What are the recommended gratuities for cruise staff?
Cruise lines vary in how gratuities are handled. A few cruise lines include tipping in the total cruise price or have a ‘no tipping’ policy, and will inform you. Some lines will automatically charge your tip daily to your onboard account (you can usually arrange to have the amount adjusted). While other cruise lines have you tip in cash at the end of the cruise via envelopes provided by your cabin steward. Here are some general guidelines as to who usually gets a tip, and how much: • In addition to the amounts listed below a 15% gratuity will be added to any bar purchases. • A good rule of thumb is that you will tip about $10 per person in your cabin per day of your cruise. For example, if you are on a three-day cruise and have two people in your cabin you would pay $20 per day, or $60 total in tips. Here is a general breakdown: • Wait Staff / Restaurant: about $5.50 per day (Head waiter $3.00, Bus Boy $2.50). • Cabin Staff (Cabin Steward): about $3.00 per day. • Other: about $1.00 for
