Cruise lines add gratuities automatically, but you decide the amount and method
Most cruise lines charge a daily gratuity directly to your cabin account — typically $15 to $16 per person per day for standard cabins, higher for suites. You can adjust this amount, remove it entirely, or pay cash to individual crew members instead. The charge covers housekeeping, dining room staff, and bartenders; other crew members (like shore excursion guides or spa staff) are tipped separately if you choose to.
The system varies slightly by cruise line. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney, and Norwegian all auto-add gratuities, but the daily rate and what it covers differ. Some lines let you modify the amount before you board; others require you to visit the purser's desk during your cruise. Understanding the baseline helps you decide whether to accept it, adjust it, or skip it in favor of cash tipping.
Key Takeaways
- Cruise lines automatically add $15 to $16 per person per day to your bill unless you remove or adjust it before boarding or at the purser's desk.
- Automatic gratuities cover cabin stewards, dining room servers, and bartenders — not specialty restaurants, spas, or shore excursion staff.
- You can pay cash directly to individual crew members instead of using the automatic system, though some lines discourage this.
- Specialty dining, room service, spa treatments, and casino staff are typically tipped separately at 15 to 20 percent, the same as on land.
- If you remove automatic gratuities, crew members who serve you directly will not receive a tip unless you hand it to them in cash.
How automatic gratuities work and what they cover
When you book a cruise, the line calculates daily gratuities based on your cabin type and number of passengers. For a standard inside or oceanview cabin, expect $15 to $16 per person per day. Balcony cabins run slightly higher, and suites can reach $18 to $20 or more. This charge appears on your final bill and covers three main groups: your cabin steward (who cleans your room and changes linens), your dining room server and assistant server (if you eat in the main dining room), and bartenders who make drinks you order at bars and lounges.
The charge does not cover specialty restaurants, room service, spa services, casino staff, or crew members who work in activities, entertainment, or shore excursions. It also does not cover tips for the head server or sommelier if you dine in specialty venues. These are separate transactions you handle at the time of service or when you check out.
You can see the daily gratuity amount on your cruise documents or in your online account before you board. Most lines allow you to adjust or remove it through your account portal or by calling customer service before your sailing date. If you do not adjust it before boarding, you can visit the purser's desk (also called guest services) on your first day and ask to modify the amount.
Removing automatic gratuities and paying cash instead
If you prefer to tip in cash or believe the automatic amount is too high, you can remove the charge entirely. This requires a conversation at the purser's desk, usually on your first day. Crew members will still serve you — removing gratuities does not affect your service — but they will not receive a tip from the line unless you hand it to them directly.
Cash tipping works the same way it does in restaurants on land: you give money directly to the person who served you. For your cabin steward, leave cash in an envelope on your bed on your last night (or earlier if you prefer). For dining room servers, hand them cash at the end of your meal or on your last dinner. For bartenders, tip when you order or settle your tab. The standard rate is 15 to 20 percent of the cost of the service, or a flat amount if no charge applies (for example, $1 to $2 per drink for a bartender).
Some cruise lines discourage cash tipping and prefer the automatic system because it ensures crew members are paid consistently. Others are neutral. Norwegian Cruise Line, for instance, allows you to remove automatic gratuities without penalty, while some lines may suggest that removing them affects crew morale. The choice is yours, but understand that crew members depend on these tips as a significant part of their income.
Tipping for specialty dining and other services
If you dine in a specialty restaurant (such as a steakhouse, Italian venue, or sushi bar), that meal is usually charged separately to your account, and gratuity is not included. Tip 15 to 20 percent of the charge, either by signing the receipt or paying cash. The same applies to room service: if you order a burger and fries to your cabin, a tip is expected when the server delivers it or when you settle the charge.
