“Optional Tip”: More and more cruise lines are adding service fees
Created: 12/21/2022, 09:00
By: Franziska Kaindl
If you take a cruise with a US cruise line, you should be prepared for additional service fees.
"Optional tips" are common here - and increasing.
Cruise ships are teeming with bars, restaurants and cafés - unlike on land, travelers don't always have the choice of whether and how much they want to tip.
Depending on the shipping company, this is handled differently for the crew: With some, a certain amount is automatically added to the on-board bill depending on the ship and cabin category per day and person - with others such as Tui Cruises or Aida, the tip is already included in the travel price, with an additional Obolus is nevertheless welcome.
However, anyone who is going on a trip with a US shipping company in the near future should be careful: Some of them are currently charging a lot with the tips.
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Above all, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), whose headquarters are in Miami, would like to give the crew higher tips from January 1, 2023.
The so-called "optional crew tip" is
currently $16 for guests in studios, inside, outside and balcony cabins and $18 for guests in Club Balcony Suites , according to the industry portal
Cruise-aktuelles.de .
The tip is to increase by two to four dollars and would then be $20 per day for these cabin categories starting in January.
However, guests traveling in Suites or The Haven Suites will tip $25 per day instead of $20 starting New Year's Day.
Crew tips will increase on Norwegian Cruise Line ships next year.
© Fleig/Imago
The optional crew tip also benefits crew members who work behind the scenes - including room stewards, restaurant service or other support staff, according to NCL.
According to Kreuz-aktuelles.de
, tipping in this form is
a common practice internationally – even if it may seem less familiar to a German cruise guest.
Guests who have already booked travel with NCL, or plan to do so before January 1, 2023, have the opportunity to tip at the old rates if they do so in advance.
If you only pay the tip on board, you must do so at the new rates.
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Some US shipping companies are increasing their service fees
The cruise line Princess Cruises also recently increased the automatic tipping fee for the crew.
As of December 14, cruise guests must pay $16 per person per day for standard cabins, up from $14.50 previously.
Guests traveling in Mini Suites or Club Class cabins will be charged $17 instead of $15.50.
The Holland America shipping company also announced increases, albeit comparatively smaller: From February 1, 2023, guests will pay an automatic "crew appreciation" fee of $16 per day per person for most cabins.
It was previously $15.50.
