October 28, 2026, 3:58 pm | Read time: 5 minutes

How High Is the Daily Tip on Cruises

The amount of the service charge varies by cruise line and sometimes by cabin category booked. It is calculated per person per day.

• Royal Caribbean charges $18.50, approximately 16 euros. In suites, it’s $21, around 18 euros.
• Holland America Line charges $18, about 16 euros. For guests in suites, the fee is $20, around 17 euros.
• Disney Cruise Line regularly charges $16, approximately 14 euros. In suites, the amount rises to $27.25, around 24 euros.
• Carnival Cruise Line charges $17, about 15 euros. Suite guests pay $19, around 17 euros.
• Celebrity Cruises sets the fee at $19.50, around 17 euros. In Concierge/AquaClass, $20.50, about 18 euros, is charged, while the fee in The Retreat is $24.50, around 21 euros.
• Norwegian Cruise Line charges $20 daily, around 17 euros. In suites, it’s $25, about 22 euros.
• Virgin Voyages charges $22 when paid onboard, approximately 19 euros. Those who pay before the trip pay $20, about 17 euros.
• MSC Cruises charges 12 euros. In the MSC Yacht Club, 16 euros are charged.
• Princess Cruises sets the daily fee at $18, roughly 16 euros. In mini-suites, it’s $19, about 17 euros, and in suites, $20, also around 17 euros.

It’s different with Costa Cruises: There, tips are already included in the travel price.

More Than 100 Euros Extra: That’s the Cost for a Week

Especially on longer trips, the daily charge becomes noticeable. For a cruise with seven nights and one person in the cheapest cabin category, the following sums apply:

• Disney Cruise Line: $112, around 98 euros.
• Carnival Cruise Line: $119, around 104 euros.
• Holland America Line: $126, around 110 euros.
• Princess Cruises: $126, around 110 euros.
• Royal Caribbean: $129.50, around 113 euros.
• Celebrity Cruises: $136.50, around 119 euros.
• Norwegian Cruise Line: $140, around 122 euros.
• Virgin Voyages: $154, around 134 euros, if paid onboard.
• MSC Cruises: 84 euros.

This means the service charge for a couple for just one week can already amount to significantly more than 200 euros.

These Cruise Lines Allow the Charge to Be Waived

Automatically calculated does not mean mandatory in every case. Several major cruise lines allow their guests, according to their published terms, to change or completely remove the service charge. A specific problem with the service does not have to exist for every provider.

• At Royal Caribbean, passengers can change the charge without providing a reason.
• This also applies to Celebrity Cruises. No reason needs to be given for changing the service charge there either.
• Holland America Line also allows adjustments. A service deficiency is not listed as a prerequisite.
• At Carnival Cruise Line, the charge booked on the onboard account can be changed without providing a reason.
• Disney Cruise Line also allows adjustments without explicitly requiring a deficiency.
• At Virgin Voyages, however, the timing of payment is crucial. A charge paid before the cruise cannot be changed. If payment is made onboard, passengers can adjust or remove the amount.
• Princess Cruises also allows adjustments to the charge.
• Norwegian Cruise Line has stricter conditions. A change requires first reporting a problem to guest services and then not having it satisfactorily resolved.
• MSC Cruises has different rules: The charge is treated as part of the travel price and can only be adjusted for unsatisfactory service.

When Must the Tip Be Changed?

Those who wish to change the automatically set charge should definitely observe the deadline. The adjustment must be requested from the guest manager at the reception by the evening before departure. The corresponding amount will then be changed on the onboard account and considered in the final billing. If the fee has already been paid, it can no longer be adjusted afterward.

AIDA and Mein Schiff: Tips Are Already Included

With the major German cruise providers, the tipping model works differently than with many international cruise lines.

• At AIDA Cruises, the tip is already part of the travel price. Passengers who wish to reward particularly good personal service can voluntarily give an employee additional tips.
• TUI Cruises, which includes Mein Schiff, also lists tips as part of its inclusive services. Therefore, a daily service or tip charge is not additionally deducted from the onboard account.
• Phoenix Reisen works with a recommendation. On the ocean ships, five to seven euros per day are recommended as a tip. An automatic charge is not associated with this.
• Nicko Cruises also keeps tips voluntary. For the Vasco da Gama, the cruise line suggests 10 to 13 euros per day as a guideline.

How Often Passengers Actually Waive the Tip

How many cruise guests take advantage of the option to reduce or completely opt out of the automatic service charge is not published by the cruise lines. A current representative industry statistic on this also does not exist. However, Royal Caribbean has been explicitly collecting guest information since 2026 on whether they have changed or opted out of automatic tips.

More on the topic

Appreciation for the Crew? How Much “Tips” Will Cruise Lines Charge You

For Beginners 20 Practical Tips for a Successful First Cruise

Waiving Tips: What It Means for the Crew

The sometimes high automatic fees draw criticism from travelers. However, the ability to waive a charge does not mean that tips for onboard employees are irrelevant. Many crew members earn little and rely on tips. Those who reduce or completely remove the general service charge can still choose to reward particularly good performance by individual employees voluntarily and directly. This way, the money goes directly to the specific crew member.

Additional Service Fees Still Apply

Another point is crucial for the travel budget: Waiving the daily tip charge does not automatically eliminate all service fees onboard. Many international cruise lines charge an additional 18 to 20 percent for drinks, specialty restaurants, or spa treatments.