Norwegian Cruise Line Raises Gratuities Across Fleet

This isn’t an April Fool’s joke. Norwegian Cruise Line is again increasing their daily service charge by forty-nine cents, effective April 1, 2019. This will be the second year in a row that the cruise line has raised their daily service charge.

(Photo courtesy NCL)

Last fall, the cruise line increased their Ultimate Drink Package to $99 per guest ($118.80 after the gratuity), up from $89.

What You Will Pay After April 1?

For all ships excluding Norwegian Sky All-Inclusive and Norwegian Sun All-Inclusive

  • $17.99 USD per person per day for The Haven, Concierge and Suites
  • $14.99 USD per person per day for all other stateroom types

Norwegian Sky All-Inclusive and Norwegian Sun All-Inclusive

  • $23.49 USD per person per day for Suites
  • $20.49 USD per person per day for all other stateroom types

The daily increase falls in line with their increase last year.

In 2017, the line raised the daily charge by fifty cents for standard categories and by $1.49 for The Haven and suite guests.

Why Do They Call It A Service Charge?

NORWEGIAN ESCAPE FLORIDA

What most cruise lines call daily gratuities, Norwegian Cruise Line calls a daily service charge, this is because the cruise does not see all of the money of the charge.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s website says, “Staff members including complimentary restaurant staff, stateroom stewards and behind-the-scenes support staff are compensated by a combination of salary and incentive programs that your service charge supports.”

A frequent Norwegian cruise guest told us, “This comes with the territory of cruising. Another reason to prepay your gratuities when you book your sailing.”

He went on to say, “Do I like it? No. But I’m also not going to let it change how I spend my vacation.”

Prepay Now and Save 

If you have a cruise booked after April 1, 2019, and want to save on the increase, you can prepay your service charge by March 31, and have it locked in at the current rate.

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