Click the button above to compare the prices of cruises from all travel agents. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. If you buy the drink package before you board you may be able to get it for cheaper as pre-cruise drink package prices fluctuate before the sailing date. Current gratuities breakdown - Royal Caribbean International - Cruise So well have to pay the difference of $1 on almost every drink. Is a drink package worth it for you? We never use a credit card for our on ship account. Drink Package Calculator. What is Royal Caribbean's gratuity price and policy? If you order a drink that costs more than the package limit, you would be charged the difference. Answer (1 of 7): Yes, you can. Meanwhile, cruise fares are often shown as dirt-cheap prices. That seems pretty good to me. The automatic daily gratuity is based on customary industry standards. Great blog exactly the sort of information I was looking for to make in informed decision. Ive just used $USD in this guide to keep things consistent for most readers. Carnival Cruise Line also increased . Instructions and details are included below the calculator. Just pop your email in the form and Ill send you a link to the calculator. After 23 Royal Caribbean Cruises, What I've Learned About Tipping First of all, if youre feeling a little confused, dont worry you arent alone. Is Every Passenger Charged Gratuities? It was quite good to fill up and take off the ship with me. Both Carnival and Norwegian raised gratuity rates earlier this summer. Gratuity Calculator - Online Gratuity Calculator India - Groww Extra envelopes are available at guest services. We have two kids. If you do not opt to prepay gratuities, a daily charge will appear on your SeaPass account every day of the cruise for the daily gratuity rate per guest. In addition, prepaying gratuities locks in the current gratuity rate, even if the rate were to go up later. Alcoholic beverages that exceed this amount will be charged the difference plus gratuity on the difference. The option to prepay gratuities means locking in the current gratuity rate, along with spreading out the overall cost of the cruise by integrating it into the cost of the cruise. Since 2019, Royal Caribbean has been cutting down on single-use plastics onboard its ships. If you do absolutely nothing, then you can expect an automatic charge on your SeaPass account each day of the cruise. 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. On certain cruises, Royal Caribbean requires that gratuities are prepaid to be able to request MyTime dining. There may be other areas for tipping while on a cruise that are not covered by this page, including shore excursions, land tours, sightseeing, land based transportation including taxis, charter busses or limousines, tour guides, luggage handlers, room service delivery, land based . Here's how it works on Royal Caribbean: As of September 7 th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per . These days, everything is automatic. Passengers would then put cash in the envelope for the crew members. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. If I travel with my family of 4, and I pay the waiting $20 ($5 per person) staff each time we eat in the dining room, which would be for dinner only, over 7 days, that would $140. You have to wait 15 minutes between each drink, so it is technically possible to get drinks for the kids then 15 minutes later, go and get drinks for yourselves. Some lines also pool the tips altogether and then distribute them throughout the year. For cruises that start elsewhere, its 18. Royal Caribbean Is Raising Onboard Gratuities Next Month If you buy your drinks package in advance and then see that the price drops due to a promotion, you can cancel your drinks package, get a refund and then buy it again at the lower price. Royal Caribbean Gratuities: Everything You Need to Know The vast majority of passengers are charged these tips, no matter if they are young, old, have special requests, eat in the main dining room, or only hit the buffet. If the price does drop, you can always call Royal Carribbean to cancel it and book it again at the lower price. Can I ask there is a limit of bringing drinks on board yourselves but how do they actually know if you have brought more than the allowance? When this opted into by the guest, then you'll pay the full gratuity amount before the cruise begins at final payment date. If you get free gratuities thrown in as an incentive for booking a cruise, then these will be automatically prepaid. If not, just leave blank, Royal Caribbean increases gratuities for crew members on its cruise ships, Carnival Cruise Line raised their gratuities. Tap the for Winter 2024 Caribbean sailings. I think these amounts are reasonable. As a way to reward our crew members for their outstanding service, tips are shared . You can also get cold coffee drinks at the coffee bars. I had the drink package so I didnt get the answer to this. If a drink is over 12 Dollars to I have the entire price or just the difference. The prices that are on the menus are reasonable if in Au Dollars. Is it true that each individual drink purchased an additional 18% is added? Hi Kristin. As of September 7 th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in non-suites staterooms, or $18.