Gratuities are always a topic that creates great debate in the cruise industry.
Some people believe it is okay to give an “extra tip” to workers, while others believe it is just an additional cost for the vacation.
I have already explained to you that gratuities are basically mandatory on all cruise lines. You can only ask to have them removed if you have not experienced service up to standard. You can find more information in the article on how to remove gratuities on Royal Caribbean.
However, in this article, we are going to see which cruise line decided to increase the daily amount and the reason for this increase.
The increase on Princess Cruises
The increase in gratuity prices took place on Princess Cruises, the American cruise line that is part of Carnival Corporation.
From what I know, the increase occurred at the end of this month even though there was no official announcement from the company (obviously no one likes to announce increases for passengers).
From now on, everyone will pay $1 more per day. This means that guests in the standard cabins (inside, ocean view, and balcony) will pay $17 per person per day.
Guests in mini-suites, cabanas, reserve collection, and club class will pay $18 per person per day. While guests traveling in suites will pay $19 per person per day.
Why this increase?
As I said, there has been no official announcement or even explanation from the cruise line.
We can only assume that it’s an adjustment due to inflation but obviously, there is no certainty.
What worries passengers is that there could be price increases for other companies as well, such as Carnival, which is part of the same group as Princess.
I had previously reported the words of the CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line who stated that cruise prices will absolutely go up during 2024 and 2025.
What we can do, as passengers, is only to try to save as much money as possible. For example, you can follow these 20 tips & tricks to save money on a cruise and my advice on what to do to get a better cabin at a reasonable price.
I have tried several of them but these are the most durable and sturdy.
