10 Tipping Mistakes Not to Make on a Cruise

Tipping has always been a hotly debated topic on cruises.

Everyone knows how tipping works in a restaurant or hotel, but things on cruise ships can be different, and passengers often feel confused about the normal customs.

For this reason, I thought it might be useful to write an article on the 10 tipping mistakes you should never make while on a cruise ship. Let’s see what the most common ones are and how you can prevent them to avoid gaffes.

1. Thinking they’re included in the cruise price

The first thing to know is that gratuities are not included in the price of the cruise when you book.

All major cruise lines charge a daily rate per person that can be prepaid before the trip or paid at the end of the cruise.

These gratuities are then transferred (it is unclear on what basis) to the workers who are currently on your ship.

2. Not bringing small bills

Although the tips we mentioned earlier are mandatory, some passengers still bring some cash money to give extra tips to workers they particularly like.

As you probably know, cruise ships don’t accept cash as a form of payment so many people don’t bring bills. However, a small amount of cash is always good to have on hand.

If you do not know what’s the right amount to bring I recommend that you read this article.

3. Tip in the wrong currency 

When you bring cash also make sure you bring it in the correct currency.

For example, if you go on a cruise to Europe, drop by your bank to get some Euros. The same applies if you go on a cruise to Asia or the United Kingdom.

Usually, dollars are well accepted, but it would still be strange to tip a tour guide or cab in a currency other than that of the country you are visiting.

4. Waiting until the end of the cruise to tip

Another mistake I see people make very often is to wait until the end of the cruise to tip.

In my experience, if the service is good it’s best to tip during the first few days so that the waiter or bartender will remember you during the cruise.

It happened to me that after tipping well, the waiter was more considerate and accommodated all my requests.

5. Not pre-paying for gratuities

As I mentioned at the beginning, many cruise lines allow you to prepay for gratuities so you can better manage your budget.

I always recommend that you do this. That way you have all the peace of mind of paying from home before you depart, checking the costs, and making sure the total is right.

In addition, some cruise lines can offer a discount for those who pay gratuities in advance. Ask them or ask your travel agent.

6. Tipping extra for drinks

Some people don’t realize it, but when you order a drink on a cruise, service is always added to the final price.

For this reason, it is not necessary to tip extra unless you really want to.

Usually, the service charge ranges from 15% to 20% and you don’t have to pay it only if you have a drink package.

As I’ve explained other times, in some cases, it really pays to buy a drink package but for that specific topic, I recommend you take a look at the 10 drink package mistakes you should never make.

7. Assume you have to tip room service

Room service is another aspect on which there are many uncertainties.

Usually if room delivery is free, it is a good habit to leave a small tip for the delivery person.

If, on the other hand, delivery is for an additional fee, you may not tip.

8. Not tipping the cabin steward

On the other hand, tipping the cabin steward is a fairly common thing to do.

I talked to several passengers on my cruises and almost all of them said to tip the cabin steward, of course, if the cabin is cleaned properly.

The tip for them usually ranges between $5 and $20 per day, and as I said before better to give it during the first few days and not just at the end of the cruise.

If you are in doubt about the amount of tips, you can look at those recommended in the article on how much extra you should tip cruise staff.

9. Forget to tip the porter

Another person who is usually always tipped is the porter. They carry your luggage to the ship and they take custody of your bags when you arrive at the terminal.

It is not necessary to give them much, even $1 or $2 per bag is enough but some people go as far as $10 or $15.

10. Feeling obligated to tip

The last thing I want to tell you is that on a cruise ship, you should never feel obligated to tip.

As you probably know now, mandatory gratuities are already prepaid before the cruise or paid before disembarkation, so leaving a cash tip is something extra.

If you do not want to, or if you are on a tight budget, you don’t have to tip.

However, if you have the chance, do it, since the workers on the ships are often foreigners who are away from their homes for months and are there usually to earn money to support their families.