tipping carnival cruise

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Carnival Gratuities (Tips): Full Guide to Cost & How They Work

For first-time Carnival cruisers, gratuity fees — also known as service gratuities by the cruise line —  can come as a surprise when a passenger sets sail.

While not included in the headline price of a cruise, these charges are every bit a cost of your vacation, just like paying for the actual cabin. And since they are an extra charge that many people don’t expect, that leads to questions about exactly what gratuities are on a cruise and how they work.

If you’re surprised by the tips being charged by your cruise line, know that it is normal in cruising. All of the large cruise lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian, among many others) add a daily fee for gratuities that’s then provided to the shipboard staff.

To help you avoid sticker shock, and to help you understand exactly how these charges work on Carnival, we’ve provided answers below to the basic questions we’ve heard from many cruisers planning their voyage.

In This Article...

How much are gratuities on Carnival?

Carnival currently charges guests $16.00 per person, per day for most rooms. This includes interior, oceanview and balcony cabins. Staying in a suite? You’ll pay a little more each day. Suite guests pay $18.00 per person, per day.

To give you an example of how the charges work, a couple staying in a balcony cabin for a week would be charged $32 each day ($16.00 x 2) for seven days, for a total of $224. If you want to see how much tips will be on your cruise, you can use our free gratuity calculator here .

As with most cruise lines, the gratuities on Carnival have increased in recent years. Along with the April 2023 increase, the gratuity amount was last increased in May 2022. Don’t be surprised if more increases come in the future.

Who must pay gratuities on a Carnival cruise?

If you’re taking a Carnival cruise, then you should expect to pay the gratuities. All guests except those under the age of two are charged the daily amount .

It doesn’t matter if you ask the room steward to only make up the room every other day instead of every day or if you never eat in the main dining rooms. If you’re on the ship and two years or older, you’ll pay the charge.

So for instance, if a husband and wife are sailing, then each will be charged the daily gratuity amount. If there is a family of four, then all four people are charged the daily gratuity, no matter if they are in one room or two. 

How do I pay the gratuities?

Carnival guests can prepay gratuities at the time of booking or at any time up to their sail date. This way you don’t have to worry about having an extra charge once you cruise and you can better know your budget.

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. The amount is then charged to the payment method on file for the account at the end of the trip.

(Note: We usually suggest opting to prepay. When you do this, you are protected against future gratuity increases as you’ll be grandfathered in under the current rates.)

Can I change the amount charged?

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.

That said, we completely understand there may be times where you aren’t satisfied with the service provided.

Carnival’s website explains that guests who have not prepaid their gratuities can contact the Guest Services desk while on board. Gratuities may be adjusted while on board. Gratuity charges cannot be changed after a guest disembarks.

Can I tip more if I want?

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.

By tipping with cash, the money goes directly to the crew member you want to recognize instead of being pooled.

What staff is covered by gratuities?

The staff members that receive your gratuities cover a variety of positions. Your cabin attendant — who provides a great deal of personal service, including making up your room each day – receives a portion, but they are far from the only person to benefit from your generosity.

In addition, your tips go to the dining and culinary staff. This includes both the staff in the main dining room and other eateries on the ship. For instance, when you eat in the buffet you’ll see staff working to clear dishes and bring you anything you might need. A portion of your automatic tips go to staff like this and others behind the scenes.

Another portion goes to other staff that Carnival says “work behind the scenes to enhance your overall cruise experience.”

Does the automatic service gratuity cover everything on the ship? Are there other places to tip?

Despite paying hundreds of dollars in tips on a cruise, you might be surprised that there are other places where you will see gratuity charges or are expected to tip. 

In the case of shipboard personnel like bartenders and spa workers, you’ll find a service charge tacked on to whatever you purchase. On Carnival, this is 18%. So if you buy a $10 cocktail, the actual price you pay will be $11.80. Likewise, a $109 spa massage would be $128.62.

Buy the drink package or eat at a specialty restaurant? They also have an 18% gratuity tacked onto the price. 

Room service staff who deliver your meal or snack to your stateroom do not earn a gratuity automatically. It’s customary to give them cash between $2-5 when they bring the food.

Finally, people who provide you with service on land — such as baggage handlers and shore excursion operators — are not affiliated with the cruise line, so should be tipped separately.

Can I adjust the 18% that’s automatically applied to services and drinks?

While you can adjust the automatic gratuities charged each day, there is no way to change the automatic 18% charge on things like drinks. If there was a legit reason to pay less, you could take it up with Guest Services, but wanting to pay 15% instead of 18% — simply because you think that’s more reasonable – can’t really happen. The charge occurs automatically on your bill without any input from the customer.

What else should I know about Carnival’s gratuities?

One thing to be aware of is the potential for double tips on your bills. Say you’re getting a drink at the bar. You’ll be charged the drink price plus the 18% gratuity.

When you get the receipt to sign, you’ll see all of this spelled out clearly, but you’ll also see a line to write in an additional tip. Write in an additional tip if you want, but don’t feel obligated. You’ve already paid 18% on the drink.

In addition, if you’re wondering how much you’ll pay for gratuities based on the duration of your cruise, type of cabin, and how many people you’ll be traveling with, you can use Cruzely’s gratuity calculator to get an idea before you book.

Have more questions about Carnival’s gratuities? Let us know in the comments below.

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If you use the open seating dinner options or the buffett options for food, will the daily auto gratuity cover that? Or will there be an aditional gratuity charge for these?

Your daily gratuity covers that.

Also, if we utilize the cheers drinking program will that cover all gratuity on every drink we get with it? Or will each drink have an additional gratuity added on the end bill.

Thank you for your advice and expertise.

Yep, you’re covered. Buy the package and you just go to the bar, order what you want, and everything is taken care of. No additional gratuities on the drinks you get.

So when I go to get pizza or a grab and go is there also gratuity added to that?

Not unless there is a charge for the item. Pizza on Carnival is free, so no gratuity required. Your daily gratuity charge covers the staff here.

If I’m traveling solo, I only get charged for one person as a tip charge, right?

Also, does the last day when leaving by 8am count as a day of tip charging?

Yes, you’re charged as only one person. The last day isn’t included in the daily gratuity charge.

How much of the 18% charged for a drink or spa actually goes to the crew number?

Not sure of the behind the scenes process.

The Old Tip Scam, because Cruise Lines mostly recruit in 2nd and 3rd world countries and won’t pay these workers right, they pawn it off on the passengers to make up for the lack of pay. The way this article is written it’s either by one of the cruise lines or by a minions. Very misleading, makes it sound like you have to pay, never a mention that you can take the gratuity’s off. We have cruised many many times (Carnival) and we always take them off but we tip very generously in person.

Carnival has done away with so many extras over the many years but they keep increasing everything. If you buy the drink package and pay the full gratuity. You can buy another cruise. Tipping for 3 yrs old and older is ridiculous. I’ve been on 25 carnival cruises, it’s not like it use to be. I have asked several room attendant and all say they rather have cash. I personally don’t trust the cruise lines to give them full tip.

I simply have the charges removed and give cash. See, because Carnival was sued years back for dipping into the workers tip money .So I rather directly place it daily or at the end to the staff that assist me. However on drinks , foods like cookies , cheesecake etc have a automatic tip and I can choose to do extra if they help me more. Since the workers won the lawsuit I think carnival and maybe other cruise lines have changed there way. Plus crew appreciates the cash tips causeike in Baltimore Port they go to the Walmart very near by.

Can I do my own tipping instead of using the automatic payment

Yes, that’s allowed. You’ll want to go down to Guest Services to explain. However, keep in mind that A LOT of people offer service during the cruise that are covered by the automatic gratuity, including many that you don’t even realize.

I have been on many Carnival cruises. There was a time when the cabin Steward made up your bed and turn it down for the night. Now that worth the gratitude. Now they only make up the bed once a day, however the gratitude has increased and increasing again. The services has diminished but the gratuities has increase.

I have been on many carnival cruises I always remove the gratuity on day 2 m reason is the staff should be paid a fair wage if there not then why not? Saying that I ALWAYS tip my bar servers my food servers and especially the cabin person as all those people do a outstanding job for me. Maybe they should increase the price of the cruise and pay staff better

If you are on the Ncl Package and having cocktail in the casino served by the staff and not the bartender are the gratuities included there? I guess what I’m asking is are they included in the tip pool? #2- On Carnival if you get the drink package for free or comped specialty dinning does the casino cover the gratuities? I have only been on one Carnival cruise and I was told conflicting things by both guest and staff. Thank you Rich

If you have the drink package, then the drinks/gratuities served by staff should be covered by the package. How NCL exactly divvies up the tips isn’t clear, but if the drink is included with the package, then you can assume the server is covered as well.

Not sure about the comped drink package on Carnival. Haven’t been fortunate enough to experience that!

First time cruising, I am prepaying for gratitudes will I still be charge the gratitudes if I purchase the cheer packet? Thanks

Yes, the gratuity on the package (which is only charged to those who buy the drink package) is separate from the daily gratuity charge (which is charged to everyone).

Yes when you buy the package it shows on the bottom that they automatically charge it.

Can I have the automatic gratuity removed as soon as I get on board and tip on my own? How do I prepay the gratuity?

You prepay when you book the trip. There is an option to select. You can also just call the cruise line to prepay. When boarding, you can have it removed by visiting Guest Services.

well this mandatory tip is BS. you should expect a tip if you provided great service. if you make it mandatory then there’s no incentive for a great service. guess I won’t be going on my 1st ever cruise after all.

Did you read the article… if you are not happy with your service you can have the tips changed. The service is always great though, and we always tip or cabin steward extra cash cause they work their butts off.

What if I don’t want to pay any gratuity? Can I do that or will I be automatically charged

You can go down and talk to Guest Services, however, it’s not a good idea unless there is something really wrong with the service. Crew members depend on gratuity.

We always tip an extra $1 per drink because if you do the math, 51.95 plus 18% is only $9.35 per day in tips. The proper tip is only included if you order 5 mix drinks or 7 beers on the package. Order more than that and it’s like no tip on the additional drinks. Also that 18% is shared. If you want to compensate a good bartender or server an extra buck per one or two drinks goes a long way. Because we do the extra tip our bartenders and servers go out of their way to take care of us. Please understand most of the ships only pay the stewards, waiters and bartenders $60 a month plus room and board so 95% of their pay comes from gratuities. They get a cabin they share and food and beverage. If they want bottle water, pop or alcohol in their crew dining area or crew bar they have to pay for it. They also only get paid once a month so we bring us dollars to tip them too. It’s like our bartenders and servers at home. Our servers in Indiana only make a $2.25 per hour tipped wage and make all their money on tips.

Great advice Kathy B – thank you.

I will stop by Wells Fargo on my way after work and get some extra singles for my cruise tomorrow on Sunrise.

– Rob S, Miami

If I add an extra tip on the receipt (after the 18% gratuity) – will it go directly to that server, or will it be split amongst the crew? Just wondering if I can tip that way, or if better to carry cash for that. (which I’d like to not do if feasible – but I do want to tip extra for drinks)

Will I be charged more if I get a drink served to me by the poor versus going to the bar and getting it myself?

By the pool

No. It’s not a far walk!

I am curious about the drink package. When I purchase it, it has a gratuity included right away. Does this mean I dont add any tips while getting my drinks? And does that make me appear cheap?

Right, so you’ll pay about $55 per day for the drink package, and an 18% gratuity. So you’ll actually pay about $65 per day in total. Then, when it’s time to get your drink, there isn’t gratuity added at the bar. You won’t be considered “cheap.” You’ve simply paid the gratuity earlier!

Are gratuity’s charged per person or charged only to the person on the cabin registration

They are per person, charged to the cabin account. So if you are a couple traveling, you will see double the amount of gratuity charge to your onboard account each day.

we are 3 to a room.. 2 of us want to prepay gratuities. How do we do this?

As far as we know, paying is “all or nothing.” You’ll either all prepay or all wait until you are on the ship to have them applied.

