Cruise lines don't go out of their way to tell you this, but you are free to ask for gratuities to be removed from your account by visiting the customer service desk at any time during your cruise. You do not have to give a reason.

Whether you can remove prepaid gratuities depends on when you paid them and the specific policy of the cruise line. If you prepaid your gratuities at the time of booking or months before the cruise, they are generally non-refundable once the sailing has begun. The cruise line has already processed those funds and often allocated them to the crew's pay cycles. However, if you did not prepay and the "automatic gratuities" (or "service charges") appear on your onboard bill at the end of the cruise, you can visit the Guest Services desk before you disembark to have the amount adjusted or removed. You will typically be asked to provide a reason for the removal, such as being dissatisfied with the service. In 2026, cruise lines strongly discourage removing these tips because they are a fundamental part of the crew's compensation, especially for "invisible" staff in the laundry and kitchens who don't receive direct cash tips. If you plan to "tip in cash" instead, be aware that removing the automatic fee prevents those behind-the-scenes workers from receiving their share of the tip pool.