Jose. No votes so far! So you cant get the Royal Cribbean alcohol package for one person and the soft drink package for another. Like what you see? The default amount of $12 can be adjusted. What should I do to highlight this so as not to embarrass him on board. So you wont have to pay any more for your drinks unless you order something really specialist. Years ago, you could buy five bottles of wine for $165, 7 bottles for $220 and 10 bottles for $300. The slight problem we have is my cousin has stability problems, his hands are very shaky , and he is unstable on his feet , dont get me wrong he gets about on his, but he could not serve himself for coffee or breakfast and the like. Automatic gratuity charge: None. If youd like to calculate exactly what your gratuity amount will be before you book your trip, then you can use our calculator here, many people choose to instead pay the gratuity charges automatically through their onboard account once on the ship, 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of), Park & Cruise Hotels for Every Port in America, 107 Best Cruise Tips, Secrets, Tricks, and Freebies, Carnival Gratuities (Tips): Full Guide to Cost & How They Work, Explained: Duty-Free Shopping on a Cruise (Is It Worth It? Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to bea useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. On the Oasis Class and Quantum Class ships, the drinks package limit is $13 rather than $12 to account for these ships having slightly higher drinks prices. B/b. Jenni. Simply enter the cruise line, length of trip, and the number of passengers and it will show you precisely how much youll be charged. How Often Do the Gratuity Rates Increase? Beverage packages do not cover certain specialty beverages, particularly those purchased at an onboard Starbucks. If youd like to calculate exactly what your gratuity amount will be before you book your trip, then you can use our calculator here. If you want to recognise outstanding service by a particular crew member, then head to the Guest Services desk and fill out a WOW card. However, the feedback from them is that they always prefer cash. They will set up the travel cot (pack n play) each night, puree food as requested, clean up at mealtimes and much more. Even Babies? Should you prepay gratuities for a Royal Caribbean cruise? However, you can order a bottle of water at the bar and put it in your mini bar fridge for later if you like. Does that include the 16.36% gratuity or will I be charged another 16.36% of 856, which would be another 140 approx ? In my former job managing cruise websites for a travel agent, I saw cruise line campaigns change regularly and prices fluctuate almost daily. Royal Caribbean last increased gratuities in 2018 and, before that, was in 2016. Whichever package you choose, you must buy it for every adult passenger for every day of your cruise. My question is, what happens if I buy the beverage package of only soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages, and at some point during the trip I want to order, for example, a pina colada with alcohol? Waiting until the end of your cruise will give you a few more paydays to save up the money. If you book a cruise with free gratuities, it means that Royal Caribbean will pay the gratuities to the staff members for you, so you dont need to worry about paying them. There are two good reasons to prepay gratuities before your cruise. When you take a Royal Caribbean cruise, as well as your cruise fare, youll be expected to pay a little extra to the crew members. How much are gratuities on Royal Caribbean cruises? At the end of your cruise, youll receive an envelope that you can use to give extra cash tips if you wish. This happens automatically and will be tacked on to the price. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. The tip applies to individual guests of all ages and stateroom categories. The good thing for passengers about automatic gratuities is that this breakdown is done automatically by the cruise line instead of having to give tips to several different staff members at the end of your cruise. There may be other areas for tipping while on a cruise that are not covered by this page, including shore excursions, land tours, sightseeing, land based transportation including taxis, charter busses or limousines, tour guides, luggage handlers, room service delivery, land based .