7 people you should always tip on a cruise
To tip or not to tip? Whether you’re a seasoned cruiser or only have one or two cruises under your belt, you’ve likely asked this question at some point during your sailing.
The cruise lines have taken some of the uncertainty out of this equation with the introduction of automatic gratuities. Most of the bigger cruise lines add a daily gratuity to your fare, ranging from $16 to $25 per passenger, per day, that you can pay ahead of time or once you’re on the ship. These tips go to the staff members who provide guest-facing services during the cruise (room stewards, dining staff, bartenders, etc.), as well as crew you might not see (such as kitchen and laundry staff).
But these automatic gratuities do not cover every crew member or travel service provider you’ll encounter throughout your cruise vacation. Plus, some passengers find that certain services warrant an additional tip beyond what’s expected.
Who do you need to tip (or tip extra) in cash on your next cruise? Here are the seven people I say you should always tip on your cruise vacation.
Porters
Have small bills ready if you plan to drop off your larger pieces of luggage by the terminal curb when you arrive at the port for embarkation. Luggage porters will be on hand to collect your bags and get them to the ship, and they will expect compensation. The amount you tip is up to you, but around $1 or $2 per bag should suffice.
Bartenders
This might be a divisive one, especially since “when imbibing” is among the 10 times we suggest you do not need to tip on a cruise. But hear me out.
Yes, cruise lines usually add gratuities to your drink order at a bar, lounge or restaurant, and gratuities are baked into the cost of all-inclusive drink packages. However, some passengers like to give bartenders a little more — and I’m one of them.
We almost always purchase a drink package (no judgment, please) but add an extra dollar to each drink we order. If we don’t purchase the drink package, we still tip extra for each drink. Maybe it’s because my husband and I have both worked in the food-and-beverage industry and know how challenging it can be, but it’s pretty much our standard practice on every cruise.
If you have a favorite watering hole, you can also give your bartender a larger extra tip at the start of the sailing, which might level up the personalized attention you receive. I’ve also seen passengers present a tip envelope to bartenders on the last night of the cruise to thank them for their service.
Tour guides
Whether you’ve booked a shore excursion through the ship or arranged an independent tour, you should tip your tour guides and bus drivers. The amount is up to you, but a good rule of thumb is around $3 (per person) for a half-day tour and $6 (per person) for a full-day tour for the guide. Consider giving the bus driver a $1 to $2 tip.
Room service waitstaff
If you order a meal or snack to your cabin, consider tipping the waitstaff who delivered it a couple of dollars (per person). Special requests like setting up a (battery-operated) candlelit meal on your balcony might warrant a larger thank-you tip.
Related: Cruise ship room service: A line-by-line guide to in-cabin dining
Cabin steward
Your cabin steward takes a cut of the per-day, per-person service charges that are added to your cruise fare. However, I firmly believe you should give your room attendant a little something extra at the end of your sailing.
Why? Your cabin steward is the crew member you will likely encounter most during your cruise and often the person who provides you with the most consistent one-on-one service. On just about every cruise I’ve taken across various lines, our cabin stewards have been friendly, efficient, personable and extremely helpful. They’re far from home and working hard, so a little extra thanks goes a long way.
Personally, I appreciate the added effort it takes to keep small cruise cabins orderly and clean. Do you have lots of people in your cabin? Are there children cruising with you who might require more cleaning up after? In those cases, consider offering your cabin attendant a little more for the added work those scenarios require.
Crew members who made an impression
My daughter is vegan, and while many cruise lines have improved plant-based offerings immensely in recent years, that wasn’t always the case. On several cruises with Carnival Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, our main dining room waitstaff went above and beyond to ensure she was well-fed, creating special plant-based dishes just for her. We expressed our thanks with a cash tip.
This is just one example of when you should tip crew members who make an impression during your cruise. Perhaps the cruise ship photographer managed to entertain your fussy toddler long enough to get your family’s best vacation photo to date. Or, maybe the ship magician won over your kids to the point that they’ve asked for a magic kit for their next birthday. If a crew member went out of their way to make your cruise memorable, consider showing your appreciation monetarily.
Hotel cleaning staff
Planning to stay at a hotel before or after your cruise? Please leave a small tip for housekeeping (about $3 per night). Additionally, tip the bellhop or hotel staff member who assists with transporting your luggage to or from your hotel room. A standard tip is roughly $1 per bag.
Should I tip extra on a cruise?
Tipping above added gratuities is a personal choice. However, keep in mind that staff members work extremely hard to help ensure you have a memorable cruise vacation. They have long contracts that require seven- to 10-month stints on board and often work 12 to 14 hours a day.
If you encountered staff members who went above and beyond to make your cruise experience truly special, I recommend giving a little extra to thank them for their exceptional service.
Make sure to bring small denomination bills if you think you might dole out tips during your cruise. Don’t worry if you boarded the ship without them, though. You can get change for larger bills at the guest services desk.
If you choose not to tip above the included service charge, make sure to complete the postcruise survey your cruise line provides and call out crew members who left an impression on you. I’ve heard countless times from cruise employees how important positive feedback about their performance is to their compensation and bonuses.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- Top ways cruisers waste money
- The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.