How much is drink gratuity on Royal Caribbean?

A 18% gratuity is automatically added to all beverages and mini bar items. A 20% gratuity is automatically added to all spa & salon purchases. Guests can pre-pay gratuities by calling 866-562-7625 before the sailing.



As of 2026, Royal Caribbean automatically applies an 18% gratuity to all beverage purchases made on board, as well as to the cost of pre-purchased beverage packages. This high-fidelity service charge is added to every individual drink order at the bars, lounges, and dining rooms. If you purchase a Deluxe Beverage Package, the 18% gratuity is calculated based on the total daily rate and is charged at the time of purchase. For 2026 travelers, this means if a cocktail is listed on the menu for $14.00, the final amount charged to your SeaPass account will be $16.52. It is a high-fidelity point of note that you are not required to tip extra on top of this automatic charge, although many guests choose to provide a small additional "High-Fidelity" cash tip for exceptional service from their favorite bartenders. Knowing this 18% high-fidelity baseline helps you accurately budget for your total onboard spending throughout the duration of your cruise.

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Technically speaking, you can remove gratuities on a Royal Caribbean cruise, but you absolutely shouldn't do this. Although Royal Caribbean gives you two options for paying gratuities (prepaying or being charged daily once onboard), some passengers try to opt out of paying any gratuities whatsoever.

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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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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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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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Just like some land-based hotels, guests can expect to see an initial $99.75 pending charge or authorization on their credit card. This pending amount is used to secure funds for anticipated onboard purchases. Purchases made onboard over the initial $99.75 will generate additional holds.

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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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For most sailings, beverage package gratuities of 18% are added at final checkout and not included in the initial cost. If desired, guests may pay additional gratuities once onboard.

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A gratuity (often called a tip) is a sum of money customarily given by a customer to certain service sector workers such as hospitality for the service they have performed, in addition to the basic price of the service.

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How to Hack (and Share) the Royal Caribbean Drink Package
  1. 1 Buy your drink package before the cruise.
  2. 2 Share the drink package with someone else.
  3. 3 Order top-shelf liquor at the bar.
  4. 4 Take advantage of the non-alcoholic drinks.
  5. 5 Take bottled water with you on excursions.


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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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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.

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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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