I see you're from Canada. Royal Caribbean International did increase gratuities in September 2022, however, raising rates by $1.50 per person per day ($16.00 total) for standard staterooms, and $1 per person per day for suites ($18.50 total). CRUISE.COM is a proud PREMIER PARTNER of CLIA, 63 Day MIDDLE EAST TREASURES & MARVELS OF THE MED, Special Resident Rates: Exclusive Rates for select states. We'll send you the latest cruise updates daily to your inbox. Adjustments only are allowed when gratuities are being charged to onboard accounts during sailings. 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Robert Gray Travelers booked onto Royal Caribbean cruises set to depart in a few weeks' time should brace themselves for a sizable increase in the cost of their sailings. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). An 18% gratuity is also automatically added to spa and salon purchases. Explore our new 7-night Caribbean sailings onboard our game-changing Oasis Class ships. Suite guests will see a $18.50 daily gratuity. All offers are based on select sailings and categories and are subject to availability at time of booking. Royal Caribbean Increasing Gratuity Charges Up To 10% The increase will go into effect from September 7, 2022. Gratuities For the first time since 2018, Royal Caribbean is increasing gratuities and has already started including the new higher in the documentation sent to guests. Royal Caribbean last increased gratuities in 2018 and, before that, was in 2016. I would think that a separate email should have been sent out to all existing reservations of the increase. As a way to reward our crew members for their outstanding service, gratuities are shared among dining, bar and culinary services staff, stateroom attendants, and other hotel services teams who work behind the scenes to enhance the cruise experience.. We are boarding Wonder Of The Seas exactly two weeks from today, and this is the first notice I've seen of an increase, nothing has shown up in my email inbox. At night, make your way into the exciting casinos on one of the outstanding ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. Norwegian Cruise Line increased its gratuity rate in March 2022. It now means that the new daily rate for staterooms is $16.00 per person. Carnival Cruise Line, for example, charges less, recommending $14.50 per person for standard staterooms and $16.50 for suites, according to the company. Explore our new 7-night Caribbean sailings onboard our game-changing Oasis Class ships. I also read this and asked that gratuities be prepaid. Add-ons new to the packages include premium desserts, juices, free pre-cruise Medallion shipping, and fitness classes. PDF Royal Caribbean Gratuity Increase: FAQs - Royal Caribbean International There are plenty of activities onboard for everyone to enjoy. The last time Royal Caribbean raised gratuity prices was in 2018. Disney Cruise Line also increased gratuities in July 2022, raising rates by $1 per person per day, for a total of $14.50 daily for most staterooms, and $15.50 daily for concierge staterooms and suites, rates that are now among the lowest in the industry. Passengers in suites will pay $18.50 per person per day. 2.!What changes can be expected as a result of Royal Caribbean's decision to increase suggested gratuity guidelines? The tip applies to individual guests of all ages and stateroom categories. That said, the total number of lines with a service fee has been shrinking over the years. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Royal Caribbean. In response, many lines have increased the prices charged for many things onboard. Oceania is not the only premium line that increased gratuities, but others have been more subtle about announcing the change. Holland America recommends $15.50 for those in standard staterooms and $17.00 for those in suites, and Celebrity Cruises adds $15.50 per person for passengers in standard staterooms, $16.00 per person for passengers in Concierge Class and AquaClass staterooms, and $19.00 per person for passengers in The Retreat. Hes sailed on more than 150 ships. Starting Sept. 7, Royal Caribbean will charge guests in non-suite. Another good reason to have a good travel agent. For standard inventory, new gratuity guidelines will increase from $12.95 to $13.50 per guest per day, while Suites will change Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. The gratuity applies to individual guests of all ages and stateroom categories, said Royal Caribbean. Starting September 7, 2022, Royal Caribbean International will increase the onboard gratuities that guests will pay for the service they receive from crewmembers.Gratuities for guests occupying standard cabins (Junior Suites and below) range from $14.50 to $16.00 per day per person. An 18% gratuity is also automatically added to beverages, room service, and the mini bar. As of September 7, 2022, the automatic daily gratuity charge will increase from $14.50 to $16 per guest, per day for non-suite staterooms and from $17.50 to $18.50 per guest, per day for. 4. Occasionally, guests will leave cash directly for their room steward or a memorable crew member during dining. The automatic daily gratuity will increase as follows: Non-suite . Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. It was the first increase the line has had in daily gratuities since 2018. Any way to prepay gratuities on the web/app or do I have to call RCL to pay them? There was an error! Guests who prepaid gratuities prior to boarding their cruise will not see a daily charge onboard. For standard. Suite guests will see a 5-percent increase to $18.50 per person, up from $17.50. MORE: Which Cruise Lines Are Allowing Unvaccinated Guests to Sail? Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. The rate increased from $14.50 per person per day in standard cabins to $16.00, and from $17.50 to $18.50 per person for suites. