Royal Caribbean Is Raising Its Gratuity Fee—Here’s What You Need to Know
In 2024 alone, I’ve taken three Royal Caribbean cruiseson Allure of the Seas, Icon of the Seas (the world’s biggest cruise ship) and its newest ship, Utopia of the Seas. I can always count on Royal Caribbean to deliver on its larger-than-life philosophy, making it one of the best cruise lines for nonstop entertainment and a varied culinary program. And with up to 2,350 crew members on these vessels, Royal Caribbean gratuities sure do cover a lot of hardworking individuals tasked with making your vacations a dream come true.Soon, however, passengers will be digging into their wallets to pay even more for the services provided. Read on to learn more about Royal Caribbean’s new gratuity-fee hikeand how much more you’ll be paying on your next cruise.GetReader’s DigestsRead Up newsletter for more travel, tech, cleaning, humor and fun facts all week long.What is the new Royal Caribbean gratuities policy?According to the Royal Caribbean rep I spoke with on the phone, Royal Caribbean will be increasing its recommended daily gratuities by 50 cents per guest, per day, starting on Nov. 1, 2024. Here’s what this means for you:The per-guest, per-day fee for guests sailing in non-suite stateroom categories will be $18.50, up from $18.The per-guest, per-day fee for guests sailing in any suite will be $21, up from $20.50.How are Royal Caribbean gratuities collected from passengers?These daily gratuities are automatically added to guests’ invoices once on board. However, they aren’t locked in stone. Royal Caribbean’s website states: “Gratuities may be modified in the guest’s sole discretion by visiting the Guest Services desk onboard at any time prior to the morning of disembarkation.” There are quite a few things I recommend doing as soon as you get on board a cruise ship, and on the opposite end of the spectrum, I also recommend not waiting until the final night to take care of this task if you feel so inclinedyou could end up wasting your last few hours on the ship in a long line.You also have the option of increasing your tip or tipping an individual crew member with cash, if you see fit.While on your trip, you can see all the details of your Onboard Account at any time on your stateroom TV and the Royal App. At the end of the cruise, you will receive a printed copy of your account statement in your stateroom.What if you have an upcoming cruise already booked?You have a small window of time to save a few bucks, according to the Royal Caribbean rep: Guests who book their sailing before Nov. 1 can prepay their gratuities based on the current guidelines.How does Royal Caribbean distribute the gratuities?According to the cruise line’s website (which has not yet been updated to reflect the price change): “Gratuities collected are distributed to crew members, including dining, bar and culinary services staff, stateroom attendants, hotel services teams as well as others onboard who work to enhance the overall cruise experience.”Why did Royal Caribbean change its gratuities policy?“Raising gratuities isn’t new, and there are many reasons cruise lines do this, from inflation to supporting higher wages for employees to employee retention,” says cruise expert Lauren Mack, who spent 73 days at sea in 2023 and 30 so far this year. “Some argue cruise lines should increase worker pay across the board rather than passing this on to consumers, but cruisers do have the option to adjust the level of gratuity up or down prior to disembarking.”While I personally feel another 50 cents per day is a drop in the proverbial ocean when compared to how much you’re spending on the overall cruise, I would be remiss not to notice that some of the services you’re showing gratitude for have been reduced. For example, Royal Caribbean used to provide housekeeping services twice per day, and now it’s only oncenobody likes to pay more for fewer benefits when every vacation dollar counts.“This increase is not surprising given that the cost of nearly everything has risen,” says Mack. “I don’t think 50 cents is a big deal. On a seven-day cruise, that’s $3.50, which is cheaper than a cup of coffee and far less than the cost of one cocktail.”Why trust usAtReaders Digest, were committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. For this story on Royal Caribbean’s gratuity fees, Jill Schildhouse tapped her experience as a cruise expert and longtime travel writer and relayed her recent experience on cruises. We also rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions, verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, ourcontributorsand oureditorial policies.Sources:Royal Caribbean FAQsLauren Mack, travel writer and cruise expertThe Best All-Inclusive Cruise DealsThe Best Theme Cruises for Adults The Biggest Mistakes to Avoid on a CruiseThe post Royal Caribbean Is Raising Its Gratuity Fee—Here’s What You Need to Know appeared first on Reader's Digest.
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