Royal Caribbean Raised Gratuities Again. Where Does the Money Go?
Matthew No Fluff Cruising · Aug 9, 2026
The short answerRoyal Caribbean charges $18.50 to $21 per person per day in automatic gratuities, depending on cabin category. For a family of four on a seven-night cruise that is over $500 on top of the fare, and it is a separate charge from the 18% added to bar and spa purchases.
Watch the video
Royal Caribbean Raised Gratuities Again. Where Does the Money Go?
Automatic gratuities are the charge people forget when they compare cruise fares, and they have gone up again.
The video breaks down the current rate by cabin category, what the money actually funds, and whether removing them does what people think it does.
The short version: at over $500 for a family of four on a week-long sailing, this belongs in your budget from the start rather than as a surprise on the final bill.