Carnival Cruise Line Raises Gratuities and Wi-Fi Prices

Carnival Cruise Line Raises Gratuities and Wi-Fi Prices

Carnival Cruise Line is adjusting gratuity levels for all of its U.S. and European cruises, raising the values of the recommended daily crew tips starting on April 1, 2023.

According to a letter sent to booked guests, the gratuities for both standard staterooms and suites will be increased by $1.50.

“Our shipboard team members work hard to provide exceptional and friendly service, so we hope you will agree that this slight increase is well deserved,” Carnival stated.

With the change, passengers of standard cabins will now be suggested to pay $16 per guest per day, while for suite guests, the recommended amount will be $18 per guest per day.

Prepaid gratuities will be honoured, the company said, with passengers being able to secure the current rates if they pay the fees online before April 1.

If not paid in advance, the recommended gratuity value will be added to passengers’ onboard account during their cruise “as a convenience,” Carnival added in the letter.

However, while onboard, guests are also free to adjust the values at their own discretion, the company explained.

In addition to raising gratuity levels, Carnival Cruise Line is also raising the prices of the onboard Wi-Fi internet access plans.

According to the same statement, the increase will be effective for all embarkations starting on January 16, 2023.

The Social plan had its fare adjusted to $12.75 per day, up from $10.20, while the Value plan will be priced at $17 per day, up from $14.45. The Premium plan will cost $18.70 per day, up from $17.

Passengers are also welcome to prepurchase their internet plans at the current rates, the company added.

Carnival last adjusted the value of the recommended daily gratuities in April 2022. At the time, the amounts were increased by $0.50.

Holyhead: 30 Percent Traffic Increase Set For 2020

“2019 will be on par with 2018 for passenger numbers and calls,” said a spokesperson for Cruise Wales, discussing the cruise traffic in Holyhead.

Next year is better, showing a 30 per cent increase in passenger numbers thanks to larger vessels, the spokesperson said.

“Cruise Wales works closely with local authorities, port services, and tourism businesses to meet expectations to ensure passengers are immersed in our wonderful culture and heritage so they will return again and again,” they said. “We are also working on digital language translation and an ambassador program.”

Berth bookings for Holyhead Port are being taken out through 2022.

Through the Tourism Investment Support Scheme, the Welsh government has invested in a pontoon at Fishguard allowing larger cruise vessels to call, and the Port of Holyhead is also to undergo change, with a new multi-use berth development with 340 meters of dock space coming soon.

P&O Cruises raises daily service charge

P&O Cruises raises daily service charge

P&O Cruises is raising its recommended daily gratuity from £6 to £7 per passenger from next month.

The increase applies to cruises departing after March 23 and comes just 12 months after gratuities were raised from £5 to £6 per passenger per day.

It applies to all passengers aged over 12.

The new recommended daily rate means couples will be charged almost £200 extra for a two-week cruise to cover tips.

However, the cruise line pointed out that the charge is discretionary.

“The service charge is reviewed periodically and is given directly to reward the waiters, cabin stewards and other staff on board for the exceptional service they provide to guests. It is a discretionary charge,” P&O Cruises said.

Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises increased their rates in January and now charge between $14.50 and $18, depending on the cabin grade.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is raising its daily “voluntary” gratuity charge from £4 to £5 from March 7.

Disney surges on new cruise ship, higher park attendance

By Michelle Baran

Operating income and revenue at Walt Disney Co.’s Parks and Resorts division continued to grow in the company’s fiscal second quarter, due in large part to the Disney Fantasy cruise ship and increased spending at the domestic parks.

Operating income for Parks and Resorts increased 73% to $383 million, and revenue grew 14% to $3.3 billion, Disney reported.

Disney said that higher operating income for domestic operations was primarily due to increased guest spending and attendance at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and the Disneyland Resort in California, as well as the Disney Fantasy cruise ship, which launched in March 2012.

During the second-quarter earnings call on Tuesday, Disney executives continued to tout investments recently made in the domestic parks, most notably the multibillion-dollar overhaul of Disney California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort, as driving returns.

Additionally, the company reported higher guest spending at Disneyland Paris and increased attendance at Hong Kong Disneyland.

For the entire company, net income for the quarter increased 32% to $1.5 billion. Revenue grew 10% to $10.55 billion.

Cunard Gratuity Charges

Information Update
Cunard Gratuity Charges


It has been some time since we have increased the amount we charge our guests on a daily basis for gratuities.  We have benchmarked our own charges against many other leading cruise lines and are confident that by applying a small increase we will not be out of line.  At the same time - and very importantly - this will increase the amount we collect from our guests to be shared amongst those crew on board who earn gratuities.

As such, we will be increasing our existing gratuities as follows:-

Britannia Staterooms:  increasing from US$11 to US$11.50 per person per day
Princess Grill and Queens Grill Suites: increasing from US$13 to US$13.50 per person per day

This increase will take effect from all voyages post World and Exotic Voyages 2013 and will begin from the following voyages:-

Queen Elizabeth : Q308 - Iberian Adventure - Sunday 7 April 2013
Queen Victoria: V304 - Spring Getaway - Friday 26 April 2013
Queen Mary 2: M304 - Westbound Transatlantic - Friday 26 April 2013

This charge will automatically be added to guests' accounts and all other terms and conditions surrounding the auto gratuities will remain the same.  Guests will be advised of the amount through their pre voyage information and through Voyage Personaliser.   We will be amending all future printed and online information to reflect this.