Princess Cruises Tipping

The Not-So-Hidden Costs: Navigating Tipping on Princess Cruises

If you’re planning a trip with Princess Cruises, prepare to encounter one of cruising’s most contentious topics: tipping. Let’s cut through the cruise line’s marketing fluff and break down what you need to know about gratuities.

Automatic Gratuities: The Unseen Hand in Your Wallet

Princess Cruises, like many of its peers, loves a good automatic gratuity. As of now, passengers can expect to shell out $16.50 per day for guests in suites, and $15.50 per day for mini-suites and Club Class. Those in standard staterooms get a slight reprieve at $14.50 per day. This amount gets added to your onboard account faster than you can say “Lido Deck cocktail.”

This daily fee ostensibly covers service staff like your room steward and dining servers, though the cruise line’s transparency on how much of it actually reaches the crew is sketchy at best. Check out our Princess Cruises Dossier for more insights on their tipping policies.

What’s Included in the Automatic Gratuities?

The automatic gratuities are supposed to cover:

• Room stewards
• Main dining room staff
• Buffet staff

But don’t be fooled. Specialty dining, spa services, and bar drinks each carry their own tips, typically 18% to 20%, which are not included in the daily rate. It’s like a tip-ception!

Extra Tipping: To Tip or Not To Tip?

Let’s talk about when you should tip extra. If your room steward goes above and beyond—maybe they stockpile your favorite snacks or craft towel animals resembling modern art—an extra $20-$50 at the end of your cruise goes a long way. For exceptional waiters in the dining room, $10-$20 slipped discreetly can express your gratitude better than a thousand thank yous.

For bartenders crafting your nightly mojito to perfection, $1-$2 per drink is a good rule of thumb. Remember, these folks hustle hard, and slipping them a little extra can often yield faster service. A little cash speaks volumes.

Specialty Restaurants: The Tipping Debate

Let’s face it, enjoying a steak in a specialty dining room is already costing you extra, and here comes another fee—gratuities! Expect an 18-20% auto-tip slapped on that bill. While some purists argue that this should suffice, others feel leaving an additional $5-$10 cash for exceptional service is just good karma.

Excursion Guides: Tips for Adventures

Excursion guides are the unsung heroes of your off-ship adventures. You rely on their expertise to not get lost in a foreign jungle or city. A tip of $5-$10 per person is generally appreciated, especially if your guide has made the experience unforgettable or saved you from falling off a cliff.

Can You Remove the Auto-Gratuities? The Social Stigma

Ah, the million-dollar question: can you remove those automatic gratuities? Technically, yes. You can visit guest services and request to opt-out. But let’s be real, the social implications are akin to wearing socks with sandals at a formal dinner. It’s doable, but highly frowned upon.

Remember, these tips are a significant part of crew members’ income. If you’re dissatisfied with service, it’s better to adjust the amount rather than nix it entirely.

Room Steward, Waiter, and Bartender Norms

For room stewards, the norm is to tip extra for outstanding service, especially if you’ve made special requests throughout your stay. For dining room waiters, you might want to tip extra for stellar service, especially if you dine in the same place regularly. A little thanks in the form of cash can make your bartenders’ day—and ensure your drinks are never watered down.

The Etiquette Debate: To Tip or To Protest?

Let’s address the elephant in the cruise cabin: tipping etiquette. While some travelers consider tipping a way to reward exceptional service, others see it as an archaic practice that allows cruise lines to underpay staff. And with the convenience of automatic gratuities, some feel that the personal touch is lost, reducing tipping to a soulless transaction.

Ultimately, how you tip is your decision, but understanding the impact on the crew’s livelihood can help you make a more informed choice. After all, these folks work tirelessly to make your cruise unforgettable.