Cruise Line Raises Gratuities in 2020

Celebrity Cruises will be raising their daily gratuity rate effective January 6, 2020. How do the new rates compare to those charged by the competition, and could other lines decide to boost theirs, too?

REFLECTION
Aerial Celebrity Reflection off Florida coastline on December 2nd Inaugural Cruise
Celebrity Reflection – Celebrity Cruises

How Much You’ll Now Pay

Travel partners were informed of the 6.9 percent increase this week. The Celebrity Cruises policy now reads: “Standard staterooms changed from $14.50 to $15.50 per day, per guest. Concierge Class and AquaClass staterooms changed from $15.00 to $16.00 per day, per guest. Suite Class accommodations changed from $18.00 to $19.00 per day, per guest.”

The policy goes on to explain that “gratuities are shared by our exceptional onboard dining and culinary services team, stateroom attendants, other housekeeping services personnel, as well as staff from other departments who work behind the scenes to enhance your cruise experience.”

READ MORE: The Daily Gratuities Change All Cruise Lines Need To Make 

Guests who’ve prepaid their gratuities will not be charged the additional fees, and passengers with future cruises booked can avoid the increase by making sure to prepay the daily gratuities before January 6th.

How Celebrity’s Rate Compares

The change comes even as Virgin Voyages prepares to become the first major line in the U.S. marketplace to include gratuities in the total cost of the cruise. But how does Celebrity’s price increase compare to what’s being charged by their competition?

Carnival Cruise Line’s current rate for a standard stateroom is $13.99, while suite guests are charged $15.99. (All of the rates quoted are per stateroom guest, per day.)

At Norwegian Cruise Line, the current rate is $15 for standard staterooms, and $18 per day for guests staying in suites or The Haven.

At Royal Caribbean International, the daily gratuity charge currently stands at $14.50 for those in Junior Suites or below, and $17.50 for those staying in Grand Suites and above.

Meanwhile, MSC Cruises is the only line to differentiate between what they charge for adult passengers as opposed to younger guests, as well as the only line which charges the same amount across all stateroom categories. Currently, their charge is $12.50 for adults and $6.25 for those aged 2-12. Children under 2 are not charged. These rates will, however, go up in the summer of 2021, with the new rates being $14 for those over 12 years of age, and $7 for those between 2 and 12.

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