Gratuities are the largest charge on a cruise that nobody prices into the headline fare. On a seven-night cruise for two they add $240–350 to the bill, so it pays to understand exactly what they are, where the money goes, and which lines quietly include them.
The daily charge, line by line
In 2026, ten major lines charge between $17 and $25 per guest, per day in automatic gratuities or "crew appreciation." Carnival, Princess, Holland America and Celebrity all raised their rates during 2026. The charge posts to your onboard account daily, covers everyone in the cabin including children on most lines, and is technically adjustable at guest services — but it is the crew's pay structure, and removing it to save $100 is widely and rightly frowned on.
Where it goes: the cabin steward, dining-room waiter and assistant, and behind-the-scenes crew (laundry, galley) you never see. It is not a bonus on top of full wages; it is a significant part of what these crew members earn.
The lines that include tips
Five premium lines bundle gratuities into the fare: Explora, Oceania, Regent, Seabourn and Silversea. Their headline fares look higher partly because the tips are already inside. When comparing a premium line against a mainstream one, subtract roughly $20/day/person from the premium fare before judging the gap.
The automatic extras on top
The daily charge is not the end of tipping on board:
- Bar, spa and specialty-dining bills carry an automatic 18–20% service charge — the percentage is printed on every receipt and is not the same pot as the daily gratuity.
- Drinks and wifi packages charge their daily price plus the same 18–20%, which is why a "$70/day" package bills at $84.
- Room-service delivery fees and shore-excursion prices already have service built in; extra tipping there is genuinely optional.
Prepay or pay on board?
Most lines let you prepay gratuities at booking. Do it if you can: it locks the current rate against mid-cruise increases and clears the big line item off the onboard bill. There is no discount either way — the choice is cash flow and rate protection, not price.
Cash tips: the small tradition
Beyond the automatics, small cash still matters in three places: the porters at the terminal ($2–3 per bag, cash, not onboard account), an exceptional cabin steward at the end ($20–40 in an envelope), and tour guides ashore (a few dollars per person). None is obligatory; all are noticed.
The five-minute version
- Mainstream daily gratuities: $17–25 per person per day in 2026; a week for two adds $240–350.
- Explora, Oceania, Regent, Seabourn and Silversea include tips in the fare.
- Bar, spa and specialty dining add 18–20% automatically on top.
- Prepay at booking to lock the rate; no discount either way.
- Cash only for porters, standout stewards and shore guides.