You've booked your Princess cruise and now you're wondering about gratuities — how much should you budget, and are the automatic charges really fair? After sailing on 12 different Princess ships over the years, I'll break down exactly what you'll pay in tips and give you the insider strategies to handle gratuities like a pro.
Princess charges automatic daily gratuities to your cabin, and the rates vary significantly based on your cabin category. Here's what you'll actually pay per person, per day in 2026:
Interior and Ocean View Cabins: $15.50 per person, per day
Balcony Cabins: $16.00 per person, per day
Mini-Suites and Suites: $16.50 per person, per day
Premium Suites (including Grand Suites): $17.00 per person, per day
For a typical 7-day cruise in a balcony cabin, you're looking at $224 total for two people ($16 x 7 days x 2 people). That's a real budget consideration that many first-time cruisers don't factor into their planning.
Here's where it gets interesting — Princess doesn't just pocket your tip money. They distribute it among your service team based on a formula they've refined over decades:
I've talked to crew members on ships like the Sky Princess and Majestic Princess, and they confirm this system generally works well for them. Unlike some cruise lines where tips are more unevenly distributed, Princess has a fairly transparent approach.
You can adjust your gratuities at the Guest Services desk, but here's what most passengers don't understand: if you're unhappy with service, it's better to address specific issues rather than slash everyone's tips.
On my last sailing aboard the Royal Princess, I had an issue with housekeeping but exceptional dining service. Instead of reducing the total amount, I:
If you do want to adjust, visit Guest Services before the last day of your cruise. Waiting until disembarkation creates a headache for both you and the staff.
The automatic gratuities don't cover every service interaction. Here's where you'll likely encounter additional tipping opportunities:
Specialty Dining: Most specialty restaurants on Princess ships automatically add 18% to your bill. On ships like the Enchanted Princess, I've noticed this sometimes catches people off guard at Kai Sushi or Crown Grill.
Spa Services: The Lotus Spa charges 18% automatically, but many passengers add extra for exceptional treatments.
Bar Service: If you don't have a beverage package, expect 15-18% added to each drink order.
Room Service: Princess charges $5 per delivery (except continental breakfast), but many passengers tip the delivery person an extra $2-3 for prompt service.
Not all Princess ships deliver the same service experience, which impacts how you might want to handle gratuities:
Royal-Class Ships (Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess): Newer ships with better crew-to-passenger ratios. Service tends to be consistently good across all areas.
Grand-Class Ships (Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess): These workhorses of the fleet can feel stretched thin during peak season. I've noticed housekeeping quality varies more on these ships.
Sun-Class Ships (Island Princess, Coral Princess): Smaller ships often deliver more personalized service. Your cabin steward will likely remember your name by day two.
After multiple Princess cruises, here are my proven strategies for handling tips effectively:
Bring Small Bills: Pack $50-100 in $5 and $10 bills for exceptional service moments. When your cabin steward goes above and beyond (like arranging a room surprise), a direct cash tip means more than adjusting the automatic amount later.
Understand Cultural Differences: Many Princess crew members come from countries where tipping works differently. The automatic gratuity system actually provides them more predictable income than the old cash-only days.
Consider Prepaying: You can prepay gratuities when booking or online before sailing. This locks in current rates and helps with budgeting, but you lose flexibility if service issues arise.
Suite Passengers: Budget Extra: If you're in a suite with dedicated concierge service, plan to tip your concierge separately. They're not included in the automatic system, and $20-50 total is standard for attentive service.
Some passengers remove automatic gratuities intending to tip in cash instead. While this is your right, understand the reality: most passengers who remove gratuities don't actually tip the full amount in cash.
Crew members on Princess ships have told me they prefer the automatic system because it's reliable. If you do remove gratuities to tip cash instead, make sure you actually follow through — and remember to tip all the people who serve you, not just the ones you see daily.
For realistic cruise budgeting, here's what to expect for gratuities on a 7-day Princess cruise for two people:
Total gratuity budget: $325-395 for two people
That might seem like a lot, but remember — Princess employs thousands of crew members who work incredibly hard to make your vacation memorable. The gratuity system helps ensure they're fairly compensated for their efforts.
What's your experience been with Princess gratuities? Share your tipping strategies and service stories in our Princess Cruises forum — fellow cruisers always appreciate real-world insights!
Princess Cruises Daily Gratuity Rates 2026
Princess charges automatic daily gratuities to your cabin, and the rates vary significantly based on your cabin category. Here's what you'll actually pay per person, per day in 2026:
Interior and Ocean View Cabins: $15.50 per person, per day
Balcony Cabins: $16.00 per person, per day
Mini-Suites and Suites: $16.50 per person, per day
Premium Suites (including Grand Suites): $17.00 per person, per day
For a typical 7-day cruise in a balcony cabin, you're looking at $224 total for two people ($16 x 7 days x 2 people). That's a real budget consideration that many first-time cruisers don't factor into their planning.
