Why Should I pay Royal Caribbean Gratuities in Advance?

Guests on Royal Caribbean cruises have the option of prepaying gratuities for certain crew members who work hard providing services to the passengers.

Prepaying gratuities secures the current gratuity rate while also spreading out the overall cost of the cruise by incorporating it into the cruise cost.

On Royal Caribbean, how does gratuity work?

A service gratuity is included in the overall cost of a Royal Caribbean cruise to recognize the hard work of crew members. Each guest's SeaPass account is charged a daily automatic gratuity rate of $14.50 USD per person, per day for guests in Junior Suites and below, or $17.50 USD per person, per day for those in Grand Suites and above. It applies to all visitors, regardless of their age.

These daily gratuities are split between the dining room crew and your cabin attendant.

If you do not prepay gratuities, a daily charge for the daily gratuity amount per person will show on your SeaPass account every day of the cruise.

The 18 percent tip that is automatically added to all beverages, mini bar products, and spa & salon purchases is in addition to the daily gratuities.

Why should I pay gratuities in advance?

There are two compelling reasons to pay gratuities in advance of your cruise.

When you pay gratuities in advance of your cruise, you avoid accruing a larger balance at the conclusion of the trip. This is a popular alternative for travelers who wish to budget their trips and spread out the whole expense of the cruise.

Furthermore, prepaying gratuities guarantees the existing gratuity rate, even if it rises later.

Royal Caribbean alters the gratuity rate on a regular basis, however if you prepay, you will be grandfathered into the previous rate.

If you have a significant amount of onboard credit that could balance your SeaPass account charges, or if you prefer to offer crew members their automatic gratuity rate in cash, these are the two most popular reasons for not prepaying. Gratuities are required aboard Royal Caribbean, so you can pay them whenever you like.

How do I pay my gratuities in advance?

You can choose to pay gratuities in advance up to 48 hours before your sail date. If you booked your Royal Caribbean cruise through a travel agent, simply contact them and request that gratuities be added to your reservation.