Monday, April 22, 2024

43 Carnival Cruise Line tips, tricks and hacks to enhance your vacation at sea

carnival cruise tipping

It costs about $10 for a dozen bottles, and it’s nice to have in the room. Passengers aren’t allowed to bring on bottles in their luggage (cans/cartons only), so you can’t bring on most water containers. Plus, having some water in the room is nice to keep from having to head to the dining room or buffet to get a drink. Our suggestion is to try and dress up some, but don’t stress.

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Each method has its pros and cons, and it’s important to consider your preferences and budget when deciding which option is right for you. So let’s begin our journey into the world of gratuities on Carnival cruises and discover how to navigate this aspect of your vacation. This means that all staff members get that extra monetary recognition through the automatic gratuities, whether pre-paid or added to guests’ accounts during the cruise. Unlike the U.S., cruise lines do not have to pay a minimum wage but instead pay their crew members a salary often supplemented with tips, plus free room, board, and medical care. This motivates employees to provide excellent service and keeps cruise prices more affordable by passing the cost of tips on to passengers. While most non-alcoholic beverages are included in your cruise fare, alcoholic drinks cost extra.

How Much to Tip Cabin Stewards and Butlers

Room service waiters are also part of the tip pool for autogratuities. Likewise, tipping the bartender at your favorite bar on the first day can mean the perfect drink every time (and maybe even faster service when you're in a crowd). If you're after a coveted window seat, a nice tip to the maitre d' on day one can help ensure that they never fails to have that table waiting. One thing to be aware of is the potential for double tips on your bills.

Carnival cruise tips - the tipping policy

If you're not satisfied with the level of service you receive while onboard, you may contact the "Guest Services" desk on your ship. It's up to you to adjust the amount of tipping at any time while onboard and tips will be deemed undisputed. Notify your credit card company that you will be traveling to the ports on your itinerary, to keep them from flagging your credit card as stolen.

carnival cruise tipping

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In general, withholding tips is only recommended if there was no effort towards good service. Remember, crew members are not paid the same as in the US and rely on tips for their livelihood. The amount you should tip varies depending on the cruise line and its specific policies. As a general rule of thumb, 15-20% of the total cost of your spa treatments is considered appropriate.

By showing your appreciation in this way, you can contribute to a positive and cooperative onboard environment while acknowledging the hard work and dedication of the cruise staff. If you choose to provide cash gratuities, it’s essential to have small bills on hand in order to distribute them to the relevant crew members. It is customary to give separate envelopes for each crew member, with their name and position written on it, as a way to show your appreciation individually. It’s important to note that the crew members work diligently to provide exceptional service and depend on gratuities as a substantial part of their income. Therefore, it is generally recommended to adjust gratuities only for valid reasons and after attempting to resolve any issues with the individuals involved.

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A portion of your automatic tips go to staff like this and others behind the scenes. In general, we’d suggest not changing the amount charged by the cruise line. The staff on a cruise ship works extremely hard to make your vacation a pleasure and these gratuities make up a large part of their compensation. You always have the option to give tips directly to the staff if you feel the need to do so, and as previously stated, you can also adjust gratuities based on your ‘experience’ onboard.

carnival cruise tipping

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An 18% gratuity is automatically added to all specialty dining, bar bills and spa services. Technically, yes, though Celebrity -- like most mainstream cruise lines -- insists these tips are only suggested. If you wish to adjust the amount you pay, this can be done onboard at guest relations.

Gratuities on a Carnival cruise are an important way to acknowledge the exceptional service provided by the hardworking crew members who make your vacation unforgettable. Understanding the different ways to pay gratuities and the options available allows you to choose the method that best suits your preferences and budget. It’s also worth noting that cash gratuities should be provided to the crew members toward the end of the cruise, preferably on the last day or during the farewell event. This allows you to express your gratitude for the overall experience and gives enough time to assess the service provided by the staff.

Revealed: the best and worst cruise lines for costly gratuities - The Telegraph

Revealed: the best and worst cruise lines for costly gratuities.

Posted: Wed, 07 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

These tucked-away public verandas of sorts are not well known, so you can often have them to yourself during scenic cruising, such as sailaway or when you're approaching a port. A beverage package can be a great way to save on your bar bill if you typically order a lot of extra-fee sodas, beers and cocktails when you travel. Carnival Cruise Line has one of the most affordable beverage packages in the industry.

“Alternative services” refer to positions that enhance your cruise but aren’t covered by the automatic daily service charge. If you want to give extra appreciation for exceptional service, cash tips are appreciated and can be delivered directly to a waiter, porter, or stateroom steward. Note that if you purchase a dining or beverage package, most cruise lines will charge you gratuities based on a percentage of the package price.

In the old days, passengers would put cash into envelopes and hand them out to staff at the end of the cruise. While that’s been replaced with automatic charges, if there is someone you’d like to recognize, then slipping them cash is a good way to do it. It’s not required, but the staff member will certainly appreciate the extra money. For guests who opt not to prepay, gratuities are posted to their Sail & Sign account (your onboard spending account) toward the end of the cruise.

Ice cream all dayYou can have ice cream and frozen yogurt all day long from Swirls. Most venues that sell hot drinks will accompany them with free pastries as well. On the other hand, if you have a souvenir glass, go for drink-of-the-day refills at a cheaper price. You are only allowed to bring onboard one 750ml bottle of wine.

You can find your specific ship here and compare it to others. Lately, we are seeing this practice not just with the luxury lines but also with premium operators like Holland America Line and Princess Cruises. These services may include laundry workers, dishwashers, galley attendants, and below-deck positions. Do not tip the captain or other ship officers -- they are already well compensated, and the gesture would more likely be a source of embarrassment than flattery. Spas will generally add a 15% to 18% gratuity to your bill.

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