Gratuities Are a Hidden Cost Most People Underestimate
On a 7-night cruise for two people, automatic gratuities typically add £140–£280 to your total bill — before you have bought a single drink. That is not small change, and it is not optional on most cruise lines. Understanding how gratuities work, who gets what, and which lines handle them differently is essential for budgeting accurately.
The system varies significantly by cruise line. Some add a daily charge to your onboard account automatically. Others leave tipping entirely to your discretion. Some include gratuities in certain fare types. And almost all add an automatic service charge to every drink you buy — which adds up faster than most people realise.
This guide breaks down the gratuity policies of every major cruise line, explains where the money actually goes, and gives you practical advice on when to tip extra in cash and when the automatic charge is enough.
Gratuities by Cruise Line
The honest breakdown — no two lines handle this the same way.
MSC Cruises
Automatic?
Yes — added to your onboard account daily
Daily Amount
£10–£12 per person, per day
Can You Adjust?
Can be removed at guest services, but not recommended
Extra Charges
15% service charge added to all bar and spa bills automatically
MSC is the most transparent about gratuities. The daily charge is clearly shown on your booking confirmation and again on your onboard account. You can prepay before sailing for a small discount.
P&O Cruises
Automatic?
No — tipping is discretionary
Daily Amount
No fixed daily charge
Can You Adjust?
You choose what to tip, if anything
Extra Charges
No automatic service charges on drinks or spa treatments
P&O is the outlier among major cruise lines. They do not add automatic gratuities to your account. If you want to tip, you do so in cash at the end of the cruise, directly to the staff who served you. This is genuinely appreciated.
Royal Caribbean
Automatic?
Yes — added to your onboard account daily
Daily Amount
£14–£16 per person, per day
Can You Adjust?
Can be adjusted or removed at guest services
Extra Charges
18% gratuity added to all bar, spa, and specialty dining bills
Royal Caribbean has one of the higher daily gratuity rates. The 18% on drinks is significant if you are buying cocktails regularly. Consider a drinks package if you plan to drink more than 4–5 per day.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Automatic?
Yes — added to your onboard account daily
Daily Amount
£16–£20 per person, per day
Can You Adjust?
Can be adjusted at guest services with a reason
Extra Charges
20% gratuity on all bar and restaurant bills — highest in the industry
NCL has the highest gratuity rates of any mainstream line. The 20% on drinks is steep. Their "Free at Sea" promotions often include a drinks package, which is worth factoring into your total cost comparison.
Celebrity Cruises
Automatic?
Yes — added to your onboard account daily
Daily Amount
£15–£17 per person, per day
Can You Adjust?
Can be adjusted or removed at guest services
Extra Charges
18% gratuity on bar and spa bills
Celebrity positions itself as premium, and the gratuity rates reflect that. If you book an all-inclusive fare, gratuities are usually included — check your specific booking carefully.
Princess Cruises
Automatic?
Yes — added to your onboard account daily
Daily Amount
£14–£16 per person, per day
Can You Adjust?
Can be adjusted or removed at guest services
Extra Charges
18% gratuity on bar and spa bills
Princess allows prepayment of gratuities before sailing, which locks in the current rate and avoids any mid-cruise increases. This is worth doing if you are booking far in advance.
Who Gets the Money?
The daily charge is pooled and distributed. Here is how it breaks down.
The daily gratuity you pay is not given directly to your cabin steward or waiter. It goes into a pool that is distributed across the service staff. The exact split varies by cruise line, but the general pattern is consistent: cabin stewards and dining room waiters receive the largest shares, while assistant waiters and behind-the-scenes staff receive smaller portions.
Cabin Steward
Largest portionMakes your bed twice daily, tidies your cabin, replaces towels, handles special requests
If they go above and beyond — extra toiletries, towel animals, remembering your preferences — consider an additional cash tip at the end of the cruise.
Dining Room Waiter
Significant portionYour main server in the MDR, handles your orders, knows your preferences, manages dietary requirements
If you have the same waiter for most of the cruise and they remember your name and preferences, a small extra cash tip on the last night is a genuine gesture of appreciation.
Assistant Waiter
Smaller portionBreads, water, clearing plates, supporting the main waiter
Often overlooked. If they are attentive and efficient, a small cash tip is meaningful — they typically earn less than the main waiter.
Bar Staff
From drink gratuities onlyServes drinks at bars, pool bars, and through table service
The 18–20% is already added. Extra cash tipping is not expected unless someone goes significantly out of their way.
Specialty Restaurant Staff
From specialty dining surchargeServes in paid restaurants, often higher service standard
A service charge is usually built into the specialty dining price. Additional tipping is not necessary unless the service was exceptional.
The pooling system
Because gratuities are pooled, your daily charge supports the entire service team — not just the people who served you directly. This is why the charge is automatic and non-negotiable on most lines. Removing it affects people you may never meet, including kitchen staff, laundry workers, and cleaners who keep the ship running.
When to Tip Extra in Cash
The automatic charge covers the basics. Cash tips are for exceptional service.
