Cruise Gratuities: The Elephant in the Room Cruise Lines Can No Longer Ignore

I prefer to go on cruises where the gratuities are included.

Include tip in cruise pricing

You're right. It's both annoying and unfair.

6 months ago Featured

The lack of transparency about gratuities has made me shy away from some cruise lines and book with British lines who include tips in their pricing (and hopefully pay a fair wage!). Do lines who charge gratuities separately pay staff less when they are not fully booked? This is so wrong!

I agree with your idea. It would ensure staff are paid fairly, rather than dependant on customers.

Totally agree.

Totally agree with including the gratuities, it means that everyone gets a guranteed monthly income and cruise guests are clear on costs upfront when bookin the cruise. When I see gratuities are not included in the price I won't book with that company.

There are too many people stating they want to remove the gratuities so they can "reward individuals". I don't believe a word of ut

I know of some who ask to remove tips so the can tip individual staff: this is only a way of paying next to nothing in tips. I am against this in principle.

Give everyone transparency. We pay a set price and it’s included in wages. If we don’t like the service, we can bring it to the attention of the management like we do on land. Extra gratuities can still be made.

Add gratuities in price of Cruise.

I blame the Cruise lines for this issue. I want the crew to be given the gratuities as a bonus and not part of their contract salary.

Include in the up front price and then, as we do, give additional cash tips for outstanding service.

I agree that tipping should be included in all up front fares

Just make tips part of the price, let passengers, if they chose to tip more. I believe it will help the crew and it’s not a situation were people are going to stop cruising over a couple hundred dollars

Sounds like a good idea, shipmate.

Thanks for sharing this, Rob. Your perspective is exactly why I felt this petition needed to happen. Leaving something this important up to passengers only creates confusion and tension.

We've been a big proponent of having gratuities included in the cruise fare and letting the cruise lines pay their employees accordingly. This is how it was done when I first cruised back in the 90's (Rob). It's never a good idea for companies leaving it up to passengers to make that decision. Just pay your employees! Unfortunately, even Virgin Voyages is now making it optional, but saying if customers remove the gratuities, they will pay their employees regardless. Well, then do it!