How Much Are Tips on Carnival Cruise Lines Revealed

Tips on Carnival Cruise Lines typically cost $14.50–$16.50 per person, per day, automatically added to your onboard account for convenience. This gratuity covers dining, housekeeping, and other essential crew services, though you can adjust the amount or tip extra for exceptional service. Always review your final bill to ensure accuracy and avoid surprises.

Key Takeaways

• Standard tips: $14.50–$16.50 per day, per guest.
• Adjust anytime: Modify gratuities via app or guest services.
• Kids pay less: Children under 12 charged 50% of adult rate.
• Suite perks: Suite guests receive upgraded tipping rates.
• Pre-pay option: Lock in rates before sailing to avoid hikes.
• Service first: Tip extra for exceptional crew service.

How Much Are Tips on Carnival Cruise Lines? The Real Breakdown

Let’s be honest—planning a Carnival cruise is exciting. The thought of lounging on the Lido Deck, sipping a frozen drink, and dancing the night away at the RedFrog Rum Bar is enough to make anyone giddy. But then you start reading the fine print, and one question keeps popping up: how much are tips on Carnival Cruise Lines? You’re not alone. Every year, thousands of cruisers wonder how much to budget for gratuities, whether tipping is mandatory, and if they’re overpaying (or underpaying) their hardworking crew.

I’ve been on three Carnival cruises—two with friends, one with family—and I’ve learned a thing or two about tipping. It’s not just about numbers; it’s about fairness, expectations, and making sure your experience (and the crew’s) is as smooth as possible. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Carnival’s tipping policy, from how much to tip to when you can skip it. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned pro, this post will help you plan smarter and tip with confidence.

Understanding Carnival Cruise Lines’ Tipping Policy

What Are Carnival’s Automatic Gratuities?

When you book a Carnival cruise, you’ll notice that gratuities (also called “service charges”) are automatically added to your onboard account. This is Carnival’s standard tipping policy for the crew members who serve you daily. The automatic gratuity system covers the dining room team, stateroom attendants, and other service staff who work behind the scenes to make your cruise enjoyable.

As of 2024, the standard automatic gratuity rate is $16.00 per person, per day for most staterooms. For suites, the rate is slightly higher at $18.00 per person, per day. This amount is charged daily and appears on your final bill at the end of the cruise.

Let’s break that down with a real example: If you’re a family of four (two adults, two children) on a 7-night cruise in an interior stateroom, the automatic gratuities would total:

• 4 people × $16.00 × 7 days = $448 total

That might sound steep, but remember: this money is distributed among multiple crew members who rely on tips as a significant portion of their income.

Why Does Carnival Use Automatic Gratuities?

Carnival introduced automatic gratuities to simplify the tipping process and ensure fair compensation for crew members. Unlike some cruise lines where you tip in cash at the end of the cruise, Carnival’s system spreads the cost evenly and guarantees that staff are paid regardless of whether guests tip extra.

Here’s a pro tip: You can adjust or remove automatic gratuities if you feel the service was subpar—but you’ll need to visit Guest Services before the end of your cruise. More on that later.

One thing to note: automatic gratuities do not cover specialty dining, spa services, or bar staff. You’ll still need to tip extra for those services. But more on that in a bit.

What If You’re on a Short Cruise?

Even on a 3-night cruise to the Bahamas, you’ll still pay the daily rate. So for a couple on a 3-day trip, that’s $16 × 2 people × 3 days = $96 in automatic gratuities. While it’s a smaller amount, it’s still a significant chunk of change—especially if you’re trying to keep your budget tight.

But here’s the thing: the crew works just as hard on short cruises. They’re still making beds, serving meals, and cleaning cabins. So while it might feel like a lot for just a few days, the service is consistent across all sailings.

How Much Are Tips on Carnival Cruise Lines: Breaking Down the Numbers

Daily Rates and What They Cover

Let’s get specific. The $16.00 per person, per day rate is the industry standard for Carnival and covers the following crew members:

• Dining room waiters and assistant waiters – They serve your meals, take your orders, and often remember your drink preferences.
• Stateroom attendants (cabin stewards) – They clean your cabin twice a day, turn down your bed at night, and leave fun towel animals.
• Headwaiters and dining room managers – They oversee the dining experience and handle special requests.
• Other service staff – This includes the crew who clean public areas, manage luggage, and assist in the buffet.

The distribution is managed internally by Carnival, so you don’t need to worry about who gets what. But if you want to tip extra for exceptional service, you can do so directly (more on that later).

Suite Guests: Higher Rates, Better Service?