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Suites, will be applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. Both Royal Caribbean and Carnival have slightly different daily gratuities. recommended) gratuities, and the ability to increase or decrease the amounts as you desire. 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 . The previous Suite gratuity rate of $17.50 will increase to $18.50 per day per person. For guests that like to budget their vacations and spread out the total cost of the cruise, this is a popular choice. 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. How much is the Royal Caribbean drink package? If thats the case and you decide you want to change the amount you are charged for tips then you can do that. To help explain everything about cruise line gratuities, weve answered a number of common questions that will make everything clearer before you set sail. MyTime dining is when you dont have a set dining time and instead, you can arrive at the main restaurant whenever you like. Be the first to rate this post. If you paid $13 for a cocktail and didnt like it, youd be pretty annoyed at yourself for choosing it. I have some tips for you here: https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/taking-a-baby-on-a-cruise-ship/ Jenni, Many thanks, very useful. Tipping on a cruise ship: Everything you need to know He would hardly be expected to buy the alcohol package too?? I know that some people get away with putting one bottle in the main suitcase and one in hand luggage. From the passenger perspective, the gratuity amount is simple pay a set amount per person, per day, and be done. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. These days, with the new protocols, Im not sure what the rules will be on refilling our own bottles. However, you can get a drink every 15 minutes so it is possible to get the occasional drink for your child on the sly. All non-alcoholic beverages are covered in full, regardless of price, unless otherwise excluded from all beverage packages. Paying a tip twice C. Paying a standardized tip for poor service. Most recently, Disney Cruise Line increased the rate to $14.50 in July 2022. That said, its unusual to adjust the gratuity amount, and the staff works extremely hard to make your trip enjoyable. The package covers nearly every beverage on the ship up to $13 per drink. In addition to this, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to all drinks, spa and salon services. I gave always given them money to take my bags to the ship. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Royal Caribbean offers a choice of three all-inclusive drinks packages: Royal Caribbeans alcohol drinks package includes: Royal Caribbeans non-alcoholic drinks package includes: The Classic Soda Packages comes with a refillable souvenir cup which you can use at self-service machines across the ship. Ive just contacted RCI via messenger and asked them why the price on my cruise planner is a lot more than what Ive seen offered for new cruise bookings, and asked if I can have it at the same price. Can I put them into the fridge and save vor excursions? The exception is in certain markets where tipping is not as ingrained as part of their culture, so Royal Caribbean includes daily gratuities as part of the price of the cruise. Disney Cruise Line Gratuities (What to Know about Tipping) Share. So, you can get an alcohol or soft drink package for the adults without being required to buy any kind of package for your children. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. You could always pour it from a cup into your own bottle I suppose. Celebrity Cruises Perks Calculator: Are Perks Worth It. Keep in mind that Royal Caribbean generally requires that if one adult purchases the Deluxe package, that all other adults over the age of 21 traveling in the same cabin purchase the Deluxe package; this requirement may be waived if you contact Royal Caribbean, explain the other adult(s) does not consume alcohol, and request to downgrade the additional package to Refreshment. However, for the most part you can expect that every passenger on your trip will see a charge. Hi Jose. Royal Caribbean Drink Menus for 2023 - Cruise Spotlight I hope that helps! Pre-paid gratuities can be added to an individual reservation at any time outside of 48 hours of the sail date. ? Royal Caribbean Australia introduces streamlined cruise fares that include gratuities. When booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, one very important question to consider is Should I get a drinks package or not?. ), I have just updated this post as the gratuity on Royal Caribbeans drinks packages is now 18% for 2021. On the Oasis Class and Quantum Class ships, the drinks package limit is $13 rather than $12 to account for these ships having slightly higher drinks prices. I am considering the deluxe drink package for us both but I am a little concerned that most fun drinks on the menus cost $13 and the limit is $12. In Miami the worst place to board the ship. 