Spa and salon services follow the same rule. If you book a massage, facial, or haircut, tip 15 to 20 percent unless the line has already added a gratuity to the charge (some do). Ask when you book or when you arrive for your appointment. Casino staff, shore excursion guides, and activity instructors are also tipped separately — usually $1 to $5 per person depending on the service and your satisfaction. A shore excursion guide who leads a four-hour tour might receive $5 to $10 per person; a fitness class instructor might receive $2 to $5.
Tipping by cruise line: what to expect
Carnival Cruise Line charges $15.50 per person per day for standard cabins and $17.50 for suites. You can adjust this amount through your online account or at the purser's desk. The charge covers your cabin steward, dining room server, and assistant server.
Royal Caribbean charges $15.70 per person per day for standard cabins and $18.50 for suites. Adjustments can be made online before boarding or at guest services during your cruise. The gratuity covers the same crew members as Carnival.
Disney Cruise Line charges $14.50 per person per day for standard cabins and $18 for suites. Disney allows online adjustments and also permits removal of gratuities, though the line emphasizes that crew members depend on these tips. The charge covers cabin, dining, and bar staff.
Norwegian Cruise Line charges $16 per person per day for standard cabins and $18 for suites. Norwegian explicitly allows you to remove automatic gratuities without any penalty or judgment. You can adjust online or at the purser's desk. The gratuity covers the same services as other lines.
Rates and policies change, so check your cruise documents or contact the line directly to confirm the current daily amount and what it covers.
Common tipping situations and amounts
| Service | Covered by Auto Gratuity? | Tip Amount | When to Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabin steward | Yes | $1–$5 per night (cash) or adjust auto amount | Last night, in an envelope |
| Dining room server | Yes | Included or $1–$2 per meal (cash) | End of meal or last dinner |
| Bartender | Yes | Included or $1–$2 per drink (cash) | When ordering or settling tab |
| Specialty restaurant server | No | 15–20% of bill | When signing receipt or paying |
| Room service | No | 15–20% of bill or $2–$5 flat | When server delivers or at checkout |
| Spa or salon | No | 15–20% of service cost | At end of appointment |
| Shore excursion guide | No | $5–$10 per person | End of tour |
| Activity instructor or entertainer | No | $2–$5 per person | End of activity |
What happens if you do not tip
If you keep the automatic gratuities on your account, the crew members who serve you will receive their share of that money. If you remove automatic gratuities and do not tip in cash, those crew members will not receive a tip from you. This does not prevent them from serving you or affect your access to services, but it does reduce their income for that cruise.
Cruise ship crew members typically earn low base wages and rely heavily on tips to make a living. Many work contracts that last several months and are away from their families. Understanding this context helps you decide whether the automatic amount feels fair to you. If you believe it is too high, adjusting it downward is reasonable; removing it entirely and not tipping in cash is a choice you can make, but crew members will feel the difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove automatic gratuities and not tip at all?
Yes. You can remove the automatic charge at the purser's desk, and no one will force you to tip in cash. However, crew members who serve you directly depend on tips as a major part of their income, so this choice affects them directly.
Do I tip the captain or other senior officers?
No. The captain and senior officers do not receive tips. Your gratuity goes to service staff — stewards, servers, bartenders, and similar crew members. If you meet the captain at a formal dinner, a tip is not expected or appropriate.
What if I am unhappy with the service I received?
You can adjust the automatic gratuity amount downward or remove it entirely. If a specific crew member provided poor service, you can mention this to guest services, and they may adjust the tip for that person. Removing the entire gratuity affects everyone who served you, so consider whether the problem was widespread or isolated to one person.
Do I tip the same amount on a short cruise as a long one?
Yes. The daily gratuity rate is the same whether your cruise is three days or two weeks. The total amount you pay in gratuities will be higher on a longer cruise because you are charged per day, but the daily rate does not change.
What if my cruise includes a prepaid gratuity package?
Some cruise lines offer packages that include gratuities as part of the booking price. In this case, the gratuity is already paid and will not appear as a separate charge on your final bill. You still have the option to tip additional cash to individual crew members if you choose, but the automatic daily charge will not explore.