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Carnival Cruise Tips /Gratuities

CCL-Carnival Cruise Line's gratuities and tipping policy - do you have to and to whom you give your tips. Prepaid gratuities - when and how you can change the number of tips, what goes where and who gets what from the automatic tipping charge. This page is interlinked with our Carnival cruises prices hub. You can compare CCL's "tipping numbers" with those of the main competitor - Royal Caribbean (gratuities/tipping policy) .

Carnival cruise tips - the tipping policy

Tips are charged Per Person Per Day.

• USD 12,95 13,99 14,50 pp (standard staterooms - interior, oceanview, balcony, both adults and kids)
• USD 13,95   15,99 16,50 pp (suites). Suite perks (in addition to priority embarkation/debarkation in all ports, confirmed main dining room preference) also receive priority tender service, free in-cabin bottled water, 1 complimentary bag of laundry (per cruise), enhanced turndown service.
• Carnival cruise gratuities for children - tips don't apply to kids less than two years of age.
• On Carnival cruise ships departing from Australian ports tipping is not compulsory, 
• On Carnival  Cruise-To-Nowhere , the amount of gratuities PP per day is USD  12,95 13,99.
• For Carnival Barbados deals (any  Carnival cruise itinerary  visiting Barbados), all gratuities will be prepaid and added during booking.
• Room Service staff tipping is not compulsory.
• Daily gratuity is an automatic service charge added to the passenger's onboard account each day.
• Passengers can prepay gratuities.
• The amount of gratuities is split between the ship's staff (dining, housekeeping, cabin stewards).

NOTE: Since May 1, 2022, Carnival's onboard gratuity rate is increased. From that date forward, passengers staying in standard staterooms are charged US$14.50 per person/per day, while those in suite accommodations pay daily US$16.50 per person.

Carnival cruise prepaid gratuities - how, to whom, where

Carnival Cruise Lines Service Tips (gratuities) are automatically charged to the guest's onboard "Sail & Sign" (S&S) account. Follows the breakdown of the tips on Carnival cruises (in USD, per day, per person):

• Housekeeping staff - USD 4,05  (standard cabins) USD 5,05 (suites)
• Dining/wait staff - USD 6,40
• Alternative Services (kitchen, entertainment, passenger services, other hotel staff members) - USD 2,50
• For drinks purchases, an automatic 15%  18% gratuity is added to the bill. Charges are applied directly to the onboard account. An automatic 15% 18% gratuity is added to the "Chef’s Table" (dining package) cover charge and applied directly to the onboard account.
• NOTE: Carnival Cruise Line passengers now have to pay an 18% gratuity on alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks, even those who buy the company's CHEERS! beverage package. The cruise line increased the gratuity by 3% overnight on November 27, 2018. Previously, the drink gratuity price was 15%. A change to Carnival Cruise Line’s website gratuity section already states that for beverage purchases, automatic 18% gratuity is added to the bill. In the case of individual purchases, it is simply added to the price charged to the guest's Sail & Sign account. When buying a beverage package, the gratuity is automatically factored into the overall price. The change in gratuity also applies to the Bottomless Bubbles soda package.

When purchasing alcohol and soda drinks on board, 15%  18% of your bill will be automatically added to the S&S charge. You are free to tip the Room Service staff if you wish so. Your specialty restaurant dinner price (the cost of the Carnival Steakhouse dinner is currently around $35) is inclusive of gratuities, but everyone is more than welcome to add more.

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.

You should know, that the Carnival service staff on board don't make a salary (their salary per month is around USD 100). This means your gratuities are their salaries. On cruise ships "tipping" doesn't mean "something extra" - it means "salary".

The following table shows the total amount of gratuities (per person) based on itinerary duration:

Carnival cruise tipping tips

• According to the Carnival cruise tipping policy, if you prefer to tip the staff personally, you can go to the guest service desk and ask to have tips removed from your S&S (Sail&Sign) card - they will ask you why and you'll tell them you prefer to tip cash, or you could also just leave the tips to them and tell them who you want to get how much. But know that if you do so, you will be shortchanging a few people - those are the staff who you'll never see behind the scenes areas that will not get their share of your tip.
• If you have a service problem, speak first with your cabin steward, then (if the problem remains) with the hotel manager, and if the problem still remains - then adjust the gratuities.
• (optional) You may also tip in cash your waiter - bar server - room steward if you're satisfied with his/her service.
• You can pay your fixed gratuities in advance (on booking), otherwise, you'll be billed on your S&S card on your first embarkation day.
• (optional) additional cash tips
• Tipping porters (staff members that bring the bags to your cabin) - the standard tip is $2 per bag or $5 for 2-3 bags.
• optional (but highly recommended) is to give $5 per day per child at Camp Carnival.

If you want to show the staff that you appreciate their hard work, you can always pay in cash some extra tips (usually at the end of your sailing, but you can tip them also on a daily basis). The list of staff you can tip directly includes cabin stewards and MDR waiters (during the trip), bar servers and room-service delivery (as you use their services), and a proper tip would be $10 to 20 each. As a "playing safe" policy, some guests tip cabin stewards & MDR waiters the first and the last night of the voyage.

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• Carnival Cruise Tipping Policy: A Complete Guide for Passengers

Tipping is an integral part of the cruising experience, and understanding the Carnival Cruise tipping policy can help passengers navigate this aspect with ease. As a passenger, it is essential to be well-informed about the guidelines and recommendations to ensure you can show appreciation to the staff for their exceptional service while onboard.

To provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the Carnival Cruise tipping policy, we have compiled a complete guide that covers all the essential information you need to know. From who to tip and how much to guidelines for specific services, this guide aims to assist passengers in making informed decisions when it comes to gratuities.

Here’s a quick overview of the key points covered in this guide:

By following this complete guide, you can ensure that your tipping experience on a Carnival Cruise is both appropriate and satisfactory for all parties involved. Remember, gratuities are a way to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the staff who strive to make your cruise experience unforgettable.

For more detailed information and specific guidelines, continue reading the sections below.

Sources: – [Carnival Cruise Line – Gratuities](https://www.carnival.com/help/2136) – [Cruise Critic – Tipping on a Cruise](https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?

How much do you tip a 7 day cruise waiter?

Tipping is an important aspect of the Carnival Cruise experience, as it ensures exceptional service and shows appreciation to the hardworking staff. According to Carnival Cruise Line’s tipping policy, passengers are recommended to tip their waiter around $6.10 to $9.15 per day, per person, based on the traditional dining service. For a 7-day cruise, this amounts to approximately $42.70 to $64.05 per person. It is important to note that this recommended amount can be adjusted according to your satisfaction with the service provided. To learn more about Carnival Cruise tipping policies and guidelines, you can visit the official Carnival Cruise Line website at [insert URL].

What happens if you can’t pay gratuities on Carnival Cruise?

If you find yourself unable to pay gratuities on your Carnival Cruise, it’s important to understand the potential consequences. According to Carnival Cruise Tipping Policy: A Complete Guide for Passengers, gratuities are a customary way to show appreciation to the hardworking staff who make your cruise experience exceptional. In the event that you can’t afford to pay gratuities, it is recommended to communicate with the Guest Services desk as soon as possible. They may be able to assist you by offering alternative solutions or adjusting the gratuity amount. It’s crucial to be proactive and transparent about your situation to ensure a smooth sailing experience for both you and the dedicated crew members. For further information, please refer to this comprehensive guide on Carnival Cruise Tipping Policy: [insert link to the reliable source].

How much should I tip each person on a cruise?

When it comes to tipping on a Carnival Cruise, it’s important to follow the recommended guidelines to ensure fair compensation for the hardworking staff. For stateroom attendants, dining room waitstaff, and bar servers, Carnival suggests tipping $4.50, $6.00, and $1.50 per day, respectively. Additionally, a 15% gratuity is automatically added to all beverage purchases. It’s worth noting that while these amounts are recommended, they can be adjusted based on the level of service received. To learn more about Carnival Cruise’s tipping policy and to plan your tipping strategy accordingly, visit their official website.

How much should I tip my cabin steward on a cruise?

When it comes to tipping your cabin steward on a Carnival cruise, it’s important to follow the recommended guidelines to ensure fair compensation for their exceptional service. Carnival suggests a standard gratuity of $4.50 per person, per day for the cabin steward, which can be adjusted based on your satisfaction level. This amount is in line with industry standards and reflects the hard work and dedication of these crew members who go above and beyond to make your cruise experience memorable. Remember, tipping is not mandatory, but it is greatly appreciated by the staff. To learn more about Carnival Cruise’s tipping policy and guidelines, you can refer to their official website: https://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/legal-notice/tipping.

Carnival cruise gratuities 2023

Carnival Cruise Line has a comprehensive tipping policy for 2023 that ensures exceptional service is rewarded while simplifying the process for passengers. The suggested gratuity amounts per person, per day, are $13.99 for standard staterooms, $15.99 for suites, and $17.99 for guests in Havana staterooms. These tips cover the hard work of the dining staff, cabin stewards, and other service team members who go above and beyond to make your cruise experience unforgettable. To make things even more convenient, Carnival offers the option to prepay gratuities before your trip or have them automatically added to your onboard account. Remember, while tipping is discretionary, it is customary to acknowledge the excellent service provided. For more details on Carnival Cruise tipping policy and how it contributes to the overall cruise experience, visit the official Carnival Cruise Line website: https://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/legal-notice/tipping-guidelines.

In summary, the Carnival Cruise tipping policy is a crucial aspect of any passenger’s experience on board. It is important to understand the guidelines and recommendations in order to ensure that both the crew members and passengers have a positive and rewarding journey.

As we have discussed throughout this comprehensive guide, tipping on a Carnival Cruise is not only customary but also a way to show appreciation for the excellent service provided by the hardworking crew members. While tips are not mandatory, they are highly encouraged, as they help to supplement the salaries of the crew members who rely on gratuities as a significant part of their income.

It is essential to familiarize yourself with the different tipping guidelines for specific staff members on board. From the cabin stewards to the dining room staff, each crew member plays a vital role in ensuring a memorable experience for passengers. By tipping according to the recommended guidelines, you can express your gratitude for their outstanding service.

Remember that tipping is not limited to the crew members who directly interact with you. Behind the scenes, there are numerous individuals working tirelessly to maintain the ship’s operations and amenities. These individuals, such as the galley staff and the laundry team, often go unnoticed but contribute significantly to the overall cruise experience. It is recommended to include them in your tipping considerations as well.

While the recommended tipping amounts provided by Carnival Cruise Lines serve as a useful guideline, it is always important to consider the quality of service you have received. If a crew member has gone above and beyond to ensure your satisfaction, it is appropriate to show your appreciation by offering a higher gratuity.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that some Carnival Cruise itineraries automatically add gratuities to your onboard account. This method, known as automatic gratuities, simplifies the tipping process for passengers. However, if you prefer to have more control over the distribution of your gratuities, you have the option to modify or remove automatic gratuities by contacting the Guest Services desk.

Lastly, it is essential to plan and budget for tipping in advance. Allocating a specific amount for gratuities in your overall cruise budget will ensure that you can express your appreciation without any financial stress. Remember that tipping is a customary practice on cruises, and it is always better to be prepared.

In conclusion, understanding the Carnival Cruise tipping policy is crucial for passengers who want to ensure that their cruise experience is enjoyable for both themselves and the hardworking crew members. By following the recommended tipping guidelines, showing appreciation for exceptional service, and budgeting accordingly, passengers can contribute to a positive and rewarding environment on board.

For more information on Carnival Cruise tipping policy and guidelines, you can visit the official Carnival Cruise Line website [1]. Additionally, Cruise Critic [2] provides valuable insights and tips from experienced cruisers. These trusted sources will assist you in further understanding the nuances of Carnival Cruise tipping and help you make informed decisions.

Remember, your gratuities have the power to make a significant impact on the lives of the crew members who work tirelessly to ensure your cruise experience is exceptional. By tipping generously and thoughtfully, you become an integral part of their journey, as well.

[1] https://www.carnival.com/help [2] https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?

