Tipping procedures on cruises? How much beyond the standard gratuity is customary?

Question

I may be taking a 5 day Carnival Cruise next spring. I'm trying to calculate the total costs of the trip. Beyond the $10 per day per person gratuity that's added to your bill, how much extra do you usually tip, and to whom? And what do drinks typically cost? Thanks!

Answer 1

What you want to give as a tip to any of the cruise staff that you feel deserve a tip is what ever you want to give.  Also be advised you do no have to keep the $10 per day gratuity on your cabin bill.  If you feel that the service is not what it should be you can have the gratuity removed from your bill by going to the purser desk and requesting them to do that.  Then it is up to you to tip whom you feel deserves it.

If I use room service we sometimes tip them $1.00 per visit but not all the time.  

Drinks are about the same as they are on a land based bar.

Bon Voyage

Answer 2

When you go on a cruise you can if you want add to the gratuity of any of the persons who share that $10. gratuity you pay each day.  BUT, it's strictly up to you.  Those persons would be your cabin steward, you table waiter, your assistant waiter, and the head waiter.  If any of those persons, in your opinion, deserves a few dollars more based on great and or outstanding service, or a special act for you, then you can give them an additional tip by going to the purser's desk on ship and adding the extra to you bill specifically for them.  OR, you can just give it to them personally on the last evening of the cruise.

Each drink that you order on ship, both alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, will automatically have a gratuity of 15 percent added to the check each time you order something; this is the same at all bars and at the dinner table if you order wine or other drinks.  Drinks on ship are normally in the range of about $5.50 for beer, $6.50 for wine, and $7.00 to $9.00 for fancy mixed drinks.  BUT, if you want to control your drinks tab then always request that the drinks be brought in a plain glass rather than the fancy glasses that they most often use.  The fancy glasses will add between $1.50 and $2.00 to the cost of your drinks.  So, for example, a $7.00 mixed drink in  a fancy glass may be $8.50 plus the 15 percent.

Amended

For the most part your cruise  will be all inclusive but there are some other things (potential charges) to be aware of. Let me explain.  The price of your cruise includes your cabin, all meals (including breakfast, lunch dinner, snacks and free room service), all shows and entertainment, and free use of all facilities on ship. In addition to gratuities there are some other pretty much optional charges to be aware of.

Coffee, tea, milk, juice, and lemonade and punch will be provided free but as I said above you must pay for soft drinks and alcoholic beverages and they will add a 15 per cent gratuity to each drink and soft drink order.  Cruise lines will take plenty of photographs of you all over the ship, in the dining room, and as you exit the ship in ports. If you want to buy them these will cost a lot, like $15 to $20 for most.  You are not required to book any tours and can get off and on in the ports as much as you want. But the cruise line will offer a lot of tours and these are expensive.  Anything you buy on ship from a gift shop or duty free shop goes on your on board account.  If you plan to gamble on ship you will need cash for that.  If the ship has  what they call "specialty" restaurants where there is a gratuity/service charge. All other food on board is free and its not really necessary to budget for food; you cannot eat all of the FREE FOOD that will be available.

If you want/need to have your hair done, get a massage or wrap, or any services from the spa, you will have to pay for them. You can use the gym free but the spa stuff cost big bucks.  If you want to use the internet cafe or WiFi  it is very expensive (like about $50 to $60 an hour).

Just so you are aware, there will be these other optional charges.

Answer 3

When I cruise I normally give the suggested tip to everyone but the dining room waiter. I have found them to be some of the nicest people I have ever met.