Royal Caribbean to increase its recommended tip amounts:
Beginning July 1, 2011, Royal Caribbean passengers will have to spend a little more to show their gratitude to crew members.
RCI has increased the amount of the gratuity that it recommends passengers give staff on their ships, from $9.75 to $11.65 a day. In a statement, Royal Caribbean said that this is the first increase in 13 years and that it puts the company in line with other cruise lines increases.
The new guidelines recommend that passengers give the waiter $3.75 per day, the assistant waiter $2.15 and the head waiter 75 cents. It also suggests giving the housekeeping staff $5 daily. For guests staying in suites, the recommended tip for housekeeping staff is $7.25.
The cruise line pointed out that the gratuities are voluntary, though a 15 percent gratuity will automatically be added to bar bills and wine checks.
Information via Royal Caribbean’s gratuity guidelines and The Washington Post
