Calculate exactly how much you’ll pay in cruise ship gratuities. Select your cruise line, trip length, and number of guests for a complete breakdown of daily auto-gratuities, bar tips, spa tips, and recommended cash amounts.
How Cruise Ship Gratuities Work
Most cruise lines automatically charge a daily gratuity per person, added to your onboard account. This money is pooled and distributed to cabin stewards, dining room staff, behind-the-scenes crew, and other service personnel. The rates vary by cruise line and cabin category (suite guests typically pay more).
Bar drinks and spa treatments add a separate percentage (15-20%) automatically. Shore excursion guides and porters are tipped separately in cash.
Need more details?
- Complete Cruise Ship Tipping Guide — Who gets what and when
- Tipping by Cruise Line (2026) — Detailed comparison
- First Timer’s Tipping Guide — Beginner FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cruise ship gratuities mandatory?
Auto-gratuities can technically be removed at Guest Services, but they are a major part of crew compensation. Crew members work exhausting schedules away from their families for months. Unless service was genuinely problematic, keeping auto-gratuities is the ethical baseline.
Which cruise line has the highest gratuities?
Norwegian Cruise Line charges the most at $20/person/day ($25 for suites). Celebrity Cruises and Oceania Cruises are next at $18/day standard. Cunard and Disney are the lowest among mainstream lines at $14.50/day.
Do luxury cruise lines include tips?
Yes. Virgin Voyages, Viking Ocean, Regent Seven Seas, and Silversea include all gratuities in the cruise fare. No daily charges added to your account.