Focus On...Gratuities 2011

For most of us, the last day of our cruise should be a chance to cherish the days that have come before; to exchange information with new-found friends and have that final breakfast onboard before setting out for cars, buses and airplanes.

Celebrity Summit arriving in New York Harbor after

a Canada New England voyage.

Photo © Aaron Saunders

The last day of the cruise is also when the majority of us will have to settle our onboard accounts - and that means taking care of the gratuities, or onboard service charges.

When we first prepared our Focus On...Gratuities article last April, we were surprised not only by some of the results, but by how difficult it was to find detailed information on some cruise line websites.  Since it's almost been a year since the article was last published, we thought it was time to update the list.  Many lines have changed or increased their gratuity policy in the last year, so expect to see some new information.

So who charges what?  Let's review:

Azamara Club Cruises
In keeping with Azamara's move into more upscale territory, gratuities are now included in your cruise price.  The only exception to this is gratuities for spa staff, which will be added at 18% to your spa bill.

Carnival Cruises
$10 per guest, per day (this must be pre-paid on the line's "cruises to nowhere.")

Celebrity Cruises
$11.50 per person, per day, for guests in regular staterooms (inside, outside, most balcony).
$12.00 per person, per day, for guests in Concierge or Aqua-class staterooms.
$15.00 per person, per day for guests in Suites.

Costa Cruises
This was easily the most difficult to find out of all the lines listed here.  So for those interested, I've provided the link here - and you'll need it to decipher the mind-boggling myriad of gratuities onboard. One nice thing about Costa: guests under 14 pay no service charge. Costa's gratuities are broken down depending on the geographical region of their ships, most of which have seen a modest increase in 2011:

For Caribbean sailings departing from US Ports:
$11.00 per person, per day for adults.
For guests between 14 and 17, $5.50 per person, per day; guests under 14 pay no service charge.

For Caribbean sailings departing from Non-US Ports:
Euro 7.00 per person, per day for sailings under 8 nights.
Euro 6.00 per person per day for sailings over 8 nights.
For guests between the ages of 14 and 17, half the above amounts will apply.  Guests under 14 pay no service charge.

For Europe, Dubai, and Costa Marina Sailings:
Euro 7.00 per person, per day for sailings under 8 nights.
Euro 6.00 per person, per day on longer sailings.
For guests between the ages of 14 and 17, half the above amounts will apply.  Guests under 14 pay no service charge.

For Transatlantic Sailings:
Euro 6.00 per person, per day.
For guests between the ages of 14 and 17, half the above amounts will apply. Guests under 14 pay no service charge.

For South America Sailings:
$ 9.00 US per person, per day.
For guests between the ages of 14 and 17, half the above amounts will apply. Guests under 14 pay no service charge.

For Far East Sailings:
Euro 6.00 per person, per day.
For guests between the ages of 14 and 17, half the above amounts will apply. Guests under 14 pay no service charge.

For China mini-cruises:
$9.00 US per person, per day. 
For guests between the ages of 14 and 17, half the above amounts will apply. Guests under 14 pay no service charge.

Cunard Line
 In comparison with Costa, Cunard is positively straightforward, and can be found on page 33 of the Cunard Voyage Guide. 

$13.00 per person, per day for guests in Grills staterooms (Categories Q1 to Q7; P1 to P4)
$11.00 per person, per day for guests in Britannia Club staterooms (Category AA)
$11.00 per person, per day for guests in Britannia staterooms (includes most inside, oceanview, and balcony staterooms)

Crystal Cruises
$13.00 per guest, per day ($14.00 per day for guests traveling solo in double-occupancy cabins.)
$18.00 per guest, per day for guests with staterooms featuring butler service.

Disney Cruise Line
Also a tough one to find.  We've included the link here.

Per Guest per cruise	3-Night	4-Night	7-Night
Dining Room Server	$12.00	$16.00	$28.00
Dining Room Asst. Server	$9.00	$12.00	$21.00
Dining Room Head Server	$3.00	$4.00	$7.00
Stateroom Host/ Hostess	$12.00	$16.00	$28.00
Dining Manager	Your Discretion
Room Service	Your Discretion
Palo	Gratuity included
Vista Spa & Salon	Your Discretion
Babysitting	Gratuity not expected
Shore Excursions	Optional; not included in shore excursion price.

Holland America Line
$11.00 per person, per day.

MSC Cruises
Mediterranean and Northern Europe cruises:
-8 days or less: 7 Euro/day per adult
-8 or more days: 6 Euro/day per adult including autumn transatlantic cruises
There is no service charge for children under the age of 14, whereas guests between the ages of 14 and 17 will be charged 50% of the above rates.
Caribbean and North American cruises:
- 12 Dollars/day per adult; 6 Dollars/day per child under 18, including spring transatlantic cruises
South America cruises
- 9 Dollars/day per adult; 4,5 /day per child under 18, including spring transatlantic cruises

South Africa cruises:
- 6 Dollars/day per adult

Positioning cruises:
- heading to South Africa 6 Euro/day per adult
- coming from South Africa 6 Dollars/day per adult
The applicable service charge for children under 18 will be 50% of the above rates
Norwegian Cruise Line
$12.00 per person, per day.

Oceania Cruises
$12.50 per person, per day for guests in standard inside, oceanview, or balcony stateroom.
$16.50 per person, per day for guests in suites with butler service.

Princess Cruises
$10.50 per person, per day for guests in standard inside, oceanview, or balcony staterooms.
$11.00 per person, per day for guests in mini-suites or suites.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Gratuities are included in the cruise fare for guests sailing with Regent.

Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean recently announced its first gratuity increase in 13 years. 

For new or existing bookings that set sail before July 1, 2011, the suggested gratuities are:

Suite attendant: $5.75 USD a day per guest (only applicable to guests staying in suites)
Stateroom attendant: $3.50 USD a day per guest
Dining Room Waiter: $3.50 USD a day per guest
Assistant waiter: $2.00 USD a day per guest
Headwaiter: $.75 USD a day per guest

...which works out to $9.75 per guest, per day ($12 guest, per day for Suites.)

For new bookings that set sail on or after July 1, 2011 the suggested gratuities are:

Waiter: $3.75 USD a day per guest
Assistant Waiter: $2.15 USD a day per guest
Head Waiter: $.75 USD a day per guest
Housekeeping staff: $5.00 USD a day per guest
Suite Housekeeping staff: $7.25 USD a day per guest

...which works out to $11.65 per guest, per day ($13.90 per guest, per day for Suites.)

SeaDream Yacht Club
Gratuities are included in the cruise fare for guests sailing with SeaDream.
 
The Yachts of Seabourn
Gratuities are included in the cruise fare for guests sailing with The Yachts of Seabourn.

Silversea Cruises
Gratuities are included in the cruise fare for guests sailing with Silversea.

Windstar Cruises
$12 per passenger, per day.

Stay tuned for more insightful articles in our new "Focus On..." series - only on From the Deck Chair.