Are Gratuities Included on a Disney Cruise?

Table Of Content

• Are Gratuities Included on a Disney Cruise?
• Importance of Gratuities on Disney Cruise
• How much do you tip Disney Cruise staff?
• What happens if you don t prepay gratuities on Disney Cruise?
• Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point: Your Guide to Disney’s Tropical Island Destination
• How do you Pre-Pay Gratuities on a Disney Cruise?

If you prefer to pay for everything before you step aboard, that’s great! Just make sure you pre-pay the tips at least three days before your departure date, and you’ll have nothing to worry about on your cruise. For those staying in a Concierge-level room, additional tipping is customary for the Stateroom Assistant Host and the Concierge Lounge staff.

Are Gratuities Included on a Disney Cruise?

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The other is if you add an additional tip to any of your Servers or Stateroom Steward. You can use cash for this – so keep some $1’s and $5’s handy in a drawer by the door. Or they will give you a bill with zero charges and you can add a gratuity if you wish.

Importance of Gratuities on Disney Cruise

These tips can be paid in cash or gratuity can be added to your on board account and charged to the card you have on file. All of the automatic gratuities will be charged to your onboard account. If you’re taking a Disney cruise, consider bringing some cash to tip your tour guides and drivers. While it’s not required, it’s good etiquette to show your appreciation for their service with a gratuity. A gratuity of 18% will be automatically added to any drink ordered from a bartender, whether it is non-alcoholic or alcoholic.

How much do you tip Disney Cruise staff?

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Your folio (cruise bill) will be billed the standard amount (or you’ve paid the standard amount in advance) and that amount will be automatically distributed to your crew team. You can keep the summary sheet for your records or throw it out. Disney automatically charges your onboard account the standard tip amounts (unless you pre-pay). No tip amount is set in stone, so Disney allows you to adjust them before the cruise ends if you want to give more or wish to give less; just contact Guest Services onboard your Disney Cruise. If you have questions about tipping on Disney cruises, want to step up your pre-payments, or wonder how much a Disney cruise will cost, it’s time to contact The Vacationeer. They can provide up to $1,000 in FREE Disney onboard credit, Disney’s best available pricing, and expert planning advice and assistance.

Your acts of recognition will have a lasting impact and inspire the crew members to continue creating unforgettable moments for future guests. By understanding and acknowledging the importance of gratuities, you are contributing to the continued excellence and dedication of these remarkable individuals. There are four positions where pre-paid gratuities are designated. These included tips go to your dining staff – the server, head server, assistant server – and your stateroom host.

As we reach the end of our exploration of gratuities on a Disney Cruise, it’s clear that these expressions of appreciation are a fundamental part of the onboard experience. By recognizing and rewarding the exceptional service provided by the hardworking crew members, you contribute to their livelihoods and help create a positive and motivating work environment. By incorporating these tips into your gratuity planning and budgeting, you can ensure a smooth and stress-free experience onboard your Disney Cruise.

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But there are no instructions on what you’re supposed to do with these items. All of these people work extremely hard and we have always found that they are very much deserving of the standard amount of tips that Disney recommends. Usually, we leave more than the recommended gratuity amounts as their service is so good. We recommend pre-paying your base gratuities and adding a cash tip handed directly to the individual.

Disney Cruise Gratuities Explained

There is also a line for you to add an additional tip if you choose to give more. Some guests prefer to have a larger portion of their cruise expense paid in advance, often because this helps their budgeting process. Other guests like to hang onto their money as long as possible and only mete it out when required. If you’re sailing in a concierge stateroom, tipping is slightly different – I’ll cover that in a sec. If you booked a concierge level stateroom, while tips are not required they are expected.

How do you Pre-Pay Gratuities on a Disney Cruise?

Contact me today for your free, no-obligation quote at   and follow me on Facebook to hear about the latest Disney updates and travel tips! I look forward to helping you plan the most magical vacation for you and your family. If you have the funds to do so and the spirit moves you, then yes, absolutely you should tip them more. Any additional gratuities are greatly appreciated by the cruise staff. If, for example, you’re traveling on a three-night cruise with a party of two, your total gratuity fee would be $87 ($14.50 x 2 people x 3 nights). If you’re traveling on a seven-night cruise with a party of four, your total gratuity fee would be $407 ($14.50 x 4 people x 7 nights).

Now that we have explored the alternative options for gratuity management, let’s dive into the specific departments and guidelines for tipping onboard a Disney Cruise. If you really care about your crew team, the best thing you can do to reward them is by giving them EXCELLENT (not Very Good) ratings on the comment card you’ll get on your last night onboard. These ratings are a big part of how crew members get promoted. Tip these folks in cash depending on the size of your party and the level of attention you receive. That said, they are allowed to accept cash, gift cards, and small gifts if you insist three times.

When considering alternatives to automatic gratuities, it’s important to remember that the crew members rely on these gratuities as a significant part of their income. By adjusting or removing automatic gratuities, or not providing additional cash tips, it can impact the livelihoods of the hardworking crew members who strive to make your cruise magical. Understanding the gratuity policies and guidelines on Disney Cruise is crucial for a stress-free and enjoyable vacation. The next section will delve deeper into the specifics of the automatic gratuities and their importance in recognizing the exceptional service provided by the crew members.

The Disney Cruise Line website reads, “It is customary to give gratuities …” Tipping is the norm and you should be prepared to abide by this custom. There are some crew members who you should tip, but who are not included in the daily rate. Along with the envelopes, you will have a sheet of card which shows how much is going to each person. You can use these to put them in the envelopes to give to each person. There are exceptions, such as alcohol and bottled water, but mostly you will not be charged for room service.

Additionally, reputable travel websites such as Cruise Critic and The Points Guy offer valuable resources and forums where experienced cruisers share their tips and experiences. Then, onboard adding an additional cash tip handed directly to the individual. We typically write thank you notes to the various tipped positions to go along with the additional cash tip. Remember, Disney Cruise Line is simply recommending a base amount, for the most part, the cast works extremely hard to ensure you have a great experience. For the first time, Disney’s FAQ references Concierge guests.

Automatic gratuities are charges that Disney Cruise Line adds to your onboard account for certain services during your cruise. This convenience means you don't have to worry about tipping individual crew members. Understanding the gratuity system is an essential part of planning your Disney Cruise Line vacation. You'll learn about automatic gratuities, recommended extra tips, and how to give thanks to your servers and room host. Guests who have not pre-paid gratuities will have the charges automatically added to their account during their cruise at the prevailing rate when the ship sails. Disney Cruise Line has updated their gratuity guidelines to increase the recommended gratuity for dining and stateroom Crew Members by 25 cents.

I have heard this does not go directly to these people in these amounts? Many guests tip more than the suggested amounts but you are under no obligation to do so. The amount for Concierge suggested by Disney Cruise Lines is $15.50 per person per day. This is one of the only times when you might use cash to tip on a Disney cruise.

As you can see, the amounts are the same as for other guests. The extra $1 per person per day is for the Assistant Stateroom Host. If you purchase a drink at any bar or in a restaurant, you will automatically be charged an additional 15% gratuity. Aside from the automatic gratuities, there are some services which you will pay an automatic tip if you incur a charge. When we think of tipping on a Disney cruise there are really four main Cast Member positions that you will tip. Bar, beverage, wine, and deck service tabs will be automatically charged an 18% gratuity.