Should You Prepay Gratuities on Your Next Cruise?

Just like restaurant and hotel personnel on land, many cruise ship employees depend on gratuities as part of their income. One thing that cruisers often have to decide is whether to prepay their gratuities before they sail.

Cruise lines have different names for it. But virtually all major cruise lines have a recommended amount that each traveler should pay to the crew in gratuities. Virgin Voyages is one big exception, and a few of the ultra-luxury cruise lines also include gratuity in your cruise fare.

When it comes to paying gratuities, you have two main options. You can prepay your gratuities before you sail, or you can choose to have them charged to your onboard account. While neither is necessarily a bad option, here's why it might be better for your personal finances to pay ahead of time.

How much do cruise ship gratuities cost?

The exact amount of gratuity the cruise lines add to your tab depends on the cruise line and type of room you have. According to popular travel guide Frommers, you should expect to pay $16 to $23 per day, per person, although it can be higher or lower in some cases.

Just to name some of the most common examples:

• Carnival Cruise Lines' daily gratuity rate as of December 2023 is $16 per person, per day for standard rooms and $18 per day if you're staying in a suite.
• MSC Cruises charges $14 per day for adults (12 and older) and $7 for children ages 2-11.
• Norwegian is one of the more expensive options, charging $20 per person, per day for most rooms, and $25 per day for rooms in the Haven or higher-end suites.
• Royal Caribbean's automatic daily gratuities cost $16 per person, per day for standard rooms and $18.50 for suites.

Where do your gratuities go?

One of the most common questions asked by newer cruisers is "Why can't I just tip people directly?" And you can certainly give tips directly to those who serve you -- for example, I typically give a tip to my stateroom attendant and dining room servers on the last day of the cruise.

However, one important point to keep in mind is that some of the automatic gratuities are given to people you don't directly interact with. The split depends on the cruise line, and most don't share specifics, but some of the behind-the-scenes employees get a portion of the gratuities paid.

Note that certain other purchases often have gratuities added to them. For example, it's common for a beverage package to have a gratuity attached to it (either added separately or included in the published price) and for purchased drinks at bars to have an automatic 18%-20% gratuity. And there are other situations where it is customary to tip before, during, and after your cruise, such as the luggage handlers who take your bags at the port and send them to your room.

What happens if you don't prepay gratuities?

If you don't choose to prepay gratuities, they will likely be added to your onboard account when you sail.

Of course, gratuities are not mandatory, and you can ask to have them removed from your statement, usually by visiting the guest services desk. But keep in mind that it isn't just the people you interact with on the ship that depend on your gratuities for a portion of their income.

Should you prepay, pay on board, or tip as you go?

There are two big reasons to prepay gratuities on your cruise. First (and the main reason I always do it) is so I can get all of my major expenses out of the way before I step on board. I'd rather have as little as possible charged to my credit card at the end of my trip. And second, cruise ship daily gratuities tend to increase over time. By prepaying, you're locking in the current rate -- if the cruise line's gratuities increase before you sail and you didn't prepay, you may have to pay a higher rate.