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. We want to inspire you to explore new destinations, discover new experiences and savor the journey. Gratuities are an additional fee automatically charged from the onboard SeaPass account calculated per day, per guest basis. Funny how the guest in steerage pay $1.50 more but Suites increase is only $1. Holland America Line has not clarified whether or not guests booked on sailings after February 1, 2023 can still pre-pay gratuities before that date to take advantage of the lower rate, which remains at $17 per person per day for suites and $15.50 per person per day for non-suites through January 31. Announcing Our 2023 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners! By proceeding, you agree to Cruise Critics. A one of a kind experience for your next event! I will call and prepay. Lines that currently package gratuities in their cruise fares include Silversea, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas, Virgin Voyages, Azamara, and Scenic, the latter even including tips for onshore tour guides and drivers. Royal Caribbean has started to inform guests of increased gratuity rates that will begin in early September 2022. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Suite guests will see a 5-percent increase to $18.50 per person, up from $17.50. Take the family on a fun trip to the Caribbean or travel in style in the Royal Suite Class, it's up to you. If you are already booked, you should be fine as your invoice has the older grats included. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. Hi, this may be of interest to you: Royal Caribbean Raises Gratuities for First Time in 4 Years. This may be especially true with lines under the same corporate umbrella, which means similar gratuity increases could be coming for Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, P&O Cruises, AIDA Cruises, Cunard Line, or Seabourn, all of which are part of Carnival Corporation & plc. Kids Sail Free Guest 12 & under SAIL FREE: (select 3 night or longer sailings) Starting in January 2023, Oceania Cruises, owned by Norwegian Cruise Holdings, increased daily gratuities from $16 to $18 except in Penthouse, Oceania, Vista, and Owner's Suites, all with butler service, and all now incurring a $23 gratuity. TPG's ultimate guide to cruise ship gratuity charges and tipping, The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship, The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship, A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines, 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly, 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Norwegian Cruise Line increased gratuity rates in April 2022, raising the recommended tipping guidelines to $16 per person, per day for most cabins, and $20 per person, per day for suite and the . That was after the 7/15 date mentioned. While steep on a percentage basis, the increase in gratuity charge at Royal Caribbean is the first at the line in more than four years. Royal Caribbean last raised its gratuity fee on Jan. 2, 2018. Norwegian also announced increases in early December, effective January 1, 2023. Current Complete List of Cruise Line Gratuity Increases Royal Caribbean increases gratuities for crew members on its cruise ships In: Gratuities 23 Aug 2022 By: Matt Hochberg After four years, Royal Caribbean is increasing the gratuity rate cruise ship passengers will pay for the service they receive from crew members onboard its ships. We offer world-class event venues and meeting spaces. I agree. Royal Caribbean says in the pre-cruise documentation, Guests who booked prior to July 15, 2022 can pre-pay gratuities before their sailing at the previous rates, which are $14.50 for standard staterooms and $17.50 for suites.. Beverage gratuities are pooled and shared by various dining and beverage service staff. With the increase, a family of four in a typical cabin will pay nearly $450 in automatic gratuities on a seven-night cruise one of the highest levies in the business. The current gratuity rate at Royal Caribbean is $14.50 for standard cabins and $17.50 for suites. Looking for more information about Events at Sea? Upload or insert images from URL. I also like having the daily gratuities cluttering my onboard account. Passengers often have the choice to prepay the service fees when booking or have them added to their bill for onboard expenses, paid at the end of each sailing. CRUISE HIVE LTD 2008-2023. If true, looks like I have a choice, either I flush $21 down the toilet when we arrive, or I prepay my gratuities online tomorrow On the website now and not only is there no announcement visible about the increase, there also does not appear to be any possible way to prepay the gratuities from the website, other than selecting to do so when you first booked the cruise. The company says the move will help maintain quality staff. I booked a cruise yesterday for 2024 and the gratuities are $14.50 and $17.50 so the July 15th thing seems incorrect. Many smaller and higher-end cruise operators have been folding these charges into their base fares. Royal Caribbean is increasing its automatic daily gratuities by more than 10% next month for passengers in staterooms. Passengers who have prepaid gratuities cannot adjust the amount they have paid while on board. Free expert cruise tips and news from Cruise Hive! A As of September 7 th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in non-suites staterooms, or $18.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Suites, will be applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. Prepay Gratuities? Late in 2022, Windstar also increased their recommended amount from $14.50 to $16.00, if tips are paid separately. Just looked at our edocs that arrived today and has the new gratuities. Inflation in the U.S. since early 2015 has run at a cumulative rate of about 25%, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, as measured by its Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. For the first time in over four years, Royal Caribbean International will be raising its daily gratuity charges. