Photo: Celebrity. The cruise line automatically adds gratuities to passengers onboard accounts, unless they have an Excluded Booking that include stateroom and restaurant service gratuities and a 20% beverage package tip, according to the lines website. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. If I travel with my family of 4, and I pay the waiting $20 ($5 per person) staff each time we eat in the dining room, which would be for dinner only, over 7 days, that would $140. In reality, these daily gratuities are a hidden fee; theyre not added to the promotional rates that are used in advertising or list prices. On Jan. 1, the brand increased the cost of its Unlimited Open Beverage Bar Package by about 10%, to $109 per day in addition to raising service charges. When it comes to cruising Celebrity, just like with other lines, gratuity charges are a part of life. However, for the majority of mass market cruise lines the gratuities are extra charges on the price of your cruise. The change is in keeping with industry standards and directly recognizes both the exceptional work by our crew to deliver unforgettable vacations every day and the friendly, yet, tailored relaxed luxury experience that Celebrity is known for, a Celebrity spokesperson said in an emailed statement. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. Tipping on a cruise ship: Everything you need to know We use prepaid drink cards to purchase beverages. This happens regularly for passengers feeling generous or thankful for the staffs work during their trip. If you havent sailed before, they can be a surprise. Chris Gray Faust Cruise Critic Executive Editor, U.S. Celebrity Solstice broke new ground when it debuted in 2008, and while several sister ships have undergone what the line calls. If tips are not required, do their supervisors know about this up charge? These rates are typically more than 50% higher than the cruise-only fare. Celebrity Cruises Cruise Deals -Onboard Credits | Cruise.com They all end up being the same thing a set daily charge to passengers thats passed on to the crew. The cruise line adds the always-included pricing as the base price to every passenger's account. Introducing our newest award-wining resort at sea, the fourth and most innovative ship in our highly awarded Edge Series. J.A. Who gets the tips? Stateroom and restaurant service gratuities, and a 20% beverage package gratuity, are included in the fare of all guests in an Excluded Booking. Lines that now cover gratuities in their fares include Azamara, Ponant, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea Cruises and Virgin Voyages. $18.00 USD per person, per day for inside, ocean view, and veranda staterooms, increasing from $17.50. Royal Caribbean International last increased gratuity rates in September 2022, while Silversea Cruises already includes gratuity rates in the base fare and no additional charges are added to guests accounts during sailing. I Agree, we always opt out and give tips to our steward and waiter/waitress at the end of the cruise. When it comes to payment, you have several options. At this time, neither of those related cruise lines have indicated any gratuity increase, but such changes may be coming. Is Every Passenger Charged Gratuities? This program is a different way of doing things from Celebrity Cruises. Gratuity charges are typically not mandatory and can be adjusted. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. ** Gratuity amounts are subject to change 2023 Celebrity Cruises. If you do not prepaid for your gratuities, you will find a daily charge on your onboard account. Drinks, Wi-Fi & Tips- All Included | Celebrity Cruises Guests who book all included rates will not be subject to the higher gratuities since theyre built into the price of their cruise (although presumably, the cost of the All Included package will increase to compensate going forward). Here are the policies for major cruise lines at the moment: When you book your cruise, the gratuity amount is usually disclosed in full for your trip, with an option to prepay the amount with your cruise fare. Travel Experts available 24/7. Celebrity Cruise deals and discounts from Cruise.com. Celebrity charges and 18% additional gratuity on spa and salon purchases. However, you can still benefit from not having to worry about your drink bill (even for non-alcoholic beverages) at the end of the trip. I detest the idea of: A. not knowing who my tip is going to B. First and foremost, before we get to the details of the gratuity charges on Celebrity, its helpful to understand just what gratuities are. You can use our gratuity calculator here to see how much tips will be on your cruise, Worth It? 2023 Cruzely.com | Laisman Publishing, LLC, Cruzelys analysis of onboard spending reported by cruise lines. Book A Cruise Now The amount will vary depending on the category of stateroom you have. These changes are relatively modest, only a 3% increase for most cabins. With this offer, you get tips, a drink package, and wi-fi included in your fare instead of being an out-of-pocket expense on the ship. Sister brand Holland America pushed through a service charge increase to $15.50 per day for passengers in most cabins. Many have increased gratuity prices, and lines such as MSC Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line have also increased fees for beverage packages. Holland America Holland America gratuities have changed as of January 31, 2023, from $15.50 ($21.83AUD) to $16 ($23.28AUD) for non-suite accommodation, and for suites gratuities have risen from $17 ($24.74USD) to $17.50 ($25.45AUD). The Left-wing celebrity philosopher who could deny Joe Biden a second term . Every so often, youll see cruise lines offer something similar to this program as a special deal to get passengers to book. BEST Cruise Deals & Specials 2023 - Cruise Critic Planning a cruise? Nov 26, 2023 | 3-Night Bahamas. Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. EffectiveJuly 11, 2023, the automatic gratuity rate for all stateroom categories will increase: The new rates will apply to all new bookings, regardless of sail date. The changes will take effect July 11. Prior to 2022, the last time that they raised their gratuities was in January 2018. Can I change the amount owed? This is not a sale or special deal its a long-term change for the cruise line. Yes, except if you are sailing in the U.S., then NCL tacks on the gratuities on the amount of the beverage package even though the package is free. The current gratuity rate at Celebrity is $17.50 per day for passengers in standard cabins, $18 per day for passengers in Concierge Class and AquaClass cabins, and $21 per day for passengers staying in the suite-filled The Retreat areas of ships. The celebrity cruise line has devised a gratuity policy. This new increase represents a change of just roughly 3% for inside, ocean view, veranda, Concierge, and AquaClass staterooms, but is a more significant 9.5% increase for staterooms in The Retreat. Pre-Paid Gratuities Valid on the following cruise lines: Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Carnival Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, and Oceania Cruises. Heres Everything to Know, 21+ Best Cruise Cabin Tips, Secrets, & Things to Know (Read Before Sailing). Its a daring move to keep pushing these increases since the government has been pushing back on junk fees like these. It is likely that travelers may see gratuity rate increases from Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, and others later this year. Luggage and Baggage Rules for Taking a Cruise (How Much Can I Bring? All rates are per person, per day, vary depending on the type of stateroom, and are listed in US dollars (USD). First, any time that you buy a drink from the bar, you will be charged an extra tip, usually 18%-20% of the menu price, depending on the cruise line. Top 8 Cruise Trends Travelers Should Be Worried About, Celebrity Cruises is part of the Royal Caribbean Group, Discuss this topic at our Cruise Boards >, Free daily cruise updates to your inbox >, Subscribe for daily cruise news on YouTube >, It's time to check today's cruise deals right here >, Celebrity Cruises Guests Notified of Tax Change Due to One Port, Holland America Begins Onboard Credit Offer for Select Passengers, Barbie Embarks on Summer Sailings Aboard Two P&O Ships, Passenger Intentionally Goes Overboard Carnival Cruise Ship. What sucks is the workers then have to pay a tax on the tip where we would rather give the workers a gift of cash. If you sail Celebrity, you should be able to take advantage of this offer on your cruise. At the time, the rate forinside, ocean view, and veranda staterooms increased from $15.50 to $17.50; $16.00 to $18.00 forConcierge Class and AquaClass staterooms; and $19.00 to $23.00 for The Retreat. I understand I may opt out at any time using the unsubscribe link provided in all communications. The vast majority of passengers are charged these tips, no matter if they are young, old, have special requests, eat in the main dining room, or only hit the buffet. With millions of passengers sailing every year, theres inevitably going to be someone who feels they received poor service. With this deal, when you book your cruise you have the ability to just buy the base fare or the All Included fare, which is more expensive. While you might have already paid for your vacation, there's one more expense to consider: gratuities (or "service charges" as NCL calls them). You have entered an incorrect email address! Sign in or create an account. The amount will vary depending on the category of stateroom you have. 2023 Cruzely.com | Laisman Publishing, LLC. To do so, simply head down to Guest Services on the ship to tell them that you want to change your tip amounts. Bachelorette Charity Confronted by Suitor Who Hits 'a Tipping Point' Over Another Group Date (Exclusive) . Guaranteed Best Prices on Celebrity Cruises | Fee-Free Bookings on The tips are spread out between the room steward, dining staff, and others. Finally, if you're lucky enough to have reserved a Suite . 2023 Celebrity Cruises Drink Package Info, Tips, Pros & Cons What About Kids? Find a cruise and book cruises direct - no booking fee! In many cases, you can request to have it adjusted up or down, or even removed, at your discretion by going to the guest services desk. Celebrity Cruises appreciates all its attendants for their services through gratuities. Say it ain't so: Celebrity Cruises hikes service fees for second time in a year, This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Book . Tanner Callais - November 4, 2022 If you're a first-time cruiser, then there's little doubt that you have questions about gratuities and tipping on your cruise. Unless you are feeling generous, theres no need to tip more. We want the people who earned the tip to receive, not the lousy,greedy, uninvolved government! Celebrity Cruises is raising gratuity rates in just a few days; will other cruise lines follow suit and raise their gratuities as well? Congratulations to all the celebrity awardees at the GMA Gala 2023! Celebrity's All Included Offer: How It Works & What to Know $100 Onboard Credit (OBC) $1,029 pp 7-Nt. With the introduction of automatic gratuities, its much more difficult to avoid paying tips on your cruise. 