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The Ultimate Cruise Tipping Guide

Welcome to the Ultimate Cruise Tipping Guide, where we answer all your questions about cruise gratuities. Are you curious about a particular cruise line's tipping policy -- how much you'll pay and whether tips are automatically added to your onboard account? Do you want to brush up on your tipping etiquette, learning when it's appropriate to reward a particular crew member who's gone above and beyond for you? Or perhaps you've been underwhelmed by the service and need to find the least awkward way of reducing your tip from the standard amount.

From information on gratuities added to spa and bar bills to the crew members you should never tip, here's everything you need to know about tipping on a cruise in one handy guide.

Cruise Line Tipping Policies

Big-Ship Lines

Luxury Lines

Soft-Adventure Lines

River and Barge Lines

A Closer Look at Cruise Gratuities

Tipping on a Non-Tipping Cruise Ship

Do you feel guilty about not offering gratuities on an all-inclusive cruise ship? Here’s how to think about tipping on a non-tipping ship.

What to Expect on a Cruise: Tipping Crew Members on a Cruise

Leave the cash and credit card in your wallet. Learn the ropes of cruise tipping with these FAQs.

An Insider's Guide to Cruise Tipping

Our experts weigh in on how, when and whom you should tip with our handy insider's guide.

7 Times You Shouldn't Tip on a Cruise

You might be surprised to learn a gratuity isn't always necessary. Here are seven times you shouldn't tip (even if you feel slightly obliged).

The Truth About Gratuities

Tipping versus not tipping… where do you draw the line? We break down situations when passengers might or might not remove automatic gratuities.

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Tipping on a Cruise Ship: What You Need to Know About Cruise Gratuities

By: Author Carrie Ann Karstunen

Posted on Published: July 26, 2021  - Last updated: June 3, 2022

If you’re new to cruising, or it’s been a while since your last cruise, it’s important to know about cruise tipping guidelines before you sail. Tipping on a cruise ship isn’t mandatory, but it is customary, and many crew members rely on tips as a large part of their income.

I’ll explain everything you need to know about cruise gratuities—from who you should tip, how much you should tip, and who you should never tip on a cruise ship.

Why is tipping on a cruise even a thing?

The practice of tipping is controversial, even in the United States where paying tips is part of the culture. In some service industries where wages are substandard, customers are expected to pay a gratuity, typically 15 to 20% of the bill, to augment the workers’ low hourly wages.

Tipping is supposed to encourage excellent customer service from workers, because (in theory at least) customers will tip generously for friendly, prompt service.

Most mainstream cruise lines have their headquarters in the US. So they follow this model with many of their crew members who perform services for passengers. Tipped crew on many cruise lines include housekeeping, dining, and laundry workers.

Cruise lines pay these workers very low wages for the long hours that they work each day, and expect that passengers will tip to increase the crew members’ earnings to a reasonable rate.

So why don’t cruise lines just increase the price of fares, and pay their crew a living wage with a decent hourly rate?

Cruise lines typically flag their ships in countries with lax employment laws. They pay their crew (usually recruited from countries with limited economic opportunities) per contract, not by the hour.

If mainstream cruise lines decided to abolish tipping and pay all crew members a reasonable rate per hour, they would have to significantly raise the cost of cruise fares.

Many luxury all-inclusive cruise lines include gratuities in their cruise fares, or have a “tips neither expected nor required” policy. But the sticker price of their fares tends to scare off many budget-minded travelers. However, you might end up paying a similar total price on a mainstream line when you factor in gratuities, drink packages, shore excursions, and the like.

For many cruises that operate in the Australian market where tipping isn’t part of the culture, automatic gratuities aren’t added on to passenger bills. Instead, passengers can tip—or not—at their own discretion.

What are automatic gratuities?

Automatic gratuities, also called autogratuities or autograts, is the cruise term for the system most cruise lines now use to simplify tipping for passengers. Some cruise lines refer to these tips as a “service charge”.

Until fairly recently, cruise passengers customarily tipped only in cash, in person. Cruisers would have to tip each of their service personnel (the cabin steward, restaurant servers, bartenders, etc.) separately, near the end of the cruise.

Now, with automatic gratuities, the process is much simpler and you don’t need to carry all that cash. The cruise line assesses a daily fee and divides the money among the tipped crew.

With the autograt system, many crew members who rarely received tips before now get a share—like the laundry or kitchen staff on some cruise lines.

On the flip side, passengers have less control over where their money goes with autogratuities. You can’t choose how much each crew member gets.

You may also like: A Cruise Glossary: Cruise Terms You Should Know

How much are automatic gratuities on a cruise?

Most mainstream cruise lines will charge you about $14 to $15 per person per day for automatic gratuities. Each passenger is charged for these tips, including kids. However, a few lines don’t add autogratuities for babies and toddlers under age two or three.

Here are some daily automatic gratuity costs for several popular ocean cruise lines in USD (prices accurate as of summer 2021):

• Carnival:  $13.99 per person, per day ($15.99 for suite guests). Gratuities waived for kids under 2.
• Celebrity: now includes gratuities in the fare. (guests who booked prior to November 17, 2020 will pay $15.50 per person, per day ($16.00 for Concierge Class and AquaClass guests, and $19.00 for The Retreat).
• Disney: $40.50 per person for 3-day cruises. $54.00 per person for 4-day cruises. $94.50 per person for 7-day cruises. (This equates to $13.50 per person, per day)
• Holland America:  $14.50 per person, per day ($16.00 for suite guests).
• MSC Cruises:  $12.50 per person, per day. Kids 2-11 pay $6.25 per day. Gratuities waived for kids under 2.
• Norwegian: $15.50 per person, per day ($18.50 for guests in suites, Concierge, and The Haven). Gratuities waived for kids under 3.
• Princess: $14.50 per person, per day ($15.50 for mini-suite guests and $16.50 for suite guests).
• Royal Caribbean: $14.50 per person, per day ($17.50 for guests in grand suites and above).
• Viking Ocean: $15.00 per person, per day
• Virgin Voyages: includes gratuities in the fare.

Should you prepay automatic gratuities?

Unlike with the deals you can get for prepaying for drink packages and some other add-ons, you won’t get a discount for prepaying your automatic gratuities. But many cruisers (including myself) choose to prepay to avoid a big charge at the end of the cruise.

I like knowing that my bill is all set before I sail! The only charges that should appear on my final tab are any extras I decided to add on during the voyage.

But if you don’t want to prepay, that’s fine too. The cruise line will assess your fee each day, then they’ll charge your credit card on file at the end of the cruise.

Can you remove or adjust autogratuities on a cruise?

On most cruise lines that collect automatic gratuities, you’re able to remove or adjust the charges by visiting the passenger services desk. One notable exception is Norwegian Cruise Line . On NCL, passengers who don’t want to pay autograts need to file a claim for reimbursement after the cruise.

For other cruise lines, you’ll be able to adjust your autogratuities at the Passenger Services desk. You can raise them, lower them, or remove them altogether.

What you can’t do is adjust or remove automatic gratuities for a specific crew member.

You may also like: 26 Hidden Cruise Fees You Should Know About

Why you shouldn’t remove autogratuities

Most cruisers wouldn’t dream of removing the automatic gratuities. It’s a part of our cruise vacation cost and helps the hardworking crew make a living. Tipped crew make the majority of their income from gratuities!

But let’s say you have a negative experience with your server in the dining room, or you feel that the cabin steward isn’t doing their job. You might want to remove their tips as a punishment for poor service.

Since you can’t remove the automatic tips for just that one crew member, removing or lowering your automatic gratuities hurts all the tipped employees. A better solution is to have a discreet word with the crew member’s supervisor about your concerns. You’ll likely get much better service by doing that instead of just removing the tip!

Other cruisers, often people who remember cruising before autogratuities, prefer tipping crew in cash. They might feel that it gives them more control over tipping, rewarding the crew based on their level of service. Others just prefer the face-to-face experience of handing over a cash tip.

However, cruisers don’t always see all of the crew who work behind the scenes for them, like the kitchen and laundry workers. Often, these crew members are part of the tip pool, and they lose part of their expected income each time a passenger removes autogratuities.

If you enjoy tipping in cash, consider giving an extra cash tip to the crew members who gave you excellent service on your cruise.

Who else should you tip on a cruise ship?

Automatic gratuities cover just about every tipped crew member on the ship. There are a couple of exceptions, though. If you order room service, it’s customary to give the person that delivers your tray about $1-2 per meal.

If your kids had a great time at the kids’ club on board, giving a tip at the end of the cruise to their favorite staff members is always appreciated.

It’s also a nice gesture to tip the maître d’ or head waiter in the main dining room, especially if they were helpful with special menus or seating arrangements.

Do you need to tip for drinks, meals, or snacks on a cruise?

Cruise lines usually add a service charge, usually 15-18%, to all beverages that aren’t complimentary. If you don’t have a drink package, they’ll add the price of each drink plus the service fee to your onboard tab. There’s no need to add an extra tip for each drink.

With a beverage package, you’ve already paid the service fee when you bought the package, so the tip is included.

In the main dining room, buffet, specialty restaurants, and other dining venues, your tip is included in the automatic gratuities.

Some cruise lines employ a sommelier or wine steward in the main dining rooms, who isn’t included in the tipping pool. $10-20 at the end of the cruise is a nice gratuity for their service.

In for-a-fee specialty dining restaurants, you might see a spot on your bill (if you get one) to add a tip. Tips are either covered by the autogratuities or there’s a service fee tacked on, so you don’t need to tip again. You can always add extra for exceptional service, though! Just remember that a cash tip goes to your server, and a charged tip gets added to the tip pool.

If you have a special in-room dining experience, like Ultimate Balcony Dining on Princess (which I highly recommend, by the way), it’s a nice gesture to add an extra cash tip for the servers who brought your meals up and made your dinner a special experience.

Do you need to tip at the spa on a cruise?

Some cruise ship spas, like those on NCL and Royal Caribbean, add on a service fee or gratuity, usually about 18%. Check your bill after your services to see if your tip is already included. If not, 15-20% of the bill (excluding any products that you buy) is customary.

Should you tip extra on a cruise? How much?

Many cruisers opt to give extra cash tips to crew members who made their vacation that much more enjoyable. You might want to reward your cabin steward, favorite bartender or MDR server, or any other crew member you think did a great job.

The amount you tip is up to you—I generally give about $5 per person per day to my stateroom steward. For favorite bartenders or waitstaff, I give about $20 to each for a seven-day cruise.

Some cruisers swear by tipping at the beginning of the cruise to ensure excellent service. That’s up to you! I prefer waiting to see how the service is before deciding on an extra tip, but that’s just my preference.

You can just hand over folded cash, or use the tip envelopes you’ll find in your stateroom or at Passenger Services. It’s a good idea to hand over your tips the day before disembarkation. On disembarkation day, you probably won’t find your fave crew members in their usual spots!

What currency should you use to tip on a cruise?

When you’re tipping in cash on a cruise, it’s always best to use the official currency on the ship. Giving service staff tips in a currency they can’t easily use means they’ll have to pay a fee to change your cash tip into another currency.

Most cruise ships have ATMs, and some have currency exchanges on board. Or you can plan ahead and take enough cash in the correct currency to cover any tips you might want to pay.

Tip: Want to avoid paying hefty ATM fees on the cruise ship to get cash for tips? Some cruise lines allow you to use your cruise card to deposit money in the casino. Then you can take your deposit out in cash at the casino cashier.

Who should you never tip on a cruise?

When you’re on a cruise, you shouldn’t tip the captain or the officers. These cruise line employees are highly compensated, and offering a tip isn’t necessary. Even if you try, they’ll likely graciously turn down your offer.

You also shouldn’t tip the cruise director, the entertainment staff, or any independent entertainers like musical guests, comedians, or magicians. One exception is the piano player in the lounge—most accept tips for song requests or if you enjoyed their music.

What else can you do to show the crew your appreciation?

If there’s a crew member who goes above and beyond for you, there are some other ways to show your appreciation. Beyond leaving a cash tip for your cabin steward, or favorite server or bartender, some other small gestures will go a long way.

Near the end of your cruise, you’ll probably receive some comment cards in your stateroom that you can use to leave feedback about a member of the crew. You don’t need to write a novel—just a few sentences about how the crew member made your cruise even better will do.

