Royal Caribbean to Increase Gratuities on Board — What to Know

The increase will start on Nov. 1.

By Alison Fox Alison Fox

Alison Fox is a Travel + Leisure contributor. She has also written for Parents.com, The Wall Street Journal, and amNewYork. When she’s not in New York City, she can be found at the beach or on the slopes. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on October 15, 2024

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Courtesy of Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean will increase its daily automatic gratuities next month, the latest in a long list of cruise lines to do so.

Starting Nov. 1, gratuities will go up to $18.50 per person (from $18) for travelers in interior, ocean view, and balcony staterooms as well as those in junior suites; and to $21 per person (from $20.50) for all travelers in larger suites, Royal Caribbean confirmed to Travel + Leisure.

“Royal Caribbean is adjusting its recommended daily gratuities, in line with industry standards,” the cruise line told T+L in a statement. “Gratuities will increase by .50 per guest, per day. For convenience, the daily gratuities are automatically added for guests once on board. However, vacationers are free to change the amount at their discretion.”  

Gratuities are automatically added to the room on a per day basis unless passengers request for them to be modified or removed. On Royal Caribbean, the gratuities are “distributed to crew members, including dining, bar and culinary services staff, stateroom attendants, hotel services teams as well as others onboard who work to enhance the overall cruise experience,” according to the company.

In addition to these tips, the cruise line charges an extra gratuity for things like onboard beverage purchases and specialty dining.

Royal Caribbean is not alone in increasing the daily automatic gratuity amount. Last year, Celebrity Cruises, which is also part of the Royal Caribbean Group, similarly increased tips and now charges $18 for inside, oceanview, and veranda staterooms, $19 for Concierge and AquaClass staterooms, and $23 for travelers in The Retreat. Other companies, like Princess Cruises, for example, have also raised the daily tip amount, but charge guests less (like $17 per person per day for interior and oceanview staterooms).

Some luxury lines, like Regent Seven Seas Cruises, include onboard gratuities in the cost of the cruise fare.

Beyond tipping, it’s now easier to see the full cost of a cruise when booking thanks to California’s “Honest Pricing Law,” which made it illegal for a business to advertise a price without including nearly all the required fees or charges. As a result, several companies updated the way they display pricing across the U.S.