Tipping on Cruises - A Very British Guide to tips, gratuities and service charges on cruise ships.

The British are generally uncomfortable with tipping. It is a slightly alien concept and when faced with the question of what to tip and who to tip on cruises it can make the average British cruiser uncomfortable.
In this video we look at the current state of tipping which even the Americans describe as 'out of control' and how we got to this point.
So whether it is a tip, service charge, gratuity or crew appreciation come along with us as we navigate the pitfalls of tipping so that we can tip with confidence together.
Knowledge is power, so we look at the policies of the major cruise lines that British cruisers will generally use, including Cunard, P&O, Marella, Ambassador, MSC, Royal Caribbean, Virgin etc. We also look at what some of the major UK cruise vloggers have to say about tipping including Tips for Travellers - Gary Bembridge, Emma Cruises and Cruise With Ben and David.
We also reveal the kind of tipper who annoys Giles the most!
#tippingculture #tipping #gratuities #servicecharge #outofcontrol

[@angelahorton5745]

Wow! Brave man for addressing this very contentious subject. I'm going to stick my neck out and agree with everything you've said. My favourite countries to travel in are Australia, New Zealand and Japan. People earn a decent wage and give an excellent service and there's no tipping involved. The price you see is the price you pay and there's no awkwardness. I'm looking forward to reading the responses to this video.😂😂

[@TravellingLightLisa]

@angelahorton5745 Lol! Thanks, Angela. I have gone into hiding and changed my identity to avoid the fallout! 😁 Thanks for your support.

[@RichardHiggins-we8bs]

Good man I agree with you and Emma.I prefer to pre pay my tips and I agree that the tipping culture is getting out of control. Angela you can come out of your hidy hole now lol😂

[@TravellingLightLisa]

Thanks for watching and for your support. It's much appreciated 😁👍

[@dianafrith1961]

Excellent analysis of a contentious subject, well done!

[@TravellingLightLisa]

Thanks for watching and for your kind comments 👍

[@kathleenpipes]

I”m glad I didn’t meet any of those people on the Mersey Ferry: I might have been forced to make them walk the plank. Seriously though, a really good analysis and very thought provoking. Also, very fair, as you always are. It is a minefield and you were brave to tackle it.

[@TravellingLightLisa]

Thank you for watching. People are strange, aren't they?

[@joanfreestone1707]

Thanks for the good advice. We've had seven Cunard cruises over the years and never been pressured to tip. We have to save very hard for our holidays so we're on a budget when on board. I'm so glad we don't have tipping or service charges here in Australia. Cafes sometimes have a jar on the counter in case you feel like putting a tip in it.

[@TravellingLightLisa]

@joanfreestone1707 I know, having to calculate adding 20% to every transaction would be a pain! Glad we don't live in the USA 😁. Our daughter is in Australia at the moment. Your comment reminded me I should message her.

[@joanfreestone1707]

@@TravellingLightLisa I hope she has a lovely holiday.

[@bettycollins3960]

Thank you. I have often pondered this issue. Your advice and comments have answered my questions. 😊

[@TravellingLightLisa]

No problem. I am glad you found it helpful. Doing the research helped me get my head round it as well! Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@Bazzerb]

Hi Giles was Lisa hiding behind the sofa when you recorded this video to embarrassed 😂, on a more serious note I totally agree with your comments we have been on marella 10 times because everything is paid up front so you know where you stand, we have also cruised with Celebrity RC and others and are totally confused with the different gratuity policies if these cruise companies can't give their employees a decent wage considering the vast profits they are making they don't deserve to have good and loyal staff, keep up the videos hope to see you on a cruise one day. Barry

[@TravellingLightLisa]

Cheers Barry. We are back on Marella this month. Looking forward to it. Thanks for watching. Lisa is now out of hiding.

