What is the Appropriate Tipping Amount on Cruise Ships?

Cruise lines are transparent about their tipping policies. If you’re not on an all-inclusive cruise that includes most gratuities, like those offered by luxury lines such as Azamara, Seabourn, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Virgin Voyages, it’s advisable to tip the crew.

Determining the right tip on a cruise is simpler than you might think, as major cruise lines provide clear tipping guidelines and often add suggested gratuity amounts to your onboard account automatically. Some even let you prepay gratuities before boarding, allowing you to settle it all at once rather than figuring out individual tips for staff like waiters or housekeepers.

Why are tips anticipated? Gratuities serve as additional income for the international crew, who frequently earn low base wages, counting on tips to supplement their earnings, much like restaurant servers. While not mandatory, tips are typically expected when indicated by the cruise line.

Regardless of the recommended amount, you can always visit the purser’s desk on your ship to modify your tip based on the service received. Passengers who are pleased with the service may choose to increase their tip or make adjustments as they see fit.

Here’s what you need to know about tipping aboard cruise ships.

What are the recommended gratuity amounts on a cruise?

Daily tipping rates for cruise waitstaff, cabin attendants, and other onboard personnel are generally specified on the cruise line’s website and included in the cruise documents provided to passengers before their journey.

For example, Celebrity Cruises implements an automatic gratuity system, ranging from $18 to $23 per day based on your room category, with the option to adjust the rate at guest relations until the morning of departure. Additionally, a 20 percent gratuity is automatically added to spa and salon services, specialty dining, drinks, room service, and mini bar items.

Typically, suggested tips for cruises range from $12 to $16 per passenger per day, which totals between $84 and $112 for a standard seven-night cruise per person, or $336 to $448 for a family of four. Suites with a personal butler may have an extra suggested amount, usually around $4 per day. Some cruise lines may also recommend waiving gratuities for children under three years old.

While many river cruise lines include gratuities, those that don’t typically suggest a range of $10 to $20 per passenger per day. Similarly, some expedition cruise lines incorporate gratuities, whereas others recommend $10 to $15 per person per day.

The tips collected are distributed among the dining service staff (such as servers and assistants) and the cabin stewards (who maintain the accommodations). Traditionally, passengers were assigned a specific table and waitstaff throughout the cruise. Nowadays, most cruise lines allow guests the freedom to dine wherever and whenever they wish, with a tipping pool ensuring all staff who assist passengers receive tips.

Personally, if I have an excellent housekeeper, even on a ship where gratuities are included, I often leave a small cash bonus (around $20 per passenger) at the end of the cruise. The same applies to waiters. Additionally, it’s a kind gesture to give a small tip ($1 to $2) to room service attendants, especially if they bring heavily laden trays, like when I order breakfast in bed.

Although most tips can be charged to your credit card at the end of your cruise, it’s wise to keep some small bills handy for additional gratuities you might want to give. U.S. dollars are usually acceptable for these smaller tips, though offering them in the local currency is a nice touch if you have it.

Tipping for bar, spa, and specialty dining services

Tipping for bar staff is generally included in your bar bill at a rate of 18 to 20 percent. This automatic gratuity also applies in onboard coffee shops and ice cream parlors. Keep in mind there may be an option on the bill for an additional tip, though it’s not mandatory.

Some passengers prefer to tip bartenders around $20 at the beginning of their cruise, hoping for extra service; however, this is entirely up to each passenger’s preference. At the cruise’s conclusion, many also give a few dollars to their favorite bar staff member.

Larger ships typically include a gratuity of around 20 percent for spa services like massages or salon treatments. There might also be an option for an additional tip if you wish to give one. Smaller ships may not automatically include a tip, so check your bill and consider leaving around 15 to 20 percent if the service deserves it. Additionally, tipping is often not included for spa services on luxury cruises that cover other gratuities, so review the cruise line's tipping policies carefully.

At specialty dining venues where meals incur extra charges, gratuities are usually (though not always) included in the additional fee, so it’s best to inquire. Even if a tip is included, you are welcome to add more for exceptional service.

Tipping expectations during shore excursions

On shore excursions, it’s customary for passengers to tip tour guides and bus drivers. The amount you choose to tip is completely at your discretion, but a suggested starting point is $5 per person for a half-day tour and $10 per person for a full-day tour for the guide, and $2 for the bus driver. You can certainly increase this amount based on your experience; if you really enjoyed your snorkeling guide, consider tipping $20 or more.

Porters at the pier typically expect tips of about $1 to $2 per bag. If your cruise includes a night at a hotel before or after, consider leaving a gratuity for the housekeeping staff; I usually give around $5 per day.

Not everyone requires a tip on a cruise

While passengers may be impressed by the exceptional service and the culture of tipping during a cruise, there are situations where tipping is neither expected nor appropriate. For instance, it's generally seen as inappropriate to tip the captain, officers, or management team members like the hotel director, cruise director, and executive chef.

The same applies to the entertainment team, except for piano players in bars who might have a tip bowl for requests as well as gratuities.

Tipping is not expected for youth counselors supervising children in kids clubs onboard, though passengers can choose to offer them a gratuity if they wish.

This article was first published in August 2022 and was updated with new details on May 13, 2024.