Planning
Alaska Cruise Gratuities
Almost every cruise line charges a daily service gratuity that is added automatically to your onboard account, typically between $16 and $25 per person per day. It is not included in the fare, it is not optional in practice, and on a seven night cruise for two it adds $220 to $350. Beverage and spa purchases carry a further automatic gratuity on top.
The short answer
Expect $16 to $25 per person per day in automatic gratuities, charged to your onboard account and higher for suites. Beverages and spa services usually add a further 18 to 20 percent. Some lines let you adjust or remove the daily charge at guest services, but the crew are paid on the assumption that it stands.
Key points
- Daily gratuities run $16 to $25 per person per day, higher in suites.
- On a seven night cruise for two, that is roughly $220 to $350.
- Beverages and spa treatments carry an additional 18 to 20 percent automatically.
- Some fares and promotions include gratuities. Check before budgeting for them twice.
- Ashore, tipping in Alaska follows normal United States practice: 15 to 20 percent in restaurants.
Gratuities are the cost most often left out of an Alaska cruise budget, and they are entirely predictable, which makes leaving them out avoidable. They are also the subject of more confused advice than almost any other cruise topic.
The structure is simple once you see it: a daily service charge covering the crew you interact with and many you do not, plus automatic percentage gratuities on discretionary purchases such as drinks and spa treatments.
Daily gratuity rates by cruise line
| Cruise line | Standard cabins | Suites | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival | $16 to $20 | $18 to $22 | Among the lowest |
| Holland America | $17 to $21 | $19 to $23 | Often included in Have It All fares |
| Disney | $16 to $19 | $16 to $19 | Suggested rather than automatically applied on some sailings |
| Princess | $18 to $23 | $21 to $27 | Included in some bundled fares |
| Royal Caribbean | $18 to $23 | $21 to $27 | |
| Celebrity | $18 to $25 | $23 to $30 | Included in all inclusive fares |
| Norwegian | $20 to $25 | $25 to $32 | Called a service charge. Among the highest |
| Cunard | $16 to $22 | $18 to $24 | Higher in Grills grades |
| Luxury lines | Usually included | Usually included | Silversea, Seabourn and Regent include gratuities in the fare |
What the daily gratuity actually covers
The daily service charge is pooled and distributed across a much wider group than the two or three crew members you see regularly.
- Cabin stewards who service your cabin twice daily on most lines.
- Dining room servers and assistants across all complimentary venues, not just the main dining room.
- Buffet and casual venue staff, who are frequently overlooked but are included in the pool.
- Behind the scenes crew including galley staff, laundry and cleaning teams who never meet passengers.
- Guest services and support staff on many lines.
What it does not cover is bar service, spa treatments, specialty dining surcharges and shore excursions, all of which carry their own gratuity arrangements.
The gratuities you pay on top
| Purchase | Typical automatic gratuity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Individual drinks | 18 to 20% | Added to every bar transaction |
| Drinks packages | 18 to 20% of package price | Charged upfront, even on promotional free packages |
| Specialty dining | 18 to 20% | On the cover charge or à la carte total |
| Spa and salon | 18 to 20% | Added automatically to the bill |
| Room service | $5 fixed plus optional | Varies by line |
| Ship booked excursions | Not automatic | Tip the guide directly if you wish |
Can you remove or adjust gratuities?
On most mainstream lines, yes, by visiting guest services before the end of the cruise. Whether you should is a separate question.
- Crew compensation is structured around it. Service gratuities form a significant part of the pay of the crew who serviced your cabin and dining room.
- Removing it affects people you never met. The pool includes galley and laundry staff who have no way to earn it back.
- A genuine service failure is worth raising directly. If service was poor, the productive route is to speak to the hotel director during the cruise, not to remove the charge silently at the end.
- Some lines have made it non removable, particularly on promotional fares where gratuities were prepaid.
- Prepaying is often the better approach. Paying gratuities before you sail removes them from the onboard account entirely and locks the rate if it rises.
Tipping ashore in Alaska
| Situation | Typical amount |
|---|---|
| Restaurant service | 15 to 20% of the bill |
| Bar service | $1 to $2 per drink, or 15 to 20% |
| Excursion guide, half day | $5 to $10 per person |
| Excursion guide, full day | $10 to $20 per person |
| Boat crew on a wildlife trip | $5 to $10 per person, often a shared jar |
| Taxi | 10 to 15% |
| Hotel housekeeping | $3 to $5 per night |
Frequently asked questions
How much are gratuities on an Alaska cruise?
Are gratuities included in the cruise fare?
Can I remove gratuities from my cruise bill?
Do I still pay gratuity on a free drinks package?
Should I tip extra on a cruise?
How much should I tip an excursion guide in Alaska?
Keep researching
Every charge that does not appear in the fare.
Where gratuities fit in the total trip cost.
The gratuity on the package is the part people miss.
The complete cost picture.