If you’re staying in a suite (like the Havana Suite or a Grand Suite), the gratuity rate jumps to $18.00 per person, per day. This reflects the higher level of service you’ll receive, including:

• Concierge service
• Priority boarding and disembarkation
• Enhanced room amenities and turndown service

But here’s a word of caution: while suite guests do get more attention, the core service staff (like dining room waiters and cabin stewards) are still the same team members serving everyone. So the higher rate isn’t just about better service—it’s also a reflection of Carnival’s tiered pricing strategy.

Children and Gratuities: Do Kids Count?

Yes, children are charged the same gratuity rate as adults. That means if you’re traveling with two kids, you’ll pay $16 per child, per day. Carnival doesn’t offer a discount for minors, even infants.

Why? Because the crew still serves the child—whether it’s a high chair in the dining room, extra towels, or special meals. It’s a fair policy, even if it stings a bit when you’re budgeting.

Special Cases: Solo Travelers and Group Bookings

For solo travelers, the math is simple: $16 per day, just like everyone else. But here’s a little-known tip: if you’re in a single-occupancy cabin, you’re still only charged one rate—not two. Carnival doesn’t double the gratuity just because the cabin is designed for one.

For group bookings (10+ guests), Carnival may offer a gratuity discount or waiver as part of a promotion. Always ask your travel agent or check the group booking terms. I once booked a group cruise for 12 friends, and Carnival waived the gratuities as part of a “book 10, get 2 free” deal. It saved us over $500!

Can You Modify or Remove Automatic Gratuities?

When You Might Want to Adjust Tips

Let’s say your cabin steward was amazing—leaving chocolates every night, folding your clothes, and even remembering your kids’ names. Or maybe the dining room service was slow, the waiter was rude, and the food took forever to arrive. In these cases, you might want to adjust your automatic gratuities.

Carnival allows you to:

• Increase the daily rate (e.g., from $16 to $20) to reward exceptional service.
• Decrease or remove the gratuity if the service was poor.

But here’s the catch: you must visit Guest Services before 10:00 PM on the second-to-last day of your cruise. After that, the gratuities are locked in and cannot be changed.

How to Adjust Gratuities: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Go to the Guest Services desk (usually on Deck 0 or 3).
2. Explain why you want to adjust the gratuities (e.g., “Our cabin steward was outstanding” or “The dining room service was consistently slow”).
3. Ask for a gratuity adjustment form. Fill it out with the new amount or request a full removal.
4. Submit the form. A supervisor will review it and update your account.

Pro tip: Be polite and specific. Saying “Our waiter, Carlos, remembered my drink order every night and went above and beyond” is more effective than “I want to tip more.”

What If You Skip the Automatic Tips?

If you remove the automatic gratuities, you’re expected to tip in cash. But here’s the reality: many guests don’t follow through. I’ve seen cruise forums where crew members say they’ve gone weeks without cash tips because guests assumed the automatic charges covered everything.

So if you do opt out, make sure you have enough cash to tip fairly. A good rule of thumb: at least $16–$20 per person, per day in cash, distributed to the dining room team and cabin steward.

And don’t forget: crew members in developing countries often rely on tips to support their families. A $10 tip might not seem like much to you, but it could buy a week’s worth of groceries back home.

Extra Tips: Beyond the Automatic Gratuities

Specialty Dining and Room Service

The automatic gratuities do not cover specialty restaurants like Bonsai Sushi, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse, or Guy’s Pig & Anchor Smokehouse. For these, you should tip:

• 15–20% of the food cost (drinks are usually included in the gratuity).
• $1–$2 per person for room service, unless a delivery fee is already charged.

I once ordered room service at 2:00 AM (don’t ask), and the delivery person was so friendly and fast. I tipped $5—worth every penny for that late-night burger!

Spa and Salon Services

For massages, facials, haircuts, and other spa services, 15–20% is standard. The gratuity is usually added to your onboard account, but you can adjust it at the spa reception desk.

One thing to watch: some spa packages include gratuities, so check the receipt before tipping extra.

Bar and Beverage Service

For drinks at the pool bar, RedFrog, or Alchemy Bar, tip $1–$2 per drink or 15–20% if you’re running a tab. Bartenders often work long hours and deserve recognition for their mixology skills.

And here’s a fun fact: Carnival’s bartenders are trained to remember your favorite drink. If you tip regularly, they might surprise you with a free round or a custom cocktail. I once got a “Mojito with extra mint” on the house—just because I tipped $1 every time.

Shore Excursions and Onboard Activities

For guided tours, snorkeling trips, or kids’ club staff, tip $2–$5 per person if you enjoyed the experience. For private guides or VIP tours, 15–20% is appropriate.

