Question:

How much should I expect to lay out in tips on a cruise?

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I am going on my first cruise next month for 7 days (Carnival, Western Caribbean). Could you please give me an estimate of how much I should expect to lay out in tips? I am sharing my cabin with my cousin so I would be splitting the tips with her.

Thanks!

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  1. It depends on your cruise line and if grituities are included if they are, then don't give extra tips.


  2. CAUTION HERE!!!!!  BE FORWARNED!!!!

    THEY WILL AUTOMATICALLY BILL YOUR CREDIT CARD FOR TIPS WHILE ON CRUISE.  YOU CAN (AND MANY PEOPLE DO) DISPUTE THIS CHARGE AND PAY WHAT YOU WANT.  GO TO PURSERS DESK LAST 1-2 DAYS OR CRUISE AND TELL THEN YOU WANT TO SELECT YOUR OWN TIP AMOUNT.  THEY BANK ON THE FACT THAT IT WILL MAKE YOU LOOK CHEAP IF YOU DO THIS.  I HAVE BEEN ON ALL CRUISE LINES AND LET ME TELL YOU MANY MANY MANY PEOPLE CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF TIP.  DONT LET THEN FOOL YOU!

  3. Please pay out as much as you can afford. The cleaning etc staff live almost wholly on passenger tips on cheaper US cruisers.

  4. $10 a day unless you want to give more, or visit the Purser's desk to give less. I have found Carnival easier in the tipping than RCL but both have the same recommended prices

  5. Your gratuity is already added to your ticket price.  IE taxes.  You can give more if you want.

  6. alot of cruise lines charge an automatic 10.00 per person per day.  so 7 days is 70.00 per person.  You can go to the pursers office and adjust that amount either up or down as you see fit.

    remember also that drinks and such from the bar (anything you sign for) will include an automatic 15% charge for gratuities in the charge.  

    cruiseclues.com

  7. If you drink about $20 per day.  This is all inclusive.

  8. It depends on your cruiseline, sometime grauties are included at the end of the cruise.  But definitely when you purchase alcohol.

    My spouse and I went by the cruiseline suggestions and we paid approx. 50.00 each for the week of a four night cruise.

  9. Carnival suggested tipping is $10 per person per day.  The does not include the 15% tip for drinks.  From Carnival's website ...

    What is the tipping policy onboard?

    Service Gratuities

    For your convenience, we automatically charge the gratuities for dining and stateroom staff to your onboard Sail & Sign account. The total amount is $10.00 per guest, per day (our recommended guideline) as follows:

    $ 3.50 Per Day Stateroom Services              

    $ 5.50 Per Day Dining Room Services        

    $ 1.00 Per Day Alternative Services: distributed to other kitchen and hotel service staff

    For Cruises-To-Nowhere, gratuities of $10 per guest, per day must be prepaid.

    Our Staff is totally committed to exceed your expectations in every way possible. If you are not satisfied with the service you receive, we encourage you to contact the Purser’s Information desk while onboard. This will allow us to address your concerns in a timely and appropriate fashion. At your discretion, you may adjust the gratuities at any time.

    For beverage purchases, fifteen percent of the bill is automatically added to the Sail & Sign charge. Room Service staff may be tipped as service is rendered. Tipping your Maître d’ is at your discretion, based upon the service you receive.

    http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/Gratuit...

  10. The average is 10.00 a day per person. My husband and I paid 140.00 for 2 people on a 7 day cruise.  You should do 70.00 and your cousin 70.00.  If you did not get that good of service, you can lower the amount.  It is really up to you.

  11. Certain tips are automatically added to your bill, and are spelled out on the Carnival website.

    Your room steward automatically gets a few dollars a day, the waiter assigned to your table does, too.  You will carry your room key with you everywhere, and can charge all drinks, etc. to the room.  Be careful at the bar, these add up quickly, and you won't realize how MUCH you drank until you see the bill at the end.  You can add 'normal' tips for the bartender to the charge slip at the bar.  You never needed cash on board.

    Advice: buy ONE of the soft-drink cards at the beginning of the trip.  It is about $25, and covers soft drinks.  Juice, milk, coffee, iced tea are free all the time, but coke/ diet coke/ sprite, etc are about $2 each, and are mostly ice.  That one-time soft drink card will save you a FORTUNE.  You can use the soft drink card anywhere on board.  They aren't really picky about who uses the card, as long as  you aren't ordering 11 cokes at one time (since they are sold for 'one' person).

    OH, and back to tips -- you will be offered the opportunity to tip the Matre' De at the restaurant, and leave more cash for the room steward, too.   Depending on the level of service you get (did you have special requests?) you may choose to tip more.

    I did that same cruise with my family a couple of years ago, and had a great time.  Don't forget the sunscreen!

  12. 10-15 per day min

  13. they automatically charge $10 per person per day to your ship account

  14. On a 7-day cruise, $70.00 per person will be added to your bill on board - $10.00 per person, per day.  This covers your room steward, waiter and busboy.

    Every drink you order - alchohol or other bar drinks - will have a 15% gratuity automatically added to the bill.  

    No need to tip the Maitre 'd unless he/she has done something special for you like arranging a birthday cake or special seating arrangements.

    You can, of course, tip more if you wish.

    You're gonna LOVE Carnival.....

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