Once automatic or included gratuities are in place, no extra tipping is required on a cruise. Here are the 2026 daily rates line by line, the drinks double-tip trap, and when a cash tip is actually worth handing over.
Cover image: Elegant main dining room of a modern cruise ship with set tables — photo by RL0919, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
No — if gratuities are included in your fare or added automatically to your onboard account, you are not required to tip anything extra on a cruise. The daily service charge that mainstream lines such as Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian bill to your account is the tip: it covers your stateroom attendant, dining-room team and behind-the-scenes hotel staff. Extra cash for a crew member who goes above and beyond is always welcome, but it is entirely optional — The Points Guy's tipping guide puts it plainly: additional tipping "is in no way required".
The question matters more in 2026 because the baseline keeps rising. As Travel Market News reported, six cruise lines have raised automatic gratuities in 2026 — pushing a seven-night sailing for a family of four to roughly US$550–620 in automatic tips. Knowing what that money covers stops you paying twice.
What do cruise gratuities actually pay for?
Automatic gratuities are pooled across the hotel side of the ship. Royal Caribbean's official policy says the charge is shared among "dining, bar and culinary services staff, stateroom attendants, hotel services teams" and other crew — including galley and laundry workers you never meet. That is why lines discourage removing it: for service crew it is core income, not a bonus.
How much are cruise gratuities in 2026?
Current daily auto-gratuity rates on the major lines, per person, per day:
| Cruise line | Standard cabins | Suites | Removable on board? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival | $17 | $19 | Yes, at Guest Services |
| Royal Caribbean | $18.50 | $21 | Yes, before disembarkation morning |
| Celebrity | $19.50 | $24.50 (Retreat) | Yes, at Guest Relations |
| Princess | $18 | $20 | Yes, at Guest Services |
| Holland America | $18 | $20 | Yes, at Guest Services |
| Norwegian | $20 (age 3+) | $25 (Haven and suites) | Yes, adjustable |
| MSC Cruises | $17 (Caribbean sailings) | $23 (Yacht Club) | Yes, on US-market sailings |
| Disney Cruise Line | $16 (recommended) | $27.25 (concierge) | Yes, at Guest Services |
Several of these figures reflect 2026 increases: Carnival moved from $16 in April, Princess in March, Holland America on 1 June and Celebrity added $1.50 across every category from 29 July. Prepaying gratuities before an announced increase takes effect locks in the old rate — every major line honours the rate in force when you prepay.
Which cruise lines include gratuities in the fare?
On genuinely all-inclusive lines there is nothing to add and nothing to remove. Silversea, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas, Azamara, Ponant and Oceania build gratuities into the fare, and the UK-market lines P&O Cruises (since 2019) and Marella do the same — a big reason British cruisers rarely see a service charge. MSC's luxury brand Explora Journeys also markets all-in fares with gratuities covered. Virgin Voyages is now a hybrid: since October 2025 its "VoyageFair" pricing shows service gratuities as a separate line — $20 per sailor per night prepaid, or $22 on board — but once that is paid, Virgin says no further tipping is expected anywhere on the ship.
Watch the double-tip trap on drinks
Bar bills are where cruisers most often tip twice. Most big lines automatically add 18–20% to every drink, beverage package, speciality-dinner and spa purchase. Royal Caribbean and Disney add 18% to beverages (and 20% on spa services); Princess raised its bar and speciality-dining charge from 18% to 20% in 2026. The receipt still arrives with a blank "additional tip" line — ignore it with a clear conscience, because service is already on the bill. Ashore is a different game entirely, as our guide to tipping in Italy shows.
Can you remove or adjust auto-gratuities?
On most US-market lines, yes. Royal Caribbean states gratuities "may be modified at the guest's sole discretion" at the Guest Relations desk any time before the morning of disembarkation, and Carnival, Princess, Holland America, Celebrity, Norwegian and MSC (on US sailings) allow adjustments at guest services too. But removal takes income from the lowest-paid people on board; save it for genuine service failures, and budget for gratuities the way you budget for cruise travel documents — a known cost of sailing.
Should you tip extra in cash?
Only if someone earns it. Many cruisers hand a standout stateroom attendant or waiter an extra US$20–50 at the end of a seven-night sailing, or a couple of dollars per round to a favourite bartender — always in cash, directly to the person. Crew members widely report that cash handed over while your auto-gratuities remain in place is theirs to keep, while cash given after you remove the daily charge may go into the pool; lines do not publish these rules, so treat that as unofficial. Who you do not tip: officers (never expected) and youth-club staff on most lines (policies vary; many cannot accept cash). Shoreside porters at the pier are the exception — about $2 per bag is standard, since they are dockworkers, not crew. While you are budgeting, check how your ship scores on hygiene too — see our guide to cruise ship health inspection scores.
Frequently asked questions
Do you tip bartenders on a cruise?
Not beyond what is already charged. Almost every major line automatically adds 18–20% service to each drink or beverage package, so the tip is built into the bill. Some passengers still hand a favourite bartender a dollar or two per round for faster or friendlier service, but it is entirely optional and never expected.
Do you tip on Royal Caribbean if gratuities are included?
No extra tipping is required. Royal Caribbean charges $18.50 per person per day ($21 in suites) plus 18% on drinks and speciality dining, and says these gratuities are shared among dining, bar, stateroom and hotel-services crew. If you prepaid gratuities or leave the automatic charge in place, you have already tipped everyone who serves you.
Should you tip extra on a cruise?
Only for genuinely standout service, and only if you want to. A common approach is US$20–50 in cash at the end of a week for an exceptional stateroom attendant or waiter, handed directly to them. Keep your automatic gratuities in place as the baseline; extra cash is a thank-you, not an obligation.
Do you tip porters at the cruise terminal?
Yes — this is the one tip outside the ship's system. Porters who take your luggage at the pier are dockworkers, not cruise-line employees, so they are not covered by onboard gratuities. Around $2 per bag is the standard rate. On board, luggage delivery to your cabin is covered by the daily service charge.
Can you remove gratuities on a cruise?
On most US-market lines, yes, by visiting guest services before the end of the cruise; Royal Caribbean allows changes until the morning of disembarkation. All-inclusive and UK lines such as P&O Cruises and Marella have nothing to remove. Consider adjusting only for genuine service problems, as the charge forms core income for service crew.
Sources
- Royal Caribbean — What is Royal Caribbean's gratuity price and policy?
- The Points Guy — Tipping on a cruise: What to know about ship gratuities
- Virgin Voyages — VoyageFair Choices FAQ
- Travel Market Report — What Each Major Ocean Cruise Line Charges in Gratuities
- Cruise Critic — Tipping on a Cruise: Your Complete Big-Ship Tip Guide
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