MIAMI, Aug. 2 (Our Florida Times) — Celebrity Cruises has raised its automatic daily gratuity by $1.50 per guest across all stateroom categories, adding another cost for travelers planning a cruise from Florida or elsewhere.
The new rates took effect July 29, 2026, for guests who had not prepaid their gratuities, according to Celebrity Cruises’ gratuity policy. The policy sets the daily charges at $19.50 per person for Inside, Ocean View and Veranda staterooms; $20.50 for Concierge Class and AquaClass; and $24.50 for The Retreat.
For two people in a standard stateroom, the increase adds $3 per day, or $21 over a seven-day cruise. The charge is separate from the cruise fare and other onboard spending.
What does the daily gratuity cover?
Cruise lines generally use automatic gratuities to distribute money among onboard workers. A spokesperson for Miami-based Royal Caribbean Group, Celebrity’s parent company, said the program is part of crew compensation and reflects industry standards.
Celebrity’s policy also adds an automatic 20% gratuity to several purchases. Those include beverages, beverage packages, specialty dining, room service, minibar items, and spa and salon services.
That means travelers may encounter gratuities both as a daily charge and as percentage-based additions to individual purchases. A passenger who buys a drink package, orders room service or books a spa service should check whether the displayed price includes the additional gratuity.
Why are passengers upset?
Some Celebrity passengers criticized the timing and size of the increase and said they planned to remove the automatic charges and tip crew members directly in cash instead. One passenger quoted by Fox News Digital wrote, “I’ve started removing them and spending the exact same amount or more in direct tips.”
The available reporting does not establish how many passengers took that step, or whether Celebrity permits guests to remove or adjust the charge under all circumstances. It also does not show that cash tips are distributed in the same way as the automatic gratuity.
The backlash reflects a broader debate over how cruise workers are paid and how clearly those costs are presented to passengers. Cruise companies describe the charges as a way to support crew compensation, while some travelers view them as an added fee that should be included in the advertised cruise price.
How does Celebrity compare with other cruise lines?
Several other major cruise companies also changed their daily charges in 2026, according to their published policies and company information.
Holland America Line lists a daily “crew appreciation” charge of $18 for guests in non-suite staterooms and $20 for guests in suites. The new rates took effect June 1.
MSC Cruises lists a $17 daily charge for standard staterooms on Caribbean and Alaska cruises and $23 for guests in MSC Yacht Club. Carnival Cruise Line lists $17 per day for standard staterooms and $19 for suites.
The timing and booking conditions for some of those changes differ by cruise line. MSC’s reported May 11 change applies to new bookings, but the available information does not clearly establish every condition attached to that change.
What should Florida cruise travelers check?
Before booking, travelers should review the line’s current gratuity policy and determine whether gratuities are included in the fare or must be paid separately. They should also check whether prepaid gratuities are protected from later rate changes.
The Celebrity increase applies to guests who had not prepaid gratuities by the effective date. Travelers comparing fares should calculate the daily charge for every person in the cabin, then add the possible 20% gratuities on drinks, dining, room service and spa purchases.
Passengers who want to tip crew members in cash should confirm the cruise line’s rules before sailing. The supplied information does not include a specific Celebrity policy explaining whether automatic gratuities can be removed, how that process works, or how cash tips affect the broader crew-compensation system.
