That is not typical. What you may see is recommended gratuities preemptively added to your folio. You can either accept these or have them removed and make other arrangements to provide gratuities, as you see appropriate. Many cruise lines have stopped explicitly collecting gratuities and they are included in the cost of the cruise (yes, it is built in). The one area you may see a gratuity that is paid in advance is on an included drink package. The dollar value of the included drink package may be subjected to a mandatory gratuity that is charged, and paid for, upfront with the price of the cruise. As always, you are free to consider the entire cost of the trip and decide whether it is a good value.
Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123
A tip is a voluntary gratuity, and the amount is determined by the customer. I understand that some cruise lines actually charge for the tip in advance of the cruise. If not, they tell you how much to tip and they do not treat it as a voluntary payment. This is not a tip.
Charging a service fee is one thing, but to call it a tip is insulting. That is just one reason why I do not go on cruises.
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