Royal Caribbean Hikes Gratuities in November

Royal Caribbean International has announced an increase in gratuity rates effective November 1, 2024, impacting passengers across all cabin categories. This change will see suite guests paying $21 per person per day, up from $20.50, while passengers in other cabins will see their daily gratuity rate rise from $18 to $18.50.

The cruise line has confirmed that these gratuities are automatically added to passengers’ onboard accounts, but guests have the option to adjust the amounts before they disembark. These gratuities are pooled and distributed among crew members who contribute to the dining, bar, culinary services, stateroom maintenance, and overall hotel services, enhancing the passenger experience on board.

According to Danny Genung, CEO of Harr Travel, such adjustments in gratuity rates are a common response to rising costs in the hospitality sector, driven by factors like inflation and increased prices for transportation, fuel, and food. “It’s a normal response to compensating employees and offsetting increased costs,” Genung explained to USA Today.

For passengers looking to avoid the upcoming increase, Royal Caribbean offers the option to lock in the current gratuity rates by making reservations and pre-paying these fees before the November change. This is the second consecutive year the cruise line has raised its gratuity fees, following last year’s increase from $16 to $18.50 for standard cabins and from $18.50 to $20.50 for suites.

This trend of rising gratuity costs is not exclusive to Royal Caribbean; Princess Cruises also implemented higher crew appreciation charges starting in August of this year, indicating a broader industry shift toward adjusting daily rates in line with operational costs and economic factors.

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