These feedback cards mean a lot and sometimes lead to a stellar crew member getting a raise or even a promotion!

If you don’t see the cards in your room, ask at the Passenger Services desk, or leave the feedback in your post-cruise survey. (You’ll often see a survey pop up in your email inbox a few days after your cruise.)

You can also leave a small gift for your favorite crew member. Just remember that cruise ship crew live in very tight quarters, without much room for personal belongings. So something edible (maybe a favorite candy or snack from your home region?) will be more appreciated than something they would have to store.

But honestly, they’d prefer cash over a gift basket—no matter how yummy your treats are!

Other people you should tip during your cruise

During your cruise vacation, you’ll probably receive services from other people who aren’t cruise line employees—but you might not realize it! Here are some other people you should tip during your cruise.

1. Luggage porters

On embarkation day of my very first cruise, a porter came up to my taxi and whisked my luggage away, seconds after I got out of the car. I had prepaid my gratuities, and I assumed the porter was a cruise line employee, so I didn’t tip him.

Later I learned that the porters outside of the cruise terminal are not cruise line employees at all! In North America, most cruise terminal porters are longshoremen. At some North American ports, you’ll see signs stating that the porters do not accept tips. However, most cruisers do tip them for their service.

About $1-2 (or the equivalent in local currency) per bag is fine.

You may also like: Eight Things That Will Surprise First Time Cruisers

2. Shore excursion guides and drivers

Even if you prepay for your shore excursions directly through the cruise line, it’s customary to tip your tour guides and drivers in cash after each excursion. Cruise lines just have contracts with their preferred shore excursion companies—the guides and drivers aren’t employees of the line.

Most cruisers tip anywhere from $2-$10 per person (or the equivalent in the local currency) to the tour guide, and hand a couple of dollars to the driver. You can adjust this based on the length and complexity of the tour. I’d give a much larger tip to a knowledgeable tour guide who led us on an intensive nine-hour experience compared to a guide who did a basic three-hour city walking tour.

If your shore excursion includes lunch, you generally don’t have to leave a tip—the tour company takes care of the lunch bill.

But if your excursions include free time where you eat lunch on your own, it’s a good idea to research the local tipping customs in the countries you’ll be visiting before your cruise.

You may also like: Do You Need to Bring Cash on a Cruise?

What do you think about the custom of tipping on a cruise ship? Do you tip above and beyond the automatic gratuities? Or do you remove them altogether? Let me know in the comments below!

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Alex Quenault

Tuesday 9th of August 2022

Thank you, Carrie Ann. This is an excellent article, which really clearly explains all the issues around tipping. In the UK, tips are completely discretionary and are only to reward service that goes above the normal expectations. For this reason, I have always found being expected to pay tips, on an already expensive cruise, very irritating and have sometimes had them reduced at the service desk. Your article has done a lot to change my philosophy and increase my understanding of why there is this charge and what the implications of reducing it might be.

Thursday 11th of August 2022

Hi Alex, thanks so much for your lovely comment. It really made my day! The tipping culture in North America and on cruise ships is flawed, but (as you mentioned) reducing or eliminating tips only hurts the hardworking crew and their families - and does nothing to change the system. I'm so glad you found my post! Happy cruising :)

Janet Patrick

Sunday 28th of November 2021

I ALWAYS tip extra to the outstanding employees on every cruise I have ever taken. I just arrived on board for our 6th cruise, after my 5th cruise just 2 months ago. Our Stateroom Attendant on cruise #5 was fabulous, and I showed my appreciation by leaving him (thanks Mahbob!) a $200 gratuity on top of my prepaid gratuities. I also tipped my wait staff very generously in the main dining room and specialty restaurants, as well as my drink waiters! These kind, helpful, generous, employees work extremely hard to make sure guests like myself have a fabulous time, and since I do, the very least I can do is show my appreciation in a way that benefits them the most!

Cheers to the Staff of RCCL!

~ janet RCCL Crown & Anchor Diamond Member at the end of this cruise!

Monday 29th of November 2021

Hi Janet! I'm sure the crew appreciated your extra tips - they all work so hard! Congrats on reaching Diamond :) Happy cruising!

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Do you tip your bartender after he brings you a cocktail? Generally no, because the tip is automatically added to your bill.

Complete guide to tipping on a cruise

Know about how gratuities work & whether you're already covered.

Cruiseable team

On a cruise ship

CruiseClout score: 95.0

Tips or gratuities can be one of the more confusing elements of taking a cruise, especially for first timers.

What's included and what's not? Do you have to tip for your children? How do you reward crew members who provide exemplary service? 

To help demystify how this all works, here's Cruiseable's Complete Guide to Tipping on a Cruise .

Cruise line tipping policies

• Azamara Club Cruises
• Carnival Cruise Line
• Celebrity Cruises
• Costa Cruises
• Cunard Line
• Disney Cruise Line

Holland America Line

• MSC Cruises

Norwegian Cruise Line

• Oceania Cruises
• Paul Gauguin Cruises
• Princess Cruises
• Royal Caribbean
• Star Clippers
• Windstar Cruises

Tipping basics

Your cruise bill comes in two parts:

• Your base cruise fare, which covers the cost of your stateroom, meals (except at specialty restaurants), entertainment (except for special events), etc.
• Expenses incurred on board, such as drinks, meals at alternative restaurants and, importantly, tips for the crew.  All of this is added to your shipboard account. 

First-timers are sometimes surprised to learn that gratuities are automatically added to your bill. (The only exception is on an all-inclusive cruise , where you pay up front for everything.)

• A continuing series on Cruiseable    

Gratuities are distributed to your wait staff, stateroom stewards, dining stewards, housekeeping staff and other crew members to reward them for their efforts. Guests typically have the option of increasing, decreasing or eliminating the suggested amount at their own discretion by visiting the guest services desk during the cruise, not afterward. 

If you'd prefer to present cash in envelopes, feel free, though that practice is mostly a vestige of the past. That said, feel free to reward outstanding service; Cruise Critic has a good roundup of how much to dispense.

What the cruise lines charge for tips

The amount of the gratuity varies by cruise line, with amounts that range from $10 to $15 per person per day, with higher amounts for luxury accommodations. The amount for children? Sometimes less, sometimes not. Some cruise lines offer the option to pre-pay your gratuities before your cruise, and in a few cases this may be required. You can typically find the amount earmarked for gratuities on the cruise line's website or in the cruise line brochure or documents you've been provided.

Please keep in mind that In the end, these aren't really tips — they amount to service fees that compensate the crew for their daily work. Here are the current tipping policies of the major cruise lines:

Tip amount:  Azamara, a boutique line, falls into the luxury category when it comes to tips. Gratuities for housekeeping, dining and bar staff are included in the cruise fare.

Extra charges:  An 18% gratuity is added for spa treatments. 

Tip amount:  On cruises departing Sept. 1, 2016, and later, gratuities amount to $12.95  per person per day (including children age 2 and older) in standard rooms and  $13.95 per person for suites. 

How it works: Gratuities are automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. You can adjust the amount at the guest services desk. 

Extra charges:  A 15% gratuity is added to bar charges. 

See Carnival's  tipping policy , including a chart of how much gratuities will run for 2- to 20-day cruises. 

Tip amount:  As of July 1, 2016, gratuities amount to $13.50 per person per day in standard rooms, $14 for passengers in Concierge Class and AquaClass staterooms and $17 for guests in suites.  

How it's works:  Gratuities are automatically added to your SeaPass account on a daily basis. You can adjust the amount at the guest relations desk. 

Extra charges: An 18% gratuity is added to bar charges, beverage and mini-bar purchases, and spa and salon services. 

See Celebrity's tipping policy .

Costa has varying gratuity charges depending on where you cruise. Children ages of 4 to 14 are charged 50% of the adult rates; the charge is not applied to children 3 and under.

Tip amount:  Gratuities amount to $11.50 per person per day (including children) in Britannia accommodations and $13.50  per person in Grill Class accommodations.  

How it works: Gratuities are automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. To adjust the amount, go to the purser's office. Casino dealers and youth staff do not share in gratuities, given that most guests do not use these services, so consider leaving a tip.

See Cunard's tipping policy .  

Tip amount:  Gratuities amount to $12  per person per day, including children. 

How it works: Gratuities are automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. Gratuities can be pre-paid up to three days before the cruise. It's traditional to tip servers in the restaurants Palo and Remy at the end of your meal by charging it to your shipboard account. It's also polite to tip, say, $2 for room service when it's delivered, but check the chit sheet to see if it's already included. Tips can be adjusted at guest services.  On the last night of your cruise you'll receive a statement showing you how much your crew attendants received in the way of gratuities; if you want to leave more, you can use envelopes provided for that purpose. 

Extra charges:  A 15% gratuity is added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service tabs and an 18% gratuity is added to all spa services. Note that any soft drinks, bottled water or alcohol that you order from room service will have a gratuity automatically added. 

See Disney's tipping policy . 

Tip amount:  Gratuities amount to $12.50  per person per day (including children) in standard rooms (inside, oceanview and balcony) and  $13.50  per person in suites. 

How it works: Gratuities are automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. To adjust the amount, go to the front desk. To its credit, Holland America does not hit up guests by asking for an additional tip on charges (such as beverage purchases) where you're already being charged a tip.  

Extra charges: A 15% gratuity is added to bar charges and purchases of wine in the dining room. We've heard that tips are sometimes included on your spa treatment bill — and sometimes not — so ask.  

See Holland America's tipping policy .

Tip amount:  Gratuities vary by destination and onboard currency for this Europe-centric cruise line. Gratuities amount to $12  per day for each adult passenger for Caribbean cruises and eastbound grand voyages, and $6 per night for children 3 and older; on westbound grand voyages, the fee is in euros.

How it works: Gratuities are automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. MSC does not permit adjustments to gratuities; however, if you're not happy with service, you can contact the Guest Relations manager to have the charges removed or adjusted. 

Extra charges: A 15% gratuity is added to bar charges, spa treatments and alternative dining. 

MSC does not appear to post its tipping policy online. 

Tip amount:  Gratuities amount to $13.50 per person per day (including children 3 and older) in standard rooms and  $15.50 per person in suites. 

How it works: Gratuities are automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. If you want to adjust the amount, go to the reception desk. Guests who use concierge or butler services are expected to leave an appropriate tip. Certain staff positions, such as youth program staff, don't share in the gratuities and should be tipped for services they provide.

Extra charges:  An 18% gratuity is added for bar charges, specialty and entertainment dining, and spa treatments.

See Norwegian's tipping policy .  

Tip amount:  Gratuities amount to $15  per person per day for guests in staterooms and $23 per person for guests in Penthouse, Oceania, Vista or Owner's Suites where butler service is provided.

How it works: Gratuities are automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. Oceania teeters on the line between luxury line and premium line, and this is an exception to the general all-inclusive pricing policy found on luxury lines. Interestingly, Many Oceania voyages include air fare in the fare pricing, but not gratuities. Guests may adjust gratuities while on board at their sole discretion.

Extra charges:  An 18% gratuity is added for all beverage purchases, spa services and dinner at La Reserve.

See Oceania's tipping policy . 

Tip amount:  Gratuities are already included in your fare.

Tip amount:  As of May 25, 2016, gratuities amount to $12.95 per person per day (including children) in standard rooms (Inside, Oceanview and Balcony) and  $13.95 per person in mini-suites and suites. 

How it works: Gratuities are automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. It can be pre-paid up to two days before departure  online via Princess's Cruise Personalizer  or by calling 1-855-500-7690 (mention Special Services item number 0591). Casino dealers and youth staff do not share in gratuities and tips are left to the discretion of guests.

Extra charges:  A 15% gratuity is added to bar charges, dining room wine accounts and Lotus Spa services. 

See Princess's tipping policy . 

Tip amount:  Gratuities amount to $13.50 per person per day (including children) in standard rooms (interior, junior suite, balcony, ocean view) and  $16.50 per person in suites. 

How it works: Gratuities are automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. It can be pre-paid before departure, and passengers who opt for the flexible "My Time Dining" must prepay. Guests who want to reduce or remove the tips can go to guest services.