[@karenasher9870]

Great video and agree with everything you said regarding tipping. As Australians daily gratuities are already included in our cruise fare price and I think that this a much fairer way for the hard working crew to receive their wages providing the cruise companies do pass this money onto the crew

[@TravellingLightLisa]

@@karenasher9870 Thanks for watching and especially for agreeing! 😂👍

[@BrummieNik]

As you know, we have only done river cruises. Gratuities are included in the price. However, this means - along with the many other inclusions of a typical river cruise fare - that the holiday costs are really quite expensive compared with many standard ocean cruise fares that you might get. We much prefer a true all inclusive cost upfront. We always tip our cabin housekeeper. We have never had any “hints” from staff that an additional tip should be considered. On my last visit to the USA (non cruise related), my American cousins advised me that if you tipped below 20%, you will be asked what was wrong with the service ! A really informative video that I’m sure will generate a lot of comment.

[@TravellingLightLisa]

@BrummieNik Tipping makes very little sense to me. The service for a £20 meal and a £100 meal is pretty much the same in terms of the fetching and carrying, but if a 20% tip is expected, there is a £16 difference. Madness! 😂 Thanks for watching.

[@annewalsh3351]

A good and honest video. Thanks .

[@TravellingLightLisa]

Thank you. That is very much appreciated. Thanks for watching 😁 👍

[@CooksExplore]

Great video Giles … And the best tip seems to be to give Cunard Queen Mary 2 a wide berth. Hope this video gets the airing it deserves and ignore the haters. Keep being brilliant.

[@TravellingLightLisa]

Ah, cheers, guys. To be honest, the haters have given us some good laughs 😃 Thanks for watching and for your support.

[@nessc7668]

Thank you for an interesting discussion. I find tipping difficult as I prepay all gratuities. I also have to work hard and sacrifice to have the experience of cruising. I am happy to tip but feel that I am being double charged.

[@TravellingLightLisa]

I absolutely take your point! Thank you for watching, and I am glad you found it of interest 😊👍

[@Krypto64]

Brilliant work, Giles! Well researched, funny, stylish… fearless! As a fellow Brit I’ve never understood why so many US folk give a dollar to waiters every time they order a drink, for the reasons you state. I was shocked to find out from you just how shockingly low the US minimum wage is compared to ours. Customers really do need to stop enabling employers to exploit their workers while they take big-time profits. Our own position is the same as yours - pay the gratuities upfront and tip the stewards at the end. And maybe throw in a giant bar of Toblerone (well, World of Quid ‘Toblerone’ in our case).

[@TravellingLightLisa]

@Krypto64 Thanks, Martin. Much appreciated. Tipping is just weird when you take a closer look at it 😂 However, I guess we will have to put up with it as it's not going anywhere soon. Thanks again for watching.

[@wendywebster-sv2li]

I worked on cruise ships back in the day for 6 years (mostly in the US ) when ships were much smaller and cash was king no charge on my first 2 ships in them days . I was a hairdresser and we too had to pay tips to are dining room staff and room attendant . We paid every 2 weeks the envelopes were left on the bed. Obviously I’m not against tipping as a hairdresser , but I don’t like being told I have to pay XYZ . We have sailed on 7 different cruise lines on lots of cruises and we like Azamara the best as drinks, tips etc all included. And yes if someone goes the extra mile we will give them an extra tip at the end of the cruise. Great video 🚢

[@TravellingLightLisa]

Thanks for the feedback. It is reassuring to hear from someone who has worked on a ship that you didn't appreciate being told what you should pay. Thanks for watching 👍

[@BertieTheDrummist]

Fantastic research, well done. I totally agree with your thoughts. Interesting how 'Donald de Orange' has vowed to remove tax on tips. Hmmm, no prizes for guessing who voted for that policy (threat?) and who will actually benefit from it!

