Passengers of most types of cabins will pay 16 USD from September 7 per day, and those who chose prestigious accommodation in suites, — $18.5.
Today's “bet” Tips at Royal Caribbean are $14.50 in standard cabins and $17.50 in suites.
A simple math shows that a family of four will pay nearly $450 in automatic tips for a seven-day cruise.
The other two major airlines, Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises, have the same rates: they add “tips” to passengers' bills; at US$14.5 per person per day.
Holland America and Norwegian Cruise Line passengers are forced to pay US$15.5 and US$16 per day, respectively. Norwegian just raised the tip rate to $16 from $15.5.
While the percentage increase in Royal Caribbean tips looks significant, this is the first time this has happened in more than four years. Royal Caribbean last raised tip fees on January 2, 2018.
However, since the beginning of 2015, Royal Caribbean has increased in price by 33% from $12 — this is higher than the US inflation rate during the same period.
Most of the major cruise operators automatically add some kind of service charge or tip to passengers' bills. Passengers have the choice of making a prepayment at the time of booking, or paying the required amount at the end of the voyage, along with other onboard expenses.
Many small and luxury cruise lines, however, have included these fees in their base fares. So, Celebrity Cruises recently got rid of official tips, as did Azamara, Ponant, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea Cruises and Virgin Voyages.
Royal Caribbean has advised its passengers that customers booking a cruise through the end of this year and beyond can lock in their current lower tip rates by paying up to September 7th.