Extra charges:  An 18% gratuity is added to bar charges (including mini-bar and beverage packages) and salon and spa  service. Your bill for alternative restaurants should cover gratuities as well. 

See Royal Caribbean's tipping policy .

Tip amount:  Star Clippers recommends tipping 8 euros per person per day, though gratuities are at the sole discretion of the passenger.

How it works: You have the option of charging tips to your shipboard account instead of tipping in cash.

Extra charges : A 15% gratuity is added to bar charges.

See Star Clippers'  tipping policy .

Tip amount:  Gratuities amount to $12  per person per day. 

How it works: Gratuities are automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. If you'd like to adjust the amount, you may do so at the end of your cruise.

Luxury & river cruise lines

On the luxury cruise lines — Crystal, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea, SeaDream — the rule is simple. Basic gratuities are included in your cruise fare and additional tips are not expected. (See Patti's article on all-inclusive pricing .) In general, the only thing not covered are tips for spa services. 

River cruise lines have differing policies. At the high end, Scenic, Uniworld, Tauck and Emerald Waterways are all-inclusive. Gratuities are not included in the vacation price on Viking, AmaWaterways and Avalon Waterways.

Other things to know about cruise tipping 

Ordering from the bar.

When you order drinks from the bar on board, a gratuity is automatically added to your bill. When you sign your sales slip (chit), be careful to skip over the blank line for gratuity — you've already paid! — unless you're in an especially generous mood. 

Spa & gym 

Some cruise lines add a 15% automatic gratuity for spa treatments and some fitness classes. Others leave the tip up to you. But be sure that you haven't already paid for this. 

Specialty restaurants

As a general rule, you're not expected to leave an additional tip when you dine at a specialty restaurant , even if there's a space for an “additional tip” on the charge slip, because you've already paid for this. 

Excursions in port

If you go on excursion in port and you're happy with the tour, it's customary to tip $2 to $5 to the tour guide and $1 to $2 to the driver.

When transfers to and from your ship are included in your package, gratuities are generally included for luggage handling. However, if you take a taxi to the pier and use the assistance of luggage porters to help you get your bags from the curb to the ship, it is customary to tip them $1-$2 per bag.

Concierge hosts & butlers

If you're booked in a concierge room or luxury suite, you'll need to tip your concierge hosts or butler. Some cruise lines will automatically apply a tip to your account, others will leave it to your discretion.   

Don't skimp on the tips

In the old days, cruise lines would expect passengers to slip tips into envelopes to reward crew members at the end of a cruise. That no longer works, given that it's likely you'll be served by many different staff members during your sailing. So tipping is not added automatically to your bill on most ships.

In our series Smart Money on a Cruise

• Super Guide to Booking a Cruise
• Guide to all-inclusive pricing on cruise ships
• Cheat sheet for deposits, payments & refunds
• 3 best travel rewards credit cards
• 15 tips on how to save money on a cruise
• Patti's 7 money-saving tips for cruise travelers
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Tipping on a Cruise Ship – The Ultimate Guide to Cruise Gratuities

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Cruise line tipping policies vary from one cruise company to another. However, there are a few common practices and guidelines. Even though cruise gratuities technically aren’t mandatory, they are customary on most mainstream cruise lines.

If you’re new to cruising, you might be wondering who to tip on a cruise, how much to tip, and exactly how onboard gratuities work.

I’ve got you covered! I’ve been cruising for over 15 years, and the practice of tipping on a cruise has certainly evolved. Cruise lines have implemented automatic gratuities, options to prepay gratuities and some popular cruise lines have begun including tips in your cruise fare .

In this post, I’ll be going through the cruise tipping policies by cruise line and answer some of the most common questions people have about gratuities on a cruise.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click and buy that I may make a commission, at no cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy for details.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

How Gratuities Work on a Cruise

If you’re going on a cruise, you can expect daily gratuities to be charged automatically to your onboard account. This amount varies by cruise line, however the average daily gratuity is $14-15 US per day, per passenger for a standard cabin and $17-18 a day for guests in suites. Cruise gratuities are divided among your cruise cabin steward, waiters and other crew members who work as support behind the scenes.

Some cruise lines refer to the gratuities as a crew incentive or a service fee, but essentially these are tips for crew members that are used to augment their low wages. In addition to the automatic daily gratuities, a tip or service fee of 15-20% is added to drinks and/or drink packages as well as spa services on a cruise.

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Can You Prepay Cruise Ship Gratuities?

You also have the option to prepay your gratuities before your cruise. This is a convenient option for cruise passengers that don’t want to think about extra charges once onboard. We like to prepay gratuities when we make our final payment for our cruise, but this is optional.

Read more: Should You Prepay Gratuities on a Cruise or Pay Onboard?

Can You Pay Tips in Cash?

If you don’t prepay your gratuities, they will be added to your onboard account. Typically, this is associated with your credit card which you’ll be prompted to set up when you complete your online check in. However, if you prefer to pay off your account and daily gratuities in cash, you can do so by going to guest services.

When you book your cruise, you’ll be charged your cruise fare, port fees and taxes. However, your cruise vacation expenses won’t end there. You’ll want to factor in the cruise line gratuity charge, sometimes called on board service charges (Norwegian Cruise Line) .

How Much Should You Budget for Cruise Gratuities?

The average daily gratuity on a cruise is $14-15 USD per person  – approximately $30 per day, per couple in a cabin. A couple should budget about $200 in gratuities for a 7 day cruise. Most cruise lines charge for children as well, although there are some exceptions for very young children on select cruise lines.

Cruise Tipping Guidelines by Cruise Line

Wondering how much gratuities are on a cruise? Here is a list of the daily gratuity charges by major cruise lines.

Prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted and cruise line gratuities may be referred to a daily service charge or crew incentive.

Carnival Cruises

Carnival’s daily gratuities are $13.99 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. $15.99 per person per day for guests in suites. There is no charge for children under 2 years of age.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises now includes daily gratuities in it’s Always Included cruise fare.

Costa Cruises

On Costa Cruises, service charges of $12.50 per person, per day are charged for cruises departing from the US. Cruises in Europe, World cruises and those departing from a non-US Caribbean port charge 10 Euros per person, per day. Other itineraries may differ. Please check Costa’s website for details.

Service charges for guests ages 4-14 are half of the adult rate. Children under 4 are not charged.

Cunard ‘s daily gratuities are set at $11.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. The cost is $13.50 per person, per day for guests in Grill Class suites.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney cruises has a suggested daily gratuity charge of $13.50 per person, per day for all guests.

Holland America Line

Holland America’s daily gratuity is $14.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $16.00 per person, per day for guests in suites.

MSC Cruises

The service charge on MSC Cruises is $12.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins. Children aged 2-11 will be charged $6.25 per day. There is no service charge applied for children under 2 years of age.

Please note that gratuities are charged in US dollars for Caribbean, US and Canada cruises. Cruises in Europe are charged in Euros. There are different service charges for certain itineraries. Please check MSC’s website for details.

Oceania Cruises

The gratuities on Oceania Cruises are $16.00 per person, per day for most staterooms and $23.00 per person, per day for guests in suites.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line charges a daily service fee of $15.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $18.50 per person per day for guests in suites and The Haven. There is no charge for children under 3 years of age.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises will automatically charge a crew incentive of $14.50 per person, per day for guests in inside ocean view and balcony cabins. The gratuity is $15.50 per person, per day for guests in mini-suites and $16.50 per person, per day for guests in suites.

Princess Cruises also has the Princess Plus fare, which includes gratuities or the crew incentive, Medallion Net wifi and Princess’ premium beverage package .

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean’s daily automatic gratuities are set at $14.50 per person, per day for guests in standard cabins and $17.50 per person, per day for guests in suites.

Viking Cruises

Viking Cruises gratuities are $15.00 per person, per day for all staterooms.

Windstar Cruises

Windstar Cruises daily gratuities are $12.00 per person, per day for all cabin types.

Cruise Lines that Include Gratuities

With the exception of a couple cruise lines on this list, most cruises that include gratuities are luxury lines.

Luxury cruise lines have a higher upfront cost than most popular cruise lines, however they’ll often include many valuable extras. While each cruise line is different, many include alcoholic drinks, soda and specialty coffee, gratuities, specialty dining and some shore excursions.

Here’s a list of cruise lines that include gratuities:

Something to note is that although daily gratuities aren’t charged, there may be a service fee or tip added to certain services onboard.

• Celebrity Cruises 

Celebrity Cruises isn’t a luxury cruise line, however it is a top premium cruise line that markets itself as “modern luxury”. When booking a Celebrity cruise, tips are included in their Always Included program. A cruise only rate may be available on select cruises, which would not include gratuities.

• Crystal Cruises
• Paul Gauguin
• Regent Seven Seas Cruises
• Seadream Yacht Club
• Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages does a lot of things differently than it’s mainstream peers. One of these differences is that cruise gratuities are included.

Cruise Gratuities: Who to Tip on a Cruise and How Much

When paying the automatic daily gratuities, cruise lines tell us this amount gets divided by your cabin attendant, waiter and other dining staff. In addition, a portion of the tips are given to those who work behind the scenes or may serve you in different areas of the ship. 

Are there additional tips charged onboard a cruise?

Gratuities or a service charge are added onto some onboard services. This includes drinks at the bar or cafe, spa services and salon visits. A tip of 15%-20% is common, so check the bottom of your bill before adding an additional amount.

Who Else Should You Tip on a Cruise?

While not obligatory, there are some of the workers you may want to recognize with a tip when cruising.

Keep a few dollars handy to tip the cruise porters on embarkation day . The porters will assist with your luggage and it’s customary to tip for their service.

We like to keep a few dollars handy for this purpose as we board our cruise ship .

Room Service

You may want to give a small tip to the person who delivers your room service order.

Do you have a favorite bartender? You may want to give them a tip per drink or a larger tip at the end or even the beginning of your cruise. There will be an 18-20% tip automatically charged when ordering an individual drink, so no need to add more in most cases.

Specialty Restaurant Waiters

If you opt for a specialty restaurant, the tip isn’t usually included. It’s customary to tip the waiters generously at specialty restaurants.

Shore Excursion Staff

If you go on a tour or shore excursion, it’s nice to tip the driver or shore excursion staff if you’ve appreciated their service. Have some small bills handy for these times.

Youth staff

Some cruise lines point out that you may wish to tip the kid’s club staff. If your kids have had a great time and you’ve appreciated the service, a few extra dollars are surely appreciated.

Cruise Gratuities Frequently Asked Questions

Can i opt out of paying gratuities or have them adjusted.

Most cruise lines allow guests to remove automatic gratuities . You can do so by going to guest services and making the request. You can also adjust your gratuities up or down. If you choose to pay tips in cash, there are usually some envelopes available at the guest service desk.

There are some exceptions. Norwegian Cruise Line has onboard service charge will is charged automatically for guests 3 and up, and distributed among staff that serve you in various ways. Rather than reducing the amount payed, they point out on their website that they will work to resolve any service issues experienced.

The fact is, the tips that crew get from passengers make up a good part of their wage. Crew members work really hard and make the difference between an ok and a memorable cruise vacation. Since this is the current pay structure for most major cruise lines, removing tips really affects the cruise line workers.

I go into more detail about this topic in this post:  Can You Refuse to Pay Gratuities on a Cruise?

Is tipping on a cruise mandatory?

“Do I need to tip on a cruise or pay service charges” , is a question that comes up often. Although gratuities aren’t mandatory, and in most cases you can go to guest services and have the amount adjusted, most cruise lines do tend to discourage it.

Cruise Tipping Etiquette – Should I give more than the recommended or suggested amounts?

As much as some people opt to remove gratuities on their account, some give extra. If you feel that you want to tip above and beyond the cruise tipping guidelines, go for it.

This is a personal decision and I’m not sure if there’s a tipping etiquette for it. If you feel that you wish to give an extra amount to anyone who you feel has done a great job, they will be appreciative.

What I can say, on a personal level, is that we have found that the majority of cabin stewards, waiters, assistant waiters and ship staff have given us amazing service. In  fact, I think most would agree that cruise line staff make a huge difference in the cruise experience.

