You can modify the amount until the morning you get off the ship. If you dont have a credit card, then youll need to link a debit card to your onboard account, or deposit cash. The calculator will account for these upcharges. And when you leave the dining room, no need to drop down any money on the table. Should you prepay gratuities for a Royal Caribbean cruise? However, for the majority of mass market cruise lines the gratuities are extra charges on the price of your cruise. Alcoholic beverages that exceed this amount will be charged the difference plus gratuity on the difference. The tip applies to individual guests of all ages and stateroom categories. You have to call Royal and they will book it for you. Hi Jeff. Does the deluxe drink package include adding items to your mini bar? Want to tip more? How much is charged? Hi, I have harmony of the seas booked for next may but when I have tried to book a drinks package there is no option for this. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. That said, if you dont pay gratuities, then its the staff that will be hurting not the cruise line. Select the number of nights for the cruise, from a minimum of two nights to a maximum of thirty nights. Good luck! Without your contribution, the compensation for the staff members will decrease. Guests who have pre-paid their tips will not see a daily charge during their cruise. Norwegian just raised its gratuity rate to $16 from $15.50 in April. Some lines also pool the tips altogether and then distribute them throughout the year. The tip applies to individual guests of all ages and stateroom categories. Last drawn basic salary plus Dearness Allowance (DA) G. Gratuity amount you are eligible for. I just purchased the Deluxe Beverage package, for myself, and the refreshement package for my wife. All I can see is my cruise planner prices which are $95+ per day!! Thank you so much for this insight definitely helps with planning. From the passenger perspective, the gratuity amount is simple pay a set amount per person, per day, and be done. Automatic gratuity charge: $16 to $18.50 per person, per day. As a thanks for their service, its customary to provide a tip. You can also take a quick look at the Royal Caribbean Beverage package prices: Deluxe Beverage Package - $44 to $55 per day ($63-$70 for 2019 sailings) Premium Refreshment Package - $26 per . So, in order to calculate the amount your family will owe for gratuities, you would multiply: $14.50 X Number of People in Cabin X Length of Cruise = Amount You Owe. Could you please tell me how I can improve it? Both Carnival and Norwegian raised gratuity rates earlier this summer. We are sailing on Anthem of the seas June for two weeks going for the de lux drinks package offered us 43 per day is that fair price or should I wait in case prices go down. N/n. To account for this, the drink package limit is matched to it. You can expect to pay about $15-$20 per person, per day. Gratuities on Royal Caribbean are obligatory, so it is a matter of when you prefer to pay them. Any frozen drinks too without the alcohol. Royal Caribbean. We nearly always opt out of tips and tip whom we want directly. This is my first cruise. I have stepped out of the shuttle seeing the conveyer a short distance away. You could always pour it from a cup into your own bottle I suppose. Im guessing they make it cheaper on a longer cruise compared to a 3- or 4-nighter so its really hard to compare with what Ive seen it for on my own cruises. However, you can get a drink every 15 minutes so it is possible to get the occasional drink for your child on the sly. Are you able to advise how much shots were roughly? Some people like to give gifts such as chocolates or wine to the crew members. In this section, Ill answer the most commonly-asked questions about Royal Caribbean drink packages. One of the benefits of a drinks package is that if you dont like a drink you dont have to drink it. Really, do they get an hourly wage thats so low they need tip to survive? However, prices seem to have increased recently, with an upcoming cruise quoting a sale price of $83.99 and an onboard price of $105! Part of the overall cost of a Royal Caribbean cruise is a service gratuity for recognizing the hard work of crew members. You were extremely helpful for my upcoming cruise! Where n = Tenure of service completed in the company. If youd like to calculate exactly what your gratuity amount will be before you book your trip, then you can use our calculator here. In the formula, the values are the following. They all end up being the same thing a set daily charge to passengers thats passed on to the crew. For example, of a $15 charge, $7 per day may be distributed to your room steward, $5 to the dining staff, and the remaining $3 is spread among other customer-facing positions on the ship. Is a drink package worth it for you? If you booked directly with Royal Caribbean, you can either call Royal Caribbean or log onto their website and access your account to prepay gratuities. Jenni. I have a question about the free drinks thoughcan we bring our own reusable water bottles to fill them up with the free lemonade/ice tea or are cups readily available for us to use? Royal Caribbean charges a gratuity of $16.00 per person, per day. Princess: $14.50 per person, per day. What is Royal Caribbean's service gratuities (tips) price and policy? You are free to adjust the amount to whatever you think is fair. As far as your trip, likely very little. Available beverage packages include (in descending order of cost): The default pricing for beverage packages can be adjusted to account for price increases or discounts. The formula used by our online gratuity calculator is: G = n*b*15/26. The number of nights affects the total cost of beverage packages. The daily cost is per guest. Jenni. The onboard prices are inflated, and its still always cheaper to buy your package before your cruise. These drinks are included in your drink package, which is great, as on MSC Cruises ships, drinks made by the MSC robotic bartender are not. This occurs in the Australian cruise market. Royal Caribbean drinks packages include all tips (also known as gratuities). Royal Caribbean drinks package: Is it worth it? That said, its unusual to adjust the gratuity amount, and the staff works extremely hard to make your trip enjoyable. Who gets the tips? Starting Sept. 7, Royal Caribbean will charge guests in non-suite staterooms . First, any time that you buy a drink from the bar, you will be charged an extra tip, usually 18%-20% of the menu price, depending on the cruise line. Share. That doesnt seem fair. Be aware that when you sign the receipt there will be another line for an additional tip. To help explain everything about cruise line gratuities, weve answered a number of common questions that will make everything clearer before you set sail. The staff isnt likely to treat you any differently or even know that you arent tipping (after all, some people still like to pay cash at the end of the cruise). When you buy the Deluxe Beverage Package or the Refreshment Package, you also get the souvenir cup and so have all the benefits of the Classic Soda Package. You would think that paying a hefty daily tip would cover everyone on the ship. Started in 2010, Royal Caribbean Blog offers daily coverage of news and information related to the Royal Caribbean cruise line along with other relevant topics of cruising, such as entertainment, news, photo updates and more. Any tips taking a 7 mths old . If you wish to reward one or two crew members in particular, you could pay the standard gratuity fee and also hand cash to any crew members who you feel are particularly deserving. Below, weve listed the current tip amounts charged by major cruise lines as of the time of this writing: How do you actually pay tips on the cruise ship? I too pay in cash and at times have given extra. Suggested read: How to pay for a cruise in instalments. If you get some free onboard credit as an incentive when you book your cruise, then you can use this to pay your gratuities. Not sure if Id risk it though! Other than that, your gratuity charges cover the housekeeping and dining staff. Theres not a time limit between drinks with Royal Caribbean, but you can only order one drink per person at a time. But I have one question. A gratuity calculator is a tool to estimate the amount of gratuity that one will earn once he/she leaves a job after completing at least five years in the service of a company. Jenni. The bar staff were always encouraging me to let them make up drinks rather than stick the menu, so Im sure they wouldnt mind you asking. Hello we r doing a three night cruise out of Brisbane in November. Yes, except if you are sailing in the U.S., then NCL tacks on the gratuities on the amount of the beverage package even though the package is free. Do you plan to buy a drinks package on your next cruise? So Im booked and considering the drinks package. That seems pretty good to me. If you have the Deluxe Beverage Package, youll get a 40% discount on bottled wines priced up to $100 and a 20% discount on wines priced over $100. In fact, there are a couple of instances where paying additional gratuity is recommended or automatic. b = Last drawn basic salary + dearness allowance. If thats the case and you decide you want to change the amount you are charged for tips then you can do that. One other thing. I didnt know I could have the tips removed from my room charges. You have entered an incorrect email address! If