The daily gratuity is not a tip for your specific steward or waiter. It is a pooled charge that supports the entire service team. If someone went significantly above and beyond for you — remembered your preferences, handled a special request, made your cruise genuinely better — a cash tip at the end of the cruise is the best way to show appreciation.
Cabin steward
£10–£20 at the end of the cruise, in an envelope, handed directly. More if they handled special requests or went above and beyond.
MDR waiter
£10–£20 on the last night, handed directly. If you had the same waiter all week and they learned your preferences, this is genuinely appreciated.
Assistant waiter
£5–£10 on the last night. Often overlooked, but they work hard and earn less than the main waiter.
Bar staff
Not necessary — the automatic gratuity covers this. Only tip extra if someone went significantly out of their way.
Cash tip timing
Hand cash tips directly to the person on the last night or last morning of the cruise, in a small envelope with a brief note. Do not leave cash in the cabin — it may not reach the right person. Direct handover is personal, appreciated, and ensures it goes to the right place.
At a Glance: All Lines Compared
7-night cruise for two people — total gratuity cost estimate.
Excludes bar and spa gratuities. P&O total assumes moderate discretionary tipping.
Common Tipping Mistakes
Worth avoiding from the start.
Removing gratuities to save money
The daily gratuity is how cruise ship staff earn a significant portion of their income. Removing it to save £80 on a 7-night cruise directly reduces the pay of people who worked hard for you all week. If service was genuinely poor, speak to guest services and adjust. Do not remove it as a default cost-cutting measure.
Forgetting the bar gratuity adds up
A £10 cocktail with 20% gratuity is £12. Five cocktails a day for a week is £70 in gratuities alone, on top of the daily charge. This is why drinks packages exist — they often include gratuities, which can make them better value than they first appear.
Not checking if gratuities are included in your fare
Some cruise lines offer "all-inclusive" fares that include gratuities. Others do not. Check your booking confirmation carefully. If gratuities are included, you should not see a daily charge on your onboard account. If they are not included, budget for them from the start.
Tipping in the wrong currency
Cruise ship staff prefer US dollars or the ship's onboard currency. Pounds are accepted but less useful for staff who send money home. If you are tipping in cash, bring small denomination US dollars — $5 and $10 bills are ideal.
“Gratuities are not a hidden fee designed to trick you. They are how cruise ship staff earn a living. Budget for them from the start, and treat the daily charge as part of the fare — because it is.”
I have seen people get genuinely angry about the daily gratuity charge, as if the cruise line is pulling a fast one. It is not a trick. It is a transparent, industry-standard practice that ensures the service staff are paid fairly. The alternative — paying staff a higher base wage and raising fares accordingly — would cost you the same amount, just presented differently.
The real issue is budgeting. If you book a cruise thinking the fare is the total cost, the gratuity charge feels like a surprise. Build it in from the start. On a 7-night cruise for two, add £200–£250 to your mental budget for gratuities alone. Then add drinks, excursions, and specialty dining on top.
P&O is the exception — their discretionary approach is refreshing, but it also means you need to make a conscious decision about tipping. Most passengers do tip something, and the staff genuinely appreciate the direct, personal nature of it. If you cruise P&O, bring small cash envelopes and tip the people who made your trip better.
Keep It Simple
Gratuities are part of the cruise cost. Budget for them, do not remove them to save money, and tip extra in cash only for genuinely exceptional service. The daily charge supports a large team of people who work long hours to make your cruise enjoyable — treat it with the respect it deserves.
If you want to minimise gratuity costs, P&O is your best option among mainstream lines. If you are sailing MSC, Royal Caribbean, NCL, Celebrity, or Princess, the daily charge is non-negotiable and should be treated as part of your fare from the moment you book.
And remember — the 18–20% on drinks adds up fast. A drinks package that includes gratuities can be better value than it first appears, especially on NCL and Royal Caribbean where the drink gratuity rate is highest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common tipping questions.
How much are cruise gratuities per day?
Most mainstream cruise lines charge £10–£20 per person, per day. MSC is around £10–£12, Royal Caribbean £14–£16, Celebrity £15–£17, and NCL £16–£20. P&O does not charge automatic gratuities — tipping is entirely discretionary.
Can I remove cruise gratuities from my account?
On most lines, yes — you can adjust or remove gratuities at guest services. However, this directly reduces the income of staff who served you. Only remove gratuities if service was genuinely poor, and speak to guest services first. Do not remove them as a default cost-saving measure.
Do I need to tip extra on top of the daily gratuity?
Not required. The daily gratuity covers all main service staff. Extra cash tipping is appreciated for exceptional service — particularly cabin stewards and MDR waiters who went above and beyond. Bar staff are already covered by the automatic drink gratuity.
Which cruise line has the lowest gratuities?
P&O Cruises has no automatic gratuities — tipping is entirely at your discretion. Among lines that do charge, MSC has the lowest daily rate at around £10–£12 per person, per day.
Are gratuities included in drinks packages?
Yes — most drinks packages include the automatic bar gratuity, which is typically 18–20%. This is one reason drinks packages can be better value than they first appear, especially on lines like NCL and Royal Caribbean with high drink gratuity rates.