What to do if you’re not satisfied with the service on your cruise

This may be rare, however if there’s a problem with service or you have a complaint on your cruise , that you should bring this to the attention of the staff member, supervisor, or guest services when it occurs. The worst thing you can do is wait until you are home from your cruise to address it. It’s unlikely to do any good by this point.

In reality, the cruise staff on board want you to be satisfied, so this is the time address a problem. Not only will it improve your cruise experience, but you’re also allowing the cruise ship staff the opportunity to make things right.

Video: Cruise Gratuities Explained

Here’s a video which answers many questions that you may have about cruise gratuities and tipping on a cruise ship. It includes who to tip, who not to tip, and some tips to help as you plan your cruise vacation.

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Final Thoughts on Tipping on a Cruise & a Guide to Cruise Gratuities

In this post, we’ve gone over how tipping works on a cruise. In addition, we’ve included a list of daily gratuities per cruise line and who else you may wish to tip. As a cruise passenger, you want to be aware and set your budget expectations to include these amounts for the cruise ship staff.

What do you think about cruise line gratuities and service onboard? Do you prefer to prepay your gratuities or to pay in cash? Please let me know in the comments below.

Happy cruising!!

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18 Comments

Could you possibly make your articles printable? Our Hawaiian cruise in April will be the first we’ve been on in 15 years, so, obviously, things have changed a lot. I love reading your blog and learning, but I don’t often have time to sit down at the computer to read. It would be so helpful if I could print just the blog to read at random times–car trip, etc. Any chance of that?

I’m so glad you’re enjoying my blog and find the posts helpful and appreciate the feedback.

Having the articles in a printable format is a really interesting idea. I’ll definitely look into it and see how I can best do that on this site.

Your cruise in April sounds amazing! Is it the 15 day or the 7 day from Honolulu? Both beautiful cruise options!

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and leave a comment!

Hi – this was helpful, thank you. We did prepaid gratuities, and then I also see that bar tabs will have the auto 18% added so I feel like it won’t be necessary to leave an extra tip on the bar tab. But I also feel like people will think I’m rude for not doing so – in reality tho, they are already being tipped 18%. Thoughts? Thanks!

So glad this was helpful. You’re right – an 18% gratuity is added each time you purchase a drink. I don’t think anyone will think you’re rude for not tipping over and above this. Of course, as always, it’s at your discretion.

Have a great cruise!

Still confused . We sail Celebrity and opt to prepay gratuities. However ,usually you can have at least 2 cabin stewards. Given that most , all ? Are very professional, what should a tip look like at the end of a 10 day cruise?

If you’re booked with Celebrity’s Always Included, the gratuities are included. If you want to give an additional tip to your cabin steward (or two), I’m sure it’s very appreciated. The amount is very personal. I have a video on my YouTube channel about this and people have commented amounts they give so his could be helpful (just check YouTube and search cruise gratuities Life Well Cruised)

Have a great cruise,

It’s important to note that, especially on the luxury lines, tipping is not expected. After 50 cruises I know they really mean it! Also, if free gratuities are an amenity, you’re not expected to go beyond it unless someone goes way beyond what’s normally expected. The best advice I can give Americans and Canadians, if they are tipping questions arise either on the ship or ashore, follow the lead of Aussie’s and ask their advice. Most are experienced cruisers and, as a group, they’re very well-liked. They will seldom steer you wrong.

Great points about luxury lines and that gratuities are included. As for tipping above and beyond prepaid gratuities, I agree completely that there is no expectation. Thanks so much for your input on this.

We’ve been on 4 cruises with our 5th. one in 2023. We usually do the prepaid tipping and also give some extra at the end of our cruises. The thing that gets me so mad is we never were approached by the Maitre’d…..except the last night when the extra tipping comes in. We never gave him anything. I think it’s pretty bad when that’s the only night they make their presence be known. I’m not expecting him to kiss our butts, but come on.

That’s a funny thing that we’ve experienced in the past as well. I have to say, we simply prepay or leave the tips as is, so I really don’t pay attention these days. Our last few cruises on Celebrity and Princess, we actually had lots of interaction from the Maitre’d and we did appreciate the work they did.

Cruise line employees work their butts off to earn those tips. They are always pleasant and willing to do whatever they can for you. I always prepay the gratuities. I also tip constantly while on the cruise. The staff learns real quick who tips extra, and who does not. They will do extra for you after they realize you are a tipper! You will get great service either way. If you tip extra, you will get FABULOUS service! I give my room steward $5 at the very beginning of the cruise. That lets him / her know upfront that we tip, and there is more to come at the end of the cruise!

Cruise line employees are extremely hard working, I agree, and they go above and beyond so often. I don’t tend to tip in advance, so this is an interesting way of doing things.

Thanks for sharing.

I agree with Kelli. Having worked in the service industry, if people want to extra tip, then doing it at the beginning is the way to go. You just can’t help being extra nice or helpful when you know the people are going to be extra nice to you, ie the extra tips. If you wait to the end to tip, then the servers won’t know and you possibly missed out of knowing how wonderful the cabin steward or others could be. However, extra tipping and being a jerk do not go hand in hand. Extra tipping doesn’t give you the right to be a jerk, but if you are a jerk, you had better extra tip!

Love this! Thanks so much for sharing your experience!

We always tip cruise staff but in cash not automatic tipping. We also always tip bar staff even when drinks are complimentary. Our concern is that the cruise lines take advantage by paying lower wages and then guilting passengers into higher tips. The industry should pay fair wages so that our tips are in fact tips and not wages.

Thanks for sharing your view on this. The cruise industry has worked this way for a long time, although the automatic gratuities are only the last few years. I would imagine we’d see prices increase overall if they did this, but perhaps it amounts to this anyway.

Could you please go into tipping for the haven ncl staff , butlers and more. Your articles are so helpful at navigating the cruise world.

This is a good question. I do think it’s a very personal choice, but we can talk about this in a future video for sure!

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I worked on cruises for 3 years. Here are 6 things I'd never do on board.

• I used to work on cruises. After many days at sea, there are things I'd never do on a cruise .
• I never wear my room key around my neck and try to avoid misnaming the ship.
• I never buy the drink package or pay for meal upgrades in the main dining room.

I've sailed around the world as a cruise-ship employee , and now I enjoy cruising as a passenger.

I love the salty sea air, waking up in a new country, and lazy days by the pool, but a week at sea could get more complicated this year with cruises predicted to be in high demand .

While fighting a little harder to secure a prime seat on the pool deck, you may as well also avoid some rookie mistakes.

Here are six things I'd never do on a cruise after working on them for three years.

Pay for upgrades in the main dining room

Typically, main dining room meals are included in the cost of a cruise. But in recent years, it's become common for cruise lines to charge guests extra if they want to upgrade to "supplementary" items like lobster or certain steaks.

I know $12 may not seem like much for a steak or lobster tail at dinner, but the cost of the cruise is supposed to include your food.

So, even though I enjoy lobster, I stick with the items without the upcharges.

Buy the drink package

I enjoy a piña colada by the pool or a Manhattan while listening to a jazz set after dinner. Even so, it doesn't make sense for me to pay in advance for 12 to 15 cocktails a day.

I've done the math on typical unlimited drink packages , and the cost simply isn't worth it for me.

This is especially true with a port-heavy itinerary. If I've gone ashore to explore all day, that means I'm not sidled up to the bar slurping down alcoholic slushies.

Related stories

I prefer to buy as I go and take advantage of happy hour and other drink specials that are available on certain cruise lines. I also check the beverage policy in advance and bring on my own wine, if allowed.

Touch shared contact surfaces with my fingers

Fellow guests will never see me touching the elevator buttons with my fingertips. Knuckles and elbows do the trick.

Some cruise lines are better than others at wiping down commonly touched surfaces, but I don't take any chances. I avoid touching things others frequently touch, and I wash my hands frequently.

This strategy has worked for me, as I have never contracted norovirus, even when it was running rampant on a ship I was on. It's quite contagious and can linger on your fingertips even after using hand sanitizer . I'd definitely rather be safe than sorry.

Wear my room key around my neck

I never walk around the ship with my room key around my neck, and I especially never do this when on land.

There are two reasons for this. First, I see many passengers using the room keys dangling from their necks to flaunt their cruise loyalty status . It just looks pretentious.

The sophisticated cruisers with the highest status, with the most days at sea, never show off their fancy room keys.

That's because they know the more important reason — safety. In port, that room key bouncing off your chest looks like an invitation to be robbed. It screams, "I have money! Come and take it from me."

Misname the ship

English is a funny language that has its quirks. Naming conventions make that even more complicated.

Ships have proper names, and so do not require a definite article. For example, "Tomorrow I am embarking on Discovery Princess," or "I enjoyed scenic cruising on MS Westerdam."

If you want to look like a savvy sailor, learn to drop the "the!"

Plan my port-day itinerary so tight that I may not make it back to the ship on time

Oh, the recurring nightmares I've had about not making it back to the ship on time during a port day.

I've never missed a sail away, but I have cut it too close at times and have had to run down a pier or two. Just recently, as a passenger, my taxi driver got lost returning our group to the port at night.

When I realized how late we were going to be, I forked over $8 per minute to be connected with the ship. I pleaded with them to wait for us. It was a sprint through the port to get back on and we received quite a scolding from the first officer.

That time, we got lucky. In the future, I'll be giving myself more time than I think I need to make it back.

Watch: Why it costs $1 million a day to run one of the world's biggest cruise ships

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Protect Your Trip »

The 9 best gay cruises for 2024 (+ planning tips).

Dance parties, drag queen performances and fun destinations await on these LGBTQ voyages.

The Best Gay Cruises

Courtesy of The Cruise with La Demence

Embark on an all-gay or LGBTQ-friendly cruise for excellent entertainment, food and excursions.

Whether you are looking to hop aboard a Pride Week cruise with a major line or sail away with a smaller company that specializes in LGBTQ voyages, the following cruise operators promise a fun, safe and memorable vacation.

(Note: While many of these cruise lines sail to LGBTQ-friendly ports of call, travelers should research destinations to learn more about cultures, customs and safety in each location and determine what's right for them.)

Virgin Voyages

Atlantis events, brand g vacations, celebrity cruises, royal caribbean international, the cruise with la demence, source journeys.

Gabriel Goldberg | Courtesy of VACAYA

Founded by avid travelers Randle Roper, Patrick Gunn and John Finen, VACAYA bills itself as the first all-LGBT travel company in the full-ship charter/resort buyout sector of the travel industry to launch in more than 25 years.

"[VACAYA] was sparked by our own vacations, where we all had encountered two very different experiences," says Gunn. "The all-gay cruises were liberating, empowering and fun, but limited to a small spectrum of people. And while everyone loves a good time, there's more to a memorable vacation than just parties. Mainstream vacations offered more activities and destinations, and were accessible to a diverse set of people, but didn't always feel like a friendly, judgment-free environment."

As such, VACAYA set out to bring LGBTQ travelers from across the spectrum together in a welcoming, inclusive setting, while offering varied onboard activities and immersive itinerary options. Cruisers will enjoy traveling to ports around the world, in the Caribbean , the Galápagos, Europe , Antarctica and more. You can participate in shipwide events ranging from themed deck parties to performances by LGBTQ entertainers to rejuvenating yoga classes. Note that VACAYA's cruises are for adults only.

Previous cruisers had abundant praise for VACAYA's voyages, highlighting the company's responsiveness when booking and the kindhearted staff, as well as the genuine connections they made with other passengers on board. Many were also impressed by the events and entertainment options throughout their sailings.

In 2024, VACAYA will offer a number of voyages worldwide. The seven-night Caribbean Cruise on Celebrity Apex in February will sail round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, with several fun-filled days at sea in addition to stops in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Antigua. In August, VACAYA has a 12-night river cruise in Northern Europe on board Advance by Transcend Cruises; this sailing includes the Amsterdam Pride event. The 11-night Antarctica expedition on Atlas Ocean Voyages' World Navigator in December 2024 is sold out, but you can join the waitlist.

