Mandatory Gratuity Aboard Your Cruise Ship

Cruising is arguably the best form of family vacation and fun due to the fact that so much is included in a cruise package: accommodations, food and entertainment. However, there is one exclusion that may catch some people by surprise (it caught us) - mandatory gratuity. That's right. Most cruise lines require each passenger to pay a fixed amount of gratuity per day.

I mentioned earlier that this can catch you by surprise if you do not have a travel agent who is versed in cruise details, or you book your cruise at an online travel store which fails to inform you of the mandatory gratuity requirement. This happened on our first cruise in February 2004.

We got our tax refund and decided to do something different - a cruise. I went online, booked and paid for a 5-day Carnival cruise to Grand Cayman and Cozumel, Mexico and thought all the major expenses were taken care of. Surprise! On the last night of the cruise we got a bill stating that we owed $200 in gratuity plus some additional charges for pictures and non-alcoholic drinks we had ordered. We were shocked!

I had failed to find out that there was a mandatory gratuity requirement. I knew that we would have to tip the workers, but thought it was a voluntary exercise.

However, we learned from then on to check on the gratuity amount whenever we book a cruise.

If you have never booked a cruise or you are preparing to cruise with a new cruise line, I will set out for you what many of the cruise lines charge in mandatory gratuity so that you can be prepared and plan accordingly.

First off, let me insert that each cruise ship sets sail with 100's of crew members to better serve the passengers. It is fair to add that the service on board is really excellent. Everyone makes an effort to ensure that you feel special. As a result, cruise lines use that as one rationale for adding a mandatory gratuity - a way to ensure that crew members are adequately recognized for their service.

Here is what you should plan to pay in mandatory gratuity on the following cruise lines:

Carnival Cruise Line - The fee is $10 per person/day. Additionally, Carnival gives you a separate envelope for your maitre d' and another for the camp counselors (people who watch your kids while you have some alone time with your special someone). If you have no children on board you will save a buck or two.

Crystal Cruises - $13 per person/day. If you have a room with butler service the rate goes up to $18 per person/day.

Disney Cruise Line - $12 per person/day.

Holland America - $11 per person/day.

Norwegian Cruise Line - $12 per person/day for everyone 3 years and older.

Princess Cruises - $10.50 per person/day and $11/ for those staying in suites.

Royal Caribbean International - $9.75 per person/day and $15.50/ for those staying in suites.

Get the facts before you sail and avoid surprises. Have fun no matter what.

Bon voyage!

Resources:

1. www.Carnival.com

2. www.CrystalCruises.com

3. www.Disneycruise.Disney.go.com

4. www.HollandAmerica.com

5. www.NCL.com

6. www.Princess.com

7. www.RoyalCaribbean.com