When Royal Caribbean International raised its gratuities on Nov. 1, it was the second time within a year that Royal increased the rate.
The bump was marginal this time -- 50 cents per person, per day -- compared to the $2 hike late last year.
Royal Caribbean isn't the only cruise line ratcheting up daily gratuities in 2024. Princess instituted a $1 increase in August, and Holland America Line in February upped its daily rate by $1.50 for suite guests and $1 for all other guests.
Automatic tipping charges have long been standard on most contemporary and premium ships, with most brands charging a set daily gratuity per person. That fee that can be prepaid or added to bills at the end of a cruise. Upscale lines often fold gratuities into their all-inclusive fare packages or promotions.
Royal Caribbean's daily gratuity rate is now $21 per suite guest and $18.50 for all other guests. Princess' daily charge is $19 for suites; $18 for mini-suites, cabanas and Reserve Collection staterooms; and $17 for all other cabins. Holland America Line's daily rate is $19 for suite guests and $17 for guests in all other categories. All three line lines also charge automatic gratuity of 18% to 20% on purchases of bar drinks, specialty dining and spa and salon services.
Cruise guests like the gratuities bundled
Cruise clients haven't pushed back against the automatic gratuities, said Teresa Tennant, senior vice president of Seattle-based Cruise Specialists. She pointed out that guests have the ability to remove or revise their gratuity amount while onboard.
"You only have the occasional grumpy person that would adjust their bill," she said. "I don't know if that happens on a regular basis. Maybe it does, but it's not something we hear about."
Tennant said she sees the most action around gratuities when cruise lines announce they are going to raise rates, which spurs her booked clients to scramble to prepay gratuities before higher rates kick in.
Katina Athanasiou, senior vice president of sales at Celebrity Cruises, said that not only do guests show gratitude to the crew through the automatic gratuities, but they also often give additional cash and personal gifts from home.
"There's so many meaningful connections that happen between guests and crew onboard, and that's one of the really, really coolest things," she said, adding that "the staff and the crew are the heartbeat of the ship. This is the reason that guests come back."
As more cruise lines in recent years have offered bundled fares, gratuities are often among the inclusions.
Julie Howard, vice president of cruise partnerships at Signature Travel Network, said clients are fans of that trend toward bundled gratuities.
"It gives guests peace of mind knowing that their tips are taken care of, acknowledging the hard work and hospitality of the crew who often go above and beyond to enhance their cruise vacation," she said.
One of the most recent lines to start offering bundled tips was Oceania Cruises, which decided in September to replace alcoholic beverages with gratuities as an included amenity.
"We don't have a lot of big drinkers onboard, so we decided to include something that everybody values, and that is prepaid gratuities," said Scott Kluesner, Oceania's vice president of strategic accounts.
'Tipflation' in everyday life
The increases come as Americans experience what some have cheekily coined "tipflation" or "guilt tipping" on their everyday purchases. Preset tipping screens now exist at businesses where tipping was not previously expected.
Those screens, also used at restaurants and coffee shops, offer suggested tipping amounts that sometimes start as high as 20%.
By comparison, the average tipping rate in 2019 was 17% among users of Toast, a point-of-sale platform used in restaurants, bars and cafes throughout the U.S., according to the New York Times.
A Pew Research Center survey from late 2023 found that 72% of Americans contend they are being asked to tip service workers in their everyday lives more frequently than they had been five years ago, and an equal number oppose automatic service charges or tips on their bills at restaurants, coffee shops, bars and ride-sharing services.