Do I have to pay gratuities on Cunard?

Cunard will not automatically charge gratuities to the on-board account for passengers travelling. Passengers are free to tip cabin and restaurant stewards. Gratuities are welcome, but are not expected.



Yes, Cunard Line automatically adds a daily "Hotel and Dining Service Charge" to your onboard account to ensure that all crew members, including those behind the scenes, are recognized for their work. As of 2026, the rate is typically $17.00 per person, per day for guests in Britannia staterooms and $19.00 per person, per day for those in Queens and Princess Grill suites. Additionally, a 15% service charge is automatically added to all bar, wine, and spa purchases. While these charges are automatic, they are not mandatory in the strictest sense; guests can visit the Purser's Office (Guest Services) at any time during the voyage to adjust the amount based on the level of service received. However, most passengers choose to leave them in place, as the funds are pooled and distributed among the housekeeping, dining, and galley staff who facilitate the luxury experience.

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(1). You have the right to refuse this automatic gratuity charge and may compensate cruise staff on your own terms. However, you will need to notify the front desk of this desire. Otherwise it will appear on your bill when your cruise ends and it will be charged to your credit card on file.

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If you want to manage your budget more effectively, it's a good idea to prepay your gratuities for your Princess cruise. The only time you would be better off waiting is if you want to use any onboard credit towards the gratuity amount.

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If you would prefer not to pay for gratuities before boarding, there is sometimes the option to opt out when you book your cruise. If it's not apparent when making your reservation, you can call a cruise line booking agent instead to book your cruise and ask that the prepaid gratuities be removed.

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61% tip their stateroom attendant an additional $20–$40 per couple per week, 26% tip $40–$70, and 13% tip an additional $70–$140. The average amount tipped to the head waiter was an additional $20–$50 per week per couple.

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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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Find a selection of luxury Penhaligon's toiletries in your suite or stateroom (including hand soap, shampoo, and bath or shower gel). Conditioner however isn't provided, so you may wish to bring your own as well as any body lotions or moisturizers you use as part of your regular skincare routine.

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On booking there might be an option not to pre-pay gratuities before you sail. However, if you opt out at this stage, most cruise lines will add the gratuity to your onboard account daily. You can choose to either amend the amount or remove altogether by visiting guest services in most cases.

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For lines that do have them, service and gratuity charges are touted as a convenient alternative to the practice of cash tipping on cruise ships — something that once was common. Cruise lines say they pass the money collected from service charges to the shipboard crew.

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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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Because they are charged on a daily basis, you do not have to worry about tipping each crew member yourself. Many passengers, however, still like to leave extra tips for their stateroom attendant and dining room waiters at the end of the cruise.

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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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If your bill is not paid, as you try to leave the ship, your SeaPass card will bong, and someone from Guest Services will take you aside to make provisions for payment. Maybe you have friends with you that can lend you some cash or a credit card. You may have to call someone to get a valid credit card number.

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