What happens if you don't prepay gratuities on a cruise?

Cruise Gratuity Prepayment: Understanding the Consequences

When embarking on a cruise vacation, many individuals ponder whether to prepay gratuities. This decision can significantly impact your onboard experience and budget.

Consequences of Not Prepaying Gratuities:

Choosing not to prepay cruise gratuities means your onboard account will be automatically charged daily. These charges are usually added to your room tab or can be viewed on your in-cabin television or through the cruise line’s mobile application. The daily gratuity amount varies depending on the cruise line and ship, but typically ranges from $12 to $15 per person, per day.

Not prepaying gratuities does not eliminate the obligation to tip service staff. In fact, it requires you to manually track your expenses and ensure that appropriate gratuities are provided to those who provide exceptional service.

Benefits of Prepaying Gratuities:

Prepaying gratuities offers several advantages:

• Convenience: You avoid the hassle of manually tracking and distributing tips throughout your cruise.
• Budget Control: The prepaid gratuity amount is clearly defined, allowing you to budget accordingly and prevent unexpected expenses.
• Peace of Mind: Prepaying guarantees that service staff will receive appropriate compensation, ensuring a pleasant and stress-free vacation.

Tracking Gratuity Charges:

Regardless of your prepayment decision, it’s essential to keep track of gratuity charges. These charges will be reflected on your onboard account statement, which you can access through your in-cabin television or the mobile application.

Exceptional Service:

While gratuities are typically included in the cruise fare, it’s appropriate to recognize exceptional service with additional tips. You can provide these tips directly to the service staff or request them to be added to your onboard account.

Conclusion:

Choosing whether or not to prepay gratuities on a cruise is a personal decision. Prepaying offers convenience, budget control, and peace of mind, while not prepaying requires manual tracking and distribution of tips. By understanding the consequences of each option, you can make an informed choice that aligns with your preferences and budget.