Cruise lines often charge daily gratuity fees to passengers to compensate staff members for services provided during the cruise. Carnival Cruise Line has a standard daily gratuity policy that passengers should be aware of when booking a cruise.
What is the daily gratuity fee on Carnival cruises?
Carnival charges a standard daily gratuity of $14.50 per person, per day for passengers staying in most staterooms. This daily fee covers gratuities for dining room staff, stateroom stewards, and other hotel services during the cruise.
Here is a breakdown of how the daily gratuity fee is allocated on Carnival cruises:
- $7.50 per person, per day goes towards dining room services
- $5.00 per person, per day goes towards stateroom services
- $2.00 per person, per day goes towards other hotel services
So a total of $14.50 per passenger is added to shipboard accounts each day to cover gratuities. This is a standard fee across most mainstream cruise lines.
Are there any exceptions to the daily gratuity fee?
Carnival does make some exceptions to the daily gratuity policy:
- Children under 2 years old are exempt from paying the gratuity fees
- Passengers in interior staterooms pay $14.00 per person, per day instead of the $14.50 fee
- Suite guests pay $16.50 per person, per day due to extra services provided
So parents traveling with infants or toddlers under 2 years old will not have to pay a daily gratuity for the child. And suite guests pay a slightly higher daily rate to account for concierge services and other amenities provided in suite accommodations.
How is the daily gratuity paid on a Carnival cruise?
Carnival automatically bills the daily gratuity fee to passengers’ onboard accounts. The total gratuity amount for each passenger is based on the number of days of the cruise. For example:
- On a 5 day cruise: 5 days x $14.50 per day = $72.50 total gratuity per guest
- On a 7 day cruise: 7 days x $14.50 per day = $101.50 total gratuity per guest
This pre-paid gratuity fee will be automatically billed to shipboard accounts, which passengers can access via their cruise cards. The total gratuity for the cruise will be charged on the final night of the sailing.
Can the automatic gratuity be modified?
Yes, passengers who want to make changes to the daily gratuity fee can adjust it at the guest services desk onboard the ship. Options include:
- Increasing or decreasing the total gratuity amount
- Splitting the gratuity between specific staff members
- Opting out of the pre-paid gratuity system altogether
Carnival allows guests flexibility in how they want to handle gratuities. Just speak with guest services once onboard if you want to make any changes to the auto-gratuity system.
Are gratuities added to drink packages on Carnival?
Carnival handles gratuities on drink packages differently than the standard daily gratuity. Here’s a breakdown:
- A 15% gratuity is automatically added to all individual drink purchases
- A 15% gratuity is added to each drink in the Bottomless Bubbles soda package
- No gratuity is pre-added for the Cheers! alcohol package
So any time you order a single drink from a bar, an additional 15% gratuity will show up on your receipt. This also applies to soda packages. However, the Cheers! alcohol packages do not include pre-paid gratuities. Passengers must budget extra for tips on alcoholic drinks purchased with the package.
Daily Gratuity Cost Examples
To summarize the total daily gratuity costs, here are some examples for typical cruises:
| Cruise Length | Gratuity per Person |
|---|---|
| 4 night cruise | $58 |
| 5 night cruise | $72.50 |
| 7 night cruise | $101.50 |
| 10 night cruise | $145 |
These amounts are based on the standard $14.50 per person, per day gratuity. For interior rooms, the amounts would be $2 less per day. Suite gratuities would be $2 more per day.
Tips for saving on gratuities
To reduce the total gratuity costs on a Carnival cruise, here are some tips:
- Book an interior stateroom to save $2 per day
- Reduce the length of the cruise
- Share a stateroom to split some fees
- Pre-pay gratuities upfront for a discount
- Remove auto-gratuities for drink packages
- Adjust gratuity amounts at guest services
Being aware of the daily gratuity policy and fees allows guests to budget accordingly for their cruise. While gratuities cannot be eliminated completely, there are ways to reduce the total costs.
