Pay upfront, but still bring cash: What travelers need to know about tipping on a cruise
- Some travelers new to cruising may be taken aback by how gratuities can add up.
- Guests can pre-pay gratuities before their sailing.
- Passengers can also bring cash to reward exceptional service.
When Chelsy De Avila took a Caribbean cruise in 2019, one part of her bill caught her off guard: gratuities. The cruise line, Royal Caribbean International, had spelled out its automatic gratuity policy, but De Avila had only taken a cruise once before as a teenager and was surprised by the total at the end of her seven-day trip.