Major Cruise Lines Raise Daily Gratuities by $1-$1.50 as Fee Backlash Grows
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 21
Major Cruise Lines Raise Daily Gratuities by $1-$1.50 as Fee Backlash Grows
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 21
Summary
$1 to $1.50 daily gratuity increases have rolled out across major cruise lines this summer, lifting automatic per-passenger charges on several brands.
Carnival raised its rate in April to $17 a day for staterooms and $19 for suites, while Celebrity lifted its charge in July to $19.50-$24.50 per passenger.
Cruise operators including Carnival, Celebrity, Princess and MSC say the higher fees are needed to keep crew compensation competitive and support onboard service.
Passengers can still adjust or remove the recommended charges at the end of a voyage, but some travelers say the increases add to a broader sense of being nickel-and-dimed.
That skepticism has sharpened around whether the extra money reaches crew members directly or helps offset operating costs, even as Royal Caribbean Group says Celebrity's gratuities are shared as part of pay.