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. Your drinks package will include gratuity on all drinks. Jenni. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Royal Caribbean Blog. You definitely dont need a drinks package. We use prepaid drink cards to purchase beverages. Great advice. Royal Caribbean drinks packages include all tips (also known as gratuities). If it drops, cancel the package and re-buy it at the lower price. On the other hand, many people choose to instead pay the gratuity charges automatically through their onboard account once on the ship. Included here are the baseline (i.e. I rarely drink specialty coffee and prefer a cup of hot tea to end my meals. % of guests who remove gratuities - Page 2 - Royal Caribbean Could you please tell me how I can improve it? It varies depending on the sailing, and prices also go up and down as the sailing date nears. 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. Click the button above to compare the prices of cruises from all travel agents. Instead of one passenger paying a lot and another paying hardly anything, these set amounts ensure that everyone pays their fair share. The automatic tip is USD 16.00 USD, or USD 18.50 USD for suite guests, applied to each guests SeaPass account on a daily basis. With millions of passengers sailing every year, theres inevitably going to be someone who feels they received poor service. Gratuity = n*b*15 / 26. Simply enter the cruise line, length of trip, and the number of passengers and it will show you precisely how much youll be charged. Disney Cruise Line recommends a gratuity amount of $14.50 per person per night. Copyright 2023 Real World Machine LLC. February 11, 2023 Randy Young Bar Menu, drink package, Royal Caribbean. Where n = Tenure of service completed in the company. Cheers. Size of travel cots? However, you can get all-inclusive cruise package deals that have drinks included. Thank you so much for this insight definitely helps with planning. Hi Maria, 3 hours ago, Husky1987 said: Percentage of cruisers that remove auto gratuities: 10%. Airfare Savings Up to $800 per person . In the past, the process used to be that the cruise line would put envelopes in your room on the last day of the cruise. Plus, as we were sailing from the UK it was easy to bring our own wine and cans of pop on board so we didnt need to buy many drinks on the ship. Jenni, Hi Jose, When you book the cruise youll have the ability to prepay gratuities. The calculator includes the following beverage types: The calculator will add the mandatory gratuity to the average beverage cost for all beverage types in its calculations. You have to call Royal and they will book it for you. We had a short four-night cruise to Royal Caribbeans private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, in the Bahamas. ), Can You Work Remotely While Taking a Cruise? Im Diamond and wondered what the upcharge might be since Ill be getting four free drink vouchers per day. Use this section of the Royal Caribbean Beverage Package Calculator to adjust assumptions and default pricing for beverage packages. This is extremely helpful. And when you leave the dining room, no need to drop down any money on the table. 15 Ways To Use Your Royal Caribbean Onboard Credit. The onboard prices are inflated, and its still always cheaper to buy your package before your cruise. Jenni. Unless you are feeling generous, theres no need to tip more. A 18% gratuity is automatically added to all beverages, mini bar items, and spa & salon purchases. Thanks for the comprehensive review! This makes paying for your cruise more manageable. Whipped cream etc. Royal Caribbean last raised its gratuity fee on Jan. 2, 2018. 3 ways to get free wifi on your Royal Caribbean cruise. Hi Aoife. I am on Voyagers of the seas in April on repositioning cruise. The calculator does not take into account the three beverage vouchers that Crown and Anchor Society members holding Diamond, Diamond Plus, or Pinnacle elite status receive when attending the Exclusive Nightly Diamond Event. Gone are the days of simply slipping a waiter some cash or leaving a couple of bills for the room steward at the end of your trip (although you can still do that if you want). Your positive feedback will go on their permanent file, which can help them to get promotions and pay rises. Must Read Royal Caribbean Drink Package Guide - Cruise Hive To do so, simply head down to Guest Services on the ship to tell them that you want to change your tip amounts. Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours. The calculator recommends the most cost-effective beverage package. But RCCL wants to charge $448. The calculator will auto-update as you enter information about your cruise. Another way to pay extra gratuities is when you buy a drink. However, theres a chip inside it which means that it will only work with the machine for a certain period of time. Royal Caribbean Beverage Package Calculator: Most Cost-Effective We are no spring chickens the three of us are just under 70. How Often Do the Gratuity Rates Increase? Hi Katie. So if youre planning a cruise with Royal Caribbean, read on for everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean gratuities. I am going on my first cruise in February and found your information very helpful thank you. Related: TPG's ultimate guide to cruise ship gratuity charges and tipping You are free to adjust the amount to whatever you think is fair. Suite gratuity rate will change from $17.50 to $18.50 per day per person. Does the menu price already include the per drink gratuity? These are: Some drinks are free all the time. They will still go out of their way to make your cruise comfortable and enjoyable. $16.50 per person, per day for guests in suites. Gratuities on a Cruise: How Much to Tip? - Sand In My Suitcase Sure, just pop your email in the box and it will come straight to you. Hi Natalie. 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. With the introduction of automatic gratuities, its much more difficult to avoid paying tips on your cruise. Years ago, you could buy five bottles of wine for $165, 7 bottles for $220 and 10 bottles for $300. Grand suites and above - $17.50 p.p. Royal Caribbean offer discounts to people who buy their drinks packages online in advance of their cruise. If it doesnt, then Im sorry I dont know about that particular drink. I'm so sorry that this post wasn't useful for you! When entering the number of beverages per beverage type, the number entered can either be per day or for the entire length of the cruise for each beverage type. In my former job managing cruise websites for a travel agent, I saw cruise line campaigns change regularly and prices fluctuate almost daily. All rights reserved. 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. As of September 7th, 2022, the automatic service gratuity of $16.00 USD per person, per day for guests in non-suites staterooms, or $18.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Suites, will be applied to each guest's SeaPass account on a daily basis. This equates to: Obviously, if you like to drink cocktails, it will be much easier to break even than if you drink beers and soft drinks. RCCL currently applies an automatic gratuity amount on your onboard account, on a daily basis. The best way to save money on your Royal Caribbean drink package is to buy it a few days after booking your cruise. If youd like to calculate exactly what your gratuity amount will be before you book your trip, then you can use our calculator here. Gratuities on Royal Caribbean are obligatory, so it is a matter of when you prefer to pay them. For most sailings, when you buy a drinks package online, an 18% gratuity charge is added at the checkout. To begin with, the cruise line gave out paper straws which are sadly not fit for purpose when it comes to frozen cocktails. Likewise, carrying large amounts of cash isnt recommended for safety reasons. Are the drink prices in US dollars or Australian while on an Australian run. If you want to recognise outstanding service by a particular crew member, then head to the Guest Services desk and fill out a WOW card. So Im booked and considering the drinks package. For staff members that rely on these dollars, that can be a major blow. The good thing for passengers about automatic gratuities is that this breakdown is done automatically by the cruise line instead of having to give tips to several different staff members at the end of your cruise. Making feeds? Could I buy only 4 of the 8 days of my trip, for example? If youve never cruised, then there is no doubt that these questions and more might be floating through your head. 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. Rather than guests tipping each member of staff, Royal Caribbean charges a set fee per day to reward crew members for their service. On a recent Royal Caribbean cruise, I bought the drinks package and got my moneys worth. My question is, what happens if I buy the beverage package of only soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages, and at some point during the trip I want to order, for example, a pina colada with alcohol? If you do, Royal Caribbean will automatically charge your card at the end of your cruise. Royal Caribbean Cruise Deals - Free Gratuities | Cruise.com You can opt into prepaying gratuities at any time, up to 48 hours prior to your sail date. For most people, the service they receive on a cruise is outstanding. However, you can order a bottle of water at the bar and put it in your mini bar fridge for later if you like. How much are gratuities on Royal Caribbean cruises? I had it on a 4-night cruise. Second, any time that you purchase anything service