I once went on a private catamaran tour in Cozumel, and the captain was amazing. I tipped him $20 (about 15% of the tour cost), and he ended up taking us to a hidden beach and giving us free drinks. Worth it!

How to Budget for Tips on a Carnival Cruise

Creating a Realistic Tipping Budget

Let’s say you’re on a 7-night cruise with two adults and one child. Here’s how to budget:

• Automatic gratuities: ($16 × 2 adults + $16 × 1 child) × 7 days = $336
• Specialty dining: 2 dinners at $50 each × 15% = $15
• Spa: One massage at $120 × 15% = $18
• Bar drinks: 10 drinks × $1.50 average tip = $15
• Shore excursions: 2 tours × $3 per person × 3 people = $18

Total estimated tipping budget: $402

That’s a lot, right? But spread over a week, it’s about $57 per day for the whole family. You can reduce it by skipping specialty dining or spa services, but I recommend budgeting for at least $400 to be safe.

Saving Money on Tips: Smart Strategies

• Pre-pay gratuities online: Carnival often offers a discount (e.g., 10% off) if you pay gratuities before your cruise. I saved $45 this way on my last trip.
• Use onboard credit: If you have a $50 onboard credit from your credit card or a promotion, apply it to gratuities to reduce your out-of-pocket cost.
• Bring cash in small bills: Crew members appreciate $1 and $5 bills. I always pack $100 in small bills for extra tips.
• Tip in local currency: If you’re on a cruise to the Caribbean or Mexico, tipping in USD is fine, but crew members can exchange it locally. Just avoid coins—they’re hard to exchange.

What If You’re on a Tight Budget?

If tips are stretching your budget, here’s what you can do:

• Stick to the automatic gratuities and skip extra cash tips.
• Eat in the main dining room instead of specialty restaurants.
• Skip the spa and book free onboard activities.
• Buy a drink package to avoid per-drink tipping (but note: drink packages don’t cover gratuities).

Remember: the crew still deserves fair pay. If you can’t tip extra, at least be kind and appreciative. A simple “thank you” goes a long way.

Final Thoughts: Tipping with Confidence

So, how much are tips on Carnival Cruise Lines? The answer is: plan for at least $16 per person, per day in automatic gratuities, plus extra for specialty services. It’s not cheap, but it’s fair—and it ensures the crew who make your vacation amazing are compensated properly.

I’ve learned that tipping isn’t just about money; it’s about respect. The dining room team, cabin stewards, and bartenders work 12+ hour days, often far from home. A little extra goes a long way in showing your appreciation.

My best advice? Budget for tips before you book. Include them in your cruise cost, not as an afterthought. That way, you can relax and enjoy your vacation—without worrying about the final bill.

And if you’re ever unsure? Just ask Guest Services. They’re there to help, not judge. After all, a great cruise is about the experience—not the stress of tipping.

Service	Standard Gratuity	Notes
Main Dining Room & Stateroom Attendant	$16.00/person/day (interior/oceanview), $18.00 (suites)	Automatic, charged daily
Specialty Dining	15–20% of food cost	Drinks often include gratuity
Spa Services	15–20% of service cost	Check if included in package
Bar Drinks	$1–$2 per drink or 15–20% of tab	Cash tips appreciated
Shore Excursions	$2–$5 per person or 15–20%	For private guides, tip more

Frequently Asked Questions

How much are tips on Carnival Cruise Lines per day?

Carnival Cruise Lines recommends a gratuity of $14.50 per person, per day for standard staterooms and $16.50 per person, per day for suite guests. These amounts can be adjusted based on service quality or personal preference.

Are tips included in the Carnival cruise fare?

No, tips (or “gratuities”) are not automatically included in the base cruise fare. However, Carnival automatically adds the suggested gratuity to your onboard account, which you can modify or remove before the end of the cruise.

Can I adjust or remove the automatic gratuities on Carnival?

Yes, you can adjust or remove the automatic gratuities on Carnival Cruise Lines by visiting Guest Services before disembarking. Many passengers choose to tip in cash or modify the amount based on their experience.

How much are tips on Carnival Cruise Lines for specialty dining or spa services?

For specialty dining, a gratuity of 18% is typically added to your bill, while spa services include a 20% gratuity. These are standard service charges and can be adjusted if you feel the service didn’t meet expectations.

Do I need to tip crew members in cash on Carnival?

While cash tips are appreciated, Carnival’s automatic gratuity system covers most crew members. If you wish to give extra cash tips for exceptional service, it’s a nice gesture but not required.

How are gratuities distributed among Carnival staff?

Carnival’s automatic gratuities are pooled and distributed among various crew members, including dining staff, housekeeping, and behind-the-scenes personnel. This ensures fair compensation across the team serving your cruise experience.