Pre-paying gratuities
Carnival gives passengers the option to pre-pay gratuities before the cruise. By paying the fees upfront, you can get a small discount compared to the daily rates. Here are the pre-paid gratuity rates:
- 6-8 Day Cruise: $84.50 per person
- 9-11 Day Cruise: $117.00 per person
- 12-14 Day Cruise: $149.50 per person
Pre-paid gratuities cannot be refunded, so only choose this option if you are sure about the length and details of your cruise. But the upfront payment does offer around 5% savings compared to daily rates.
Are gratuities expected on top of the daily fees?
The daily service charges are designed to fully compensate the cruise staff for their work. So additional cash tips are not necessarily expected from guests.
However, passengers can offer extra gratuities at their own discretion. Some common tips on Carnival cruises include:
- $20 for your head waiter at the end of the cruise
- $20 for your stateroom steward
- $5 per bag for luggage handlers
- 15%-20% for spa services
So while not required, small tips in cash can show extra appreciation for excellent service during your cruise.
Bottom Line on Carnival Gratuities
In summary, Carnival Cruise Line has simplified gratuities with its Hassle-Free Daily Gratuity program. Passengers are charged a flat per person rate each day to cover tips for dining, bar, stateroom, and other staff onboard.
Being aware of the gratuity fees, options for pre-payment, and opportunities for adjustments allows guests to budget and plan for the extra costs associated with a Carnival cruise vacation.
While the automatic daily gratuities are convenient, cruisers can still leave additional cash tips for exceptional service if they choose. Following the policy and tips in this article will give Carnival guests transparency into the total gratuity expenses for their upcoming cruise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you remove the auto gratuity on Carnival?
Yes, passengers can have the automatic daily gratuities removed by visiting the guest services desk once onboard the ship. You can opt out of the pre-paid gratuities and pay tips directly in cash at the end of the cruise.
Do Carnival gratuities include drinks?
No, the daily auto-gratuity does not include tips for drink orders. A 15% gratuity is automatically added to all individual drink purchases and soda packages. Gratuities are not pre-paid for alcohol packages.
Do you tip at the end of a Carnival cruise?
Tips are included in the daily auto-gratuity program, so end-of-cruise tips are optional. But guests often provide extra cash gratuities of $20 for dining/stateroom staff and $5 per bag for luggage handlers.
Does Carnival share the gratuities with staff?
Yes, according to Carnival the daily gratuities are distributed to the appropriate staff members according to the allocated amounts for dining, stateroom, bar, etc. The auto-gratuities go directly to the crew members.
Can you reduce the auto gratuity on Carnival?
Passengers have the option to adjust the total gratuity amount charged to their account at the guest services desk. You can reduce the overall auto-gratuity paid if desired.
Do Carnival gratuities vary by room type?
Yes, the daily gratuity is $14.50 for most staterooms excluding interior rooms ($14 per day) and suites ($16.50 per day). So the total charged does vary slightly by room category booked.
Do kids pay gratuities on Carnival?
Children under 2 years old sail free without any gratuity charge. Children 2 years and older are subject to the standard daily gratuities per person.
Can you pay Carnival gratuities upfront?
Yes, passengers can pre-pay gratuities prior to the cruise to receive a small discount. Pre-paid rates are $84.50 (6-8 days), $117 (9-11 days) and $149.50 (12-14 days).
How much should you tip on a 7-day Carnival cruise?
The auto-gratuity on a 7-day Carnival cruise is $101.50 per person for a standard stateroom. Extra tips are optional, but $20 for dining/stateroom staff is common.
Do Carnival crew members share tips?
Yes, according to Carnival policies the auto-gratuities are distributed to individual crew members based on the allocation per department (dining, stateroom, etc). Tips are shared across staff.
Conclusion
Carnival Cruise Line has a straightforward daily gratuity policy of $14.50 per person to cover dining, stateroom, and other service staff. Being aware of pre-payment discounts, making adjustments at guest services, and budgeting for additional tips can help travelers plan for the complete costs of a Carnival cruise vacation. While automatic, gratuities are still an important part of showing appreciation for the hard work of crew members. Following Carnival’s gratuity guidelines will ensure a smooth cruise experience from start to finish.