Royal Caribbean Cruise Gratuities
On Royal Caribbean, gratuities are an automatic daily charge of $18.50 per guest for non-suite staterooms and $21.00 for suites, added to your SeaPass account unless you prepay. Here is what the charge covers, how to prepay or remove it, and what a full week costs.
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Yes, Royal Caribbean charges gratuities as a daily amount.
Royal Caribbean applies a daily gratuity of $18.50 per guest in non-suite staterooms and $21.00 in suites, in effect since November 1, 2024. You can prepay at booking or let it post to your SeaPass account, and you can modify it at Guest Services before the last morning.
Royal Caribbean gratuities at a glance
Use this order next.
The verdict and key numbers are above. From here, check the rate table, learn how to prepay or adjust, see how drinks and extras are charged, then compare the nearby lines.
Royal Caribbean daily gratuity rates
Royal Caribbean charges its gratuity per guest, per day, and the amount depends on your stateroom type. The rates below are current as of June 2026.
| Stateroom type | Daily rate |
|---|---|
| All non-suite staterooms, including Junior Suites | $18.50 per guest, per day |
| Suites, not including Junior Suites | $21 per guest, per day |
The daily amount is charged for every guest in the cabin, for every night of the sailing. Prepaying before an increase takes effect locks in the older rate.
What Royal Caribbean gratuities cost for the whole trip
Use this grid to budget the full gratuity before you book. Figures use the standard stateroom rate of $18.50 per guest, per day. For a quote-specific total, use the cruise real-cost calculator to enter the applicable gratuity amount from this guide alongside any known taxes, onboard extras, or travel costs. It uses the amounts you enter and does not look up rates.
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| Sailing length | Solo (1) | Couple (2) | Family of 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 nights | $55.50 | $111 | $222 |
| 4 nights | $74 | $148 | $296 |
| 5 nights | $92.50 | $185 | $370 |
| 7 nights | $129.50 | $259 | $518 |
| 10 nights | $185 | $370 | $740 |
Suite guests pay $21 per day, so multiply the number of guests by the number of nights by $21. A 7 night suite for two works out to about $294.
The Royal Caribbean gratuities guide system
Use this page as the central Royal Caribbean gratuities guide, then jump to the section that answers your question. Each card links to a detailed breakdown below.
How Royal Caribbean gratuities actually work
These cards group Royal Caribbean gratuities around the decisions guests actually make: what posts to your account, how to prepay or adjust it, and how drinks, spa, and extra tips fit in.
The daily gratuity, explained
Royal Caribbean posts the gratuity to your onboard account every day of the sailing. It is a single per guest amount that covers the people who keep the cruise running.
The pooled gratuity is shared across the dining, bar, culinary, stateroom, and hotel services teams.
Prepay before you sail or adjust onboard
You can prepay the gratuity at the time of booking. Prepaying before an announced increase locks the prior rate, which is how guests held the older amount before the November 1, 2024 change.
Per the official policy, gratuities may be modified at the guest’s discretion by visiting the Guest Services desk any time before the morning of disembarkation. They cannot be changed once the sailing ends.
Bar, beverage package, and dining
Royal Caribbean adds an 18% gratuity to drinks and to the Deluxe Beverage and Refreshment packages, whether bought before the cruise or onboard. Spa and salon services carry a 20% gratuity.
Specialty dining carries a 18% service charge as well, so a steakhouse or sushi night adds a little on top of the cover price.
Spa, salon, and other add ons
Spa and salon services add a 20% gratuity at checkout, which is standard across the cruise industry.
Continental breakfast through room service is complimentary; other room-service orders can carry a service charge. Any such order charges are separate from the daily gratuity. Photos and shore excursions are priced separately and are not part of the daily gratuity.
Kids, third guests, and suites
Royal Caribbean charges the daily gratuity per guest with no published age exemption, so children are charged the same daily amount as adults.
Every guest in the stateroom pays the full daily gratuity, including third and fourth guests.
Adjusting or removing the gratuity
Royal Caribbean lets you modify the daily gratuity at Guest Services at any point before the last morning of the cruise.
Crew rely on the pooled gratuity as part of their pay, so most guests leave the standard amount in place and tip extra for service that stands out.
The daily gratuity is per guest, not per cabin, and it is separate from the service charge on drinks and dining. Budget both, and decide before you sail whether to prepay or settle it onboard.
How Royal Caribbean gratuities compare
Daily gratuities are one of the clearest ways to compare cruise lines on real onboard cost. Here is how Royal Caribbean lines up with the nearby brands, per guest, per day.
Royal Caribbean
Daily gratuity for non-suite staterooms, $21 in suites, on your SeaPass account.
Jump to the ratesCarnival
A dollar and a half less per day, $19 in suites.
See Carnival gratuitiesNorwegian
Higher daily service charge, $25 in The Haven and suites.
See Norwegian gratuitiesCelebrity
Sister line: current daily rates are $19.50 for Inside/Oceanview/Veranda, $20.50 for Concierge/AquaClass, and $24.50 in The Retreat.
See Celebrity gratuitiesRoyal Caribbean charges in US dollars. Note that Junior Suites pay the standard $18.50 rate, not the $21.00 suite rate, which is a common point of confusion.
Royal Caribbean gratuity sources
These rates come from Royal Caribbean official guidance, cross checked against reputable cruise sources and verified in June 2026. Always confirm the exact amount for your sailing at booking. The Celebrity comparison alone was rechecked against Celebrity’s official policy on October 4, 2026; this update does not revalidate Royal Caribbean’s rates or historical terms.
Cruise lines do not cover medical evacuation. EKTA travel insurance covers it from about 1 dollar a day.
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Royal Caribbean gratuities questions
How much are Royal Caribbean gratuities per day?
As of June 2026, Royal Caribbean charges $18.50 per guest, per day for non-suite staterooms (including Junior Suites) and $21.00 per guest, per day for suites. The amount applies to every guest for every night of the cruise.
Can you prepay Royal Caribbean gratuities?
Yes. You can prepay at the time of booking, which keeps the amount off your onboard bill and can lock the current rate before an increase. Prepaid gratuities are refundable if you cancel.
How do you remove or adjust Royal Caribbean gratuities?
Visit the Guest Services desk onboard any time before the morning of disembarkation. The official policy allows gratuities to be modified at the guest’s discretion. They cannot be changed after the cruise ends.
Do Junior Suites pay the suite gratuity rate?
No. Junior Suites pay the standard $18.50 rate, not the $21.00 suite rate. Only full suites are charged the higher amount.
Are gratuities included in the Royal Caribbean drink package?
The 18% gratuity is built into the price of the Deluxe Beverage and Refreshment packages, so you do not tip again per drink. The daily stateroom gratuity is separate.
Do kids pay gratuities on Royal Caribbean?
Yes. Royal Caribbean lists no age exemption, so children are charged the same daily gratuity as adults.
How much are gratuities for a 7 night Royal Caribbean cruise for two?
About $259 in a non-suite stateroom (2 guests times 7 nights times $18.50). A suite works out to about $294. Drink and spa gratuities are added separately.
Are Royal Caribbean gratuities mandatory?
They are applied automatically but can be modified at Guest Services. Royal Caribbean uses the pooled gratuity to reward the crew, so most guests leave the standard amount in place.
Keep planning your Royal Caribbean cruise
Gratuities are one line in the budget. Use the Royal Caribbean fleet guide to choose the right ship, then come back here before you sail to prepay or adjust your gratuities with confidence.
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