Most cruise lines now have a per diem charge to cover shipboard gratuities. How does this work and what does it cover?
Rather than leaving tipping up to the individual, many cruise lines now will add a set fee per person to the guests shipboard account. This amount covers tipping to most of the staff on board, ranging from dining staff and cabin stewards to deck hands and kitchen staff (generally the amounts do not cover bar staff (see below), staff in the casino and the spa area). The money is pooled and shared by all staff. The amount charged varies by cruise line but it allows the traveller to ensure that the staff serving them is well rewarded. As a guest you can adjust or refuse to approve this charge. Craig Travel includes this gratuity amount in our cruise prices (allowing you to know up front more clearly the true cost of your cruise) and pays it on your behalf – as a result, you will not see these fees added to you shipboard account. On most cruise lines, bar services are not included in the above amount – instead a 15% service charge will be added to drink charges in lieu of gratuities. As a
