Tipping on cruise ships is a great way to show your appreciation for the hard work of the employees. Cruise ship staff work long hours and often have to deal with difficult passengers. Tipping them can be a great way to thank them for their hard work and show that you appreciate their efforts.
Tipping also helps the employees make extra money to supplement their wages. This is especially important since many cruise ship staff members are from developing countries where wages are often low. By tipping, you can help make sure that these employees have enough money to support themselves and their families back home. Many of the entry level employees come from third world countries and only make about $1000 to $1500 a month. If it was not for their tips, they could not survive. However, do not feel sorry for them. While they may be in entry level positions, they are there to learn and move up. The next time you are on a cruise ship, ask the food and beverage director or the hotel manager how they got started. They are making well over $100,000.00 a year. They all move up from bartender or housekeeper.
Cruise ship employees have to share tips with each other as a part of their job. This means that the money they earn from tips is not only theirs but shared among the entire team. This system of sharing tips is designed to ensure that all employees are fairly compensated for their work, regardless of their individual performance.
Sharing tips can be beneficial for cruise ship employees, as it allows them to make more money than they would otherwise make if they kept all the tips they earned. It also encourages teamwork and camaraderie among crew members, as everyone benefits from each other’s efforts. Furthermore, it ensures that everyone is doing their best to provide excellent service and create a great experience for passengers.
Why do the cruise lines charge a service fee on free drinks and dining packages? Can't we just tip the bartender or waiter?
They charge these service fees or gratuities because cruise ships are becoming increasingly cashless. Everything from meals to souvenirs can be charged to your room, eliminating the need for carrying around money or worrying about exchange rates. This is a great convenience for travelers who don't want to worry about carrying cash or using a credit card abroad.
Cruise ships have embraced the cashless system as it provides an added layer of security and convenience for both passengers and staff. Passengers can enjoy their vacation without having to worry about tracking their spending or dealing with currency fluctuations, while staff can easily keep track of all transactions in one place and they are not left with leaving cash in their rooms while they are on duty.
People you should tip by paying either the service charge or prepaid gratuities.
Room Stewards / Housekeeping
Bar Tenders
Wait Staff
The people outside the cruise terminal who handle your baggage. Since they are outside the ship, a couple of bucks per bag goes a long way.
If you want to learn even more about the different positions and what they pay, check out this great article. https://www.cruisehive.com/how-much-do-cruise-ship-workers-make/64121