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Celebrity Cruises Raises Daily Gratuities, Drawing Passenger Backlash

Celebrity says the raise funds crew pay to offset rising operating costs.

Overview

  • Celebrity increased its automatic daily gratuities on July 29 to $19.50 for Inside/Oceanview/Veranda, $20.50 for Concierge/AquaClass, and $24.50 for The Retreat, with the change applied immediately to guests’ onboard accounts.
  • Automatic gratuities are added to each passenger’s bill in dollars as a daily charge intended to be shared among dining, housekeeping and service staff.
  • Guests who prepaid at the earlier rates will not be charged the higher fees and anyone can prepay, adjust, or remove the gratuity by visiting guest services before disembarkation.
  • The same-day notice prompted widespread complaints on Facebook and Reddit, with some passengers saying they will remove the automatic charge and tip crew directly in cash to ensure money reaches workers.
  • The move follows similar increases by other major lines this year and could raise out-of-pocket costs for families on weeklong sailings while keeping pressure on cruise companies to improve pricing transparency.