you have a question that isnt listed here, you can add it in the comments section at the end. Just pop your email in the form and Ill send you a link to the calculator. All rights reserved. Hi Sue. What if service is bad? You may be better off opting to pay for drinks as you go as its hard to break even without drinking a lot of alcohol each day. Depending on your cruise line, you might find different language used than the word gratuities. Weve seen these charges called tips, gratuities, crew incentives, or service charges. Another drink package option for Royal Caribbean cruisers is the Classic Soda package, which includes fountain soda and refills at any venue, Coca-Cola Freestyle beverages and even a Coca-Cola souvenir cup. I was wondering. I had the drink package so I didnt get the answer to this. Carnival made changes to its rates in May: Standard staterooms: $14.50, per person, per day (up from $13.99) Suites: $16.50 . So, if you dont have a credit card, then you should prepay your gratuities to avoid running out of money in your bank account or having to carry a lot of cash. Royal Caribbean is increasing its automatic daily gratuities by more than 10% next month for passengers in staterooms. 3 hours ago, Husky1987 said: Percentage of cruisers that remove auto gratuities: 10%. Guests over 2 years old and under 12 years old pay $7 per day. Kids Sail Free Guest 12 & under SAIL FREE: (select 3 night or longer sailings) Extra Instant Savings up to $650 Instant Savings: per stateroom on select sailings & categories. The drinks prices vary slightly by ship, with around a $1 difference on some ships. Sure, just pop your email in the box and it will come straight to you. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Heres Everything to Know, 21+ Best Cruise Cabin Tips, Secrets, & Things to Know (Read Before Sailing), 25+ Fun Must-Do Things on a Norwegian Cruise, 29 Must-Have Things to Pack for an Alaskan Cruise (11 Youd Never Think Of), Carnival Is Fixing a MAJOR Issue With Sailing from Galveston, Princess Cruise Gratuity (Tips) Full Guide: How Much, How They Work, and More, Hotels With Cruise Shuttles For Every Major Port in America, 107 Best Cruise Tips, Tricks, Secrets, and Freebies, 39 Useful Things to Pack For Your Cruise (Including 17 Youd Never Think Of). The gratuity is added on at the final checkout so you will see the final price before you commit to buy it. Just enter your email address below and youll receive a link to it in your inbox asap. In fact, we cant think of a place where gratuities are handled the same way as they are on a cruise ship. over all its ships, not just the cruise we were on. Featured Royal Caribbean Cruise Deals. You may get reduced kids prices, included drinks or free gratuities. Automatic gratuity charge: None. Whichever package you choose, you must buy it for every adult passenger for every day of your cruise. Meanwhile, cruise fares are often shown as dirt-cheap prices. Suggested read: 56 amazing examples of Royal Caribbean customer service. However, theres a chip inside it which means that it will only work with the machine for a certain period of time. This section of the Royal Caribbean Beverage Package Calculator advises you of the most cost-effective beverage package given your anticipated beverage consumption and pricing inputs. We just came back from a Cruise to Nowhere aboard the Quantum of the Seas as well. Tap the for Winter 2024 Caribbean sailings. There are pros and cons to paying your gratuities before or after your cruise, and its very much a personal choice. May 29, 2022. The bar service personnel still gets their 15% tips from each bar sale. If you wish to recognise outstanding service by adding extra gratuities onboard the ship, you are welcome to do so. If Im a simple coffee and tea drinker. The drinks package is active on the island as well as the ship and we spent a lot of time on-board drinking cocktails in the hot tub. The exact breakdown of how much each staff member gets isnt published, just like their salary isnt published. Does anyone know what the difference is between the complimentary coffee and tea vs the premium coffee/tea you get when you buy the Refreshment Package? By scorpluvsdolphins, August 20 in Royal Caribbean International. What sucks is the workers then have to pay a tax on the tip where we would rather give the workers a gift of cash. For new reservations, the adjusted gratuity amounts are effective as of September 7, 2022. But you would still have your standard daily gratuity to pay which covers all other staff members. Specialty dining experiences, which are outside the included meal packages and can include steakhouses, sushi/seafood restaurants and many more. A 18% gratuity is automatically added to all beverages, mini bar