Additional Cruise Gratuities

Here are some tips on additional tips.

Pardon the pun 🙂

Drink Gratuities

If you buy a drinks package, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to the total cost of the package and split among all of the bartenders on board.  If you purchase drinks one at a time, they will print you a receipt to sign and you can either tip in cash or add a tip to the receipt. Cash goes straight to the bartender, receipt tips may be pooled between bartenders.

If you have a drinks package that covers drinks up to a certain price, bartenders may give you a receipt for $2 or whatever the overage cost is.  Keep in mind you have already tipped 18% for the $12 if that was the max drink cost, so you are really only tipping on the $2 overage.  One thing I have done before is tipped a couple bucks in cash on that first over-cost drink and when I got another by the same bartender somehow I was no longer getting charged the one or two dollar excess. Not going to say it will happen every time, but it can pay to build up a repoire with your servers.

What additional people might I want to tip?

• The porters at the cruise terminal are not tipped by the cruise line. A general rule of thumb for them is a dollar per bag. As with everything, some people are more generous. The porters can also take care of your bags when you get off the ship, so if you would like help with your luggage the final day bring extra for that day as well.
• Spa services are tipped separately.
• Room service is usually sent by someone other than your usual waiter so they may not get tipped by your standard tips. A couple bucks can be a nice gesture although depending on the cruise line may not be expected.
• Specialty dining – this is an area that causes confusion. 18% is already included when you pay for the dining package or one-time restaurant fee. However, I have been told on cruises the best waiters go to specialty dining, so you are sometimes encouraged to tip on top of the normal gratuities. They may mention to think about what the dinner would be worth on land, as many times you get a deal on the ship. For those who eat in specialty dining most of the trip, it doesn’t make much sense to also be tipping your regular waiters since you have never used them, but it is what it is. This is one area where people will remove the standard gratuities and tip as they go.
• Shore excursions – all the usuals – tour guides, taxi drivers, waiters, beach attendants, etc.
• Pre-and-post Stay – Hotel Bell hops, valets, Uber drivers, shuttle drivers, etc.

In general it is a great idea to come stocked with ones and fives. If you don’t have time beforehand, you can stop at guest services and they always seem to have plenty of change.

If you are wondering about the standard gratuities and who is covered by those, check out the previous post on Standard Cruise Gratuities.