Paying tips and gratuities depends on which cruise line you choose. Some have a no tipping policy while others offer a discretionary gratuity option. A number of cruise lines, meanwhile, require a compulsory gratuity charge which is either taken from your onboard account automatically or paid at the end of your cruise before disembarking.
| None | Discretionary | Compulsory |
| P&O | Royal Caribbean | Costa |
| Thomson/Marella | Celebrity | |
| Carnival (Barbados departures) | Cunard | |
| Azamara | MSC Cruises | |
| Luxury lines | Princess | |
| Holland America | ||
| Oceania | ||
For more detailed information on each cruise line’s tipping and gratuities policies, please see below.
Carnival Gratuities
$13.99 ($15.99 for suite guests) per person per day will be added to your onboard account, for passengers aged 2 years and above. Should you wish to change the amount or tip independently, please contact the Purser's Office once onboard. 18% will be automatically added to all bar bills.
Marella Gratuities
You are not expected to tip on Marella ships, but may if you wish.
Celebrity Cruises Gratuities
A suggested $14.50 per passenger will be added to your account daily. This increases to $15 if in Concierge Class or AquaClass and $18 if in a suite. You may elect to prepay your gratuities. Please contact our Customer Care team should you wish to take advantage of this convenience. You must prepay gratuities if you choose ‘Celebrity Select Dining’. Should you wish to change the amount or tip independently, please contact the Purser’s Office once onboard. 18% will be automatically added to all bar bills and 15% for spa services.
For Celebrity cruises in the Galapagos, gratuities are included.
Costa Cruises Gratuities
Gratuities are dependent on the cruise. All amounts are per adult, per day at an amount of €10 for a European itinerary and $12.50 for the Caribbean, Far East, South America and Transatlantic. There are no charges for children under 4 with children between 4 and 14 charged at 50% of the above rates.
Please note that Costa suggest that the service charge cannot be altered. You are not expected or required to offer further tips once onboard.
Cunard Gratuities
$11.50 per person per day is added to the onboard account for passengers in Britannia Staterooms. This increases to $13.50 for those in ‘Grills’ accommodation. This is applied to the account of both adults and children. Should you wish to change the amount or tip independently, please contact the Purser’s Office once onboard. 15% will be automatically added to all bar bills and %12.5 in the spa and salon.
Disney Cruise Line Gratuities
Suggested tips can be automatically applied to onboard accounts. The suggested tips onboard Disney cruise ships is $13.50 a day per person for both children and adults alike. Should you wish to change the amount or tip independently, please contact the Purser’s Office once onboard. In addition, 15% will be automatically added to all bar bills and 18% in the spa.
Fred Olsen Gratuities
Fred Olsen now apply an automatic £5 per person per day gratuity to customers’ onboard account aged 12 and above. All gratuities remain at the discretion of the passenger and can be adjusted at the Purser’s Office once onboard.
MSC Cruises Gratuities
The exact amounts recommended by MSC per day varies on destination and direction. During Europe and World Cruises the amount is recommended at €10 per day and in the US and Caribbean at $12.50 northwards and $10 southwards. A 15% service charge is also added at the bar.
It’s recommended children pay half that of cruisers over 12 while those under 2 have no obligation to pay. If you wish to change this amount added to your account, you can do so by enquiring at reception.
For more information on MSC Cruises gratuities policy, please check their official site.
Norwegian Cruise Line Gratuities
There is a discretionary service charge added to your onboard account for all passengers aged 3 years and over. A 20% charge is also added to bar, speciality dining and spa bills.
For all NCL ships sailing out of Port Canaveral there is a $15 charge except for Suites, Concierge and the Haven where it is $18. Another exception is Norwegian Sky and Sun which require a $20.50 and $23.30 charge per person per day.
P&O Cruises
As of May 2019, P&O Cruise will cease to charge gratuities.
Royal Caribbean Gratuities
Pre-paying your gratuities is a must if you are wishing to benefit from Royal Caribbean's 'My Time Dining'. Any passenger may opt for the convenience of pre-paying their tips.
Otherwise, it is customary to hand out gratuities on the last day of the cruise. Royal Caribbean suggest a total $12.95 ($15.95 for those in a Grand Suite or above) per person per day regardless of age. 15% is automatically added to any bar bill.
Oceania
If staying a Penthouse, Oceania, Vista or Owner’s Suite, a $23 gratuity is added to your onboard account per day. For other cabin types below suites, a $16 gratuity charge is applied. This applies to guests of any age but the amount paid is at your discretion and you can amend this automatic totalling at reception. In addition, 18% is added to bar, spa and bills in speciality restaurant La Reserve.