MSC Cruises Tipping

Automatic Gratuity: The Fee That Won’t Stop Giving

MSC Cruises might as well have a tattoo that says “auto-gratuities forever.” Every day, they tack on around $12.50 per adult and $6.25 per child to your onboard account. This isn’t just some arbitrary money grab—okay, maybe it is a little—but it’s supposed to cover tips for your room steward, waitstaff, and behind-the-scenes crew who make sure your vacation doesn’t devolve into a bad sitcom.

Before you start hyperventilating, know that this is pretty standard across most cruise lines. MSC’s rates are in line with industry norms, but let’s not sugarcoat it: You’re paying extra for the “privilege” of having someone else divvy up the cash. For more on how MSC stacks up with other lines, check out their MSC Cruises Dossier.

What’s Included and When to Tip Extra

Those automatic gratuities cover a lot, but not everything. Here’s a decent rule of thumb: if someone is directly making your day better, consider tipping extra.

The Usual Suspects: Room Steward, Waiter, Bartender

Your room steward is the unsung hero who picks up your wet towels and arranges your towel animals. A couple of bucks a day thrown their way will never go unappreciated. As for your waiters and bartenders, if you’ve got a regular—a bartender who nails your cocktail or a waiter who remembers you’re allergic to pine nuts—feel free to slip them a $5 or $10 every now and then.

Specialty Restaurants: Treat the Chefs Right

Dining at a specialty restaurant? The automatic gratuity generally doesn’t cover that. While it’s not mandatory to tip extra, leaving around 10-20% of the meal cost is a good guideline if the service and food leave you in a food coma of happiness.

Excursion Guides: The Adventure Tippers

You’re climbing mountains, seeing ancient ruins, or snorkeling in turquoise waters. Your guide got you there and back with only a mild sunburn. If you think they did a good job, consider a tip of $5-$10 per person. Trust me, they’ll appreciate it, especially if you’re the only tourist who didn’t get eaten by mosquitoes.

The Etiquette Debate: To Tip or Not to Tip

The etiquette of tipping on a cruise is a hot-button issue. Some folks argue that automatic gratuities remove the personal connection of tipping, while others say it’s a relief not to have to carry cash all the time. Here’s the reality: cruise lines like MSC rely on these tips as a core part of their crew’s compensation. Removing them can be seen as stingy unless service was genuinely subpar. Think of it this way: canceling auto-gratuities is like taking candy from a baby, except that baby works 12-hour days and cleans up your room.

Can You Remove Auto-Gratuities? Absolutely, But Should You?

Yes, you can waltz down to Guest Services and ask them to remove your auto-gratuities. They won’t love you for it, but they’ll do it. However, be prepared for some side-eye from the crew for the rest of your trip. Removing auto-gratuities because you want to tip in cash instead? Go for it, but do it upfront. If you’re cutting them off entirely because you think it’s a scam, you’re the one losing the tip game, not them.

MSC’s Grand Tipping Conundrum

MSC doesn’t allow you to prepay tips before you cruise, which throws a wrench into planning. You’re on your own to budget these costs alongside your drink packages and spa appointments. And yes, the cruise lines know they’ve got you cornered; they bank on you being too sun-dazed to care about extra fees.

To see how other lines twist the tipping knife, you’ll want to scroll through our All Dossiers.