Cruise gratuities aren't part of the base fare. You can either add them during the booking process or have them automatically added to your onboard account. However, did you know that there's technically a third option?
Gratuities, or tips, are charged daily, with the total sum of all the passengers' gratuities pooled together and divided among the ship's crew members, including cabin stewards, dining and culinary services staff, the guest services team, and more.
The daily tip amount varies by cruise line. However, you can typically expect it to cost anywhere from $15 to $25 per person, per day. Suite guests also pay higher gratuities than those staying in standard cruise staterooms.
It's easy for a family of four to rack up hundreds of dollars in gratuities on a 7-night cruise. For example, at $18 per night on a Royal Caribbean ship, a weeklong cruise would add $504 in tips to the cruise fare.
That said, there is a third option. The lesser-known gratuities hack allows you to adjust (or completely remove) the daily gratuity amount. All you have to do is visit the Guest Services desk.
Here's how to remove gratuities on a cruise — and why you shouldn't.
Cruise gratuities aren’t mandatory
Technically, cruise gratuities are not a required charge. You won't be kicked off the ship if you refuse to pay them. In fact, most crew members won't even know that you had the daily tips removed, ensuring that you receive the same level of service as everyone else.
Some passengers choose to have the automatic gratuities removed because they prefer to tip crew members in cash. Others may think that the daily amount is too high, especially on longer sailings.
If you don’t want to pay the automatic gratuities, all you have to do is visit the Guest Services desk on the cruise ship and ask to either adjust the rate or have it removed. You shouldn't be surprised if you're asked for a reason, though you don't have to provide one.
It's best to do this early on, as the Guest Services line can get long toward the end of the voyage when passengers are dealing with last-minute concerns.
Removing gratuities is frowned upon
Generally speaking, most experts will advise against removing cruise gratuities. The system helps ensure that hardworking crew members receive fair pay, even those who may not interact with passengers as frequently as others. Should you feel as though there's one exceptional crew member who went above and beyond, you may tip them extra in cash.
"You won't interact with everyone in the tip pool so you won't be able to tip everyone that you should. Plus bringing cash with you when you go to the buffet, grab a slice of pizza, etc etc is a pain... [L]eave them in place. Think of it as part of your fare," said one Redditor.
Someone else added, "The gratuities go to more than the people that you directly interact with. Treat the automatic gratuities as part of the cruise fare. If you want to tip more for good service, feel free."
"[T]ips go to people you don't see. You don't have to agree with how cruise workers are paid, but don't make it worse for them, especially when they are working their asses off to give you a great vacation. Have you ever thought about the amount of towels, napkins, sheets, etc. that are being washed every day? Do you know how many people are doing that job? On a large ship, likely less than 20. They deserve every penny," another cruiser wrote.
Should you prepay gratuities on a cruise?
How you pay cruise gratuities can make a big difference in your overall experience. You can either prepay them when you book your cruise (or anytime before final payment) or wait until you are on the ship and have them automatically added to your onboard portfolio.
Over the past two years, I've taken over 15 cruises and prepaid my gratuities for every single voyage. Personally, I'm an advocate for prepaying tips because it helps properly budget for the vacation and avoid surprises on my final bill. Then, I don't have to worry about tipping on a cruise.
Not only that, but prepaying cruise gratuities could save you money. For example, Carnival notified passengers in February 2026 that it planned to increase the daily gratuity rate in April, giving cruisers a few months to prepay and secure the lower amount. Although the increase is minimal — just $1 per day — the difference can still add up, especially for larger families.
Another reason I prefer prepaying gratuities on a cruise is that it's convenient. When you add them beforehand, they're calculated into the final payment, which is typically due 90 to 120 days before sailing. As such, you don't have to worry about shelling out hundreds of dollars at once — like when you pre-buy drink packages, shore excursions, or specialty dining reservations.
Read more: 3 reasons why smart cruisers always prepay gratuities on a cruise
How much are cruise gratuities in 2026?
Carnival Cruise Line: $17.00 for standard cabins and $19.00 for suites.
Celebrity Cruises: $18.00 for standard cabins, $19.00 for Concierge and AquaClass cabins, and $23.00 for The Retreat.
Disney Cruise Line: $16.00 for standard cabins and $27.25 for Concierge rooms and suites.
Holland America Line: $18.00 for standard cabins and $20.00 for suites.
MSC Cruises sailings to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Alaska, Bermuda, Panama Canal, Canada, and New England: $16.00 for passengers 2 and older. Yacht Club gratuities increase to $20.00 per night.
- Sailings to the Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Northern Europe, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Red Sea: 12 euros for passengers 12 and older, 6 euros for guests between the ages of 2 and 11, and no daily gratuity for guests under the age of 2. The Yacht Club increases to 16 euros for passengers 12 and older and 8 euros for guests between the ages of 2 and 11
- Sailings to South Africa: $16 for passengers 12 and older and $8 for guests between the ages of 2 and 11.
- Sailings to South America: $10 for passengers 12 and older and $5 for guests between the ages of 2 and 11. Yacht Club gratuities increase to $20.00 per night for adults and $10.00 for children
- Sailings to Asia (China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea): $18 for passengers 2 and older. Yacht Club gratuities increase to $21.00 per night.
Norwegian Cruise Line: $20.00 for standard cabins and $25.00 for The Haven.
Princess Cruises: $18.00 for standard cabins, $19.00 for mini-suites and the reserve collection, and $20.00 for suites.
Margaritaville at Sea: $22.00 for standard cabins and $25.00 for suites.
Royal Caribbean: $18.50 for standard cabins and $21.00 for suites.
Virgin Voyages: $20.00 if you pre-pay, and $22.00 if you settle the cruise tips on the ship.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
