Jane Archer offers a closer look at Royal Caribbean’s tipping policy as part of a feature on cruiselines and gratuities
- There is an incentive for paying tips up front. On board, gratuities are $10 per person per day.
- The prepaid cost is $9.75. “We recognise the benefit to us of passengers pre-paying by rewarding them with a lower price,” said Royal Caribbean International vice-president and managing director UK Robin Shaw.
- Passengers can only opt to pre-pay tips on Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises.
- On Royal Caribbean, they have to pre-pay if they want Mytime instead of fixed dining.
- On sister brand Azamara, the gratuity has to be paid up front and cannot be removed.
- Azamara charges $12.50 per person per day, with an additional $4 per person per day for those in Penthouse, Royal and Sky suites. An 18% gratuity is added to bar bills.
