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2. What’s Included in Gratuities?

On most cruise ships, gratuities cover services like housekeeping (your room steward), dining staff (waiters, assistant waiters, and maître d’), and bar service. Some cruise lines also include tips for behind-the-scenes employees like kitchen staff.

In many cases, gratuities are automatically added to your bill, making it one less thing to worry about while you’re sunbathing on the deck or exploring the beautiful port of Cozumel. These automatic tips range from $14 to $18 per day, per person, depending on the cruise line.

3. Who Should You Tip on a Cruise?

So, who exactly are you tipping? Let’s break it down:

1. Cabin Steward: These are the folks responsible for keeping your room spotless, providing fresh towels, and sometimes even creating those adorable towel animals! 🐘
2. Dining Room Staff: Your waiters and assistant waiters work hard to provide great meals and ensure your dining experience is seamless.
3. Bartenders and Baristas: While drinks often come with a service charge, feel free to tip extra if they go above and beyond!
4. Shore Excursion Guides: When you take an excursion in a port like Cozumel, it’s customary to tip your guide if you had a good experience. Many guides rely on these tips as a significant part of their income.

4. Tipping Policies on Different Cruise Lines

Now, let’s talk specifics. Each cruise line has its own policy for gratuities, and it’s important to know what to expect before you board. Here’s a quick overview:

• Royal Caribbean: Gratuities are added automatically to your onboard account at a rate of $16 per guest, per day for standard cabins, and $18.50 per guest, per day for suites.
• Carnival: Carnival charges $14.50 per day, per guest for standard rooms and $16.50 for suites.
• Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL): Automatic gratuities range from $20 to $25 per guest, per day depending on the cabin category.

Most of these gratuities can be adjusted at the end of your trip if you feel the service was above or below expectations. But remember, the crew works incredibly hard, often away from their families for months, so tipping generously is always appreciated.

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5. How Much Should You Tip?

While many cruise lines handle gratuities automatically, you might wonder if you should tip more. The answer? Absolutely! If someone on board goes above and beyond, a little extra goes a long way.

For example, if your room steward remembers your name, keeps everything spotless, or gives you great local tips for your Cozumel excursion, why not tip a bit extra? A typical additional tip might be $5 to $20 depending on the service.

On excursions, it’s customary to tip your tour guide around $5 to $10 per person, especially if they provided an insightful and enjoyable tour.

6. Tipping in Cozumel

Once you step off the ship and into Cozumel’s lively streets, tipping customs shift slightly. In Mexico, tipping (or propina) is common in most service settings, including restaurants, bars, taxis, and tour guides.

• Restaurants: It’s standard to tip 10-15% of the bill. In more tourist-heavy areas, like the cruise port or main town, tipping 15-20% is appreciated.
• Taxis: Tipping isn’t always expected for taxi drivers, but rounding up the fare or tipping 10-20 pesos for good service is polite.
• Tour Guides: Like on the ship, tipping your Cozumel tour guide $5 to $10 per person is a great way to show your appreciation. Many guides rely heavily on these tips, so if they’ve shown you the best of Cozumel, reward their efforts!

7. Conclusion: Make Tipping Easy

At the end of the day, tipping is a personal way to show gratitude for the service you’ve received. On your Caribbean cruise and Cozumel adventure, the crew, staff, and guides work hard to ensure you have an unforgettable experience. By being prepared and generous with your gratuities, you’ll help make sure their hard work is appreciated.

So, don’t stress over tipping—most of it is handled automatically, and a little extra goes a long way. Now that you’re all set with tipping knowledge, get ready to set sail and enjoy the sun-soaked beauty of the Caribbean!

Want more travel tips? 🏝️

If you’re looking for hidden gems, check out our next post: “The Best Tour Most Cruise Tourists Don’t Know About in Cozumel.” Discover a side of Cozumel that few visitors ever see! Click here to read more and get ready for an adventure you’ll never forget. 🌞