Courtesy of Virgin Voyages

The Virgin brand has long been known for its celebration of the LGBTQ community, and cruise line Virgin Voyages is no different. The strictly adults-only cruise operator aims to provide a unique experience, with onboard tattoo parlors, impressive live entertainment, and dining options that include more than 20 eateries and menus created by Michelin star chefs. This line gets the stamp of approval from previous LGBTQ cruisers, who praise the ships' gender-neutral bathrooms, diverse staff and onboard shows with resident drag queens.

Virgin Voyages offers gay-specific sailings through travel companies like Atlantis Events, but its more mainstream itineraries still offer a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere that attracts LGBTQ cruisers year-round. Virgin hosts a number of events during Pride Month each year, including deck parties and interactive social media campaigns.

"Each June here at Virgin Voyages, we like to go big for Pride Month with larger-than-life events … all monthlong," the cruise line says in a statement on its website. "It's an important time for us – both internally within our crew and for our sailors – to honor and celebrate the LGBTQ community; who for so long has had to continually fight for equality and the right to be seen, heard and included."

Virgin Voyages sails to a variety of LGBTQ-friendly countries, including New Zealand, Greece and Spain. In June 2024, consider a seven-night sailing aboard Scarlet Lady departing from Barcelona with stops in Marseille and Cannes in France as well as Spain's Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza.

Read: The Best Cruise Lines for the Money

The world's largest gay and lesbian travel brand, Atlantis Events was founded in 1991 and welcomes more than 20,000 travelers annually on LGBTQ vacations. For its all-gay cruises, Atlantis charters megaships from popular lines like Royal Caribbean International , Norwegian Cruise Line and Virgin Voyages in addition to smaller vessels with companies like Oceania Cruises so cruisers will have a fully immersive experience.

On board, travelers can enjoy all the perks these ships have to offer (think: pools, hot tubs, sports courts and plenty of dining choices), plus special events like drag performances, motivational speakers, LGBTQ movies on demand in each cabin and high-energy circuit parties across the ship.

"As an LGBTQ cruiser, you're looking for a ship with lots of entertainment, including dance parties and events," says Marcos Martinez, founder of Men Who Brunch, a Black gay lifestyle blog. "One of the best cruise [lines] for gay cruising is Atlantis, since you'll be able to meet hundreds of attractive men and party all day and night on the ship."

Atlantis hosts primarily gay men; women make up about 5% to 10% of bookings, according to the Atlantis website. Previous cruisers said the atmosphere on board was fun, friendly and welcoming, though some noted that the company's customer service could be better, especially when it comes to details about the cruise.

Due to the company's popularity, its three 2024 cruises are already sold out.

Read: The Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean

Courtesy of Brand G Vacations

Specializing in all-gay river cruises – and now luxury ocean liners – Brand g Vacations was founded in 2011 and explores destinations all over the world. Chartered river cruises typically welcome between 40 and 200 LGBTQ passengers (and their straight allies), which allows cruisers to get to know one another in a smaller setting. Guests tend to skew more mature (think: 40 and older), and the line attracts both men and women.

Onboard entertainment differs slightly from larger ocean voyages: Expect more cabaret-style entertainment than massive all-night dance parties. Cruisers will also enjoy performances by drag queens, gay Broadway stars and more, on top of typical river cruise perks like sightseeing and lavish meals. Past guests recommend choosing Brand g if you're looking for a well-planned, relaxed and luxurious experience over a busier, more party-heavy vacation.

Brand g aims to provide a nearly all-inclusive cruise experience , with Mercedes or small van airport transfers, upscale hotel stays prior to embarkation, and unlimited alcoholic beverages as well as meals included in the fare. As such, prices tend to be on the high end. Plus, cruisers can feel good about their trip knowing that Brand g donates to causes in the U.S. and around the world that assist LGBTQ refugees, AIDS organizations, LGBTQ centers and more.

In 2024, Brand g sails through unique waterways around the world, including the Amazon, the Loire, the Danube, the Mekong, and the Columbia and Snake rivers in the Pacific Northwest. The line's small cruise ship charters also take guests to Iceland, Spain, Morocco, Italy, Croatia and other European destinations.

Read: The Top River Cruise Lines

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Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises sets the scene for an excellent vacation for gay travelers, from its extravagant annual Pride parties to its daily LGBTQ programming throughout the year. The mainstream line has received numerous awards for its inclusivity, receiving accolades from the Cruizie Awards, TTG Travel Awards and Travel Weekly's Magellan Awards for being one of the best cruise lines for LGBTQ passengers.

LGBTQ cruisers can start their vacations off on a high note with a special welcome party on the first night of their voyage to meet other travelers on board. After night one, there are other social events for gay cruisers to party and hang out together. Additionally, Celebrity Cruises was the first cruise line to legally marry a couple at sea in 2018, and it continues to perform same-sex marriages on its ships.

Past cruisers enjoyed their voyages with Celebrity, noting that the line was welcoming, the food was delicious, and there were plenty of areas to hang out as a group with fellow LGBTQ passengers or other companions throughout the ship.

Although all itineraries are gay-friendly, consider booking a sailing during Pride Month in June for an extra special experience. Onboard entertainment during this month includes guest entertainers, a flag raising ceremony, Celebrity's signature Pride Party at Sea and more. The Italian Riviera & France cruise will depart from Barcelona on June 8, 2024, on the new Celebrity Ascent; this 10-night Mediterranean sailing stops at ports in France, Italy and Malta. Private travel companies like VACAYA also charter Celebrity ships for all-gay voyages throughout the year.

Read: Cruise Packing List: The Top Essentials for Any Cruise

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Specifically marketed toward lesbians and LGBTQ women, Olivia has hosted more than 350,000 travelers by land and sea over five decades. Cruisers can choose between river voyages or ocean sailings to destinations around the world. On the lesbian cruises, expect a mix of nostalgic decade-themed dance parties, folk singers, writing workshops, karaoke and other activities. Cruisers can also relax poolside, spend some time in the onboard spa or take it easy in one of the ships' lounges.

Travelers who are looking to connect with others who share similar backgrounds can do so in one of Olivia's specialized programs. There are group and solo traveler meetups, as well as programs like Sisters, which is for LGBTQ women of color; Gen-O, for cruisers 40 and younger; Women in Uniform gatherings, for veterans and those currently in the armed forces; and events for OWLs (which stands for "older, wiser lesbians"). Past cruisers on Olivia's voyages report feeling a true sense of community and belonging on board, resulting in a fun, carefree trip.

In June 2024, set sail with Olivia from Edinburgh, Scotland, to Dublin on Windstar Cruises' Star Legend. Or, visit the islands of Tahiti on the line's Star Breeze in September. Other cruise itineraries include Alaska, the Greek Isles, Mexico and the Panama Canal.

Read: The Best Girls Trip Ideas

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International provides a welcoming and inclusive experience for LGBTQ travelers. The popular cruise line frequently partners with Atlantis Events to offer all-gay voyages throughout the year, but even the standard sailings earn praise.

Highlights of the sailings are the ships' entertainment options (including the Tony Award-winning musical "Mamma Mia!") and attentive staff, according to past cruisers. Itineraries typically include LGBTQ meetups at the beginning of each cruise for gay travelers to meet like-minded passengers. Outside of the sailing experience, Royal Caribbean has also publicly committed to supporting the LGBTQ community throughout the year, and it was the first cruise line to earn the title "Gay Traveler Approved" from GayTravel in 2016.

In 2024, consider a Royal Caribbean voyage that sails to gay-friendly destinations. "Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, [is] full of gay bars, clubs and gay beaches," says Martinez. Hop aboard Navigator of the Seas in May for a seven-night sailing round-trip from Los Angeles that stops in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta and Ensenada, Mexico. Navigator of the Seas also hosts a seven-night itinerary throughout the year that calls on Mazatlan, Mexico, as well.

Ready to plan a cruise? Find the best value sailings on  GoToSea , a service of U.S. News.

Courtesy of The Cruise With La Demence

According to past cruisers, if you're looking for one of the best party scenes on the open seas, consider an all-gay cruise with La Demence. Powered by a popular gay nightclub in Brussels with the same name, La Demence – French for "the madness" – primarily caters to a European crowd. Most passengers are male, though women are also welcome.

On board, passengers should expect to dance the night away at massive deck parties that last into the wee hours of the morning. The line prides itself on its top-notch DJs, impressive light setup and electric party atmosphere. Previous cruisers had high praise for the itineraries – which exclusively visit gay-friendly locations – as well as the fruity cocktails, themed nights (costumes strongly encouraged) and glamorous entertainment. Enjoy unique events like drag bingo, high heel runs and more.

La Demence sails every summer to European destinations like Greece, Italy and Malta. The 2023 cruise was chartered on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas. Fares include all food and nonalcoholic beverages, plus access to all parties, shows and the onboard gym.

Read: The Top Party Cruises

Source Journeys has been planning luxury vacations for LGBTQ travelers for more than 20 years. The Miami-based company, with the vision of founder and chief executive officer Craig Smith, offers small group land tours and full-charter cruises for like-minded travelers with a focus on giving back to the communities they visit. The company also supports LGBTQ organizations, such as the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force and the Human Rights Campaign.

Past guests of their tours say their fellow travelers were as fun and interesting as the destinations. They appreciated the excellent personalized planning for the trips by Smith and his life partner, Rafael Rodriguez.

The company's cruises in 2024 include a seven-night Galápagos sailing in late September on a Relais & Chateau luxury yacht: Ecoventura's new ship, Evolve. The intimate ship accommodates just 20 passengers. Source Journeys is also offering a seven-night river cruise through Burgundy and Provence, France, in June on Avalon Waterways' Avalon Poetry II, as well as a seven-night voyage from Venice along the Dalmatian Coast. This ocean cruise scheduled in August is chartered on Star Clippers' masted sailing ship, Royal Clipper.

Frequently Asked Questions

When it comes to gay cruising, gone are the days of discreet "Friends of Dorothy" meetups. The term – a euphemism that dates back to the 1950s – was once used to indicate gay social events on daily cruise line programs, without explicitly calling out members of the community on board. It's a far cry from today's LGBTQ cruising industry, which loudly and proudly celebrates passengers from all walks of life.

According to experts, LGBTQ cruising is a market that will only continue to grow. Travelers can take their pick between cruise operators tailored specifically to queer communities and major cruise lines that offer festive Pride celebrations and inclusive onboard entertainment. As travel on the high seas continues to grow in popularity for vacationers, gay and lesbian travelers should consider setting sail on a fun-filled cruise vacation for their next trip.

When planning a cruise, vacationers should first consider what their ideal sailing looks like.

Gay-friendly vs. all-gay sailings: Cruisers should think about whether they'd like to travel aboard a gay-friendly mainstream line – such as Celebrity Cruises or Virgin Voyages – or opt for an all-gay, full-ship charter with a third-party vacation company.

"Each and every LGBTQIAPK person has a different level of comfortability in their 'outness,' " says Patrick Gunn, co-founder and chief marketing officer of LGBTQ vacation company VACAYA. Of VACAYA's all-gay charters, he adds, "For one magical week, our community gets to be the majority and live life out loud in the blissful utopia VACAYA creates on a gay cruise. That single change from being an always-minority to a sudden majority can have a profoundly positive real-world effect on individuals."

• Travel style: Some cruise operators (think: Atlantis Events and La Demence) are known for their electrifying all-night parties, which may be perfect for gay groups of friends. Meanwhile, other companies like VACAYA and Olivia look to provide a more diverse selection of activities, ranging from tea dances (LGBTQ parties that, historically, included tea service) to philanthropic service activities to immersive onshore experiences.
• Ports of call: Some of the most LGBTQ- and gay-friendly destinations for cruises include: Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Sydney; Barcelona, Spain; Taipei (Keelung), Taiwan; Helsinki; Quebec City; Auckland, New Zealand; Mykonos, Greece; Reykjavik, Iceland; Amsterdam; Tel Aviv, Israel; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and San Francisco. Countries that gay travelers may want to avoid include the Maldives, Jamaica, Morocco, Malaysia and Haiti, as homosexuality is illegal in these destinations.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Gwen Pratesi has been an avid cruiser since her early 20s. She has visited destinations around the globe on nearly every type of ship built, including the newest megaships, luxury yachts, expedition vessels, traditional masted sailing ships and intimate river ships on the Mekong River. Pratesi covers the travel and culinary industries for major publications, including U.S. News & World Report.