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Already booked an excursion and not planning on much else. The suggested daily gratuity rate is being increased by $0.55 per guest. If you cant find Amy at an airport, you can find her trying out new restaurants, reading, or running. In major fee increase, cruise giant Royal Caribbean to hike gratuity You can also pre-pay all of your gratuities before sailing. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Passengers will no longer be permitted to pay the "recommended gratuities" directly to the hard working stateroom attendants. Any new itineraries will be charged the new gratuity rates regardless of when you decide to pay them. Free expert cruise tips and news from Cruise Hive! Royal Caribbean increased the daily per person gratuity rate for its passengers in September 2022. This is the link: Cruise News Today August 24, 2022 [VIDEO], Carnival Moves to Self-Testing for Unvaccinated Cruise Guests, Provides European Protocol Update. Yes, unless RCI has put some limit on far out a sailing you can prepay for (unaware of one). Gratuities A $16.00 per guest, per day gratuity will automatically be added to each guest's SeaPass account for our dining, bar & culinary services staff, stateroom attendants and other hotel services teams who work behind the scenes to give you the best possible cruise experience. Holland America Line is quietly increasing gratuity rates in a few weeks - what other cruise lines may follow? 2023 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Holland America Line describes these fees as a daily amount for each guest that will be automatically added to your onboard account for your convenience, to recognize the efforts of a wide variety of crewmembers who contribute to the experiences of all our guests.. 2022-2023 Itineraries. Starting on September 7, 2022, Royal Caribbean is raising the rate of their daily gratuities that are charged to onboard accounts. Are you booked on a Royal Caribbean cruise for later this year? Unless of course you request that automatic "gratuities" are removed from your account once onboard and truly tip those whose service deserves it out of pocket. In November 2022 the Royal Caribbean cruise ship will arrive at her new homeport of Port Canaveral. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Guests will be able to pre-pay and lock in the previous lower gratuity rate before September 7. If you want to hear more of our thoughts on daily cruise gratuities, check out this article written earlier this year: Cruise Lines Need to Stop Playing the Daily Gratuities Game. One big line Celebrity Cruises recently bundled gratuities into its base fares, too. In the Mediterranean, it's 10 Euros (about $10.88) for 12 and up and 5 Euros (about $5.44) for kids. If you wait to pay them, you will be charged the new increased daily rates on-board. Shes always looking for her next trip and isn't happy until she has at least one (or two) on the horizon. Gratuities Are Increasing - Royal Caribbean Discussion - Royal Read Also: Should Cruise Lines Include Gratuities in the Fare? Carnival's daily gratuity goes from $14.50 to $16.00 for standard cabins, and from $16.50 to $18.00 for suites. Never would of noticed the change in all the contract stuff. Also, as it appears that no one working the phones at RC know about this, Id think that it might have been better to inform them first of the change. 2023-2024 Short Cruises from Florida and Texas, Learn about exciting updates from Royal Meetings and Incentives. Tipping on a cruise ship: what you should and shouldn't do The new rate will then be $17.50 per person per day for guests in suites, and $16.00 per person per day in non-suite stateroom categories such as balcony, oceanview, and interior staterooms. Register with Cruise.com to get access to exclusive rates, discounts and special offers. Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. The cruise lines with such charges typically increase their rates every year or two, but some lines paused regular gratuity rate increases after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the industry in early 2020. Royal Caribbean last increased their daily tip amounts in early 2018. Save Now 30% OFF ALL GUESTS: sailing in the same stateroom. Thank you OP! They are at least grandfathering the earlier rates for bookings made before July 15, 2022.. Royal Caribbean is increasing its automatic daily gratuities by more than 10% next month for passengers in staterooms. It states: Gratuities TRAVEL + LEISURE is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Co., registered in the United States and other countries. Find the right card for you. Display as a link instead, Nearly all mainstream cruise lines, and some premium lines, have raised daily per-person gratuity amounts for 2023, as companies continue to deal with the impact of economic disruption globally, as well as increased debt loads due to the global health pandemic. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Note that, in some cases, passengers who are unhappy with the service they receive on Royal Caribbean ships can adjust the amount of daily gratuities posted to their accounts while on board by visiting the Guest Services desk, according to the line. For the first time in over four years, Royal Caribbean International will be raising its daily gratuity charges. While the fee change for Princess Cruises is three times as high as that for Holland America Line, Princess Cruises daily gratuities were already significantly lower than Holland America Lines.