related such as dinner at a specialty restaurant or a service at the spa expect there to be a tip added on to the cost. In addition to this, an 18% gratuity is automatically added to all drinks, spa and salon services. Tipping is out of control everywhere. The daily cost is per guest. That doesnt seem fair. For guests booked through travel advisors, their advisor may add pre-paid gratuities to the guests' booking prior to sailing*. Royal Caribbean Cruises Tipping Policy - CruiseCheap.com We have decided to use your tip and buy the soda package with the intention of buying shots on board. Each guest, regardless of age, will be assessed the daily gratuity as recognition for the hard work crew members do each day. Ive worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and now my blog helps over a million people to plan their cruises each month. Im not saying do it, but people do it. For the best price, you should always book your drinks package in advance before your cruise and not wait until you get on board the ship. Royal Caribbean drinks prices are on the high end when compared to other cruise lines. How to prepay gratuities. I believe so, yes. While the name sounds fancy, gratuities are nothing more than a tip paid to the staff members for service during the cruise. After that, you can cancel it when you first embark on the ship, but no later. Thanks bunches for this. That said, in theory you could request that tips be removed from your account and not tip at all. Royal Caribbean no longer offers a wine package. If youre caught cheating the Royal Caribbean drink package by giving drinks to people who do not have a package, then you risk having your whole package removed without a refund. How do I purchase a drink package for 1 and a soft drinks package for 1 because of a medical condition, Hi Jill, Im considering booking a drinks package with Royal Caribbean. Royal Caribbeans daily gratuity rate increases every one to two years. Do I Need to Tip Anyone Else While On the Ship? When we researched tipping policy on a recent Princess cruise, we found that the cruise line pools that money and uses it for bonuses, etc. Just enter your email address below and youll receive a link to it in your inbox asap. Without your contribution, the compensation for the staff members will decrease. For guests staying in Grand Suites and above, the fee is $18.50 per person, per day. Hi Jeff. I find this to be an outrageous ploy to hide the true costs of a cruise. Automatic gratuity charge: None. I Agree, we always opt out and give tips to our steward and waiter/waitress at the end of the cruise. Do you know the difference in the tea? Can you opt out of gratuities on Royal Caribbean? - Quora Is this due to the situation at the moment or have they stopped selling drinks package online. Royal Caribbean gratuities are a set amount per person, per day. I too pay in cash and at times have given extra. Is is possible to buy the package for less days than those of your cruise? On or after September 7, 2022, regardless of when the booking was created, gratuities paid while onboard are subject to the new, increased rates. However, if you want to choose the flexible My Time dining, rather than having a set dining time, you must pre-pay your gratuities. Here are the others: 4 Ways That People Cheat The Royal Caribbean Drink Package. Even Babies? However, for the majority of mass market cruise lines the gratuities are extra charges on the price of your cruise. I have cruised many times before and I always order the royal caribbean premium drink package. I didnt know I could have the tips removed from my room charges. How To Prepay Gratuities On Royal Caribbean Website Guests can pre-pay gratuities by calling 866-562-7625 or logging into www.royalcaribbean.com before* their sailing. If you plan to be off the ship exploring ports most days, then not only will you not have as much time on board to drink your drinks, but youre also less likely to want a hangover! So what will happen? These vouchers expire on the same night that they are issued. You would think that paying a hefty daily tip would cover everyone on the ship. Royal Caribbean offers guests the choice of prepaying gratuities for select crew members on its ships. Gratuity charges are typically not mandatory and can be adjusted. So the longer the cruise, the higher the gratuities as well. Additionally, an 18% gratuity is added to bills at bars, minibars, salons and spas. 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 have a question Ive not seen answered. The option to, Royal Caribbean has announced it will raise itsrecommended gratuities for sailings that depart on or after May 01,, Royal Caribbean will be raising its recommended gratuities for sailings that depart on or after July 1, 2015.The new, Royal Caribbean Australia announced today a new fare structure that includesgratuities for stateroom attendants and, When you take a Royal Caribbean cruise, one of the costs to passengers are gratuities (tips) to crew members during.