{"id":11160,"date":"2026-05-28T16:57:44","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T16:57:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.paramountcruises.com\/blog\/?p=11160"},"modified":"2026-05-28T16:57:46","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T16:57:46","slug":"cruise-tipping-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.paramountcruises.com\/blog\/cruise-tipping-uk\/","title":{"rendered":"Cruise Tipping UK: How Much to Tip on Every Cruise Line (and When You Don’t Need To)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tipping is the one question almost every UK cruiser asks before they book, and the answers vary more than they should. Some lines roll gratuities into the fare. Some apply a daily auto-charge that you can remove. Some leave it open. The honest short answer is: how much you tip depends entirely on which line you sail with, and what’s already been included in the price you paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This guide breaks down current tipping policy line by line, in pounds where possible, with notes on what’s included and what’s discretionary. Bring it with you when you compare fares.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

30-second view<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you sail with a UK-focused line (P&O Cruises, Marella, Fred Olsen) or with MSC Cruises in the UK, gratuities are included in the fare and there’s nothing extra to add. If you sail with an American or international line (Royal Caribbean, NCL, Princess, Celebrity, Carnival, Holland America, Cunard, and now Virgin Voyages), expect a daily auto-gratuity of around $15 to $25 USD per person (or local currency equivalent), charged to your onboard folio. Most luxury all-inclusive lines (Regent, Silversea, Explora, Scenic, Emerald, Azamara) still include gratuities in the base fare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a glance: tipping by cruise line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Cruise line<\/th>Tipping model<\/th>Approximate daily amount (per person)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
P&O Cruises<\/td>Included in fare; no auto-charge<\/td>\u00a30 (tip optional)<\/td><\/tr>
Marella Cruises<\/td>Included in fare<\/td>\u00a30<\/td><\/tr>
Fred Olsen<\/td>Included in fare since 2024<\/td>\u00a30<\/td><\/tr>
Cunard<\/td>Daily Hotel and Dining Charge (auto)<\/td>~\u00a314 (Britannia) \/ \u00a316 (Grills)<\/td><\/tr>
Princess<\/td>Crew Appreciation (auto), included in Princess Plus \/ Premier<\/td>$17.50-$23.50 USD (Inside to Suite; ~\u00a314-\u00a319)<\/td><\/tr>
Royal Caribbean<\/td>Daily auto-gratuity<\/td>$18.50 USD standard \/ $21.50 USD suites (~\u00a315\/\u00a317)<\/td><\/tr>
Norwegian Cruise Line<\/td>Service Charge; included in Free at Sea Plus upgrade only (not base Free at Sea)<\/td>$20 USD standard \/ $25 USD suites and Haven (~\u00a316\/\u00a320)<\/td><\/tr>
Celebrity Cruises<\/td>Auto-gratuity, included in All Included fares<\/td>$18 USD standard \/ $23 USD Retreat suites (~\u00a314\/\u00a318)<\/td><\/tr>
MSC Cruises (UK)<\/td>Included in cruise fare<\/td>\u00a30 (MSC UK confirms gratuities are included)<\/td><\/tr>
Carnival Cruise Line<\/td>Daily auto-gratuity<\/td>$16 USD standard \/ $18 USD suites (~\u00a313\/\u00a314)<\/td><\/tr>
Holland America<\/td>Crew Appreciation, daily<\/td>$17 USD standard \/ $19 USD suites (~\u00a314\/\u00a315)<\/td><\/tr>
Virgin Voyages<\/td>Daily service gratuity (auto, from October 2025)<\/td>$22 USD\/day onboard ($20 if pre-paid)<\/td><\/tr>
Explora Journeys<\/td>Gratuities included<\/td>\u00a30<\/td><\/tr>
Regent Seven Seas<\/td>Included in fare<\/td>\u00a30<\/td><\/tr>
Silversea<\/td>Included in fare<\/td>\u00a30<\/td><\/tr>
Oceania Cruises<\/td>Auto-gratuity; included in Simply More fares<\/td>$18 USD standard \/ $20 USD Concierge and above (~\u00a314\/\u00a316)<\/td><\/tr>
Azamara<\/td>Included since 2022<\/td>\u00a30<\/td><\/tr>
AmaWaterways<\/td>Suggested gratuity, paid separately<\/td>~\u20ac16 ship crew + \u20ac4 cruise director<\/td><\/tr>
Viking Ocean \/ River<\/td>Discretionary, suggested at end of cruise<\/td>~\u20ac15 ocean \/ \u20ac12-15 river<\/td><\/tr>
