Tipping on a cruise ship is a controversial topic. Most mainstream cruise lines will automatically add a daily gratuity to your onboard account. However, you also have the option to prepay them.
In addition to monetary tips, crew members appreciate personal gestures of gratitude, such as a kind note or verbal acknowledgment of their hard work. How else can you thank the crew on your next cruise without constantly shelling out dollar bills? One crew member shared their thoughts in a post on the r/royalcaribbean Reddit thread.
"Your cash tips, no matter how big or small help us (most especially [crew] from 'developing' countries like myself) tremendously. We are paid a livable wage, and well! But every dollar is something extra we can bring back home to our families," SolAreiaLivros, who has worked on ships like Allure, Adventure, and Wonder of the Seas, explains.
"But if you prefer not to tip, that is completely okay!! Here are some other ways you can show your appreciation to [the crew members who] made your cruise extra special."
Complete the post-cruise survey
Whether you're going on a 3-night or 12-night cruise, you will hear crew members talk about the post-cruise survey. The survey lets you provide feedback on your cruise vacation and shout out hardworking crew members, such as your cabin steward, waiter, a specific bartender, or even the casino host.
The survey is short, asking just a few brief questions about the crew, food quality, shore excursions, entertainment, and the ship's overall maintenance. According to SolAreiaLivros, crew members can sometimes earn a day off, a free specialty meal, or a stay in a guest cabin for one sailing when personally mentioned in surveys and reviews.
They also could get a Very Important Crew (VIC) scratch card, letting them scratch for perks like free room service, internet, discounts at the crew store, cash, a day off, and more.
Surveys are especially important to crew members like waiters. If their ratings decrease, they could be penalized by having fewer tables to wait on, resulting in fewer tips. Waiters in specialty restaurants also rely on positive reviews. Otherwise, they're at risk of being reassigned to the Main Dining Room.
"If mentioned enough times, we can get nominated to be [the] Employee of the Month. Winning Employee of the Month has quite a sum of cash prize," SolAreiaLivros adds.
Remembering the crew's name
Simple gestures, like remembering and using a crew member's name, can go a long way in making them feel recognized and valued.
"...a guest remembering us and calling us by our names makes us feel seen and appreciated," explains SolAreiaLivros, ""As you all well know, we work onboard without [days off] and days can be really long. You have no idea how a simple thank you can make a crew’s day."
It's easy to implement. For instance, address your cabin steward by their name in the hall and ask how they're doing. You can also greet your Main Dining Room staff by their names, rather than just saying, "hello" or "good evening."
Thank you notes
Nothing warms the heart like a personalized thank you note. If there's a crew member who went out of their way to deliver an exceptional experience, don't be afraid to write a short note expressing your gratitude.
Perhaps you found a bartender who made your drinks perfectly or an activity host who made your time onboard even more enjoyable with their energy and enthusiasm. A simple, handwritten note can have a lasting impact and shows that you recognize and appreciate their efforts. Even if the note is brief, it will mean a lot to the crew member!
"I have personally received small notes folded into fun shapes from guests and I still have them in my wallet to this day. Reading these notes from guests at the end of a long day of work makes all the hard work feel worth it." writes SolAreiaLivros.
Read more: 20 questions to ask your cruise ship cabin attendant
Collecting cruise ducks
The cruise duck-hunting phenomenon has become a fun and quirky tradition among many cruise passengers. However, passengers aren't the only ones onboard who love collecting ducks.
"[Crew members who] have little kids back home LOVE collecting ducks," says SolAreiaLivros, "My cousin whose dad also works for Royal [Caribbean] grew up looking forward to receiving new duckies from her dad after every contract."
However, she added that she knew a fellow crew member who was fired because of collecting rubber ducks, so if you're planning on sailing soon and want to leave ducks for crew, you're better off handing them to the crew directly, especially if they mention that they have younger children at home.
Read more: Day in a life of a cruise ship crew member
Don't give larger gifts
Giving ducks to crew members is generally fine. However, you should be aware of items that could land your favorite crew member in trouble. These include alcohol and gifts purchased from the onboard shops.
"[We cannot] bring home any item from the shops unless we have the receipt," explains SolAreiaLivros, "[If you want to gift something from the store,] find the manager of that department and let them know that you're going to give this certain gift to (insert name of [the] crew [member])."
Make sure this is done in an area where CCTV is available. If a crew member denies your gift, do not take it personally. They enjoy their work and don't want to be terminated over accepting a present from a guest.
Read more: 7 things you should never buy on a cruise ship
Instead, get them something more personalized. SolAreiaLivros recalls the best gift she ever received was a picture of themself and a few guests while working a specialty restaurant. Two sailings later, they received a promotion, too!
"I did not expect [for them to] buy it and gift it to me. It was in that nice 150 [C]entral [P]ark folder with a keychain inside and a note from them wishing me blessed years ahead in my career," she says.
Something else useful? Laundry detergent. Crew must buy their own while in port or at the crew grocery, so having some gifted to them helps save money on something they're bound to use sooner rather than later.
Cruise ship gratuities
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Tips onboard a cruise ship are also referred to as cruise ship gratuities. They are divided between the hardworking crew members who work to make your vacation memorable, including cabin stewards, dining and culinary services staff, the guest services team, and more.
The daily rate varies from cruise line to cruise line, but most mainstream lines charge somewhere around $14.50-$20 per day for guests staying in standard staterooms. Those in suites should expect to pay a little more. Usually, however, the rate isn't more than $25 per person, per day.
And yes, gratuities are charged per person. This means if you're traveling with a family of four, you must multiply the rate by four. If you're going on a 7-night cruise, you could easily spend another $400+ in gratuities. For example, the daily rate for Carnival cruises is $14.50 per person, per day, bringing the total to $101.50 for a 7-night cruise for just one person, or $406 for a family of four in a standard stateroom.
Carnival Cruise Line
- Standard cabins: $16.00 per person, per day
- Suites: $18.00 per person, per day
Celebrity Cruises
- Standard cabins: $18.00 per person, per day
- Concierge/AquaClass: $18.50 per person, per day
- Retreat: $23.00 per person, per day
MSC Cruises
- Cruises to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Asia (China, Japan, and Korea), and South America: 12 and older is $14.50 per person, per night + $7.25 for guests 2 to 11 years old + free under 2
- Cruises that sail to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Southern Caribbean, United Arab Emirates, India, and Red Sea: 12 and older is €12 per person, per night + €6 for guests 2 to 11 years old + free under 2
- Cruises to South Africa: 12 and older is $10 per person, per night + $5 for guests 2 to 11 years old + free under 2
Royal Caribbean
- Standard cabins: $18.50 per person, per day
- Suites: $21.00 per person, per day
Disney Cruise Line
- Standard cabins: $14.50 per person, per day
- Concierge: $15.50 per person, per day
Princess Cruises
- Standard cabins: $16.00 per person, per day
- Mini-suites: $17.00 per person, per day
- Suites: $18.00 per person, per day
Norwegian Cruise Line
- Standard cabins: $20.00 per person, per day
- Suites: $25.00 per person, per day
Holland America Line
- Standard cabins: $17.00 per person, per day
- Suites: $19.00 per person, per day
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
