Quick Answer
Cruise gratuities are daily service charges or tips that help cover onboard service teams. Some cruise lines include them in the fare. Others add them daily or allow you to prepay.
For new cruisers, gratuities can feel confusing because every cruise line talks about them differently. One line might include tips in the fare. Another might add a daily charge to your onboard account. Another might include tips only if you buy a certain package.
The simple rule is this: before you compare two cruises, add gratuities and service charges into the total. That gives you the real holiday price, not just the shiny headline fare.
How They Work
| Type | What it means |
|---|---|
| Included | The fare already accounts for tips or service charges |
| Daily charge | A set amount is added to your onboard account each day |
| Prepaid | You pay before sailing, often at booking or before departure |
| Optional cash tipping | Extra cash for standout service, if you want |
What UK Travellers Should Know
P&O Cruises has a no-tipping-required approach, which makes budgeting simpler. Other cruise lines may add daily gratuities or service charges, and drinks or spa purchases may have separate service percentages.
Rules change, so check your cruise line and fare before booking.
UK travellers sometimes find gratuities awkward because tipping culture varies by country. On many international cruise lines, however, gratuities are treated as a normal part of the pay-and-service system. You do not need to love the system, but you do need to understand it before booking.
Where Extra Service Charges Appear
Gratuities are not always limited to the daily cabin or dining service charge. You may also see service percentages added to:
- Drinks bought individually.
- Drinks packages.
- Speciality dining.
- Spa treatments.
- Room service on some lines.
- Certain onboard purchases.
This is why a drinks package can cost more than the advertised daily price once service charges are added. It is not necessarily hidden, but it can be easy to miss.
Included Tips Vs Added Tips
Included tips are easier for budgeting because you know the price before you sail. Lines and fares that include gratuities can look more expensive upfront but may be simpler once onboard.
Added daily gratuities can make the headline fare look cheaper. That is not automatically bad, as long as you add the charge into your comparison. A cruise with added gratuities can still be good value.
Prepaid gratuities sit in the middle. You pay before sailing, so the onboard account feels cleaner. This can be useful if you like having most costs sorted before departure.
Should You Remove Gratuities?
Some lines allow adjustments, but it is better to understand the charge before sailing rather than treating it as a surprise argument at guest services. If service is poor, raise the issue onboard while it can still be fixed.
Removing gratuities is a personal choice where the cruise line allows it, but it should not be the default budgeting plan. Crew members across housekeeping, dining and behind-the-scenes service are often connected to the gratuity system. If you have a genuine service problem, speak to guest services during the cruise rather than silently saving it for the last night.
Example Comparison
Imagine Cruise A is cheaper by £120 per person, but adds daily gratuities. Cruise B includes tips. Once you add the daily charge for a week, the difference may almost disappear. If Cruise B also includes drinks or Wi-Fi, it may even become the better value.
That is why gratuities matter. They are not just etiquette; they are part of the price comparison.
Budgeting Tip
When comparing cruises, add gratuities, drinks service charges and package fees into the total holiday cost. That gives you a cleaner comparison.
Final Advice
Do not let gratuities put you off cruising. Just treat them like port parking, flights or Wi-Fi: another cost to check before you book. Once you understand whether tips are included, prepaid or added daily, the whole thing becomes much less mysterious.