[@TravellingLightLisa]

@BertieTheDrummist Tips to help employers top wages up to a living wage should not even be a thing we tolerate in this day and age. I have no issues with recognising good service, but tipping for the sake of it, whether for good, fair, or poor service, does not sit well with me. However, as the situation is what it is, we will continue to pay the gratuities for the sake of the staff. I will continue to complain about it, though! Thanks for watching 😁👍

[@peteonthemove]

Great vid. It would make things so much easier if every cruise company adopted the no gratuities thing. You pretty much stick your head over the parapet when you start talking about this subject. But I thought you gave a really balanced view of it Giles.

[@TravellingLightLisa]

@peteonthemove It would be my preferred option as well to have everything included and know that staff are well rewarded. It is a very divisive subject, but I am happy to stick my neck out! 😂 Thanks for watching and for your kind comments 👍

[@Bears69]

Well known travel journalist Simon Calder's advice was to have daily auto-gratuities removed, he said it's the only way the message may get through to Cunard. Especially as service charges are added to everything else on-board. Cunard are offering a very British style of cruise sailing from the UK THUS, we will be removing the daily auto gratuity as per his advice. Transparency around pricing and extra costs definitely needs improving. We have booked on Cunard for the first time, via an agent & were not made aware of these additional charges. This has had a negative impact regarding this upcoming trip and it's unlikely we'll book Cunard again now we know.

[@TravellingLightLisa]

Yes, I did see that advice from Simon Calder. If I choose to book with a line like Cunard in the future, knowing how they operate, I will still pay the gratuities as long as the service is good. In reality, like yourself, I am more likely to book elsewhere as I don't agree with the Americanisation of tipping on cruises. A tip or gratuity should be freely given for good service. The amount should not be mandated by the company. It is a hidden cost for many people and unfair on staff and customers alike. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts. 😀👍

[@ThamesShips]

Excellent and interesting video especially the reason why ships sail under the flags that they do. Although not entirely relevant to the video, I think that this is also the same for some freight shipping companies so that they can employ crew on their cargo ships at reduced rates and conditions (and of course the people working on cargo ships don't receive tips or gratuities anyway).

[@TravellingLightLisa]

Yes, it's a flag of convenience but not for the convenience of the passengers or the crew! Maritime law is not something I have studied but could be interesting. Thanks for watching. Always appreciated 👏

[@singingbuddhakaraoke]

Gratuities or tips should be given as a reward for excellent service. It encourages great customer service. If you receive great service then tip. Gratuities are not part of the statutory fare and as such can be removed in entirety on day 1 or thereafter...It seems a much more common thing for passengers to do so nowadays.

[@TravellingLightLisa]

Thanks for watching. Hope you are doing OK 😁👍

[@singingbuddhakaraoke]

@TravellingLightLisa yes I'm in between princess cruises for a couple of weeks...still singing lol

[@TravellingLightLisa]

@singingbuddhakaraoke Good to hear!

[@simracer1256]

The hollier than thou commentators are nuts. the first thing I do on a cruise is take off the automatic tips. It's not my job to pay the cruise line staff a proper wage - that's up to the cruise line, and if you believe the crew ever see the automatic gratuities, you're off your nuts. I give my cabin steward £20. That's it. The rest is up to the cruise line. If hyasynth bucket doesn't like that, she can rack off.

[@TravellingLightLisa]

😂 I totally agree that staff should be paid properly in the first place without having to rely on tips.

[@barbaragriessel1814]

@@TravellingLightLisa - TOTALLY AGREE. Got off Cunard Queen Anne Sunday 3rd Nov and the first thing I did on boarding was to ask reception to take off gratuities. For my grandson (14) and I the gratuities were $224 for the week. As I am a pensioner and on Pension Credit due to low income, it takes a lot of budgeting to have a cruise and going without little luxuries like having £3.50 capuccinos when out shopping, watching TV with blanket instead of putting heating on, only putting hot water on twice a week, making a £2.50 packet of mince last for meals for a week (I am a excellent budgeter as I raised 2 boys without maintenance from my ex husband and could only work part-time due to not being able to afford after school care for them) etc.etc. As a cruise is my one and only luxury now and I always have cheapest inside cabin and so enjoy all the food, entertainment etc. which I cannot afford on land SO NO, THERE IS NO WAY I AM SUPPLEMENTING CUNARD'S STAFF IF THEY DON'T PAY THEM A DECENT WAGE. I always leave £10 for my steward though.