You might also be interested in:

• The Best Cruise Lines
• The Top Solo Cruises (No Supplement Fare)
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• The Top 3-Day Cruise Itineraries
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

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Moscow Boat Tour

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Description

See all the gems of historical and cultural center of the capital in short time and without traffic jams or tiresome walking.

Depending on the itinerary and duration of the Moscow River boat trip, the tour can be 3 or 5 hours.

Highlights of the tour

• St Basil’s Cathedral;
• Stalin skyscraper on Kotelnicheskaya (Tinkers) embankment;
• The Kremlin;
• “House on the Embankment” Stalin skyscraper;
• Monument to Peter I;
• The Central House of Artists;
• Christ the Savior Cathedral;
• Gorky Park;
• Moscow State University;
• Russian Academy of Sciences;
• Luzhniki stadium;
• Novodevichy Monastery;
• Kiev railway station;
• Europe Square;
• Moscow City Hall;
• Government House;
• Expocentre Exhibition Complex;
• and other famous sights.

You will learn about the different epochs of the city from the foundation in 1147 till Soviet times of 20 th  century.

Moscow River

Moskva river has the form of a snake and is the main waterway of Moscow, consisting of a cascade of reservoirs. Within the city, Moskva river is 80 km long, 120 m - 200 m wide and up to 14 m deep. The narrowest part of the river is the Kremlin area in the city center, and the most extensive is around the Luzhniki Stadium in the south. 

Bridges in Moscow

Undoubtedly, bridges and embankments are among the most scenic spots and main attractions of Moscow. Plus, they are so romantic.

• Bolshoy Kamenny Bridge –  Great Stone Bridge –  is the main bridge of Moscow . The first stone bridge was constructed here in the 17th century.
• Patriarshy Bridge  is one of the youngest pedestrian bridges, built in 2004. The bridge connects the iconic Christ the Saviour Cathedral with funky Bersenevskaya embankment, extremely popular place among locals for its trendy art galleries, cafes and panoramic views. Patriarshy Bridge used to be a shooting location for ex-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's New Year speech to the nation.
• Borodinsky Bridge,  erected in honor of the 100th anniversary of the glorious victory in the Battle of Borodino (which every Russian kid knows about), a fierce legendary battle during the Russo-French war of 1812.
• Bagration Bridge  one of the  pedestrian bridges with most picturesque views of the Moskva River with its numerous upper-level observation platforms. The bridge was erected to celebrate the 850th anniversary of Moscow city in 1997.
• Krymsky Bridge  used to be in Top 5 Europe’s longest bridges some 100 years ago. The bridge got its name after the ancient Krymsky ford which Crimean Tartars used to invade Moscow in the 16 th  century.

Embankments of Moscow

Moscow river boats 37 embankments, the most popular being Kremlevskaya, Sofiyskaya, Pushkinskaya, Vorobyovskaya and Kolomenskaya.

You can get the most spectacular views of the Kremlin from  Kremlevskaya and Sofiyskaya embankments.

• Pushkinkaya embankment  is the most romantic in Moscow. It meanders along Gorky Park and Neskuchnyi garden and is rich for all kinds of entertainment as well as cozy nooks, including Olivkovy beach, the famous Zeleny theater as well as a pier for river cruisers.
• Vorobyevskaya embankment  is part of Sparrow Hills nature reserve. This place opens a beautiful panorama of the river and city from the observation deck and is considered to be the place for taking serious decisions in life.
• Embankment in Kolomenskoye  Museum-Reserve has a special charm due to its peculiar geographical relief. The boat trip around Kolomenskoye would be the most peaceful in your life.
• Taras Shevchenko embankment  is popular among photographers for its modern Moscow City skyscrapers. Highly recommended for your night boat trip.
• Embankments of Moscow are the pride of the capital. A distinctive feature of each of the promenades is its architecture and beautiful views. In addition, almost all the embankments of Moscow have a rich history and a lot of notable buildings.

Different epochs

Taking a walk along the Moskva River by boat, you will witness the architecture of Moscow from different eras and styles. Archaeological studies indicate that already in the XI century there stood a fortified settlement on Borovitsky hill, which is now called the Kremlin. Little fortress could not accommodate all the residents of the rapidly growing city, and the Grand Duke ordered the construction of a new Kremlin, larger than the former.

Boat trip around Kolomenskoe Park

Moscow river boat trip starts from the pier Klenovy (Maple) Boulevard and provides reat views of Nicholas Perervinsky monastery.

Nicholas Perervinsky monastery was founded at the time of the Battle of Kulikov (1380). The monastery, got its name from the surrounding area – “Pererva”, which can be translated like “tear off” and because of the location –  here it abruptly changed its course, turning to Kolomna, standing on the opposite bank.

Nowadays Kolomenskoye is State Art, Historical, Architectural and Natural Landscape Museum-Reserve, which doors are open to everyone who wants to get in touch with the ancient history of Russia.

Take a break from the big city hustle in the shady parks and gardens of the Kolomenskoe Museum-Reserve. Don’t miss a wonderful Church of the Ascension and Tsar Alexey’s Palace in Kolomenskoye!

Monasteries and temples

• Novospassky Monastery
• Founded in the 13th century on the site where now is located the Danilovsky monastery. After a few decades, in 1330, Ivan Kalita moved the monastery onto the Borovitskii hill of the Kremlin. However, in the 15th century, Spassky Monastery again moved, this time to a more spacious place on Krasnoholmskaya waterfront.
• Church of St. Nicholas in Zayaitskom
• Erected in the middle of the XVIII century in baroque style. The building survived after the 1812 fire, but the utensils were destoyed. Parishioners collected donations and restored the temple on their own. In Soviet times, it was closed and re-opened only in 1992.
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• The church was originally erected in honor of the victory over Napoleon and was being under construction for long 44 years. Notoriously demolished in 1937 to be a giant swimming pool under open sky. The current building was constructed in 1990s. It is the tallest and one of the largest Orthodox churches in the world.
• The temple was built in 1679-82, during the reign of Tsar Fedor Alekseevich, in late Muscovite Baroque style and can be characterized as bonfire temple. Each gable is a symbol of a heavenly fire.
• Novodevichy Convent
• The most famous concent and monastery in Moscow, presumably founded in 1524. Novodevichy’s status has always been high among other monasteries, it was in this monastery where the women of the royal blood, the wives of Tsars and local rulers of Moscow were kept in prison as nuns.
• St. Andrew’s church  (male acts as Compound Patriarch of Moscow)
• St. Andrew’s church stands right on the slopes of the Sparrow Hills, on the way down to the Moskva River, on the territory of the Nature Reserve “Sparrow Hills”. The monastery is small in size but is very cozy. It’s situated in a quiet courtyard surrounded by temples, fruit trees and flowers.

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow river cruise.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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Northern lights cruises: A guide to chasing the aurora borealis at sea

Witnessing the elusive northern lights flickering across the sky might cause you to gasp because it's actually that cool. The colorful ribbons of green look like something from outer space — and they are. Auroras appear when charged particles collide with Earth's atmosphere.

Seeing the ethereal display, also known as the aurora borealis, is a bucket-list experience for many travelers. Cruise ships can take you to destinations where your chances of catching Mother Nature's special light show are improved.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Remember that seeing this phenomenon doesn't involve a cruise director flipping on a switch. Witnessing the northern lights requires clear and dark skies, late-night viewing hours, enough solar activity for the colors to appear and a big dose of luck. Keep that in mind before you invest all your cruise vacation hopes in this one experience.

Where can I see the northern lights on a cruise?

The lights are best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere and especially in locations on the so-called auroral oval, a ring zone over the polar regions. In cruising terms, that means prime viewing is in northern Alaska (which is easily accessible on cruisetours), Norway, Iceland, Arctic Canada and parts of Greenland.

Just off the auroral ring is the rest of Alaska. If you are on a cruise in the Inside Passage before April 21 or after Aug. 21 and are willing to be awake in the middle of the night (the lights tend to appear in Alaska after midnight), there's a chance you'll see the aurora borealis.

Cruise lines operating in Alaska — including Holland America , Princess Cruises and UnCruise Adventures — have northern lights sign-up sheets so you don't have to stay up all night, every night, hoping to see the display. Put your name on the list, and you'll receive a wake-up call or knock on your cabin door if there's aurora action. Plan to put on your clothes or bathrobe quickly, as the lights might only appear for a few minutes. (They could also last considerably longer.)

Related: Peak solar activity is forecast for 2024: Here are the best places around the world to see the northern lights

If you're interested in where to see the northern lights outside Alaska, the Arctic city of Alta, Norway, calls itself "The City of Northern Lights."

Alta's credentials include the world's first permanent observatory for viewing the aurora borealis; it was built there in 1899. A whole industry has sprung up around the lights, including such extravagant shore excursions as an overnight in a tent with viewing windows at a Sami dog-sledding camp. Alta is also home to the Northern Lights Cathedral, an architectural landmark.

Tromso is another Norwegian destination known as a hub for aurora borealis viewing. In late January, there's a northern lights arts festival featuring top artists in various musical genres.

Cunard Line and Hurtigruten are among the lines that visit northern Norway in the fall. However, the peak viewing season is from November to March (see below). Viking also visits but in the winter.

Iceland, Greenland and Arctic Canada appear on many expedition ships' itineraries during northern lights season, mostly early in the season in August and September. Lines with ships there include Quark Expeditions, Aurora Expeditions and Lindblad Expeditions.

When can I see the northern lights on a cruise?

Because of the late-setting and early rising midnight sun, it's way too light during the summer to see the northern lights in the destinations mentioned, but solar activity does take place year-round.

If you have a goal of seeing the aurora borealis in any of the destinations discussed here, you're best off booking as far into the fall as you can find a cruise. Norway is the only prime northern lights destination with winter cruises.

The lights like to appear in the wee hours — particularly between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. — in Alaska. An advantage in Norway is that it's dark enough to see them for a longer period during fall and winter.

Do cruisetours in Alaska improve my chances of seeing the lights?

Cruisetours in Alaska can improve your odds of seeing the aurora because they get you to Fairbanks and other inland destinations in Alaska that tend to have more cloud-free skies than in the Inside Passage, where cruise ships sail.

While you might see the lights from Denali National Park and Preserve during the viewing season, venturing to Fairbanks and points farther north will increase your odds.

Fairbanks tourism folks like to brag that if you visit for at least three nights between Aug. 21 and April 21, your chances of seeing the aurora borealis are more than 90%. (That assumes you are out actively looking during the late evening hours.)

Since your cruisetour might not visit for three nights, consider booking extra hotel nights before or after your cruise. Other things to do in this laid-back city (human population: about 100,000; moose population: 16,000) include riverboat tours, gold panning and yoga with reindeer.

You can also see the lights in Canada's Yukon Territory, including in the gold rush town of Dawson City, which is visited on some Holland America cruisetours.

Related: What's the best way to view the northern lights? We tried to see them by air, land and sea

Should I go on a cruise just to see the northern lights?

Yes, but remember that the phenomenon is dependent on the weather (clear skies required) and hard to predict, despite scientists' best efforts.

Viking has wintertime cruises to Norway from London specifically designed to track the lights in the Norwegian Sea during the peak viewing season — throughout the cruise but especially above the Arctic Circle in Tromso and Alta (where the sailings stop overnight). It's dark in these locales in winter, increasing your chances.

Hurtigruten is so invested in its northern lights experiences that it has hired famed northern lights astronomer Tom Kerss as its "chief aurora chaser." He will serve as an onboard expert, offering talks and workshops for passengers.

The line is so sure you will see the lights on the October-through-March sailings of its year-round 11- and 12-day Norwegian Coastal Express itineraries that the company has a guarantee called the Northern Lights Promise. If the deck's officers don't announce to all on board that the northern lights are happening, you can get a six- or seven-day Norwegian Coastal cruise for free.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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