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Can I opt out of NCL gratuities?

Norwegian Cruise Line emphasizes that gratuities are optional and can be adjusted or removed at any time by the guest.



On a Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) voyage, you can technically "opt out" or adjust the daily service charges, but the process is not as simple as clicking a button in the app. NCL automatically adds a "Daily Service Charge" (currently around $20 per person, per day for standard rooms) to your onboard account to cover tips for the dining and stateroom staff. If you feel that the service you received was not up to standard, you can visit the Guest Services desk (usually on the final day of the cruise) and request to have the charges reduced or removed. You will typically be asked to fill out a form and explain why you are making the request. However, it is important to know that these gratuities are a major part of the crew's compensation; NCL strongly discourages opting out, and many seasoned cruisers argue that removing them is unfair to the hard-working behind-the-scenes staff. A better alternative is often to pay the standard daily charge and then provide "extra" cash tips directly to specific staff members who went above and beyond. Note that if you have a "Free at Sea" promotion that includes "Pre-paid Gratuities," you cannot get a refund for those, as they are part of a bundled marketing offer.

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Benefits of Prepaying Gratuities Another advantage is that cruise lines regularly raise gratuity amounts. So if you book a cruise for a year from now, the gratuity price may be higher when you sail. People that pay beforehand are grandfathered in under the rate they've already paid.

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NCL OBC's would have otherwise not been usable for daily gratuities, but can be used for most everything else you purchase onboard. Credits are never usable in a casino - only purchases of food, beverages, excursions & services (such as in the Spa).

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Again, cash might be the only thing they will take, and in most of the Caribbean you can tip in U.S. currency. As a side note, it can be nice to have some cash on your cruise so you can also tip people like street performers while in port.

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There aren't any hard-and-fast guidelines for this type of tip since it's contingent on your experience, but $25 to $40 on behalf of a couple roughly works out to an extra $2 to $3 per person, per day, for a seven-night cruise.

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As mentioned above, not all members of the ship staff receive a share of the gratuities paid by passengers. Bartenders, main show entertainers and third-party shop employees are some of the more obvious ones, but they're not the only ones.

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Paying gratuities and tipping the staff aboard a cruise ship is not compulsory but is considered the right thing to do. Cruise Tipping is a gesture of goodwill to reflect your gratitude for the service provided and to say a big “Thank You” to the crew members.

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For bartenders and housekeepers, you may also want to offer a generous tip at the beginning of the cruise (again, $20 or more, depending on your needs) to ensure great service while on board. As for daily housekeeping gratuity, $2 to $5 per person per day is a good rule of thumb.

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In general, plan on giving $16–$23 in gratuities per day for each passenger. Note that the amount should be tabulated for each individual in your party—don't try to tip once per couple or group. So if you're planning to go on a 7-day cruise, expect to give a total of between $112 and $161 per person in gratuities.

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Passengers should not bring the following items onboard any Norwegian Cruise Line ship:
  • Drones (Game Flying Device) ...
  • Samsung Galaxy Note7. ...
  • Alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages of any kind including water, pop and juices* ...
  • Unsealed food items will not be allowed onboard.


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Personal grooming devices such as hair dryers, hair flat irons, curling irons and shavers are allowed on board when used with proper caution. However, if such devices are determined to pose a hazard while onboard, they will be removed by ship security and returned the last day of the cruise prior to debark.

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Bag Allowances Each guest is allowed two pieces of checked luggage with a 50-pound maximum each, same as airlines. Luggage should be clearly labeled with your name, address and contact number. Bring an Additional Small Bag: It may take a few hours after embarkation for your luggage to be delivered to your stateroom.

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How much should you tip cruise waiter? The cruise gratuities cover the wait staff, so you're not obligated to give them any more of a cash tip. However, if you received outstanding service from a waiter and would like to show them your appreciation with a cash tip, $5 per day per passenger is the suggested amount.

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Prepaid gratuities are refundable even in places which have different cancellation policies than the US. I always used to prepay them and would have had them refunded if I cancelled the cruise.

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As mentioned above, not all members of the ship staff receive a share of the gratuities paid by passengers. Bartenders, main show entertainers and third-party shop employees are some of the more obvious ones, but they're not the only ones.

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Tipping on a Cruise Begins Before Sailaway Savvy cruisers know that gratuities begin before you board your ship. Why? If you plan to drop off your larger pieces of luggage, be prepared to give the portside luggage handler a $2- $5 tip per bag. The amount can depend upon size, weight and amount of luggage.

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