[@TravellingLightLisa]

@barbaragriessel1814 thank you for the comment Barbara 🙏 We completely understand how you feel. Lots of people work hard all their lives and save, budget to help them have one or two luxuries in life now and again. I hope you continue to enjoy your cruises. Happy travelling!

[@singingbuddhakaraoke]

Many years ago I used to go to Butlins...the service, entertainment and experience...the rates of pay were low but staff had a wonderful life...this all changed with the introduction of the national minimum wage...the company could no longer afford as many staff...what resulted in my opinion was a downward spiral of higher costs, higher wages, less staff, higher costs, higher wages, less staff...less entertainment, less fun, less holidaymakers, less camps...so to truly understand the economics of tipping its not always so straightforward and not always as open as is thought...let me put a scenario to you...firstly we must all agree that many lines are sorely understaffed even now 4 years post pandemic...there is no reason other than false economics in doing this... a restaurant with no server takes no business and goes out of business quickly, same with any business...having bar waiters available stops people spending money or taking the packages in future...so lets say a cruise is at 50% occupancy...they try and sell the cabins that are left at a peppercorn rate...because they want any money they can get as an empty cabin provides £0/$0...so lets say you are undecided about going on a cruise because of the tips...for some they may take the price above a ceiling that is acceptable or comfortable for them, we are not all multi millionaires, we may be able to afford the fare but not 18% extra. So that customer may then decide not to go cruising. The company loses that customer on that occasion and earns £0/$0...That same customer may have had a wonderful experience and may return time after time, year after year...but now they are a zero...Cruises need to get back to what they did best and provide excellent food, excellent service, excellent entertainment and the WOW factor...we re seasoned cruisers and we have seen everything but it is an ever changing world and business and cruises must respond, but instead they are constantly trying to find new ways to take your money without actually warranting it. When you go on holiday or to anywhere you go with a budget to spend and all you want is to get a great experience and great memories...if they concentrated on this then cruising would be fine but as is the case in so many businesses today they want more for so much less...The poor staff are overworked and there are way too little of them...tips may ease the pressure but a happy well staffed crew give so much more and earn so much more for themselves and the business

[@TravellingLightLisa]

The nickel and diming that some companies employ is really annoying. I agree that staffing on some lines appears to have reduced, and service has slowed or reduced in standard. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and taking the time to do this. We are all passionate about our cruising and only want the cruise companies to give us a good experience, but not at the expense of hard-working staff. You can tell when staff aren't happy on a ship, and it can affect everyone's enjoyment.

[@eddie6171]

Totally agree with you, now get a name change 😂😂😂

[@TravellingLightLisa]

Thanks for that. Appreciate the support. All the best from me, Gillian. 😂

[@LetsTalkAboutIt-tt3lf]

The system is shady af, torwards the employees and the customers, this should not take up so much time and thought! Emloyees should be paid a livible wage and customers should not be guilted into paying for a wage or a part of a wage on the spot, the employer is responsible and this should represented within a transperent price for a service or for goods. Shady.

[@TravellingLightLisa]

Totally agree. We will try to stick to those companies that treat their employees well. Tipping culture is an anachronism in this day and age, and you are right - this sort of video should not have to be made! Thanks for watching.

