Celebrity Cruises Tipping

Tipping on Celebrity Cruises: What You Need to Know

So, you’ve decided to sail the high seas with Celebrity Cruises. Good choice; they call themselves modern luxury for a reason. But when the bill arrives, you might be left wondering whether you need to tip and how much. Let’s break down the ins and outs of tipping on Celebrity Cruises, because nobody likes surprise charges, especially when you’re supposed to be relaxing.

Automatic Gratuities: The Basics

First things first, let’s talk about the automatic gratuities that sneak onto your bill like an unexpected relative at Thanksgiving. Celebrity Cruises automatically charges gratuities to cover the services of your room stewards, dining staff, and other crew members who work tirelessly to ensure you have a memorable trip.

• Standard Staterooms: $17.50 per person, per day.
• AquaClass and Concierge Class: $18 per person, per day.
• Suites: $21 per person, per day.

These charges are usually tacked onto your onboard account daily, so you won’t feel the burn until you see the final bill. For more details, check out the Celebrity Cruises Dossier.

What’s Included?

Your automatic gratuities cover a variety of services. Think of it as a “thank-you” note for the people who make your bed, serve your meals, and clean up after your poolside margarita spill.

Included:

• Room stewards
• Main dining room staff
• Buffet service
• General housekeeping

Not Included: Specialty restaurants, onboard purchases, and spa services, because apparently luxury has its limits.

To Tip Extra or Not: When and How Much?

So, should you tip extra? The short answer is: **Yes**, if you feel the love. The more nuanced answer involves considering the quality of service and your budget. Here’s a quick guide:

Room Stewards: If they’ve gone above and beyond, throwing in an extra $20-$50 at the end of the cruise is a nice touch. Trust me, it’s not just the towel swans that appreciate it.

Main Dining Room Waiters: If you have the same waiter every night and they’ve made your dinners memorable, consider an extra $10-$20.

Specialty Restaurants: You should tip here because these aren’t included in the automatic gratuities. Aim for 15-20% of your total bill.

Excursion Guides: These folks are usually independent contractors and survive on tips. A good rule of thumb is $5-$10 per person, depending on the length and quality of the excursion.

The Etiquette Debate: To Remove or Not to Remove

Here’s the sticky part: Can you remove the automatic gratuities? Technically, yes. Should you? That’s where things get morally murky. Removing these charges requires a trip to Guest Relations, and you better have a good reason, such as subpar service. But be warned, taking this route is frowned upon and could earn you the side-eye from both staff and fellow passengers.

Norms for Room Stewards, Waiters, and Bartenders

Celebrity Cruises has an unspoken code of conduct when it comes to tipping various staff members.

Room Stewards: A little appreciation at the end of the week can go a long way. These are the magicians keeping your floating home spotless.

Waiters: If you’re dining in the main restaurant regularly, a handshake with a folded bill at the end of your trip will make their day.

Bartenders: If you’re planning to stick to one bar or lounge, a dollar or two per drink is customary, especially for complicated concoctions.

Specialty Restaurant Tipping

The specialty dining venues on Celebrity are where the real culinary magic happens, and it comes with its own tipping rules. Since these restaurants aren’t covered by automatic charges, plan to tip 15-20% of your bill. Your taste buds and servers will thank you.

Excursion Guide Tips

Celebrity may take you to exotic locales, but your excursion guides are the ones turning those locations into memories. They’re usually not employed directly by the cruise line, so tipping them $5-$10 per person is the norm. If they introduced you to a secret beach or delayed the bus to let you grab one last cocktail, consider tipping more.