Scenic \/ Emerald<\/td>Included in fare<\/td>\u00a30<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Figures are correct at the time of publishing (28 May 2026) and currency-converted from each line’s published rates. Cruise line gratuity policies and rates change frequently. Virgin Voyages, for example, introduced its current daily charge as recently as October 2025. For the most up-to-date figures and exactly what applies to your booking, speak to your Paramount Cruises agent or call 020 7947 0270<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Royal<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Crowd<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Bar<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lines where gratuities are included in the fare<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The simplest model. Nothing extra is charged onboard, and you don’t need to budget for daily tips. You’re still free to give cash to crew members who go above and beyond, but no one expects it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

P&O Cruises<\/a><\/strong> removed gratuities from onboard charges in 2019 and now includes service in the fare. The same applies to Marella Cruises<\/strong> and Fred Olsen<\/a><\/strong>, both UK-flagged lines that recognised UK passengers prefer to know the total cost upfront.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MSC Cruises<\/a><\/strong> (UK) also includes service charges and gratuities in the cruise fare for UK passengers. MSC explicitly states it does not recommend tipping individual crew members. Outside the UK market MSC operates a daily Hotel Service Charge model, so the policy you experience depends on where you booked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the luxury end, Regent Seven Seas<\/a><\/strong>, Silversea<\/a><\/strong>, Explora Journeys<\/a><\/strong>, Scenic<\/a><\/strong> and Emerald<\/a><\/strong> all include gratuities in the published price. Azamara<\/a><\/strong> joined the no-tip model in 2022. Virgin Voyages<\/a><\/strong> previously fell into this group but introduced a daily service gratuity in October 2025 (see below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lines with daily auto-gratuities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most American-headquartered lines add a daily service charge to your onboard account. It covers your stateroom attendant, dining room servers and behind-the-scenes crew. You can ask Guest Services to adjust it, but unless you have a specific reason most passengers leave it as is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cunard<\/a><\/strong> applies an automatic Hotel and Dining Charge of around \u00a314 per person per day for Britannia-class staterooms and around \u00a316 for Princess Grill and Queens Grill suites. Suites and Grills passengers receive a higher tier of service, which is why the charge is higher. The charge can be adjusted at the Purser’s Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Princess<\/a><\/strong>, Celebrity Cruises<\/a><\/strong>, Royal Caribbean<\/a><\/strong>, Carnival<\/a><\/strong> and Holland America<\/a><\/strong> all follow the same model. The rate varies by cabin category. Suite passengers pay a higher rate because they’re served by a larger crew (butler, concierge, suite attendant).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Norwegian Cruise Line<\/a><\/strong> calls its daily charge a Service Charge. NCL often includes the Service Charge in Free at Sea Plus<\/a> upgrade, which prepays the Service Charge alongside drinks, dining and Wi-Fi at the time of booking. The base Free at Sea promotion does not include the Service Charge; if your fare is base Free at Sea (or no promotion), expect a daily charge of $20 USD per person added to your onboard folio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Virgin Voyages<\/a><\/strong> changed its policy on 7 October 2025 and now charges a daily service gratuity of $22 USD per Sailor (approximately \u00a317), applied automatically to your onboard folio. If you pre-pay before the voyage you pay $20 USD per night instead. Unlike most American lines, Virgin does not add extra gratuities to drinks, spa or speciality dining; the daily charge covers everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Virgin<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Poolside<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Stern<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lines with bundled-fare options that prepay gratuities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Increasingly the major lines are bundling gratuities into upgraded fare tiers, so you pay them at the time of booking and never see them on your onboard account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n