[@LetsTalkAboutIt-tt3lf]

@TravellingLightLisa I enjoyed the video, good content:)

[@TLgamer_TL]

Doesn't take 25 minutes to address, discuss, and explain this issue. I'll address it in this in this single reply 1. Tipping is out of control everywhere 2. It is not your responsibility to make sure an employee is paid correctly 3. Cruise ships rake in billions every year so it's inexcusable to not pay their employee's correctly 4. The amount of money Cruises cost and still not have everything included, the nickel and diming, especially the private island crap, and then still be expected to tip are people serious. 5. you go on a cruise to relax, not be guilt shamed into supporting someone elses mortgage 6. Guilt shamers are a major problem, it's not ok for you to not tip but it's perfectly ok for companies not to pay their employees correctly..You kidding!! Bottom line = DO NOT TIP

[@TravellingLightLisa]

Good points well made. In the future, would rather not travel in the first place with those companies that force their staff to rely on tips and nickel and dime. Thanks for watching and commenting 👍

[@TLgamer_TL]

@TravellingLightLisa Thanks. BTW I'm an entertainer so I fully understand the mentality surrounding tipping

[@tristancollins3037]

No, I dont tip on cruises or anywhere, it's a ridiculous anachronistic practice. Whenever we sail cunard I always decline auto tipping at the pursers office. It's just another hidden extra that carnival cruise corporation try to add on where they can get away with it. There are many many industries throughout the world that require team members to deliver high quality services and have no means to earn any tips. As someone who works in the service sector all i want from my customers is to be treated with respect. All I demand from my employer is to be paid fairly. But carnival cruise line has a published modern day slavery policy which clearly states the minimum rates of pay their staff receive. This is not influenced by tips at all. If I have any spare income this is donated to an actual charity rather than to help service CCLs colossal debt.

[@TravellingLightLisa]

It is definitely an anachronism in this day and age. I couldn't find the pay levels in the Modern Day Slavery Cunard policy when I looked. I'll have another look. It just shows how confusing it is to the customer trying to make informed choices. This is more difficult across cruise lines and even more so when Carnival has different policies on gratuities on each line. Having recently sailed on Virgin, we liked their arrangements, and the staff we spoke to were very happy with their lot. Thanks so much for watching and sharing your thoughts 😁👍

[@tristancollins3037]

@@TravellingLightLisa when I read their slavery statement it was around £31000 minimum. I will see if I can dig it out

[@TravellingLightLisa]

@tristancollins3037 That would be great. Knowledge is power! 👍

[@martynmiller4247]

On Cunard (I've done 20 voyages) I've simply allowed the "Auto-Tip" to add to my on board account. No panic, no "confusion", no stress, no worry. No "Oh my god, what do I do?" If I want to tip an individual for "above and beyond" exceptional service, then I do in cash, no issue. Not sure why this video has been made, frankly.

[@TravellingLightLisa]

@martynmiller4247 Probably because the world of cruising is bigger than just Cunard and tipping is an anachronism in this day and age. Cunard uses it to make their cruises appear cheaper than they really are and pay their workers less. Other cruise lines are much more transparent in their pricing policy to consumers. Thanks for watching 👍

[@tristancollins3037]

@@martynmiller4247 tipping is just a weird concept, when someone can tell me what it's actually for, other than to make large corporations even more money I might consider it. In the meantime I will continue to donate any spare income I have to an actual charity.

[@singingbuddhakaraoke]

No tips on P&O Giles...

[@TravellingLightLisa]

Unless you want to @ 12.57. That's one of the reasons we like P&O.

[@singingbuddhakaraoke]

@@TravellingLightLisa i still tip on P&O where service warrants it...i would be interested to know an average take home pay for a server on P&O compared to its sister companies...it would make interesting reading but probably unlikely to ever be made public

[@TravellingLightLisa]

@singingbuddhakaraoke I tried to find out, but no joy. 😔

[@tristancollins3037]

Curious how cruise lines struggle to be transparent with salaries but find it easy to add on a service charge for a beer​@@TravellingLightLisa

[@TravellingLightLisa]

@tristancollins3037 😂 A good point well made!