items, and spa & salon purchases. February 11, 2023 Randy Young Bar Menu, drink package, Royal Caribbean. !I just cant afford that and i dont see how its justified. Jenni. For most people, the service they receive on a cruise is outstanding. Royal Caribbean last increased gratuities in 2018 and, before that, was in 2016. He would hardly be expected to buy the alcohol package too?? You can read more about this here: The Best Time to Buy A Royal Caribbean Drink Package. No votes so far! Instead, gratuities on a cruise ship are highly automated, with most people just electing to prepay or being charged a set amount for each day on the ship. Hi Aoife. If you get free gratuities thrown in as an incentive for booking a cruise, then these will be automatically prepaid. Crown & Anchor Diamond status entitles you to attend an Exclusive Nightly Diamond Event between 5 pm and 8 pm each evening where you can receive three free drinks from a list of beers, wines, spirits and sodas. The gratuities go to staff that provide passenger-facing services. Be the first to rate this post. I hope this helps. Likewise, carrying large amounts of cash isnt recommended for safety reasons. I believe so, yes. The amount you pay will vary by cruise line, but they are all in the same ballpark. Before you go ahead and buy the Coffee Card, here are some things youll want to consider: The tap water on Royal Caribbean cruise ships is perfectly safe to drink and tastes okay, although it may not always be very cold, depending on the weather. After that, you can cancel it when you first embark on the ship, but no later. Royal Caribbean to raise gratuity amount for guests, Royal Caribbean raises gratuity amount for guests, Royal Caribbean raises its automatic gratuities, Royal Caribbean Australia introduces streamlined cruise fares that include gratuities, Royal Caribbean Gratuities: What you need to know, Standard cabin (Junior Suites and below)going from $14.50 to $16.00 per day, per person, Suite gratuity rate will changefrom $17.50 to $18.50 per day per person, Balcony and lower cabins:$16.00 per person, per day, Haven and Suite guests: $20.00 per person, per day, Club Balcony Suite guests remains at $18.00 per person, per day. The prices that are on the menus are reasonable if in Au Dollars. You simply pay this extra amount in full for your cruise as part of your cruise fare. I have some photos of the drink menus here: https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/royal-caribbean-drinks-menus-with-prices/ This may help you to find the answer to your question. The Royal Caribbean alcohol drinks package costs between $63 and $89 per person, per day and includes unlimited drinks worth up to $12 or $13 each (depending on the ship). Do you know the difference in the tea? Carnival Cruise Line also increased . Whilst you could easily drink five cocktails by the pool and then a couple of glasses of wine in the evening on a sea day, how much would you drink if you were off the ship from 9 am until 6 pm most days? So, if you do have any issues, you should head to Guest Services as early in your cruise as you can, so that things can be put right for you before it affects the rest of your cruise. If you are experiencing blank or invalid results, try refreshing your browser. If you booked directly with Royal Caribbean, you can either call Royal Caribbean . The gratuity is applied automatically to all average beverage costs and beverage packages, as well as applicable upcharges for beverages whose cost is not fully covered by a package. To decide whether a Royal Caribbean drink package offers good value for money or not, you need to consider three key questions: Once you know the answers to these, you can do the maths and work out Is the Royal Caribbean drinks package is worth it? It may be cheaper to pay for drinks individually on your cruise. In fact, your cruise line might leave a few envelopes in your room exactly for this purpose. Whilst you are free to do this, it isnt recommended. However, to do so, you must go to Guest Services, before the last evening of the cruise and request that t. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! I have another question. Guests that booked directly with Royal Caribbean can pre-pay gratuities by calling 866-562-7625 or logging into www.royalcaribbean.com before their sailing. ? Royal Caribbean Australia introduces streamlined cruise fares that include gratuities. On cruises departing from the UK, the gratuity is included in the price of each drink as shown on the menu, so the menu prices may appear higher. You would need to buy it for the whole cruise. Hi Anthony. Under certain circumstances, you may be able to buy the Deluxe Beverage Package for one guest and the Refreshment Package for another guest.