Free Gratuities Cruise Offers
Prepaid service charges, and the tips they do not cover.
Get Free Cruise QuotesA free gratuities cruise is one of the simplest free cruise perks to value, because the daily service charge is a known amount per guest per day on each line. When it is prepaid for you, that money stays in your pocket. The catch is understanding which gratuities are covered.
How Cruise Gratuities Work
Most mainstream lines add a daily gratuity, or service charge, to each guest’s onboard account. It is shared among the crew who serve you — cabin stewards, dining room teams and others behind the scenes. The rate depends on the line and often on the cabin type, with suites usually higher. You can usually prepay it before the cruise; a “free gratuities” offer means the line prepays it for you. Some luxury lines include gratuities in every fare.
What Free Gratuities Cover
| Charge | Usually covered? |
|---|---|
| Daily service charge on your account | Yes, for the guests named in the offer |
| Gratuity added to drinks and bar packages | Usually not |
| Gratuity on specialty dining | Usually not |
| Spa and salon gratuities | Usually not |
| Extra tips you give personally | Up to you |
Norwegian’s Free at Sea page makes the distinction clear: guests are asked to prepay gratuities for the standard offer, its Free at Sea Plus upgrade includes prepaid daily service charges, and even then bar, beverage and specialty dining gratuities are not covered. See Norwegian’s Free at Sea page. Celebrity’s All Included fare once bundled tips; trade press reported that gratuities were removed from it in 2023, so check whether they are part of the version you are quoted.
Valuing a Free Gratuities Offer
Multiply the line’s published daily rate for your cabin type by the number of nights and the number of guests covered. That is what the perk is worth to you. Then compare it with other perks you could choose instead, or with a lower fare without perks. Because gratuities are charged to almost everyone, this perk is rarely wasted — unlike a drinks package for a light drinker.
- Check which guests are covered; third and fourth guests are sometimes excluded.
- Look for the words “daily gratuities” or “service charges” in the offer.
- Remember gratuities on drinks, dining and spa purchases still apply.
- Keep a little cash for staff who go out of their way for you.
For a full list of what costs extra on board, see Ask the Cruise Specialists. To compare whole-trip costs across lines, our sister site Cruising at Cost explains inclusive and a la carte pricing.
Free Gratuities Questions
What does free gratuities mean on a cruise?
The line prepays the standard daily gratuities, also called service charges, for the guests covered by the offer. They are the charges that would otherwise be added to your onboard account each day.
Do free gratuities cover the bar and spa?
Usually not. Gratuities added to bar, spa and specialty-dining purchases are normally separate. Norwegian, for example, says its Free at Sea Plus prepaid service charges do not cover bar, beverage or specialty dining gratuities.
Can I remove gratuities if I do not get free ones?
Policies differ by line. Many guests keep them because they support the crew who look after you; ask the line or your advisor about its policy.
Find a Cruise With Gratuities Included
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will show you sailings with prepaid gratuities and what they save on your cabin.
Get My Quote