How Princess Distributes Your Gratuities
Here's where it gets interesting — Princess doesn't just pocket your tip money. They distribute it among your service team based on a formula they've refined over decades:
- Your cabin steward receives the largest portion (around 40%)
- Dining room waitstaff split about 35%
- Assistant waiters and bussers get roughly 15%
- Behind-the-scenes staff (galley workers, laundry, etc.) share the remaining 10%
I've talked to crew members on ships like the Sky Princess and Majestic Princess, and they confirm this system generally works well for them. Unlike some cruise lines where tips are more unevenly distributed, Princess has a fairly transparent approach.
Adjusting Your Gratuities: The Right Way
You can adjust your gratuities at the Guest Services desk, but here's what most passengers don't understand: if you're unhappy with service, it's better to address specific issues rather than slash everyone's tips.
On my last sailing aboard the Royal Princess, I had an issue with housekeeping but exceptional dining service. Instead of reducing the total amount, I:
- Spoke with Guest Services about the specific housekeeping problem
- Left extra cash tips for my dining room team
- Kept the automatic gratuities as-is to avoid penalizing good performers
If you do want to adjust, visit Guest Services before the last day of your cruise. Waiting until disembarkation creates a headache for both you and the staff.
Additional Tipping Situations You'll Encounter
The automatic gratuities don't cover every service interaction. Here's where you'll likely encounter additional tipping opportunities:
Specialty Dining: Most specialty restaurants on Princess ships automatically add 18% to your bill. On ships like the Enchanted Princess, I've noticed this sometimes catches people off guard at Kai Sushi or Crown Grill.
Spa Services: The Lotus Spa charges 18% automatically, but many passengers add extra for exceptional treatments.
Bar Service: If you don't have a beverage package, expect 15-18% added to each drink order.
Room Service: Princess charges $5 per delivery (except continental breakfast), but many passengers tip the delivery person an extra $2-3 for prompt service.
Ship Class Differences That Affect Service
Not all Princess ships deliver the same service experience, which impacts how you might want to handle gratuities:
Royal-Class Ships (Sky Princess, Enchanted Princess): Newer ships with better crew-to-passenger ratios. Service tends to be consistently good across all areas.
Grand-Class Ships (Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess): These workhorses of the fleet can feel stretched thin during peak season. I've noticed housekeeping quality varies more on these ships.
Sun-Class Ships (Island Princess, Coral Princess): Smaller ships often deliver more personalized service. Your cabin steward will likely remember your name by day two.
Smart Gratuity Strategies From a Veteran Cruiser
After multiple Princess cruises, here are my proven strategies for handling tips effectively:
Bring Small Bills: Pack $50-100 in $5 and $10 bills for exceptional service moments. When your cabin steward goes above and beyond (like arranging a room surprise), a direct cash tip means more than adjusting the automatic amount later.
Understand Cultural Differences: Many Princess crew members come from countries where tipping works differently. The automatic gratuity system actually provides them more predictable income than the old cash-only days.
Consider Prepaying: You can prepay gratuities when booking or online before sailing. This locks in current rates and helps with budgeting, but you lose flexibility if service issues arise.
Suite Passengers: Budget Extra: If you're in a suite with dedicated concierge service, plan to tip your concierge separately. They're not included in the automatic system, and $20-50 total is standard for attentive service.
What Happens If You Remove Gratuities
Some passengers remove automatic gratuities intending to tip in cash instead. While this is your right, understand the reality: most passengers who remove gratuities don't actually tip the full amount in cash.
Crew members on Princess ships have told me they prefer the automatic system because it's reliable. If you do remove gratuities to tip cash instead, make sure you actually follow through — and remember to tip all the people who serve you, not just the ones you see daily.
Planning Your Total Gratuity Budget
For realistic cruise budgeting, here's what to expect for gratuities on a 7-day Princess cruise for two people:
- Automatic daily gratuities: $224-238 (depending on cabin type)
- Specialty dining tips (2-3 meals): $40-60
- Spa services: $15-25
- Room service: $15-20
- Extra cash for exceptional service: $30-50
Total gratuity budget: $325-395 for two people
That might seem like a lot, but remember — Princess employs thousands of crew members who work incredibly hard to make your vacation memorable. The gratuity system helps ensure they're fairly compensated for their efforts.
What's your experience been with Princess gratuities? Share your tipping strategies and service stories in our Princess Cruises forum — fellow cruisers always appreciate real-world insights!