Cruise Line Raises Gratuity For Third Time In Three Years!

Understandably tipping has been and always will be a contentious issue among cruise goers. However, news has emerged that Holland American Line has just revealed their decision to increase the price of the daily gratuities on-board their fleet. However, this is third time Holland America Line have raised there gratuities in recent times with it being  previously raised in October 2015 and in May 2017. For all sailings departing before December 1st 2018, the daily Hotel Service Charge is $13.50 per guest per day for non-suite stateroom guests and $15.00 per guest per day for suite guests. The same applies for the 2019 Grand World Voyage and the 2019 Grand South America Antarctica Voyage. For cruises departing on or after December 1st 2018, the daily Hotel Service Charge is $14.50 per guest per day for non-suite stateroom guests and $16.00 per guest per day for suite guests.

Holland American line announced the reasons behind this through an official statement on their website:

“Our crew works very hard to make sure that every aspect of your cruise meets the highest standards. This includes those crew members who serve you directly, such as Dining Room wait staff and the stewards who service your stateroom each day.

There are also many others who support their efforts whom you may never meet, such as galley and laundry staff.

To ensure that the efforts of all of our crew members are recognised and rewarded, a daily Hotel Service Charge is automatically added to each guest’s shipboard account.”

Personally I think this tipping business is getting out of hand, and what’s more annoying is how gratuities vary enormously between cruise lines. For example P&O from May 2019 announced the decision to scrap gratuity fees altogether, although before they charged a moderate £5 per person per night, with no charge for children under 12. Whereas Royal Caribbean charge approximately $13 (equivalent to £11 per day) including children. So lets say you book a 7 night cruise with both cruise lines for a family of 4 the difference in the gratuities is massive, £70 compared to £308, Over FOUR times as much. Are you telling me that you get four times better service on Royal Caribbean compared to P&O?

I believe that tips should be included on all cruises. Okay the price might increase slightly to pay the staff better wages but then there would be none of these arguments of people suspecting the cruise lines are pocketing the extra cash rather than giving it to the crew. This idea of pre-paying gratuities up front is that you are no longer giving a gratuity in return for good service but on the assumption of good service. Then if you feel you haven’t received adequate service getting a refund from these cruise companies will not be easy.

What’s your view on the subject? Would your prefer to tip staff individually or do you prefer to pay up front?

Please send me your comments…..