2023 Cruises: Best Cruises in 2023 & 2024 | Celebrity Cruises For some passengers, this rate will make a lot of sense but youll want to do the math. If youd like to calculate exactly what your gratuity amount will be before you book your trip, then you can use our calculator here. You are charged a set amount (the amount varies depending on the cruise line), per person, per day. Celebrity Cruises Drink Packages Explained (Prices, What Is Included, and More), Celebritys Always Included Offer: How It Works & What to Know, 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of), Park & Cruise Hotels for Every Port in America, 107 Best Cruise Tips, Secrets, Tricks, and Freebies, Celebrity Set to Make Calls on Royal Caribbeans CocoCay for First Time, Celebritys All Included Offer: How It Works & What to Know, Worth It? In Cruzelys analysis of onboard spending reported by cruise lines, the amount spent once on the ship for an average cruise was around 35-40% of the cruise fare. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. This means that they have raised their gratuity rate over 15% in just nine months. Nov 22, 2023 | 4-Night Western Caribbean. Furthermore, once one cruise line raises gratuities, other lines generally follow suit within the next few months, even from different corporations. Celebrity Cruises will hike gratuity rates this month - USA TODAY First of all, if youre feeling a little confused, dont worry you arent alone. Make no mistake, the hard-working staff on board deserve these gratuities, but they should be included in the upfront pricing for the cruise as its not truly optional. it can be significant. What do you do about the porters at the ports. We use cookies to ensure you get the best browsing experience. I have booked with NCL next year because Im advised taking my money can either be pre paid or can opt out. Here are the documents and costs to keep in mind, continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Thats what makes the Always Included program different. Powered by eTravel, LLC. So how, A Celebrity Cruises beverage package offers the choice to enjoy an unlimited amount of alcoholic and non-alcoholic, Royal Caribbean ships are known for having some of the most thrilling activities at sea, including zip lines, surfing, Celebrity Cruises will soon offer cruises that visit Perfect Day at CocoCay. If you are in AquaClass or ConciergeClass staterooms, you'll pay $16.00 pppd. That comes out to a total of $144.30 per person, per day. At the time of writing, Royal Caribbean has not announced any increases to their gratuities. I have stepped out of the shuttle seeing the conveyer a short distance away. CruCon Cruise Outlet 1-800-493-6609 / 603-253-9116 - Every Cruise On I think this was an excellent way of looking. Theres little doubt that the extra tips can be expensive. As mentioned All Included comes with a higher price tag. With the increase, a family of four in a typical cabin will pay more than $500 in automatic gratuities on a seven-night cruise one of the highest levies in the business. All Rights Reserved. This change will go into effect for sailings on or after July 11, 2023. $23.00 USD per person, per day for guests of The Retreat, increasing from $21.00. The automatic gratuity does not cover onboard purchases, as it is a service charge that goes to the crew members. All passengers under a reservation will either be under the All Included offer if selected, or the cruise-only fare. Worth It? Celebrity Cruises Drink Packages Explained (Prices, What's As of now, Celebrity charges between $17.50 to $21.00 per person, per day, depending on the room that you book: Note that as of July 2022 those staying in Retreat or AquaClass rooms have the gratuity amount included with the cruise fare. The good thing for passengers about automatic gratuities is that this breakdown is done automatically by the cruise line instead of having to give tips to several different staff members at the end of your cruise. In general, the gratuity charge covers most places on the ship such as in the dining rooms and your cabin steward. The tipping rates charged change from time to time. Related:Should you prepay gratuities for a Royal Caribbean cruise? How Much Extra Is the All Included Offer? You have entered an incorrect email address! Absolutely. Washington Editor 18 July 2023 8 . Celebrity last increased their gratuities in October 2022. A little appreciation will help them work better. The increased rates will be $18 for inside, ocean view, and veranda staterooms; $18.50 for Concierge Class and AquaClass staterooms; and $23 for guests in The Retreat. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). All passengers on the cruise regardless of age are charged the daily amount. Well known for the luxury experience they provide for an affordable price, Celebrity Cruises is popular among cruise veterans. Our customers rate us 4.9 out of 5. Book a cruise on one of the above mentioned cruise lines & you may get FREE PRE-PAID GRATUITIES for the 1st & 2nd passenger* in the stateroom! Book Western Caribbean Cruises Pre-Paid Gratuities, Cruise Prepaid Gratuities, Free Gratuities Cruise lines like Virgin Voyages already include the tips in the cost of the sailing; other lines need to get on board. Instead, gratuities on a cruise ship are highly automated, with most people just electing to prepay or being charged a set amount for each day on the ship. We may earn a commission from links on this page. Weve seen instances of multiple increases in a year and other times when rates wont change for a year or two. The basic wi-fi package costs $20 per person, per day. Theres no such thing as free in cruising and that includes the All Included deal. Everyone saves 40% on every sailing and receives a bonus of up to $200 to spend on board in almost any way they like.