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Per guest, per day
Charged for every guest in the cabin, for every night of the sailing, including children on most lines.
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GuideCruise gratuities & daily service charges, explained
Almost every cruise adds a daily gratuity to your account, and it surprises more first-timers than any other charge. Here is what it is, how it works, where the money goes, and how to plan for it, so nothing on your final statement is a shock.
☎Call now · +1-833-684-4250The short version
- A daily gratuity (also called a service charge or crew appreciation) is added to your onboard account automatically, per guest, per day.
- It is shared among the dining, housekeeping and behind-the-scenes crew who look after you.
- Suites and higher cabin categories usually carry a higher daily amount than standard staterooms.
- You can prepay it when you book, which locks the amount and keeps your onboard account smaller.
- The exact daily figure changes over time and by line, so we keep the current verified number for each line on the cruise facts page.
What a cruise gratuity actually is
On a cruise, the tips that land staff would earn from you throughout the trip are pooled into one daily service charge, added to your onboard account for every night you sail. It is the cruise industry's standard way of handling gratuities, so you rarely hand cash to individual crew for everyday service.
Gratuity / service charge / crew appreciation: three names for the same thing: a set daily amount, per guest, that the line collects on behalf of the crew who serve you.
Because it is automatic and per person, it adds up across a week in a way a lot of first-time cruisers do not budget for. Knowing it is coming is half the battle.
How the daily charge works
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Varies by cabin
Suites and higher categories usually pay a higher daily amount than standard staterooms.
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Added automatically
It appears on your onboard account without you opting in; you settle the account at the end.
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Prepay option
You can usually prepay at booking, which locks today's amount and keeps the onboard bill smaller.
The precise daily figure is a published number that lines adjust from time to time, and it differs from one line to the next. Rather than quote a figure that could go stale, we keep the current, source-checked amount for every line on the cruise facts page.
Where the money goes
The daily charge is distributed across the crew who make your holiday run: your dining room and buffet teams, your cabin steward, and the many behind-the-scenes staff you never see. For crew members, it is a meaningful and expected part of their pay, which is why lines make it the default rather than leaving it to chance.
Prepaying, and can you change it?
Prepaying is the simple win: pay the gratuities when you book or before you sail, and they are locked at that amount, off your onboard account, and out of mind.
Adjusting or removing the daily gratuity is possible on some lines by visiting guest services during the cruise, but policies vary, it is discouraged, and prepaid amounts are handled differently. If you are considering it, confirm your line's current policy first, and remember the crew are counting on it.
Some higher-end and premium fares include gratuities in the price, so there is nothing added onboard at all. Whether yours does is exactly the kind of thing a specialist confirms for your specific sailing when you call.
Automatic bar gratuities and extra tipping
The daily charge covers everyday service, but two things sit outside it:
- Bar and specialty purchases usually have a gratuity added automatically at the point of sale, so a drink or a specialty meal already includes the tip.
- Extra cash tips for standout service are entirely optional and always welcome, but never expected on top of the daily charge.
In other words: the daily gratuity handles the basics, and anything beyond it is your call.
The bottom line
Gratuities are the one near-universal extra on a cruise, so treat them as part of the cost of the trip from the start. Prepay them if you like tidy accounting, know that suites pay a little more, and check whether your fare already includes them.
Want the exact current amount for the line you are eyeing, and whether prepaying makes sense for your sailing? One call sorts it, free and with no obligation. It also helps to read what is included in a cruise fare next.
Frequently asked questions
How much are cruise gratuities?
They are a set daily amount per guest that varies by cruise line and cabin category, and lines adjust it over time. We keep the current, source-checked figure for each line on our cruise facts page; a specialist confirms it for your exact sailing when you call.
Are gratuities per person or per cabin?
Per person, per day. The daily charge applies to each guest in the stateroom, including children on most lines, though some lines waive it for infants.
Can you remove or reduce cruise gratuities?
On many lines you can ask to adjust them at guest services during the cruise, but policies vary, it is discouraged, and prepaid gratuities are handled differently. Confirm your line's current policy first.
Can you prepay gratuities?
Usually yes, at booking or any time before you sail. Prepaying locks in the amount and keeps your onboard account smaller.
Do you still tip on top of the daily charge?
You do not have to. Bar and specialty purchases already add a gratuity automatically, and extra cash for standout service is optional and never expected.
Are gratuities ever included in the fare?
Yes. Some premium and higher-end fares include gratuities, so nothing is added onboard. Whether yours does depends on the line and fare type, which a specialist can confirm.
Keep reading
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What's included in a cruise fare
The full split of what your fare covers and what costs extra.
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The cruise facts that cost you money
The current, verified gratuity figure for every line, plus packages and cancellation.
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Find a cruise that fits
Line up the ships for your dates; one call books the right one.
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Compare cruise lines
See how the lines differ on gratuities and what's included.
Ready to price a real sailing?
Call a specialist, they'll give you the all-in number for your dates.